Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-28
NOTHING BUT INDEPENDENCE
viii Satisfy the Cubans Says
Maxemo Gomez.
NO HALF WAY DOlNGS WILL
Satisfy the lnsurgents-Every Vestige of Spain
and Her Mnons
MUST Be F0REvERR0RE ERASED
Spanish Officers Go Oyer to the Cubans-
e ,Carevas Continues His Horrible Butch
eries-Weyler Has q Close Call.
Guerillas Meet Defeat.

Atlanta, Ca, Jan. 27-The Evening
Constitution published an authentic in
terview with Gen. Maximo Gomez in
which he denies he ever wrote a letter
favorfng home rule for Cuba. He opposes
compromise with Spain, and says if he
had $4,000 rifles and 1000 cartridges for
each, he could drive Weyler off the island
within a month. The general criticises
Mr.. Cleveland for non-interference.
I The interview was obtained by c. B.
Hernando, who was sent to Cuba by
Rev. A. ]. Diaz, with commission to
have personal interview with Gen. Co.
mez on the subject of compromise and
peace.
DR.. Diaz is the Baptist missionary who
was released from Mauro Castle last sum
mer through the Intervention of the
United States. Mr.. fernando wrote him
from Jaruco, under date of January 10.
fernando went from Atlanta direct to
Havana. He left that city as a Cuban
cowboy, and in two days the latter
reached the camp of Gomez in the noun
tains of Los Escaleras de Jaruca.
sHernando says:
Although it was not yet o'clock in the
wearing his large sombrero and clean
linen dress. The only arms he wore
was a small Spanish revolver.
Upon acquainting the general with
the report that he had given his adhe-
sion to the policy of home rule or autont
oIny for Cuba, the same as accorded to
Canada by Great Britain, he said en-
phatically:
..:No, sir; have written no such let
ter, nor given my assent to the policy.
l am general in command of the Cuban
forces, and my only business is to plan
and fight battles in order to drive out
the Spanish government from Cuba and
to conduct the war to a successful issue.
have been entrusted with this duty by
the Cuban government through it's proper
agencies.
:" If any action is ever taken in regard
to the political settlement of Cuba 1t will
have to be by President Cisneros and his
cabinet, who alone are authorized to act.
Best les this, there Is an article In the
constitution which we have adopted pro-
viding that even the president and his
cabinet would have to call the general
assembly to settle such an important
matter as this. My only duty is to hght
to keep the banner of Cuba flying, and
in no manner would I conflict with the
properly constituted authority of my
government .>
'sBut," l asked the general, "do you
know of any movement even on the part
of the government for such purpose
as this?"
why, no." replied the general ''the Gu
ban people were never so determined as
they are now. At no time since the be-
ginning has the army been in better con-
dition or better drilled than 1T is at press
ent. Our men are full of enthusiasm for
the independence of our country, and
never in it's history have they been so
set against taking advantage of any tenn
porary offer The Cuban army and the
Cuban people have started out for abso-
Lutte independence, and they will never
lay down their arms until 1t has been
achieved" .1.
Directing the attention of General Co
mez to the unfrienly policy of Mr.. Cleye-
land he smiled grimly and said:
"When we rose up In arms against
Spanish tyranny we did so trusting IN
God and ourselves. We knew the enemy
whom we had elected to meet, SO that
we did not measure the stature of the
giant or the power of the hon. Conse-
quently we are here, armed and organ
ized and ready to sacrifice our lives for
Cuba"
The general walked up an down as he
spoke. his eyes flashing then he added:
'I know l should be guarded in what I
say. Mr.. Cleveland Is at the head of a
great tion, for whose people have the
most profound respect, and he is well &C
quainted with the truth, but no man who
act So, cold-bloodedly as he has done.
know all the people of the United States
are In favor of our cause, and am ac-
quainted with the position of the United
States senator's, though there has been
some friction among them, for which ]
am sorry.
.aThere is one thing, however, that
doa not understand-how 1t is that Mr..
Cleveland can be so complacent with the
Spanish government, which has insulted
his flag, as Weyler has done in Cuba, and
mobs have done in Spain; how Mr.. Cleve-
land can rest content when he sees the
Spanish government shedding the inno-
cent blood of non-combatants, is past my
comprehension. If it was only for hui
manity's sake he ought to stop the bar
barities in a friendly way"
AT this point the general dropped that
phase Of the conversation, and in reply
to a question, as to how long he thought
the war would last. said:
"If I could have $4,000 rifles, and 1000
cartridges for each gun, would clean
Weyler and his troops from the island
inside of thirty days. I have endeavored
in my conduct of the war to observe the
rules of humanity. / have refrained al
most at the cost Of revolution in my
ranks from making reprisals for bar
barities never known in history before.
We recognize that we are in this fight for
life or death; that even the strongest sug-
Restion of peace which Spain can make,
is only for the purpose of gaining ad-
vantage.
s.If Spain today should offer us the
most complete home rule, backed by the
United States, she would fail to keep her
promise, then we would have to wait for
the United States to enforce the agree
ment, and that enforcement would never
come, for there will always be commercial
ana other interests strong enough to
keep the rulers of nations in cohesion
with each other. There is one thing in
which we trust, that is the disappear
ance of the Spanish name and Spanish
army, and Spanish flag, and the suprem-
a0y Of the people Of Cuba"
RELEAlsED ON BOND.