The herald., 1897-03-30

viola ted and their gardens destroyed
This is how Gen. Weyler pacifies Sarct
Spiritus or wherever he may be. Then
he authorizes those who ask him for
bread for their children and alienation
for their miseries to go out into the coun-
try to steal and destroy whatever they
may find.
with this permit me to send you a
copy of letter which 1 had the honor to
send your predecessor in office, Mr..
Grover Cleveland. 1t is the hope that 1t
may move you to sacred action that in
duces me to take up my pen to trouble
you"
The letter to Mr., Cleveland is very
long, and it is an earnest appeal for the
Intervention of the United States in be-
half of urarmed men, women and chill
dren who are represented to be ruthless
ly slaughtered by Spanish soldiers.
Gen. Gomez says: Look through the
world and you will see how all people,
| with the possible exception of the Amer
leans, contemplate with indifference or
with sentimental platonism the war
which makes red the beautiful fields of
fertile Cuba, as If it were a thing for
| eign to their interests and those of mod
ern culture as if it were not a crime to
forget in this manner the duties of So
cial brotherhood.
| But. you know it is not Cuba alone;
it is America, it is all Christianhood, it
is all humanity, that sees itself out
ragged by spain's horrible barbarity."
The general enumerated some of the
crimes charged against Spanish SOL
diers, expressing the deepest horror that
such things could be in this enlightened
| age. Said he: "Ah, sir, the vicissitudcs
of this cruel struggle have caused much
| pain to the heart of an old and unfortun-
ate father, but nothing has made me
suffer so much as the horrors which re-
cite unless it is to see that you remain
Indifferent to them.
Say to the Spaniards that they nay
struggle with us and treat us as they
please. but that the must respect the
pacific populations; that they must not
outrage women nor butcher innocent
children.
you have a high and beautiful prece
dent for such action. Read the sadly
famous proclamation of the Spanish
General Balmaceda of 1869, proclaim
ing practically the reproduction Of this
war, and remember the honorable and
high minded protest that the secretary
of state formulated against IT.
"The American people march legiti-
mately at the head of the western con
tinent, and they should not longer toll
crate the cold and systematic assassina-
ton of defenseless Americans, lest his
tory impute to thetl a participation in
these atrocities.
Initiate the high example that have
indicated above. Your conduct, further
more will be based solidly on the Men
roe doctrine, for this cannot refer only
to usurpation of American territories,
and not to the defense of the people of
America against European ambitions.
1t cannot mean to protect American soil
and leave its helpless dwellers exposed
to the cruelties of a sanguinary anu
.despotic European power. 1t must ex-
tend to the defense of the principles
which animate modern civilization and
form an integral part of the culture and
life of the American people.
statesmanship with a noble act of
Christian charity. Say to Spain thai
murder must stop; that cruelty must
cease, and put the stamp of your au-
thority on what you say. Thousands or
hearts will call down eternal benedic-
tions on your memory and God, the su-
premely merciful. will see in 1t the most
meritorious work of your entire life. l
am your humble servant,
M GOMEZ"
A SPANISH MUTINY-
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, March %
Passengers arriving here from Havana
say that a rumor is in general circula-
ton there to the effect that the crew OF
one of the Spanish cruisers mutinied
few days ago and took possession or the
ship, turning it over to the insurgents.
who have alrzdy begun to make cap
tres of small Spanish war vessels of
the coast guard. The Spanish officials
deny the Etory, but it has received cor
roboration from other sources.
RIVERA'S CAPTURE.
HAVANA, March s9-Gen fernando
Velasco left San Cristobal under secret
orders at noon last Saturday with the
Castillo Reina battalion and two field
pieces and pitched his camp amid the
Bruiito hills. The insurgents attacked
the regulars from the very outset of the
advance. Yesterday the Spanish col
unn marched upon Perico Poso, where
Gen. Ruiz Rivera awaited them in
strongly intrenched position.
Rivera opened fire Immediately on
seeing the head of the column. Lieut..
Rio advanced with the extreme van
guard, Major Sanchez Dernal leading
another division under the protection
of battery. which shelled the trenches
held by Rivera, who was already wound
cd in the thigh
One company of the Reina cavalry
galloped forward, capturing the
trneches and seizing as prisoners five
men who lay severely mutilated by the
shells. Col. Bacalao, on learning that
Rivera had been wounded, hurried to
the trenches and begged the soldiers to
kill him. Rivera and Col. Baccallao We're
taken into the presence of Gen. Velasco,
who shook hands with Rivera and in
trcduced him to the officers of his staff
giving instructions that the first thing
to be done was to give him surgical at
tention Lieut.. Terry and Col. Ballacao
We're also wounded in fight at the same