The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-01-28

icJCer IhVOrlnR nome rule Tor Cuba. He
opposes Il compromise and says if he had
5O, 00O rifles and LOCO cartridges for each
he would drive Weyler Off the Island
within IL month. The general criticises
Mr.. Cleveland for non interference
The interview was obtained by G.. w.
HcrnandO, who was sent to Cuba by Rev
A. j. DiaZ with communication to have
personal interview with General Go
mez. DIR. niaz is the Baptist missionary
who was released from Moro Castle
last summer through the Intervention of
the United States. Mr.. fernando wrote
him from .Jaruco under date of January
10.
lie went from Atlanta direct to IIa-
vanl. He left that city as II Cuban COW
boy and TWO days later reached the camp
OF Gomez in the mountains of Las Esca-
los de Jaruca. fernando says:
Although it was not yet o o'clock in
the morning the general was up, booted,
wearing his large SOmbrero and Il clean
linen dress. The only arms he wore was
II small Spanish revolver. Upon acuuaint.
ing the general with the report that he
had given his adhesion to the policy of
home rule or autonomy for Cuba, the
same rs accorded to Canada by Great Bti-
tain, he said emphatically
NO, sir, | have written no such letter
uOI XIV ttIJ tSScnJ Id LIlc DOllcN. | am
the general in command of the Cuban
forces ana my only business is to plan
and fight BATTLES in order to drive out the
Spanish from the Island to bring the war
To Il successful issue. | have been en-
trusted with this duty by the Cuban gov
eminent through its proper agencies.
III any action Is ever taken in regard to
the political settlement of Cuba it will
have to be by President Cisneros and his
cabinet, who alone are authorized to act.
Besides this, there is an article in the
Constitution which we have adopted pro-
viding that they even have To call the
general assembly for such an important
matter My only duty is to fight, to
keep the banner of Cuba flying and in no
manner would conflict with the officials
of my government.
But" | asked the General. do YOU
know of any movement even on the part
of your government for such Il purpose
as ths?''
Why, no, replied the General The
Cuban people were never SO determined
rs they are now. At no time since the
beginning of the war has the army been
in better condition or better drill than at
present. Our men are full of enthusiasm
Tor the independence OF Cuba and never
in its history have they been so set against
taking advantage of any temporary offer
The Cuban army and the Cuban people
have started ont for absolute independ-
! ence and they will never lay down their
arms until it has been accomplished
Calling his attention to the unfriendly
policy of Mr.. Cleveland he smiled grinily
and said:
"'When we rose up in arms against
Spanish tyranny we did so trusting in
God and in ourselves. We knew the en-.
eny whom we had elected to meet, so
that we did not measure the status of the
giant or the power of the lion. Conse-
quently we are here, armed and organized
and ready to sacrifice our lives for Cuba
1.-THE General walked mp and down as
he spoke, his eye flashing; then he added:
L know 1 should be guarded in what
say. Mr.. Cleveland is at the head of
great nation, for whose people have the
most profound respect, and he is well nc
quainted with the truth; but no man who
was not of Anglo.Saxo descent could act
so cold-bloodedly as he has done. l know
all the people of the United States are in
favor OF our cause and am acquainted
with the position of the United States
Senators, although there had been some
friction among them, for which | am
sorry.
'"There is one thing, however, that I
do not understand. How it is that Mr.
Cleveland can be so complaceEt with
country that has insultcd his flag as
Weyler has done in Cuba and as has
been done in Spain; how Mr.. Cleveland
can rest content when he sees the Spanish
government shedding the innocent blood
OF non-combatants is past my comprehen-
sion. If it was only for. Humanity sake,
he ought to stop the barbarites in a
friendly way
cat this point the General dropped
that point Of conversation and replied to
the question as to how long the war
would continue.
If could have 50, 900 rifles and 900
cartridges for each of them | would clear
Weyler and his troops from this land in.
side OF thirty days. / have endeavored in
my conduct of the war to observe the
rules of humanity. have refrained al.
most atathe point of revolutions in nv
rar ,5Alaking reparation for barbarity
LUIT known in civilized war.
sw Ii Spain to-day 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
agreement and that enforcement would
never come. for there will always lie com.
mercial and 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 supremacy
n tho Of nh,