Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-28
GOMEZ DENIES IT.
SAYS HE NEVER FAVORED COM
PROMISE WITH SPAIN.
HE CRITlClSES CLEVELAND.
Our President Ought to Stop Spanish
Barbaritics-With Arms Enough
pose of WeyIer.

ATLANTA, GA, January 1.-THE Eve
ming Constitution published to-day an au-
thentic interview with General Maxine
Gomez, in which he denies that he ever
wrote a letter favoring home rule for
Cuba. He opposes compromise with
Spain, and says that If he had $1,000
rifles and 1000 cartridges for each OF
them he could drive Weyler off the
island within a month. The General
criticises Mr. Cleveland for non-inter-
ference.
The interview was obtained by c. 3.
fernando. who was sent to Cuba by
Rev. A. ]. Daz with commission to
have a personal interview with General
Gomez.
DR.. Diaz 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 18th.
fernando went from Atlanta direct to
Habana. He left that city as Cuban
cowboy, and two days later reached the
camp of Gomez. in the mountains of Las
Escaleros de Jaruca fernando says:
Although it was not yet o'clock in
the morning, the General was up booted,
and wearing his large sombrero, ana
clean linen dress The only weapon he
carried was small Spanish revolver.
Upon acquainting the General with
the report that he had given his adhesion
TO the policy of home rule, or autonomy,
for Cuba, such as that accorded 10
Canada by Great Britain, he said, en-
phatically:
"'No. sir: l have written no such let
ter nor given my assent TO the policy.
1 am the general in command of the
Cuban forces, and my only business is
TO plan and fight battles, in order to drive
out the Spanish from the island, and
thus 10 bring the war 10 successful
issue. | have been entrusted with this
duty by the Cuban Government, through
its proper agencies.
If any action is ever taken in regard
to the political settlement Of Cuba, II
will have 10 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. providing that even the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet would have to call
the General Assembly to settle such an
important matter as this. My only duty
is to fight to keep the banner of Cuba
flying. and in no manner would con-
hict with the properly constituted au-
thority of my government.
But | asked the General, do you
know Of any movement, even on the part
Of the government, for such a purpose as
this?'
why, no. replied the General. The
Cuban people were never so determined
as they are now. AT no time since the
beginning has the army been in better
condition, or better drilled, than it is at
present Our men are full of enthusiasm
for the independence of our country, 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 out for
absolute independence, and they will
never lay down their arms until 1t has
been achieved
POLICY OF CLEVELAND.
directing the attention of General
Gomez to the unfriendly policy of Nix.
Cleveland, he smiled grimly, and said:
"'When we rose up in arms against
Spanish tyranny, we did so trusting in
God and in ourselves. We know the
enemy whom we had elected to meet, so
that that we did not measure the
stature of the giant, or the power of the
lion. Consequently, we are here, armed
and organized. and ready TO sacrifice our
lives for Cuba
"The General walked up and down as
he spoke. his eye flashing. Then he
added
81 know / should be guarded in what
say Mr.. Cleveland is at the head
Of a great nation, for whose people l
have the most profound respect and he
is well acquainted with the truth, but
no man who is not of Anglo Saxon
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 posi-
ton of the United States senators, al
though there has been some friction
among them. for which l am sorry.
There is one thing. however, that
7 do not understand-how 1t is that Mr.
| Cleveland can be so compacent with
| the Spanish Government, which has in
| suited 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-com-
| batants, is past my comprehension III
IL were only for humanity's sake he
ought 10 stop the barbarities, in friend
| ly way Co.,, ,a
| that part of the conversation, and in
| reply 10 a question as to how long he
thought the war would last, SAID:
OF l could have $1,000 rifles, and
| / 900 cartridges for each gun, l would
| clear Weyler and his troops from the
island inside of thirty days. l have en-
deavored in my conduct of the war to
observe the rules of humanity. have
refrained almost at the point OF revoiu-
tion i'm my own ranks from making re-
! prisals for barbarities never known IN
history before. We say that we are IN
| mis- fight for life or death; that even
| the strongest suggestion of peace which
| spain can make is only for the purpose
| OF gaining advantages.
"'If Spain to-day should offer us the
most complete home rule. backed by the
| United States. she would fall TO Keep
| her promise. Then we should nave 10
wait for the United States to enforce
| the agreement, and that enforcement
uoul6 never come, for there Will al
ways be commercial and other interests
strong enough to keep the rulers of ma
| tions in cohesion with each other. There
Is one thing in which we trust-that is,
tba disappearance of the Spanish name
and Spanish army, and Spanish fiag and
| the supremacy of the people OF Cuba.
INTERESTING EXERCISES.