The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-28
GOMEZ TALKS OF CLEVELAND
The President Criticised for His Non.
Interference in Cuba.
AUTONOMY WOULD not Be SUFFICIENT
The Gen eral Does Not Think This Coun
try Would Ever Enforce an
Agreement to Accept
Home Rule.

Home l.uics
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 2.-The Evening
Constitution published an authentic in
terview with General Maxine Gomez, in
which he denies that he ever wrote a
letter favoring home rule for Cuba. lie
opposes a compromise with Spain, and
says that If he had $1,000 rifles, and 1000
cartridges for each, he could drive Wey-
Ter on the island within a month The
General criticizes for Cleveland for non
interference
The interview was obtained by G b
Hernando. who was sent to cuba by
Rev. A. ). Diaz, with a commission TO
have d personal interview with General
Gomez.
Or. Diaz is the Baptist missionary who
was released from Moro Castle last sum-
mer through the Intervention OF the
United States. Mr. Hernando wrote him
from Jaruco, under date OF January 18th.
fernando went from ATLANTA direct TO
Havana. lie left that city as a Cuban
cowboy. and two days later reached the
camp OF Gomez. in the mountains OF Las
Escaleros de jaruca.
fernando says
Although IL was not yet O'Clock IN
the morning. the General was up. booted.
wearing his large sombrero. and 2 clean
linen dress. The only arms he wore was
a small Spanish revolver
A DENIAL
Upon acquaintng the General with
the report that he had given his adhesion
10 the policy OF home rule or autonomy
for Cuba. the same as accorded to Canada
by Great Britain. he said. emphatlcally:
NO, sir / have written no such letter
nor given my assent 10 the policy l am
the general IN command OF the Cuban
forces. and my only business IS 20 plan
and fight battles in order TO drive out
tho Spanish from the island. to bring
the war 10 a successful issue. I have
been entrusted with this duty by the
Cuban Government throlgh It's proper
agencies
IF any action Is ever taken In regard
20 the political settlement Of Cuba IL VIII
have TO be by President Cisneros and his
Cabinet, who alone are authorized 20 act
Besides this. Cnere is an article I'm the
Constitution which We have adopted. pro-
vidins that oven the President and his
Cabinet would have to call the General
Assembly 10 settle such an important
matter as this. My only duty is 10 fight
10 keep tho banner OF Cuba. avino erd
ln no manner would I conflict with tho
eminent. ''' wv
But" asked the General do Won
Know or any movement even on the part
or the Government for such a purpose "a
this@ %
Why, no. replied the General. The
'unah people was never so determined
as iney are now. At no time since the
beginning has the army been in better
condition, or better drilled than n IL AZ
I IA ffrfF
lot the independence OF our country and
never in it's history have they been So
SET against taking advantage OF any tenn
porafy ouer. The Cuban army and the
Oupan people have started out for alb
soiito independence and they will never
lay down their arms until il has been
achieved
CLEVELAND'S POLICY.
Directing the attention OF General
Gomez TO the unfriendly policy OF Mr..
Cleveland. he smiled grimly and said.
w hen we rose up In arms against
: dnlsh tyranny. we did so trusting I'm
God and i'm ourselves. We knew the
enemy whom We had elected 10 meet. SO
that We did not measure the stature OF
tho giant or the power Of the lion. Con-
se1uently. We are here. armed and or
eanized and ready TO sacrifice our lives
for Cuba"
he spoke, his eye flashing then he add
ed:
j know / should be guarded i'm what
say. Mr.. Cleveland is az the head of "a
great nation. for whose people / have the
most profound respect. and he Is we'll ac-
quainted with the truth. but no man
who was not Of AnglO-SaXon descent
could act so cold-bloodedly as he has
done. know all the people OF tho
United States are in favor OF our cause.
and an acquainted with the position Of
the United States senators. although
there has been some friction among them.
for which / am sorry.
There Is one thing. however. that I
do not understanding 10 is that Mr..
Cleveland can be so complscent with
the Spanish government which has in
suited his flag. as Weyler has done in
cuba. and as mas been done in Spain.
how Mr.. Cleveland can rest content when
he sees the Spanish government shedding
the innocent blood OF noncombatants IS
past my comprehension. II IL was only
for humanity's sake. he ought TO stop
the barbarites in a friendly way
AT this point. the General dropped
that point OF the conversation. and IN
reply TO question as 10 how long he
thought the war would last said.
WHAT HE WANTS.
"Tf could have $1,000 rifles and 1000
carridgos for each gun, | would clean
IVevler and his troops from the island
inside OF thirty days. / have endeavOred
I'm my conduct OF the war 20 observe the
rules OF humanity. / have refrained all
most al the point Of revolutions IN my
ranks Of making reprisals for barbaritles
never known in history before. We say
that we are IN this fight for life or death;
that even the strongest suggestion ot
peace. which Spain can make is only for
the purpose Of gaining advantage
" If Spain to-day should offer as the
most complete home rule. backed by tho
United States. she would fail 20 keep her
promise. then we would have 10 wait
FOR the United States 10 enforce tho
agreement, and that enforcement would
never come. for there will always be COM
nercial and other interests strong enough
10 keep the rulers OF nations In cohesion
with each other There Is one thing. ln
which we trust-that is the disappear
ance OF the Spanish name and Spanish
army. and the Spanish flag, and the su-
premacy OF the people Of Cuba "
~ 4