Evening star., 1897-02-10
He Declares That Spain Does Not In
tend to Grant Reforms.
BE SAYS, ARE FOR LIBERTY
independence the Kind of Home
Rule They Want.
HE SPEAKS WITH EMPHASIS

special dSpatcn 10 the Phtladelph1a
Press from Jacksonville, Fla, dated Feb
ruary 8. says:
The following was given out to the Press
representative here tonight as a descrip-
ton of visit to and an authorized inter-
view with Gen. Maximo Gomez. command
er-in-chief Of the Cuban insurgents:
In camp Of Gomez in Salado,
Province Of Santa Clara,
Cuba, January 81.
Yesterday the camp of the commander
in-chief of the Cuban army was reached
Gomez, the heart, head, soul and strength
of the rebellion against Castillian power
In Cuba, gave me the most satisfactory
and lengthy interview yet accorded the
American er otherwise rRe prewpan'sn, request for
the interview was made within an hour
after my arrival in camp but the Cuban
general made no reply until this morning,
that his chief would see and talk with me
through him. that there might be no mis-
understanding, due to my limited knowl-
edge Of Spanish.
court said: Gen. Gomez has been mis-
quoted SO often that he usually declines
to speak when he believes his words might
reach the press. Then. also. he Is pos
sessed OF tremendous dislike to convers-
ing through an Interpreter. hence the fail
ure of SO many correspondents who have
journeyed far to see him to get what might
be OF any great value from him. He has.
however, consented to talk freely with
you more because of old acquaintance and
friendship than anything else.'
Gen. Gomez passed the night in the
house OF one Csrrin, a subperfecto of the
up his only separated room to his distin-
guished guest and the latter was much
pleased He dislikes outdoor life and es-
peclally that feature Of 1t which often
compels him to occupy a hammock with
but the covering of trees.
Gen. Gomez, early this morning. as Is his
custom. arose and looked about the nearby
portions of the camp. then he breakfasted
later. accompanied by Col Menoo al DR.. J.
Agramonte and DR.. Betancourt. attended
Catholic service in the camp, half or three
quarters OF a mile away. Father Arteaga.
of church at Moron, Cuba, was the cele-
brant.
I have tried to follow the commanders
own words as much as possible since he
mas directness and terseness Of express
sion that leaves no doubt as to his mean
ing.
What do you wish to know" was the
beginning Of the interview, and without
giving me time to reply Gomez continued:
You must quote me correctly. l will
speak openly on almost any subject on
which you will ask me. but you must not
say more than 1 do. Therefore, 1 will re-
mitted to Lieut.. Galvo and to DIR. Stevens
before It is sent away"
DR.. Stevens is the young Boston surgeon
who has the entire confidence of the rebel
leader, and is the only foreigner who eats
with Gomez regularly.
Disgusted With Reform Talk,
What is the attitude of the Cuban peo-
pie as relates to reforms 20 be granted by
Spain?" was the first question.
Gen. Gomez replied: Spain does not in
tend to grant reforms: she has no good
will toward Cuba or the Cuban people;
she never had. 1t has been always her
foremost desire to make as much of the
colony and get as much out of 1t as was
possible for her own good.
BE that as it may we are asking roth
ing of the Spanish government or people;
even were the proposals for reform bona
fide, nothing could tempt us to treat with
them. we are for liberty, not for Spanish
reform; we are for Cuba, not for Spain; we
are for the people of our own land who
work. not for the horde of idlers and cor
ruptionists that Spain intends for us SO
long as she is able to back them by Eay-
onets.
II am disgusted with this talk Of reform.
Does Spain think we have forgotten the
lessons of the past? Does she think we
Will be ready to treat with her for por-
tton when the whole is within our reach
and when we can win 1t with honor?"
And then, General Gomez, asking of me
paper and pencil, scribbed the following
quotation: La Libertad es uno de los mas,
precisos dones que los Cielos dieron a los
hombres." and continued: Liberty is what
we are fighting for, because, as / have just
written, 1t Is one of the most glorious gifts
that God has bestowed upon man. Print
that sentence throughout your country, a
country which has fought for liberty and
won 1T, but country, l regret to say
General Gomez did not finish his sentence.
Lieutenant Galvo then read to Gomez the
words of Minister Estrada Palma regard
ing Spanish reforms contained in a news
paper clipping. DIR. Palma is right in
what he says" said the little general, when
we are all fighting for. DR.. Palma could
not have truthfully said anything else. He
knows the Cuban heart. and he knows as
well as any one in the world what a sham
ana deception Spanish reforms would be-"
"Home Rule is independence"
Would Cuba be willing to accept home
rule in the broadest sense?" 1 asked.
Home rule in its broadest sense is inde-
pendence." quickly retorted General Gomez:
THAT il the kind Of home rule we want II
you mean, would we accept home rule with
a Spanish captain general. would answer
most emphatically no. We want nothing
from Spain but our rights; we do not want
her captain general nor her glory, II she
nave any remaining, nor n6r care.
THE hatred for Spain is so deeply rooted
in this island that am sure very large
majority Of our people, those under arms
and those who have not yet had opportun-
ity to go into the field. would rather II
they thought the revolution was going to
fail, go abroad and live among strangers
rather than stay In Cuba under q continue
ton Of Spanish power.
"As for me, personally, I would prefer
hell and the domination Of the devil than
my beloved island with Spanish captain
general"
Faith In Cuba's Army.
Comes rose and looked about him as he
uttered these words, while his officers
smiled at the deep meaning and emphasis
Of the commanders words.
His face, however, underwent but SLIGHT
change, and in q minute or so he was again
talking.
'Why should we be willing to accent anv.
thing from these people? Who are they
that they should offer to us certain con-
cessions when we know, as all men know
that the concessions offered us are the
rights given us by God? Here We are a
people struggling for what il our due and
here il another people backed by the sym-
pathy of Europe and the material assist
ance Of the United States striving Just ,as
hard to keep what is ours from US. =
Yes. 1t u q crying shame In this day OF
light. It y blot Upon the history page