The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-28

published to-day an au-
- tnentlc interview with General Maxine
wrote n letter favoring home rule for
ouha' lie opposes q compromise with
spain and says Mat If he had "a. 600
rlIies ana 1000 cartridges for each he
couid drive Wcylcr off the island with
IN II month. Tho General criticises MIR
Cleveland for non-interfcrencc.
me Interview was obtained by- G. r.
fernando. who was sent TO Cuba by
iteV, ~. j. Diaz with Il commission to
nave II personal interview with General
Gomez.
Nlr, Diaz is the Baptist missionary who
was released from Moro castle last
summer through the Intervention of the
United states. Mr.. fernando wrote
nm from Jaruco under date of January
IL. fernando went from Atlanta direct
To Havana.
IN CAMP WITH GOMEZ.
lie left that city as Cuban cow
boy ana two days later reached the
camp OF Gomez in the mountains of I,as
Escaleros De Jarucoa.
fernando says: stAlthough 1t was not
yet 6so'cfoelt III the mo fning the Genera
was up, booted. wearing his large SOM
Drero and clean linen dress. The arms
he wore was n.small Spanish revolver.
upon acquainting the General with
the report that he had given his adhe-
sion to the policy of home rule or
autonomy for Cuba. the same rs accord
ed to Canada by Great Britain, he said
emphatically:
GOMEZ NOT a LETTER WRITER.
Nor, sir, have written no such let
ter nor given my assent to the policy
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
n "a nj
| have been entrusted with this duty
by the Cuban government through its
proper agencies.
If any action is ever taken In re-
gard to the political settlement of Cuba
IL will have to be by President Cisneros
and his Cabinet, who alone are author
iZed to act. Besides this there is an
article in the constitution which we
have adopted providing that even the
President 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 lying. and In no manner would
| conflict with the properly constituted |
of my government.
But | asked the general, DO you |
know of any movement on the part of !
The government for such a purpose as |
this"
CUBA NEVER so DETERMINED.
why. no. replied he general The |
Cuban people were never so determined |
as they are now. No time since the be-
ginning has the army been III better |
condition, or better drilled than it is at |
present. Our men are cull of enthu-
siasm for the independence of our coun-
try, 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 !
Tor absoute independence, and they will |
never lay down their arms until 1t has |
been achieved
Directing the attention of General |
Gomez To the unfrendly policy of Mr.. |
Cleveland. ne smiled Grimly and said:
When we rose UP in arms against |
spanish tyranny, we did so trusting in |
God and in ourselves. We knew the en- |
emy whom we had elected TO meet. so |
that we did not measure the stature of |
the giant or the power of the lion |
CLEVELAND'S COLDNEss.
The general walked up an down as
he spoke. his eye flashing. then he add
ed:
i know should be guarded in what
say. Mr.. Cleveland is at the head of a |
great nation, for whose people / have
the most profound respect, and he Is we'll |
acquainted 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 the
United States are in favor of our cause
and am acquainted with the position of |
the United States Senator'S, although
there has been some friction among
them, for which am sorry.
2" There is one thing, however, that I |
do not understand-how It is that Mr.. |
Cleveland can be so compiacent with |
the Spanish government which has in
suited his flag, as Weyler has done i'm
Cuba and as has been done in Spain:
how AIr. Cleveland can rest content |
when he sees the Spanish government
shedding the innocent blood of nom
combatants, Is past my comprehension.
If 1t was only for humanlty's sake. he |
ought to stop the barbarities In q friend
ly way.
FOR LIFE OR DEATuI.
IF could have flfty-thousand RI
des and one thousand cartridges for each