The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-20
That Alone Will Satisfy
Cuban Patriots.
They do Not Want and Will
Not Accept Home Rule.
Interview With Senor Quesada, the
Cuban Representative.

| wAsHINGToN, Jan co. Special 80 It
Ia absurd to suppose that the people of
| Cuba will accept the alleged reforms which
| spain is about Co offer us and lay down
their arms, said Senor Quesada, the Gu
ban representative In Washington. had
called on Senior Quesada 30 ask him what
| he thought OF the talk that Spain was GO
Ing to secure peace by means Of treaty OF
| commerce with the United States and a
plan of reform in her government Of Cuba.
'No man who knows the Cuban people
would think for moment that there could
be any chance whatever Of this plan being
successful" " added Senor Quesada. The
Cuban minister, as he is sometimes called,
was ut the moment Ill In bed. But his
eyes flashed with tho fire of patriotism and
determination as ne spoke Co me. Ia his
agerness to express himself he threw the
coverlet back from the bed, gesticulated
with his arms, and his face shone with en-
thusiasm. "The people of Cuba will have
none Of their reforms" he declared
There Is only one thing we will have, and
that is Independence. There is only one
thing In which we have confidence, and
that Is thisl"
Quesada, i'll rs be was, drew from behind
bis bed Cuban pachete and waved IL over
his head the glistening upon its steel blade
corresponding to the light in his eyes I
have rarely seen more dramatic action In
private life.
Gomez Defended.
"But they say General Maximo Gomez
Ia ready to make peace with home rule as
the prices" 1 suggested
"Who says sog" asked the Cuban minis
ber You get that from the Spanish.
They circulate such lies through the news
papers. They have no regard for the truth.
will give Senor Dupuy de LONE $40, 900,
TO be devoted to any charity which he may
name, II he will show an authentic letter
from General Gomez containing an express
sion in favor Of peace for home rule pro-
viding the Spanish minister will agree TO
contribute like sum 10 the Cuban wound
cd In case he fails to produce such letter.
Senor Quesada then went on TO point out
how absurd 1t was for the Spanish to claim
that General Gomez was willing TO sell
out his cause. General Gomez fought in
the ten years war, and after the war was
over instead Of filling his pockets with
Spanish gold, as the friends of Spain now
II
and worked as an underengineer down in
the ditch and through the swamps for
small sum per month with which TO sup
port his family. He afterward settled In
Santo Domingo, where he worked for
living
"Why," said Senior Quesada, General
Gomez has but one dream, but one ambi-
tion in life-that Is to sec Cuba free. He
n L.
last war he viii ever engage in. 1t is VIC
tory now or never so far rs he is concerned
At the end Of the ten years war he was
one Of those who relied upon Spanish hon.
or and accepted peace under promise that
reforms should be made. He was tricked
and deceived with the Others. Do you
suppose he can be caught in such a trap
second time? I know the Spanish have
circulated reports that General Gomez
would not fight for us unless he was paid.
They say his army has been lying idle be-
cause he was not paid the money which he
demanded. In few days we shall have a
letter from General Gomez which will show ,
how false all this is. / understand the
Spanish have tried 20 make your state de-
partment believe General Gomez can be
bought with their gold whenever they need
him. I would like to see them try it, The
Spanish emissary who approaches General
Gomez with such mission will not say q
dozen words till the old general will call
two of his men--number so and so and
number such and such-and issue TO them
this command:
"'Take this man out and shoot him.
"In five minutes there will be the crack
Of half dozen mausers, and that will be
To rhar
He will treat in the same mannar the man
who approaches him with an Sffer from
Spain TO grant. peace on the home rule
basis. OF course IL the agent goes with a
Dag Of, truce he will be protected. But If /,
\ Cuban, were to walk into General Co
mez's camp and propose that we have
peace, the first question he would ask me
would be:
lis it peace with Independence And IL
were to reply In the negative, should be
shot In ten minutes
All For the Cause.
at must try the patience OF those who
know anything about matters In Cuba for
The Spanish to be continually publishing
,uch outrageous reports" Senor Quesada
continued. Their statements are an in
sult to the intelligence of che American
people IL we went to war because we
,ould not endure the conditions of two
Years ago, why should we make peace
pow, without any pledge OF those condi-
lions being bcttercd and with a certainty |
mat the debt to be saddlcd upon the island |
will impoverish it for a half century TO |
.omcP AS 10 General Gomez. Is 10 not alb |
mrd 10 suppose that he will now lay down |
,is armsS He is the commander in chief |
,i the Cuban armies. He SECS victory in |
he near future. He knows that hc will |
win undying fame by our triumph Talk |
% me about his being soldier of fortuncl |
Why. General Gomez has refused to take |
money from our junta. His wife and |
amily have refused 30 accept funds which |
We have proifered them.
To Influence Public opinion.
There Is one thing in connection with
he Spanish camraign In this country
which Is open to criticism-thc Spanish
minister here maintains a regular press
bureau He has his agents I'm the field try
ng 10 work up public opinion It il even
aid that he has subsidized certain news
,apcrs. especially two or three which are