The record-union., 1897-03-30

eral Weyler pacifies Sancti Esplr1tu or
wherever he may be. Then he author
ICES those who ask him for bread for
their children and alleviation for their
miseries to go out into the country to
steal and destroy whatever they may
find.
With this, permit me to send you a
copy of letter which l had the honor
to send ito your predecessor in office,
Mr.. Grover Cleveland. 1t is the hope
that it may move you TO sacred action
that induces me to take up my pen to
trouble YOU
The letter to Mr. Cleveland is very
long, and it is an earnest appeal for
the intervention of the United States
in behalf of unarmed men, women and
children who are represented to be
ruthlessly slaughtered by Spanish SOL
diers. General Gomez says:
Look through the world and you
will see how all people, with the possi-
bic exception of the Americans. con-
template with indifference or senti-
mental platonism, the war which makes
red the beautiful fields of fertile Cuba,
as If 1T We're a thing foreign to their
interests, and those of modern culture
as If it were not a crime to forget in
this manner the duties of social broth
erhood. But you know it is not Cuba
alone; it is America, it is all Christian
hood, of all humanity, that sees itself
outraged by Spain's horrible barbara
ty'
The General enumerates some of the
crimes charged against Spanish SOL
horror
that such things could be in this en-
hghtened age. Said he: "Ah, sir, the
vicissitudes of this cruel struggle have
caused much pain to the heart of an
old and unfortunate father, but nothing
has made me suffer so much as the
horrors which l recite, unless it is to
see that you remain Indifferent to them.
Say to the Spaniards that they may
struggle with us and treat us as they
please, but that they must respect the
pacific populations; that they must not
outrage women nor butcher innocent
children.
You have a high and beautiful prec-
edent for such action. Read the sadly
famous proclamation of the Spanish
General Balmaceda of 1869, proclaim
ing practically the reproduction of this
war, and remember the honorable and
high minded protest that the Secretary
of State formulated against it. The
American people march legitimately at
the head of the Western Continent, and
they should not lor ger tolerate the cold
and systematic assassir IN of de-
fenseleSs Americans, les. 4ory i'm
pute to them a participation in these
atrocities.
Initiate the high example that l have
indicated above. Your conduct, fur
thermore will be based soudly on the
Monroe doctrine. for this cannot refer
only to usurpation of American terri
tories, and not to the defense of the
people of America against European
ambitions 1t cannot mean to protect
American soil and leave it's helpless
dwellers exposed to the cruelties of a
sanguinary and despotic European
power 1t must extend to the defense
% The principles which animate modern
civilization and form an integral part
Of the culture and life of the American
people.
Grown your honorable history Of
craftsmanship with a noble act of
Christian charity. Say to Spain that
murder must stop; that cruelty must
cease, and put the stamp of your au-
thority on what you say. Thousands
of hearts Will call down eternal bene-
dictions on your memory, and God, the
supremely merciful, will see in it the
most meritorfous work of your entire
life l am your humble servant,
M. GOMEZ"
MELTON DYING IN PRISON.
HAVANA, March 29.-Ona Melton,
the American newspaper correspondent
who is confined with the Competitors s
crew in Cabanas fortress, is reported to
be dying.
A lady who went to Cabanas recently
to see relatives incarcerated there,
states that Melton is so weak that he
is able to speak only in whisper He
could not raise himself to the window
without the assistance of his compan-
ion. Melton's cell is a damp and foul
smelling one. A fellow occupant of the
same compartment with Melton died
with typhoid fever a few days ago.
Melton has had no medical attention
and is now a mere skeleton. He told
the lady mentioned above that he felt
that his end was near, and that he was
fully resigned to his fate, preferring
death here now to transportation in
chains to a Spanish penal station off
the african coast later on.
WATCHING FILIBCSTERS.
JACKSONVILLE (Fla.), March %
Upon receipt of a telegram from Wash
ington, the United States dynamite
cruiser Vesuvius, which has been lying
in this port watching filibusters
weighed anchor and steamed to the
south, leaving six of it's men ashore
The boat has gone to Biscayne Bay, to
endeavor to prevent a Cuban filibuster-
ing expedition leaving, but will prob
ably be too late.
A CORRESPONDENT KILLED.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-The fol-
lowing dispatch was received from
Consul General Lee, dated Havana,
yesterday:
&C. f. Crosby of New York. the rep
resentative of the Chicago Record, is
reported killed while watching with
a field glass a combat between Spanish
and insureent forces near Arroyo Blan-
co, close to the boundary of Puerto
Principe and Santa Clara He came TO
the island January Both and IS said to
have graduated at st. Cyr, France"
Mr.. Crosby was not an experienced
newspaper man. but his energy sup
piled any lack on that score, and his
correspondence, which was signed Don
Carlos" was of the best that came from
the insurGent side. Crosby was of
English birth. and, as Consul General
Lee suggests. he was educated in
France and graduated from the cele-
brated military school of st. Cyr He