Evening journal., 1898-08-18
GOMEZ TO THE CUBANS
Unselfish Patriotism of the Noble
Minded Old Patriot.
He Urges His Followers 10 Prepare
for the Free Future of Their Little
Republic by Selecting the
Best Leaders.

strates that the great Cuban soldier is
a statesman as well, full of unseliish
patriotism and chef.shing the highest
ideals for the future Of the little repub-
lie and its people. The proclamation
IN part is as follows;
"Cubans: The day is drawing near
when the war will be overs all strife
shall cease, and Cuba, free Cuba, will
stand forth in her place among the civ
ilized countries Of the world. That it
become so quickly and without having
previously to go through with the trials
and internal tribulations as bad or
worse than war itself rests with you.
You must select for the directors Of
the destinies of the Cuban republic men
of known virtues and proved integrity.
take them where you find them and do
not ask them where they were while
the island was in the throes of n bloody
fight for independence.
"You must see that the ministers and
administrators of the country whom
YOU select are not men who will lavish
honors and luxuries on themselves
while Cuba is as yet unreeonstructed
and has not an abundance in camps.
The ministers must look first to the in
terests Of the country, seek to pro
mote. before their cwn interests. the
reconstruction of the island and the
renewal Of agricultural and manufac-
turing interests. They must be men
who will not abuse the power vested in
them. You must have no ministers
whose wives clothe themselves In silks
and laces while the people Of the coun.
try have nothing TO eat and are nude
and their children are deprived OF the
benefits Of education. Rather must your
appointed rulers and leaders deny
themselves and their families luxuries
that the people may have necessities.
study the rights you have won in
time of war with bloody strife and loss
of lives and property, that you may
make the best use of them in time Of
peace. With less than those dearly
bought rights civilized man must never
be satisfied. lest he become servile. But.
on the other hand. IL he asks too much
and makes too many pretensions, he
] EMGdDtllo Ills nQnRIas OOrNANE oAAAAAA1
the law. for that alone is n guarantee
for all in every part of the world
81 myself counsel the sublime ideal
of liberty, a big. brotherly embrace
which closely unites us for all time
with the noble principles which must
be the foundation of the Cuban ma
tionality.
"The final triumph must leave tho
people with majesty and grandeur
There must be no petty hatreds, nc
cherished animosities. A free and full
pardon must go from the heart TO all
who ask it, and in that way your work
must be complete. Forgive your enc
mics, and when you go to the glorious
tombs of our brothers who died for
the liberty which we shall enjoy 70 deck
them with flowers, watered with the
tears of warriors, let your hearts in
that blest hour be free from all hatred
1T do not want TO see you blinded
with the passions of victory or flushed
with the false pride that has lost Sc
many. / have seen men begin great fol
their country and end small because o.
that. Do not forget that while th'
sword is good TO govern and direct il
time of war II Is not so in times o
peace. At such times il is not the SWORD
but the word of The law which mus
keep the people in harmony and pros
perity. You must quickly bring abou
an established civil government, foi
military rule is too harsh to sweetly In
terpret the spirit of that same law.
"Law Is order, and the order Of peac,
and good will must follow the chaoti,
condition in which our beloved countr,
has been now for three years. Let eacl
Cuban patriot, with the interests of hi
country and his brothers at heart, d
all in his individual power to bring
about such a desirable condition. 1t {
to be our province to govern ourselves
let us show TO the United States and Il
the nations of She world as we'll that w
are capable Of taking upon ourselve
such a grave responsibility. Our fu
ture prosperity depends hereafter upoi
our own efforts. Let us not be com
PEELED to own that we have failed an,
, to again seek aid in governing our
selves from that country whose geneI
Gus aid is now bringing about ou
blessed independence. Cuba must STAN
alone, with a dead past and gloriou
future.
} "You must never speak Of what ha
passed; never relate the thrilling ste
! ries of the struggle for liberty. Al
that belongs now to the history of you
: country, and the repetition Of our pas
sufferings only fosters that irritatio
Of spirit which brings disunion an
lack of harmony. Let all that be; tai
! and think rather of future glories tina
, past sufferings.
"If you would see Cuba prosperou
; and happy you must work with tina
- single purpose in your hearts. Look I
the education of your children. Teac
them 10 be good citizens. The best b'
!. ginning is TO preserve the heart an
soul from anarchy, to lay aside thought
J OF strife when the sword is cast asid
and live in the future for peace. homo
: the prosperity of the nation and th
glory Of God.
"For myself, If / survive the war an