The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-12
LETTER FROM GOMEZ
Sent to President Mckinley Through
Consul General Lee.

On Feb. Is, Gen. Lee transmitted letter
with its. translation signed by the insurgent
commander-in- chief, Gen. Gomez, addressed
to President Mckinley. Gen. Lee says the
letter was delivered by a messenger, who al
once departed before he or had any COM
munication with him. The letter is as fol-
lows:
The heroic Cuban people possess as a char
acteristic quality Of its model being, and de-
veloped to a high degree one of the most
notable sentiments, namely, gratitude; who
self forever the lively recognition of the sons
Of Cuban soil.
Your great people has given the whole
world an example Of lofty virtue and to the
shame and stain Of Spain; not only has II
shown compassion before the great mis-
fortunes brought on Cuba by the ferocious
Spanish policy, but has extended a helping
hand to the unhappy victims of the warfare
carried on by the army of the American ma
ton.
The gratitude of this people must be on a
par y, with G that great and generous impulse;
and II Cuba, by it's geographical situation and
the necessity of Its commercial existence Is
called to maintain, once 1t Is free and for
the mutual benefit Of both countries, closer
any other nation whatever from this day
forward, Cuba will consider herself bound
by closer tie in the affection it bears for
the noble American magnanimity.
However true and minute may be the re-
ports that you have heard. never will you be
able to form just conception Of all the
bIoodshed, the misery. the ruin and the sor-
row caused to the afflicted Cubans, to obtain
her independence and how the despotic spirit
OF Spain, 1rritated to the last degree before
the most Just Of all rebellion has revelled in
the most lmplacable destruction Of every
thing, lives and property.
Inc nation which at one time adopted the
lnqulsition and invented its tortures lastly
conserved the concentration scheme. the most
horrible Of all means to annihilate an entire
people, and if it has stopped in the path of
aestrucGon It is due in great measure to
tne cry OF Indignation which the knowledge
OF such horrors unanimously drew from the
states over which you govern
The people saved from extinction and whose
evils your gifts assuage, is the people for
whose liberty we daily shed our blood on the
fields OF battle; the country whose independ
ence we now win at the point of the sword
for them is also for US; blood of our blood
al ana h e, OF our fesh-we must rejoice with
them IN their joys as we weep and sympathize
with them in their sorrows and griefs
Be not surprised then that as the general
in-chief OF this Cuban army, l am so deeply
moved at the wave of compassion which agi-
tates your noble country, and that I accede
to request Of the patriots l command to ap-
pear before you, representative, of great
nation as the exponent of our immense graft
tuSe
have therefore, sir, to fulfill conscien-
tous duty by setting forth fact which beg
you will please transmit to the knowledge Of
the persons to whom Is recommended the
philanthropic mission of succoring the I'M
happy, destitute Cubans and in order that ig-
norance Of certain antecedents may not de-
prive any needy ones Of the enjoyment Of
that American charity.
The revolution as absolute master of the
country has never prohibited any citizen,
whatever his nationality, from earning his
living, and 1t has happened that as soon as
the barbarous concentration decree was alb
rogated innumerable families have left and
still leave the city for the fields, impelled by
hunger to wrest from the fruitful Cuban veg
citation the means of relieving the most press
ing needs of life. Those unhappy beings ig-
more the fact that II the Spaniards by steel
and by privation have shrouded their hearths
in mourning so also it may be said that the
fora Of Cuba was In mourning, devastated by
the bullet and torch.
Therefore being in the same circumstances
as these unfortunates, have the same moral
right to participate in the relief furnished to
needy Cubans by your generous people.
Many widow, many mother, many an
orphan do we meet in our way who asks of
succor that we able to give but SPAR
ingly, and thereupon pointing out to them
the charity awakened in their behalf in your
noble national desire to honor myself by
offering my services to cooperate in the no.
BILE work with all the power and means Of
the forces I command. I am, sir, with the
most distinguished consideration.
(SigneO Gomez.