Evening star., 1898-09-16
GEN. MAXIMO GOMEZ
The Cuban Commander May Visit
Washington.
COMING CONGRESS- At CAMAGUEY
Doubt as to Who Will Be Named
as President.
INDEPENDENCE EXPERIMENT

ington. If he accepts the advice of some
of his supporters he will undoubtedly do
so. The suggestion was made some time
ago, when there was prospect of friction
with the insurgents in getting them TO lay
down their arms, that it would be a good
thing if their commander-in-chiefc came to
the United States. No trouble, however,
has yet arisen with the Insurgents in
gard to disbandng. For the most part
they have shown willingness to disinte
CRATE an armed force and 20 wait pa
tiently what was promised them when the
war should conclude. This was largely due
to the attitude of General Gomez, who
counseled acquiescence in the temporary
military occupation of Cuba by United
States troops. The Cuban junta in New
York also eXerted itself to the same end.
Dispatches from Havana now indicate that
some of the questions which it was thought
would require months for their solution
are coming rapidly to head, and That
have to be determined within the next few
weeks.
One Aim of Leaders.
One aim of the Cuban leaders is 20 show
that large military garrison will not have.
to be maintained by the United States in
Cuba, and for that purpose they are de-
voting all their energies to preyer- agita-
ton for reprisals against the Spaniards
A long step in the direction of Cancellation
is the plan of the Cubans to persuade the
Spanish classes not to join in the move
ment for annexation. They may not fully
succeed IL this, but the expectation is t:lat
they will at least succeed in showing that
the antagonism between the two races is
not so strong as to threaten future disor-
der or to call for the presence of the Amer
| lean army. 1t is recognized in Washing
ton that with the departure of the peace
commission for Paris npIa- 5afp 10
structions regarding the Philippines, the
questions growing out of the cuban situa-
ton will again become prominent. The ir-
ritaton over the action of th- Spanish au-
thorltles in preventing the landing of
American food supplies is now a lniuor con-
slderatton. The same may be saiG of the
evacuation of the island by the Spanish
forces. While the action of Spain has been
provoking and is still annoying. the issue
| is not important. The commission now at
havana is expected to see to it that the
Spanish soldiers begin to embark some
time during October, and when the first
embarkation takes place American rriii-
tary occupation will begin and the govern
ment Will be administered as il has h.en
at santiago. Whatever hope the Spanish
authorities may have had of controlling
the customs houses until spcIny viii he
dispelled by the 1st of November at the
latest 1t is intended that the Havana Gus
TOMS mouse Shall be administered through
American agencies.
VI AAA ~ government.
When this military occupation begins If
Is the intention of the Cuban leaders to
of1er the evidence that the time has come
for the formation of the stable government
to which the United States is committed
by the declaration of the administration
and the action of Congress Instead of an
indefinite military occupation drifting
along, they will endeavor to show that all
elesses III the Island are ready for the eX-
pertinent OF independence. This is the real
purpose OF the Cuban congress- which is to
be held at Camaguey in October In the
ADDRESS which has been put forward under
the name OF President Masso, this purpose
Is clearly foreshadowed. The address is
adrolt, and makes it plain that no attempt
Is to be made TO exercise authority which
would bring the Cubans in conflict with
the United States. While officials of tba
so-cailed republic will be named il will NOT
be with the notion that the functions of
government are to be exercised Instead
the aim will be to demonstrate that this
government represents the aspirations of
the Cuban people and has their confidence
AT the same time the Spaniards who will
remain in Cuba will be invited to cooper
ATE. More or this cooperation is expected
from the Spanish classes in the interior
than from those in Havana. 1t will be for
the United States to determine how far
this Cuban government or Cuban republic
has the support and confidence of the peo-
pie of the island, but the test will be invited
without delay.
The Next President.
There is much doubt to who will be
named for president by the congress at
Camaguey. If Cuba had been able to
achieve its independence unaided Gen Max
imo Gomez would have been the first presi-
dent of the republic. A year ago at the
convention which was held the Cuban con-
sttution was changed, so that in order to
become president it was not necessary to
be native of Cuba. This was for the
benefit of General Gomez who was born in
San Domingo. 1t is well known that the
ambition of the old generals life was to be
the first president of the Cuban republic
Contrary to the common belief. he was
strenuously opposed to the United States
going TO war with Spain, because he recog-
nized that out of such war might arise con
ditlons which would make an independent
government impracticable Up to the time
of the Maine explosion he chung to the hope
that Spain could be induced through the
good offices OF the United States to yield
control of Cuba for an indemnity of 500
O00O00 After that he had hope, Re
Gently he has been represented as saying
that he intended to return to his home in
San Domingo as soon as Cuba was provided
with free government. There is some
thing of the politician in this talk. Never
theless, the sincerity and patriotism of Cen
eral Gomez are universally recognized. 1t
is thought likely that his own judgment
may be against the congress at Camaguey
designating him president, and that his
influence may be greater without official
position of any sort.
Gen. GOmez's Views.
1t is for that reason that some of his fol-
lowers are urging the visit TO the United
States. They think he would be able to
show the advisability of turning the gov
ernment of Cuba over to the people of the
island without delay. They are also as
sured that Gomez will be recognized as a
statesman as we'll as a soldier His first
official declaration after the signing of the
peace protocol was that thenceforth there
were neither conquerors nor CONQUERED in
Cuba. Now that the military commission
in Havana is having brought to its atteo-
ton large number of Spanish officers and
soldiers who want their discharge from the
Spanish army, in order to stay in Cuba ii
is recalled that Gomez months ago antici-
pated this exact condition. At this time he
issued pronunciamento, in which, after
promising the Spanish property owners
that there would be no confiscation and no
reprisals when Cuban government was
established, he also said that he hoped the
Spanish soldiers would remain because
they would be needed in rebuilding the re-
sources of the island.