The record-union., 1898-01-31
A CHIEF TO A GENERAL.

There is published as coming by wire
from Havana on Saturday, what pur-
ports to be a letter from Gomez to
BIanco rejecting the proposition of the
latter offering Gomez safety and money
for desertion of his cause. If the text
of the letter is verify, if there is no de-
ception in this matter, then the response
Of the aged insurgent chief is one Of the
most remarkable, courageous and spir-
ited replies ever made by one chieftain
to another
From this letter it would seem that
Gomez had agreed to meet Blanco TO
confer upon ways and plans for bringing
the bloodshed era in Cuba to an end.
But when Blanco departed to meet Co
1nez, or at least to draw near enough
to him to enable communications to pass
rapidly between them, the Captain
General sent to the insurgent chief
proposition that Spain would send ship
to any point on the Cuban coast that
Gomez might name to receive him and
his family and convey them wherever
away from Cuba they might wish to go
and that Spain would furnish the in
surgent with all needful money for his
easy support for the remaining years of
his life
This offer to desert his cause and fol-
lowers appears not only to have as
founded but to have deeply grieved Co
mez. 1t seems to have shocked him with
the knowledge that a soldier he had
held to be gentleman should make SO
base proposal to him. In his indigna-
ton he notifies the Captain General
that the latter is far more in need Of a
ship to carry him away from Cuba than
is the hunted chieftain Gomez He
bursts forth in these eloquent strains
which no characterization can adequate
~ describe:
l felt so much astounded when L
learned all this, felt so ashamed, more
for you, General Blanco, than for my
self, that in the flrst moments I was be-
numbed, not knowing whether such a
heinous proposal could be reality or a
nightmare. Have / reached my present
age, fighting, as have done for thirteen
Years In the field for the independence of
Cuba, and for thirty years cherishing
that Ideal as the greatest in my life
only that you or any one should believe
that at the end of my journey l should
cover myself with ignominy by accept
ing the base reward of money from a
Spanish Captain-General for the cow
ardly abandonment of my army.
Are you sane, General Blanco? Do
you not remember that blow of a ma
chete which the hand Of a Spanish as
sasSin inflicted at Punta Bravo, near the
spot where Maceo died, upon that soul
OF my soul. young and brave Francisco
Gomez? Do you think I can forgive
that? Have you ever been a father? Be-
sides these conSi derations, which ought
10 have checked you in your shame
ful project, there Is another that is no
less clear. I am not in a position. Cen
eral Blanco which requires l should be
looking for a steamer to take me from
this island. You had better look for a
steamer yourself, for Of the two you need
it most. Up to the present day am on
the winners side. l represent a revolu-
ton that is stronger than ever after
three years Of war. You represent
Spain. weaker than ever, humiliated by
the American Government, with only a
limited time before you in which to
end this war. There is no pressure
weighing upon me from abroad The
days 10 come are not full of threaten
ings for me. but they are full OF hope;
and furthermore, while your cause has
prejudice and tradition as its only sup
port, the cause of Cuba has the full
sympathy, the world over, of every lover
of justice and liberty.
There lives no man with heart that
beats warm With manly impulses, who
can read that defiance and not feel re-
spect and pride for the grizzled old
Cuban, tottering on the verge of the
grave. but battling still as if the red
blood of youth coursed in his veins. ii
Spain cannot conquer her rebels save
by buying their chiefs with gold to prove
themselves traitors, poltroons and de-
spicable rascals, her cause is weak in
deed.
The verr offer made to Gomez is a
confession OF weakness 1t much as
says that without bribery Spain is harm
less against the insurgents, that the