The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-22
GOMEZ TO THE CUBANS.
The Old Warrior Admonishes His
Followers to Show Wisdom, Self
restraint and Liberality in Up
building the Liberty Before Them.

restraint and Liberality in Up
building the Liberty Before Them.
A recent proclamation OF General
Maxine Gomez to the people of Cuba
demonstrates that the great Cuban SOL
dier is a statesman as well, full of un-
selfish patriotism and cherishing the
highest ideals for the future of the
little republic and its people. The proc
lamation in part is as follows:
"Cubans: The day is drawing near
when the war will be over; all strife
shall cease and Cuba, free Cuba, will
stand forth in her place among the
civilized countries of the world. That
it become so quickly and without hav-
ing previously to go through trials and
internal tribuations as bad or worse
than war itself rests with you. You
must select for the directors of the des-
TIMES 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 bloody
fight for independence.
You must see that the ministers and
administra tors of the country whom
you select are not men who will lavish
honors and luXuries on themselves
while Cuba is as yet unreconstructed
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 own 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 eduction. 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 max
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 if he asks too
much and makes too many preten-
sions, he Cheapens his honors. Observe
strictly the law, for that alone is a
guarantee for all in every part of the
world.
II myself counsel the sublime ideal
of liberty, 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 the
people with majesty and grandeur.
There must be no petty hatreds, no
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 ene-
| mics, and when you go to the glorious
tombs Of our brothers who died for the
liberty which we shall enjoy to deck
them with flowers, watered with the
tears of warriors, let your hearts in
that blest hour be free from all hatred
Il do not want to see you blinded
with the passions of victory or flushed
with the false pride that has lost so
many l have seen men begin great
for their country and end small be-
cause of that. Do not forget that
while the sword is good to govern and
direct in time of war it is not so in
times of peaVe. At such times il is not
the sword, but the word of the law
which must keep the people in har-
mony and prosperity. You must
quickly bring about an established
civil government, for military rule is
too harsh to sweetly interpret the
spirit of that same law.
Law is order, and the order of peace
ana good will must follow the chaotic
condition in which our beloved country
has been now for three years. Let
each Cuban patriot, with the interests
of his country and his brothers at
heart, do all in his individual power
to bring about such a desirable condi-
ton. 1t is to be our province to gov
ern ourselves; let us show to the
United States, and to the nations of
the world as well, that we are capable
of taking upon ourselves such a grave
responsibility. Our future prosperity
depends hereafter upon our own eff
forts. Let us not be compelled TO own
that we have failed and to again seek
aid in governing ourselves from that
country whose generous aid is now
bringing about our blessed indepen-
dence. Cuba must stand alone, with a
dead past and glorious future.
You must never speak of what has
passed; never relate the thrilling
stories of the struggle for liberty. All
that belongs now to the history of
your country, and the repetition of our
past sufferings only fosters that irri-
tation of spirit which brings dsunion
and lack of harmony. Let all that be;
talk and think rather of future glories
than past sufferinGs.
IF you would see Cuba prosperous
and happy you must work with that
single purpose in your hearts. Look
to the education of your children.
Teach them 10 be good citizens. The
best beginning is to preserve the heart
and soul from anarchy to lay aside
thoughts Of strife when the sword is
| cast aside, and live in the future for
peace, honor, the prosperity of the
nation, and the glory of God
For myself, if l survive the war
and live to see Cuba free and self-gov-
erning, / shall be happy in some small
corner of my beloved country where
/ shall always pray that God may visit
his blessings upon our people and our
land. Maxine Gomez"