The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-26

NEW YORK, March pa dispatch
to the Tribune" from Havana says:
Word has been received by the "Tri-
bune" correspondent, direct from Gen
eral Gomez at his camp near Sancti
Spiritus, in Santa Clara Province. y
week ago. when the messenger left him,
he was in excellent health and was
planning an insurgent campaign, which
should follow the expected recognition
of Cuban independence by the United
States.
Apparently he did not think Spain
would Immediately accept intervention
or mediation by the Washington Adj
minisuration, and he believed the recog-
milton of independence would follow the
refusal. Such action he regarded as a
natural sequence to the Maine incident
and the other incidents bearing upon
the position taken in the President 5
December message. While preparing to
take advantage of whatever is done,
Gomez does not look for an early end
ing of the Cuban war. His idea is that
Spain will continue such fighting as has
been going on, and Will not at once
abandon the island.
His military plans are based upon this
insurgents that they must not expect
immediate independence as a fact fol-
lowing the declaration The insurgent
commander seems to think that, while
Spain will not now accept the good Of
fees of the United States, she might
ultimately do so. Then, he believes, the
best proposition is for the purchase of
the island by the Cubans under guar
antpe nv the United States
That is best for all parties, was his
language.
We could. perhaps. pay $200000,00G
for independence. If Spain viii not
take that, she Will take nothing away
from Cuba except her war debt If she
will accept indemnity before it is too
late, we can pay it. The guarantee of
the United States would be in the ma
ture of : protectorate. Annexation
would not follow. We know the Amer
lean people do not want to annex Cuba.
All they want is a commercial treaty
giving them trade advantages which
are naturally theirs.
Il hore continued General Gomez,
there will be no war between the
United States and Spain. 1t would be
costly The Spaniards are senselessly
blind TO their own weakness. Besides, l
fear that if hOstilities between the
two countries comes. it will add to the
burdens Of the Cubans when independ-
ence is secured. The island is a desert
and viii remain SO while SPANS rule
continues. Too much should not be
laid upon it when peace comes"
The Tribune" correspondent in
formant says that Gomez discussed the
relations of Spain and the United
States several times, and always in Ian
guage showing his earnest desire that
the American people might be spared
war. His anxiety was deep. 1t is
probable that Gomezs sentiments on
this matter will be communicated to
President Mckinley. He is more con-
cerned over it than over anything else.
He appears to think that, in case of
war Cuba would be asked to pay a
portion of the war expenses, which the
resources of the island would not be
sufficient to meet.
Gomez dismissed the suggestion of
modifying autonomy so that it would
be acceptable to the insurgents with d
single word. They viii treat with Spain
on no basis except that of outright in
dependence. This is absolute. He
spoke with bitterness of some members
of the Autonomist Government who
were engaged in trying to win his fol-
lowers by bribery, saying that the Gu
bans would remember them. These eff
forts. he declared, were futile, as was