The sun., 1898-11-18

more widespread than at any time before
The war has ceased. bnt the poor have noth-
ing to eat, and the desperately poor include
lnrre majority OF the inhabitants OF tho coun-
try. There is no money coming into the coun-
try. no work is being done. and the poor can
secure no employment. Until the uniteo
States take military control OF the Island. ana
commerce and agriculture are thereby reViNeu'
the poor must be fed.
W. Il. SAMPSON. Rear Admiral. q. 3. NAVY.
VEDApo. HAVANA. Nov. IS.
TRANSLATION.
To AdntraI sdrapson Member Of tie Ameriean Commit
sion. Harand,
SIR: The difIculties OF living in this district.
tho terrible picture Of mortality. tho desolated
condition OF the surroundings. impose upon me
the duty OF writing to you, who, In the conflict
with Spain. have taken such an important part;
to you. who are one OF the most important rep
resentatives OF the great American republic.
II every man has great duties to perform
when portion OF his race is threatened with
cruel and painful death. many more have those
who occupy a high Official position. their own
public having invested them with the right to
have control OF public life: therefore IL Ia in
cumbent on them to remedy the great misfor-
tunes. to relieve sufferinRs. finally not to leave
without succor their fellow creatures, from
among whom many are rapidly disappear
ing. I beg you to relieve the suffering con-
dition OF the Division OF the Liberating
Army under my command; do not ask you to
relieve the valiant soldier who knew how to
bear for three and half years in campaign
savage and inhuman life; our soldiers are
acquainted with the life OF privations. and
know how to die without a murmur. speak
to you In thename OF women and children. OF
the aged and OF invalids: speak to you in the
name Of whole families whose destruction is
certain II generous hand is not soon extended
to help them out OF their present condition.
This district Of sancti Spiritus felt the horrible
weight OF the invasion Of Weyler. which caused
so much generous indignation in your country.
We witnessed then vandalic acts against fam
flies that tore our very souls asunder. as it was
easier for the" noble" Spanish chiefs to secure
victims among them than to secure them
among us in the open field: thus it was that
misery has been augmented In the working
element OF Cuba, their rags and miserable
huts burned. having had to fly for their
lives and use all kinds Of precautions
to save themselves from death. When
the American Intervention reduced Spain to
the impossibility Of continuing the destruction
OF lives and property, these country people saw
their salvation and blessed from their far-away
hiding places the nation that gave or performed
sacrificing the lives and properties OF It's clti
zens. They believed that peace was at hand to
save them. and that the era OF sufferings and
privations had ceased. that peace would reign
and progress extend itself or its wings over un-
fortunate Cuba also.
What deception! The force OF circum stances.
the impressions. the ignorance OF 80 much
misery. and more than all these the poverty
prevailing through all the social classes Of
Cuba, have condemned these families to the
most painful torments
Never had these unfortunates suffered 30
much. never had there been so many sorrowful
episodes and never had the threatening wave
terrorized them as now. when peace with Spain
is already signed. and when the island OF Cuba
is under the protection of the country of Wash
inRton.
had hoped to heal some sores. to steal some
victims from death. Some Of my representa-
tives had solicited their mite from the Cuban
patriots in order to save this part OF the popu-
lation. the purest Of all because it sustained
itself by honest labor in close intimacy with its
homes and with patriarchal habits. while now.
sick. it is reduced to absolute inactivity.
but an adverse fate deprived us OF cargo
Of provisions which was swallowed up
by the sea on the 22d OF last month
on the coast Of Pinar del Rio. cannot now
ask for another Offering from those who have
given their all: cannot ask that the poor
shall save from horrible misery other poor. as
the result OF such action can easily be con-
ceived. have read in some OF the newspapers
OF the capital that you had ordered some OF
the provisions arriving in Cuba by steamer
City Of Antonio to be distributed in the prov
ince OF Pinar del Rio where starvation is also
rampant among Cuban families.
pray you. therefore, that you repeat such
noble act that you save many innocent beings
now suffering. and thus show yourself still
more worthy Of the nation you represent.
repeat that ask nothing for my soldiers,
nothing for the sick Of our military organiza-
ton. / ask you in the name of humanity, of
justice to our fellow beings. for the sake Of the
noble idea Of saving community. And do not
forget that in this part Of the island a hecatomb
has commenced which will annihilate our
agriculturists If you do not promptly come to
our aid with radical remedies.
wish that you send your committees. II you
deem proper. 10 distribute the provisions and
medicines.
shall be satisfied II from my having ad-
dressed you. SO many hundreds of lives OF
workmen may be snatched from death.
make use Of this opportunity to offer myself
to you with the greatest consideration and re-
spect. as your most attentive and sure servant.
who salutes you. JOSH M. GOMEZ.
SANoT1 SP1RITus Cuba. Nov. /.