The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-21

"a parting word to the people for whom
have sacrificed thirty years OF my life,
and to my friends in the army just dis
banded, which disbandment should have
been instantly after the removal of the
bloody weight OF Spain's merciless regime,
longer want soldiers but men for the main
tenance OF peace and order, which are the.
basis Of Cuba's future welfare.
1--WE wanted and depended upon foreign
Intervention to terminate the war. This
occurred at the most terrible moment OF
our contest, and resulted In Spaln's defeat.
But none Of US thought that this extraor-
dinary event would be followed by a mill
tary occupation OF the country by our al.
lies, who treat US as q people incapable ct
acting for ourselves, and who have re-
duced US to obedience, to submission, and
to q tutelage imposed by force OF circum-
stances. This cannot be our ultimate fate
after the years Of struggle, and we should
aid by every pacific method in finishing
the work OF organizing, which the Amerl-
cans accepted in the protocol, and which Is
as disagreenble for them as for ourselves.
This aid will prove useless without con-
cord among all the islanders. Therefore
1t Is necessary to forget past disagree
ments, to completely unite all elements,
and to organize political party, which Is
neeled In any country.
at Is always said that countries have tue
government which they merit, Gnd Cuba
will have that to which hero;sm entitle her.
o-day she can only have one purity, with
one object, that of obtaining the aspiration
OF years.
1--WE must devote ourselves to pacific la
bors, gain tie respect OF the world, aud
show that though our war was honorable,
our peace must be more 80.
"We must make useless by our behavior
the presence Of a strange power In the isl.
and, and must assist the Americans to
complete the hon orable mission which they
have been compelled to assume by force Of
circumstances. This work was not sought
by those rich northerners, owners OF con-
tinent. think doubts and suspicious are
unjust. We must form Immediately COM
mittee or club, to be nucleus OF q Govern
ment. This will serve Cuban interests
purely, and act as an aid 10 the inter-
venors. ,.
IT, as one Of the first Cubans, although
one OF our last old soldiers and not far
from the grave, without passions or ambt-
tions, call on you with the sincerity OF
father, and urge q cessation Of the super
huous discussions and the creation Of par
ties Of all kinds, which disturb the country
and tend to cause anarchy. In this
country there should not be one man
whom we consider a stranger. To-day we
no longer have Autonomists or Conserva-
tives, but only Cubans. .
"My mission having ended, will absent
myself tenn porarily to embrace my family.
but will return shortly to Cuba, which l
love rs much as my own land.
MY last words for my soldiers are that:
as always where my tent is the Cubans
have a friend"
This farewell manifesto Is the principal
topic OF conversation among Americans
and Cubans OF all shades OF politics. The
Americans, for the most part, consider 1t
an affecting address, expressing tho real
views OF the old patriot, and also his siu-
csre intention to retire from public Lille.
His Cuban admirers say the address will
rank among the most famous In history. -,
It Is not thought probable that General
Gomez will leave Havana before July l.
After visiting San Domingo, he expects to
return to Cuba in order to remove the body
OF his son, Francisco Gomez, who was
killed with General Antonio Maceo. He
desires to re-inter the body in his native
land.