The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-03-08
GOMEZ AND CUBA LIBRE
The Patriot Leader Discusses
the Islands Future.
GRATITUDE TO THE AMERICANS.

American and Cuban EIa&s Float
ing Together Over the Island.
SCUBA free, independent and its peo-
pie united for honest government, peace
and prosperity" That is what Maxine
Gomez says is his hope for the future
SCUBA, said General Gomez to a
newspaper interviewer at Matanzas
where he was recently given an ova-
4ion, "must decide its own future, and
/ realize that the present problems are
quite as serious as those solved by force
Of arms, and that the independence for
which blood has been so freely spilled
might be thrown away by a few acts of
folly. But the conduct of the real Gu
bans since the protocol was signed by
Spain and the United States must chal-
lenge the admiration of the world Our
forces, half of them without sufficient
nourishment, have kept the peace and
compelled the camp followers. who
focked to us when victory was assured
to observe the laws
"Brigandage might have been ex-
pected but there has been none Some
Spanish guerrillas recently began depre-
dations. and the Cubans have suppress
ed them No reprisals have been levied
upon those who did not favor our cause
during the instruction.
'We now invite all classes to join us
in forgetting that war ever divided the
~ ho w
ton is to see Cuba free and Independent
and its people united for honest govern
ment, peace and prosperity This can
be accomplished more easily than many
think The Spaniards in Cuba are dis
playing a willingness to meet the Gu
bans half way They are beginning to
learn that we desire peace and protec-
ton for all
Since Jan. l sentiment throughout
Cuba has changed materially Another
two months will see all classes frater-
nizing One year will do more to blot
out the hatreds engendered by the in
surrectiOn than ten did to reconcile the
people of the north and south after the
civil war in the United States
There has been so much misrepre-
sentation of facts that the American
people are perhaps not blameworthy if
they have misjudged the Cubans but
of one thing you may be sure-all Gu
bans acknowledge their deep debt of
gratitude to the Americans Go where
you will in this island and you will
find the Cuban and American flags
floating together But that does not
mean that the people wish the latter to
replace the former
- Ii good judgment and forbearance
be used, Cuba will ever acknowledge
a commercial and sentimental allie
glance to the United States. but those
who have risked their lives and those
who have sacrificed loved ones at the
call of patriotism cannot be expected to
relinquish their fondest hopes. even at
the invitation of that friend who held
out had almost said tardily-a help
ing hand in the hour of need
Patriotism and love of country can
never properly be weighed in the bal
ance against gold, yet many American
periodicals say that the Cubans are
blind because they cannot see the fnan-
cial advantage Of linking their fate
with the United States The Cuban
birthright is not for sale
Now let me say that unless l great
ly misjudge the people of the United
States, the majority of them will de-
mand the redemption of those promises
NV
clans in the United States form dan
gerous element, as they do in all other
countries, but they cannot control the
will of the people, in whose hands the
future Of Cuba is safe
''YOu ask what proportion of the in
surgent troops will return to their or
binary vacations when the forces are
disbanded The same proportion that
has kept the peace since the war ended
all of them. They want enough
money to give them proper start and
hope some means will be discovered
of providing that those who return to
the fields should have yoke of oxen
and seed
Much can be accomplished with the
80, 600, 600 provided by President Nc
Klnley, but more will be needed. With
Cuba's natural resources pledged as Sc
curity there will be little difficulty in
securing loan sufficient to pay the
army in full Those who are entitled
TO pay will have it Those who are not
entitled will receive not one cent There
VIII be no padded rolls But this is a
matter which can be discussed with
better Judgment after | have reached
Havana and conferred with the Ameri.
can officials