Evening star., 1899-03-13
GOMEZ GLAD OF FREEDOM
Former Cuban General Takes Els Dismissal
Philosopbically.
He Will Return to His Abandoned
Home. Ever Retaining Friend
ship for CMba.

General Maximo Gomez Ehas issued the
following statement to the Cuban people
and army:
"Ry the use of the supreme faculties with
which it is endowed. the assembly repre-
senting the army only, has deposed me as
commander-in-chef of the Cuban army
which grade it conferred upon me during
the late war. AS commander-in-chiefI |
always followed the dictates of my best
conscience and the call of great national
needs I endeavored in all circumstances
to fulfill my duty.
THE assembly considers the fact that l
do not aid it in efforts to raise loans which
later would compromise the greatest tinan-
cial and political interests of Cuba to be
an act of insubordination and of want of
respect. The primary cause for the action
taken against me is my conviction that
Cuba should begin the exercise of its own
sovereignty republic of union and con-
cord. proclaimed at Monte Cristo and sus-
tanned unimpaired on the field of battle,
free from all compromise, keeping the ma
tlonS honor SpotlesS. =.
AS for the rest as sincere man, l con-
TESS | thank them, because they relieve me
of great political obligations, and also
leave me free to return to my abandoned
home, which, during thirty years of con-
tinual strife for the good of this country
that l love so much, has been my one as
plraton. Foreigner as l am, / did not
come to serve this country by helping If to
defend it's just cause as mercenary SOL
dier; and. consequently, since the oppress-
i've power of Spain has withdrawn from
this land and left Cuba in freedom. l had
sheathed my sword thinking l had fin
ished the mission which l had voluntarily
imposed upon myself am owed nothing
/ retire contented and satisfied at having
done all | could for the benefit of my broth
ers. Wherever destiny rules that | make
my nome there the CubdnS 1eppD6
upon a friend
A dispatch from Havana yesterday saws:
Governor General Brooke was notified last
night OF the deposition of Gomez, and when
seen this morning he was much interested
to learn the details of the assembly's pro-
ceedings He said he could not express an
opinion as to the effect of the aSsembly'S
action upon the future relations between
General Gomez and the United States par
ticularly in the matter of diSburSng the
$S,GJ0,o00 offered by Washington to the Gu
ban troops as a condition of disbandnlent,
hut the impression seems to be among the
American authorities that, as the assembly
has never been officially recognized by the
United States government. its action, so far
as Washington is concerned, will not
amount to more than the resolutions of any
other body of individuals.
The assembly is being strongly censured
by Cubans on all sides. and there were
popular demonstrations this afternoon In
favor of the deposed Communicated chief,
the crowds shouting Long live Gomez
and Death to the assembly" .,
General Gomez during the 'day received
numerous visitors all of whom assured
him of their affection and loyalty, and that
the declarations by the assembly on what
ever subject could not represent even the
army, as the elections which gave its MEM
bers their present positions are really void
abe for illegality and political iobbery
There is no doubt that a majority of the
people support him against the assem-
bly, The local press Will probably attack
the assembly. urging It's dissolution as the
best thing that can happen. and insisting
that there is no reason why the United
states authorities may not continue to
treat with General Gomez in the matter
of the payment of the troops.
At the session of the Cuban assembly
Saturday the final ballot resulted in twenty
SIX votes being cast in support of the mo-
ton to impeach and remove General Co
meZ against four in opposition.
Senor Aguerro said that Gomez was in
subordinate and should be punished, and
Senor Sanguily insinuated that the gen
eral was a traitor to Cuba. Much passion
was evident in the speeches, in some of
which Gomez was declared to have been
delinquent in his duties and disobedient be-
cause he had accepted the proposition Of
Robert p. Porter. President McKinley's
specla! emlssary without consulting the as
sembiy, because he had taken upon himself
the arrangement for the payment and dis
armlng of the Cuban troops independent of
the assembly and because he had declared
TO the assembly that he would observe it's
ruilh2S only IN SO far as he considered
them beneficial to Cuba
The assembly voted that the s3 oo0 GOO
for the troops is insufficient and that the
assembly has not yet accepted the PROPOSE
ton.