The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-19
GOMEz'S MANIFESTO.
The Cuban Leaders Advice to the
Patriot Army.
TRUST TIE AMERICANS PROMISE

"Let No Pretext Interfere With tho
Attainment of the Independent Gov
eminent which Is Now Promise by
a Noble Nation"
Havana, May 10. - The expected
manifesto of General Maxine Gomez
was issued last evening. 1t reviews
his part in the negotiations with Gov
ernor General Brooke and speaks OF
his love for. Cuba and his suffering'
on her behalf in the past. General
GomeZ says:
THE hour has now arrived for me to
raise my voice in justification of my
position and to describe the arduous
work | have done since my first visit
to General Brooke. protested to him
against the sum offered by the United
States as insufficient to accomplish the
good intended. While waiting an an
swer to my protest | sought solu-
ton of the question. General Brooke.
representing the chief magistrate or
the United States, announced his in
ability to add to the sum already set.
tied upon.
Spectators then attempted to in
tervene, Offering suggestions which
were refused by me. They presented
a proposition to the military assembly,
but the scheme was frustrated by
President McKinley's refusal to recog-
nize that body. | deemed the forma-
ton of militia practical solution, and
General Brooke, who approved the
fnr pP
views on the subject. To this I re-
piled that 10000 mer were all it would
be possible to get from the former Gu
ban army without distinction as to
race. My answer was sent to President
Mckinley together with a personal
letter giving explicit reasons why such
a corps was necessary.
81 had many conferences with Cen
eral Brooke in my endeavors to dis
cover such plan of payment as would
not exclude the men who had never
carried arms. General Brooke insisted
upon the surrender Of arms before the
receipt Of the money, and l also de-
sired that such arms as had already
been surrendered and such as should
be surrendered hereafter might be de-
liyered to warehouses, in the care of
Cuban armorers, to be paid out of the
Cuban treasury. I do not think 1t a
disgrace that the Cuban soldiers should
receive, from a government which Is
able to pay, sums that will relieve their
immediate needs. Special certificates
will be given to all, redeemable by
the Cuban republic SO soon as 1t is es-
tablished.
Il am convinced that 1t is compatible
with obtaining peace to have an army,
with arms reserved to defend Cuba
against her enemies, and in the mean
time to be guarded as the relics of a
glorious struggle. In my judgment,
whether the arms were disposed Of to
the municipalities or to armorers, 1t
would be all the same under the in
tervening government. The Cuban
commissioners, however, refused to
agree with General Brooke and the
Americans, and declined to fix dates
and places where the Cuban soldiery
could deliver up arms and receive pay
ment from the American paymasters
after Identification by their respective
chiefs"
After further praise of General
Brooke's consideration" and a declara-
ton of his own desire 10 correct an
error existing in Cuba with respect to
the United States, he goes on to say:
II did not act alone. as seems to be
popularity believed, but always con-
suited with our officers. My advice
to you now is for you to return to your
homes with the amounts offered by
the intervening government, and to
practice patience, which will be an ad-
ditlonal proof of your heroism. In
this way we shall reconstruct most
rapidly the homes consecrated by the
blood of martyrs.
Let no p;etext interfere with the at
tainment Of the Independent govern
ment for which three generations of
Cubans have struggled with all sacri-
fee, and which is now promised by a
noble nation, pledged to obtain for us
our rights.
Meanwhile l shall remain where
nm generously invited, among the Gu
bans. | shall work without cessation
for our aspirations, and if 1t happens
that all logical and just methods shall
be exhausted without the desired re-
suit will go to Washington and there
tell of Cuba and her sacred ideals Of
an Independent republic