Arizona republican., 1899-03-02
General Gomez Talks About 1t
 at Havana.
WANTS TO SEE ISLAND FREE
Believes One Year Will Do More 10 ~ Blot Out HafredS Of inc War Than Tan Years Did fo Reconcile North and South After American Civil War-Not in Favor Of An- nexation Of Cuba.

Havana March 1.-"Cuba free, inde- pendent and it's people united for hon. est government, peace and prosperity .
 That is what Maximo Gomez says is
 his hope for the future. The old gen-
 eral spoke of his plans and aspira- tfons He is in good humor and fairly
 good health, having disposed of the
 cold which gripped his lungs last week His attempt to create a per sonaI following among the Spaniards of inc island has met with 8 greater measure Of success than he expectd, and he is c0rrspondingly e.ated.
 Cuba" said General Gomez, must decide it's own future, and 1 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 50 freely spilled might be thrown away by 6 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 as sured, to observe the laws. Brigandage might have been expected, but there has been none. Some Spanish guer- rillas recently began depredations, and the Cubans have suppressed them
 Nc repTisals have been levied upon h0 T q during the insurrection We now in vite all classes to join us in forgetting that war ever divided the people of the island. My greatest ambition is to see Cuba free nd independent and it's people united fer honest government, peace and prosperity. This can be ac- complished more easily than many think. The Spaniards in Cuba are displaying willingness to meet the Cubans half way They are beginning to learn that we desire peace and pco- lection for all. Since January 1 senti- 1nent throughout Cuba has changed materially. Another two months will see all classes fraternizing. One year will do more to blot out the ha,treds en- gendered by the instruction than ten did to reconcile the people of the north and south after the civil war iE the United States"
 It was with the greatest difficulty that General Gomez WIS persuaded to discuss the relations existing betwaen Cuba and the United @Cates. At last, however, he said: There has been 50 much misrepresentatioG Of facts that the American people are. perhaps, not blameworthy if they have misjudged the Cubans; but of one thing you may be su1e-alI Cubans acknowledge their deep debt of gratitude to the Ameri- cans. Go where you will in this island, and you will find the Cuban and Amer ican flags floating toGe5her. But that does not mean that the people wish the latter to replace the former If good judgment and forbearance be used, Cuba will ever >2cknOwledge a commercial and sentimental allegiance to the United States, but those who have risked their lives and have sacri- feed loved ones at the call of patriot ism cannot be expected to relinguish thelr fondest hopes, even at the invita- ton of that friend who held out-I had almost said tardily-a helping hand in the hour of need. Patriotism and love of country can never properly r. weighed in the balance against gol;i. yet many American periodicals say that the Cu5ans are blind because they cannot see the financial advantages of linking their fates with the United States The Cuban bi-tnright is no, for sale. Much can te accomplished with the $3000, GOO provided by Presi- dent Mckinley, but more will be needed. With CubaE natural re- sources pledged as security, there will be little difficulty in securing a loan sufficient to pay the army in full"