The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-06
GOMEZ'S FAREWELL.
Issues a SOrrOwfuI Manifesto
to the Cuban Army.

Havana, June 6-Gen Maxine
Gomez, the former commander-in-chief
of the Cuban army, will issue his fare
well manifesto today. In substance it
will say: THE mission I have been
entrusted with is concluded. 1 have at
tempted to find a solution of questions
concerning the army which command
ed during the bloodest war known in
America. I am now leaving regretfully
to attend to necessary private business.
A parting word to the people for whom
I have sacrificed thirty years of my
life and to my friends in the army just
disbanded, which action should have
been taken instantly after the removal
of the bloody weight of Spain's merci-
less regime. We armed ourselves and
therefore now we no longer want SOL
diers, bit men for the maintenance of
peace and order, which are the basis of
Cuba'S future welfare.
1T is necessary to understand that
the nation in this epoch most difficult
and uneQualled in history should avail
itself of the opportunity to show it pos
SeSSeS virtues in spite of the vices
caused by colonial government and the
harshness of warlike life. We wanted
and depended upon foreign intervention
to terminate the war. This occurred at
the most terrible moment of our contest
and resulted in SPANS defeat.
But none of US thought this extraor-
binary event would be- followed by
military occupation of the country by
our allies by a people who treat us as a
people incapable of acting for ourselves
and who have reduced US to obedience,
to submission and to the tutelage i'm
posed by force of circumstances. 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 Ameri-
cans accepted in the protocol and which
is as disagreeable for them as for our
selves. This aid will prove useless
without concord among all the island
ers. Therefore it is necessary to forget
past disagreements to completely unite
al elements and to organize a politi-
cal party which is needed in any coun-
try.
1T is always said that countries have
the government which they merit and
Cuba will have that which her heroism
entitled her to. Today she can only
have one party in Cuba with one object
that of obtaining the expiration of
years
I'VE must devote ourselves to pacific
labOrs; gain the respect of the world
and show that though our war was
honorable, our peace must be more so.
I'VE must make useless by our be-
haViOr, the presence of a strange power
in the island and must assist the Amer
leans to complete the honorable mission
they have been compelled to assume by
force of circumstances. This work was
not sought by these rich northerners,
owners of a continent. I think doubts
and suspicious are unjust. We must
form Immediately committee or a
club to be a nucleus of government.
This will serve Cuban interests purely
and act aid to the interveners.
Il, as one of the first CubanS, al
though one of our last soldiers and not
far from the grave, without passions,
or ambitions, call on you with the sin
certify of a father and urge a cessa-
ton of the superf1uous discussions and
the creation of parties of all kinds
which disturb the country and tend to
cause anarchy.
In this country there should be no
man whom we consider a stranger. To-
day we no longer have automonists or
conservatives, but only Cubans. 1 will
absent myself temporarily to embrace
my family, but will return shortly to
Cuba, which I love as much as my own
land.
MY last words for my soldiers are
that as always where my tent is the
Cubans have a. friend