Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-04-08
LETTER FROM GEN. GOMEZ.
The Old Patriot Tells the story VI
His Troubles TO His Alb
sent Wife.

assembly. lie begins by describing
the situation as it was when Robert p.
Porter, & representative of Mckinley,
visited Cuba after the assembly's rep
resentativcs at Washington had OBJ
tained promise of $4,000 900 from the
president. The writer, proceeding,
says:
Accepted Porter'x Proposition.
This action on the part of the as
scmbly's committee | approved. 1t
was then that Mr.. Porter appeared and
asked me, as commander-in-chief, to
decide to accept the $3.000,0 900, to aid in
its distribution and the disarming Of
tiTe~~rmy-uni 10 procreti forthwith 10
Havana to assist the United States nil
itary governor Gen. Brooke. ! agreed,
and on arriving at Havana, conferred
with Gen. Brooke concerning the pay
mcnt and the disarmament. If was de-
cided that Gen. Brooke should request
Washington to ship TO Cuba the $1,000
COO which had been obtained by the
representatives of the assembly. | saw
to the adjustment of all questions that
led up to the termination of the ridicu-
lous armed strWtion, and began to en-
terrain hopes of an early return TO
Santo Domingo.
Called Before the Assembly.
"The assembly then called upon me
to visit its president, saying that the
object sought was an unofficial ey.
change of ideas. But they placed inc
upon the bench of the accused, my
crime being that | was inclined to ac-
cept the $3,000,000 which the assembly
it'elf, through its representatives, had
induced President Mckinley to prom
Use, a matter as to which | had not
been consulted. 1t appeared that had
broken off negotiations for $13,000,00
To all this | replied that | had acted
in the best faith, but that nothing had
been lost, as | would withdraw the ac.
ceptance | had given. They requested
me to array myself on their side in or
der to give strength to their resolu-
tons. / answered that | had always
done so and would continue to do eX-
Ctpt in cases where the course of ths
assembly was opposed to Tly con-
science, TO my sense of justice and %
MY idea of the best interests of Cuba.
DisnpprOyed of Asking Charity.
"Regarding the matters under con-
sideration | said had no hope of OBJ
tanning more than the S3,CO0,0O0 from
the United States and disapproved of
asking charity, contending that the
only method left was to raise loaa,
for which the assembly lacked ade-
qrate authorization. Furthermore
pointed out that the soldiers could not
wait; that already they were too great
a burden on the people of CUBA, and
longer delay appeared to me to he
cluel.
Conference Accomplished Nothing.
THE conference ended without ac-
complishing anything. saw ! coul
rot make myself understood by the as
Sembly and decided not to mix up in
its doings, but to await developments.
Deposed by the Assembly.
"A few days later three men whom
did not know visited me. and sail
that several milionaires stood ready
TO facilitate loan of many millions,
but that the matter was possible only
win my cooperation. answered that
| could not consider any proposition of
the kind, and regarded it as strange
that any one would be ready to lend
money without a guarantee. My visit
ors replied that the city council could
arrange a guarantee. Then a commit
tee of the assembly approached me,
asking me TO support the assembly's
efforts to obtain a loan. To this | re-
piled that Cuba could not make loan,
as she lacked the necessary authority.
The next day the assembly deposcd
mt. | consider that | have acted hon
orably, and my strongest desire now
is 10 return home'