The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-19
Plan for Surrender Of Arms Outline led, i,
and Soldiers Urged to Accept Mon
ey offered by Americans.
FINAL APPEAL TO PATRIOTS
TO RECONSTRUCT HOMES AND PRE-
PARE FOR INDEPENDENCE.
Gomez willing to Visit Washington
His People, If Necessary.

festo of Gen. Maximo Gomez was issued
this evening. 1t reviews his part in the ne
gotiations with Governor General Brooke,
and speaks of his love for Cuba and his suf-
fering on her behalf in the past. General
Gomez says:
1.-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 10 him against the sum offered by
the United States as insufficient to accom-
plish the good intended While waiting an
answer to my protest / sought a solution of
the question. General Brooke, representing
the chief magistrate of the United States,
announced his inability to add to the sum
already settled upon
Spectators then attempted to intervene,
offering suggestions which were refused by
me. They presented a proposition to the
Military Assembly, but the scheme was frus-
trated by President McKinley's refusal to
recognize that body. They deemed the
formation of militia practical solution, and
General Brooke who approved the idea.
asked me for a summary of my views on the
subject. To this replied that ten thousand
men were all it would be possible to get
from the former Cuban army without dis
tinction as to race. My answer was sent to
President Mckinley, together with per-
sonal letter giving explicit reasons why such
a course was necessary.
1T had many conferences with General
Brooke in my endeavors to discover such
plan OF payment as would not exclude the
men who had never carried arms. General
Brooke insisted on the surrender of arms be-
fore the receipt of money. and also de-
sired that such arms as had already been
surrendered and such as should be surren-
dered hereafter might be delivered to ware
houses in the care of Cuban armorers, to be
paid out of the Cuban treasury. I do not
think it a disgrace that the Cuban soldiers
should receive from government which is
able to pay sums that will relieve their i'm
mediate needs. Special certificates will be
given to all, redeemable by the Cuban re-
public as soon as it is established.
II am convinced that it is compatible with
obtaining peace to have an army. with arms
reserved to defend Cuba against her enc
mics. and in the meantime to be guarded
as the relics of 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 intervening
government. The Cuban commissioners.
however, refused to agree with General
Brooke and declined to fix dates and places
where the Cuban soldiery could deliver up
arms and receive payment from the Amer
lean paymasters after identification by their
respective chiefs"
After further praise OF General Brooke's
consideration and declaration of his own
desire to correct an error existing in Cuba
with respect to the United States he goes
on to say: II did not act alone, as seems
ho hol
suited with our officers. My advice to you
now is to return to your homes with the
amounts offered by the intervening govern
ment and to practice patience, which will
be an additional proof of your heroism- In
this way we shall reconstruct most rapid
ly the homes consecrated by the blood of
martyrs, blood poured out in behalf of a
purpose now attained, and thus begin this
cycle of liberty. with the grandest prospects,
preceded by the heralds of future prosperity
and peace. This work is your portion. Let
no pretext interfere with the attainment of
the independent government for which three
generations Of Cubans have struggled with
all sacrifices and which is now promised by
a noble nation. pledged to obtain for us our
rights
Meanwhile I shall remain where I am
generously invited, among the Cubans. l
shall work without cessation for our aspra-
tions, and in a narrow sphere assigned me
If necessary; and IL it happens that all
logical and just methods shall be exhausted
without the desired result i will go to
Washington and there tell of Cuba and her
sacred ideals of an independent republic.
and will arbitrate the destiny Of our coun-
try. baptized with blood and sanctified with
our love of independence and liberty. which
we will never cease demanding in tones Of
subtlest diplomacy, for the sake of the ma
ton that Is to be in the near future. al
ways asking that independence and liberty.
which we covet in the name of right. civili-
zation justice and democracy"