New-York tribune., 1899-06-08
THE ADDRESS OF GOMEZ.

The address of General Gomez to the Cubans
reveals more of his own character than he in
tended or realized. It is an explanation OF his
strangely inconsistent course which. II made on
any other authority than his own, history would
reject MS fanciful and strained. His ardent pa
trlotism and his abounding vanity and ambition,
his appreciation Of American necessities ana his
childish vexation because intervention neces-
sarily involved more or less prolonged occupa-
ton and control, are all so curiously mixed up
that one no longer wonders at his peculiar De-
hayIor. The same Gomez wrote In the same adj
dress these two statements:
We must assist the Americans to complete the
honorable mission they have been compelled TO
assume by force of circumstances This work
was not sought by these rich Northerners. own
ers OF a continent. l think doubts and sus-
picions are UNJUST
None of us thought this foreign interference
would be followed by military occupation or
tba country bv our allies who treat us as
people incapable Of acting for ourselves and VINO
have reduced US 20 obedience, TO SUBMISSION ana
to a tutelage imposed by force OF circumstances
AS there Is no other Gomez, probably there is
no other man who could 80 absurdly ignore the
incapacity Of the Cubans for self-government
and In the same document elOquently appeal to
them ITO cease the super6uous discussions and
"the creation Of parties Of all kinds, which dis
"turb the country and tend to cause anarchy.
Here is q man capable of recognizing the fatal
influence of Cuban divisions and disputes and
of realizing that the factous spirit which Gre
ates parties Of all kinds does disturb the coun-
try and tend TO cause anarchy. he seems 10
know as well as an American that the dsclos-
IRE of such factiOus spirit by the Cubans Is OF
itself conclusive proof that they are not yet
fitted to govern themselves, and still less to gov
ern Spaniards, toward whom their vndictive
feeling is natural. And yet the same man who
sees all this shows also his absolute incapacity
for understanding why Cubans should be
treated as people incapable Of acting for
themselves"
The world over the mixture Of Spanish, ma
! tive and negro races has never anywhere pro-
duced a people capable of supporting any stable
! government until after many years of fright
fully expensive training, successive bloody revo-
lutions, continued anarchy and prostration OF In
dustry and business by insecurity of life and
property. 1t would not be possible for General
Gomez TO point out a single instance OF even
moderate success In self-government by people
OF such mixed blood Immediately after Its escape
from centuries of crushing despotism. II Gomez
had considered only the teachings Of all expert.
ence. therefore, lie might nave conciuueu that
Cubans Just set free from Spanish tyranny would
be found for n time incapable Of acting to-
gether for the common good. with that ready
subordnation Of all personal feelings and selfish
aims to the will OF the majority which Is the
only foundation on which self-government can
be reared. But when In addition to all this he
has to enlghten him his own painful experience
OF the conduct OF Cuban leaders. their selfish
ness and spite toward him and each other their
creation OF factions as insects ill the tropical
air, their utter disregard of the common good In
the pursuit OF personal aims, 1t seems incompre-