Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-19
THE MANIFESTO
OF GEN. GOMEZ
Tells OF His LabOrS For the
Cuban Troops
SHOULD LAY DOWN ARMS
And Accept the Pay Offered by the
States--Great Praise For
General Brooke.
SHOULD LAY DOWN ARMS

1A ~AAN >AoS 10" "a (NPSALGo ltldilS
festo Of Gen. Naximo Gomez was issued
this evening. 1t reviews his part in the
negotiations With Gen. Brooke, and
speaks Of his love for Cuba and his
sufferlnss in her behalf in the past.
Gen. Gomez says:
The hour has now arrived for me to
raise my voice III justification of my
course ard to describe the arduous work
l nave doce since my first visit to Gen.
Brooke. l protested to him against the
sum offered by the United States as in-
sufficient to accomplish the end intend
ed. While awaiting an answer to my pro-
test | souSht a solution o. the question.
Gen. Brooke, representing the chief mag
istrate Of the United States. announced
his inability to add to the sum already
settled upon.
"Speculators then attempted to inter-
vene. Offering suggestions which We're re-
fused by me. They presented a PROPOSE
ton TO the military assembly, but the
scheme was frustrated by President Nc
Al1leys refusal to recognize that body.
l deemed the formation of a militia a
practical solution and Gen. Brooke, who
approved the idea, asked me for a sum-
mary of my views on the subject. To this
l replied that 10, GOO men We're all it would
be possible to get from the Cuban army
without distinction to race. My answer
was sent to President Mckinley, together
with a personal letter giving explicit rea-
sons why such a course was necessary.
Il have had many conferences with
Gen. Brooke in my e~ndeavors to discov-
er such a plan Of payment as Woul not
exclude the men who had never carried
arms. Gen. Brooke insisted upon the
surrender of arms before the receipt of
money. and l also desired that such
arms as had already been surrendered
and such as should be surrendered here
after might be delivered to warehouses,
IN the care of Cuban armorers,to be paid
out of the Cuban treasury. l do not think
it a disgrace that the Cuban soldiers
should receive from a government, which
is able to pay, sums which would relieve
their immediate wants. Special certifi-
Gates will be given to all, redeemable by
the Cuban republic 50 soon as it is es-
tablished.
IT am convinced that it is compatible
With obtaining peace to have an army
with arms reserved to defend Cuba
against her enemies. and in the mean
tine TO guard as relies Of a meritorious
struggle. In my Judgment, whether the
arms We're disposed OF to the municipali-
ties or to armorers, it would be all the
same under the intervening government.
The Cuban commissioners, however, re-
fused to agree with Gen. Brooke, and the
y IL ans RI " IL l LIN pldSto
where Cuban soldiers could deliver up
their arms and receive payment from the
American paymasters after Identification
by their respective chiefs"
After further praise of Gen. Brooke's
! consideration" and a declaration of his
own desire to correct an error existing
in tuba with respect to the United States,
he goes on to say:
L did not act alone. as seems to be pop
ularly believed, but always consulted with
| our officers. My advice to you now is to
return to your homes with the mounts
offered by the intervening government,
and to work in patience. which will be a
practicable proof of your heroism. In
this way We snail reconstruct most rap
idly the homes consecrated by the blood
of martyrs, blood poured out in behalf
of a purpose now attained, and thus begin
this circle of liberty with the ~grandes.
| prospects, preceded by the heralds of fu-
ture prosperity and peace.
This work is your portion. Let no
| pretext interfere with the attainments of
the Independent government for which
three generations of Cubans have strug-
gled with all sacrifice and which is now
promised by a noble nation pledged to
obtain for us our rights. Meanwhile I
shall remain where I am generously In
vited. among the Cubars, I shall work
without cessation for our aspirations and
in a narrow sphere assigned me if neces-
sary. And if it happens that all logical
and just methods shall be exhausted with
out the desired result, I will go to WASH
ington and there tell of Cuba and her sa-
cred ideals of an Independent republic.
ard will arbitrate the destiny of our
country, baptised with blood and sancti-
fled with our love of independence and
liberty, which we will never cease de-
handing in tones of subtlest diplomacy,
for the sake of the nation that is to be in
the near future always asking that indie
pendence and liberty, which we cOvet
in the name Of right, civilization, justice,
and democracy"