The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-07
General Gomez Regarded as Sincere
in Announcing His Wish to Re-
tire to Private Life.
LYNCHING OF JOSE FERNANDEZ
LEBREGAT BY CUBANs DEPLoRED.
May Give Spain an Opportunity to De-
mand neutrality-suspicious. I'm Pub
lie Prohibited at Havana.

HAVANA, June 6.-The farewell mani
festo of General Gomez, issued to-day, is
the principal topic of conversation among
Americans and Cubans of all shades of
politics. The Americans. for the most part,
consider it an affecting address, express
ing the real views of the old patriot and
also his sincere intention to retire from
public life. His Cuban admirers say the
address will rank among the most famous
in history. His opponents, especially the
members of the former Military Assembly
insist that he has no intention to retire
for more than a few weeks, and that his
real object is to gain public sympathy.
They say also that Colonel Carlos 4 Ces-
pedes virtually writes the greater part Of
what Gomez issues to the public, though in
this instance, probably, third was writ
ten by Gomez himself. In substance the
manifesto reads:.
THE mission / have been intrusted with
is nearly concluded. l have attempted TO
find solution of the questions concerning
the army which 1 commanded during the
bloodiest war known in America. / am
now leaving, regretfully, to attend to nee
essary 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 dis
banded, which action should have been
taken instantly after the removal of the
bloody weight of Spain's merciless regime.
We armed ourselves, and, therefore, now
we no longer want soldiers but 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
unequaled in history, should avail itself
Of the opportunity to show it possesses
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 terri
BILE moment of our contest and resulted In
Spain's defeat. But none of us thought
this extraordinary event would be fol-
lowed by military occupation of the
country by our allies. who treat US as a
people incapable of action for ourselves
and who have reduced US to obedience
to submission and to a tutelage imposed
by force of circumstances. This can
not 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 Americans
accepted in the protocol, and which Is
as disagreeable for them as for ourselves.
This aid will prove as useless without
concord among all the islanders. There
fore, it is necessary to forget past dis
agreements. to completely unite all ele-
ments and to organize a political party,
which is needed in any country.
PACIFIC LABORS NECESSARY.
"It is always said that countries have the
government which they merit. and Cuba
will have that which her heroes make her.
To-day she can only have one party in
Cuba, with one object-that of obtaining
the aspiration of years. We must devote
ourselves to pacific labors: gain the re-
spect 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 strange power
in the island, and must assist the Ameri-
cans to complete the honorable mission
they have been compelled to assume by
force of circumstances.
This work was not sought by those
rich northerners, owners of continent.
l think doubts and suspicious are unjust.
We must form Immediately committee
or club to be nucleus of government
This will serve Cuban interests purely
and act as an aid to the intervenors.
II. as one of the first Cubans. although
one Of our last old soldiers, and not far
from the grave. without passions or am
bitions, call on you with the sincerity of
father and urge cessation of the su-
perfiuous discussions and the creation of
parties OF all kinds which disturb the coun-
try and tend to cause anarchy
I'm this country there should not be one
man whom We consider a stranger To-
day we no longer have Autonomists or
Conservatives, but only Cubans
My mission having ended. will absent
myself temporarily to embrace my family.
hut / 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 friend
Gen. Gomez spent the morning at his resi-
dence attending TO business and he declined
to see visitors this afternoon. giving as an
excuse the weakness that follows his re-
cent indisposition. Toward evening he was
seen driving. accompanied by an aid. 1t Is
not sthoucht probable that he will leave Ha-
vana before the first OF July. After visit
ing San Domingo he expects TO return 10
C,rba in order TO remove the body of his son.
Francisco Gomez. who was killed with Gen.
Antonio Maceo- He desires to renter the
remains in his native land.
Many residents OF Havana who are neither
friendly nor unfrien6ly 10 Gomez believe
that If he lives he will soon wish TO resume
his connections with this island. and they
also bslieve that Cuban sentiment In the
main would be in favor OF his being largely
interested in the future Cuban republic. even
II not as Its president.