New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-14


ured accurately the prestige and popularity Of
that somewhat nondescrpt body before pung-
ing into the foolhardy contest with General
Gomez which Saturdays resolution OF deposi-
tion has precipitated for, with all the faults Of
temper and Judgment which may be charged
against him. Gomez remains the sole military
hero of the recent rebellion, the one figure
which appeals without reserve TO the great mass
of Cubans whose tact rather than active sup
mort made the maintenance Of the insurrection
possible.
NO RIVAL IN THE FIELD.
Had Maceo or even Garcia lived. there might
have been a rival within the army to divide with
Gomez the hCnors Of the struggle against Spain,
and to challenge now the expediency Of his po-
litical policy; but among the generals OF the
Military Assembly none have az yet so recon-
mended themselves to Cuban opinion as to at
tract n distinct devoted following.
The influence OF the Assembly a whole Is
not TO be set for a moment against that OF the
real chief OF the army. who fought It's cam
paigns and is now endeavoring. with apparent
disinterestedness TO secure for It the only COM
pensation for its labors which It can reasonably
expect 10 receive.
HEAD OF REVOLUTIONARY PARTY.
There Is chagrln at the refusal OF General
Gomez 10 chase the will-o' o'-the-w wisp or an IN
dependent loan. and at his firm insistence on III
ecceptance Of the arrearages offered py the
limited States and these reasons lie AT the po'-
tom Of the Assemby's petty attempt 70 huniha'e
him by depriving him Of rank ana power pu'
though in his reply TO the Assembly issued yes
terday the veteran warrior accepts the decree
~ retirement and renounces the generalship' He
remains in spite OF his enemies the poH''oa1
head OF the revolutionary party and IN that
role will continue to direct the fortunes ooth VI
the army and OF the other elements OF the Cuoah
nopulation whose present desire Is TOT spee"S
termination OF military control ana the cessA-
ton Of the political guardianship no" eNero'seu
by the United States. ~
There are abundant Indications that the Mill
+arx Assemblv's shortsghted attack on General
Gomez has simply put an end 10 that oouy
already attenuated credit and influence ana the
military administration here and American
on,r,on generally had long ago dismissed the
Assembly's pretension to represent the "isnes
Of either the Cuban Army or the Cunah Peop'e'
GENERAL BROOKE's REMARK.
IA rucbao this afternoon attributes to Cen
eral Brooke this sarcastic remark on the ais
roissaI of Gomez from the cheftainsnip OF the
army. ''I suppose the General VIII feel anout as
7 would II some patriotic committee di7iil'SSeu
me from the office hold
The coincidence has also attracted nouce' 'na'
IN the same papers which publish elaborate dc-
counts OF the debate in the Assembly last '"'u'-
dav an order appears informing the '"'e'"'.
- -. Denartment Of Havana that the United
States Government Will recognize no Hnahc'ai
obreatlons entered into by any person claiming
shantf q IL
IN represent the people Of CUBA without tne @u
.nar,,o.or y, the President. This Is final
and crushing blow 10 the Assem- hlys pet sche'ne
- an ,ndependent loan 10 satisfy the inflated
army payrols which had been scaled down
under General Gomezs supervision The new
arao, leaves the Assembly hnancers without
further occupation.
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK.
Tho average sentiment Of Havana finds It's
host EXPRESSION perhaps. in La Lucha' news
peper with neutral though decidedly oppor-
tunist tendencies editorially. This conspicuous
organ NJ local opinion vigorously denounces the
Assembly's action. and draws from the ihciaeht
,his urrIeasant conclusion: such occurrence
as that Of Saturday is prejudical to the interest
~ every Cuban man. woman and child as the
Americans are not to he convinced Of the exist
ence Of self-control judgment or any Of the
traits necessary for conducting an admlnistra-
,lon when they see such glaring evidence of
what prominent Cuban classified last night as
childish pettshness
THE ROOT OF THE TROUBLE
7, ,akes eloouent and convincing proof 10 com
pcl n recognition Of there being any other type
NJ nolticians on the island. That the American
Governnent does not recognize the Assembly
is what is at the bottom Of II all Porter made
the $4,000 900 agreement with Gomez. The
nancy will be distributed by Gomez, and the IN
struction 10 General Brooke regarding the for
nation Of native troops conveys the tacit accept
ance of the plans OF Gomez submitted to Wash
inGton. ..-, .,.rr
A. N the attitude Of the Cubans themselves
toward the Assembly, the demonstrations OF yes
terday and to-day speak convincingly. The
Havana newspapers are filled with protests from
all narts of the island against the selfish policy
OF the anti Gomez leaders in this city. Last
night a vehement demonstration in protest
aeaingt the removal OF Gomez was kept within
bounds only by tho energy Of the new municipal
nolice and to-day the popular feeling expressed
ttsep again I'm a street parade by many Cuban
clubs and societies, ending in a set Of speeches
a. ceneral Gomez 8 headquarters in the suburbs.
THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION
That the Assembly will be able long to main
tain itself In opposition to this display OF feel
inc ,s doubtful. Many observers think. indeed.
that it's surrender followed by the restoration OF
Gomez to his former authority. is the only log
4gal 10