The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-07
MEN WHO DESIRE PEACE
\ FEW WORDS ABOUT AMERI
CAN DOMINATION.
GEN. GOMEZ THINKS IT. WILL BE SHORT
Urges Cubans to Aid in Work of Reorganization
and Thus Assist in Making Less Nee
essary the Stay of Ameri-
cans in CUBE,

Havana, June G.-General MaXimo
Gomez. the former commander-in-chief
of the Cuban army, issued his farewell
manifesto to-day. In substance it
says:
"Thc mission | have been intrusted
with is nearly concluded. | have at
tempted to find solution of questions
concerning the army which | command
ed during the bloodiest war known in
America | am now leaving regretfully,
to attend to necessary private business.
"A parting word to the people for
whom | have sacrificed thirty years of.
my life and to my friends i'll the army
just disbanded, which action should
have been taken instantly after the re-
moyal of the bloody weight of Spain 5
merciless regime. We disarmed our
selves, and, therefore, now we no long
er want soldiers, but men for the main
tenance of peace and order, which are
the basis of Cuba future welfare.
1t is necessary to understand that
the nation in this epoch most difficult
and unequalled in history should avail
itself of the opportunity to show it pos
Sesses virtues. i'll spite of the vices
caused by colonial government and@ the
harshness of warlike life. We wanted
and depended upon foreign intervention
to end the war This occurred ut the
most terrible moment of our contest and
resulted in Spain's defeat. But none of
us thought this extraordinary event
would be followed by military occupa-
ton of the country by our allies, who
treat us as a people incapable of acting
for ourselves, and who have reduced us
to obedience, to submission and to a
tutelage imposed by force Of circum-
stances. This cannot 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 disagreeable for
them as for ourselves. This aid Will
prove useless without concord among all
the islanders. Therefore, itsis necessary
to forget past disagreements, to COM
petely unite all elements and to or
ganize political party, which Is need
ed in any country.
I'VE must devote ourselves to pacific
lahors, gain the respect of the world
and show that though our war was
honorable our peace must be more so.
We must make useless by our be
hayiOr the presence of a strange power
I'm the island and must assist the Amerl-
cans to complete the honorable mission
they have been compelled to assume by
the force of circumstances. This work
was not sought by those rich Northern
ers. | think doubts and suspicious are
unjust. We must form Immediately Il
committee or club to be a nucleus of Il
government. This will serve Cuban in
tercsts purely and act as an aid to the
intervenOrs.
Il 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 s. incerity of
Il father and urge cessation of the
superfuoIs discussions and the creation
of PARTIES of all kinds, which disturb the
country and tend to cause anarchy.
To-day we no longer have autonomlstS
or conservatives, but only Cubans.
.My mission having ended, will alb
sent myself temporarily, to embrace my
family. but | will return shortly to Cuba
which | love as much as my own land.
My last words for my soldiers are
that. as always, where my tent is the
r,I,n "A fpin