Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-02-09
THE SURRENDER OF GOMEZ.

|
The Cuban General Yields to the Ar
gument Of II. p. Port. ,n,...
,REMEptos, Providence of Santa
Clara, February 2.--Gen. Maxine
Gomez, the commander-in-ch chief of
Che Cuban army, placed himself
squarely in position to-day as an ao-
tive ally of the United States Gov
ernmont in the work Of tho recon
struction of Cuba.
AS result of the conference which
r. F., Porter, the special commits
sioner of President Mckinley, has
had with Gen. Gomez the latter Ca
blcd to President Mckinley this af-
tcrnoon assuring him of his oo-opera-
tion in disbanding the Cuban army,
and in distributing among the Cuban
soldiers the S3,0OO,000 appropriated
for the purpose of enabling them to
return to their homes. Gen. Gomez
also telegraphed to Major Gen.
Brooke saying he would accept the
latter's invitation to 80 to Havana.
The success of Mr.. Porter's mission
greatly simplifies the returning of
the military Cubans to the pursuits
of peace.
In view of Gen. Gomez's supposed
prior attitude of hostility toward the
United States Mr.. Porter came here
clothed with absolute authority, and
the tender of the $3,00O,OOO was
practically verbal ultimatum. Had
it not been accepted no more nlti-
matums would have bcen made.
Mr.. Porter made plain the purpose
of the Government and was gratified
at the ready response of Gen. Gomez.
Tho conference took place at the
house here occupied by the Cuban
general as his headquarters since
coming to town.
When Mr.. Porter arrived here last
week he was accompanied by Senor
Gonzales Quesada, the special commits
sioner of the Cuban Junta at Wash
ington; Capt Campbell, of Gen.
Brooke's staff; Lieut.. Hanna, of
Gen. Woods staff, and correspon-
dent of the Associated Press.
The Cuban commander was COR
dial i'll greeting Mr.. Porter and
opened the interview by referring to
the change for the better which had
taken place in Cuba since he was last
here in September. He also laid
stress on the fact that some people
} were asking where was Cuba's prom
ised liberty.
"Thc answer to this" said Mr.
} Porter, "is that Cuba now has COM
mercial and industrial liberty and
that President Mckinley has directed
me, in framing the Cuban tariff, to
make no discrimination in favor OF
, the United States in the manner that
Spain favored herself Cuba is free
to-day to buy in the cheapest mar.
: ket. People arc returning to the
pursuits of peace and our military
government will give way to the
, civil government as fast as possible
= Mr.. Porter also said that the pur.
pose of the American Government :,
to lay firm foundation Of noble
government for Cuba, to give the
Cubans all the liberties they had
fought for, and that Gen. Gomez
must remember that and more still
For instance, there are $4,000 OF
10000 Spanish soldiers at Cicnfuegos
who have not left Cuba; that we
have only been month on the island
and that President Mckinley needed
: and was entitled to the cooperation
of all Interested in the welfare and
future of Cuba, and that hc needed
the cooperation of Gen. Gomez
above all others.
The first problem Mr.. Porter then
pointed out was the dish. ,ndment Of
the Cuban army and the return OF
tho Cuban soldiers to work. This
was the specific mission which had
: brought Mr.. Porter to Remedios
} and in which President Mckinley
, expected Gen. Gomez's aid.
Tho Cuban commander in chief
replied that he was ready and will
ing to give the aid required, but
J asked how he could do so.
TO this Mr.. Porter replied that
: President Mckinley would be glad
! to have him 60 to Havana and co.
= operate with Gen. Brooke in dis.
banding the Cubans and in paying
) over the $3,o0O,o0O appropriated fo,
that purpose.
Gen. Gomez said tho amount wat
too small, but that was not his fault
and he would make it 90 as far a,
possible, while likcning it to the