The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-07
Says He Never Knew How Much His
Island Owed the United States
Until His Visit Here.
NO ANNEXATION JUST NOW
ALL CUBANs WANT A TASTE OF IN.
DEPENDENCE FIRST.
He Hopes His Friend, Tomas Estrada
Palma, Will BE Elected Pres-
ident of the Republic.

NEW YORK, July 6.-W. z. D. Stokes
gave a dinner at the Union League Club
this evening to Gen. Maxine Gomez and
Gen. T. Estrada Palma Mr.. Stokes was
formerly a member of the Cuban League
of America, and was closely identified with
the work of the junta of which General
Palma was the head. The dinner was ar
ranged on the spur of the moment, Gen
eral Gomez intending to return to Cuba
to-day, and not deciding TO remain over
until the morning, when he accepted Mr..
Stokes's invitation, and the guests were
summoned by telegram.
The Cuban general was the hero of the
occasion. and was warmly received. He
made q brief speech, which was inter-
preted by General Gonzales. General Co
mez said he was almost touched to tears
by the remarkable reception he had re-
ceived in the United States. He knew
Cuba was indebted 10 the United States,
but he never knew until he came here how
deep the debt was-that it was not merely
the obligation of one people to another. but
OF brother to brother. Every Cuban, born
and bred, he said, lived and died with the
idea of Cuba libre before him, with the
hope of the people being free and relieved
of the yoke of oppression. Cuba and the
United States, said the general, belong to-
gether. 1t is only a question of gravita-
ton when they will be one. But at pres
ent, after the great struggle in which hun
dreds of thousands of lives were sacrificed,
and when men returned to their homes only
TO find their wives and children starved 10
death in the restricted barriers in which
Weyler held them under his policy of re-
concentration, they felt they must have
Cuba libre. 1t is realized fully, he said.
that Cuba cannot get along without the
feel freedom.
General Gomez referred to General Pal
ma as the hold-over President of Cuba,
having been elected during the insurrec-
ton of 1868, and he pointed to his fellow
Cuban as the first President of Cuba libre.
General Palma. in reply, warmed to the
subject of Cuba libre and spoke enthusi-
asticaly of Cuba's future.
After the dinner General Gomez said to
the newspaper men that he wished to ex-
press his gratitude TO the press of the
United States and of the world for the
great good they had done to the cause of
Cuba libre. He said that when he came
here years ago he was very sad, but that
on this visit he was very happy, and was
glad to recognize how much the American
people had done for the Cubans. He had
felt bond of sympathy with the American
Nation when he first mingled with its peo-
pie, but he now felt much more strongly
the reality Of that bond. He was sure the
Cubans would now establish their own
they feel gratitude for the successful help
OF the Americans in removing the Spanish
yoke.
us there any feeling of apprehension in
Cuba with regard to the intentions OF the
United States?" he was asked.
NO; there is no question about it, he
replied. Cuba trusts implicitly In the
honor OF the American people"
What can you say as to the future
policy of Cuba?"
THAT cannot be answered. replied Gen.
Gomez, because no one can foresee the
future, but / believe that the attitude OF
Cuba will be one of gratitude in accordance
with the obligations OF Cuba 10 the United
States.
''Who do you think will be the President
of the Cuban republic?
81 don't know, but hope it will be Gen.
Palma"
mo. no." said General Palma, that is
for the Cuban people 10 say.
well, there are three candidates" said
General Gomez. ''or rather three persons
named-mysef, General Bartolomeo Masso
and General Palma. / will not accept un.
der any circumstances. General Palma was
elected during the ten years war, and /
hope that he will be elected again."