Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
ng to array himself against

| soldier was going to array himself against
By the execution Of Bermudez the pos
sfbility Of dangerous band of brigands
with daring chief roaming the country
after peace was declared was obviated, but
/ Maxine Gomez was the only general
among the insurgents who was fearless
enough to meet the emergency and defy the
prospect of revolt in his own ranks. He
! the Cubans in political affairs, and never
has hesitated to risk his popularity when
| ever he thought they were going wrong.
knowledge of Spanish Character.
General Gomez has the same knowledge
of the Spanish character that he possesses
Of the Cuban traits and characteristics.
The Spaniard is thrifty even to the point of
miserliness and almost Invariably is a
property owner. He breads the possibility
Of loss or destruction of his property above
all things. This was the secret of the cam
paign inaugurated by Gomez at the be-
ginning of the last Instruction. He pro-
| claimed it campaign against property
and he carried out his campaign. Martinez
Campos, the greatest of soldiers that Spain
ever sent to Cuba, knew Gomez and appre-
ciated his military talents. But he knew
even better the meaning of such cam
paign as Gomez proclaimed. Unavailingly he
sought to make the corrupt Spanish off,
Gals in Madrid realize just what the in
surrection meant Campos himself was a
struction of property, because 1t was the
property-owning classes who forced his re-
call when they found that the Spanish
troops were not able to protect their es-
tateS from the torches of the insurgents.
General Gomez showed the same keen in
sight into the Spanish character during the
! last months Of the Instruction, when he
caused assurances to be given to the Span
iards throughout the island that their prop
erty would be protected. Had the Cubans
come into control except with the United
States as the property-protectfng power,
General Gomez's ability to afford the pro-
lection promised might have been doubted.
But the circumstances under which Spanish
rule ended We're not such as to put him
to the test. What he did do, however,
was to begin preaching the doctrine of
peace and concord among all classes and
the industrial upbuilding of the island.
This was potent appeal to the good VII
OF the Spaniards, who are concerned only
with commerce and industry and want to
keep out of politics. If they can retain
they will be satisfied with the future Cuban
government. Most of them do not believe
they can do this, except under the wing of
the United States. but they give Gomez
credit for his perception that all they ask
is the protection Of their property and the
opportunity to make money
FOR year or more past there has been
rumor that Gen. Gomez intends to pub
>lish his autobiography or memoirs. A few
months ago a New York publishing firm
sent an agent to Cuba to secure the man.
uscript, but the firm was disappointed. If
he ever does publish such book It will be
valuable contribution to the history Of
the ending OF Spanish dominion on the
American continent. 1t also will be a very
Interesting personal narrative The old
general is apt to speak quite frankly of the
men who were associated with him in the
ten years war and in the last Instruction
He has some pet diversions among them
and he does not conceal his opinions. One
OF his pet diversions Is the Marquis Santa
Lucia. or Salvador Cisneros, who has
achieved a little fame during the sessions
Of the constitutional convention by his rad
icalism and his wild dreams of what Gu
ban. republic should be. Gomez gave his
estimate of Salvador Cisneros as an i'm
practicable dreamer and persistent critic
OF the men Of action in a pamphlet pub
lished at the close Of the ten years war.
His Memoirs.
Possibly for the sake Of good will in the
early days Of the new government Gen. I
Gomez will not publish any book, but will
leave memoirs to be published after his |
death. In fact, this u more than possible.