The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-07
GEN. GOMEZ SAYS THE ISLAND IS
DESTINED TO BE PART OF
THIS COUNTRY
ONE WITH UNITED STATES
Aged Insurgent Leader FavOrs Pal
ma for President of the Re
public That Is Now
Forming
GRATITUDE TO UNCLE SAM

NEW YORK, July 6.-W e. D. stokes
gave dinner at the Union League club
thls evening to Gen. Gomez and Gen. II.
Estrada Palma. Mr.. Stokes was for
merly memter of the Cuban Lsague OF
American and was closely identified W tn
the work OF the junta of which Gen.
Palma was the head
The dinner was arranged on the SPUR OF
the moment, as Gen. Gomez had intended
to return to Cuba today and dii not de-
eide to remain over until the nom ng.
when he accepted Me- Stokes invitation
ana the guests were summoned by telt-
graph. The Cuban general was the hero
OF the hour and was warmly received.
lie made briof speech, which was in
terpreted by Gen. Gonzales
Gen. Gomez said he was Almost touched
10 tears by the remarkable reception he
mad received in the United States. He
knew Cuba was indebted to the United
States but he never knew until he came
here how deep that debt was-tEat #
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.
MUST EVENTUALLY BE ONE.
Cuba and the United States said the
general, belong together. 1t is only a
question of gravitation when they VII
be one. But at present, after the great
struggle In which hundreds of thousands
or lives We're sacrificed and when mon
returned to their homes only to find
their wives and children starved to death
in the restricted barriers in which WeyIer
held them under his policy Of reconcen-
tration, they felt that they must have
Cuba libre. 1t is realized fully. he said
that Cuba cannct get along without the
United States. but the Cubans do want
to feel freedom
Gen. Gomez referred to Gen. Pa'ma as
the holdover president of Cuba, having
been elected during the insurrection Of
1868, and he pointed to his fellow Cuban
as the first president of Cuba Libre Gen
Palma made feeling reply, warming
to the subject of Cuba Iibre and speak
ing enthusiastically of the future of tho
Pearl of the Antilles
After the dinner Gen. 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 Gu
bans. He had felt bond OF sympathy
with the American ion when he first
mingled with it's people, but he now fet
much more strongly the reality Of that
! bond
CUBAN PEOPLE GRATEFUL.
He was sure that the Cubans would now
establish their own government and
would show how much they feel graft
| tude for the successful help of the Amer
leans in removing the Spanish yoke.
us there any feeling Of apprehens OF
in Cuba with regard to the intentions OF
| the United States?" he was asked.
mo; there Is no question about 1t" ne
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 fore
see the future but I believe that the
attitude Of Cuba will be one OF gratitude
in accordance with the obligations to the
United States"
'"Who do you think will be the presi-
dent of the Cuban republic?'
II don't know, but 1 hope that 1t VIII
be Gen Palma"
mo, no." said Gen. Palma "that is fol
the Cuban people to say"
"Well, there are three candi'a-ee,' sa
Gen. Gomez, "or rather three persons
named-myself, Gen Partolomeo Masao
and Gen. Palma. l VIII not accept un-
der any circumstances. Gen Palma was
elected during the ten years war ana
hope that he will be elected again