Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-04
LIBERTY IS DEAD IN
 CUBA SAYS GOMEZ.
Conditions Now Worse Than They Were Under Spanish Ruie-Persons Who Support the Liberal Party in Fear of Assassinaton-U United States Should Take Hand and Compel Those in Power to Conduct Elections Honestly.

New York, Oct 4.-"Liberty is dead in Cuba, and the condition of affairs there is worse than 1t ever was under Spanish rule, even in the most ferocious periods of the Weyler government Financial ruin and dishonor face the people and if things continue as they are the nation will be converted into one of hereditary rule"
 That declaration was made last night by General Jose Miguel Gomez, gov ernor of the province of santa Clara, and candidate of the liberal party or the presidency of Cuba, at the New Amsterdam hotel, where he is stop ping. Upon his arrival on the steam ship Monterey from Havana yesterday, General Gomez refused to discuss Cu ban affairs at length, but after he had rested at his hotel he was more com municative.
 q am here to rest for some days, he continued, and to breathe the air of liberty that is lacking in my own country and for which 1 have fought So long.
 .On false charges the government assassinates the liberals, the jails are filled with political prisoners, and we have no hope of justice from judges and magistrates who recognize no law but the will of the government we are hindered in casting our votes ana Cuba is now suffering reign of terror never equalled under Spanish tyranny. It was such things as these that made us withdraw from the elections. Pub lie funds are used for electoral purses. The sanitary condition of the island IS a disgrace. The Cuban government has employed thousands of men in the sanitary department, but for voting, not for working purposes.
 Tt has become impossible to dare to oppose the government without risk of ones life and liberty. The mayor of Havana has been deprived of his office against the law and the whole city council have been dismissed be- cause they were liberals. No one dares confess his political opinions for feaf of assassination, for which purpose the most desperate criminals are ai- lowed by the government to be at large.
 For what is happening in Cuba the United States government has direct responsibility. Palma is enabled to do do as he is doing only by telling the people every day that in case of reyo- lution or disorder the United States would send troops to punish them ana to sustain the Palma government.
 T believe if the Platt amendment holds the United States government re- sponsible for order in Cuba 1t should never be taken for supporting the un-' lawful acts of the present government and to serve as screen for the com mission of such acts as have been com mitted against the opponents of thai government. 1t Is the duty of the United Statessto put a stop to such condition and if affairs continue as they are much longer we shall have to appeal to the United States to do so.
 If the United States should inter yene in the matter of the elections and insist that these elections should be carried on honestly 1t would be proved that So per cent of the population are liberal. The proportion of the people hate Palma and his expressions worse than they hated Weyler. for the cond- tions he has enforced are worse than ever existed under Spanish dominion.
 Before leaving Cuba General Gomez rendered his resignation as candidate for president in order. he said. to give the convention full liberty in its pro ceedings. Upon his arrival here he was informed that the convention was held last Sunday and that It had beer s,acided not to accept the resignation.
 Neneral Gomez said that before he cG squtline hls next action he would haN learn the reasons for this ae tionE. be convention and would have to giE- e matter deep thought