The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-10-13
DEAD
SAYS GOMEZ
Cuban Liberal Candidate for PTeSi-
dent Scores Palma Regime.
IS WORSE THAN WEYLER
Says Political Coercion and Oppression
is Rampant in Islands President
Palma Denies Allegations.

Liberty Is dead in Cuba, and the
condition of affairs there is worse
than it ever was under Spanish rule,
even in the most ferocious periods
of the Weyler government. Financial
ruin and dshonor face the people, IL
things continue as they are and tho
nation will be converted into one her.
editary rule"
That declaration was made in New
York Tuesday night by General Jose
Miguel Gomez, governor Of the prov
ince of Santa Clara and candidate Of
the liberal party for the presidency
of Cuba, at the New Amsterdam no.
tel, where he is stopping.
II 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 l have
fought so long.
"On false charges the government
assassinates the liberals, the jails arc
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 and
Cuba is now suffering a reign Of ter
ror never GQualed under Spanish tyr
amy. 1t was such things as these
h,& a., b,l- oil
tions. Pubi, funds are used for cleo.
toral purposes. The sanitary condI-
ton of the island is disgrace. The
Cuban government has employed thou
sands Of men in the sanitary depart
ment, but for voting, not working
purposes.
1T has become impossible TO dare
to oppose the government without
risk OF ones life and liberty. For what
is happening in Cuba the United
States government has a direct re.
sponsibility. Palma is enabled TO do
as he is doing only by telling the
people every day that In case Of rev.
olutIon or disorder the United States
would send troops to punish them
and to sustain the Palma govern
meut.
Il believe that II the Plat amend
ment holds the United States govern
ment responsible for order in Cuba, it
should never be taken for supporting
the unlawful acts OF the present gov.
erument and to serve as a screen
for the commission OF such acts as
have been committed against the OPP
ponents Of that government. 1t is tho
duty OF the United States to send
troops to punish them and to sus-
tain the Palma government.
IF the United States should in
tervene in the matter Of the elections
and insist that these elections should
be carried on It would be proved that
so per cent Of the population are lib.
eral. That proporti,.n OF the people
hate Palma and his oppression worse
than they hated Weyer, for the con.
ditions enacted ana enforced are
worse than ever existed under Span.
ish dominion"
Before leaving Cuba, Gomez ten
dered his resignation as candidate for
president in order, as he said, 10 give
the convention full liberty in it's pro-
ceedings Upon his arrival IN New
York he was informed that the oon-
vention was held last Sunday and IL
decided not to accept the reslgna-
ton.
Untrue Says Palma
A special from Havana says: When
shown the statements made by Cen
eral Jose Miguel Gomez, who was n
Of the liberal party for the |
presidency Of Cuba upon his arrival
n New York, President Palma read
hem carefully and returned them
With the laconic remark:
You know very well that those
hngs are lot true"