Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-29
GRAFT CAUSED REVOLT
GEN. GARCIA TALKS ON CUBAN
TROUBLES.

From the prison where he Is now con-
| fined at Havana on a charge Of completely
with the revolution. Gen. Carlos Garcia
sent a singing answer to the interview
given on Saturday by Gen. Fernando
Freyre de Andrade to the New York Her
aid.
Gen. Garcia Is a son of Calixto Garcia,
one Of the most famous warriors In the
Cuban war for independence. He denies
improper motives and declares that graft
on the part Of others caused the present
outbreak He says In his letter:
"The statement made by Gen. Freyre
Andrade misrepresents the known facts
which can be proved In my favor at the
department Of state tending to belittls.
conceal or slur the real motives OF my
loyal and disinterested attitude and my
resignation as minister Of Cuba to Mex
leo.
II do not want to discuss the cause Of
my Imprisonment, although 1t Is an easy
matter TO clear away the charge filed
against myself and my brothers. Justo and
! Mario. by a former captain in the Spanish
army, Jose Jeres. the head and tail Of the
| so-called detective bureau. But wish to
make public my protest for the lack OF
guarantee that our administration Of JUS
| tice offers to q free citizen and the denial
| Of habeas corpus without respect to the
law:
prompted me to engage in a wild revolu-
| ton against the government is cynical.
The honorable post Of minister OF Cuba to
Mexico which held with the entire con-
| hdence of the administration during three
| and half years. was heavy burden to
me: first. because the health OF my wife
and child was constantly impaired, ana.
| compelled to incur for the good name Of
the new republic.
"I can demonstrate that 1t was easier to
| take graft in my post than to do what I
L a q n natY1Ot a gentleman
| ficing my private fortune and resigning
my position Of honor and trust. Certainly
| Gen. Freyre Andrade himself cannot Show
| q cleaner record.
Palma's Creatures Grew Wealthy.
ION the contrary. nearly all the govern
ment favorites have enriched themselves
| since Estrada Palma has determined to
govern with a clique and not with the con-
| sent of the governed. 1t would be hard
| trial for some men now prominent to ex-
plain to the people how and where they
got their money; how and why they got
contracts: how and why they obtained serv-
| ice with the government; how and why
they were made advisers Of companies and
| counsel for trusts. and the ways and means
| employed to pass through both chambers
| several laws relating to railroad franchises,
municipal loans and the acknowledgment of
| ers not yet passed but filed for the open
| ut goes without saying that treasury
| funds were used freely and illegally to
| figure that runs high in the hundreds of
| thousands. close to million dollars Elk
pert accountants can readily ascertain II
| the accounts were legally disbursed.
| Moreover, when I presented my resgna-
ton on learning of all these frauds and the
| president had appointed to the portfolio of
| finance Ernesto Font Sterling. one Of my
| lamented fathers enemies. l was informed
| by high official that his promotion had
| been prompted only by the necessity Of get
| ting an easy man for the post of auditor
| general, inasmuch as Font had refused to
| o. X. those accounts.
| Gen. Freyre Andrade talks of graft, but
| he forgets it prevails everywhere In the ad-
| ministration. Graft? Why, that Is just the
cause of all the trouble with the govern
| ment. The failure Of the government to
stamp it out has brought about the public
| Indignation that prevails throughout the
| that his affairs have received substantial
| aid from those who have utilized his influ-
| ence and pull.
| Bribery Rampant.
"Gen. Freyre has forgotten a conversa-
| ton held with me not many weeks ago,
! when he informed me and others that Judge
| Riley had approached him with a bride in
| payment of certain service which Riley
needed from the president concerning a
Cienfuegos transaction In which Senator
Frias was behind the blinds.
\
| tice. whom 1 consider gentleman, al
though political enemy today. can inform
| you 1 resigned motu proprio from my
reer with my brothers.Justo. consul gen.
| eral to Hamburg. and Mario. chancellor of
| legation at Rome-and was not on the COM
| mission given later to Gen. Rus Rivera to
| South America, first repeatedly offered to
| me by the secretary by order of President
| Palma.
81 may have debts. Who can boast the
| contrary? Who can say he's free from
debt? Is 1t not worse than to owe money
| to acknowledge to owe honor that can
| never be regained.
| Gen. Freyre's position differs widely
| from mine He entered the republic badly
| tied up financially; I with snug little
| fortune After four years 1 emerged from
| public life penniless. He stalks out
| wealthy. Wise man! Finally, Freyre had
| ample time before my Imprisonment to at
| tack me in the way he does now. However.
he has deemed 1t safer to wait his chance
| when prison walls prevent me from infiict-
/ tpor inn RI ga