Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-07-16
IN LOVE WITH CUBA.
Capt. w. E. Gonzales, the New
Minister to Cuba, Returns
to the Land of His An
cestors-Qualifed.


zales goes to Cuba, to which coun-
try he has been appointed minister
by President Wilson, he will be re-
turning to the land of his ancestors.
Born in the United States, he is in
tensely American in his point OF
view, but this has not prevented
him from taking a deep interest in
the development of Cuba.
His name is link between the
two countries. His father, a native
of Matanzas, Cuba, married into
the old Elliott family of South Car
olina, and the new minister to Cuba
was named for his uncle, William
Elliott, one-time representative In
Congress. The Elliotts had been
for generations prominent in the
social and political life of the Pal
metro State, and Gen. Ambrose
Jose Gonzales, the father of Will
liam Elliott Gonzales, was greater
politician than any of them, and
brought up his boys to take vital
interest in politics, for his partlcl-
patton in which one son paid his
life. The members of the Gonzales
family have always had decided
opinions on every public question,
and have always expressed their
feelings forcibly.
Gen. Gonzales, with Narcisco
Lopez, headed the struggle for In
dependence in Cuba in 1874, being
one of the junta of five members
who signed the declaration of indie
pendence, adopted the present flag
and originated the first flibustering
expedition under Gen. Lopez, he
being second in command with the
rank of brigadier general. He was
the first Cuban wounded in the bat
tie for independence at Cardenas,
May 90, 1850. The expedition
failed and sentence OF death was
pronounced upon Gonzales, but he
escaped to the United States and
settled in South Carolina, where he
married a daughter of William
Elliott, prominent citizen Of
Beaufort. When the civil war
broke out the Cuban general offered
his services TO the Confederatcs, and
served as colonel and chief of artil-
lery with Gen. Beauregard, surrcnd-
ering with Johnston's army at
Greensboro in 1865. His two sons
have followed in his footsteps, both
having proved their devotion to the
United States and to Cuba.
The feud which ended in the fat
al shooting of Narcisco G. Con
,zales by Lieutenant Governor JAS.
II. Tillman in 1908 was partly po-
litical and partly personal. The
two families had been on bad terms
for years, and during the campaign
which resulted in the election of
Tillman as Lieutenant Governor,
Gonzales. through his paper, The
State, had fought him bitterly. In
his editorials he had called him
names that Tillman could not for
give or forget. He challenged the
editor to a duel, but Gonzales
treated the proposal with contempt.
This in no way impugned his cour-
age, for the entire Gonzales family
was noted for it's bravery and nerve,
and Narisco Gonzales, who was
! named for old Narisco Lopez, has
acted as scout for Gomez before
the 5panish-American war, and
served in the American army after
war was declared, doing valiant
service.
He was shot while walking un-
armed in the public street by Till
man. At the first shot he called
out Coward" and then Shoot
againp' as he sank to the ground.
He died few days afterward and
feeling ran so high that Tillman. in
sisting that he could not get fair
tri,l in that county, obtained a
change of venue and was acquitted
after sensational trial.
William Elliott Gonzales succeed
ed his brother as editor of The
State. Like him he lad oeen 9. sol.
dier in the war with Spain, having
served as captain in the Cd South
Carolina regiment snd having gone
to Cuba with the army of pacifica-
tion. Mr.. Gonzales is close per-
sopal and political friend of the
Secretary OF State, and in his paper
warmly supported him in his candi-
dacy for the presidency in both OF
his campaigns. He is also a good
friend of President Wilson, and