He was asked what he thought about the way the United States was treating Cuba.

This was rather a difficult question for him to answer, because he was talking to an American; but General Gomez is a brave man, and a sincere man, and he was not afraid to give his real opinion.

He said, that while he did not think that the United States was allied with Spain to bring about the defeat of the Cubans, he thought the refusal to recognize the Cuban government, and the assistance given to Spain to stop filibustering, looked very much as if the United States was more friendly to Spain than to Cuba.

This being the case, he said it was out of the question for the Cuban government to listen to the advice of the United States about the reforms that Spain offered.  Cuba could not regard the United States as her friend, and would not therefore take any suggestions from her.

Many people have supposed that even if the Cubans were successful, peace would not be restored to the island.  There are so many negroes and “half-breed” white people among the Cubans, that the idea has got about that the white Cubans and colored Cubans would fight each other for the right to govern.

General Gomez spoke with much feeling on this point.

He said the colored people had borne their share in the revolution bravely and nobly, and that there never had been, and never would be, any distinction made between the white man and the man of African origin.  All Cubans had fought shoulder to shoulder, as brother patriots should do, and brother patriots they would continue, white or colored.

Only once did General Gomez show any excitement, and that was when Weyler’s name was mentioned.

“He is not a soldier, he is not a man, he is not a Christian!” he said.  “If he were a true soldier, I would respect him; if his troops were true soldiers, I would respect them, even though they had come to hold Cuba in chains.  But he is not a soldier, nor are his men soldiers; they are here to butcher and destroy.  They think to exterminate us; but though Cuba may weep and bleed and burn, God is with us, and the right will come at last.”

He said that he had often thought over Weyler’s cruelties, and considered whether he should not treat the Spanish prisoners in the same way.  But he could not do so.  The very thought of the cruelties ordered by Weyler, the murdering of innocent persons, the attacking of hospitals and killing the poor invalids, filled him with horror.

He said that he was determined that Cuba should shed no innocent blood in the name of freedom.

He was finally asked how long the war would continue, and his answer was very short.

“Until Cuba is free!” he said

* * * * *

It is said that General Gomez cannot yet bear to speak about the death of Maceo, and of his own son, who perished at the same time.