General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Forces: 

Sir—­It cannot be concealed from you that the Cuban problem has radically changed.  We Spaniards and Cubans find ourselves facing a foreign people of different race, of a naturally absorbent tendency, and with intentions not only to deprive Spain of her flag over the Cuban soil, but also to exterminate the Cuban people, due to its having Spanish blood.

The supreme moment has, therefore, arrived in which we should forget our past misunderstandings, and in which, united by the interests of our own defense, we, Spaniards and Cubans, must repel the invader.

General, due to these reasons, I propose to make alliance of both armies in the City of Santa Clara.  The Cubans will receive the arms of the Spanish army, and with the cry of “Viva Espana!” and “Viva Cuba!” we shall repel the invader and free from a foreign yoke the descendants of the same people.

Your obedient servant,

Ramon Blanco.

To this General Gomez replied as follows: 

Sir—­I wonder how you dare to write me again about terms of peace when you know that Cubans and Spaniards can never be at peace on the soil of Cuba.  You represent on this continent an old and discredited monarchy.  We are fighting for an American principle, the same as that of Bolivar and Washington.

You say we belong to the same race and invite me to fight against a foreign invader, but you are mistaken again, for there are no differences of races and blood.  I only believe in one race, mankind, and for me there are but good and bad nations, Spain so far having been a bad one and the United States performing in these movements toward Cuba a duty of humanity and civilization.

From the wild, tawny Indian to the refined, blond Englishman, a man for me is worthy of respect according to his honesty and feelings, no matter to what country or race he belongs or what religion he professes.

So are nations for me, and up to the present I have had only reasons for admiring the United States.  I have written to President McKinley and General Miles thanking them for American intervention in Cuba.  I don’t see the danger of our extermination by the United States, to which you refer in your letter.  If it be so, history will judge.  For the present I have to repeat that it is too late for any understanding between my army and yours.

Your obedient servant,

Maximo Gomez.

One race—­mankind.

The reply of Gomez to Blanco will live in history.  Blanco’s strange appeal to the Cuban general was characteristic of a Spaniard.  It would seem that an intelligent man would not have made such an appeal, well knowing that it would be useless.  For three years Gomez had waged what to many seemed to be a hopeless fight.  After these years of sacrifice he obtained the United States as an ally,