Show BONFIRE OF SPANISH GIFTS I Old Gomez Thus Eiapfiasized His Rejection I Re-jection Armistice New York April 23 Tomas Estrada Palma of the Cuban junta has received a letter from General Maximo Gomez containing the following Great things have been done The essential thing now is to triumph I which will be great glory to the victor who like David of Biblical fame destroyed de-stroyed Goliath with only his sling and stone Blanco and Pando have sent me emissaries with presents The presents pres-ents I burned before their eyes and I told them if they should ever return I Would hang them The poor men were most astonished and I have since learned that they refused to come back a second time unless they would be permitted per-mitted to remain with my army I hasten to tell you this so you can know the infamy of the Spaniards One year ago there was no clemency nQ quarter Women mothers and children were made victims of the Spanish The soldiers of AVeyler were taking with them everywhere desolation and ruin I I By means of the heliograph the Spanish 1 Span-ish generals sent soldiers everywhere through the Island Generals Luqui i > Ruiz and others destroyed de-stroyed cattle horses and even the palm trees The 200000 men then in I this island disputed the privilege of who should kill the most Not one peace commissioner came then But all to no purpose We made their troops useless the heliograph and enemys cannon of no account All our I fields have given us beautiful fruits while hunger reigns in the cities We do not know where the Spanish army has gone I was then mentioned as the so called Today they address me as distinguished adversary Why this change The answer is simple It is that the Spaniards see I I that their cause is lost and they are i I trying to gain time to postpone the inevitable in-evitable I shall continue to fight with the same energy as in the past Victory Vic-tory will crown my efforts |