The priests of the Island are appointed by the archbishop and bishop, and as a rule the Captain-General has not interfered to any extent with religious matters. Generally speaking, the Cuban men, outside of the profession of the Church, do not pay much attention to religious observances, leaving that duty mainly to the women.
The Church has always been a State institution and receives its regular annual allowance in the budget, in addition to its private income, which is not small. In 1894 the amount given by the Government amounted to $385,588. Under the new order there will be no union of Church and State, neither will there be any interference with the religious belief and practice of the people. Every denomination will have equal rights in New Cuba.
CHAPTER XXVIII
A VISIT TO GENERAL GOMEZ
“The following account of the author’s official visit to General Gomez has an important bearing on the future of the Island, and is deemed of enough importance to insert here in full.
Washington, D. C.,
February 6, 1899.
Hon. Lyman F. Gage,
Secretary of the Treasury,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Acting in accordance with your instructions, and after consulting, as you suggested, the President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of War, I proceeded on the afternoon of Friday, January 27th, to Havana. Arriving in Havana Monday morning, January 30th, I called upon Major-General John R. Brooke, Governor-General and Commander of the United States forces in Cuba, and presented the following letter from the Secretary of War:
“War Department,
“Washington, D.C.,
“January 27, 1899.
“Dear Sir: