Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-08

A Cuban Meeting at Natchez Speech Of
John :. Ihrasher, late OF Cuba.
Noncompliance with request, very generally
signed, John s. Thrasher, esq.,, delivered an
address at Nalehez, on Monday evening, 2lst
instant, on Cuban independence Gen. OMIT
man also briefly addressed the meeting. The
meeting was very large, nearly filling the large
Institute Hail. Judge Bullock presided, aud
introduced Mr.. Thrasher to the meeting We
copy from the report in the Courier.
Mr.. Thrasher said
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: / was taken some
what by surprise at the honor conferred upon
me, by your requestto deliver an address upon
the subject Of Cuba. Unprepared as j was for
such duty, the short time allotted has enabled
me to prepare but little for such task.
have to throw myself on your indulgence while
lay before you a few desultory remarks rela-
tive to subject of so much present and future
interest to our country as the Cuban question.
1t is decidedly the most prominent question
that now agitates the public mind All look
for its solution, but few comprehend how it
can be done. s sr@
agree with one portion of the country 10
relation to their idea of what is termed mani.
fest destiny" with reference to the growth of
our country. certainly do not wish to combat
that idea; at the same time, Unjust be allowed
to say, am no believer in mastery inactivity
on these topics nur in any manifest political
destiny, except that which is worked out by
warm hearts and energetic hands.
Cuban revolution is not thing Of to. day.
The first attempt dates back as far asl 1913.
Mr.. Thrasher here referred briefly to the
commission sent to Bolivia in 1924, asking his
aid in liberating the island; but the crcum-
stances of Venezuela prevented. In 1926 an.
other commission was sent, and in 1926 the
governments of Venezuela and Mexico com
bined to drive the Spaniards from this island.
Mexico was to supply the transports, and Ven
ezuela the troops. While this expedition was
in preparation, the United States government
stepped in and informed those States, that she
would allow no change to take place in the
political condition of Cuba, and the expedi-
tons were broken up. In 1928, conspiracy
was formed, and the Order of the Black Eagle
instituted to render it successful. A pronun-
ciamento was made at Matanzas, but through
the intrigues of the government it was unsuc.
cessful. ~ g -.f
The revolutionary idea continued to adj
vance. In 1886, another attempt was made
by General Lorenzo, but General Tacons su.
perior energy frustrated it. No other attempt
was made until that of General Lopez in 1916;
but his plans were discovered in l64S, and he
forced to fee. The history of the two suisse
quent expeditions are toowell known to admit
of their being further alluded to here.
have many facts in my own knowledge,
continued the speaker, which enable me to
speak of the wishes and sympathies of the Gu
ban people. While the American prisoners of
sympathy of the Cubans towards them was
hut G,h Iora L.
forward to show it,, The punishment for such
an act was death. Aware of this, at the time
when the American consul refused to act in
their behalf, at once said that anything sent
me should be religiousy applied for their ben
eft. In less than forty-eight hours had re-
ceived nearly $4,000, without asking for a
cent Monday was handed me secretly on the
streets; it was brought me by servants and
negroes. Ladies shopping reached me their
purses. 1t was death TO them, had it been
known; but they thus acted; and afterwards
when the prisoners were sent to Spain, every
article that could contribute to their comfort
was sent me. ] desired to procure them some
pipes for smoking, and casually mentioned one
day that wanted some canes for that purpose
By daylight in the morning several horse
loads Of canes had been forwarded to me.
This feeling still exists. The Cubans all
desire to be free; but we can have no idea of
the efforts of the government there to crush
any expression of opinion by the people. Mr..
Thrasher here read from a recent work pub
lished in Boston, several instances of govern
ment persecution of Cubans who had dared to
manifest sympathy for wounded prisoners
These instances he further stated were com
mon. He had himself known many such.
The revolution Che proceeded) has continued
he la, h.l
its forces from 5000 in 1895 to $4,000 in 1854
On paper the number is even larger, but the
above is the correct enumeration. No leading
Cuban is allowed to 20 from one place to an
other, unless the government knows his bust
ness, which way he travels who he is to see,
and how long he is to stay. Even the common
people have to travel with licenses Official
falsehoods are daily and weekly published by
with reference to public measures.
Denials of one thing and assertions Of another
are continually put forward in the official Jour
nails; but they are all paid for by the govern
ment, and ordered in by authority. These
means of deception are part Of their system Of
government.
Again, jealousy Of the United States has
been awakened in Europe. England and
France have unquestionably entered into secret
treaties, TO prevent the United States extending
her authority over the Island. They have gone
further. They have prepared scheme worthy,
in its iniquity, Of the satan that presides over
the internal regions. They have doomed the
white man in Cuba TO the fate of the whites in
San Domingo. II was not the negroes there
that Of themselves did that work Of massacre
but the red republicans of Paris that melted
the negroes thereto. England and France are
endeavoring to do the same thing in Cuba
They are stimulating the negroes there, prom
ising them the support Of their bayonets. Here
this scheme is denied; but in Cuba it is openly
announced. The government there openly says
the day that Cuba ceases to be Spanish, it shall
be African and this is done by most Christ.
ian sovereign
There is no christianity, no humanity in it.
The negroes Of San Domingo are now more
barbarous than We're their fathers, who were
slaves they are far worse in morals, more
vicious and unhappy. 1t is impossible that
Christianity can advocate such widely extended
evils. At this very time the Spanish authori-
ties are arming hordes Of negroes, exciting
them with the idea Of future privileges, telling
them they are the best race, and that old Spain