The New York herald., 1869-05-05
Enthusiastic Demonstration in
Favor of independence.
Great Mass Meeting at
Cooper Institute.
ANnEaxcA TO TIE RESCUE.
Speeches by lr. McKeOn, Mr.. WOOdfOrd, Mr..
Townsend, Rev. Mr.. FrCsch, Mr..
Fellows and Others.

al
In favor OF the independence OF Cuba. The utmost
enthusiasm prevailed. II was truly a great mani
festahOn OF popular feeling, for the entire assem-
bage went heart and soul with every patriotic ex
preston that touched upon the rights of the much
cherished isle. 1t Is certainly some time since the
spacious han was SO densely packed, and that too,
not by curiosity seekers, but by sterling,
earnest and determined audience Long prior
70 the hour announced for the commencement
of the meeting the space in front OF the Cooper In
sttute was crowded by very energetic assembage
and when the doors were thrown open q con.
tinued rush speedily filed the hall. The deco
rations were handsome as they were ap-
propriate. Beautifully entwined flowers wreathed
in heightened strings hung gracefully be-
meath the well executed portraits OF Washington,
President Grant, Admiral Farragut, General Nc
Clean and Governor Holman. Besides these or
lamentations the platform was otherwise gaily fes-
OOned; nags and banners were tastefuly suspended,
among them being the nag OF Cuban inde-
pendance, but conspicuous was the siken
streamer representing the stars and stripes.
Neatly executed garlands dangled from the
chandeliers. and altogether the decorations were
rich and well designed. sufficient at
least to add something TO the general feeling which
characterized the unanimity OF the meeting Stands
were erected outside the building and congregated
hardness or lack Of crushing powers debarred them
from obtaining space inside. Fireworks wrg.
gled about IN all directions and when well executed
unusually brilliant elected great cheering from
the crowds. There was no lack OF open air orators
whose remarks generally elected much cheering
At eight O'Clock the meeting was called TO order
by MIR. W. +. McMartin, and nominated Mr.. Charles
A Dana chairman.
Mr.. J. L. Buck read list OF names, which he pre-
sented as vice presidents and secretaries, which
were unanimously adopted. He also submitted the
AS citizens of New York, without distinction Of
party, we have assembled to make declaration Of our
opinions IN relation to the Cuban revolution for free
territory, population and resources sufficlent
10 enable them. If Independent. to dis
charge all domestic and international obligations
which devolve on every STATE. For generations
they have been helpless dependency on Spanish
monarchs, by whom they have been despoed OF
liberty. Whenever their aspirations for freedom
have been awakened by the example OF our country
Spain has strangled them in blood. few months
ago the Spaniards revOlutoniZed their own govern
ment, dethroned their Queen and changed their
consult or consider the wishes Of the Cubans whom
they would still hold as dependents, without any
rights save such as Spanish caprice would concede.
Against this the Cuban people have revOlted In favor
OF republic, equal political rights independence IN
government and freedom for all the population
many months. Will. we believe, result In the estab
lishment of an independent Cuban republic. In
PEELED by these considerations recognizing our duty
TO favor the cause Of political freedom and respond
ing TO the Cuban appeals Tor our sympathy we
hereby declare:-
Fsst-That we heartily sympathlze with the Cuban
people in their for independence, and In the
grievances to which they point we find full justca
!Ssc0nd-We will support the President in recog-
Dizine the Cuban revolutionary government, SO as
20 oe Srave neone VINO ere s~gng
for republican institutions and for those principles
OF freedom, progress and humanity, the establish
public Of the United States. tCheers.)
SPEECH MR.. JOHN M'KE0N.
IlpEn fhnn tpfr nanhf IN Inn .nn
ing and proceeded to make stirring speech. He
said that when he received the invitation OF the
he deemed il not only duty TO obey their call but
great pleasure. (Cneers The resolutions which
mad just been read conveyed to them the impor-
tance Of the occasion which had called them
American people might express their sym.
pathy with a people struggling for freedom
and independence. (Applause.l An occasion like
the present involved responsibility which was not
9n ps ike ours the
reached not only from the people up to the govern
ment, but from the government down, and 1t was
eminenty proper that they should on this occasion
express their wishes and point out the course
which they wished their public agents TO pursue.
Whatever trouble came ON the country came ON the
people ultimately.
The occasion which has called You together is the
present revolution In the Island OF Cuba and you
are called upon not only TO express your sympathy
with that movement, bat also TO point out to our
public agents the policy which ought to be adopted
by the government OF the United States i need not
tell you that the contest In Cuba Is the DEATH
struggle between the representatives OF foreign
on nDa IN pah The peope caba are SI enie ie
freedom OF the press-denie the right OF petition,
the right TO acquire or dispose OF property except
under certain restrictIoDs-denied the security OF
person from illegal arresrs-dened the right OF
representation whilst robbed by the taxation OF the
home government in Madrid. In q word, not
grievance enumerated In our Declaration Of Inde.
pendence but exists at the present time In Cuba.
Ihe expressions have for years pas, G given zen cause
sition to the government taken such shape OF power
aud capacity OF resistance to the armed force OF
the government OF Madrid as at the present time
From all we can learn the war which Is waged
against the men struggling 10 give independence to
their native isle Is carried on by the provisional
government IN Spain with spirit OF savage fcrocity
revolving 10 every sense OF humanity tApplause.)
fhe supreme authority IN the island Is nomlnay in
the Governor General Dulce, but he Is nothing more
than puppet In the hands Of the hordes OF volun-
teers, who are the ofscourngs OF Spain sent to pill
lage and murder the unfortunate native Cubans. IL
no other reason existed, We should insist that a
stop should be put to policy which Is calculated TO
dsnonor tne age 10 rsor wmicr We 10 ve. o tne cMed
being practiced on the Greeks by the Turks, IL IL
not Just and proper that we, the neighbors OF u
civilized community, should cry out IN horror agains
war which ls characterized by barbari.y TO which
the Turks never approached Inc american people
have declared their sympathy with classic Greece,
with Poland with Hungary, with Ireland, within
few months past with the little island OF Crete
Tar away In the Mediterranean, with a population
about the size OF OF the wards OF this clty-in
one word with every people on this Continent aud
In Europe struggling against despotism. And now
Jou hrc uskeu tO uecldTc YOUR syHiphtny Will tHe
Cubans I cannot be mistaken when I answer
that the heart OF the American people beats In
unison with the patriots OF Cuba and the voices OF
the American people Will he raised In one grand
chorus Of support for the OF Cuban liberty and
Independence IL IL, on such occasions as the pre-
sent easy to deal In general principles OF devotion
20 liberty, ana In good round phrase speak Of the
great Ideas involved In contests similar to that now
being waged In Cuba; but my purpose looks TO some
thing more. ! propose to examine what our duty
as nation Is at the present moment; what are our
rights under the laws OF nations, and then 10 say TO
fla WnrlI m n Ada,,
1876 10 Congress, .that the United ptates must
still, heretofore, take counsel from their duties
rather than their fears. lCheers In order to
show the deep interest the United states
have taken IN Cuba II is only necessary to refer
TO our diplomatic history. II will be seen that we
have assumed that the right OF self-protecton au-
thor'zed us to pursue policy IN respect to this
isianu which we would scarcely presume TO enforce
IN relation to any other territory. We have uniform
~ he'd the doctrine nat no power but spain should
hold the isiand-a doctrine which Is exception TO
our general policy which has been that every nation
mas right 10 dispose OF Its territories as best NAV