The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-27
Cuba Must be Free.
The Cause Advocated in Phil
adelph1a.

Philadelphia, Nov. 2l The cause
Of Cuba was eloqueuty and boldly ad-
vocated at the Academy of Music tonight
at meeting held under the auspices Of
the Philadelphia Brigade, Pennsylvania
reserves. The principal address of the
evening was made by Governor Claude
Matthews of Indiana, who delivered the
speech upon Free Cuba that he bad
prepared to deliver at the Atlanta expo
sitiou. The audience was not large but
it made up in enthusiasm what it lacked
in uumbers and Governor Matthews and
the other speakers were heartily ap-
plauded aud the sentiments they gave
utterance to 10 behalf of Cuban liberty
we're those Of their auditors.
Governor Matthews was followed by
Gonzalo de Quesada of New York, the
secretary Of the Cuban junta. Mr.. de
Quesada made an impassioned aud dra-
matte speech. appealing to the sympa-
thies of the audience for the struggling
Cubaus, and asking that they be recog-
nized as belligerents by this govern
meut. Resolutions Of sympathy and
promising aid to the Cubans were
adopted. The resolutions also called
upon the senators and representatives
Of Pennsylvania and upon the two
houses of congress when they meet to
pass a concurrent resolution directing
the President to recognize the Repub-
lie of Cuba as belligerent patton A
committee Of the Philadelphia brigade
will present the resolutions to Mr.
Cleveland
Capt w. W. Kerr. assistant district
attorney of Philadelphia, made the
most radical speech Of the evening ~in
favor of the Cabans Capt. Kerr has
attained vide notoriety of late as the
owner of the steamships Leon and
Laurada which have been accused Of
landing 6libustering expeditions upon
the shores Of Cuba. Capt Kerr boldly
proclaimed his right under the laws Of
this country to land men and NUM-
tious Of war upon the coast Of Cuba,
and that the burden of preventing him
doing this rested upon the maintenance
Of blockade by Spain. He ridiculed
and derided tie opinion Of Attorney
General Harmon that the laws of this
country prevented him from doing this,
and asserted that uoder orders from
Washington every custom inspector in
the ports of the Uuited States has be-
come Spanish spy. Continuing. he
said: And they might as we'll know
that uutil Cuba is free. ships will con-
stantly sail from this country and land
upon the coast of Cuba men aud arms
and furthermore, if they keep their eyes
aud ears open they will hear Of another
expedition being landed in about 10
days. They talk about risks. We re
willing to take The risk"
! Captain Kerr spoke at great length
in this strain and told Of the oppressive
taxatiou imposed by the Spanish gov.
ernment upon the natives of Cuba and
asserted that if this government recog-
uizes the belligerency of the island and
should need men to 60 there and fight
Spain. he for one. would be willing to
90. He laughed at the blockade that
Spain is maintaining and said that there
were miles and miles of the Cuban coast
upon which 6libustering expeditions
could laod daily without Spanish
cruiser being seen
Col. Wm. Frazier. com mander Of
the Philadelphia brigade, announced to
the meeting that be had received word
from Congressman Amos Cummings
that the latter had today drawn up a
concurrent resolution which be will
present to congress recognizing Cuba 8
belligerents