The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-04-17
Liberty, The Pearl
For Which Cubans are Pay
ing so Great a Price.

TAMPA, Fla, April 10.-Lyceo
Cubauo was the scene of one OF the
most enthusiastic meetings to night
ever held here. The occasion is the
celebration of the twenty-sixth ami
versary, of the constitution of the
Cuban republic. There were 5000
people present, including several
hundred ladies', who joined most
heartily in the demonstration. The
hall was packed with an eager throng.
The street for nearly a block was
thronged with Cubans and their
friends and all around the building
the people stood in great numbers
The hall was gaily decorated with
bunting and national emblems. The
Cuban and American flags were
gracefully wreatbed about the pic
lures O Cuban patriots on the walls
and on the stage Among those who
had a place on the platform were Ra-
mon Rivero, president Of the society,
DR.. Valdes Dominguez Fernando
Figueredo, leader of the party here,
Enrique CALICO, Guallerio Garcia and
Jose Herrera. Rivero, editor Of
Cuba, was master of ceremonies The
speeches abouuded with fiery patrio-
tism aud the reading of the proclama-
ton of the republic in 1869 by Colonel
Figueredo was continually interrupt
ed by applause. One speaker declared
"Spain would never take her hands
off the throat of Cuba until her grasp
was severed by the blood of Cuban
courage"
Another said: The coming of
Campos means the establishment of
the regime Of the revolution whose
anniversary this meeting is called to
honor Thea garroted and shot the
patriots, outraged their wives and
daughters and burned their homes
The same fate now hangs over the
heads of our fair native isle and our
blood kindred there. They will be
subjected to the tasest crueltles ever
heaped upon the head of a liberty
loving people and they will be call
ed upon to wade through seas of
blood, but over and beyond it lies
the pearl Of great price, liberty for
Cuba. Let them do their worst, we
are prepared for them. We have
made up our minds fully to the great
struggle and we are determined to
win tie freedom of Cuba and redeem
her from Spanish bondage at any and
every cost. When %garroting and
shooting and the outraging Of our
women and the burning of our homes
begins, We shall pay them in kind for
their hellishness. Mark you, we
shall not begin these blood curdling
outrages and shall only c%ondescead
to meet these devilish things on an
equal footing when we are forced to
do 80 by their own example"
The speech was greeted with con.
tinued applause. Other speeches
were made by Sotero Alfonso, Mes
ter l.. Carbonell, Eduardo Reina,
Francisco iaz, and a Spaniard, San
dalia Romaella
One of the principal features of the
evening was the speech of Miss Lrisa
Sanchez, a charming and intelligent
blond. The speech was made ex
tempore and her every movement was
grace itself, while her patriotic elo-
quence raised a storm of enthusiasm
in and around the hall.
At the close of the meeting, the
following resolutions were unani-
mously adoped:
Resolved, That the Cubans assem-
bled in mass meeting, endorse the &C
ton ofthe councils in selecting Jose
Marti as a delegate and Benjamin /.
Guerra as treasurer of the party, and
accord a vote of thanks to the secre-
tary, Gonzalo de Queseda, for his
work through Florida in representa-.
ton of the Cuban delegation.
The resolution was at once wired
to Queseda in New York. Benjamin
Guerra. the treasurer, is in the city,
but was unable to attend the meeting
on account of illness.