Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-10
OMAHA ENDORSES THE MOVEMENT.
Cause of Cuban Liberty EspOused by
the People at n Mass Meeting.

Cause of Cuban Liberty EspOused by
the People at n Mass Meeting.
Creighton hall was very fairly filled last
night with q composite audience, called to-
gether to listen to an exposition Of the cause
of the insurrectonists of Cuba. 1t had been
expected that the Cuban patriot, Gonzalo de
Querada. whose mission 1t is to arouse SYM
pathy for the Cublns throughout the United
States, would be present, but he found 1t
impossible to come to this city. The meeting
vas consequently transformed INTO mass
meeting which turned out to be unanimously
and enthusiastically In favor of recognizing
,tae struggling Cubans as bellgerents, and
recognizing the Cuban republic as soon as
possible.
The meeting was called to order by ID.
Clem Deaver. He briefly announced that the
expected speaker could not be present on
account of press of business. He gave the
gist of a letter which had been received
from him. In which he told of the manner in
which the Cuban cause was being made
known in the principal cities of the coun-
try. AT q mass meeting an executive COM
mittee of fifteen or twenty persons Is ap-
pointed. who appoint an advisory board of
some 100 men, who represent the entire state
in which the city is situated. The members
of this board keep the Cuban question before
the public in delegated districts.
Mr.. Deaver introduced Mayor Bemis as the
chairman of the meeting, The mayor spent
but few moments in explaining the object
of the meeting to the audience and then
introduced Hon. John l.. Webster as the
principal speaker.
Mr.. Webster said that on September the
formation Of the Republic of Cuba was Off
caly announced president and a constitu-
tional assembly on a basis similar to the
French assembly, having been selected. 1t is
that republic against which Spain is now
waglng war The Cubans can no longer be
regarded as band Of insurgents or rebels,
but as band Of patriots, fighting for their
country. The struggle is not a civilized
warfare. but Is a revival of the crueltes of
Spanish warfare. which have disgraced the
history OF Spain. Therefore. the little repub-
lie In the western hemisphere is appealing to
America for its national sympathy.
The tragic struggle OF the Cubans to es-
aablsh a republic In 1869 was related. The
speaker held that in view of this past his
tory the renewed struggle of the Cubans for
liberty had more of merit than that of the
Armenians The latter had not an inde-
pendent government, while the Cubans have.
Despite This fact, however, they have been
ruled with rod Of iron and their revolt is
nothing more than revolt against oppres-
sion Their appeal is an appeal for sympathy |
which comes with as stirring ring that |
which went out to France during our own |
struggle for liberty.
AS TO Cuba's capacity for Independent gov |
ernment, Mr.. Webster said that. she had all |
the elements necessary. Her geographical |
situation was excellent, her harbors were |
spacious and her seacoast large, her acreage |
was richly productive. she had tmbsr. ma |
hogany, rars woods, coffee, tobacco and sugar |
which find their way into every country AS |
people, the Cubans were distnctivey a |
nationality. Even under excessive taxation |
they have been prosperous. As an argument |
trat congress should take some steps to recog-
nize the little republic, MIR. Webster spoke |
OF the similar presidents in American his
tory. The recognition Of the French repub-
lie In ls4s was especially instanced. The sc-
Of h.a "a
In Hungary. when an agent was sant to this
country TO oner congratulations and the later
d d,mand for the surrender Of the patriot Kos
suth. was also mentioned. Throughout all
the history OF the country the speaker held
that the senate had been ready to recognize a
struggle for liberty. The Monroe doctrine
when rightly understood, he said, embodied
nothing more than that for II warned the
holy alliance to keep its hands of all repub-
lies established not only on the western con-
linent, but on the western hemisphere. Mr..