Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-22
Ii Is EloqusntIy and Boldly Advocated
in Philadelphia.
GOVERNOR MATTHEWS SPEAKS.
de Gucsnda and Assistant
Disfrlct-AttOrney Kerr, OF inc
ou,I.r Cttx Also Make Address
es-BelIigercnt Rights Asked For

the auspices OF the Phliadelphla bi'saue'
PENNSYLVANIA Reserves. The principal aa-
dress OF the evening was made by ooN-
ernor Clark Mathews, Of Indiana, WHO
delivered the speech upon Free CuDa
that he had prepared 10 deliver at the
Atlanta Exposition.
The audience was not large, but II maze
I'D in enthusiasm what 1t lacked IN num-
beers. and Governor Matthews and 'he
other sneakers were heartily applauded'
and The sentiments they gave utterance
70 I'm behalf Of Cuban liberty were those
OF their auditors.
Governor Matthews was followed by
Gonzalo de Quesada, Of New YORK, sec
rotary of the Cuban junta. Mr. de que
soda made an impassioned and dramatic
speech, appealing 10 the sympathles Of
the audience for The struggling Cubans'
and asking that they be recognized IS
belligerents by this government.
Resolutions Of sympathy. and promising
aid to the Cubans. were adopted. Inc
resolutions also called upon the senators
and Representatives from Pennsylvania
and upon the two houses OF Congress-
when they meet. TO pass concur
rent resolution, directing the President 10
recognize "the republic Of Cuba as bel
ligerent nation
4 committee Of the Philadelphia Bril-
gade will present the resolutions to MI.
Cleveland.
RADICAL REMARKS.
Captain w. W. Kerr. Assistant District
Attorney of Philadelphia, made the most
radical speech Of the evening in FAVOR
Of the Cubans. Captain Kerr mas at
tanned wide notoriety of late as the
owner of the steamships Leon and Lau-
rada. which have been accused OF land
ing flibustering expeditions upon the
shores of Cuba.
CAPTAIN Kerr boldly proclaimed his tight
under the laws of fhis country TO land
men and munitions Of war upon the coast
OF Cuba. and said that the burden OF pre-
venting bis doing this rested upon the
maintenance of a blockade by Spain. lie
ridiculed and derided the opinion OF At
torney-GeneTal Harmon, that the laws
Of this country prevented him from doing
this, and asserted that under orders from
Washington, every customs-inspector IN
the ports Of the Unf,ed States has be-
come a Spanish spy.
Continuing, he said: And they might
as well know that until Cuba is free
SflIS VIII NtirAdlAiN son -+".ai ''''t $500
try and land upon the coas'I Of Cuba men
and arms: and. Furthermore. If they keep
their eyes and ears open. they Will hear
of another expedition being landed III
about ten days. They talk about rlsks
We are willing 10 take The risks.
Captain Kerr spoke at great length IN
this strain, and told Of the oppressive
taxation imposed by the Spanish Gov
eminent upon the natives OF Cuba, ana
asserted that II this government recog-
riZes the beligerency OF the island, and
should need men TO go there and ight
Spain. he. for one. would be- willing to 80.
lie laughed at the blockade that spain
is maintaining, and said that there were
miles and miles of the Cuban coast upon
which hlbustering expeditions could land
daily without Spanish cruiser being
seen.
Colonel William Frazier. commander OF
the Philadelphia Brigade. announced 10
the meeting that he had received word
from Congressman Amos J. Cummings
that the latter had to-day drawn up
concurrent resolution. which he will pre-
sent TO Congress, recognizing Cuba's bel
ligerency.
MATTHEWS'S SPEECH.
Following is synopsis Of Governor
Matthew's speech.
II esteem it happy privilege to meet
with YOU, the citizens OF this proud city.
rich In the historic memories OF the found
ing Of our government and under
the auspices OF an association whose
members are moved by the nOblest i'm
pulses and the Hottest sentiment Of pa
triOusm; an organization magnanimous
and brave. the first 10 meet the gene
rous spirit. to rob sectional difference
of its bitterness and sting, and proclaim
upon the field of Gettysburg that brave
men. though once opposed in hostile
strife. could mingle in friendly reunion
as citizens OF a common country, and
together write the record OF American
valor and American magnanlmity.
1t Is fitting time and occasion, with
in the shadow OF Independence Hall.
the cradle OF freedom in the Western
World within the sound of the old bell
ringing in the grandest event in our ma
tons history TO Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land, unto all the in
habtants thereof and surrounded by
the magnificent evidences of the strength
and enterprise, the prosperity, and the
happiness Of our people, 10 pause in
our busy, self-occupying career and
seeming indifference.tO review the history
Of our past, remembering the principles
Tor WHICH our ldlftlS lOuSHts W NO.
by deeds OF valor and sacrifice. threw
aside the CALLING yoke: and to publicly
express our Simplify with words OF en-
couragement for a neghboring people
contending for the same rights and prin-
ciples-.for independence and home gov
eminent.
I'm that golden age Of discovery
cuba was the first In all the Western
Hemisphere to disclose her beauty TO the
venturesome and cOyetous Spanlard. and
soon thereafter became the base OF the
various expeditions Of Spain against Mex
leo and the Southern Continent. Here
were fitted out her expeditions for dis
covery and conquest Of rapacious greed,
Of heartless cruelty. and atrocious in
humanity. unequalled in the history OF
the world"
CUBA'S HISTORY.
The Governor then traced the further
history Of the "ever-faithful isle" and
contrasted 1t with that OF the Spanish
republics that had long since gained their
autonomy. Poor Cuba" he exclaimed.
'lulled to sleep with false and deceit
ful promises OF reform and the honeyed
flattery OF 'ever-falthful.' awoke to find
herself deceived. bound hand AMI foot.
her loyalty despised. robbed Of her birth
right, and only prey for spells. The pages
OF history nowhere reveal more atrocious
crimes against humanity. more cruel war
fare and wicked oppression. more ex-
amples OF outraged truth and justice. nor
greater crimes against all Christian civii-
zation than have marked Spanish misrule
and despotism in Cuba.
"A gem upon the sea, IL would have
been a mine Of wealth 10 its pOssessors
through the nurturing and fostering care
Of humane rule, and would have well
repienished the depleted treasury OF a
decayed and effete nation. But the ~
verse has been true.
"'rhe wrongs against which We rcbelled
were not half so grievous nor the bar.
harons cIuelties nearly so great. and vet