The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-01
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS FOR oUBA.

a.
Ringing Speeches and Resolutions of Sym
pathy For the Struggling Patriots.
Last night, pursuant to the call of the
mayor, o number of pro minent citizens
assembled In the circuit courtroom to
consider the adoption of resolutions OF
sympathy with Cuba in her struggle for
independence.
Mayor Jones called the meeting to
order and stated the object of the meet
ing in q clear and concise manner,
namely, to secure the recognition by
the United States through Congress of
the belligerent rights of the Cubans.
He said: Until their status Is changed
no nation will recognize their rights
and the laws of war do not obtain for
their protection.
w. FL. Saunders having been elected
secretary the mayor asked to hear from
others present. Rev. r. w. Patton
then addressed the meeting, saying he
was impelled to do so by the voice of
humanity. He then rapidly reviewed
the struggles OF our forefathers for
liberty, eliminating in the revolu tionary
war, and recounted the numerous efforts
OF the Oubans to free themselves from
the CALLING exactions OF Spanish mis-
rule. He stated what the recogni ion
Of belligerent rights of the Cubans
meant, and detailed sone of the recent
awful atrocieties of the Spanish army
in the attempt to crush out this strug-
CLING band OF patriots, closing with an
appeal to his auditors in the name of
fraternity, humanity and Christianity
to aid in forcing Spain to recognize
the belligerent rights of the insur-
gents.
w. o. Hardaway then introduced
~ \ t.
made ringing speech. The resolu lions
were as follows:
I'VE, the citizens Of Roanoke city,
Va. are here to express our sympathy
with the Cuban revolutionists in their
great fight for local self-government,
through which they will secure civil,
religious and politicsl liberty, and pre-
ent the following:
I'VE hold these truths to be self
evident: That all mon are created equal;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inaliensble rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the
| pursuit of happiness; that to secure
these rights governments are instituted
among men. deriving their Just powers
from tho consent Of the governed; that
whenever any form OF government be-
comes destructive OF these ends it la the
| right of the people to abolish it and to
institute new government, laying its
| foundations on such principles and or
| ganizipg its powers in such form as to
them shall be most likely to effect their
safety and happiness.
prudence indeed will dictate that
governments long established should
not be changed for light and transient
causes, and accordingly all experience
has shown that mankind are more dis
kn ffop Gf1 tl,o II
than to right themselves by abolishing
the form to which they are accustomed;
| but when long train Of abuses and
| usurpations pursuing invariably the
same object evinces design to reduce
them under absolute despotism, it is
their right, 1t is their duty, to throw off
| such government and provide new
| guards for their future security.
This immortal declaration WAS given
to the world by the patriots of 1776. 1t
proclaimed great and glorious truth.
applicable to every people and to every
land. To-day 1t is the Mecca of Cuban
hopes The Cubans under Spanish mis-
rule have been shamefully governed.
mercilessly taxed and cruelty oppressed
by every method that could be devised
by the crafty ingenuity OF the most
effete monarchy Of Europe.
"If any people since history began
ever had right to throw off the foreign
yoke by force of arms the people Of
that island are surely justifable in the
| great and unequal struggle they are
making to drive Spanish tyranny from
their land. Surely no love OF liberty
can be Indifferent to the cruel destruc-
tion Of the brave and courageous people
who are merely endeAvoring to secure
the blessings of self-government. Our
indignation is intensified by the cruel
methods employed by the Spanish gov
eminent to subdue these people.
Prisoners are shot when captured, in
human punishments resorted 10 and
every principle OF humane warfare rec
cognized by all civilized nations ia
| totally disregarded by the oppressor OF
| Cuba
I'VE believe that the United States
should recognize the revolutionists of
Cuba as belligerents when Congress
meets, and that action should be taken
without further delay, We think such
action upon the part of our government
and all other civilized governments
should be accorded to Cuba. and the
cause OF human liberty. We have no
| bitterness or nkindness Of feeling for
the people OF Spain or their govern
ment, but we conceive 1t to be our duty
and our privilege to express our sympa-
| thy for our brave little neighbor who
| ia but following in the footsteps OF the
4 patriots of I776. and are endeavoring at
/ great rick to their property and their
liyes 20 establish another free and inde-
/ pendent government upon the Western
/ hemisphere.
/ We would most earnestly urge the
J press. the pulpit and the people gener-
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