The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-10-03
LEADING CITIZENS OF CHICAGO
EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN
STRONG TERMS.
THE MEETING PRESIDED OVER
BY MAYOR SWIFT.
Recognition by the United States of the
Insurgents as Beligerants Demand
ed-Queseda of the Revolution
airy Party Greeted With
Enthusiasm.

population of Chicago as could find en-
trance to the auditorium of Central Mu-
sic hall and the Y. NJ. @. A. buildings
tonight shouted itself hoarse in approba-
ton of a series of resolutions in which
the United States government is asked
to recognize the Cubans as belligerants.
Such genuine enthusiasm has seldom
been witnessed in this city, and on no
occasion were words spoken by men
more full of the heart and soul than
those heard tonight.
Mayor George B. Swift presided at the
main meeting in Central Music hail.
while Judge William A. Vincent was
chairman of the overflow meeting in the
association building. The seyenty-fve
yice-presidents who occupied seats on
the platforms were chosen from among
the leading business men of the city
and each one of them had previously
expressed himself as in full accord with
the object of the meetings. Before
the speaking began copies of kilograms
from q number of gentlemen who could
not be present were read. The first of
these was from Governor John Z. Alt
geld and it's ringing words called forth
cheer after cheer. Other kilograms were
| from Congressman George e. Adams,
Senator Wilkinson of Florida and George
r. Peck.
The representatives of the various Or
CARNATIONS which had selected commit
tees to cooperate in making the meeting
q success were distributed between the
two. Among these were the presidents
of the committees from the following
organizations: Loyal Legion, Confeder-
ate Association, G. A. r., Naval Vet
Grams, Society of the Sons of the Revolu-
| ton, Illinois State Federation of Labor,
twenty-five local labor organizations,
Standard club, Marquette club, Ken
wood club, Bankers club, Oakland club,
Illinois club, Menoken club, Italian resi-
dents Scandinavian, German, Bohemian,
Irish, Greek and African societies. y
All of the speakers addressed both
meetings. They were Rev. f. Gunsau-
lus, w. J. Hines, Rev. 2. S. Henson,
VIM. e. Mason, e. B. Sherman.
| When Gonzales de Quesada, secretary
of the Cuban revolutionary party of the
United States, stepped to the platform at
Central Music hall the enthusiasm of the
audience knew no bounds, and it was
some minutes before order was restored
Rev. ii. w. Thomas read the resolu-
tions, which were adopted as by one
mighty voice. They were as follows:
| I'VE, the citizens of Chicago, gath
cred to express our deep sympathy with
the Cubans in their brave struggle to
secure for themselves and their children
the blessings of independence, liberty
and self government present the follow
ing:
1--WE hold these truths to be self ev-
| ident, that all men are created equal
that they are endowed by their creator
with certain inalienable rights, 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 the con-
sent of the governed; that whenever any
form of government becomes destructive
to these ends, it is the right of the people
to alter or abolish it and institute new
government, laying it's foundations on
such principles and organizing it's pow
ers in such form as to them shall seem
most likely to effect their safety and
happiness.
a government long established should
not be changed for light and transient
causes and accordingly all experience
has shown that mankind are more dis
posed to suffer while evils are sufferable
| than to right themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accus-
toned. But when long train of abuses
and usurpations pursuing invariably the
same object evinces a design to reduce
them under absolute despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty to throw off such
government and provide new guards for
| their future security
| This historic declaration made by the
| founders of our republic on July 4, 1176,
was true then and is true today. For
many unhappy years the Cubans have
been most shamefully oppressed and cru,
ely burdened until the yoke of Spanish
rule has become intolerable. If the
fathers of the American independence
were justified in casting off the Oppres-
sive domination of England, the Cuban
patriots of today have far further justi-
tication for the attempt to overthrow
| the government.
I'VE desire publicly to express our in
dignation that in this year, 1895, the spec
tacle is presented of shiploads of soldiers
sent 1000 miles across the ocean to Amer
lea, the land of the free, to shoot
down in cold blood a courageous people
who simply desire to govern themselves
Our Indignation is further aroused at
the unspeakable cruelty of the Span
iards toward the Cubans in this strug-
| gle. Death seems to be the penalty
meted out to all Cubans captured under
arms, and even those furnishing medi-
cines to the so-called rebels are to be
| ruthleSSly shot.
We are glad to notice that the course
of the Cubans appears to be more hui
name and we take this opportunity of
congratulating them upon the remark
able progress they have made in spite of
the terrible odds against them.
I'VE believe it to be the privilege and
duty of the United States to recognize
the rights of the Cuban revolutionists
as belligerents as soon as practicable, on
being so requested by Cuban authority,
in accordance with international law
Such action of our government we deem
due to the Cubans and to the cause of
universal liberty.
| while disavowing all bitterness of
| feeling on our part toward the people of
| Spain, we nevertheless believe that it is
our duty and privilege at this time as
citizens of this free republic, thus to eX-
press our heartfelt sympathy with our
Cuban neighbors, living upon an island
which nature has made paradise, which
the cruel methods of the Spanish govern
ment have done much to despoil.
| we respectfully urge our fellow citi-
Gems throughout this country to assem-
bic in mass meeting to devise Informal
ton and thus arouse, or rather deepen,
the sympathy of our people with the
Cubans in their heroic attempt to cast
| off tho Unln of nnnraccint, nd 70