The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-01

!
To the Rev. DR.. Barrows was entrusted
the reading of the resolutions. In full
| they are as follows:
I'VE, citizens of Chicago, gathered to expires.
our deep sympathy with the Cubans in theil
| brave struggle to secure for themselves and
their children the blessings of independence
liberty and self-government, present the
| following:
We hold these truths to be self-evident: THAI
| all men are created equal; that they are EN-
dowed by their Creator with certain inalieneble
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 the consent ot
| the governed; that whenever any form of gov
ernment becomes destructive of these ends ii
is the right of the people to alter or to abolish
1t and to institute new government, laying
its foundations on such principles and organic
ing its powers in such form as to them shall
seem most likely TO effect their safety and
happiness. Prudence indeed, viii dictate that
governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes, and, ac-
cordingly, all experience has shown that man.
kind are more disposed to suffer while evils are
sufferable, than to right themselves by abolish
ing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when q long train of abuses and usurpa-
tions, pursuing invariably the same object
eyince design to reduce them under absolute
despotism it is their right, it is their duty, to
throw off such government and to provide new
guards for their future security.
This historic declaration made by the found
ers OF our Republic on July 4, 1776,, was true
then and it is to-day. For many unhappy years
the Cubans have been most shamefully op-
pressed and cruelty burdened under the yoke OF
Spanish rule, which has become intolerable II
the fathers of American Independence were
justified III casting OFF the oppressive dominion
of Great Britain, the Cuban patriots of to-day
have far greater justification for their attemp pt
to overthrow the tor1nenting, impoverishihg,
heartless tyranny of Spanish Government.
We desire publicly to express our indigna-
ton in this year. 1885, the spectacle as pre-
sented in shiploads of soldiers sent across the
ocean to America, "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 un-
speakable cruelty of the Spaniards toward the
Cubans in this struggle. Death seems to be
the penalty meted out to all Cubaps captured
under arms, and even those, furnishing medi-
cines to the so-calleG rebels to be ruthlessly
shot.
We are glad to notice that the course of the
Cubans appears to be more humane, and we
take this opportunity of congratulating them
upon the remarkable progress they have made
in spite on the terrible odds against them
We believe 1t to be the privilege and duty of
the United States Government to recognize the
rights OF the Cuban revolutionists as bellig-
erents as soon as possible on being so requested
by competent 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 never
theless believe that it is our duty and priyi-
lege at this time, citizens of this free Repub-
lie, thus to express our heartfelt sympathy
with our Cuban neighbors, living upon an
island which nature has made paradise, but
which the cruel methods of the Spanish Gov
lernment have done so much to despoil. We
respectfully urge our fellow-eitizens through
put this country to assemble in mass-meeting
to diffuse information and thus arouse or
rather deepen, the sympathy of our whole peo-
| pie with the Cubans in their heroic attempt to
| ;ast off the yoke of oppression and to achieve
| hat independence and freedom which are the
| treat highways to happiness and prosperity.
| We also urge the press and the pulpit and
| altar, with voice and prayer, to continue their
! hQp to the righteous cause of men who are
| brlvely lighting for home and native land
| Verespectfully. but urgently. appeal TO the
| ciAzens of all republics in the three Americas
| TO live emphatic expression to their syInpa-
| thfwith the struggling people who are max
| inasuch gallant fight for that independence