Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-18
COL. ALIENS APPEAL.

Let Branch Leagues Be Organized
Money Contributions Called For.
New York, Dec. 17.-Col Ethan Allan,
president of the Cuban League of the
United States, which was organized the
other evening by number of prominent
New Workers at the Fifth avenue hotel
issued an address to the public today,
in which he sets forth the principles and
purposes of the organization. The ad-
dress, after reviewing the struggle in
Cuba from its inception to the present
time says:
1--WE are charged before the world with
impotency, in not protecting our own
citizens against Spanish violence on Gu
ban soil, and in hushing our indignation
at unnumbered cruelties in Cuba, while
millions of American capital there in
vested are gradually disappearing, which
would be saved by the immediate inter-
vention of this government
"Fellow citizens, 1T is due to ourselves
as well as to Cuba that this record should
be reversed. This has not been our rec
ord hitherto, and we are persuaded will
not remain so now when an appeal is
made to the humanity as well as to the
material interests of our people.
1--WE do not propose, nor is 1t necessary
to violate our laws. But If the laws
stand in the way then change the laws.
We, the people, are the source of power,
and may dictate what the law shall be,
and therefore cannot shield ourselves
behind statutory phraseology from the
odium of not fulfilling our natural OBJ
legations toward people struggling to
be free. Let us SO speak that the execu-
tive of this nation and our representa-
tives in congress hall recognize Cuban
Independence, and all will be well. We
are not required to raise batalions of
men nor to furnish ships of war; but we
are called upon to declare that the heart
of this nation is with the oppressed
Cubans, and then, with her independ-
ance acknowledged, her unarmed he
roes may obtain from us, as required, the
equipments of war, as Spain has done
heretofore; and thus we blaze the way
for final victory as surely to follow as
In the end right triumphs over wrong.
while we willingly give our sympa-
thy in words, we should remember that
there are times when an empty hand car
ries no favor. Such a time is the pres
ent, when the Cubans stand in need of
every necessary of life and in exhaustive
battles they must, of course, be drained
of resources, which our people should
supply. Arms and ammunition, and more
than these food for hungry troops and
people, with medicines for their sick and
wounded, may be shipped to insurgent
ports with full permission of our stat
utes, since, with no formal blockade
against us, we may as freely traffic there
as with the ports of continental Spain.
To furnish these things, which may le-
gally be done, money becomes the sim
ews of war. The league asks for sub
scriptions throughout the United States
in aid of the patriots, which may be sent
to Hon. Darwin r. James, the treas
urer, at No 203 Broadway, New York
City.
"The Cuban league of the United
States is organized to give practical con-
solidation to the sentiment of Ameri-
can citizens and the moral support of
the same in securing to Cuba, by all legal
means the inalienable right of self-gov-
ernment. 1t is proposed to so arouse
public sympathy by mass meetings and
through the press, that recognition as an
Independent state shall be secured to
the patriots.
''The league will hold a grand mass
meeting in Cooper Union in the city Of
New York on Monday, December 81. 1t
is desired that branch organizations be
formed throughout the country and that
meetings be held in other prominent cit
les Of the nation. Friends who may read
this address will assist If they organize
at once, and report progress to the sec
retary, Francis Wayland Glen, No. 1872
Nassau street, New York City. We earn