The herald., 1896-12-19


fare waged by the tyrant Spain, to pro-
test against the cowardly assassination
Of brave Maceo. The time had come for
the recognition of Cuban independence.
Spain has defied us, and it was our duty
to recognize Cuba, and If war should
come the people of this great common
wealth will not be found crouching be-
fore degenerate foe. But there will
be no war. Spain will never take this
| misstep. Cuba shall be free, and If
necessary the government of the Uni
ted States should defy the armies and
| navies Of the world. Then will the Mon
roe doctrine become reality. and Eu-
ropean tyranny will be entirely banished
from the new world.
Col. I. E. Messmore followed in char
acteristic speech. After few facetious
preliminary remarks the speaker got
down to business. He thought that the
sentiment of the people should compel
the government to do what was right.
not only in the case of Cuba. but in the
case of oppressed and downtrodden peo-
pie all over the earth. He referred to the
Armenian massacres, and the attitude
of civilized Europe, but this, he said,
should rot prevent the United states
from doing what was right by cuba.
The government should recognize the
independence of Cuba at once. If Spain
considers this casus belli, why then go
ahead There is no sentiment about
this matter. 1t Is matter of right and
justice that Cuba should be declared
free and the United States should go
this within thirty days.
At this point the chairman announced
that there were certain expenses con-
nected with the meeting. to defray
which collection would be taken up. He
further stated that bank in the city
was forwarding money to the Cuban
patriots; that any surplus would be put
where it would do the most good The
band then played while the ushers pass
I'd the hat.
Mrs. Kate Tupper Galpin was the
next speaker. Mrs Galpin said that
Cuba was the under dog in this fight,
and that she had all of her sympathy.
There were many reasons why CUBAN
independence should be recognize ed.
She referred to the terrible burdens
borne by the people, and told how they
had been oppressed by their heartless
task-masters. They were literally taxed
to death. and now the interest on the
debt alone was $1O0,000,000 or 1919 pec
capita, the highest III the world, France
coming next with a debt per capita of
$500 But the worst was that the i'm
| mense sums of money raised by taxation
had been spent outside of Cuba, which
had been made to pay for Spanish con-
quests in other places, as we'll as to pay
their Spanish masters enormous salaries
for depressing them. Everything was
| taxed, imports as well as exports, and
| II our ancestors had cause for rebellion
| in 1776, Cuba had much more cause a
| the present day. She believed that Cuba
should be free-hear her for her cause.
| The next speaker. L. c. Young, col
ored man, was introduced as one who
| had been born in slavery, and who col,ld
| therefore, perhaps, better appreciate 3S.e
situation of the unfortunate Cubans
| than more fortunate people. The speak
| er said that he believed the government
should protect it's citizens not only on
| American soil. but everywhere. The
| time has come when the people should
| declare themselves. Cuba should be
| free, and the assassins of Spain should
| be wiped from the face of the globe.
| This is no time to appeal to sentiment
| and prejudice. The government of the
| United States should demand that Span
| ish atrocities shall cease, and that the
| independence of Cuba should be recog-
| nized. If this cannot be secured by mild
! persuasion then measures should be
| adopted by which it can be brought
| about Spanish tyranny should be put
| down, even if it costs blood to do it,
! The chairman announced that Mrs.
! Modini-WOod was unable to sing, owing
| to illness. He further stated that the
| collection was $50 less than the expenses,
and he asked that this amount be made
| up before the audience dispersed.
| After music by the band Jud r. Rush
| was introduced as the closing speaker,
| and as he stepped out on the stage re-.
| ceived an ovation. Mr.. Rush said that
| he believed Weyler. the Spanish captain
| general of Cuba could give Satan cards
| and spades and beat him out as a bad
man. 1t was an outrage to turn deaf
| ear to the appeals of down. trodden
| people, when men were murdered and
| women and children butchered to sat
| isfy the wrath of a man with a little
! tin cap on his head and armed with a
| little brief authority. The divine right
| OF kings has long been exploded. Of
course the people of the United States
| sympathized with Cuba, and he believed
| that congress should at once recognize
| the independence of the island. We
| roast the people of Europs for their at
| titude on the Armenian question, when
| as q matter of fact, at least two mur-
| ders had been committed in Cuba for
every one in that country Let us pray
| for Cuban independence, and if we don't
| get it by prayer we know what we can
| do.
| This closed the speaking, and. a vote
was taken on the resolutions offered
| earlier in the evening. They passed
! without a dissenting vote.
The meeting broke up with three
rousing cheers for the Cuban flag.