The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
CUBA MUST BE FREE.
Prompt Recognition Of Cuban Independ-
ence Called for.

Prompt Recognition of Cuban 'Independ-
ence Called for.
JACKSONVILLE, Dec. 16.-The indig-
nation of the Cubans of Jacksonville
and the American friends of Cuba
over the reported cowardly assassina.
ton of General Antonio Maceo under
a flag of truce was expressed tonight
by great torchlight procession and
mass meeting on vacant lot, no
building in the city being large
enough to accommodate the crowd.
Judge R. B. Archibald, one of the
leading lawyers of Florida, presided,
and speeches denunciary of General
Weyler and the Spanish government
were made by prominent citizens.
Ex-Mayor D. U. Fletcher, member
of the Florida legislature, said: 1.-The
highest authority in the United States,
President Cleveland, tells us there is
no war in Cuba. If not why is it a
craft cannot leave this port without
being chased by armed cruisers2 I
tell you there is war in Cuba, and the
time has come when we as American
people can no longer say that the
Spanish people are examples ofIchiv'
airy. Their chivalry now exists in
butchering crippled men, weak WON.
en- and children. We know what free.
dom and liberty means and We will
stand by Cuba and see that she gets
her freedom"
Judge R. B. Archibald, in his ad-
dress, said: "a few days ago Presi-
dent Cleveland, in referring to Cuba.
expressed what he supposed was the
sentiment of the American people in
referring to the honor and chivalry of
the Spanish people. In the war of the
rebellion it is said that Cleveland
hired substitute. He believes in sub
stitutes, and in his message substitute
ed his opinion for that of the Ameri-
can people. The substitute is repudi.
ated by the American people, who
now clamor for the recognition of
Cuba as a free and Independent ma
ton. We not only are here to express
Indignation at the manner in which
Maceo was asssinated, but to express
Indignation at the appointment Of
Spanish spies as United States deputy
marshals. It seems that the Spanish
officials are debating to and controll-
ing the Federal officials"
Sheriff Napoleon Broward, the COM
mander of The steamer Three Friends,
was given an ovation when intro
duced. He made strong plea for free
Cuba. He predicted victory for the
Cubans by April 1, 1897.
State Senator John E. Hartridge, a
candidate for the United States sena-
torship, said that the cowardly assas-
sination of Maceo was the most disas.
trous thing that could have occurred
| for Spain. Maceo was g black man,
but was fighting for white and black
alike, and his death only created a
greater sympathy for the struggling
Cubans.
!. N. @. Stockton, a national bank
president and member elect of the leg
islature, thought that it was time
President Cleveland stopped dealing
in long-winded sentences and acted
according to the resolution OF Senator
Mills. It is time to give the Spanish
minister his passport and send MIN
home.
Gen. J. j.. Dickinson, commander
of the Confederate veterans of Flori-
da, said he was ready to raise regi-
ment of !, 900 men to 60 to Cuba and
drive the Spanish off the Island.
Resolutions calling upon the United
States government to at once declare
the independence of Cuba were unan.
imously adopted. The resolutions fol-
low:
Resolution offered by Z. G.. Blair:
Be it resolved, first, That We, the
people of Jacksonville, Fla, in mass
meeting assembled, receive the news
of the assassination of General Antonio
Maceo, the gallant leader of the Cuban
patriots, with profound sorrow and
believe no act of intrigue, inhumanity.
butchery and cowardice so appalling
| in its nature can be found in the rec.
ords of warfare among civilized ma
tions save in the annals of Spanish
history.
Second, Believing that the war in
Cuba is being waged by the Spanish
government in an iphumane, afro
cious and uucivilized manner, never
before eqaalled in the pages of histo-
Try, for cruelty, indecency and vice,
save in the acts of the barbarous and
uncivilized nations.
We, therefore, as a Christian com
munity, appeal to the American con
gress for the sake of humanity, to en-
act such legislation as will give Amer
ican citizens the right to legally aid
the Cuban patriots and that our gov
ernment may at once declare the indie
pendence of the Cuban nation regard
less of foreign complications.
Third, We further appeal to all
christian communities throughout thiE
broad land that cherish liberty, hu'
manity and freedom and that abhol
crime, oppression and tyranny, to dc
whatever be in their power to encour.
age and aid the Cuban patriots in their
gallant struggle for autonomy; and
believing as we are taught by the
charts of constitutional government
that all men ought to be free and have
the right to enact such laws as are
best suited to their welfare and pro
lection, we appeal TO all men who en-
Ijoy these blessings in free republic
to assist those patriots who are trying
to rid themselves of the expressions o.
ltyrants and inhuman savages, whit
represent a country whose govern
lment is disprnce to EurOpean civil