The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-25
Successful Celebration Last Night of
the Inauguration OF the Cuban
Revelation, n Year Ago.
STEAMER BERMUDA SEIZED
ALLEGED FILIBUsTER CAPTURED
OFF LIBERTY ISLAND.
Four Bags OF Cuban Gold and a Qunn-
tity of Ammunition Levied ON by
Revenue Offccrs.

NEW YORK, Feb. 24-The Cuban revolu-
tionary clubs tonight celebrated their first
anniversary. One year ago to-day patriotic
cubans took up arms against Spain. The
revolutionary club of this city held grand
mass meeting at Chckering Hall, and the
place was crowded to its utmost capacity
Many OF those in attendance were ladies.
They were dressed in deep mourning, indi-
eating that relatives friends had given up
their lives TO the cause Of Cuban freedom.
Over the speakers stand was thrown the
new Cuban flag, or new colors adopted by
the revolution.sts-red, white and blue, with
a red diamond at the staff end and in the
center of which is a white star. NAt the
rear of the stage were the names of the
dead heroes who have given up their lives
for the liberation of Cuba within the last
year, with the picture of General Marti in
the center. Tho speakers who occupied seats
on the platforms were: Juan Fraga, chair
man of the meeting; Enrique Jose Varona.
Enrique Trujillo, Gumerrindo Rivas, DIR.
Eusebio Hernandez and DR.. Joaquin Cos
tello. special ambassador from Cuba.
All except one of the speeches were in
the Spanish language. and the applause was
frequent and long when General Weyler
was scored. The first speaker was Senor
Verona, editor of La Patria, who said: ''The
movement initiated on the oath of February,
1885, is great revolution, because 1t springs
from the depths Of Cuban society and be-
cause it began by being economical rather
than political Spain has carried to such an
extreme her system of plunder that for the
colony the severing of the shackles that
bind her to the mother country is a question
of life or death. The consequence is that
revolution must be prosecuted in a spirit
entirely revolutionary; that is to say, anti
Spanish. The economic regime imposed on
Cuba by Spain was based on monopoly. The
regime which Cuba must adopt for herself
should be based on liberty, in order that
the current of mercantile transactions should
flow through their natural channels to
their natural markets. The political regime
to which Spain has subjected Cuba is purely
personal and military. The regime which
Cuba seeks is thoroughly popular and dem
ccratic. Responsibility is the attribute of
Spanish functionaries. Absolute responsible
ity should be the attribute of the servants
of the Cuban people. Cuba has armed her
sons, not to make soldiers of them. but that
they should win the title of free citizens.
This war in Cuba is, end should be, only
an accident. Through her terrible sacrifices
Cuba seeks state OF peace, where there
shall be no sovereignty but that of the laws.
At the present moment Cuba is half way
towards independence But Spain has done,
and will continue to do, her utmost to keep
her in subsection and break the spirit of her
patriots. This was the meaning of her
sending out the tyrant Weyler to take COM
mand of her army. 1t is a declaration that
Spain is resolved to prosecute the war to
the bitter end. To this barbarous resolve
Cuba will oppose her strong and stern de-
termination to achieve victory at whatever
cost And if everything should go against
her, she is ready to sacrifice her last son
and leave the enemy in possession of moth
ing but ruins.
Senor Viuendas, lawyer from Havana,
in brief speech, depicted with great force
the privations OF the Cuban armies on the
field and declared that money alone was
wanted to make the war for liberty a glori-
Gus success. After his speech a collection
was taken up and large amount of money
was given and six good-sized baskets We're
soon filed with American greenbacks. Presi-
dent Palma, though present, on account of a
slight illness was unable TO speak,