The sun., 1897-05-17
FOR CUBAN INDEPENDENCE
BIG MASS MEETING or CUBAN
HYNRATHIZERS IN WA9HING TON.

bI~EA1hIDbHO AN
Senator eailinrer or New Hampshire Presided,
and eaid II was limo for tho United states
70 Intervene-Letterp Read showing How the
Cieveiand Administration Truchled to spain.
WASHINGTON. May 16.-A large and enthusi-
astic mass meeting Of Cuban sympathiEors was
held at the Columbia Theatre this afternoon
under the auspices Of the Womcn's Cuban
League. 1t was called TO order by Gen. William
Henry Browne, President OF the Cuban League
Of Washington. Ho expressed his sympathy for
the Cubans. spoke OF the Spanish tyranny. and
hoped for q speedy close of the war DIR. Hugh
johnson, pastor OF the Metropolitan NJ Il.
Church, which the President attends. offered
prayer, and America" was sung by the
audience.
Senator Gallinger was then introduced as the
presiding officer. He made q strong speech in
favor Of Cuban independence, and spoke at
length Of the Spanish atrocities. He thought 1t
was time that the United States should inter-
vene in tho barbarous war, and intimated that
the sending of an American feet into Havana
harpor would have the effect OF arresting hos
tilities His remarks were punctuated with
cheers, and when he attempted to resume his
seat there were loud cries Of =" Go ahead!' Hit
'em again. &c. He read several letters
from prominent men expressing regret at not
being able to attend the meeting.
Karl Decker, a Washington correspondent
lately returned from Cuba, was next introduced.
and spoke Of his observations on the island. Mr..
Decker said that the Cubans had established a
permanent form Of government, and that they
only awaited recognition by the United States
in order to demonstrate to tho world that they
were capable Of governing themselves. He do
scribed the Spanish method Of conducting tho
war, and dwelt at length upon the inhuman treat
ment of insurgents by the Spanish officials.
He charged Gen. Weyler with making false
reports to his Government and boldly declared
that the Spanish General was being pecuniarily
benefited by the continuation Of the war. He
said 1t would be imprudent to send supplies and
provisions into the country, because" he
added, there Is plenty Of food IL the people
were only permitted to return to their farms
and get it." He suggested that the United
States force Weyler to permit the people to re-
turn to their haciendas. starvation" he said,
els a common thing on the island" His speech
was we'll received and was listened to with at
tention.
Mr.. Bonner, a local newspaper man, followed
Mr.. Decker and read extracts from some letters
in his possession touching on the situation in
Cuba. Among other things, he read part of q
letter alleged to have been sent by former As
sistant Secretary of State Rockhill to Consul
in Cuba. 1t read as follows:
after less favorable to the Cuban insurgents, as
the Administration ghe, Cleveland Administre.
donl desires TO avoid all possible friction with
tho Spanish Government
This letter brought forth applause that nearly
raised the rafters, and 1t was some minutes be-
fore order was restored. Then the crowd hissed
Another letter from Mr.. Rockhill to another
Cuban Consul was read:
Hereafter when you have reports to make
you will mark them CONFIDENTIAL that if
consular reports are demanded by the Senate
they need not be given to the Senators"
Another ear-splitting cheer greeted the con-
clusion of this letter, and Mr.. Bonner took his
Senator Allen Of Nebraska was introduced by
Senator Galltnger. Mr.. Allen was greeted with
applause that must have made him feel that he
was not laboring in behalf OF lost cause. He
spoke sarcastically of the vacillatng attitude Of
Secretary sherman, saying that two years ago
no was Cuba's friend, and now he refrained
from committing himself one way or the other.
"becayse," he said. he is afraid our CONNER
H." shouted the Nebraska Senator at the
top of his voice, "the United States would
send o fleet into Havana harbo-, the Cuban
be necessary to FIRE shot. either. There must
be no war upon womanhood no war upon hos
pitfalls and upon the sick bed and no war upon the
children and upon the mothers of the island.
2 few sugar planters, who were reaping yer;
table harvest. The foreign policy Of the United
States was disgrace to every American, MIR
Allen thought, and at times he felt ashamed to
Clara Belle Brown, Cuban sympathizer.
spoke next, and In few words told Of tho efforts
the women of the country are making In behalf
of Cuba.
Ex-senator Butler of South Carolina offered q
resolution declaring 1t the sense of the meeting
that Cuba ought to be free. 1t was carried by q
unanimous rising vote. and tho meeting was ad-
journed amid cheers.