The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17
PLEDGED TO FREE CUBA.
Senator Chandler Says President Is
SO Bound.
REMARKABLE DEMON IN
WASHINGTON YESTERDAY.
Senator Gallinger Presides Over Meeting
In Behalf of Cuban Insurgents-Letter

senator sSalllnger Rres1des over Meeting
In Behalf of Cuban Insurgents-Letter
of Regret from Senator Frye-Mr. Cham
dler's Remarkable Communication.
Washington, May. 1e.-An enthusiastic
audience of men and women, many of
them well-known, in Washington, packed
the Columbia theatre to it's doors this
afternoon at monster meeting held in
behalf of the cause of Cuban insurgents.
Seated on the platform and participat-
ing in the exercises were senators Gal
linger and Allen, ex-senator Butler Of
South Carolina. Senator Gallinger pre-
sided. The latter made brief address
and read a number of letters and tele-
grams of regret, among these being Sena-
tor Frye and Burrows, and Commander
Clarkson of the G. A r.
Senator Chandler sent letter of regret,
in which he said, among other things:
GAS wish TO see the United States de-
clare and maintain the independence Of
the island as France did that of the Anne
rican colonies and made the United States
a nation, of course shall, as practical
friend, vote for every minor method tend
ing to the same beneficient end. With
out delay we ought to send fleet to en-
ter the harbors and an army to land up
on the soil of Cuba, first, to protect the
lives and property of American citizens,
and secondly, tolstop the atrocious and
uncivilized methods of warfare adopted
by the Spanish generals.
"In helping to make Cuba independ-
ent, we are observing traditional and
universal American policy; the duty to
promote at the first good opportunity the
severance of Cuba, from Spain. In 1896,
also the Democrats pledged themselves to
do this by their declaration of sympathy
for the people of Cuba for their heroic
struggle for liberty and independence
and the Republicans by their promise
that the United States should endeavor
to restore peace and give independence to
the island.
"There need be little fear that these
pledges will be violated. President Nc
Kinley willingly recognizes the binding
forces of the platform upon which he was
elected and will soon do his part toward
making Cuba free and independent. He
may proceed with what will seem to i'm
patient spirits to be caution and with the
cries and groans ringing in his ears of
unarned men, women and children en-
during inhuman cruelty and dastardly
murder, but he will not fail to be faith
full to his pledges and he will before long
register the decree which went forth in
his triumphant election, that Cuba
should be taken from the control of
Spain and made peaceful and indepen-
dent. In this faith, in great party and
it's President, let us rest patiently and
most hopefully.
Every respectfully,
''W. E. CHANDLER.
In the course of some interesting re-
marks, Senator Allen of Nebraska, hu-
morously declared there was no division
in the Populist ranks ON the question of
Cuban liberty.
If the President were to send fleet to
Havana, war on the island would cease in
80 days and it would be unnecessary to
fire gun. If the United States should
say to Spain, you shall not war upon
hospitals, upon women, upon children,
Weyler's occupation would be gone.
Ex-senator Butler of South Carolina
read series of resolutions which had
been prepared and these were unanimous
ly accepted. They earnestly protest
against the "barbarous and inhuman
methods of Spain in conducting the
war in Cuba, declaring that this govern
ment should recognize the insurgents as
belligerents and that Cuba had demon
strated that it was her manifest destiny
that like Mexico she should be free and
independent without the payment to