The San Francisco call., 1897-03-21
CUBA
LIBRE
TContinued from First Puoe.


den against the oppressor and taxmaster and
the taxgatherer.
tbs the old, old story, found upon count !
less pages of the worlds history. sung by bards
and repeated by mothers to their children, of
ali that lille holds dear-the sweet song CT civil
and political liberty
The first proposition that we have to con-
sloer Is whether the Cubans have the right to
set up housekeeping for themselves and take
their place among the nations. The second,
has the Government of Spain any right to
maltreat American citizens? (Cries of mo!
No!"l
1t seems unnecessary to speak these ques-
tions to American people, but after the fact
mat now for more than two years the Govern
ment of the Nation has stood supinely by and
turned a deaf ear to the cry of her citizens in
the dungeons of Cuba.
1t seems unnecessary, but after the fact
well certified to By the American Consul at
Havana, that the Spanish authorities have
been in the habit of seizing American citizens,
and In the face of the treaty stipula tions with
this country throwing them into the dismal
dungeons for more than 100 hours-yes for
more than three months-it is not unneces-
sary.
1t may seem unnecessary to state these facts
but for the fact that we cannot forget the
many acts OF cruelty that have been permitted
TO go unpublished. Against the prison-house
registers OF such perishefrom disease and
neglect we find the inscription, "Died from
ma tural causes.''
Let me call your attention to the other ques-
ton presented.
Should the Cuban patriots be permitted to
set up housekeeping for the1nse yes and be
permitted to take place among the nations,
independent of Spain? In that i'm mortal maui
festo. the Declaration of Independence our
forefathers being bout to sever thei- relations
Itch DrgNtE tEk
cause for their action. Have the Cubans good
reason for severng their relations with Spain?
The applause that greeted Mr. Jordan's
question showed that his audience thought
they had. The remainder of his speech
was devoted to showing the good cause
by statistical testimony. He demon
strated that the Cubans were taxed with.
out proper representation and that the
taxes were squandered in paying the in
teiest on Spain's national debt, the sal.
aries OF useless officials and in many other
ways, while little was used in lifting the
burden off the isiand. He was heartily
applauded at the close OF his oratorical
effort.
at the conclusion of Mr.. Jordan's re-
marks Mr.. Jones, secrei iary of the San
Francisco Cuban League, handed Mayor
Phelan the following telegram, which was
read to the audience:
NEW YORK. March 20, 1897.
John Fl. Jones, President, Metropolitan Temple,
San Francisco: The souls of Was hington and
. his compatriots are marching on. Friends of
Cuba rejoice that her independence is near.
The people are faithful to the obligations of
our revolution, though cowardly officials hesi-
tate. Men shall live and brutal dynastie,
must die. ETHAN ALLEN
President Cuban League of the United States
Henry E. Highton then took the plat
form. He said he was glad such an audi
ence was present, but on such an occa-
sion had expected the very streets would
be alive with people. After speaking in
the same patriotic strain as the preceding
speakers, he offered the resolution of the
evening.
1t was put to vote by Mayor Phelan. |
An uproariops cry of "Aye" came in re- !
sponse, while three persons shouted mo"
The Mayor said ne hoped those mis-
guided ones would remain afterward and
be convinced of their error. He then in
troduced Hon. Samuel NJ. Shortridge,
whose appearance upon the rostrum
called forth a spontaneous burst of ap-
plause. Mr.. Shortridge spoke as follows:
Because 1 believe in liberty, because ! be-
lieve in self-government, l am here, and not
ashamed to be here [applausel, to answer those
gentlemen who voted in the negative on that
resolution. What does that star-spangled
banner mean? [Cries of 'Libertyi'l For
what did our forefathers bleed and die unless
1t might be for self-government and freedom
to worship God they chose? For what did
the foremotbers OF this Republic the wives
and the daug hters of the Revolutionary period
give their sons, their fathers, their husbands
TO die unless it was for liberty and for self
government? lApplause.l
In these weak and piping times of peace
this timid, this sordid, this almost cruel and
material time of civilization, men forget, men
turn away from the holy cause that inspired
our fathers in the dark days of the Revolution.
[Applausel The demands of trade, the prices
OF -four, or tobacco, or potatoes, too much en-
gage the high thoughts of the people OF this
age.
The cause of liberty, the cause of selfgov-
eminent, is just as important is just as
sacred, is just as holy as when 1t was cham
pioned by Patrick Henry, by Samuel Adams
or when il was defended by the immortal pen
of Thomas jefferson. [Applause.l Is the
theory upon which our country is founded
correct? Are all men bornfree and equal? Is
man entitled to self-goverEment? Does civil
ization best flourish when men and women
and children are free? If SO, if the teachings
OF statesmen, If the writings of our great
leaders, If the experience of our country can
answer those questons-then l say tha. 1t is
for the interest not only of this country, but
for the patriots who are fighting and dying
tonight, that they too should be free.
do not forget. Mr.. Mayor and chairman,
do not forget certain legal principles or rules
by which we must be guided. I aware
that there exists q treaty of peace with Spain,
and caution you, Ey countrymen, that the
treaty entered into by this country with any
foreign country is the supreme law Of the
land 1t is as supreme as the constitution of
the United States itself. Nor do l forget that
upon the statute books there exist certain
laws, certain provisions which are all en-
braced under the idea Of the neutrality laws,
the purposes of which laws are 10 prevent the
individual citizen from embro1tng MS own
country in trouble with the affairs oil the
country with which we have treaty existing
Nor do I forget the sacred, overshadowfng
doctrine enunciated by President Monroe.
[Great applause.1
What can we, therefore, as citizens, legally
do TO assist those who are struggling for that
which we enjoy2 What can we do 10 give
them hope, to give them cheer? What may
this country or what can this country DO as q
nation without violating international law,
without violating the treaty? Or what may
we do as citizens without violating The neu-
trality laws 10 assist this country that Is strug-
p.ing upward into the light of freedom Z In
spite OF the apathy of the last administration,
10 use n more severe term, say that IL is my
judgment and the judgment of the vast ma