The herald., 1897-05-17
IN MASS MEETING
Sympathy for Men Who Fight for
Liberty

eSS
Liberty
WASHINGTON, May 16-An enthus.
iastic audience of men and women, many
of them well-known in Washington
packed the Columbia theater to its doors
this afternoon at a monster mass meet
Ing held in behalf of the cause Of the
Cuban insurgents. The theater was ap-
propriately decorated. Seated on the
platform and participating in the exer-
ciees were Senators Gallinger and Allen
ex-senator Butler of South Carolina,
Rev. Hugh johnson, pastor of the Met
ropolitan Methodist chruchsRev. Howard
Wilbur Ennis and a number of others
identified with the interests of the in
surgents. Gen. William Henry Brown,
president of the Cuban league, called the
meeting to order and introduced Senator
Gallinger as the presiding officer. The
latter made a brief address and read a
number of letters and kilograms of re-
gret, among them being those from SEN
ators Frye and Burrows and Command
er Clarkson of the G. A. r.
Senator Chandler sent the following
letter:
Washington, D. C.,-Senor A. Aguirre,
Washington, d. c. Dear Sir: Although
unable to attend the meeting tonight l
send a few words of sympathy and OF
hope for the relief and independence of
Cuba
AS I wish to see the United States de-
clare and maintain the independence of
the island, as France did that of the
American colonies and made the United
States a nation, of course I shall, as
practical friend, vote for every minor
method tending to the same beneficent
end. I hope and believe that congress
and the president will soon fomally rec
ognize state Of war and Cuban bellig-
erency. This step, followed as it will be
by all the other Independent nations of
the western hemisphere, cannot fail to
insure the Cuban independence which is
sought for
Moreover, without delay, we ought to
send fleet to enter the harbor and an
army to land upon the soil of Cuba, first
TO protect lives and property of Amer
lean citizens, and secondly to stop the
atrocious and uncivilized methods of
warfare adopted by the Spanish gen.
erals.
In advocating all theee measures am
conscious of no passionate hostility to
Spain. In 1861 she recognized the south
ern confederacy within les than three
months after its military struggle began,
and surely if one cannot hold Cuba with
out making one vast desert and grave
yard by driving the inhabitants into the
cities to starve and by hanging, shoot
irg or garrotting Cuban officers and SOL
diers for ebellion and incendiarism, she
ought to lose the island If, between
have sent their fleets and armies 5000
miles across the ocean to end such bar
barous warfare and to establish and
maintain the southern confederacy. Yet
Gen. Robert E. Lee and all his generals
were as truly guilty of rebellion and in
cendiarism as was Theodore Mendez
Gonzales, who was shot for that offense
at Cabanas fortress in Havana on Mon
day last.
We blame England for abandoning the
harmless and peaceful Armenian Chris
tians to massacre by the~-Moslems and
for submitting the liberty Greeks
to slaughter by the Turkish despot
England retorts that we dare not stop
the methods of uncivilized warfare ap-
piled at our very doors in the American
Crete-the fair island of Cuba, and both
charge and countercharge are justly
made.
And in helping to make Cuba inde-
pendent We are observing a traditional
American policy, the duty to promote
at the first good opportunity the sever
ance of Cuba from Spain.
In 1896 also the Democrats pledged
themselves to do this by their declara-
tion of sympathy with the people of
Cuba in their present struggle for vic
tory and independence; and the Repub
licans, 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
force of the platform upon which he was
elected. and will soon do his part to-
wards making Cuba free and independ-
ent. He may proceed with what will
seem to impatient spirits to be undue
caution, with the cries and groans ring
ing in his ears of unarmed men, women
and children enduring inhuman cruelty
and dastardly murder, but he will not
long fail to be faithful in his pledges,
and he will before long register the de-
cree WHICH went lOIln III MS lrluInpnd II
election that Cuba should be taken from
the control OF Spain and made peace
full and Independent. In this faith in a
great party and its president let us rest
patiently and most hopefully. Very re-
spectfully,
WILLIAM f. CHANDLER.
Mr.. Carl Decker of Washington, who,
as correspondent of the New York Jour-
nal, spent much time in Cuba with a
branch of the Cuban army in Santa
Clara province, gave description Of
the condition of affairs existing and OF
the pitiable plight of many of the peo-
pie suffering for the necessities of life
He ridiculed the claims sent out by
Gen. Weyler that the island had been
pacified and said that if the Cubane
We're granted belligerent rights by the
United States they would certainly win
Mr.. Decker has just returned fror7
Cuba.
In the course of his remarks, Senate,
Allen of Nebraska humorously declared
there was no division in the Popuhs
ranks on the question of Cuban liberty
In this whole matter he thought ther,
had been too much sacrifice to spirit o
commercialism, and it was time thi
government has little more humanit.
and a little more Americanism.
DR.. Kent, Mrs. Lincoln, vice director 0
the Woman's league, and Rev. Howar'
Wilbur Ennis also made remarks. Ex
Senator Butler of South Carolina rea
L. ! I.