The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-17
CUBAN LEAGUE MEETS
4 Large Meeting Of Norfolk Sympathlzers
With the Struggling Patriots.
AN ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY Or. THOMAS
A Representative Of the Cubnn League
Of tho United States, who was
Present to Speak for tho Cause or
Cuba Librc-Mr. Barton's Idca or
Eievnttis Spanish Civilization.

The Norfolk Cuban League held a
highly interesting meeting at the old
BAPTIST church, on Cumberland street,
last evening.
The building. which had been decorat
ed with Cuban and American flags, was
| fairly we'll filled and several ladies
| were present
The meeting was opened 10y Mr.. w. B.
barlon. VINO made 4 short but interest
inE ADDRESS on the subject Of Cuba
NO man or woman in hapDy nea oafu,
America" he said, "can form any idea
or the terrible state of affairs prevail
fnts on the island; no one can we can
not imagine the atrocious barbaritles
Oh the Spaniards and the terrible de-
S.ruc'ion or property there. The Gu
bans do not desire mcn-they have
pienty or them-but they have no arms
and ammunition and that is one object
or this meeting here tonight. We want
10 raise funds to buy the Cnbans cold
lead and all the dynamite we can get
to them. Dynamite is q healing cure For
spanish barbarity. We desire TO send
down some Of that effective substance
TO elevate Spanish civilization. laugh
tcr). .
II now have the pleasure Of introduce
ms 10 you the orator Of the evening.
Dr. Thomas, 4 gentleman who has bur
recently returned from Cuba, where hd
went TO study the conditions obtaining
IN tnat stricken land. He will now ad-
dress you"
DIR. THOMAS ADDRESS.
Dr. Thomas arose and was greeted
Wlth applause as he advanced to the
| front. He said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen
During the past two years The eyes Of
me world nave been upon the island OF
Cuba and we have often asked il the
| Cuhan!s will hold out and if. In case they
should obtain their liberty, they will be
| able to rule themselves. l finally de-
| cidcd TO go there myself to make All in
| FestGation and l will cndeavor to lay
before this audience few facts about
| the following five points: NV visit TO
| the island; the grievance against Spain;
the people on the island; the present
| war; the grandeur Of the island
| INC speaker then described In q
graphic and picturesque manner the inn
| preston which he received when he first
reached the island. He then continued
| about rs follows:
Among the real causes OF the war is
| oVcr-iaHat.On. II is utterly impossible
! TO find out how much revenue Spain de-
! rlVeS from Cuba, bu. il must be at least
| from twenty-five TO thirty millions an
/ nually Everything is taxed there Be
fore disembarked had TO pay L tax,
| and when l registered at he hotel in
havana TAX stamp was pasted oppo-
| SITE my name. y merchant who hangs
out a sign must pay & tax for every lot
| ter ne sign contains. ] have been told
by Spaniards there that they do not levy
| any more taxes than is being done in
Germany, but the only difference is that
| III Germany all the taxes are used for
| the pettermcnt Of that country, while
! In Cuba the money is raised only to be
| exported TO Spain.
| Furthermore on the island all the ofU
GERS Of the government are Span!ards,
| With very few exceptions, and their only
| endelVor is to fiji their pockets with
| sold, and afterwards return to their ma
| tive country. Then again Spain keeps
| on the Island in time Of peace an army
OF 10000 men. which must, Of course,
be supported by the Cubans.
EULOGIzED CONSUL LEE.
But I must say right here that never
| 4 country has sent out IL nober and
Drawer representative to q foreign corn-
try than when this country sent General
Lee 10 Havana (applau-sJ, and I hope
| the present President Will keep him
| there for he Is the right man in the
| right place.
| The Cubans do not express their SEN
timents any more, for they arc watched
everywhere Ny spies, but still they are
| in full sympathy with the ilsurrect!on
AS long as Spain rules there, however.
true patriotism Will be impossible The
| Cubans are people dis tinctly different
from the Spaniards, but have very little
| cnance 1Or educating the poorer classes.
In town Of 5000 popula alton, l found
| a public school consisting of only two
| rooms, each one Of a capacity for TWEEN
! ty-tive scholars Of either sex
| The SDania.ds frequently have bull
| fights which the Cubans never patron
| iZe. The latter on the other hand have
their baseball parks, while the Span
iards do not indulge in bail games. This
illustration shows the difference in the
| character Of these people,
| The Cubans have a right to become
| free and independent people. They are
said to be Ignorant. but there never was
an educated people ruled by Spain.
| They are, however. determined not to
lay down their arms until they have
| gained their freedom, and I feel con-
| vinced the day will come when Cuba
will be free. (Applause)
SELF GOVERNMENT.
Surprising the Cubans gain .lhc: Ill
dependence, will they be able to rule
themselves, is q question often asked ::
There are three classes Of people on
the island The colored people num-
Der about 100000 or one third OF the
entire population. They are entirely
different from the colored people in this
cOuntry-they are not nearly so dark,
are better shaped have smaller feet
and thin lips; they are far superior, in
Itcllectually, as we'll as morally, and the
explanation IS that they hail from a DIFF.
ferent portion of Africa
| N1n VII,