Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-28
WORLD IS SHOCKED.
Ex-President Cleveland Speaks
on Russian Outrages.
Something Int nsely Horrible in
Wholesale Murder Of Innocents.
In Favor of Indignant and Pronounced
Interference.


was packed. tonight, the occasion being
the indignation mass meeting to pro-
test against the massacre of the Jews
at Kishineff. The announcement that
Former President Grover Cleveland
would speak lent additional interest to
the gathering.
Mayor Low in his opening remarks
expressed the hope that Russia would
give more liberty to ner Jewish sub
jects.
While Mayor Low was speaking Mr..
Cleveland entered and was greeted
with a tumut of cheers that We're re-
peated when he was introduced by
Mayor Low. Mr.. Cleveland said in
part:
II have only a word to say, but I
wish to be counted among those who
are in hearty sympathy with the pur
poses of this meeting. The influences
which have called us together, tonight,
grow out of the recognition of the
promptings of Christian civilization,
and our dutiful devotion to the best
and deepest of our national character
istics. This demonstration furnishes
cheering and reassuring evidence that
our American sympathy for the OPP
be- our American love of humanity, and
our attachment to justice and right,
are still active and unirnpaired.
Every American humane sentiment
has been shocked by a late attack on
the Jews in Russia. an attack murder
Gus, atrocious and in every way re-
voting. AS members of the family of
mankind, and as citizens of free ma
ton, we are here to give voice to the
feeling that should stir every true
man. and every American worthy OF
the name. There is something intense
ly horrible in the wholesale murder
of unoffending, defenceless men, Wo-
men and children, who have been tacit-
ly if not expressly assured OF SAFETY
under the protection of professedly
civilized government. Such things Civ"
rise to- a distressing fear that even the
enlightenment of the goth century mas
neither destroyed or subdued the bar
barity of human nature. nor wholly re-
deemed the civilized world from mans
inhumanity to man.
I'VE, and all our countrymen, pro-
test in the strongest language at our
command and with the moral force
which our American citizenship gives
us. against those murders and out
races. and we insist that swift and con-
dign punishment ought to be visited
upon their barbarous perpetrators.
desire to avoid sounding dlscOrdaht
note; but yet l cannot refrain from the
suggestion that the moral effect OF our
protest and the usefulness OF TINS
demonstra ton -Mu- rot be lsssened II
we require indubtable proof before we
accuse the government of Russia with
guilty completely in the crimes COM
United within her borders: and it seems
to me we may well consider the proper
relationship between nations, before we
demand the pronounced interference on
the part of our own government. 40
not saw that the Russian government
NAV not. by sins of omission or COM
mission. be justly deserving OF our con-
demnation: but we should not be swift
to assume this when we remember that
we ourselves have found it Impossible
TO preyent mob violence and murderous
assaults i'm wyoming and upon Italians
in Louisiana. ] am distinctly and UNI
eo,,iyocally in favor of informing our
government In unmistakable terms OF
our indignant and deep condemnation
of the late outrages upon the Jews in
Russia: but I hope that in obedience TO
the dictates of American conservatism
and moderation. which are never long
obscured we may be even now just and
fair: and that we will be content to
forcgo perpleXing and extreme demands
upon our government for violent action.
I'm the meantime let the people OF
the United States gather together in
such assemblages as this. in every part
of the land. fearlessly speak to the
civilized world. protesting against every
pretense of civilization that permits
medieval persecution. against every
bjgoted creed that forbids religious toll
Grafton and freedom of conscience,
against all false enlightenment that eX-
cuses hatred and cruelty towards any
race of men; and against all spurious
forms of government protection that
witholds from any human being the
right to live in safety and toll in
peace
Mr.. cleveland at the conclusion of his
address was applauded for nearly five
minutes and was compelled to rise and
bow several times.