THE NE13RASKA INDEPENDENT. Dec. 24, 1896. iillll FOE FIE r.:"::rj lectins at the Some Stirring Spseches r.::D emtlt nEf:.oni;uzES congress Y7eylcr and His Assassins Roundly Denounced Joo Teeters is a Little Timid, Comaaittee Appointed to It wnnlrl haws warmed ths cockles of the patriot Cubin'i beart bad be stepped into ths main court room of conrt bouse but night and heard the expression of public sympathy for the cause of Cuba Ubre there gives. Ex-Mayor H, W. Hardy presided Tbe court room was about halt full when he called to order and it fill ed up during the meeting. Chairman L. W. Billingsley of the com mittee on resolutions chosen at the re cent meeting submitted a draft of resolu tions bearing the nemes of all the com mittee except those of Mayor Graham and Judge Broedy. It was as follow. "First Resolved, That the toleration of plllsqe, derastation and butchery per petrated by the Spanish army against Innocent non-combatants under the guise of warfare, almost within view of the shores of a great republic, without effort to terminate tbe same, is a matter of deepest humiliation to people who lore liberty and justice. "Second Resolved, That the Cuban patriots who hare been governed by their 'mother country,' Spain, in being taxed to the verge of poverty, without the right of representation, and in hav ing the doors of civil courts closed to them, and in their stead established a military despotism, with all its attend ant cruelties, resulting in imprisonment, banishment 01 death, are entitled to our highest admiration and assistance in their noble and heroic warfare in which they endure every hardship, and shirk from no sacrifice, even giving their homes to the flames, rather than to the foe. .7''-'' "Third Resolved, That tbe courage and patriotism displayed by the Cuban insurgents in carrying on a formidable rebellion to overthrow the tyranny and misrule of Spain, and retaining posses sion of three-fourths of tbe isle of Cuba, show that they are entitled to the rights of citiienship under a republic, which coupled with the facts that American citizens in Cuba, who are non-combatants and innocent of all charges, have been killed and their property destroyed, makes It the imperative duty of the United States to at once recognise the belligerent rights of the Cubans, and if necessary, see that those rights are re spected. "Fourth Resolved.That the assassin ation of General Maceo, as alleged, while under a flag of truce, is such a cowardly and treacherous violation of the rules of civilised warfare that it places the persons, who either instigated, perpetrated or who rejoice over tbe crime, on a level with savages beyond the pale of civilisation. "Fifth Resolved, That the conserva tive and repressive policy which permits an oppressor to equip his armies on our shores and deuies that right to the op pressed, is to be condemned. And if such conservatism Is prompted by the nature of our neutrality laws, then such laws should promptly be changed and modified, so as to allow speedy relief to the heroic patriots, suffering robbery and slaughter from the organized cruelty of a well provided enemy. Our peaceable relations with another nation should not be maintained at the sacrifice of justice and humanity. Sixth Resolved, That petitions em bodying the foregoing sentiments be pre pared and addressed to the senators and represenatives of Nebraska at Washing ton, 1 espectfully requesting them to use all honorable means to secure to Cubans a prompt recognition of belligerent rights; that said petition be circulated among our citizens for signatures, and thereafter that the president of this meeting cause such petition to be trans mitted to said senators and represenata- tives.' Jadg Brandy's Substitute. Z Mayor Graham's name was not at tached because he had not been seen. Judge Broady thought the paragraph condemning the assassination of Maceo was premature, as there is grave reason to doubt that be was assassinated. He submitted the following as a substitute for that paragraph: "Resolved, that tho president's mes sage elaborated by the reports of the committee on foreign relations of the United States is amnle evidence of the statements herein and that the action of the senate committee meets the approval of the law abiding, liberty loving and patriotic people of this country who send greeting to the senate committee for their move towards the high destiny of this republic to be the beacon light of tne oppressed 01 this hemisphere every' where. A motion to adopt the substitute was adopted before the crowd fully under stood what it was voting for. Most of them apparently believed that they were adding tne substitute to the original. when the main question was put time was afforded for remarks. Jo Teeters Was Timid. Joseph Teeters was first to speak. He thought the people of Lincoln were to basty in this matter. He didn't believe the people out here in Nebraska should take any steps that might imbroil the country in war. He felt sure that the president and congress knew just what should be done. As far back as he could remember Cuba had always been the scene of rebellion and riots. The psopli who carry on this rebellion are most Iv ignorant classes and negroes, and not such people as we would be apt to invite to become citizens 01 this country. Governor Holeoaflb Writes. Ckairmaa Hardy said that be had Court House Listens to Mak- rtaban OIt Bui- letter from Governor Holcomb, who was unable to attend. He bad intended getting one also from Hon. W. J. Bryan, but the latter had left the city before he knew it. Secretary Berge read tbe Gov ernor's letter as follows: December 22. 1896. Hon. H. W, Hardy. Lincoln. Neb. My Dear Sir: I desire to thank you and other gentle men who so kindly invited me to parti cipate in the meeting at the court house this evening to express sy mpatny lor tne struggling Cubans. I regret that duties incident to the convening of the state legislature next month so fully occupy my time that it will be impossible for me to be present. I beg to convey my sin cere regrets to tne irienas oi-uioa libre," who will assemble this evening. More than a year ago, in responding to a. nmiiMt from an eastern newspaper for an expression of opinion on the Cuban question, 1 said: 'The similarity ot the struggle of the Cubans for independence with that of tbe American colonists a little more than a century ago, their hardships and oppres sion, the propinquity 01 tne island nnd the close commercial relations existing between Cuba and the. United States are all elements which naturally elicit the sympathy of the American people for tbe innurgents, 1 believe tne recognition of the Cubans as belligerents has been already deserved by their ability to carry on the war for so long a time unassisted, and should be early given by the United States government. Cuba possesses all our sympathy, yet it should not be for gotton that bs a nation among nations the United States must not allow the sympathies of the people to place the government in the attitude of violating existing treaty relations with Spain. This recognition of the struggling Cubans would merely place them on an equal footing with their powerful ad versary, and if they can achieve their in dependence they should certainly be able to maintain a free government. Tbe charge has been seriously made that these Cubans are blacks, but I appre hend that the spirit of liberty can find as secure resting place in the breast of the black man as the white. I hope the time is not far distant when the Cubans will secure for themselves the right to govern themselves as free men." Since that time the atrocities of the Spaniards in their warfare against these hapless neighbors and born Americans have aroused the indignation of our peo ple in every section of the nation. The heroic, determined efforts of the patriotic Cubans, their self-sacrifice and deeda of valor have dispelled all doubts as to their capacity for self-government. As the strongest nation on the western con tinent, and the first great government of the people, the United States should be tne jealous guardian 01 the flower of liberty on Americaa soil. ' I hope that our representatives at Washington, both legislative and ex ecutive, may, in the discharge of their duties as representatives of a free and liberty-loving people, Bee their way clear to grant to the people of Cuba sub stantial aid and sympathy in this their hour of need. .Yours very truly. Silas A. Holcomb. Captain Woodward Warmed Up, . Cnpt. H. W. Woodward said he had i signed the resolutions, and his only ob-1 jection to them was that they were not trong enough, it would be strange in deed if every loyal American did not sympathize with these brave men who have for two years been fighting for their liberty, If there was no precedent for their "recognition the United States should set one. : Our .forefathers needed no precedejt when they tossed the tea overboard in Boston harbor. Compared with the grievance of Cuba today those of the American colonists then were as molehills to mountains. At the close of the ten years' war the Cubans had been induced to lay down their arms by prom ises of concessions, but the speaker said he would give his head for a football if one of those promises had ever been kept. Referring to Maceo, Captain Woodward said he believed he was one of the shining lights of the chivalry of the nineteenth century. The speaker wanted to go further than the resolu tions and at once recognize Cuban inde pendence. If an iota of what is printed about Spanish cruelties is true, Spain is without the bounds of civilization and ought not to be considered a civilized nation. Congress and tne president are creatures of tbe people's making, and the latter have the right to direct their efforts. No foreign nation should have foot of soil on the western hemisphere. When it becomes a question of war rather than liberty and justice, let war come rather than that liberty and jus tice shall go down. His remarks were forceful and elicited freqnent applause. C. H. Gould favored recognizing bel ligerent rights. . , Another Warm Number. George W. Berge agreed with Captain Woodward that the resolutions were not strong euough. The crowd present at tested that tbe spirit of patriotism, hero ism and devotion to the principles of justice are not forgotten. Every Amer ican heart beats 10 unison with every other heart that is trying to throw off the shackles of feudalism and despotism. He believed the Cubans are determined to die rather than submit. Cuba is lost to Spain forever because its patriots are imbued with the determination that rang from the lips of Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death." He believed in recognising tbeir absolute in dependence, to aet np a republic of their own if they wished, and if they desired to annex themselves to the 8tatee, ha favored extending to them ths right hand of fellowship end adding another star to ths constellation of stars upon t j American flag. Mr. Berge also spoke with great earnestness and elicited con siderable applause. Broady on tho Monroe Doctrle. J odge Broady explains his substitute. It not only avoided denunciation of Maceo's death, which is not sufficiently certain to justily a resolution of den- sseiation, but it endorsed the action of the senators who favor recognizing Cuban independence, tie didn't exactly know what effect recognition of belli gerent rights would bave, but he knew that recognizing Cuban independence would mean that Spain had lost ber sovereignty over the island, and if she then continued her butcheries in making the island a slaughter pen it would be in direct contravention of the Monroe doctrine. He didn't believe that tbe people present coulAdecIare war or any thing of the kind, Tint they conld en courage tbe senators in the efforts they are making. Wolfenbarger Scorched Weyler. A. G. Wolfenbarger believed the phrase ology could be changed so as to permit of the adoption of the Maceo resolution. It is fair to assume that Msceo is il-ni, for tbe Spaniards have celebrated his death in a banquet that was tbe wicked est thing in all history. No Ravages would bave rejoiced over the death of a brave opponent in such a manner. None but Weyler's assassins would ever bave thought of such a thing, and no general actuated by human impulses would have permitted it. A page recording tbe bar barous cruelties ot Weyler would be tbe bloodiest thing in history., He believed Americans should "put, in their shovel" wherever there ' is a chance to bury despotism. He referred sarcastically to the passage in the presi dent's message saying that the American people will admire tbe Spanieh soldiery who cross the seas to butcher the Cuban patriots. He believed the resolutions should demand immediate recognition of belligerent rights and the recogni tion as speedily aa possible of Cuban independence He thought the west should send abroad some western senti ment in response to the demand of the Cooper Union meeting for Cuban inde pendence. The Ifact that rebellions are common in Cuba but indicates that op pression reigns there, and it is lust the right time for the citizens of Lincoln, the city which bears the name of the president who signed the emancipation proclamation with a pen dipped in hi own life-blood, to send greeting to the Cubans heroically struggling for their freedom. Dr. E. H. King read from the remarks of Col. Ethan Allen at the Cooper Union meeting his declaration of the purpose of tbe meeting to be to see that Cnba shall be free, and said ; that sounded like the Lthan Allen of colonial days. . Teeters Urges Caution. Joe Teeters again started up the cur rent with the suggestion that recogni tion of belligerent rights would mean , war with Spain, and some loyal Ameri cans would have a chance to bite the dust." He hadn't lost any Cubans, and be would rather see the war continued ten years than that 100 Americans should bite tbe dust. He had bis doubts about this Maceo business and tbe reported cruel ties were all newspaper talk. Ex-Mayor Harav's Prescription. Chairman Hardy admitted that it was all newspaper talk, and as far as that was concerned there were probably not five persons in the room who had abso lute knowledge that there is any such is land as Cuba or any such government as Spain. It was all newspaper talk and history, and as far as he was concerned he was willing to take it on trust. The question is are we to permit such cruel ties right in our own dooryard (cries of No.) The history of Spain was a record of deception and cruelty. That country was the first to recognize the belligerent rights of Jen liavis. The speaker favored giving Spain her own medicine, and if she declared war, as long aa Cuba alone is almost enough, with the United States thrown in it would be too much for Spain. Cheers and applause followed the remarks. After remarks in the same line oy Judge Cochran and Judge Parker, Capt. Billingsley closed the dis cussion. He said it had been claimed that the Cubans have no es tablished government, but he apprehend ed that they have as much of a government as this country had when Washington was at Valley forge. Lie denounced in the most fiery language the celebration of Maceo's death by a banquet and demanded to know what would have been thought of the Ameri can people if they had thus celebrated tbe deaths of tbe great generals in tne war of the rebellion. Captain Billings ley gave a sketch of the island of Cuba and its history, quoied history to show how Spain's present dilapidation is but a just retribution for her cruelties and destructive policies in the days of her grandeur and closed with an appeal for Cnba. " . . The resolutions were then adopted, and immediately afterwards, on mo tion of A. U, Wolfenberger. it was voted to be the sense of the meeting that the independence of Cuba should be recog nized as speedily as possible. A resolution by Capt Billingsley em powered the chair to appoint a com mittee of nine to draft a code 01 rules lor the Cuban league of Lincoln, to be or ganized to diffuse the sentiments and aid in securing to Cuba by all lawtui means the inalienable rights 01 sen-government. Home Pertinent History. There is no part of the American cluster the history of which is fraught with deeper interest than that of Cuba. It begins with the. discovery of the western world by Christopher Columbus It was on September 25. 1492, that Martin Alonzo Pinzon, standing on the high Quarter deck of the admiral s ship. shouted "Land! landl Senor, I claim the reward!" It was on October 12 that land was actually reached, and it was on October 28 tbat Cuba was discovered The first land seen was San Salvador, an island of the Bahamas since called Pat Talanit As be approached the island of Cuba, mi 1 . t 1 a. - I il. : uoiuroous, wno Deueveais o ue vuvuibih land of Asia, wrote in his diary; "This ia the Moat beautiful land ever beheld by human vee." He believed that he had discovered the fabled possessions of Kublai Khan, tbe golden land of the East Indies. He made two subsequent trips to the island, one in 1494 and one in 1503, and in 1511 Columbus' son, Jl f I 1 r M m a mm it wry Chnsf mas and A Happy h The holiday business this year surpasses anything the BIG STORE has ever experienced, and if a person were to visit this store during the past week, hard times would seem as butt a myth, for such crowds of people never thronged thi$ immense concern in ail its pts his ory. The BIG STORE is BIG because the people have made it so. By their liberal patronage a business has been builded that reflects great credit upon them, and by con tinuing this patronage they prove that the American people are the shrewdest and most in telligent shoppers in the world. For they know that by coming to the BIG STORE they will receive the best for the very least cost, and also know that here they will receive more attention, will have more conveniences and comforts and more satisfaction in every respect than they will receive in any other house in the west, , - - MID-HOLIDAY OFFERINGS. A few lines of Holiday Goods ents to some dear friend. order: FIRST TABLE Second Table Third Table This offering is something shrewd and economical buyer shonld Sale begins Monday OUR PREMIUM OFFERING IS GOOD FOR THIS Diego Columbus, fitted out -an expedi tion of 300 men under Diego Valasquez, to undertake the conquest of the island, which was inhabited by a race of Indians of gentle demeanor who lived in a happy state of tranquility, who even then prac ticed a "curious habit of rolling up the dried leaves of a certain herb, setting fire to one end of the roll, putting the other end in their mouths nnd alternately in haling and puffing out the smoke." Then it was tbat Spanish cruelty began. It has continued withoutiuterruption on the rich, fertile and beautiful island through nearly 500 years down to the present. The conquest of the island was easily effected, as the natives were equipped with the simplest, almost harm less weapons. The historian has written that there were in Cuba at that time between 400,. 000and800,000 Indians. They were dis tributed among Spaniards as slaves, and so great was the cruelty of the Spanish taskmasters that in fifty years the whole native population of the island had be come extinct. The disccovery nnd conquest of Mexico and Peru soon afterwards by the Span ards diverted attention from Cuba, al though Havana was an intermediate stopping place for those passing bet ween the two continents. The city -was el most entirely destroyed by the : French in 1538, and soon afterwards a fortress that is still standing was built by Fernando de Soto, who af terwards became famous for bis explora tions of American territory. In 1554 the city was again partially destroyed by the French and in iTbi! JLora Aioe marle and the EnglistTfleet of over 200 vessels captured the city after a desper ate struggle, ana the spoils aiviaea among the conquerors whs more than $3,600,000. The year following, by the treaty ot l ans, unna was restort-n to the Spaniards. Then began the pros perity ot the wiana. Moreo castie, tne present military prison and the scene of the many reputed murders and atrocities of recent months, was built before the year 1600. Tbe revolution or insurrection now in progress in Cuba is the sixth of the pre sent century. Spain has always govern ed the island with an iron hand. The exactions in the way to tribute to the Spanish crown in the way of taxen, and the robberies and persecutions practiced upon the Cubans by the Spanish nobility and authorities have always been severe, and Cuba has for over a century been the chief source of Spanish revenue. In exchange for this revenue Spain claims to have given liberties, but the liberties riven to the inhabitants of Cuba bave always been a mockery. Whatever liberties may have been guaranteed in the written laws were always destroyed in the practical application of those laws. The press has always been erse cuted in Cuba by the Spnnish authori ties, discussions of public authorities and their methods absolutely prohibited and many journalists banished. The people have never been allowed to hold public meetings without first notifying the authorities, by whom a functionary waa appointed to be present with power to suspend tbe meeting whenever be deemed such a measure advisable. The last great revolution prior to tbe one in progress began in 1868 and con STOR WISHES YOU, ONE AND ALL, A that may linger with us after Christmas will be closed out during the These lines will be divided into three lots Anything on this table to be closed out at . Anything on this table to be closed out at . Anything on this table to be closed out at . . heretofore 'unheard of in Western take advantage of. Morning, Dec. 28, and lasts till New Year's Eve. tinued for ten years. It has been officially Btated tbat during that Btruggie Spain sent to the island 145, 000 soldiers under command of her ablest generals, and tbe Cuban losses were more than 45,000, a large majority of whom were murdered in cold bloon in prisons. More than estates be longing to Cubans were confiscated by the government. The cost of the war fl.000,000,000. - ; General Martinez Uampos conducted the war on the part of the government and its close was brought about by him. He was known among the Cubans as a humane and merciful man, and when he came to them with offers of peace, am nesty and reform, they decided to ncf cept his terms. A treaty was signed by which certain liberties were granted by Spanito the Cubans, reforms promised In their administration and freedom re cognized of all the slaves who bad fought in tbe Cuban army. This treaty was concluded by General Campos himself, undoubtedly because of the faith the Cubans had iu him and their belief that his promises would be fulfilled. Those promises guaranteed to the Cu bans had a semblauce at least of home rule, and inCampos'own language, were prompted by his own desires. In his official report ot the promises, made to the king of Spain, be said: "I do not wish to make a monetary peace. I desire that this peace be tbe beginning of a bond of common interests between Spain and her Cuban provinces, and that this bond be drawn contin ually closer by the identity of aspira tions and the good faith of both. Let not the Cubans be considered as pariahs or minors, but put on an equality with other Spaniards in everything not in consistent witli their present condition." The result was that the inhabitants of Cuba resolved themselves into three political parties the conservatives( who professed to be satisfied with the exist ing conditions; the liberals, who favored autonomy or home rule, and the republi cans, or separatists. The political agitation was so active uuder the con ditions that throttled the freedom of the press and the right of the people to hold public meetings with authority that Spain saw the necessity of appearing the malcontents.. As soon as they had lain down their arms the Cuban patriots realized that the Spanish government never intended to fulfill the promises of home rule made by General Campos, and Spanish ty ranny was soon lesumed in almost as odious a form as ever. Against this political regime, which is a sarcasm, the Cubans have unceasingly protested since it was implanted in 1878. In 18'j;) the junta central of the home rule party issued a manifesto iu which it foreshadowed that ; the mo ment tnigbt shortly arrive in when tbe country would resort to ''ex treme measurer, tbe responsibility for which would fall on those who, led by arrogance and priding themselves on their power, held prudence in contempt, worship lores and shield themselves wfth their impunity." Later Spanish authorities proposed a system of so-called antonomy, which they bave since endeavored to give cap ital importance in order to condemn the revolution aa the work of impatienceand VERY .7 Yocf S and placed on tables in the folio wing 1-2 Off. 1-3 Off. 1-4 Off. merchandising and one whirh pvp SALE AS BEFORE. tut anarchism. This system wnnlrl aimniv in crease the power of the government, in ' Cuba. It provides as a fannw ru measure a council of administration in Cuba. Buch as already cilatMl hnt whereas the old council had hum appointed by the government, half of the members of the new council were to be elected bv the nennln. Th rmr ernor general, the higest Spanish author ity uu uie : isiana, was to bave tbe de ciding vote. He was also to have tbe right to veto any measure and to sus pend at will the members elected by the peopie. Accoraing to the proposed sys tem the Council would have tho ri.rhf n diwpose of less than 3 per cent of the revenues oi ouoa, wiuie the government wouki oisiriDute, as at present, over 07 percent. All tariff l&WH war tn hti an. acted by Spaiu, and the preneral budget m;uiu iro me wurs oi ine Spanish cores. Under this system th offered from the debt, militarism and bureaucracy which wan Wnm.in. i. substance of Cuba. The Cubans were to continue to be treated as a subjugated people and all power was to continue in me nanas oi tne apamsh government. inis is tnefsystem of "sHf-governrnent' which Spain has of late hpon to give Cuba in exchange forthe colonial system. Thie is its proposed autonomy. It : IS denial of all effent.ivA nnuwn tA' Cubans; it condemn them to political in- lenoruy m tne land where they were ' born; it confiscates the products of their labor without giving them, in re turn either safety, prosperity or educa- MUU. It was this uronnsed system whinh aroused the revolution now in progress. - it wan in aeBpair more than in anger that the Cubans appeaed to arms to de fend their rights and defpiui the nrinoinlo of justice. On the 24th of February, 1895, the flag of the Cuban republio was raised in the mountains of the province of Santi ago, in the eastern end of island. It was originally intended that it should be raised on Febuarv 22, George Washington's birthday, but un avoidable delays carried it over two days. It was in New Yord where friends of Cuba planned the initial steps of or ganized rebellion. With the events that followed the reading public is more or leps familiar. Province after province joined the uprising until now three fourths of the island is in control of the insurrectionists. The chiefs of the ten years war, who had been ban ished from the island, returned by stealth in spite of Spanish vigilance and the people rallied around them. History is subject to great inaccuracies since that time, owing to Spanish prevarication. . , Daf-ss Cannot be Onrftd W local application! u they cannot reach ths diaeaaed portion of the ear. Thera It onlr one way to core deafness, and tbat li by conabtnttonal remedlei. Deaf neai la canned by aa inflamed eoo- Tnhl11 unf6.?"."?';' ot Boatachlaa Tube, When the tube la inflamed you bars s rum bling aonnd or imperfect hearing, and when it la jnUrehr closed, Peafneas ia Mm ralt and anleal the Inflamatloa can be taken oat and the tubs re- , ytored to Its normal condition, hearing will b by catarrh, which it nothing but ths inflamed 1 dl lion of the mncone enrfaeea. Wfi Will trm An nttsulsrl IYfl.il.-. s . - " b"- usimiwi wiiin iwinr si enrod b, liall'. UuVh'cu7Tdfor dSinJ o u I-3- CHMKT CO., Toledo, O er8old by Dniggiit, ?5c