The New York herald., 1870-06-15
>~~s~o>~>~>>~~~>~s~~~->~
Great Speech Of General Banks on the
Cuban Conflict.
p esident Grants Message Sc
verely Criticised.
Spanish Insolence---Minister
Roberts Accused Of Falsehood.
Spanish Outrages Upon Americans
to be Investigated.
More Disclosures Concerning the
Dominican Negotiations.
~~~~~>o.o~.~~~~~~o1~>>~~~
The ;rrreney Bill Under Consideration in the
flr House.


a WASHINGTON, June IA, 1879.
Thrtiiina s,peecb by General BANKS OH the
Conflict in Cuba-Severe Criticism of Prcsi-
dent Grants Message.
IT is very refreshing to hear once in very long
willie speech from the heart-9ne of those sponta.
neoGs uneiaborated pieces Of eloquence which real
orator, under the inspiration Of the moment, gives
free vent to. 1t is very seldom get such Injuries
here. Senators and members have got so much In
the habit Of reading somniierous essays that it has
come to be sacred rule now almost never TO
attempt speech, unless Of the most ordinary kind
without The most extravagant destruction OF FOOLS
cap in advance and, altogether the most exhaustive
preparation The result is that generally one Is most
profoundly overcome by learning and sleep com.
oined In the effort to follow debates In the Senate
or House.. But now and then these drowsy spells
are broken; something comes up that sets the fullest
preparation al defiance and we get speech, a real
one such as rouses people and makes them recall
the days Of Clay and Webster and Henry and
Burke, and Cicero and Demosthenes Grants mes.
sage yesterday on Cuba furnished such an occasion
to-day and General Banks delivered speech which,
though it may not read in print like finished piece
OF 0ratory, was certainly in delivery the most eec
tive thing have heard here in over three years. It
Is not the habit OF General Banks to write out his
speeches in advance but lie generally studies up his
subject beforehand and trusts TO luck or inspiration
for the rest. No doubt he had thus fortified
himself to support his report on Cuba but the mes
sage Of Grant, OF Fish, or Cushing, as the case may
oes intervened and operated to modify his entire
plan. The result was that when he spoke to-day
before full, excited ana sympathlzing gallery he
ound himself obliged to treat OF the Presidents
message more than Of his own report. He found
himself thrown upon his own native strength of in.
telect and fertility Of resources and discardng all
preconceived plans Of argument, he launched into
strong imprOmptu address, which made up in fire
and vigor what it may have lacked in study and
preparation.
have never seen the members themselves, as
well as the spectators in the galleries. 80 thoroughly
worked up. Several times the excitement and en-
thusiasm found freedom in applause, clapping of
hands and stamping Of feet, and murmurs OF appro-
baton from members themselves. This is rare
compliment In these days. but 1t was richly deserved
by Banks. His address throughout was very
thinly concealed CRITICISM Of President Grants mes
sage. 1t over1owed w sercastic references to the
authorship OF the document, the. singular similarity
IN thought and expression with diplomatic notes
oi the Spanish Minister, and the pasilanimity OF
our foreign policy 1t referred to Caleb Gushing,
Thy name but so plainly that everybody on the
floor and many in the galleries knew who was
meant. When the orator allowed to escape some
bitter, deeply cutting words about a lawyer who
might be In the employ of Spain, and Grant and
Isabella at the time it sent shot not an occa-
sIonal one, at President Grant and Congress both.
Whenit declared the adninisra was not to
blame, because the national Legislature had taught
IL was dangerous to nave poncy;' but for the
American lawyer who could send SUCH document as
the message ofyesterday to Congress nothing but
everlasting disgrace could follow him. II showed up
the barbarities and outrages committed by Spain in
Cnba, the insults to the American fag the impunity
with which our citizens were murdered there and
the protection enjoyed at the same time by the SUBJ
jects OF Great Britain, and then it declared that the
cowardly policy Of our government was the cause.
I'm words OF stirring import 1t threw forth the noble
idea that to be safe as nation we must be brave as
nation; we must be firm and just; only c0wardly,
pusilanimops peoples were imposed upon and
abused It shattered to atoms the pretence that the
Cubans were not pelligerents because they held no
towns and haa no seat Of government, and brought
down hearty laugh by remarking that man made
the town, but God made the country, ana that no
seat OF government was needed or could be fixed by
people carrying on a struggle for independence,
IT, In dealing with international objections, 1t was
equally fortunate, demonstrating that should we
proclaim neutrality we would only be following in a
juster and more discreet manner the example of
Spain herself and all the nations Of Europe.
When at its conclusion, General Banks related an
alleged remark Of Minister Roberts, to the effect
that he lBanks) was actuated in his advocacy
Of Cuba by improper motives, ana when
Banks declared that minister who could say
that deserved to be drummed out of the country,
he had his listeners at pitch Of sympathy and en-
thusiasm that quite remarkable Cheering,
which Speaker Blame made little effort to suppress
greeted General Banks when ne took his seat, and
members Of both sides OF the House crowded about
him TO offer their congratulations.
After thus congratulating General Banks the men,
bers scatefed over the hall and went into the cloak
rooms to discuss the merits OF the speech. Judge
Orth, who followed as the representative Of the mi
noi1ty OF the committee, advocated the bill of Sena-
tor Morton, which simply provides for strict
enforcement Of the neutrality laws. He labOred
under great disadvantage, coming upon the heels of
an effort like thatof Banks. The members did not
listen. Many Of them went out OF the hall, and
Others were standing here and there, in corners,
discussing the points OF Banks speech. The au.
dience In the galleries left, not seeming to wish to
have the good eject Of the speech which they had
listened disturbed. Orth was followed by Farms
worth, who made rambling attempt to sustain the
minority report. Governor Swami, OF Maryland,
who represents the democrats on the Foreign Affairs
Committee, read an elaborate written speech in
favor Of Banks report. Mr.. Amber, OF Uhio made
short speech In favor Of the minority, after which
the House took recess until halr-past seven.
An Excited Evening Session Of the House.
The galleries OF the House were well filed to-
night, and large number Of members were in at
tendance, indicating increasing interest LII the
debate on the Cuban question Several Senators
were also upon the floor, apparently interested
spectators. MIR. Amber, Of Ohio, finished
his remarks commenced just before recess,
but there was nothing in them worthy
OF note. He was followed by Wilkinson, OF
Minnesota, member OF the Committee OH Foreign
Affairs in support OF Banks report. The speech OF
the evening was made by Fitch, OF Nevada who
took up the Presidents Message anu criticised 1t
from beginning to cnd saying some very plain things
about the foreign policy OF the administration
CARDS Cuba. He charged home npon the Secretary
of state, saying that he ought to either disproye