Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-23
CUBAN LIBERTY
May Be An important Ques-
ton for Next Congress.
Sherman Opposes Annexation Others
Express Their Opinions.
Morse Does Not Want Cuba on Any Terms -
People Too Ignorant.

New York, Sept. 22.-Thc Cuban ques
ton has become an American topic 1t ii
likely to receive immediate attention
from congress when that body conyenes In
December.
How, then, do our national legislator:
look upon the fight for independence, and
what are their views regarding the adj
visibility of sending a commission of in
quiry to Cuba? What do United State:
senators and representatives think should
be the attitude Of the United States?
Here are signed statements from some
Of the senators and congressman in reply
to these questions:
What should be this country's attitude
towards the Cuban insurgents?
Should the United States recognize their
belligerency?
Should the United States annex Cuba?
Many members of congress want de-
cisive action taken ms speedily as possible?
There Is strong sympathy with the in
surgents.
Senator Sherman's Opinion.
81
himself MS follows:
"There is no doubt diversity of opinion
in regard to the policy of annexing Cuba
to the United States, in case 1t can eStaD-
lish it's independence OF spain. L have
been, and am now, opposed to the anneXa-
ton of outlying territory like that OF
Cuba especially when it is we'll settled by
a nation speaking u different language
and with different institutions from ours.
II think congress would readily recog-
nize the independence Of Cuba, if the in
surgcnts would establish a de facto gov
eminent over the island. Further than
that / do not believe the general sentiment
of the people of the United States would
be in favor of going, but of this question
you probably can judge better than can y
Senator Chandler of New Hampshire
says:
"A Cuban commission must go under
the protection of either the rebels or Spain.
Which? 1t would not be feasible, think.
The United States should recognize
the Cubans as bcllgcrcnts, and do all it
can to make Cuba free, consistently with
decent regard for international obliga-
tions.
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire
writes: sit strikes me that until such
time as the United States recognizes the
beligercnt rights of Cuba, congress can
properly have nothing to do with the
Cuban question, and must leave the con-
tending forces to
Fight IL Out o. Best They Can"
Representative Sulzer of the Tenth dis
trict Of New York is emphatic and says;
'Tn the present crisis in Cuba my sympa-
thy is all with the heroic Cubans and l
sincerely hope they will succeed. Let the
result be, however, what it may, | now
predict that, sooner or later, Cuba Will
and must be free from the Spanish yoke
and the island ultimately ours-by pur'
chase by annexation or by conquest.
Cuba is today fighting for freedom, for
liberty and for Independence. In many re-
spects it is similar to our own revolution,
TO escape an alien yoke and east off the
oppressive cxactions and abuses of many
years of IA foreign monarchial government,
! which enriches itself by violating every
precept of good government and every
fundamental law of right and justice.
II believe 1t is the duty of the govern
ment to recognize the revolutionists of
Cuba MS belligerents rs soon as they de
monstrate their ability to organize a
stable provisional government and place
an equipped army in the field to uphold
and maintain it.
Cuba Belongs to Us.
IF this be done Cuban independence is
assured We owe no debt of obligation or
favor, or gratitude, to Spain, and no gov
eminent on earth can take exception to
our policy il we comply with the letter
and the spirit OF international law. This
of course will he done.
II believe Cuba belongs to us by right,
and is essential to our preservation and
continental supremacy. In matters of
this kind our policy, of course, should be
broad and liberal, honest and equitable;
and yet ut the same time we should not
bubble or faltcr, hesitate or split diplo-
matte hairs on the inches of international
law"
Representative Morse of the Twelfth
Massachusetts, district replies: "Whilc
am heartily in favor of anncxing the
Sandwich islands to this country, l am
equally opposed to any annexation of
Cuba, either by purchase, conq' es or
otherwise. The people are too ignorant to
be governed by republican form of gov
ernmcnt There is not large intelligent
minority who could exercise restricted
suffrage based on intelligence and educa-
ton, rs in the Sandwich islands,
Discussing Terms of Agreement.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22--The committee
which was appointed at the meeting of the
presidents of the Trunk Line and Central