Evening star., 1896-03-09
1CUBA DISCUSSED.
The Conference Resolutions Brought
Utjn the Senate.
MR.. HALE'& Determined OPPOSITION
Something Of a Sensation Over the
Spanish Minister'S Statement
DEB ATE STILL GOING ON

DEB ATE STILL GOING ON
The prospect that the Cuban question
would reach IT'S final legislative stage drew
| large crowds to the Senate galleries today.
BY II o'clock all Of the public galleries
we're taxed to their full capacity, and the
attendance in the reserved galleries indi-
Gated that every available seat would be
occupied by the time the early routine was
cleared away. Mr.. Sherman, chairman of
the committee on foreign relations, was
early at his desk. He had given notice
that he would move during the morning
hour. lasting until o'clock. the. adoption of
the conference report agreeing to the House
cuban resolution, and while this is usually
formal proceeding. 1t was expected in
,nls case to renew the animated Cuban de-
pate, and in any event to close the Cuban
Question. so far as Congress Is concerned.
Inc Dill was passed fixing stringent pen
aities Tor mutiny and other offenses on
American vessels On the high seas, whether
participated in By passengers the crew.
Mr.. Hoar'x Two Resolutions.
Before the main branch Of the Cuban
question came up Mr.. Hoar (Ms ss) offered
two resolutions bearing the subject.
One, which went over uEder the rules, post
resolutions until April 6, and directed the
committee on foreign rela tions in the mean
time to secure and report all available
facts Mr.. Hoar did not press this to con-
slderation, and 1t went over. The other
resolution from Mr.. Hoar, which was
agreed to, calls On the President for all
available information as to the status Of
affairs in Cuba, particularly so far as they
concern the interests of the United States.
The Cuban Resolutions.
At 1:15 Mr. Sherman moved the adoption
or the conference report accepting the
House Cuban resolutions. By this time
the public galleries were packed. In the
diplomatic gallery sat Mr.. Ho and Mr.
Chung of the Chinese legation. Baron Won
ketteler of the German embassy, Minister
Mendonca of Brazil and other members
OF the diplomatic corps.
Mr.. Hale Against the Resolutions.
Mr.. Hale (Me) spoke energetically against
the resolutions. He said he did not think
TIE Senate possessed information justifying
the resolutions recognizing the belliger-
ents and against a friendly pow er. He did
not think the inhammatory statements
made by Senators in justifying the resoll-
tic ms were backed up by facts. In 1870
this same condition of affairs existed. and
an effort was made to involve the United
States in the controversy.
At that tffhe the House committee on for
efgn affairs, presided over by Gen. Banks.
reported resolution similar to this one.
But fortunately for the cause of peace and
progress there, was then in the
Presidents chair whose love of liberty
and patriotism was certainly equal to that
of any of the members of the committee
on foreign rela items, a man who knew the
zeal meaning of warden. Grant. The
me ssage Ge1 Grant sent to Congress was
| as pertinent, today as 1t was at that time.
and it was an unanswerable plea against
the present resolutions.
Mr.. Gray interrupted to ask what result
had come from Gen. Grants message.
1t had continued Mr.. Haze. brought the
oongrt ssioHal resolutions to nothing. That
message was distinct, so urenswerabe,
that in the presence of that great, calm
man, all excitement disappeared and the
resolutions came to naught.
Portions of President Grants message
We're read from the desk. Mr.. Hale said
the insurgents now fighting in Cuba had
| no legislature, no courts, no organization
such as Gen. Grant had set forth as alb
solutely reahisite to the recognition of
state of war. Their power is seated in
struggling bands. occupying struggling
camps, and TO this day not only have the
insurgents not won a battle, but they
have not fought in anything worthy of
the name of battle.
| Cuba and the Confederacy Compared.
Mr.. Hale compared the condition in Spain
with that in the south when the con-
federacy was recognized He said the con-
fedaracy was completely organized. with
full legislative and executive branches, es
tablished courts a formidable army and
! navy. And yet, at that time. our State
Department., presided over by Mr.. Seward,
urged and protested to European powers
against even limited recognition of the
confedcracy and always after insisted on
the resembling of that recognition.
Ibid Spain ever rescind?" interiected Mr..
Mitchell of Oregon.
Mr.. Hale said he glad to hear this
inquiry, as it allowed an answer to those
who seemed to think Spain was less friend
ly to us than other powers at the time of
the civil war.
No nation. declared Mr. Hale had shown
the friendly disposition that Spain had
shown at that time. Never did she allow a
British-built privateer to stay in Spanish
privateer entered with American prisoners,
Spain demanded and secured their release.
Mr.. Hale said the only explanation for
the public and press clamor against Spain
was that the country and Congress had
been falsely and mendaciouSly msled with
conditions which did not exist Mr. Hale
referred to the statements made by Mr..
Sherman as to atrocities committed by
Gen. Weyler. 1t had since been shown that
there was an ingenious effort to fasten on
the Spanish-Cuban situation of today events
Of fifteen years ago. But these alleged
events were mendacious fabricat tions fic-
ton from beginning to end, set up by some
body to distort public feeling
At this point sensational event occurred
which no one had anticipated and which
for a time threw The Senate Into great ex-
citement.
The Spanish Minister'S Statement.
Mr.. Hale said the Spanish minister Senior
Dupuy DeLome, had made a statement as
to the inaccurate representations made
against Spain. 1t was not surprising, in
view Of the attacks on Spain, that the
minister had done this, fittingly and dip
lomatically.
Mr.. Hale sent the Spanish minister's
statement TO the clerks desk to be read.
1t had hardly began when Senator Davis
(Alinn.) arose and interrupted
"Mr. President, / object said Mr.. Davis.
'to the readnng of any communication
coming from the representative Of a for
eign country on, any matter not transmit
ted to Congress through the usual Channels
and rejecting upon members of this body
Immediately there was stir on the floor
and GALLERIES.
Mr.. Hale protested against such an OBJ
lection. There was nothing personally Of
fersive to Senators in the Spanish minis
the Senate. but was couched with a nicely