The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-05

is one far more prudent and effective
than the senate resolutions.
'First-As to the belligerency of the
Cubans, that there is war, a fact shown
by many things besides newspaper re-
ports. The official reports of our con-
suls shows the growth and extent of the
war 1t is not reproduction of the ten
year revolution of from 1868 to 1878.
More than half year ago consuls report
that armed revolutionists, contending
with desperate earnestnesS and uncon-
querable will, were three times greater
than the men engaged in the rebellion of
1868 when at the height of it's power,
and the tide of war has swept on from
one side of the island to the other, until
today the Spanish authority is not in fact
exercised over more than one-third, prob
ably not more than one-fourth of its ter
ritOry. The Spanish minister made a
public statement, February 2S, in which
he said that 25,O0O troops have been sent
to the island by Spain. Is that not war?
Is that a police force putting down a
street disturbance? Recently the captain
general of Cuba issued lengthy procla-
nation which we have read with horror
which contained detailed regulations and
prescriptions concerning this war, in the
very terms and spirit of the orders issued
by Napoleon when he commanded the
greatest forces ever enlisted in modern
| warfare. 1t will not do to say that this
is guerilla warfare; 125,000 of the finest
soldiers that ever marched into Spain
| took possession of it's cities as the Span
ish troops have taken possession of the
| Cuban cities, and assumed to subdue n
| people who could only resist by means of
| guerilla warfare, and what was the re-
suit? Guerilla warfare destroyed that
| splendid army and it was the defeat of
NapOleon's forces in that mighty war
conducted by this harrassing and regu-
lar system that deprived him of his re-
sources, so after the final blow in the re-
treat from Moscow that greatest army
of modern times crumbled and fell. Was
that war? Can Spaniard deny it?
There is not a Spaniard in the world who
is not proud to recount it as the grandest
era in Spanish history and one of the
prOudest chapters in relation to that race.
1--WE not only seize ship that the
Spanish minister notifies our judicial
officers is about to leave before it gets
out of the harbor as was done with the
Bermuda, but we send our cruisers to
pursue them on the high seas.
''If the Cubans are recognized as bel
ligerents they will have the same rights
that we give fully to Spain. By recOgniz-
ing the Cuban belligerency they will
have Il flag and can purchase in our
markets.
II will say to gentlemen who are fear
full of the relations of our country with
foreign countries, that | do not think
this recognition can excite complaint, for
this war has existed Il year with great
bloodshed. Spain recognized the
Southern COnfederacy month before
the battle of Bull Run.
''The Spanish pretend that the Cubans
are in their favor. We do not believe it.
We wish them to have government of
their own choice. We believe it will be
u free government. We can not ask, no
government can ask, in n friendly spirit,
for the independence of Il part of mon.
archy.
"The lat provision in regard to inter
vention is 'one that has been the usage
of all nations; that has been practiced by
ourselves 20 times, and whenever Ameri-
can interests are imperilled we land
marines, if necessary; and if it is neces-
sary for the protection of great prop
erty in the midst of extreme confusion
and disorder, we can land Il sufficient
force for protection.
",rhe great arm of this republic ought
to be ready always to follow its people,
to protect their interests, their property
and their lives anywhere in the world"
(ApplauseD
Mr.. McCreary DemD of Kentucky,
eX-chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, followed Mr.. Hit with hearty
endorsement of the resolutions.
The island, he said, was confronted
with ruin, and the Cuban people with eX
termination. He was ready, he said, to
do all in his power, consistent with honor
and with the integrity of our country, to
give independence to Cuba, and free the
struggling patriots from a cruel and re-
lentless despOtism. This was no time for
sympathy or for the denunciation of the
brutal Outrages and the barbarous
atrocities that have been committed in
Cuba.
The time had come for the American
congress to act
Mr. Adams (Rep.) of Pennsylvania,
mittec who drew up the resolutions.
made an eloquent plea in behalf of the
Cubans.
Mr.. Sulzer (Dem.) of New York, who
was given three minutes, spoke in favor
of the resolutions.
Mr. Turner Dem.) of Georgia made
the principal speech in opposition to the
adoption of the resolutions. He express
ed at the outset surprise that the com.
| mittee had furnished no information on
which to base resolution of such
gravity Inc correspondence sent 10
congress by the state department, he
said, was "dreary record Of mutual in,
cendarism and assassination"
The precedents cited, he said were ex-
tremely unfortunate.
when recognition was accorded to
the Southern States,' said he, "the peo-
pie of the South had possession of every
port from the mouth of the Potomac
to the Rio Grande, and had an army
against which the combined legions of
Caesar and the phalanxes of Alexander
would have been utterly unavailing.
(Applause.)
IL have been amazed that an effort has
been made today in this country, by
reason of what was done in Barcelona,
to appeal to the war spirit of our country
by arOusng torrent of Indignation
Applause)
"No sooner had the incident occurred
yesterday, than Spain apologized for the
outrage and promised reparation. They
may be hot blooded people, but there is
in their nature the spirit Of ancient
chivalry.
''In reference to the outrages spoken of
here and elsewhere 1 believe the stories
that we have heard are utterly incredi-
bic. / do not deny that atrocities have
been committed in this. as in other wars,
such as occur between men in gallant
and manly conflict. Who is the president
of the Cuban republic, so-called? under