The record-union., 1896-02-29

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-By a vote
of 64 to the Senate of the United
States put on record to-day its views
and policy in relation to the existing
revolution in Cuba Up to the hour OF
o'clock the debate went on, the Sena-
tors viaing with each other in praise OF
the Cuban patriots and in denunciation
of Captain General Weyler- Senator
Sherman characterized him rather as a
demon than as a General. The cruel
ties of Pizarro and Cortez in Mexico and
Peru and of the Duke Of Alba In the
Netherlands were not overlooked, ana
there ran through the debate hardly
concealed contempt for the power OF
Spain The debate closed at p. M,
and then the voting began Various
amendments were voted down or LAID
on the table by large majorities, and
finally came the resolution of the Com
snittee en- Foreign Relations as amend
ed by the addition to it of Senator
Cameron's resolution for the recognition
of Cuban Independence
The terms of the concurrent resolu-
tion are that in the opinion of Con-
gress. q condition of war exists be-
tween the Government of Spain and the
Government proclaimed and main
tained by force of arms by the people of
Cuba: that the United States should
maintain a strict neutrality between
the contending powers, according to
each of them all the rights of belliger-
ents in the ports and territory of the
United States: and that the friendly
offices of the United States should be
offered by the President to the Spanish
Government for the recognition of the
independence of Cuba.
On motion of Sherman of Ohio, the
business of the morning hour in the
Senate was dispensed with, and the
resolution for the recognition of Cuban
beHigerency was taken up, and Lind
say Dem) of Kentucky addressed the
Senate. He did not think that in the
present emergency the subject ought to
he controlled in any way by the past
conduct Of Spain to the United States.
1t was in one sense question Of hu-
manity. War was being carried on at
the very doors of the United States be-
tween the people of Cuhe and the Span
ish Government and it would result
either in the independence of Cuba or in
the utter destruction of her people. Ex-
pressfons of sympathy would avail
nothing to the Cuban insurrectionists.
If the United States intended to take,
any step to bring ab out Condition of
affairs in Cuba different from that
which had existed 6arlne tl1e last sew
enty years, that step should be in the
direction of the ultimate independence
Of Cuba It might be true-it was true
that affairs had not yet reached a
Ioint that would justify the Govern
ment Of the United States in acknowl-
edging the independence of Cuba.
There was a state of things in Cuba
that would justify the Government of
the United States in considering props
osition for active interference in the
struggle, for the reason that it seemed
highly probable that without such in
reference either public order could
never be restored in Cuba, or could only
be restored after such suffering by hui
manity and such injustice to surround
ing States as would obviously overbal-
ance the general evil of all interference
from without But the pending resolu-
ton proposed no such active interfer-
ence.
The United States had become sponsor
70 the world seventy years ago that
Snain should continue to dominate the
island of Cuba. and could not escape
the responsibility of saying to Spain
that she must treat the island with
some kind of justice. Spain owed to
Cuba as much as Turkey owed to
Armenia: as much as the United States
owed to Venezuela If Spain did not pay
the obligation resting on her, and IL
her necessities prevented her doing so,
then the time had come for steps to be
initiated, and they could be properly
initiated only by the Government OF
the United States. Overtures should be
made to Spain for the sale of the island
of Cuba to the Cubans-the United
states to guarantee the payment of the
sum to be agreed upon
sherman (Rep) of Ohio, Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
addressed the Senate in advocacy of the
resolution introduced from that COM
1nittee. He said that he did not disguise
from himself the danger and possibility
of hostile movements following the ae-
ton of Congress. Spain was sensitive,
proud and gallant nation and would not
submit to what she considered an in
Justice At the same time his convle-
tions were-nade stronger every day
that the condition of affairs in Cuba was
States must be given sooner or later, TO
nut an end to crimes almost beyond de-
scription.
He quoted from a pamphlet written,
he said, in q temperate style, TO show
what the Cubans had done in the way
of establishing a Government and car
rying on the war. and containing an
order of General Maximo Gomez as to
the humane treatment of prisoners that
might fall into the hands Of the insur-
gents. and vet he said, this man Gomez
had been denounced as a murderer and
barbarous criminal. like the one he
would speak Of after a while, Captain
General Weyler.
Speaking of the last ten years war in
Cuba. Sherman said it cost $10O,OOO,0 600
TO Spain. and had only ceased when fair
and liberal terms were made with the
Cubans by General Campos, the great
est General whom Spain had produced
in later years. But Spain had failed to
keep her engagement. having violated
it: and the consequence was that, in a
few years afterward, all the Cubans
took up arms again
sherman alluded to the historical
cruelties exercised by Spain and her
military commanders by Pizarro and