Evening star., 1896-01-29

concludes, ''to the situation of affairs in
Cuba that Spain should recognize the exist
ence "a state of,sWarsin the island, and
should voluntarily accord to the armies /
opposed 20 her authority the rights of bel
ligerents under the laws of nations
Mr.. Cameron's Minority Reaort.
Mr.. Cameron Pa.) presented minority
report on tine Cuban resolution from the
committee foreign relations. Mr..
Cameron's resolution was a brief request
for the President to interpose his friendly
offices FOR the recognition of the indie
pendence of Cuba.-The- report reviewed the
course of President Grant during the for
nrer Cuban revolt, in seeking to secure the
Independence of Cuba
Mr. Camer0n's Substitute.
Following is the text of the resolution re-
ported by Senator Cameron as a substitute
for the Cuban resolution reported from the
committee on foreign relations:
Resolved. That the President is hereby
requested to irterpose his friendly offices
with the Spanish government for the recog
pitioE of the independence of Cuba
MIR. Cameron submitted a lengthy report
upon the substitute, reviewing the historical
part Of the Cuban affair and the course OF
President Grant curing the Cuban revolt
when he was President. He recites the
striking contrast between the action of
Spain in recognizing the confederate states
during the American civil war and the fail
Cre TO recognize the Cuban insurgents as
belIgerents
The minority report also states that
shortly after Mr.. Blaine became Secretary
Oh State he sought to secure the indie
perdence of Cuba, but the project failed by
the absolute refusal of Spain TO consider
the release of her colony.
Coming down to the present condition of
affairs the minority report declares that a
state of war now exists in Cuba. The
southern confederaey, it says. had been
recognized by Great Britain, France and
before a hpnQ
BeDigerency is a question of facts, and
should De recognized whenever it in fact
exists. Warfare implies be!,igerency. In
July last the Insurgents had nearly cap
tured Capt. Gen CampCs. thus establish
ing actual belligere1cy. On December 2f
last they had advanced westward until
near Havana, having oyerrun the entire
island, and threatened the capital. Sucn
action established beliigarency as a ques-
ton of fact beyond doubt. In conclusion
the report urges il to be ar imperative
duty that beiligerency be accorded, and
that the President further move toward the
Independence of the island.
In President Grants Time.
Referring to the insurrection in Cuba soon
after the close of our civil war;. Senator
Cameron says:
ut is said that early in the year 1869 a
proclamation was actually signed by Pres!-
dent Grant recognizing the Cubans as bel
Hgerents. although the fact was known to
promulgated owing to the opposition of Sec
Ietary Fish
The Senator also quoted at some length
from the message of President Grant for
1859. in which the President predicted that
In due time Spain must find ii to her inter
est to establish the independence of her de-
pendent He referred to the diplomatic eff
forts made at that time BY This government
to secure Cuban independence which was
to be on the following basis:
l. Independence of Cuba to be acknowI-
edged by Spain.
. Cuba TO pay Spain Tor the re,inuuisn-
Insnt of her rights.
j. The abolition of slavery.
4 Our government was to guaran-
tee the payment of the indemnity. Mir.
Cameron attributes the fact that our gov
ernment failed a that time to recognize tbs
belligerency of the Cubans to the promises
of reform made in Spain and to the internal
strife-in Spain which rendered our gov
ernment loath to press outside compli-
cation. He says also that Mr.. Fish was
irritated by the opera ticns OF the Cuban
o. Junta in this country. which at times III
fringed our neutrality laws We also at
that time had troubles OF our own in the
south The action of our government was.
he says, in striking contrast to that of
Spain in recognizing the confederates
belligerents.
Mr.. Cameron also refers to other revolu-
tions during which our government was on
the point OF intervening.
THE incest sense of international require
ments,' he says, cannot fail to perceive
that proyocation from Spain was over
looked by our government for longer
period and with greater patience than other
governments of equal power would have
tolerated.
What Spain Confesses.
After quoting at length the report made
by Gen. Canipos in 1879. Mr.. Cameron says:
The highest Spanish authorities have been
obliged TO confess that the grievances CT
the Cubans are just and their asp:rs tions
for liberty legitimate
He says the Spanish government in Cuba
is an armed monarchy. The dangers the
scandal of the Cuban situation he say S.
have been such as can be compared with
nothing but the condition of Armenia"
He asserts that state of war exists, and
that with that alone we have to deal. The
precedentS for recognition are, he says
clear, .'and if our action were to be de-
cided by precedent alone We should not be
able to hesitate" He asserts that the in
surgents have made record which eE-
titles them to recognition, and adds: I'll
the government of the United States still
refrains from recognizing the belliserenc5
OF the insurgents after this conclusive
proof of the fact. the reason doubtless waE
that In the absence Of legal complications
the question becomes wholly political ans
that its true solution must lie not In q
recognition of belligerency, Sbut in recog
nition Of independence"
He says in conclusion that he is colfiden
that no other action accOrds with ou
friendly relations with Spain, just sym
pathy with Cuba and with our dignity anC
consistency.
The resolution and report were read. aEt
bC tn resolutions placed on the calendar
Mr.. Gray (Del.1 reported from the com
m.ttee on foreign relations a favorable re
pert On the resolution calling on the Secre
taTy of State for information to the ar
rtst of Mark E. Rodriguez the United
States mail steamer Oliyette at Havana OF
the 18th instant. and also the arres
of Lewis Someiuan aad his son in Havana
at the same time
The comTitte strikes out that part of tn
resolution instructing the Secretary o
State 10 demand the immediate release o
the prisoners named. The resolutions wen
TO the Calendar.
A Pension for Mrs. Ewing.
Among the bills introduced was one b.
SIR. Galiinger of New Hampshire. pension
ing the widow of Gen. Thomas Ewing, VIII
died recently.
Mr.. Calls resolution, directing the inter
state commerce committee to inyestigat
and report a canal across the state o
Florida. was agreed to.
The resolution as to Eugene V. Debs wa
referred to the judiciary committee on tn
assurance by Mr.. Hoar, chairman of tn