The San Francisco call., 1896-02-28
Spain Classed as a ToothlesS
Old Wolf at the Cave of
DeSpotiSm.
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS URGED
Congress on the Verge of Recognizing
the Patriots Who Struggle for
Freedom.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 27.-The
cGuse OF Cuban indie pendence had strong
advocacy and support in the Senate to-day
in speech of -feryid and impassioned
eloquence delivered by Senator Vest of
Missouri. He spoke of Spain as tooth
less old wolf, sitting at the door of the
cave OF. despotism and grinning at the
procession of free republics; denounced
the declaration of aptain-General Weyler,
and asked whether the Senate should sit
silent and dumb while the Cubans were
butchered into subjection to the Spanish
Queen.
If We do,'' he said. "God will curse us.
The time will come when there will be a
retribution upon Us as a people because
we have not cherished the legacy of self
government beQueathed 70 us by our
fathers"
White CD OF California, continued the
speech begun by him yesterday, contend
ing That the question of the recognition of
Cuban belligerency or Cuban independ-
:; eRce was one solely within the functions
OIL the executive department of the Gov
ernment, and that Congress had no right
TO impose It's will upon the President in
such a matter. White said he did not be-
lieye that the Cubans had achieved in
dependence and he would not vote that to
be fact which he did not know to be g
fact.
Vest asked what would have become oi
the.struggle for American independence il
Franc had acted on the principle advo
Gated by the Senator from California,
The A American people would have to-day
been English = fbIects instead of being
7 lree citizens OF a free country. France,
during the struggle, had recognized the
Independence OF the United States, and
had gone further than any other country
had ever gone on a like case-except from
selt-intereSt- When he heard last Sa tur-
day the farewell address of the father oi
his country read by the President pro lem.
o. the S-nate he was struck with the argu-
ment which Washington felt himself COM
PEELED to make in defense of his proclama-
ton OF neutrality in 1873. In all the life
OF that great man there had been no
episode more startling and interesting
than the issuance OF that proclamation of
neutrality declaring that the people OF the
United States would remain neutral in the
struggle between France and the COM
bined armies OF Europe
France" Vest continued, with dis
Interestedness which has put debt OF un-
dying gratitude upon us and our children,
had sent her armies and fleets to help us
in our struggle with England But when
the continental armies combined against
France, when the soldiers OF France had
marched across the Continent fighting a
world in arms, with a flag on which was
inscribed, Death TO tyranny and liberty
to all. Washington refused to give q
dollar or send a man to assist our former
allies, although England headed the com
bination against republican France
Washington was right; and his greatnes:
was never so much demonstrated as wher
he stood AGAINST popular clamor in the
United States and declared that We
never could safely vary from the grea
doctrine of absolute neutrality in the
affairs and wars of Europe.
s'If we mean to stand by these people il
Cuba, who are initiating US and are en-
deavoring to make a Government fo
themselves, we must help them in thei
hour of need. do not go so far as to say
that, we should do SO by arms. That il
not advocated by any one in this cham bel
or out of it. We can at least do it BY
EIdLlnR 10 TIE HOGIQ We DcliCNc ilt
attemp pt of this monarchy of Spain to sup
press the insurrection-the attempt II
form a republic in the Island of Cuba-i
absolutely hopeless and helpless, as
believe under God it is to-day. Never viii
come an hour when Spain can reassert he
dominion over the Island of Cuba. 1t i
impossible for her to do it. | take th
great teachings of history and experience
1.-The course of Spain on this continen
is marked with blood. There was TIM
when Spanish dominion extended from
the southern limits of the limited States Il
the most southerly pol-s OF Souti
America. No American can ever forge
those burning pages OF Prescott which
described the conquest OF Mexico ami
Peru. when the Spaniards, with che lust o
gold and the lust of blood, marked thei
terrible pathway across those countries
OF all that vast dominion, won by blood
won through torture and fire, there remain
today to that toothless old wolf the slngl
island of Cuba; and Spain to-day, hk
Giant Despair in that wonderful picture o
Bunyan's, sits almost helpless at the doc
of the dark cave of despotism, and grim
with impotent rage at the procession o
splendid republics that march on IN IN
progress of civilization and the future.
''Mr. President, that wolf can never re
tain that single cub. Never can Span
lo.d the island of Cuba after she has los
all these South American provinces.
Gray asked V,st whether there was an.
remedy for the Cubans except through tn
United States going to war with Spain.
''The Senator from Delaware Vest re
marked, assumes that the Cubans canno
achieve independence for themselves.
Il have not said that" Gray replied. :"
believe that Cuba can achieve independ