Evening journal., 1896-03-03
ACTION IN THE HOUSE.
Promptly Follows the Senate's
Recognition of Cuba.
IT'S THE PRESIDENTS NEXT MOVE

Favors strengthening Our Navy.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The house. aft |
OF two hours spirited debate, under the |
limitations OF a suspension Of the rules, by |
a vote OF 2G3 TO 49, agreed TO, in lieu OF |
the resolutions adopted Friday by the SEN |
ate, the concurrent resolutions reported |
last week by its committee on foreign af- |
fairs, declaring that In the opinion OF con-
gress n state Of public war exists In Cuba,
the parties to which are entitled TO bellig-
eront rights and between which the Unit
ed States should observe strict neutrality.
The following are the resolutions re-
ported by the house committee on foreign
affairs:
Resolved by the house Of representa-
tives, the senate concurring, That In the
opinion Of congress a state Of public war
exists In Cuba, the parties TO which are
entitled to belligerent rights, and the Unit
ed States should observe a strict neutrali-
ty between the belligerents
Resolved, That congress doplores the de-
struction Of life and property caused by
the war now waRing In that island, and
believing that the only permanent solu-
tion OF the contest equally in the interest
of Spain, tho people Of Cuba and of other
nations would be in the establishment Of
government by tho choice Of the people
of Cuba it is the sense Of congress that
the government Of the United States should
use its good offices and friendly influence
TO that end.
Resolved, That the United States has
not interyened In struggles between any
European governments and their colonies
in this continent, but from the very close
relation between the people Of the United
States and those OF Cuba In consequence
of its proximity and the extent OF the com
merce between the two peoples the present
war Is ontaillng such losses upon tho peo-
pie OF the United States that congress is OF
the opinion that the government OF the
i United States should be prepared to pro-
tect legitimate interests of Americans by
intervention If necessary.
Resolved, That congress pledges It's sup
port to tho president in carrying out the
foregoing resolutions.
Mr.. Hitts strong Plea.
The principal speech was made by Mr.
Hit, chairman Of the committee on for
eign affairs, who said in substance:
"These resolutions have been consider
cd with great care by the foreign affairs
committee. In many meetings, through
several months, tho question has been dis
cussed Thoy have boon ripened and ma
tured after consultation with the most
eminent jurists. In the interests of right,
Of peace, of our own country, and In the
interest OF those who are making strug-
gle with which we sympathize we believe
these resolutions present the more practi-
cal conservative and effective mode OF ac-
tion. They propose, first, that congress
shall express its opinion that state Of
1 ta In, thn leland nf (tflhn
and that we recognize it.
Second, that the conditions prevailing
on that island, which have involved such
great and deplorable losses, viii flnd per-
mnnent solution only in the establishment
of government by the free choice Of the
people Of Cuba themselves, and that our
government should use its friendly infu-
ence TO that end. This, in the interest Of
the people of Spain, Of Cuba and of all
other nations And, third, in view Of the
vast interests Of our people in the island
of Cuba, so close a neighbor; in view Of
the immense commerce that Is being do
stroyed and the prodigious Investments Of
our American citizens there being con-
sumod, that our government while it has
never entered into any connection between
European powers and their colonies In any
Of the struggles which have taken place
between them, should be prepared TO pro-
tect the interests OF our American citizens
by Intervention, II Intervention be neces-
sary. These resolutions ought not to cause
any trouble between us and any country
not seeking 10 foment trouble with us.
A State Of War Exists.
ST think that gentleman will agree
, with me that the proposition Of the COM
mitteo Is one far more prudent and effect
| i've than the senate resolution. First, as
to the belligerency of the Cubans; that
. there Is a state OF war is a fact shown by
, many things besides newspaper reports.
| The official reports of our consuls show
! tho growth and extent OF the war; More
than one half a year ago the consuls re-
ported that the armed forces then in the
field contending with desperate earnest
ness and unconquerable will were three
r times greater than the men engaged in the
{ rebellion OF 1868 when at the height Of its
- power, and the tide OF war has swept on
from one side OF the island 20 the other
l until today the Spanish authority is not
3 in fact exercised over more than one-thirdi
;. probably not more than one-fourth, of itl
territory.
"Tho Spanish minister made a public
!. statement Feb. 22 in which no said that
J, l25, 600 troops have been sent TO the island
I by Spain. Is not that war; Is that policS
force putting down a street disturbances
= Recently the captain general Of Cubl
4 Issued a lengthy proclamation, which We
have read with horror which contained
}, detailed regulations and prescription con
oerning this war in the very terms anS
spirit OF the orders issued by Napoleon
when he commanded tho greatest force
ever enlisted in modern warfare.
d 1T win not do to say that this is guer
a rilla warfare. One hundred and fifty thou
,, sand OF the finest soldiers that ever march
/ ed into Spain took possession Of its oitie
d as tho Spanish troops have taken posses
l. sion of the Cuban cities and assumed {
= subdue a people who could only resist b
e means of guerrilla warfare; and what wa
the results Guerrilla warfare destroye
that splendid army. And it was the defea
of Napoleon's forces in that mighty wal
conducted by this harassing and irregula
system, that deprived him of his resources
- so that after the final blow in the retrea
- from Moscow that greatest power Of mod
ern times crumbled and fell. Was tina
: war; Can Spaniard deny it? There Is nc
- f.,t h., NH ta or farnIf