The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-28
Presented by Senator Vest In Behalf
Of Cuban Patriots,
Call For Recognition of BelIig-
erent Rights

announces MS speecnes or makes pAoposi-
tions. Tho senate agreed that the final
vote on the Cuban resolution would be
taken at o'clock today, and the debate
was proceeding, Mr. White (Cal.) and Mr.
Gray (Del.) contending as legal PROPOSE
tion that the United States could not Mt
this time recognize Cuba's independence
This eroused Mr.. Vest-first, for questions
Of remonstrance and then TO one OF the
bursts of eloquence with which he at times
electrifes the senate.
Mr.. White said that he sincerely hoped
the Cubans would win their cause; bat
with Spanish power encircling the island,
with Spain holding every port In Cuba,
with tho insurgents unrccognized any
where abroad, he could not conclude that
Independence had been accomplished.
Mr.. Vest pointed out, however, that
the Cubans, without ships, without arms,
except those made by themselves, main
talned rebellion for 10 years. II this had
been done, why could not the insurgents
again maintain warfare until Spain was
forced TO yieldf
Mr.. White closed with the statement
that, while he hoped 10 see Cuba free yet
the United States could not now declare
that Cuba was free and independent with
out belying established facts.
Vests Appeal For Cuba.
At this point Mr. Vest came forward
with characteristic speech. Where would
the United States be today asked Mr..
Vest, IL this policy urged by the Califor-
mia senator, had been followed? Instead Of
assembling here as a congress, this would
be another British colony, another APP
panage of the British crown. France
recognized the Independence of the United
States, and sent her armies and fleets, and
placed on us debt Of undying gratitude.
In ringing tones Mr. Vest declared that
II we as the great republic OF the world
proposed to stand by these people in their
struggle akin TO ours then we must help
them in their time of need. Mr.. Vest
drew vivid picture of Spains bloody rule
over the old Spanish American dependen-
cies Then he added:
"Of all those vast dominions won by
blood, won through torture and fire, there
remains today to this toothless old wolf
the single island of Cuba. And Spain
today, like the giants despair in that won
derful picture OF Bunyan's, almost help
less sits at the door of tho dark cave of
despotism and grins with impatient rage
at the procession Of splendid republics
that march on in the progress toward
civilization and liberty That wolf can
never retain that single cub. Never can
spain hold the island of Cuha after she
has been Yn9bleNJa.h0ld. one foot south of
Us inalkAt6AnX6HIAxN ia AxNas of the southern
Mr.. Cry fhre erffHf5ySdt ash II, as mat
ter of existing fact, Cuba had now estab
lished n condition of existence.
With another burst of eloquence, Mr.
Vest responded that it was not for US To
determine that the Cubans had com
pletely established themselves. The ques-
tion for us to determine was Can Spain
re-establish her power and dominion over
Cubag
Cubans Determined Not to Submit.
The Cubans demonstrated today that
they had the power 10 resist Spain A
year ago their uprising was mere emeuta
Now every Cuban Is patriot They have
abandoned homes and families for tho
cause of freedom. Spain may exterminate
them. But" said Mr.. Vest, with i'm
passoned tones, Spain will never, never
never again make them the unwilling sub
jects Of her power"
The senator spoke with contempt of the
statements that the Cubans were negroes
and mulattoes. So much the more should
they have our sympathy, said he.
Mr.. Vest added this apotheosis to liberty:
Liberty lives with the poor and op-
pressed; not with the wealthy and the
powerful. 1t throbs In the breast of the
Gagged bird, and has gone with martyrs To
the stake and kissed their burning lips as
the spirit winged its flight to God. Liberty
cannot be extingulshed when people are
unanimous in defense OF the rights which
God has given them"
Mr. Vacfis parorpa tiOp xyos I'D ~,
beautiful. "Shall we," he said, ''the great
exemplar of republican institutions
throughout the world, declare that In our
opinion the people of Cuba are able to
maintain their Independence and have
achieved itS Are we TO wait until that
island is desoated by fire and swordf Are
we, n Christian and God-fearing people. to
stand silent and dumb while the Spanish
governor, called "a general, declares that
he intends to pen up the Cubans and
butcher them into subjugation to the
Spanish throne.
"Sir, IL we do It, God will curse us II
we do this thing, and stand here until
desert has been made of that splendid ISL
and, you may bo sure that the time will
come when there will be retribution upon
us as a people, because we have not been
true TO the task ASST gncd us by provi-
dence because we have not cherished the
legacy OF self-government as bequeathed
~ US by our fathers"
In the House.
At 5 o'clock Yesterday afternoon an ex-
member of the house became member
and member became an ex-member.
Such was the result-of the three days &C.
bate in the house on the Van Horn -Tars.
ney contested election case.
The exciting incident OF the day oc.
cured just before the house adjourned
The strong resolutions prepared by the
foreign affairs committee for the recog-
milton Of the Cuban belliesronts had been
presented earlier In the day amid a scene
of great enthusiasm. In fact, the demon.
stration Of approval was so spontaneous
and seemingly so unanimous, that just be-
fore the house adjourned, Mr.. Hit, who
had intended 20 postpone calling them up
until next Monday, asked unanimous con-
"A. 4.