The Portland daily press., 1896-02-29
In THE SENATE.

vi motlon OF ME. Sherman, Republl-
can OF Ohio, the business Of the morning
hour was dispensed with and resolution
for the recognition of Cuban belligerenoy
on which the vote is to be taken at 4 D.
m. was taken up.
MIR. Lindsay, Democrat of Kentucky.
addressed the Senate. He did not think
that in the present emergency the subject
ought to be controlled in any way by the
past conduct of Spain to the United
States. 1t was, in one sense, question
OF humanity. War was being carried on
at the very doors Of the United States be-
tween the people of Cuba and the Spanish
government. and it would result either
In the independence of Cuba or in the ut.
| ter destruction of her people.
There was state of things in Cuba
that would justify the government of the
United States in considering propo-
sition of active interference in the
struggle for the reason that it seemed
highly probable that without such inter
| ference either public order could never be
restored in Cuba, OF could only be re-
stored after much suffering by hum anity
; and such injuries to surrounding states
| as would obviously overbalance the gen
eral evil of all Interference from without.
But the pending resolution proposed no
such active interference. 1t proposed
| only that the good offices of the United
| States should be offered to Spain to bring
about not merely a cessation of hostili-
ties, but an ultimate peace on the basis
Of Cuban independence, the only basis
on which good government could ever be
secured to the people of Cuba.
If Spain did not pay the obligations
| resting on her, and if her necessities pre-
vented 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. Over.
lures should be made to Spain for the
sale of the island to the Cubans, the
United States to guarantee the payment
of the sum to be agreed upon.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, chairman of
the committee on foreign relations, ad-
| dressed the Senate in advocacy of the
| resolution reported from that committee
He said that he did not disguise from
himself the danger and possibility of
hostile movements following the action
| of Congress. At the same time his oon-
victions were strong, made stronger every
day that the condition of affairs in Cuba,
was such that the Intervention .of the
United States must be given sooner OF
| later, to put an end to crimes almost be-
yond description.
Mr.. Sherman alluded to the historical
cruelties exercised by Spain and her
military commanders, by Pizarro and
Cortez in Mexico and Peru, and by the
Duke OF Alva in The Netherlands. Speak
ing of the rebel general Gomez, Mr.. Sher-
| man said that he was a man of standing
and character, probably an idealist. But
he ought to be, and would probably soon
be considered patriot.
Mr.. Sherman said he had not called I'D
his resolution for consideration because
| he knew that without executive approval,
1t would have been perfectly idle for the
Senate to take any measure for the relief
of Cuba.
| He went on to say that he was not in
favor of the annexation of Cuba to the
| United States. He did not desire to oon-
local autonomy. In his Judgment, q uba
should be attached to Mexico, because
Cubans and Mexioans spoke the same
language, had the same origin, the same
antecedents and many CT the same or
cumstances
Mr.. Sherman sent to the clerks desk,
and had read, extracts from aSpanish book
printed in New York newspaper, reoit-
Ing horrible oruelties charged against
Weyler, some of the incidents being so
Dad that he directed the clerk to omit
them. He spoke of these deeds as bar
barous atrocities and as inhuman cruel
ties, and said that Weyler was a demon
rather than general. He denounced the
| Idea OF putting such man in command
Of hundred Thousand troops, to ride
rough-shod, kill and slaughter feeble
bodies of people, and he declared, in the
most stlemn terms, that if this kind of
policy is pursured by Spain in Cuba, and
il the people of the United States be in
formed of it, there is no earthly power
that will prevent the people of the
United States from going over to that
island, running all over it's length and
breadth, and driving out from it those
robbers and imitators of the worst men
that ever lived in the world. (Applause
from crowds In the gallery.)
IT, Mr.. Sherman continued, Weyler
carries out his projected plan, there is
not country in this hemisphere, that
will not contribute to put an end to this
violence.
Continuing, Mr.. Sherman said The
people ought TO bs allowed, in their own
way, to form their government, to be as
free as we are Every Christian man,
every man who believes in the civiliza
tion of the age. every Ameri-
can in this broad land, hates tyranny
and oppression, whether it comes from
a government or tyrant. We are opposed
to cruelty. We do not wish Armenia
near our shores, but We will not shield