Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-10
FIFTY FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 10.
SENATE.

The Senate galleries we're thronged
wi h spectators when to-day's session
opened.
As soon as the journal of yesterday
was read Mr.. Lodge rose to question
of personal privilege, in relation to the
statement of the Spanish minister
through the newspaper press. That
statement accused him (Mr. Lodge of
having read to the Senate report
which had been imposed upon him
ard which he said was malicious and
fraudulent misrepresentation. He held
in his hand copy of El Liberal, OF
Madrid, in which the interview with
General Weyler was published; and
he would have the article printed in
the Record in Spanish, so that it might
ne seen that the translation which he
had made of it was correct. The
Spanish word impiar meant to clean,
to clean out, and he had given it
the translation Of "exterminate." That
was what the Spanish minister COM
planned of. He (Mr. Lodge could un-
derstand the sensitiveness of the span,
ish people-a people who had, in 800
years, dissipated a great empire. But
he did not think that there was any
excuse for the diplomatic representa-
tive of Spain taking the course which
he had taken That minister had
been referred to in the debate yester-
day US historian, but his statements
we're CT paric. 1t was very well-es-
t ,biished custom and fact that debate
t C matters with which no foreign ma
ton hai any concern. The proper
clannel for diplomatic representative
t. make representations on any sub
oct was through the State Department,
n Vt through the newspapers. 1T an
A nerican diplomat were to criticise in
European country the debates of the
representative body of that country
in the newspapers, he would be sent
home. He protested against having
diplomatic representative using as a
channel for communication the news
papers of the United States to criticise
language uttered in debate in the
Senate of the United States. The con-
stituton protected every Senator and
r representative for language uttered in
debate That was one of the earliest
safe guards of the freedom of the Eng
iish speaking race. He protested
against any criticism on the part of q
foreign minister. He knew very we'll
what any other county in the world
would do under similar circumstances.
Mr.. Gray regretted that the Senate
did not pursue the even tenor of its
way undisturbed by emeutcs in Madrid,
or in other Spanish cities. Why, he
asked, should the Senate lay aside lis
business to discuss the Interpretation or
translation OF newspaper article in
Spanish between the Senator from
Massachusetts and the minister from
Spain? 1t was quarrel upon point
hotpoint.
Mr.. Teller said that it had been the
unbroken rule in diplomatic affairs
that the agent of foreign government
shall not interfere with domestic affairs
There should be no comment made by
any foreign miGister on parliamentary
proceedings in the country 10 which he
is accredited.
Twice in the history Of the United
States States ministers of great coun-
tries had been sent hcme-once to |
France and once TO Great Britain-for
a much less offense than the Spanish !
minister had been found guilty OF. He |
would not say that, if he were Presi-
dent, he would send the Spanish minis
ter home. Under the circumstances and
considering the friction which had
arisen in Spain, he should have not
sent him home; but he should have |
suggested, very kindly TO him, through
the Secretary Of State that repetition
Of would necessitate his leaving the
country.
Mr.. Teller complained that, Dot only
had the statement of the Spanish min
lister been read in the Senate yesterday,
but also a statement from the prime
minister OF Spaiu, which was in utter
defiance OF every rule which had hither.
to governed the body. He alluded to
the excitement and riots in Spain, and |
said that that was not a matter that Il e |
United States had right to complain
of. as the Spanish government had done
everything that a decent government
could do to keep peace and order at
home. If students in Spain had des-
troyed the flag over American cor
sulates, students in the United States
had, in their turn, burned the Spani b
flag. If war had become fragrant in
Cuba, the Cubans were entitled to GER
tain rights. The recognition of these
rights was no cause of offense to Spain;
and Spain had no right to complain of |
it. Sue might feel hurt, just as the
American people felt hurt when some
foreign governments early recognized
the belligerency ofthe Southern Con!ed-
eracy, but that was not e cause of war.
And there was no probability that the
Spanish nation, as nation, would as
sert, in an offensive way, their dislike
of that action, or declare open war
against the United States.
Mr.. Hoar remarked that Spain
would have no right to regard concur
rent resolutions as binding the Ameri-
can people. The declaration of the
Senate of the United States was like