Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-03-21

the vote will be close. Banks will make
the closing speech, but there are some
20 or 30 members who may be decided
by his speech, but would not go against
the presidents views"
On June IL there is this entry:
Stay at home and prepare a message
on the Cuban belligerency question, to
be submitted for the presidents consid-
He has not yet returned from mis- fish
ing excursion"
OF the discussion in the cabinet on
the 18th, the day on which the special
message was sent to congress, the diary
says:
1T was generally admitted that if war
is to be resorted to, it would be by di-
rect declaration and not by embarrass-
ing Spain by declaration of belliger-
ency; agrees unanimously that no con
ditiOn of facts exists to justify belliger-
ency. Finally the president amends his
sentences by referring in general terms
to seizures on the high seas, embargoes
of property and personal outrage.
Robson adds the concluding sentences,
claiming the question of belIigerency is
distinct from those questions of wrongs
which are being pressed for indemniti-
cation, and if not satisfied they will be
made the subject of future message.
And thus it is agreed that the message
shall be sent in"
Speaker Fish said that the original
draft of 3ne message, with it's many
erasures and interlneations, is all in
Mr.. Fish's own hand. The message sent
TO congress and printed as ex doce No.
SO is verbatim as in that draft down to
following paragraphs or near the end.
There is no de facto government in
the island of Cuba sufficient to execute
law and maintain just relations with
other nations. Spain has not been able
to suppress the opposition to Spanish
rule in the island, nor to award speedy
justice to other nations. or citizens of
other nations, when their rights have
been invaded"
Those sentences were written and in
serted by the president. the next two
were written in the cabinet and OH the
presidents suggestion, added by the sec
rotary Of state; the last and concluding
three were written and added in the
cabinet by the secretary of the navy.
Speaker Fish then showed facts tC
demonstrate that the policy Of the ad-
ministration on this matter Of Cuba ap-
pears to have been adopted by the re-
publican party by a decisive vote in the
house of representatives on the pend
ing resolution suggesting belIgerenr
recognition, and the state department
was free to pursue it's Ala bama negOtia-
lions.
Senator Cameron. in the recent mi
nority report of the senate committee
of foreign affairs, alluded to a rumOr
of a belligerency proclamation having
been signed by President Grant The
state department had on the request
of the president prepared a draft of a
proclamation of belligerency. Some
time after the president signed it he
went on a journey to the west and on
the way wrote the following letter:
Kane, Pa, August IA, 1869.--Hon.
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State
My Dear Sir: On reflection l think it
advisable to complete the neutrality
proclamation which I signed before
leaving Washington and to issue it if
General Sickles has not received an en-
tirely satisfactory reply to his prOpO-
sitiOn to mediate between Spain and the
Cubans Not that Spain has not a per-
feet right to prosecute as vigorous q
war as she pleases upon her own soil,
observing the rules of civilized warfare,
but that the rights of our citizens have
been SO wantonly invaded by Spanish
troops or volunteers that such a course
would arouse the sympathies of our
citizens in favor of the Cubans to such
a degree as to require all our vigilance
to prevent them from giving material
aid.
Except the issuing of the proclama-
ton I do not give this as instruction,
but as something to think of whether it
is not sound. If deemed SO the policy
of acting rnnn 1t will he discussed af-