The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-19
THE F|FTY.FOURTH CONGRESS
SENATOR HOAR SPEAKS ON HIS
RESOLUTION TO POSTPONE
CUBAN MEASURE.
He EULOG|ZED SECRETARY OLNEY.
Saying He Could Be Safely Trusted With
Foreign Affairs-Protracted Debate
on Amendments to Postpone Bill
in the House.


on Amendments to Postpone Bill
in the House.
Washington, March 1.-THE Cuban
debate in the senate has advanced to the
stage of one of the great debates of the
American congress, and the speech today
| of Senator Hoar was another eventful
feature of this discussion. In this debate
| the senator's and the crowded galleries
| are kept at high tension by such stirring
themes as war and patriotism and liberty.
Mr.. Hoar's speech was notable in set
ting forth the conservative view of the
subject and urging postponement of ac-
ton until April 6. This developed many
sharp controversies with Mr.. Sherman
and other senator's. In the main the
speech was plea for calm, dignifed and
judicial action instead of the excitement
and disorder of mob and the dispassioned
speech of orators.
Mr.. Hoar characterized his colleague,
Mr.. Sherman, as one of the greatest
statesmen of the country, whose name
would go down in history along with that
of Lincoln, Fish, Seward, Grant and his
illustrious brother, and he besought the
Ohio senator not to obliterate this bril-
liant record by hasty and unguarded ac-
ton on the Cuban question.
Mr.. Hoar said the secretary of state
was clear headed, old fashioned Massa-
chusetts Yankee who could be safely
trusted with our foreign negotiations.
The senator added a like sentiment of
the sincerity of president Cleveland in
dealing with the Venezuelan question,
and declared that any action of congress
attacking the presidents course would be
an attack on America.
Mr.. Hoars resolution for the post
ponement lost its parliamentary status at
2 o'clock and went to the calendar, Mr..
Sherman announcing that from this time
forward he would press the privileged
questionable conference report accepting
the house Cuban resolutions.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, March ia downpour
of sleet did not deter the crowds from
coming to the capitol today and taking
possession of the senate galleries.
Mr.. Allen POp) of Nebraska offered
the first development as to Cuba in the
form of joint resolution authorizing
and requiring the president to make a
thorough and rigid investigation into the
present state of war in Cuba whether
it is being conducted in accordance with
the rules of civilized warfare, whether
extreme cruelties are being practiced by
either side, particularly towards non
to be Immediately available for the pur-
pose of the presidents investigation.
Mr.. Allen did not press for immediate
action, and without debate it went to the
committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Hoar was then recognized on his
resolution postponing the entire Cuban
question until April 6 and directing the
committee on foreign relations to make
an inquiry in the meantime.
The senator said his course was taken
with every feeling of respect for the
chairman of the committee on foreign
relations (Sherman). Turning to the
latter Mr.. Hoar added: II regard him
as the most illustrious public character
on the political stage on this continent
today / sometimes differ with him,
but but always with profound respect for
Mr.. Hoar spoke of the serious feeling
prevailing in Spain which had given the
United States minister at Madrid q feel
ing of insecurity for himself and family.
The same condition of public irritation
had stung the Spanish minister at Wash
ington to a violation of customary diplo-
matte prOpriety. 1t indicated the ex-
cited condition of feeling prevailing. 1t
was contrary to that calmness and dig
nifty with which great subjects should
be dealt. This was not time for agi-
tating the clamor of mobs, but for the
exercise of judicial faculty
MIR. HOar smoke of tho pntiro ahconoo
of facts and information on the Cuban
question. The committee on foreign
relations had considered it and had
brought in a resolution without any re-
port of facts. The report had cited
document which on inquiry proved to be
the statement of an agent of Cuba in
the United States.
Mr.. Sherman protested against this
broad characterization of the committee
and insisted that there was much infor-
nation which Mr.. Hoar had prevented
him seeing.
Amid much laughter Mr.. Hoar be-
sought his respected friend to let him
proceed without interruption.
II am not prepared" said he, ironical-
~. ito go to war on the united authority
of any historian whose name the sena-
tor from Maine did not know and whose
name the senator from Alabama Nor
gam, who knows more than all of us
put together had forgotten, and an ar
ticle in the encyclopedia by Clarence
King
''If the committee on foreign relations
has examined. considered and weighed
these alleged facts and affirm that they
fonnd any of them true, / will recall
it."
Mr.. Sherman interposed to protest that
Mr.. Hoar was not stating the case fair
ly, calling his attention to the official
consular correspondence from the state
department, which was comprised in q
volume of go pages.
Mr.. Hoar responded somewhat testify |
that what he complained of was the |
fact that the committee on foreign re-
lations had made no investigation. 1t !
was not able to report what was true
and what was not.
Mr.. Hoar warned senators that the |
adoption of the resolutions meant the |
denial of the rule of international law,
which we insisted on so strenuously dur |
ing the Rebellion, and to which the |
United States committed itself through |
our ministers to foreign courts, including |
Spain.