The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-17
CUBKS CAUSE IN CONGRESS.
SENATOR MORGAN MAKES A
SPEECH IN FAVOR OF ACTION.


Declared Beyond Dispute-The
senator AIIudes TO the Presidents
Failure to Act.
Washington, May 16.-In the Senate to-
day the resolutions offered by Mr.. Nor
gan, dem. of Alabama, in relation to the
/ sentence of American citizens captured on
the Competitor, I'm Cuban waters, was ta-
ken up and Mr.. Morgan addressed the
Senate. The recent action of congress, he
said, recognizing the belligerency OF the
Cubans, had not been received by the Span
ish government and people as represent
| ing the attitude of the government and
people of the United States on that sub
ject. In that action congress was not fix
ing the status of Cubans. but Of citizens
Of the United States. Proximity impor-
| tant commercial relations, ownership of
valuable property acquired by Americans
in Cuba, the actual residence Of many
Americans i'm Cuba and the resort OF a
great number kof Cubans to the United
| States asking hospitality, created rela-
tions of such an intimate nature with that
island that congress was compelled to ex-
anime into the conditions of the people
and TO determine whether they were al
/ peace, or We're engaged in war. The Unit
| ed states had carried out faithfully the
| neutrality l1ws,ani had in no way incited
/ or promoted the insurrecuon which was
attended with such barbarlties. and which
| nad drawn into its vortex citizens OF the
| united states and very important rights
| OF persons and property. Ii had been diff
/ ucult task to restrict the wrath of tho
] American people when they saw their
/ own government stand by while those nm
Christian oarabarities were being sum
That a state Of civil war existed in
AuDa SINCE the autumn Of 1891; that it
| vas increasing in magnitude with start
ing rapidly and strength. was known 10
| the remOtcst and least Informed nations
| OF Chrlstendom. War was being conduct
| ed by armies in the field regularly armed
| anu equipped. The Spanish force con-
sisted of 10000 troops and fifty war yes
| sells, while the insurgents had IN the field
| not less than $1,000 troops. 1t was Ut
! terly prepOsterOus, therefore to assert
| that state of war did not exist there.
| IL shocked common sense that the United
| states government was being compelled
/ by diplomatic prctenses, to admit that
/ peace prevailed in Cuba. That diplomatic
/ policy had its support in several tech
| meal apologies and excuses Among
/ those diplomatic eVasions was the al
! legged fact that the Cubans had no forti-
/ ned towns or military defenses. The grave
objection, however, was answered by the
! saying that forts are strongholds TO be
/ taken" and the Cubans ala not pro-
/ pose to build them for that purpose
| Nar. Morgan referred TO the recent speech
| or message to the Spanish cortes Of the
! queen regent speaking Of her as a cruel
monarch" and said that If Spain had un-
| derslood three years ago that under the
! conditions that now exist, the United
! states would have recognized the belli-
! Berency OF both parties Cuba would have
been to-day as free as the Canadians are.
! Inc spanish government, he said, expects
! the government Of the United tSates to
! continue IN It's present role, without re-
| gard TO any cruelty that Spain chose TO
| infict even on American citizens who fell
! into her hands as prisoners of war and
| VINO were massacred by her relen tlessness
ana uncnrisuan agents. Every day that
| Americans suffered imprisonment. at the
hands of the Spanish government was
| day of national humiliation to the Ameri-
| can people. He condemned the American
| government for being engaged in the thu
initiating task of searching for frivolous
| excuses for its action in not defending
the Cubans against tyrants such as Wey-
lef, ana ne declared that Cuba was, un-
! der the law of nations, a lawful belliger-
ent, and might be 50 recognized without
bans, he said, exercised Jurisdiction over
| much the largest area of the island, and
| over the great body Of the rural inhabi-
| tants; nor could It be denied that Amerl-
| can citizens residing within that area were
subject TO that de facto government.
In discussing the question as to the Pres
| idents treatment Of the action Of congress
| Mr. Morgan said that that difficulty was
| capable of being ended by rendering to the
! President the opportunity of coinciding
| with or Vetoing the act of congress. If the
! President exercised the power to force
! reconsideration by the use of his veto pow
| er, then he participated in the legislation
and conceded the power of congress, under
| the constitution 10 legislate on the sub
! ject. If the President denied such power
| and refused to consider the question, he
| removed the power practically from the
| decision Of the supreme court and assumed
| the right to reject the courts arbitrament.
| Mr.. Morgan was. therefore, in favor of
| sending to the President joint resolution
| declaring that state Of public warfare
/ exists In Cuba and that the parties engag-
| ed in the war are beligerents. In conclu-
| sion he asked for the adoption Of his reso-
| luton Of inquiry remarking that If the
! matter went over without action, the
| country was going to bring trouble about
| 1t. The resolution was agreed to after
slight modification. The following is the
| text of the resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on for
] eign relations Is directed to inquire and
| report to the Senate what are the rights
! of the United states, under our treaties
| with Spain, as to the trial of our citizens
! arrested in Cuba and now under con-
| demnation and sentenced to death by the
| Spanish military tribunal for alleged Of
| fenses of a political and other character
| against the Spanish laws or government,
and to report on that subject by bill or
Section 2. That the Secretary of state
| be directed to send to the Senate literal
| copies of the original text Of the protocol
| of conference and declarations concerning
| judicial procedure, signed by Caleb Cush-
ing, as minister of the United States, and
Senior Don Fernandez Collantese, min
| lister of the King Of Spain, on Jan. II,
! 1877 as the same was executed and un-
! changed, both in the English and Span
| ish language and that he will inform the
Senate whether the established or agreed
| original text of said protocol is in the
| English or Spanish language.
Section 3. That the President Of the
| United States is requested, II it is not
| Incompatible with the public service, to
| communicate to the Senate copies Of any
| correspondence that has taken place be-
| tween the governments of Spain and the
! limited States respecting said protocol and
| its bearing or effect upon the trial and
| condemnation Of citizens Of the United
! states who were recently captured, on or
| near a vessel called the Competitor which
| was seized under Spanish authority in
| Cuban waters, or near to that island.
| The House DILL In relation to the sale of
| gas in the District of Columbia was taken
| M and Mr.. Kyle, pop, Of South Da-
| kota. expressed his belief that the proper
| solution of the difficulty was municipal
| ownership of the gas plant. In that con-
! neefion he defended the populist party
| from the charge OF socialism. That party,
| he said was no more socialistic than the
| republican and the democratic parties
| Mr. KYLE had not finished his speech,
| when at $3.50 O'Clock, re was reminded by
| Mr.. Mills, dem, Of Texas, that the hour
| had arrived when, in accordance with
| nrevious notice, the eulogies on the late
M