The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-28
TIE lOBANS- CAPTURE CONGRESS
A Great Day For the Patriots in
~ Both Houses. I
In the Senate Mr. Vest Makes Ringing
Speech For Cuban Independence-In
the House Mr. Boutelle Objects to the
Consideration OF Resolutions Granting
the Revolutionists Belligerent Rights.
Army Appropriation Bill Passed.

Army Appropriation Bill Passed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-As s o'clock |
this afternoon an ex.member of the
House became member and member
became an ex-member. That was the
result of the three days debate in the
House on the Van Horu-Tarsney con-,
tested election case. The vote by which
Mr.. Tarsney lost his seat and by which
it was given to Mr.. Van Horn, the Re-
publican contestee, was 112 to 1854;
eighteen Republicans joining with the
Democrats In opposition to the ms
jority,
The exciting insident OF the day
occurred just before the House adj
journed. rhe strong resolutions pref
pared by the foreign affairs committed
for the recognition OF the Cuban belligt
erents had been presented earlier in the
day amid scene Of great enthusiasm.
In fact, the denomination of approval
was SO spontaneous and seemingly 80
unanimous that. just before the House
adjourned, Mr. Hit, who had intended
to postpone calling them up until next
Monday, asked unanimous consent for
their Immediate consideration.
scene of enthusiasm that put the
House into perfect furore greeted the
request.
Mr.. Hit was saying that he thought
there would be no objection to striking
out the resolution, when Mr.. Boutell lie
(Rep., Me.) sprang to his feet, fairly
bristling with pugnacity, and said:
II understand these resolutions &C
cord belligerent rights to the Cuban In
surgents, an action that might involve
the United States in war with Spain"
"rhat's what we want" cried several
members.
"Well," continued Mr.. Bou.elle, Inn
petuously, II object to their passage
without word Of explanation"
MIR. Hit tried to dissuade Boutelle,
but the latter was obdurate. Meantime
other mem bers were continuing their
appeals to Mr.. Boutelle until that gen.
tlemen turned savagely upon them and
declared that he did not propose to vote
at moments notice to involve his
country at wsr with q country with
which we were now at peace. The
House then at Sis adjourned.
Senate Proceedings.
WASHINGTON, Feb. GA stirring
speech by Mr.. Vest in behalf of Cubs
was the event of to-day in the Senate.
1t came unexpectedly, as Mr.. Vest sell
dom announces his speeches or makes
preparations. The Senate agreed that
the final vote on the Cuban resolution
would be taken at p. m. to- morrow,
and the debate was proceeding, MI.
White, of California, and MIR. Gray. of
Delaware, contending, as legal prop.
osition, that the United States could
not, at this time, recognize Cuba's in
dependence. This srouaed Mr.. Vest,
first to questions of remembrance and
then to one of the bursts OF elouuence
with which he ct times celebrities the
Senate.
He said he had not intended to sneak.
but his words came with such fire and
such beauty OF diction that the Senate
chamber was quickly crowded to hear
him. where would the United States
be to-day" asked Mr.. Vest, 'If this
policy, urged by the Californis Senator,
had been followedp Instead of assemb-
ling here as o Congress this would be-
another British colony, another append.
age of the British crown. France r.oog-
nized the independence OF the United
States and sent her armies and fleets,
and placed on us debt of undying
gratitude"
Mr. Vest drew vivid picture of
Spain's bloody rule over the old Spanish.
American dependencies. Then added:
"Of all the vast dominions won by
blood, won through fortune and fire,
there remains to- day to this toothIess
old wolf the simple island OF Cuba.
That wolf can never retain that single
cub. Never can Spain hold the island
Of Cuba after she has been unable to
hold one foot Of soil south of us in ali
the wide area of the southern half of
this continent
Mr. Gray asked If Cuba had now
established q condition of existence.
With another burst of eloquence Mr..
Vest responded, that it WAS not for US to
determine that the Cubsns had com.
pietely established themselves. The
question for US to determine was, can
Spain re- establish herpower and domin.
ion over Cuba. The Cubans demon.
strAted to-day that they had the power
to resist Spsin. A year ago their upris-
ing was mere emeute. Now every
Cuban Is q patriot.
He denied and reppdiated the doc
trine that every vestige of Spanish
power must disappear from the island
before we could recognize Cuba as In
dependent.
Mr.. Vests peroristion was ssrikinply
beautiful, as follows:
"Shsll we. the great exemplar of
Republican institutions throughout the
world, declare that in orr opinion the
people of Cuba are nble to maintain
their independence and havo achieved
Is. or are we to wait until that island
is isolated by Ere and sgord3 Are we.