The herald., 1896-03-03

number Of senator's came over from the
other end OF the capitol to watch the pro
ceedings. The enthusiasm OF the mem.
bers and the spectators ran riot several
times and the opponents of the resolutions
cut but sorry figure when they attempted
counter demonstration. Owing to the
| brief time allotted for debate members
were fortunate in securing two or three
| minutes to present their views.
| Under suspension of the rules bill was
! passed to grant the Arkansas and North.
western railroad a right OF way throuR!
| the Indian territory, and q bill to retire
Lieutenant Commander r. NJ. G. Brown
| Y. S. N one of the officers injured in the
Samoan wreck, as commander, was de-
| feated, So to So.
| The senate joint resolution directing the
| secretary of agriculture to purchase and
| distribute the seeds authorized by the cur
rent law was adopted.
Mr.. Hit, chairman of the foreign affairs
| committee, rose. Immediately q hush fell
upon the house. He moved to suspend the
rules and pass the resolutions reported by
the house foreign affairs committee for
recognizing Cuba's beliigerency. The reso-
lutions are as follows:
Resolved, By the house of representa-
tives tthe senate concurringl that in the
opinion OF congress a state of public war
exists in Cuba, the parties to which are
entitled to belligerent rights, and the
United States should observe a strict neu-
traiity between the belligerents.
Resolved, That congress deplores the de-
struction of life and property caused byt he
war now waging in the island and believing
that the only permanent solution Of the
contest, equally in the interest of Spain,
the people of Cuba and other nations
would be in the establishment of a govern
ment by choice of the people of Cuba, it is
the senee of congress that the government
of the United States should use its good o.
fices and friendly influences to that end.
Resolved, That the United States has
not intervened in struggles between any
European government and its colonies on
this continent, but from the close relations
between the people of the United States
and those of Cuba, in consequence of its
proximity and the extent of the commerce
between the two people, the present war is
entaillng such losses upon the people of
the United States that congress is of the
opinion that the government of the United
States should be prepared to protect the
legitimate interests of Americans by inter.
vention If necessary.
"These resolutions" said Mr.. Hit, shave
been considered with great care by the
foreign affairs committee. In many meet
ings, through several months, the question
has been discussed. They have been
ripened and matured after consultation
terest of right. OF peace, of our own coun-
try, and in the interest of those who are
making struggle with which we sympa-
thize, we believe these resolutions present
the more practical, conservative and
effective mode of action. They propose,
first, that congress shall express its opinion
that a state oil public war exists in the
island of Cuba, and that we recognize it.
Second, that the conditions prevailing
Oh that island, which have involved such
great and deplorable losses, will find a
permanent solution only in the establish
Inent of a government by the free choice #
the people of Cuba themselves, and that our
government should use it's friendly infiu-
ences to this end. This, in the interest of
Spain, of Cuba and all other nations. And.
third, in view of the vast interests of our
people in the island of Cuba, SO close
neighbor; in view of the immense COM
merce that is being destroyed and the pro-
dieious investments OF our American citi-
zens there being consumed, that our govern
ment, while it has never entered into any
connection between European powers and
their colonies in any of the struggles which
have taken place betwee zen them, should be
prepared to protect the interests of our
American citizens by intervention, if in
tervent;on be necessary The resolutions
ought not to cause any trouble between
the United States and any country not
II think the gentlemen will agree with
me that the proposition of the committee
is one far more prudent and effective than
the senate resolution. First, as to the bel
lige-ency of the Cubans, that there is a
state of war is fact shown by many
things besides newspaper reports. The
official reports of our consuls show
1t is not production of the ten
years insurrection of l56S-7S. More than
one-half year ago the consul's report that
armed forces then in the field contending
with desperate earnestness and unconquer-
able will. were three times greater than the
men engaged in the rebellion of l 1S6S when
at the height of its power and the tide of
war has swept on from one side of the isl.
and to the other, until today the Spanish
authority is not in fact recognized over
more than one-third, probably not more
than one-fo1rth, of its territory. The Span
ish minister made public statement on
February 22d, in which he said that l25,.
600 troops nave been sent to the island by
Spain. Is not that war? Is that a police
force putting down street disturbance?
"Recently the captain-general of Cuba is
sued a lengthy proclamation, which we
have read with horror. which contained de-
tailed regulations and prescriptions con-
spirit of the orders issued by Napoleon
when he commanded the greatest forces
ever enlisted in modern warfare.
sit will not do to say that this is Quer-
rilla warfare; $50, 900 of the finest soldiers
that ever marched into Spain took posses
sion of Its cities as the Spanish troops have
taken possession of the Cuban cities, and
assumed to subdue people who could
only resist by means of guerrilla warfare;
and what was the result? Guer-
rilla warfare destroyed that splendid
army. And it was the defeat of
Napoleon's forces in that mighty war con-
Quoted by this harrassing and irregular
system that deprived him of his resources,
SO that after the final blow in the retreat
from Moscow that greatest power of mo-
dern times crumbled and fell. Was that
war? Can SpaniaTd deny it? There ia
not Spaniard in the world who is not
proud to recount it as the greatest era in
Spanish history, and one of the proudest
chapters in relation to that race.
I'VE not only seize ship that the Span
ish minister notifies our judicial officer is
about to leave, before it gets out of the
harbor, as was done with the Bermuda, but
we send our cruisers to pursue them on the
high seas.
"If the Cubans are recognized as belliger-
ents, they will have the same rights that
we now give fully TO Spain. By recogniz-
ing the Cuban belligerency they will have a
flag and can purchase in our markets.
II will say to the gentlemen who are
fearful of relations of our country with
foreign countries, that | do not think this
recognition can excite ground for COM
plant for this war has existed year with
xI,<