The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-30
STAR COMEDIAN.
senator Humans Maiden Speech Re-
plete With Inyective.
NEW LIGHT ON CUBAN AFFAIRS.
independence Was Almost
Gained In 1860.
NEW LIGHT ON CUBAN AFFAIRS


ton OF committee reports on Cuba I'M n
highly dramatic and sensational speech
from Mr.. Tllman, the new senator from
South Carolina, furnished two stirring
events in the senate.
The majority resolution on Cuba asks
the president TO urge Spain to grant bel
ligerent rights TO the insurgents, while
the minority report directs the president
to take steps toward securing from Spain
the complete Independence Of Cuba. Both
resolutions went 20 the senate calendar.
Such a torrent of invective has seldom
been heard in the senate as that In the
speech OF Mr.. Tillman. Veteran MEM
bers of the body characterized the speech
AS one of the most remarkable IN the his
tory of the upper branch OF congress. 1t
abounded I'm statements of sensational
character, arraigning President Cleve-
land, Secretary Carlisle and other men In
high places. There was a directness OF
statement and a dramatic manner OF de-
livery which awed floor and galleries.
Senator Tillman began his first speech
at 2 .. m, and from the start made 1t evil
dent tina he is the star comedian Of the
southern combination. His first act was
to move all his notes and papers down
from his scat ut the rear OF the chamber to
n desk in the front near the center, so
that the reporters could hear better. He
then took seven minutes by the clock to
explain how he came to violate an I'M
written law OF the senate, and take an ac-
tive part in debate in the first session OF
his senatorial services.
He closed this introduction by COM
menting on the presence OF the curious
and amused group of his follow-senator
who were gathered around him. Thank
you, gentlemen" said he, 'for coming
here to listen to me" and then he paused
n while they smiled broadly and
the galleries giggled. At 2:20 he begun
his formal speech.
President aud Cabinet Assaiied.
The gestures of tho senator were used
frequently in acting his words. At one
point no made n profound salute and
tipped his hat to Sherman ms the financial
victor OF n quarter Of a century. The
galleries We're moved alternately to APP
plausc and laughter. Pausing for q sip
Of water, amid rounds of laughter, he re-
marked: II seldom wet my whistle while
l speak; still you can't run a windmill on
water The text moment there was a
hush through the chamber as the senator
6BBAA'Ni ohNh ttAiltS 10 NV VI hChi-
Der of the cabinet, or characterized the
president in bitter terms.
At times the senator's voice sank to a
whisper, rs, for instance, when he gave
warming Of the approach of a popular re-
volution and communism and the march
ing on Washington of a host with rifles
in their hands. Again his voice resounded
through the chamber and the outer CORR
doris as he called senators and members
towards" for not resorting to impeach-
ment.
During Mr.. Tillman's severe criticism
OF the president, he put senator's and gal
leries In roars Of laughter by telling how,
as governor Of South Carolina, he had
come hero TO inaugurnte the president;
had stood four hours out In the uiow and
sleot until he was nearly frozen 2, death,
to do honor to the president. ~ nd" con-
cluded the senator, II ask God 10 forgive
me for doing It,"
At one point, after bitterly arraigning
the president, tho senator addressed him
self to the Republican side of the senate,
and exclaimed: "Why have you not i'm
peached himf You have the majority to
do it."
Mr.. Hawley interrupted with the query;
"Why didn't the last congress do thiss"
HE Is not impeached," continued the
senator, because he 10 carrying out your
Republican policy. The last congress was
no better thar this" MIR. Tillman closed
with a vivid m threatening picture of
the advance of a popular revolution IL the
evils he had depicted were not rcmedied.
Mr.. Jones dem, Ark.) gave further
notice OF a test OF endurance, II necessary,
to secure n vote on the bond bill.
In n colloquy as to o time when q vote
should be taken on the silver bond bill
now pending, Mr.. Hill, when asked what
day he would consent that q vote should
be had on the silver bill, responded Feb.
g. Beyond that date he did not care.
This is the day after the bond bids are to
be opened.
The session OF tho house wa brief. The
opposition to a bill reported from the in
valid pensions committee TO amend the
act of 1890 so that in the consideration Of
widows claims unexplained absence for
seven years should be considered sufficient
proof of death led to the making of the
point of no quorum carly In the session,
and the house was forced to adjourn after
passing several public land bills.
The house elections committee No. shave
decided the contested case Of Davis VS.. Gull
berson from the Fourth Texas district
unanimously In favor Of Culberson. The
contestant made no appearance before the
committee.
Interesting Facts About Cuba.
Referring to the instruction in Cuba
soon after TIM close Of our civil war, Sena-
tor Cameron says:
1T is said that early In the year 1869 a
proclamation was actually signed by
President Grant, recognizing the Cubans
as belligeronts, although the fact was
known to very few persons. This procla-
nation was not promulgated, owing to the
opposition OF Secretary Fish"
The scnator also quoted at some length
from the message of President Grant in
1859, in which the president predicted
that I'm due time Spain must find IL to her
interest 10 establish the independence Of
her dependent. He referred to the diplo-
matte efforts made ~ hat time by this
government to secure Cuban indcpend.
ence, which was to DO on the following
basis:
trndonaodo,ro ~ Cuha IN 10 No.