The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-28
disturbance is closed and the actual in.

disturbance is closed and the actual In
| dependence is an accomplished fact
| Vest disagreed with this proposition
| Was IL not for congress TO determine
the question OF fact as to whether the
uprising had not gone so far that Spain
was powerless to suppress It? Is not
asked Vest the condition of Spain to-
day desperate?
White answered that this was open
to doubt. He sincerely hoped the Gu
bans would win their cause, but with
Spanish power encircling the island,
with Spain holding every post in Cuba.
with the insurgents unrecognized any
where abroad. he could not conclude
that independence had been accom-
plished.
Vest pointed out that the Cubans,
without ships. without arms except
those made by themselves. maintained
rebellion for 10 years. II this has
been. why cannot the insurgents again
maintain a warfare until Spain is
forced to yield? Vest added: IF this
proposed action is mere sympathy. let
us drop the question. for mere sym
pathy is a miserable farce from begin
ming to end"
White closed with the statement that,
while he hoped to see Cuba free, yet
the United States could not now declare
that Cuba was free and independent
without belying established facts. At
this point Vest came forward with
characteristic speech. His words came
with such fire and such beauty of die
ton that the senate chamber was
quickly crowded to hear him. Where
would the United States be to-day,
asked Vest. If the policy urged by the
California senator had been followed?
Instead of assembling here as a con-
gress there would be another British
colony and an appendage of the British
crown. France recognized the inde-
pendence of the United States and sent
her armies and fleets and placed on us
a debt of undying gratitude.
In ringing tones Vest declared that II
we, as the great republic of the world,
proposed to stand by these people in
their struggle akin to our own, we
must help them in time of need. And
II this aid was not given by sending
our fleets and our armies-for no one
expected that-then at least II should
be by stating to the whole world what
the senator believed before God to be
true. that Spain could never again es-
tablish her dominion over that island.
Vest drew a vivid picture of Spain's
bloody rule over the old Spanish-Amer-
lean dependencies. "Of all these vast
dominions won by blood" he added,
won through torture and fire, there re-
mains to-day to this toothless old wolf
the simple island of Cuba. And Spain
to-day, like the Giant Despair in that
wonderful picture of Bunyon. almost
helpless, sits at the door OF the dark
cave of despotism and grins with i'm
potent rage at the procession OF splen-
did republics that march on In the
progress toward civilization and lib
erty. That wolf can never retain that
single cub. Never can Spain hold the
island of Cuba after she has been un-
able to hold one foot of soil south of us
in all the wide area OF the southern
half Of this continent"
Vest said it was not for us to deter
mine that the Cubans had completely
established themselves. The question
for us to determine was, can Spain re-
establish her power and dominion over
Cuba? The Cubans demonstrated that
they had the power to resist Spain. The
statements that the Cubans were ne
groes and mulattoes. So much more
should they have our sympathy, said
he. Liberty" said he, Lives with the
poor and oppressed. not with the
wealthy and powerful. II throbs in the
breast of the Gagged bird and has gone
with martyrs to the stake and kissed
their burning lips as the spirit winged
its flight to God. Liberty cannot he
extinguished when a people are unani-
nous in defense of their rights which
God has given them"
Vest closed as follows: Shall we,
the great exemplar of republican insti-
tutions throughout the world. declare
that in our opinion the people of Cuba
are unable to maintain their independ-
ence, after they have achieved It? Are
we to wait until that island is desolat-
ed by fire and sword? Are we, a Chris
tian and God-fearing people. to stand
silent and dumb while the Spanish gov
ernor general declares he intends TO pen
up the people of Cuba and butcher
them into subjugation TO the Spanish
throne. Sir, If we do it. God will curse
US"
Gray responded briefly. He argued as
a legal proposition that the United
States could not yet recognize the Gu
bans as independents. At o'clock
Sherman suggested that the debate go
over until tomorrow, and an adjourn
ment accordingly was taken.