The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-28
The Missouri Senator Makes a
Plea for Cuba.
His Burst of Eloquence Electri-
fieS the Senate.
TOOTHLESS OLD HAG
Is Spain, Who Has Lost j One by
One Her Litter,
Now Clineing to Her Single Re-
naming Cub, Cuba.

z WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-A stirring
speech by Mr.. Vest in behalf of Cuba
was the event of yesterday in the
Senate. The Senate had agreed that
the final vote on the Cnban resolution
would be taken at o'clock to-day,
and the debate was proceeding, MIR.
White of California, and Mr.. Gray of
Delaware, contending, as a legal
proposition, that the United States
could not at this time recognize
Cuba's independence. This aroused
Mr.. Vest, first for questions of remon-
STRANGE, and then to one of the bursts
of e1oquence with which he at times
electrities the Senate. He spoke of
Spain as the tooth1ess old woman, who
had lost, one by one, her litter, and
was still clinging to this single re-
naming cub. He pictured Spain as
the impotenI giant of despair in the
''Pilgrlm's Progress" gazing on de-
feat In imprisoned words he made
an apothesis to liberty of rare beauty
and fervor, adding with ringing en-
phasis that the Cuban patriots would
never, never, never again become the
unwilling subjects of Spain.
The Senator spoke with contempt of
the statements that the Cubans were
negroes and mulattoes. So much the
more should they have our sympathy,
said he.
Liberty" he said. "lives with the
poor and oppressed, not with the
wealthy and powerful 1t 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 it's flight to God. Liberty can
not be extinguished when a people
are unanimous in defense of their
rights which God has given them"
An expression of sympathy was a
farce, continued the Senator. He de-
MED and repudiated the doctrine that
every vest1ge of Spanish power must
disappear from the island before we
could recognize Cuba as independent
We're we God-fearing people to stand
dumbly by while this bloody Spanish
general drove these people into pen
and slaughtered them? Mr.. Vest
! closed as follows:
shall we, the great exemplar OF re-
publican institutions throughout the
world, declare that in our opinion the
| people of Cuba are able to maintain
! their independence and have achieved
| it? Are we to wait until the island is
| desolated by fire and sword? Are we,
Christian and God-fearing people, to
| stand silent and dumb while the Span
| ish governor, called a general, de-
| clares that 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. If
we do this thing and stand here until
desert has been made of that SPLEEN
| did island you may be certain that the
time will come hen there will be re-
| tribution on US as people because we
| have not been true to the task as
signed us by Providence, because we
have not cherished the legacy of self
government as bequeathed to us by
| our fathers
At the close of the speech Mr.. Gray,
who opposed Mr.. Vest, said that if
| eloquence could achieve the freedom
of Cuba, then the burning words of
the Missouri senator would set her
| free. The debate will be closed by
Mr.. Sherman to-day. 1t is considered
certain that favorable action will be
taken on one of the several resolu-
tions, the only doubt being whether it
shall relate to independence or bellig-
erency, and as to the extent of it.
The army appropriation bill, carry
| ing about $23. 600. 900, was passed.