The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-02

would use the only means that is tegd1ly
possible to prevent Spain from this in
sulting conduct, unless we declare war
and fight il out.
after the almost unanimous declara-
ton OF both houses of congress that
belligerent rights should be accorded to
Cuba and that war exists there. If We
diperse without giving relief 10 our peo-
pie from this situation we can find no
excuse for abandoning them TO this
dreadful fate, except that we are ready
to abdicate our power IL favor of the
supposed power or wishes of the presi-
dent. The presidents powers are not
increased by our refusal to exercise
powers that rightfuliy belong to con-
gress alone or jointly TO both depart
ments of the government. So far as I
am concerned this will not be done
through any want OF effort on my part
For more than seven weeks the pres
fdent has known the will of congress
which expressed, constitutionally, the
will Of the people. II that declaration
is not sufficient TO give our people Sc
curity against Spanish violation Of our
treaties, or to impress the president
with its solemnity, we should not and
cannot in justice to ourselves omit TO
present the same facts and convictions
70 the president in a definite form of ac-
| ton that he cannot refuse to consider.
Neither Spain nor the president,
with the armies and navies Of both
countries and the aid of the civil power
given the president under our laws;
with the terrors of Spanish cruelty or
the aid of our police and the Spanish
police and the Pinkertons in our ports
have been able to prevent the carrying
of men and munitions OF war from the
United States TO Cuba. This effort has
been prosecuted with faithfulness and
| vigilance worthy OF a better cause.
Spain fully understands the cause OF
our resent mentS and the justice of the
| INDICATION of our people, and boasts in
speeches from the throne that the presi-
dent is not In sympathy with congress
or the people, and for this cause she ad-
heres the more savagely TO her resoIu-
| ton that this shall be war of EXTERN
| ination. and that we shall be compelled
to call 1t peace, and shall refuse on that
| false declaration 10 give the shelter of
/ the laws of war TO those who are moved
/ by humanity to help the Cubans. If an
American who thus aids a people fight
! ing for liberty against a tyrannical mon
harchy escapes our penitentiaries and
meets death if he is captured by the
| Spaniards, congress cannot be justified
| in leaving him to that fate when the
| declaration of the government that pub
| lie peace exists in Cuba would save him
from death under the international laws
of war.
''The president has refused to inform
congress of the attitude of the executive
department as to the conviction and
| sentence to death of our citizens who
were captured on the Competitor. That
| is not a negotiation. No new treaty 10
needed to cover our rights on that sub
ject. 1t is an accomplished fact, and the
victims are in prison under a void SEN
tence insultingly imposed upon them.
"The plea is urged for the delay or
| further action by congress that recog-
milton of beIigerency, merely, will give
rise to new complications and, If We do
| anything, ii is wiser to recognize the in
depence of Cuba and leave ii to Spain to
declare war for that course, II she re-
sents such course. That ground is
taken with no expectation of its result
ing in such recognition. IT Is not neces-
sary that we should have a war with
Spain in order to give to our citizens the
shelter of the laws OF nations in respect
to a public war that already EXISTS in
Cuba.
'Tt is our own people and not the Gu
bans that we should protect, and this
plain duty relates to the existing state
of facts and not to conditions that may
exist If we should hereafter be engaged
in a war with SPAIN