The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-30
THE CUBAN QUESTION.


Continued from First Page,
trust has become source OF serious an
noyance to our people, and has led to a
spirit of retaliation toward Spanish au-
thority IN Cuba, thus giving rise the
committee says, to frequent controver-
sizes between the two countries.
Continuing, the report says: The alb
sence of responsible government in Cuba
with powers adequate to deal directly
with questions between the people of
the United States and the people and 90
htical authorities of the island, has been
a frequently recurring cause OF delay,
protracted impri sonment, contisoations
OF property, and the detention of our peo-
pie and their ship, often upon groundless
charges which has been serious griev-
ance. Further along in the report, the
committee says the contemplation of
unlawful invasion by rock less persons
when Instructions have occurred in
CUBA, has given the government of the
United States anxiety, trouble and much
expense in the enforcement of our laws
and treaty, obligations of neu trality, and
these occasions have been SO frequent as
to make these duties unreasonahiy oner-
Gus upon the United States government.
THE DEVASTATION OF CUBA.
Oh tAo PlCsCAV ia OtfDft, ull6
report says the devastation of Cuba in
the war that is now being waged, both
with fire and sword,i is an anxious and
disturbing cause of unrest among the
people of the United States which creates
strong grounds of protest against the
continuance of the struggle for power be-
tween Cuba and Spain, which is rapidly
changing the issue to one of existence on
the part of a great number of the ma
tive population. 1t is neither just to the
relations that exist between Cuba and
the United states, nor is it in keeping
with the spirit of the age or the rights
of humanity that this struggle should
be protracted until one party or the other
should become exhausted in the resources
of men and money, thereby weakening
both until they may fall prey to some
stronger power. or until the stress Of
human sympathy or tho resentments en-
gendered by one loug and bloody conflict
should draw into the strife of unruly ele-
ments of neighboring countries This
civil war, though it is great in it's pro-
portions, and is conducted by armies that
are in complete organization and direct
ed and controlled by supreme military
authority, has not the safeguard of a
cartel for the treatment of wounded
soldier prisoners of war. In this feature
of the warfare, it becomes duty of hui
nanity and that the civilized powers
should insist upon the application of the
laws of war recognized among civilized
nations to both armies.
AS our own people are'drawn into this
struggle on both sides, and enter either
army without the consult of our govern
ment and in violation of our laws their
treatment whe@ they may be wounded
or captured, although it is not regulated
by treaty and ceases to be positive care
of our government, should not be left
to the revengeful relations which expose
Them to the fate Of pirates or other felons.
The inability of Spain to subdne the
revolutionists by the measures and with
in the time that would be reasonable
when applied to occasions of ordinary
civil disturbance is misfortune that
cannot be justly visited upon the citi-
zens of the United States, nor can it be
considered that state of open civil war
does rot exist, but that the movement is
mere instruction and it's supporters
a mob of criminal violators of the law
when 1t is seen that it requires an army
of 100000 men and all the naval and
military power of a great kingdom even
to hold the alleged rebellion in check.
1t is due to the situation of affairs in
Cuba that Spain should recognize the
existence of a state of war in the island,
and should voluntarily accord to the
armies opposed to her authority the
rights of her belligerents under the laws
of nations,
In con olusion, the committee say that
the Congress of the Unired States, recog-
nizing the fact that the matters herein
referred to are properly under the chief
executive until, within the principles of
our constitution, it becomes the duty of
Congress to define the final attitude of
the government of the United States to-
ward Spain, it presents these considera-
tions to the President in support OF the
resolution which they this morning re-
ported favorably to the Senate.
A minority report was submitted by
Senator Cameron favoring the immedi-
ate passage of d resolution recognizing
the belligerency of the insurgents, and
in his report he cited much Of the history
of the late war of the rebellion to show
the attitude of the Spanish government
tow ard the United States at that time
Whether the resolutions will meet the
approval of the President or not remains
to be seen.
Acting under them 1T will be the duty
of the President to tender his good Offices
to Spain and urge her to recognize a
state of war in the islands and proceed
to treat prisoners as prisoners of war
Should Spain do this, then this country
can also treat the VOIutlon1StS as lnSur-
gems and they will have equal rights in
the United States for the purchase of
munitions of war, the issuance of bonds
and bills of credit, etc.
Members of the committee say that I'M
less Spain shows a speedy determination
to conduct her warfare against the
Cubans after the fashion of other civil
lized countries she will be brought face
TO face with the power of the United
States exerted in behalf of the Cuban
insurgents within a very short time.
AT 2 p. IN. the Vice President laid be
fore the Senate the House bill with the
finance committed "a free coinage substi-
tute.
Mr.. Tillman, Democrat of South
Carolina addressed the Senate. He spoke
ostensihly in favor of the free coinage
substitute but really in denunciation of
the President and Secretary of the Treas
ury. He was on this occasion, splendid
combination of the orator and actor and
gave the Senators and spectators two
hours of entertainment. At the close of
Mr.. Tillman's speech Mr.. Jones, Demo-
GRAFT Of Arkansas, in charge of the bond
bill, made another effort to obtain con-
sent to have the time fixed for taking the
vote, or for beginning theadebate under
the five minute rule, but obieCtioDs xyere