Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-03
FOR FREE CUBA
Mr.. Hit Presents the Senate Reso-
buttons for Adoption.
DIFFERENCE FROM THE house FORM
A Precedent for the Language in
the Second Stated.
EX &c TIVE TON

After explaining the parliamentary status
and pointing out the difference between the
Senate and House Cuban resolutions, Mr..
Hit said in the House today:
Mr.. Speaker, the two resolutions which
your conference committee have agreed to
and now report propose. first. that we
should accord to the people of Cuba bellig
erent rights, and, second. tender friendly
offices to the Spanish government for the
recognition Of Cuban independence. These
resolutions passed the Senate on the 2Sth
of February by a majority of So votes. On
the I'd of March the House adopted in
place of them, by 245 majority, three reso-
lutions, the first Of which proposed the rec
ognition of belligerent rights; the second,
the use of our good offices and friendly in
fuence in the establishment of govern
ment by the choice of the people Of Cuba,
and, third, that we should be prepared to
protect the interests of American citizens
in Cuba by intervention, if necessary. 1t
will be seen that each of the first resolu-
tons proposes recognition of belliger-
ency.
The second resolution, as we adopted it,
was in more cautious form than the Sem
ate resolution, and Spain could not, unless
persistently seeking a quarrel, have re-
sented such a proposition. while the reso-
dence was more exposed to captious OBJ
lection.
A Precedent.
\ proposition by enc nation to another in
OF binary, peaceful times to recognize the
independence of a part of its territory
" uld be offensive; for example, a PROPOSE
ton by Great Britain to our government to
recognize the independence of New Eng
land or California. But when a war be-
tween a parent government and depend
ency has been going on for a considerable
time, and when separation is the best solu-
ton of the war, the mediation or friendly
counsel of another nation to solve an exist
may be truly friendly act. In cases al
most precisely parallel, where Spain was at
war with her dependencies on this CONT
rent, in the early part of this century, cur
government did, in fact, take the very step
proposed in this second resolution. During
the presidency of Madison Spain was at
war with her American colonies. The col
onies refused to open any negotiations Tn
less the acknowledgment of their indie
pendence was made their basis, and little
later President Monroe said: ITO promote
that result independently by friendly coun-
sells with other powers, including Spain her
self, has been the uniform policy of this
government" In his message of 1921 he
repeats this language a second time-al-
most the language of this second resolu-
ton. Again, during the ten years struggle
from 1883 to 1873. Gen. Grant, Though our
minister at Madrid, offered the good offices
of the United States to bring that war to a
close on the basis of Cuban independence,
Spain to be paid an indemnity which the
United States should guarantee.
Recognition of Belliserency.
The recognition of the belligerency of the
struggling Cuban people right now is a
far more important and Immediately prac-
by the first resolution both of the Senate
and of the House, and transcends every
thing else. 1t is to the question of recog-
nizing their belligerency that our people
have given their earnest attention every
where throughout the United States. They
have sent this House petitions and memo
rails beyond number, coming from legisla-
lures chambers of commerce, boards of
trade, churC hes, societies and individual
citizens by tens Of thousands. On the
other side individual members have re-
ceived letters from citizens deprecating any
action whatever. These letters are almost
always from those who call themselves
business men-brokers and financial men
who are opposed to any agitation or dis
cussion of a foreign question and seem to
care very little about either the Cubans or
Spaniards, but chiefly about the market.
The unmistakable voice of the people of
the United States, as expressed in the
enormous majority given in this House,
belligerency of the Cubans. 1t Is against
this that all the Spanish influences in this
country are most strenuously exerted. 1t Is
to this hope of recognition of belligerency
that all Cubans and friends of Cuba turn.
The reason is plain. They know it would
be of Importance and inestimable assistance
to the Cuban cause.
1t would give them a flag; it would give
them q status in the world. If they pro-
cured a vessel and entered New York ilar-
Dor tomorrow with their lone star flag
they would be liable to be treated 80
pirates. The Spanish minister would i'm
mediately claim that this should be done.
But with recognized flag they could enter
as the ships from all countries do. They
could buy munitions Of war openly; they
could buy supplies of every kind Men
could go openly, If not in armed expedi-
tons, to join them. They could negotiate
loans-negotiate them as openly as the
Spaniards can do now. The Spanish gov
eminent buys munitions of war at Hart
ford and at Philadelphia, buys supplies
loads ships-in fact, the United States is
today the base of operations in a furious
war to crush those who are struggling tor
liberty, and our government has been
busted for year in obeying the intima-
tons of the Spanish minister Is this fair
ness? Is this Justice? Is this observing
1t or IL fact, are we not efficient oppressors
or the Cubans? Such has not been the pol
Icy of our government in earlier DAYS. In
$50 the Spanish minister, De Onis, when
the colonists in southern America were
struggling just as the Cubans are now. de-
manded tfat our ports should be closed to
the revolutionists under the flags of Buenos
Ayres, Carthe gena and the Mexican con-
gress and other places, which have, he
says, revolted against the authority of
the king. my master" He denounced them
as pirates and bandits, and demanded that
they could be so treated. President Madi-
son disregarded his naughty demands and
recognized the belligerency of the strnr
Cling coionists.
Success of the Cubans Probable.
The success of the Cubans is now nrob-
able. For year they have pafiled the
armies of Spain. In recent statement nv
the Spanish minister, addressed to the peo-
pie of the United States, he said that Spain