Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-20
NUMBER 11O

to the warlike spirit now dominant in the
United States. 1t was against this very
warlke spirit that he felt called upon to
protest, The people of the United
States had nothing to gain by such a war
and much to lose, a return to the condi-
tions existing during the late war; plung-
ing the country into debt and the vast
issue of bonds, burdens which the people
would have to drag for fifty years
Senators spoke of the barbarities be-
ing practiced in Cuba, but there were no
facts on which to base such assertions
TO support these statements senator's
were quoting the accounts of atrocities
OF the last war, but he was not one to be
dragged into the acts of ten years ago
If America was to go forth and purify
the world, why did it not turn its atten-
tion to Russia and Turkey? He be-
heVed that the Intervention of the United
States in Cuban affairs meant the u1ti-
mate annexation of the island to the
United States, with all the difficulties at
tendant upon such action. He drew q
dark picture of the mseries already
hanging over the United States on ae-
count of the bitter racial feelings. and he
deprecated the introduction of any fresh
causes of bitterness.
Mr. Caffery opposed the bestowal of
Dellgerency rights upon the Cubans.
The resolutions he said, were passed on
the statements of irresponsible newspa-
L
fairs in Cuba rivaled the stories of the
Arabian Nights They located the In
surgents' capitol in the midst of dense
forest, with public buildings made of
bamboo poles rooted with leaves of
straw. There was not scintilla of evi-
dence in support OF the statements made
by the committee on foreign relations in
support of their resolutions except ac-
counts of atrocities perpetrated twenty
five years ago and extracts from a his
tory of Cuba whose statements had been
fatty contradeted. He contended that
the right to accord belligerent rights re
sided exclusively with the executive
branch of the government The United
States was bound he said, by Internal
tional law not to NEEDLE in Cuban af-
fairs. AS long as they were bound by
that law, consecrated by ages, there was
no other laW-not even the sublime law
of humantty-which could be enforced
III this nation We're to constitute itself
the Fighter of the worlds wrongs 1T
would be necessary to organize an expe-
dition and go north and relieve the op-
pressions of the whole world.
we must cling to this law of civilized
nations he said, "or we will be outlawed
from the circle of civilized nations"
According to the statements of Amer
lean consular officers. the war was not
being carried on by the insurgents un-
der the rules Of civilized warfare; but on
the contrary, their methods were those of
the guerrilla warfare. with destruction of
private property, and fire and sword were
sweeping the island like demon of de-
struction He denied that the insurrec-
ton was extensive throughout the island
or represented the feelings of the ma
jority of the representative people of Gu
ba. So that even if congress had the
power to accord belligereht rights (Which
he denied) he would not feel justified In
voting for it, as he did not believe a state
of war existed
Without finishing his speech, Mr. Caf-
fiery yielded to a motion to adjourn, and
the senate at D. IN. adjourned until to-
morrow.
The House.
The debate on the Bayard resolutions
was continued in the house today and to-
ward the close of the session descended
into an exchange of personalities be-
tween Messrs. Sulzer OF New York and
Gibson of Tennessee. The display of a
circular letter by Mr.. Gibson to his con-
stituents by Mr. Sulzer and the charge
that 1T was being circulated under a
frank ELECTED an outburst from the Ten
nessean, who denied that he was using a
frank upon the document and that the
person who said so was the author of q
vile slander. Later Mr.. Sulzer withdrew
the assertion and also apologized to the
gentleman for anything he had said
which might have given him offense but
that did not wholly satisfy Mr.. Gibson,
who, in the course of personal explana-
ton, said that the circular had been sto-
len, being still, so far as he knew, In the
hands of the printer, and asserted that
If there were not receivers there would
be no thieves The episode was quickly
over and at its close the house adjourned.
The speakers today were Messrs Tuck
er and Cooper, democrat, of Florida,
against the resolutions censuring Am
bassador Bayard, and Messrs. Taft and
Wilson of Ohio Pearson of North Car
olina and Mccall and Barrett of Massa-
chusetts in favor Of them Mr.. Grosve-
nor IF Ohio defended the reputation of
Gendal Scheneek arising from the state
ment made yesterday by Mr. McCreary,
democrat, of Kentucky, about his con-
nection with the Emma mine and the
publication of his rules of poker while
he was minister to England.
Just before adjournment an agreement
was reached to take vote on the reso-
lutions at IL o'clock tomorrow.
Mr. Taylor, republican, of Ohio, report
ed the resolutions of committee on cleo
tions No. 2. declaring the seat vacant
now occupied by Mr.. Boatner of Louis
lana and gave notice that 1t would be
called up tomorrow after the pending
resolutions have been disposed Of and be
voted on without debate.