The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-28

Them: sir, If We Do, God viii
Curse U.s."
WASHINGTON, Feb. pa stirring
speech by Mr.. Vest on behalf of Cuba
was the event of today in the senate.
1t came unexpectedly. as Mr.. Vest sell
dom announces his speeches or makes
preparations.
The senate had agreed that Che final
vote on the Cuban resolution world be
taken at p. m. tomorrow. and The
debate was proceeding, Mr.. White of
California and MI. Gray of Delaware
contending as legal proposition that
the United States at this time could
not recognize Cuba's Independence.
This aroused Mr.. Vest, first for Ques-
tons OF remonstrance, and then to
one of the bursts of eloQuence with
which he at times electrifies the sen
ate He spoke of Spain as the tooth
less old woman who had lost one by
one all her litter and was still cling
ing to this single remaining cub. He
pictured Spain as the impotent giant of
despair in the Pilgrims Progress,
gazing on defeat In impassioned words
he made an apostrophe to Liberty of
rare beauty and fervor, adding with
ringing. emphasis that the Cuban pat
riots would never, never, never again
become the willing subjects Of
Spain.
st the close Of the speech Mr.. Gray.
who opposed Mr. Vest. said that if
eloouence could achieve the freedom
&Lna Fho hr7r inc of
the Missouri senator would set her
free.
The debate will be closed by Mr..
Sherman tomorrow. 1t is considered
certain that favorable action will be
taken on one of the several resolutions,
the only doubt being whether it shall
relate to independence or belligerency
and as TO the extent Of it.
The army appropriation BILL carry
ing about S2S,000,000, was passed dur
ing the day.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
At the opening of the senate Rev.
Milburn, in his prayer, made an elo-
Guent reference TO the death of Mr..
Shanklin, the veteran employee.
A breeze was caused by the intro
duction of a resolution authorizing the
committee on coast defenses to visit
places requiring coast defenses, send
for papers, persons, etc.
Mr.. Cockren NIissourD thought the
resolution was very broad, allowing the
committee to take a tour around the
country.
Mr.. Squire, chairman of the commit
tee, said the only visit contemplated
was 10 Sandy Hook. He consented to
a. modification of the resolution that
the committees trip be limited to the
7efenses Of New York City. It was
adopted in this form.
There was a stir over the printing of
$4,000 copies of the report by Rev.
Sheldon Jackson relative to the intro
duction Of RENDERS in Alaska.
Mr.. Vest demonstrated against this
eenSeleSs ''ad.''
Mr.. Hale, who introduced the resolu-
ton, admitted there was no conSidera-
BILE force in the plan. The resolution
was adopted after the number of books
were materially reduced.
A bill was passed pensioning Chris
topher Schnit, a private citizen Of ST
Paul Mimi. at $40 per month, because
Of blindness resulting from a shot
striking him While he CHANGED TO pass
before a rife range at Fort Smelling,
MINI.
While routine business was proceed
ing Carer and Teller were the center
OF a numerous group which was in
terested in kilograms received by
Mr.. Carter.
COAST DEFENSEs.
Mr.. Proctor Oermon0 then address
ed the senate on the coast defenses,
claiming it would be better and
cheaper to provide land fortifications
than to build a, navy equal to that of
Great Britain.
The senator's form r services as sec
rotary of war gave added interest TO
his remarks.
AT the outset he quoted a statement
by General Walker to the effect that if
the English were to send over such a
naval force as they could spare from
Europe they would have their own
way here. The senator took the
ground that land Notifications are
much more efficient for coast defense
than a navy, and when once con-
structed are durable. cheaply main
tanned and easily strengthened. in that
the defense Of our cities cannot be left
TO the navy alone. however large. and
that a navy that would equal the great
Davies of Europe is unnecessary and
its cost makes such a navy fnpractic-
able.
The senator said that the total
amount appropriated up to date from
and including the third day of March.
1885 for the increase of the navy was
S110.S71. no. and during the same time
only S1e6S1,710 for the coast defense
I'VE also spent" he continued mil
lions in deepening the approaches to
our harbors to make them accessible
to a hostile fleet and practically moth
ing for their defense.
I'VE have neglected the work which
should have been done first and which
would have been more than completed
for the sum spent on the navy, while
the navy. still far too small to protect
Itself, is left without the protection of a
system of harbor defense which should
have preceded its construction. 1t is
tn be hoped the British war Office and
admiralty have not plans in detail of
our partially constructed mine and tor
oedo systems. There is little else in
our preparations or non preparation
for war that they do not understand