The record-union., 1896-03-11


tion of the Spanish Minister in cor
recting or qualifying through the public
press statements made in the Senate on
the subject of war in Cuba, and par
ticularly on the subject of General
Weyler's purpose and character, was
to-day made the groundwork of a ques-
tion of personal privilege by Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts.
1t was brought up Immediately after
the reading of the journal, and oecu-
pied most of the time usually given to
the business of the morning hour.
Lodge protested against any diplo-
matte representative using the news
papers of the United States to criticise
Senators for words spoken in debate,
and intimated that in any other country
a foreign Minister who should be guilty
of n a violation of propriety would
be sent home.
Minister de Lome's action was rather
palliated by Gray of Delaware, al
though he admitted it was a technical
violation of diplomatic usage.
Teller of Colorado was less benign
ly inclined He avowed the delight
he would feel if he learned to-day that
Havana were in the hands of the in
surgents, and that the Spanish forces
had been driven into the sea.
The discussion was continued for over
an hour and a half, and when it termin-
ated another phase of the Cuban ques-
tion presented itself in the shape of a
resolution which had been offered yes
terday by Hoar of Massachusetts,, to
postpone the further consideration of
the conference report until the 9th of
April, and to direct the Committee on
TOn1o bo
meantime the facts on which the reso-
luton was justified.
A rather acrimonious dialogue took
place between Hoar and Sherman,
which seemed to amuse Senators and
the audience.
Morgan of Alabama was drawn into
it by an allusion to his remarks some
weeks ago about laying the sword on
the table and allowing Spain to take it
up if she chose.
Hoar's resolution went over until to-
morrow. when he is to speak upon it at
some length.
The rest of the days session was
given to the Delaware election case
Turpie of Indiana continuing but not
finishing his speech against Dupont's
right to the seat.
No sooner had the journal of yester-
day been read than Lodge Rep.) of
Massachusetts rose to a question of
personal privilege in relation to the
statement of the Spanish Minister
through the newspapers. That state
ment accused him Oodge) of having
read to the Senate a report which had
been imposed upon him. and which he
said was a malicious and fraudulent
misrepresentation. He held in his hand
a copy of "El Liberal" of Madrid, in
which the interview with General Wey-
Ter was published, and he would have
the article printed in the Record" in
Spanish, so that it might be seen that
the translation which he had made of
it was correct.
He Godge) could understand the SEN
sitiveness of the Spanish people-a peo-
pie who had in 800 years dissipated
&: eat empire. But he did not think
there was any excuse for the diplo-
matte representative of Spain taking the
course which he had taken. 1t was
very we'll established custom and
fact that the debate in the Senate and
House were domestic matters with
which no foreign nation had any con-
Germ
The proper channel for a diplomatic
representative to make representations
on any subject was through the State
Department, not through the news
papers. If an American diplomatist
were to criticise in a European country
the debates of the representative body
IN that country in the newspapers he
would be sent home He protested
against having a diplomatic represent
ative using as channels for commune
cation the newspapers of the United
States to criticise language uttered in
debate in the Senate. He protested
against any criticism on the part of a
foreign Minister He knew very well
what any other country in the world
would do under similar circumstances.
Gray Dem) of Delaware regretted
that the Senate did not pursue the
even tenor of its way undisturbed by
emeutes in Madrid or in other Spanish
cities. Why, he asked, should the Senate
ley aside its business to discuss the in
depreciation or translation of news
paper article in Spanish between the
Senator from Massachusetts and the
Minister from Spain? 1t was a quarrel
upon the point-no point.
Teller (Rep) Of Colorado said that
twice in the history of the United States
Ministers of great countries had been
sent home-once to France and once to
Great Britain-for a much less offense
than the Spanish Minister had been
guilty OF He would not say that if he
were President he would send the Span
ISL Minister home. Under the eircum-
stances, and considering the friction
which had arisen in Spain, he should
have not sent him home, but he should
have suggested very kindly to him,
through the Secretary of State. that a
repetition of it would necessitate his
leaving the country.
Teller complained that not only had
the statement of the Spanish Minister
been read in the Senate yesterday, but
also a statement from the Prime Minis
ter of Spain which was in utter defiance
OF every rule which had hitherto gov
erned the body. Teller went on TO say
that he was an ardent sympathizer with
the Cubans in their fight. He said he
should be delighted IN hear to-day that
Havana was in the hands Of the insur-
gents He should be delighted to know
that the Cubans had run the Spanish
forces into the sea. But he had not the
slightest feeling against the Spanish
Government. He had not the slightest
feeling Of impatience because of the