Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-11
54th CONGRESS-.
Warm Speech by Senator
CulIom on Cuban Affairs.
Calls Upon United States to Put End
to the Bloody War.
The Senate Also Hears Warm Debate on the
immigration Question.

Aldrich URep), Rhode Island, it Wi,
agreed that when the Senate adjourn
today it be until Monday The Vice
President appointed j. c. Bancroft
Davis and Librarian Spofford mem
bers of the memorial association Of the
District of Columbia.
A resolution was offered by Sherman
(Rep), Ohio, and was adopted. for the
appointment of three senator's to make
the necessary arrangements for the
Inauguration OF the President elect on
he fourth Of March next
At the close of the morning bust
ness Mr.. Cullom addressed the Senate
He prefaced his speech with the intro
duction of n joint resolution declaring
that the extinction of Spanish title.
and he termination of Spanish control
in the islands AT the gateway of the
Gulf If Mexicos are necessary to the
welfare Of those islands and Of the
people of the United States"
Mr. culiom, after ii brief reference
to the Presidents message in regard
To the island OF Cuba, said: We are
already placed in such position that
some certain course of action must be
adopted. Whatever that course may
le, it must be such as shall give proper
recognition to the rights under exist
ing conditions, belonging respectively
to Spain and to Cuba. 1t must also
recognize the rights and prerogatives
of the world at large, Of the nations
and the people who stand aloof and
watch with deepest interest this strug-
gle for independence and liberty
against ahsolutism.
And not the least Of the responsible
tiles imposed upon us as a nation is
the conservation of our own rights and
interests. In fact this latter is the de-
termining factor which must control
our course. While | am not disposed
to criticise President Cleveland, l may
properly say that | had hoped he
would find occasion TO give a more
positive or emphatic expression of the
true American condition and policy
which ought to be invoked in all cases
where the liberty and independence of
any other peoples of the American
continent are involved And further.
l think we ought never to hesitate or
delay with the lines of this policy I'M
paralleled and coincident with those of
common humanity.
Passing in rapid review the promin-
ent facts in Spanish history for the
past four or five centuries. Mr.. Cullom
continued: ! protest that a people
with such a history and such an edu-
cation can have no just claim to a
participation in the control in any ter
ritorial possession on this hemisphere.
There may be no warrant in interna-
tional law for any interference be-
tween a government and its subjects.
provided that government belongs to
the family of nations or is recognized
as one of the powers of the earth.
Still. does not the great heart of hui
mainly beat in sympathy with the poor
souls apparently forgotten by the
Master and left to bear the burden of
cruel and relentless oppression? Is
there no way, no light. no hope? Must
the brutality of might alone define the
office and mete out the penalty. with
no human power to whom intercession
may be made? Oh. Spain, Oh. Spain!
when shall the day be fulfilled? Was
there no loyal Spaniard who would
and could, amid all the centuries. stay
the hand of death or raise the sword
of justice while there was time to save.
Having sketched the career of the
former Spanish American colonies.
Mr.. Cullom went on: While all the
provinces which have rebelled and
separated from Spain have become
prosperous and fairly aforementioned.
Independent countries. the feeble old
mother country has gradually fallen
into lower and lower estate. depending
and almost relying for existence upon
the stolen gold levied upon Cuba,
Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands.
Spain continues to be what she al
ways has been. a rObber nation. |
speak now of the nation. and not of
her people. Some of the best and no.
bleSt names of the ages come to us |
from Spain. where. unhappily. too
many of them met their sad and mel |
ancholy fates And today, as well as |
in recent times, there are many noble |
men and women. who owe allegiance |
to the Spanish throne: who adhere to |
her cause, hoping and striving to i'm |
prove and make better her present and |
future, but who can never outlve or |
wipe out the traditions which have es-
tablished her reputation and fixed her |
status among the KlnSuOIilS Oh tne |
eastern hemisphere.
IL we wait for precedent we shall |
wait for ever. If precedent is needed |
we shall make one. We have already |
l..l the United States will |
have something to say regarding mat
tiers affecting the American continent
and we should announce that the speedy |
of Spanish control of the |
islands at the gateway Of the Mexican
gulf is necessary alike to the welfare
of these islands and to the people of |
the United States. The present situa-
ton cannot continue. A population of
$50, 900. white Cubans and 100000 colored
aggregating 1,450,0OO persons.
will never yield and ought never to
submit to the bloody military rule of
100. 900 Spaniards This war of extermi-
nation must stop. Ahis Congress of the
United States has already recognized
by solemn resolution the belligerent
rights of Cuba, but so long as it has
not received the Executive approval 1t
has no force. And If it had. it is con-
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