, 1896-03-11
MINISTER'S IGNORANCE.
Senior De Lome's Personal
Criticisms Discussed.
SOLON.
Mould Liz. u Ssud she Man Back to
MaAriA-Gray 8seks 70 Four OIL
81 the Troubled Waters
Of the Senate.
SoLoN.


question continues to be a drawing
card in the senate, attracting large
crowds. In the opening prayer. the
Rev. Wallace Radcliffe made passing
reference to the blessings Of peace, and
invoked divine guidance and blessings
on all nations.
AS soon as the journal had been read
Mr.. Lodge, republican, OF Massachu-
sets rose to a question of personal
privilege. He said he had read on Sum-
day an interview attributed to Senior
Dupuy De Lone of Spain. There was
nothing singular in this fact, as the
Spanish minister communicated large
ly through the newspapers. But in
this case the minister called in ques
ton the accuracy of a statement made
by him Lodge).
The senator sent to the desk and had
read the minister's reference to Mr..
Lodges utterances, calling in question
the translation Of a statement attri-
buted to General Weyler, in which the
latter declared that he would "ex-
terminate" the insurgents.
Mr.. Lodge commented on the exact
ness Of the translation and said that a
literal rendering Of General Weyler's
language would be that he would
clean out" the large insurgent bands
and "exterminate" the small ones. Mr..
Lodge said that he did not wonder at
the extreme constituencies Of the Span
ish people. but he did not think this
offered any excuse for the Spanish
minister in adopting the course he had.
He de Lome) had been referred to as
a historian. but in truth he vas the
ex parte representative Of Spain, and
what he had disclosed from time to
time subtracted from the general sum
Of Information on the Cuban subject.
1t was pretty well established that de-
bates in the senate and house were
purely domestic matters, and it was
not proper for a representative of a
foreign country to communicate ex-
cept through the state department,
II an American minister in Europe dis
cussed political affairs there he would
be n home.
Mr.. Lodge read from the letter of
Daniel Webster, when secretary of
state, protesting against the statement
by the Austrian minister as to a do
nestle matter. The senator added a
most emphatic protest against public
comment by any diplomatic represen-
tative on the debates Of congress. The
constitution protected senators for
language used in debate. 1t was n
Of the safeguards of free speech.
Mr.. Lodge said he knew what an.
other foreign government would do
with a minister taking such a course.
He. knew what had been done under
like circumstances. He knew what
Daniel Webster would have done in
such a case.
Mr.. Gray, democrat. of Delaware said
the course Of the United States should
proceed according to the judgment of
a self-respecting nation, unmoved by
the emeutes at Valencia or Madrid, and
without being turned aside to discuss
a question Of translation between a
senator and a minister.
Mr.. Gray said he would be quick to
resent an attack IN the privileges Of a
senator. But In all fairness he thought
it hardly worth while % stretch sena-
torial p~rerogatives and privileges in
order to question a gentleman who had
no power to reply in behalf of Spain.
Our feelings will be better expressed
II we do not take advantage of every
circumstance which differs + ON our
own views. There should be 80 ne con-
cession to the stress of the situation.
This was a most vital time for Spain,
and for the Spanish minister. With
this stress Of circumstances we should
not be over nice in insisting on diplo-
matte properties and in finding fault
with the minister in view Of what had
been said in the senate.
Mr.. Teller. republican, Of Colorado
said the rule was u~nvarying against a
communication by q foreign minister
except through the state department.
There should be no comment by a
foreign minister. He should not be
heard at all, except in the regular
channels. Twice had foreign ministers
been sent home for statements Of less
Importance than this.
But. considering the circumstan-
ces." added Mr.. Teller. had I been In
authority. I would not have sent him
home for this offense. but I would lave
had the secretary Of state. in a o
kindly way. suggest that a repetition
Of the offense would lead to his golns
home"
Nj. Teller then turned to the condi-
lions in Spain. He did not think the
outbreak Of students should give Of
Tense. The Spanish authorities were
doing all in their power to stop the
trouble. There wa no probability that
Spain would dissent in an Offensive
way to the passage Of the psndfng
resolutions. Spain knew 10 Nd 4