Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-03-06
The Cuban Cause in Congress.

The question of recognizing the Cuban
patriots as belligerents, and Of taking some
further action in regard to the war which
Spain is waging against her rebellious sub
jects, has furnished the excitement in Con-
gress the past week. Both houses have
passed resolutions on this subject, but the
two sets differ materially from each other
The Senate resolutions declare that con-
dition of war exists between Spain and the
government set up by the Cubans; that
the United States should observe a strict
neutrality, according to each all the rights
of belligerents, and that the friendly offices
of the United States should be offered by
the President to the Spanish government
for the recognition of the independence of
Cuba. They were adopted last Friday after
a debate in which several Senators made
fervent appeals in behalf of the patriot
cause in Cuba and in condemnation of
Spanish cruelty and misrule. John Sher-
mans speech was the most notable of
these. The Senator characterized as bar
barous and inhuman the policy OF Gen.
Weyler, the new Spanish commanderin-
chief, and denounced the idea Of putting
such man in command of 100, 900 troops
to ride roughshod over a feeble people to
kill and slaughter them. He declared in
the most solemn terms that if this kind Of
policy is pursued by Spain in Cuba, and if
the people of the United States be informed
! of it, there is no earthly power that can
prevent the people of the United States
from going over to that island, running all
over its length and breadth, and driving
out from il those robbers and imitators of
the worst men that ever lived in the world.
When put upon its passage the resolutions
were adopted "a to q. Senator Proctor
voted with the majority, but Senator Nor
rill was one of the six who voted nay. The
resolutions were hurriedly engrossed and
sent TO the House, where the announce
ment of their passage was received with
cheers from the floor and the galleries.
The House took the matter up promptly
on Monday and under a suspension of the
rules passed a substitute for the Senate
resolutions by vote of 263 to II. The
House resolutions are the same in sub
stance as those adopted by the Senate, but
they are more diplomatic in form. They
declare that in the opinion of Congress &
state of public war exists in Cuba, the par
ties to which are entitled to belligeren
rights, and between which the United
States should observe a strict neutrality
that Congress believes the only permanent
solution of the contest is in the establish
ment of a government by the people o
Cuba, and that it is the sense of Congress
that the government of the United State
should use its good offices and influence Il
that end, and that the United States SHOULD
be prepared to protect the legitimate in
terests of its citizens in Cuba by interven
ing If necessary.
The debate which preceded the vote o
adoption was very earnest, but was nota
bly, moderate in expression. Among tn,
II representatives who voted against tn
resolutions were seven from New England
Boutele of Maine, Grout of Vermont, an,
Atwood, Gillett, Mccall, Moody and Simp
kins of Massachusetts,.
The resolutions take the concurren
form, which does not require the Presi