The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-03-04

we do, and sit here idle until desert has
been made in that splendid island we may
be sure that the time will come when there
Will be retribution upon us as people, be-
cause we have not been true to the task
assigned us by Providence; because we have
not cherished the legacy of selfgovernment
bequeathed to us by our fathers"
On Friday the various resolutions
defining the attitude this government
should take towards the Cubans came
up for final consideration. There was
q long debate, in the course of which,
and the distinctive feature of which,
was ringing speech by Senator Sher-
man arraigning the Spaniards for their
inhumanity. He denounced the idea
of putting the butcher Weyler at the
head of the Spanish forces. He charac-
terized him as a demon rather than a
general. He had the reports of
Spanish ferocity read by the secretary
of the senate. elf Weyler carries out
his projected plan," said Senator Sher-
man, "there is not country on this
hemisphere which will not contribute
to put an end to this violence" The
senator said, in closing:
Whatever may be the result of the adop-
ton of this measure desire to take my
share of responsibility for it. And, with a
confidence in the judgment OF the Almighty
Ruler OF the universe, l believe it will be
wise If we can assist, and il all the other
nations of America will concur, in giving to
the people Of Cuba the same liberties which
we now enjoy"
AT the conclusion of the debate the
following resolutions were adopted by a
vote of sixty-four to six:
Resolved by the senate (the house OF
representatives concurring), That, in the
| opinion of congress-, condition OF public
war exists between the government of
| Spain and the government proclaimed, and
| for some time maintained by force OF arms,
| by the people of Cuba, and that the United
| States of America should maintain strict
neutrality between the contending powers,
according to each all the rights of bellige-
rents in the ports and territory of the United
| States Be it further resolved, that the
president is hereby requested to interpose
his friendly offices with the Spanish govern
ment for the recognition of the independ'
ence OF Cuba"
their nature, and are so framed to avoid
the necessity for the presidents ap.
proval, which joint resolution would
require. The latter would have to be
acted upon within ten days, whereas
under concurrent resolution, he may
reserve action till the proper time.
Whether or not President Cleve
land obeys the spirit of these resolutions
which, or resolves of a similar tenor, viii
unquestionably pass the house this
week, they will serve as such an en-
enlargement to the revolutionists ii
Cuba as did similar recognition by
France and Russia of the American
Revolutionists in 1776. They tell th'
Cuban patriots that the people and thu
government of the great republic of thu
North Continent are their friends ant
will show their friendship in practica
way. They are notification to "th'
toothless wolf {" to keep within the pail
of the recognized rules and customs o.
civilized nations in her contention will
Cuba. They are warning to Captain
General Weyler that the barbaritie'
and atrocities that exterminated tn,
Aztecs and the Incas cannot be revived
and practiced upon the Cubans in thi
closing decade of the nineteenth cen
fury. They are notice to Christen
dom that the American people will no
shirk their moral responsibility for tn
issue of this unequal contest. The,
signify that Cuba shall be free.