Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-29
CUBAN RESOLUTION PASSED BelIigerent Rights Granted the
 Insurgents BY AN OVERWHEL VOTE The Senate and Galleries We're Packed and
 damned, BUT THERE WAS NO DEMONSTRATION Spain Was Everlastingly Roasted for Her Cruelty and Not Voice Was Raised in Her Defense The Vote Was
 GA to 6.
BY AN OVERWHEL MING VOTE
BUT THERE WAS NO DEMONSTRATION

Washington, Feb. 28-By vote of GA to the senate of the United States to- day put on record it's views and policy in relation to the existing revolution in Cuba. Up to the hour of o'clock the debate went on, senators vieing with each other in praise of the Cuban patri- ots and in the denunciation of Captain General Weyler. Senator Sherman char acterizing him rather as a demon than as a general The crueties of Pizarro and Cortez in Mexico and Peru and of the Duke of Alba in the Netherlands were not overlooked, and there ran through the debate Q hardly concealed contempt for the power of Spain.
 The debate closed at p. m., and then the voting began. Various amendments were voted down or laid on the table py large majorities, and finally the vote came on the resolution of the committee on foreign relations, as amended by the addition to it of Senator Cameron's res olution, for the recognition of Cuban in dependence. There was no demonStra- tion ndulged in when the result was an- nounced, but the galleries, which had been overf1owing all day, and to which hundreds strove in vain to get admission, were quickly emptied, and soon after wards the senate adjourned until Mon day.
 It is only on very rare occasions that visitors show themselves in the gallery reserved for members of the diplomatic corps, but today it was occupied by nu- merous ladies and gentlemen Of the Tor eign legations. The ministers present were: Senor Mendonca of Brazil MT Hatch of Hawaii Senor Rengeffo of Co., lombia, Baron Won Kettler of Germany and Senor Lazo Arriaga of Guatemala There were also present two secretaries of the Spanish legation and many other attaches.
 After a very few minutes devoted to matters of no general interest, on motion of Mr Sherman the business of the morn ing hour was dispensed with and the resolution for a recognition of Cuban belligerency was taken up.
 Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky was the first speaker. He did not think that in the present emergency the subject ought to be controlled in any way by the past con- duct of Spain. It was in one sense question of humanity The United States had become sponsor to the world seventy years ago that Spain could continue to dominate the island of Cuba, and could not escape the responsibility of saying to Spain that she must treat the island with some kind of justice. In considera- ton of that guarantee (that no other power than Spain should possess the island) the United States had the right to demand that Spain should give to Gu ba some sort of respectable government, some sort of protection, some sort Of llp- erty, that would commend itself to the enlightened civilization of the age. Spain owed to Cuba as much as Turkey owed to Armenia-aS much as the United States owed to Venezuela. If Spain did not pay the obligations resting on her, and if her necessities prevented her do- ing so, then the time had come for steps to be initiated; and they could be prop erly initiated by the government of the United States only. OvertureS should De made to Spain for the sale of the island to the Cubans, the United States to guar antee the payment of the sum to be agreed upon.
 MT. sherman, chairman of the commit- tee on foreign relations, said that he did not disguise from himself the danger and possibility of hostile movements follow ing the action of congress. Spain was a sensitive, proud and gallant nation and would not ubmit to what she considered an injustice.
 At the same time his convictions were strong-made stronger every day-that the condition of affairs in Cuba was such that the intervention of the United states must be given, sooner or later, to put an end to crimes almost beyond descrlp- tion. ~
 Mir. Sherman alluded to the historical cruelties exercised by Spain and her mili- tary commanders-by Pizarro and Cortez in Mexico and Peru and by the Duke or Alba in the Netherlands. Speaking or the rebel general, Maximo Gomez, MT. Sher- man said that he was man or standing and character-probabl an idealist-but he ought to be, and would probably soon be- considered a patriot. He went on to say that he was not in favor of the an nexation of Cuba to the United States. He did not desire to conquer Cuba or to have any influence in her local autonomy. In his judgment Cuba should be attached to Mexico, because Cubans and Mexicans spoke the same language, had the same origin, the same antecedents and many of the same circumstances.
 Mr. Sherman sent to the clerks desk and had read extracts from Spanish book, printed in a New York newspaper. reciting horrible cruelties charged against Weyler, some of the incidents being so bad that he directed the clerk to omit them. He spoke of these deeds as barbarous atrocities and as inhuman cruelties, and said that Weyler was de- mon rather than general. He dencunc- ed the idea of putting such man in com mand of 100000 troops to ride rough shod, kill and slaughter feeble body of people, and he declared Gin the most solemn terms) that if th.s kind of policy Is pur- sued by Spain in Cuba and if the people of the United States be informed of 1t, there is nc earthly power that will pre- vent the people of the United States from going over to that island, running all over its length and breadth and driving out from it those robbers and imitators of the worst men that ever lived in the world.( Applause from crowds In the gal leries.)
 s.Whatever," MT. sherman concluded. may be the result of the adoption of this measure, I desire to take my share of responsibility for 1t. And with conf dence in the judgment of the Almighty Ruler of the universe, believe it will be wise if we can assist, and if all the other nations of America will concur ir giving to the people of Cuba the same lib- critics which we now enjoy" Applause).
 Mir. Gallinger republican, pf New Hampshire spoke in favor of the res0lu- ton. He would have Spain to under stand that the same love of liberty which burned sn brightly on the battIefields of