Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-11
NATIONAL SENATE.
Hoar and Sherman Have a
Sharp War of Words
When the Cuban Resolution Came
Up for Consideration in Senate.
Nothing Definite Done on Reso'ution-Dupon,
Case Not Yet Settled

sonal privilege in relation TO the statement
OF the Spanish minister made through the
press, accusing Lodge of having read to
the Senate report which, the minister
said was a malicious and false misrepre-
sanitation. Lodge protested against a
diplomatic representative using the news
papers of the United States to criticize the
language used in debate in the United
States Senate. During the discussion
that followed, Gray explained his view to
be that the Spanish minister had been
guilty Of technical violation of diplo-
matte usage but that allowance should be
made for him He (Gray) felt that
magnanmity and forhearhnce On the part
of the American people and the American
government toward Spain would
strengthen the attitude Of those who really
felt that Cuba ought to lie free.
Frye, Rep, of Maine, called attention to
an incident where foreign minister had
pursued course opposite of that which
the Spanish minister pursued in this mat
ter. The Senate commit ttee on commerce
had before it a bill which he (Frye)
thought would affect German trade in
terests. AS the German government or
people had no agent or attorney TO repre-
sent it's interests before the committee, he
had written note to the German amhas-
sador asking him whether he had any
thing to say about the bill The German
minister replied that he could not, with
propricty, address the committee or any
menu Der of Congress, but would present
some views to che secretary of State. The
next day those views We're sent TO the
secretary Of state and were By him com
municated to the Senate
Hale, Rep, of Maine, said he did not
agree in any censure Of the Spanish minis
ter, who had only dons what was natural
under the circumstances The entire tone
of the minister S comm ubication was very
careful, nice and ve4r Eeferential The
press was now made avthicle for present
ing TO the public the tiews Of the great
men of the earth. MI. Gladstone wrote
communications fort Newspapers ard
magazines on both sides Of the Atlantic
touching great political questions, and
everybody was glad TO read them.
Gray suggested the case of some person
in the House Of Commons or House Of
Lords saying that it was matter of his
torT that before the execution Of Major
Andre he was tortured by Gen Washing
ton ana had his eyes burned out; he asked
whether the American am hassador at Lon
don would not be perfectly justified in
writing to the London papers that that
history was unauthentic or mistake had
been made.
Hale accepted the suggestion with
thanks, and said that the next morning
every reader of the London Times would
have found on his table polite and
courteous letter from Mr.. Bayard stating
the error of history.
Teller thought that was not an analo.
gous case. That would have been a refer
ence to thing which had passed into his
tory; this action of the Spanish minister
was thing intended to influence the
pending proceedings In the Senate
In further illustration of his point touch
ing the use Of the press by public men in
modern days Hale referred to the letter
from the Prince of Wales on the Ven
ezuealn question.
Lodge stated what motive he was IN
lluerced in bringing the matter to the at
tention Of the Senate. and referred to the
dismissal of Genet, the French minister,
by President Washington, who, he said,
was not jingo and would not be taken to
Ii.
He rcfrreed to the dismissal Of the British
minister, Mr.. Sackviille-West, during Mr.
Cleveland first administration, for writ
ing private letter which had got into the
newspapers.
AT the close of Lodges remarks, the
discussion closed.
The new branch of the Cuban question
was brought up by the Vice President lay.
ing before the Senate the resolution offered
yesterday, By Hoar, Rep, Of Massachu-
sets, postponing the conference report Oh
the Cuban resolutions until April g. and
directing the committee on foreign rcla-
tions to report to the Senate before that
time the facts which in its opinion would
Justify the passage of the resolutions and
the evidence thereof.
As Mitchell Rep, OF Oregon, mani
Tested some anxiety to proceed with the
Dupont election case, Hoar expressed a
willingness to let the resolution GO over
until tomorrow. Objection was made by
Sherman, who wished the resolution dis
posed of at once, and who remarked that
it had only been offered with the object of
getting up debate.
This opposition nettled Hoar, who adj
dressed some rather sarcas tic remarks to
the Ohio senator. That senator, Hnar
aid. was man of marvellous penetration
and great scientific attainnitnts. bur he
doubted whether he had vet 50 mastered
the new discovery Of the Mays as to peae-
trate into his tHoar's) brain and find out
his motive in offering the resolution
II think can, = Sherman said, with an
air Of confidence in his own opinion, which
caused some laughter.
Hoar declared he had no such motive
He did not want to call the attention of
the Serate to the merits or dement's If the
Cuban question, but to practice grow
lag ND Of thu Senate dealing with (; reign
relations nj the government. Ordinary
methods CT action were prescribed by the
constitution. which were carefully avoided
and shrunk FROM The whole subject OF
the concurrent resolutions was nothing
but subject for more debate. The Sen
ate and House were asked to declare
something which would have no effect
after it was declared. The merican l,eo-
pie were not bound, Congress WA not
bound, the President was Rot bound, no
Continued on page 2.