St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-28
FOR cUBA'S LIBERTY
UNEXPECTED AND IMPASSIONED
SPEECH BY SENATOR VEST OF
MISSOURI.
IN A BURST OF ELOQUENCE,
ERS, HE POINTS OUT THE DUTY
OF THE HOUR.
WE SHOULD NOT WAIT A MINUTE,
But Extend n Helping Hand to the
Unfortunate Victims of Span
ish MisruIe.

WASHINGTON, Feb. PA stirring
speech by Mr.. Vest in behalf of Cuba
was the event of the day in the senate.
1t came Unexpectedly, as Mr.. Vest
seldom announces his speeches or
makes preparations. The senate had
agreed that the final vote on the
Cuban resolution would be taken at
p. m. tomorrow, and the debate was
proceeding; Mr.. White of California,
and Mr.. Gray, of Delaware, contending
as legal proposition that the United
States could not at this time recognize
Cuba's independence. This aroused
Mr.. Vest, first for questions, then for
remonstrance, and then to one of the
bursts of eloquence with which he at
times electrifieS the senate. He spoke
or Spain as the toothless old wolf who
mad lost, one by one, all her litter and
was still clinging to this single remain
ing cub. He pictured Spain as the i'm
potent Giant of Despair in the Pill
grim's Progress, gazing on defeat. In
1mpasSioned words, he made an apo-
theosis to liberty of rare beauty and
fervor, adding with ringing emphasis
that the Cuban patriots would never.
never, never again become the unwill-
be closed by Senator Sherman tomor-
row. 1t is considered certain that
favorable action will be taken on one
or the several resolutions The only
doubt is whether it shall relate to
independence or belligerency, and as
to the extent Of it. The army appro-
prlatlon bill carrying about $23, 600 900
was passed during the day.
AT the opening Of the senate Rev.
DR.. Milburn, the blind chaplain, made
an eloquent reference to the death of
Mr. Shanklin, a veteran employe Of the
senate
A peculiar pension bill was passed.
pens1oning Christopher Schmidt a.
private citizen Of st. Paul, Mimi, at
$40 per MONTH because Of blindness
resulting from a shot striking him
while he CHANGED to pass before the
rif1e range at Fort Smelling, Mimi.
PROCTOR ON COAST DEFENSE.
Senator Proctor, Of Vermont. adj
dressed the senate on the question of
coast defenSeS. The senator's former
service as secretary of war gave add
ed interest to his remarks. At the
outset he quoted a statement by Ad-
m1ral Walker to the effect that if the
Ehglish were to send over such a
naval force as they could spare from
Europe. they would have their own
way here. The senator took the
ground that the land Notifications are
much more efficient for coast defense
than a navy, and when once con-
structed are durable, cheaply main
tanned, and easily strengthened: that
the defense of our cities cannot be left
TO the navy alone, however large and
Jnat that
great navies of Europe is unnecessary
ana It's cost makes such a navy i'm
practlcable. The senator said that the
total amount appropriated up to date
from and including the Sd of March
1903, for the increase of the navy was
SliO,oal, 1O and during the same time
only SIC, ,631, 10 for coast defenses
In the course of his further remarls
he said: ut would be much better
to provide the land Notifications at
cost SO many times. less than the ex
pense OF making our navy ANYTHING
like equal to that of Great Britain
lnasmuch as it is universally admit
ted that the land Notifications will
render our coasts impregnable."
On the conclusion Of Mr. Proctor,s
speech the bill was passed for the con
struction of two steam revenue cut
ters, the cost not to exceed $3.50 O0O
each, for use on the Pacific coast.
The army appropriation bill carry
Ing $2S,279,OO0 was then passed.
CUBAN VOTE TODAY.
Ihe cuban resolution was then tax
en- up ana Mr.: Morgan asked unani-
nous consent that a final vote on the
resolution and all amendments be
taken at o'clock tomorrow. This led
to considerable discussion, but the
agreement was finally reached for q
vote at that hour. Mr. White Dem.
CALI resumed his speech on the Gu
pan resolutions. The senator laid
down the principles that the United
states could not recognize the indie
pendence of an insurgent government
until the vital disturbance is closed
and actual independence is an accom-
plished fact.
Mr.. Vest disagreed with this nrono-
sltlon. was it not for congress to de-
termine the question of fact as to
Wnether the uprising had not gone so
FAR that Spain was powerless to sun
press 1t? Is not, asked Mr.. Vest. the
condition of Spain today desperate?
Mr.. White answered that this was
open to doubt. Mr.. Vest pointed ont
however, that the Cubans without
ships, without arms, except those made
by themselves, maintained a rebellion
Tor ten years. Mr.. Vest added IF
this proposed action is mere sympathv
let us drop this question, for mere SYM
pathy is a miserable farce from begin
ming to end" Mr.. White closed with
the statement that while he hoped to
see Cuba free, yet the United States
could not now declare that Cuba was
free and independent without beIying
established facts.
VESTS ELOQUENT OUTBURST.
At this point, Mr.. Vest came forward
with characteristic speech. His
words came with such fire and such
beauty of diction that the senate cham
ber was quickly crowded to hear him.
Where would the United States be to-
day, asked Mr.. Vest if this policy urged
by the California senator had been fol-
lowed? Instead Of assembling here as
a congress this would be another Brit
ish colony, another appendage of the
British colony, another appendage of
the British crown. France recognized
the independence of the United States
and sent her armies and fleets and
placed on us a debt of undying graft
tude. In ringing tones Mr. Vest de-
clared that if we, as the great republic
Of the world. proposed to stand by
these people in their struggle, akin to
our own, then we must help them in
their time of need. And if this aid was
not given by sending our fleets and
q ;oc-for no Opa ovnoofad %lo% 49,