The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-03
CLAMoR AIDING THE cUBANS.
THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE LARGELY
DUE TO PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

Representative Turner's Opposition
TO the Passage of the Resolutions
BASED on International Law and
sound Common sense-SIembers
Who Voted I'm Favor of the ResO-
IutiOns Admit in Private That
Congress is Acting Too Hastily.
Washington, March 2.-Representative
Turner Of Georgia, voiced the sentiment
Of a large number OF patriotic and liberty
loving citizens OF the United States when
he stood up In the House to-day and op-
posed the passage OF the Cuban resolutions
on the ground that we have no right to
interfere in the domestic troubles of a
foreign country with whom we have
friendly relations. He was unable to con-
vince a majority Of his associates that he
was right. as the vote shows. but many OF
those who voted in favor Of the resolu-
tons. admit that they were influenced by
public sentiment rather than by their
own sound judgment. Two Of Mr.. Turn
er's colleagues, Messrs Black and Rus
sell. stood by him. as did also Represen-
tative Elliott of South Carolina.
In spite Of the Overwhelming majority
in favor OF suspending the rules and
adopting the resolutions recognizing the
Cubans as belligerents and also recognize
ing their independence. a close reading OF
the debate will show that the members
of the committee on foreign relations were
Obliged to admit that their action is
based largely upon newspaper reports.
rather than from official data. or actual
knowledge of the situation In Cuba. It
is admitted that there has been brutality
and bloodshed i'm Cuba since the present
war commenced. but It has not been con-
hned TO one side. AS Representative Tur-
ner stated, he Is not lacking in patriotism
or sympathy for the oppressed people, but
he failed to find any justification for the
action proposed.
one OF the striking features OF the de-
| bate. which lasted over two hours, was
the failure of any friend OF the resolu-
tion TO inform the House whether there
Is any regularly established government
OF the Cubans with whom this government
might treat II so disposed Chairman
Hit could not answer that question sats-
taetorlly when IL was put directly to him.
Representative Adams Of Pennsylvania
who claimed the credit of having framed
the resolutions and hunted up the data
upon which they were based, would not
give satisfactory answer to that ques-
tion when 1t was put to him by Repre-
sentative Powers Of Vermont.
| SO It was that all of the gentlemen
| who spoke in favor of the resolution based
| their action upon the broad ground OF
| humanity and love OF freedom, but when
| they were called upon to consider the in
!
/ peared to be staggering about in the
! dark, as Representative Turner aptly ex-
| pressed II.
The position taken by Messrs Turner,
| Tucker of Virginia, Boutelle Of Maine and
| the one or two Massachusetts, men who
| opposed the resolutions is unpopular for
| the moment, but the more the situation
is dwelt upon, the more apparent 1t ap-
| pears to conservative, but none the less
| patriotic and liberty loving men, that con-
! gress Is acting too hastily in this mat
| ter. The few men In the House who had
| the courage to voice their sentiments in
| the face Of the popular sentiment prevail
! ing in the crowded galleries and on the
| floor Of the House, may be accused OF
| lacking patriotism, but it would have been
| wise for the Senate and House commit
| tees to have prepared reports giving some
| practical reasons for the summary adop-
ton of the resolutions, which were rushed
| through both branches of congress with
so much haste and so little explanation
of plausible character. The whole pro-
| ceedings In the House to-day was an ex-
| hibition of public sentiment run mad"