The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-11

sea 1t is struggle for the right to live
and breathe the free air of good govern
ment. Hd To the average Spanish gentle-
man, Spain is the object of alteration.
But Spaip without Cuba is to him the
world without the sun. The revenue
from Cuba has been the chief joy OF
Spain for many years and II CUBA shoul1
now be separated from the Spanish
throne the sun would cease to shine upon
the Alhambra. Cuba today is lost TO
Spain. The public proclamation OF
Spain s defeat may not have been official
ly and definitely announced, but i'll truth
and fact the submission of Cuba will
never again be yielded as of yore. The
tribute of twenty five to forty million
dollars annually so long exaoted will
never again replenish the treasury OF
Spain.
Every humane heart, said Mr.. Cullom,
American or foreign, sympathizes deeply
and sir c8rely, not with the rapine and
pillage by which the insurgents in Cuba
seek to weaken their enemies but with
the spirit which leads them to look con-
stantly and with hope toward that star
of liberty which they believe will lead
them to Cuba libre come to Spain from
the exactions she has always levied upon
Cuba would be lost for come years. Many
thousands of young men of the flower OF
Spanish manhood nave been sacrif1ced TO
maintain the power of a dynasty. Many
thousands OF honest, sincere, and loyal
boys have left their homes in Spain never
to return. Many mother weeps unavall-
ing tears for the lad who left her. side
year ago and who now sleeps in the FEVER
swamps of Cuba.
This great continental question. said
| he 81 cd nf q
plications, becomes, in plain and simple
language, shall Cuba be free? Ihls
aonntry will never consent to the trans
formation of Cuba into slave pen Tor
the holding In servitude of the captured
patriots and insurgents who are fighting
for the dearest rights OF men. we will
not permit that island. a land which has
the brightest possibilities for people OF
intelligence and enterprise, to be made
| the abiding place of death and destruc.
tion. She lies too nenr our land or free
dom to remain the military prison OF the
most cruel and unrelenting people on the
earth.
And if the duty Of suppressing this
damning blot and erasing 1t forever IRON
sight shall fall alone upol the United
States, so he it. But, said he, we snail
not stand alone in the warfare which
may follow in behalf of common
humanity. Nation after nation will
make Joint cause with Us in such
struggle and when we have succeeded
and shall have made into law the prin-
ciple and made into history the fact
every other country worth naming will
regrot its mistake in not participating III
the humane work.
Concluding his long speech, Mr.Cul.om
said: ''If other means fail, we may con.
slider the propriety of fair purchase OF
Cuba. That method has had its share OF
consideration under previous administra-
tions. 1t is not that we want the terri
tory, but we mean that the trouble shall
meet just settlement and conclusion.
Let the end come, and come quickly. Let
the bloodshnd cease and let fiesdom and
humanity be glorified. T"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cullon's
speech, Mr.. Call, Democrat, from floridn,
took the floor and spoke on the Cuban
question.
Mr.. Call, Democrat of Florida, called
up theEjoins resolution introduced by him
yesterday recognizing tho Independence
of Cuba. He sent to the clerks desk and
had read several official comunicarlons
in regard to the case of Oscar Cespedes,
an American citizen. He said there was
no better argument than this Cespedes
case to how impUtent the Spanish
authorities in Cuba were to defend the
rights of American citizens. He could see
no reason whatever for failing to max 9
recognition of the existing facts Of the
Independence of Cuba and give tho
Cubans the same rights as are given
Spain in the post and jurisdiction of the
United States. Spain would have III this
no legitimate cause fo7 otfenEe.
| 1t would be really to her interest that
| this action should be taken and war
should be terminated without further
| destruction Of life and property and with.
out further excitement of the people of
| the United States
Mr.. Calls joint resolution WAS at the
close of his speech referred to the com
mitee on foreign relations.
The bill to amend the immigration
laws was taken up as unfinished bust
ness. Mr.. Gibson, Democrat of Marylsnd,
| favored the postponen,ent OF the consider
alton Of the bill till rfter the holidays.
| MIR. Lodge, in charge of the bill, OPP
posed any postponement, saying the
measure was extremely moderate, ana
only opposition to it came from certain
| steamship companies Interested In the
| immigration business.
Mr.. Gibson made formal motion that
| the bill be postponed till the first Monday
| in January. He did not know. he said,
what might be the interests of steamship
companies, but MARYLAND WAS never In
| its history more opposed than now to re-
striotions Oh immigration, believing
/ those in the existing law were prejudiced
| to her interests.
| Mr.. Chandler opposed the motion to
postpone and argued in favor OF 1mme-
diate action on the bill.
The motion to postpone the bill was
| negatived-Yes, 13; nays, 81.
| The Senate substitute for the House
bill was agreed to, and substitute was
open for independent amendment.
MIR. Sewell, Republican of New Jersey,
moved to amend the first paragraph to
make it exclude call persons over four
teen years of age who canDot read and
write the language of their native
country, or some other language, except
aged OF minor persons, not SO able to
read and write. who Is the parent, grand
parent, child or wife of an admissible
immigrant may accompany or be ssut for
by such immigrant; -
Mr.. Vest, Democrat of Missouri, pro.
tested against the application of the test
of illlterary to women and girls. He as
| suILed that really at the hottom Of the