Arizona republican., 1896-12-16
THE HOUR HAS STRUCK"
For War, If Necessary to Pro-
 tect Americans.
Senator Morgan's Dramatic Speech. The House Passes the Bill to Re- organize the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Company.

Morgan of Alabama held the attention of the senate and well-filled galleries for an hour today by his earnest advo- cacy of strong and decisive policy in dealing with the Cuban question. He spoke in dispassionate style, al- though his words had a directness and severity in picturing the horrors existing in Cuba, such as is seldom heard in the senate. MT. Morgan spoke freely of the possibilities of war, well coming. it if necessary to guarantee the protection of American citizens. He asserted that Spain's bankruptcy would prevent the collection of any indemnity for wrongs.
 The senator questioned the wisdom of the presidents position on the question. MT. Morgan's views on the line of action which should be adopted were summed up in the following:
 Although I believe that belligerent
 rights should be accorded to the Cu-
 bans, inasmuch as the president pre- fers more coercive policy and warns
 Spain that the time is now near at
 hand for decisive action. I will SUD-
 port him in any movement that will save our people on that island from l further outrageS. I will not obstruct
 his course with questions of propriety.
 but will follow the colors when plant ed by the president on the advanced
 ground that the concession of bel ligerent rights has become untimely
 and that every duty demands active
 intervention. If that crumhles away
 I will again fall back to the position
 that proper care for our own people
 requires us to declare an armed peu- trality ready to assail either belliger-
 ent that inficts wrongs on our people.
 'The president should say: The
 time has arrived. the hour has struck.
 Would any American be so base as not to hold up his hands while the battle
 is raging?"
 At the close of Mir. Morgan's speech his resolution was adopted requesting
 the secretary of state for information
 relative to the Competitors crew and
 other Americans held in Cuba by the Spanish authorities.
 The resolution is as follows:
 
 quested. if it is not. in his opinion. , incompatible with the public service to send to the senate copies of the pa
 pers relating to the condition of af-
 fairs in the island of Cuba, which are ] referred to in the report of the secre- , tary of state that accompanies his last annual message as papers collected in the annual volume entitled. Foreign Relations of the United States
 And also statement of the several , amounts of claims lodged in the de- partment of state by citizens of the : United States against Spain growing out of the alleged insurrection now ex- l ioeiA15 III ehS lolnlo Ol OuUd. AuU l also all correspondence with the Span ish government relating to the vesseI called Competitor, and the persons captured with or near that vessel. witf 7 a statement of the charges pending 1T
 any court in Spain or Cuba agains1 f said Americans and the proceedings l of Such cO11rt in thoca oasac and tht ; place of their imprisonment, character i of their treatment while in prison ani e condition of their health; whether sait . prisoners have had the privilege o S counsel of their own selection on an, trial that has taken place on sucl . charges, or were represented by an. n consul, attorney or other agent of tn t United States"
 d The house today entered upon tn consideration of the Loud bill t. amend the law relating to the trans if mission of second class mail matter l. The bill has been widely discussed il Il the public press and has met with tn 'f most intense opposition from certail quarters. It denies the right of seria !, novels to admission to the mails a IS the newspaper rate of one cent pc y pound, denies to newspapers the sam e pie copy privilege, prohibits the retur
 of unsold publications at pound rate ~ and makes some other changes in tn s- present law designed to correct exist ,r ing abuses. Change in this secon IS class mail matter law has been repeat T. edly urged by successive postmaster lo generals It is estimated that abuse