Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-02-06

At one point, after bitterly arraign-
ing the president, the senator addressed
himself to the republican side Of the
senate and exclaimed: why have you
not iinpeached him? You have a ma
jority TO do it"
The senate committee on foreign
relations reported a resolution on the
Cuban question. 1t does not
go quite so far as to recommend
recognition, but is more emphatic than
the extension of sympathy. It is as
follows:
Resolved, That the present deplor-
able war In the island of Cuba has
reached magnitude that concerns all
civilized nations to the extent that 1t
4 should be conducted, If, unhappily. it
\ is longer to continue, on those prin-
ciples and laws of warfare that are
acknowledged to be obligatory upon
| civilized nations when engaged in open
hostilities, including the treatment of
captives who are enlisted in either
army, due respect to cartels for ex-
change of prisoners and for other Mill
tary purposes; truces and flags of truce;
the provision Of proper hospitals and
hospitals supplies and services to the
sick and wounded of either army; be it
/! further,
Resolved, That this representation
of the views and opinions of congress be
sent to the president, and if he concurs
therein, that he will In friendly spirit
use the good offices of this government
to the end that Spain shall be requested
to accord to the armies with which it
is engaged in war the rights of bellig-
erents as the same are recognized un-
der the law of nations
The resolution was accompanied by
a report saying: Congress, deeply re-
GREETING the unhappy state Of hostili-
ties in Cuba which has again been
the result of the demand of a large
number of the native population Of
that island for it's independence, in a
spirit of respect and regard for the
welfare of both countries earnestly de
sires that the security of life and pro-
! perty and the establishment of perman-
ent peace and of government that is
satisfactory to the people of Cuba
should be accomplished. And to the
extent that the people of Cuba are seek
ing the rights Of local government
for domestic purposes the congress Of
the United States expresses its earnest
sympathy with them. The congress
would also welcome with satisfaction
the concession by Spain of incomplete
sovereignty to the people Of that ISL
and would cheerfully give to such a
voluntary concession the cordial sup
port of the United States. The near
proximity of Cuba to the frontier of
| the United States and the fact that it
is universally regarded as a part of the
continental system Of America identi-
fies that island so closely with the
political and commercial welfare of our
people that congress can not be in
different to the fact that civil war is
is fragrant among the people of Cuba.
The report sets forth that it is i'm
possible longer to overlook the fact
that the destructive character of the
war is doing serious harm to the rights
and interests Of our people on the ISL
and and to our lawful commerce, the
protection and freedom of which is
safeguarded by treaty obligations II
| is recalled that in fcrmer wars of the
same character as the present the
United States has always observed all
of its duties toward the belligerents.
The report adds:
This was difficult task, but 1t was
performed with vigor, impartiality and
justice in the hope that Spain would
so ameliorate the condition Of the Gu
ban people as to give them peace, con-
tentment and prosperity. This desir-
able result has not been accomplished.
It's failure has not resulted from any
interference on the part of our people
or the government with the people or
the government of Cuba. The hospi-
! tally which our treaties, laws of ma
tions and the laws of Christianity have
! extended to Cuban refugees in the
| United States has caused distrust on
the part of the Spanish government to
| its obligations of neutrality in the fire.
| quent instructions Of the people OF Gu
ba against Spanish authority. This
distrust has often become a source of
serious annoyance to our people and
has led to spirit of retaliation toward
Spanish authority in Cuba, thus giving
rise to frequent controversies.
Reference is made TO the absence of
responsible government in Cuba as a
cause Of delay, Of protracted imprison-
ment and property confiscations; also
to the fact that these Cuban insurrec-
\ tions have ever proved a temptation to
4 fi,ibusterers from this country, causing
trouble and expense. 1t is asserted
that the devastation Of Cuba In the
present war that is being waged with
! fire and sword" is cause of unrest
among the people of the United States,
creating strong ground for protest
against continuance.
! This struggle, the report says, Is
rapidly changing the issue to one OF
existence on the part Of great num-
! Der Of the native population. The re-
port continues: