Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-11


 sincerely not with the rapine and pil- lage by which the insurgents in Cuba seek to weaken their enemies, put Wltn the spirit which leads them to LOOK con stantly and with hope toward that star of liberty which they believe Will iedu them to Cuba fibre.
 q repeat that Cuba is already lost to Spain. not belong to Spain. line drawn rom the south Florida headlands 10 the Ilouth i of the Orinoco places Cuba on the Ameri- can side The great Antillean sea which surrounds Cuba and other islands, IS put an extension of the Mexican gull, ana geographically Cuba belongs, as politl- cally it ought to belong, to the American continent of republics. and not to spain or Europe. Geographically Cuba Is III American waters and politically II IS en- titled to statehood in the continent or American republics.
 This great continental question, tnere- fore. when stripped of all its compnca- tions becomes in plain and simple lan- guage, shall Cuba be free?
 q believe it to be the duty or the United States to use the great power at taching to the nation to declare ana to maintain, as prerogative of right pe- longing generally to republicanism, ana specifically to this republic, that no char mel house of ruin shall be continued ln the West Indian waters, whose waves break at our very front gate any iolBel than the time it shall require to break it up. And if the duty of suppressinS this damning blot and erasing 1t forever from sight shall fall alone upon the United States, so be 1t. "But we shall not stand alone in the warfare which may follow in Dehali ol common humanity Nation after nation will make joint cause with us in such struggle, and when we have succeedeu and shall have made into law the prlncl- pie, and made into history the fact. every other country worth naming Will regret it's mistake in not participating HI thS humane work.
 'fThe effort cannot fail. We shall not wage any warfare for the acquisition or territory for ourselves. We shall not claim Cuba as reward for saVlhs ner from slaughter, but we will not see the fair island turned again to the mercies of wild beasts and vultures of war, whose only stimulus is gain. Cuba ibre-Iree Cuba-is the reward, and what glorious reward will that be. Every citizen or the United States will feel that his birthrght as an American free man will mean something. Every lover of liberty the world over will exult in the progress ana advance of man. The breadth and stat ure of individual Americanism will De en- larged and ennobled.
 'If other means fail, we may consider the propriety of a fair purchase or Cupa
  eration under previous administrations It is not that we want the territory, Du' we mean that the trouble shall mean a just settlement and conclusion. Let the end come, and come quickly. Let the bloodshed cease and let freedom ana hu- manity be glorified
 ''The wisdom and discretion Of an American President and cabinet can cer- tainly find way to determine the troub- les without imperilling the interests ol our country or our people. nave littie choice or preference as to the particular method, but I do want and l know the public expects a settlement on humane and just basis.
 'The United States can do no less thar to initiate this effort for humanity anc liberty"
 Mr. Culom spoke for exactly an hour He was followed by MT. Call, who called up the joint resolution introduced by him yesterday recognizing the indepepd ence of Cuba. He sent to the clerk desk and had read several official com munica tions in regard to the case of Os car Cespedes, an American citizen. Ht said there was no better argument thar this Cespedes case to show how impo tent the Spanish authorities in CuDt were to defend the rights of American cit izens. He could see no reason whateve for failing to make prompt recognition of an existing fact-the independence o Cuba-and to give to the Cubans the sam' rights as are given to Spain in the port and Jurisdiction of the United States.
 Spain would have in this no legitimat cause of offence. It would be really t her interest that this action should b taken, and the war should be terminated without further destruction of life ant property, and without further exctemen of the people of the United States.
 Mr. Calls joint resolution was, at tn close of his speech, referred to the com mittee on foreign relations.
 The bill to restrict immigration wa taken up as the unfinished business-t motion by Mr. Gibson (dem., Md) to post pone its consideration till the first Mon day in January having been defeated b. vote of IS to 37. Various amendment to the text of the bill were offered or sug gested. but no action was taken on an, of them, although they were discusse' couple of hours and at 3:55 p. m. tn senate adjourned till Monday.