Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-04-08
THE CUBAN RESOLUTIONS.
Discussion IN THE HOUSE.

On Saturday, and till 10 O'Clock that
night. a large number of the members
of the House of Representatives par
ticipated in the discussion, pro and
CON, of the conference report on the
Cuban resolutions, which we publish
ed last week, and which are the same
as those originally adopted by the Sen
ate. and, among the speakers, was
Hon. Tazewell Elicit, who represents
the 3rd-the Richmond-District of
Virginia. and who opposed their adop-
ton.
He opposed the resolutions on the
ground that the insurgents had not
vet reached that condition which
would justify extending belligerent
rights to them. He advised that the
House turn it's attention to the inter
nal affairs OF the country and leave
international matters alone for time
at least
Mr.. Elicit took the advanced position
that according to all authorities on
international law, and the past pre-
cedents IN the history of this country,
there was not sufficient proof of the
existence of such state of war in
Cuba as would justify the recognition
of the insurgents as belligerents.
Personally, he said that he would
gladly see Cuba or any other country
struggling for the blessings of liberty
free, but in this case his responsibilities
were of a higher nature. AS one of the
representatives of the people, it be-
came his duty to view the question
with great deliberation. and without
prejudice or favor, and in that char
acter he became a judge in this matter.
He then went into detailed history
of the war, and drew the conclusion
that rapine, murder. incendiarism, and
devastation did not amount to war.
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
Mr. Elicit went on to say that the
previous policy of the country had
been to attend to its own business and
let that of other countries alone. On
this line the country had pursued the
proper policy and prospered. He
stated that this was no time, when
every interest of the country was at
its lowest ebb, and when every bust
ness man. farmer, and workingman
were looking to Congress to relieve the
financial distress, to fritter away the
session in an idle discussion of concur
rent resolutions, which mean nothing
and can do no good, but on the con-
trary, are extremely mischievous and
pernicious to every interest of the
country.
In conclusion, Mr.. Elicit said that it
had been the policy OF Virginia since
she was a colony to oppose war, except
as a dire necessity. She had, in the |
war of the Revolution, stood for peace |
as long as possible, and only after the |
battle of Lexington did her troops rush |
to the aid of Massachusetts.
READY TO FIGHT BUT NOT TO MIDDLE.
Even the war of the rebellion, y
said Mr.. Elicit, las you call it on the |
Republican side of the House, or the
war between the States. as it should |
be properly called, Virginia originated /
the peace commission, which was the
last effort at that time to preserve the
Union"
In his district, he said, there were
20, 900 x-Confederates, who stood |
ready at any moment to defend the
honor of the Union, at any cost of men
and money, but not one who desired to
fight because of unnecessary meddling
in the affairs of other nations
Mr. Elicit received the respectful at
tention of the House during his speech |
of twenty minutes or more in its de-
livery. He was frequently applauded,
and had at times to suspend his
and at the conclusion he was
not only greeted by storm of hand
but was personally congrat-
ulated by large number of members
on both sides of the House.
The Raines law 10 New York State |
is particularly hard on clubs, dealing
with them exactly as with ordinary
The clubs are made to pay