Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-28
VESTS BURNING ELOQUENCE In Favor of the Recognition of
 Cuba. APPLAUDED ON ALL SIDES. Crowded Galleries and Full Senate Paid
 Rapt Attention. WILL BE VOTED ON THIS AFTERNOON Hon. John 0. Tarsney, Democrat, of Mis- souri, Was Unseated in the House Yesterday -Vanhorn, Republi-
 can, Given His Seat.
APPLAUDED ON ALL SIDES
WILL BE VOTED ON THIS AFTERNOON

Washington, Feb. 27.-A resolution was reported from the committee on contin- gent expenses to authorize the committee on coast defenses to take testimony and to visit such places as may be necessary. This provision was objected to by MT. Coekrell on the ground that it would give rowing commission to the committee on coast defenses The chairman of the com mittee however, Mir. Squires, republican, of Washington, said that the committee might desire to examine the defenses of New York city and he was willing to have that limitation put in the resolu- tion. The resolution was amended In that way and was agreed to.
 The subject of the seacoast defenses of the country was elaborately treated in speech by MT. Proctor, republican, of Vermont, in which he advocated land for tifications in preference to the creation of powerful navy.
 Bills appropriating $5OO,OOO for two first class revenue steamers for the Pacific coasJ and $1OO,OOO for public building at Newport News, Va, were passed. Also the army appropriation bill, with no greater delay than that caused by its be- ing read in full. It appropriates over $23 000, 900 and is the fifth of the annual appropriation bills that have passed the senate.
 The Cuban belligerency resolution was taken up and on the suggestion of MT. Morgan, in charge of it, unanimous con sent was given that at o'clock tomor- row the vote shall be taken on the res- olution and all amendments. In the col loquy on the subject MT. Hill said that he had desired to speak, but had to leave the city and would not ask for delay; and MT. sherman, republican, of Ohio, said that he would occupy half an hour tomorrow on the subject.
 MT. White, democrat, of California, continued the speech begun by him yes terday, contending that the question of the recognition of Cuban belligerency was one solely within the functions of the executive department of the govern ment, and that congress had no right to impose it's will upon the president in such a matter. As to the recognition of Cuban independence, he said that the independ- ence of new government could not be realized until the real, vital disturbances were practically closed and until the cause of the parent country was desper- ate. Under prevailing cond tions the rec ognition of the independence of Cuba would be not only contrary to all prece- dents, but contrary to the actual justice of the case.
 MT. Vest of Missouri asked what would nave DeCOInt Ol lHe SITuSBIe TOT Amefl- can independence if France had acted on the principle advocated by the senator from California. The American people, MT Vest said, would have today been English subjects instead of being free citizens of free country France dur ing the struggle had recognized the inde- pendence of the United States and had gone further than any other country had ever gone on a like case-eyeept from self interest. She had sent her armies and fleets and had put upon the people of the United States a debt of undying grat- tude. If we mean to stand by these peo- pie in Cuba who are initiating us, and are endeavoring to make government for themselves, we must help them in their hour of need. I do not go so far as Ito say we should do so by arms. That is not advocated by any one in this cham Der or out of it. We can at least do it by stating to the world that we believe the attempt of this monarchy of Spain to suppress the insurrection-the at tempt to form a republic in the island of Cuba-is absolutely hopeless and help less, as I believe, under God. it is today. Never will come an hour when Spain can reassert her dominion over Cuba. It is Impossible for her to do it. I speak from the great teachings of history and ex- perience. The course of Spain on this continent is marked with blood. There was a time when Spanish dominion ex- tended from the southern limits of the United States to the most southerly point of South America. No American can ever forget those burning pages of Pres colt, which describe the conquest of Mexico and Peru when the Spaniards. with the lust of gold and the lust of blood, marked their terrible pathway across those countries. Of all that vast dominion, won by blood. won through torture and fire. there remains today to that toothless old wolf the single island of Cuba and Spain today. like Giant De- spar in that wonderful picture of Bun vans sits almost helpless at the door of the dark cave of despotism and grins with impotent rage at the procession of splendid republics that march on in the progress of civilization and the future.
 MT. President, that wolf can never re- tain that single cub. Never can Spain hold the island of Cuba after she has lost all these South American provinces.
 This question, Mir. Vest went on, is not whether Cuba has achieved her inde- pendence. The question is whether Spain can conquer Cuba Can Spain con tinue to hold Cuba for a province? l de- ny it. I say that the ten long years of successful resistance to Spain by Cuba shows that Cuba today has the power to and will maintain successful resist anance. This thing year ago was what the French call an emeute--a mere hand fur of men called brigands on the east coast, some of whom were hung for pi- rates hostes humani generis-today 1t is an insurrection. Every Cuban is pa- triot. The Cubans have given up homes, families, everything through the hope of liberty Tell me that people like that can be conquered! Never. Never! Never! Will they be again willing sub jects to the throne of Spain? No in stance can be found in which 1900. 900 people, combined and cnnfederated so unanimously as they are. have ever been subjugated except by extermirat'on. What American boy does not remember the burning oration of Henry Clay when predicted that so long as ThermopyIae and Marathon were remembered no Greek would lay down his arms before Turkish power. We are told that the Cuban insurrectionists are negroes mu- IatfoeQ Tn6fano 2n r,11n1, f6o v,1ora rco-