The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-16
ROANOKE, VA, WEDNESDAY, DECENIBER 16
MORGAN TALKS WAR.
The Alabama Senator Says No Time
Should be Lost.

opeHthB prayer Dy KEY. L. lie witt Tai
mage to-day, Senator Morgan, of Ala
bnn'a, held the attention of the Senate
and we'll filled galleries for an hour by his
earnest advocacy of II strong and decisive
policy OIL the dealings with the Cuban
question. The prominence of Mr.. Morgan
IN the Cuban debate of last session when
he had charge of the Cuban resolutions
reported from the committee OH foreign
relations gave special interest to his
speech to-day. He spoke in dispassionate
style, although his words had IL direct
ness ana severity in picturing the horrors
existing in Cuba such as is seldom hoard
i'll the Senate
Mr.. Morgan spoke freely of the possi-
bilites Of war, welcoming it if necessary
TO guarantee the protection of American
CITIZENS. lie asserted that Spain's bank.
ruptcy would prevent the collection of
any indemnity for wrongs
Inc senator questioned the wisdom of
the Presidents position that the grant
ing of the belligerent rights would he
Nuntimcly." Mr.. Morgan went on to
speak of the trying situation which re-
qiilred prompt action 20 save thousands
OF Innocent people from cruel and DELHI
crate hutchcry. The wholesale massacres
of Spain was no surprise to the Senator
who had anticipated it,
III war with the United States is nee
essary to reconcile the Spanish people tn
the loss of Cuba by foreign conquest -
sad Mr.. Morgan, 'wc shall he con,uelled
TO meet the emergency. If the ,lestruc-
zion OF Cuba is enough to satisfy the non
uiar sentiment of revenge we can avoid
war with spain by remaining inactive
Whlic our own people are being ruined or
slaughtered along with the Cubans. If
we mean to take any action towards stop-
i * 1xnt # IL, i,.;
in!natIon we have no time to lose.
Mr.. Morgan referred to the resolution
OF Congress ut the last session which, he
sad, left to the President the choice of
concurrlng with the policy of Congress
or delaying. The President chose DELAY.
The war has continued said Mr..
Morgan, ''until it has reached the final
ana desperate stage Of II war OF devasta-
ton and determination, with the pcople
OF Cuba rs IL prey to those who have set
aside the usual honorable usiges of war.
lnrc ana have become robbers, cut
Threats, assassins, ravishers and pirates. =
All of these crimes, Mr.. Morgan de-
clared, would he found to have been au-
thentically stated to our Governments
when the seals of secrecy are broken ard
they are brought to the knowledge of the
world for the vindication of our course.
III we are forced to war to put an end TO
this saturnalia of blood and fire. 49,
Congress had reason to regret the mac
ton of the President. A firm declaration
that the conflict in Cuba had reached the
stage III an open, public war. would have
admonlshcd Spain that the United States
at least would hold her accountable for
the observance of the rules of civilized
warfare
Our people were not content, said Mr..
Morgan, to suffer these wrongs within
earshot of our frontier and to pile up
claims, petitions and proofs to be brought
before spain in the 'endless palaver of
diplomatic correspondence" While we
KNOW that wrongs have been done to our
people and other wrongs are threatened
our Government is in the most humiliat-
ing state of innocuous desuetuede if it in
terposes no helping hand to the sufferers
and refuses to forbid the further devasta.
ton and death that cruel government is
now inficting upon them.
The Senator said that he foresaw that
the time was near ut hand when the final
stand of the United States must be taken.
1t was foreshadowed by the message ana
the moment might come at any time the
President would take Il definite and final
stand.
When this came the Senator would fol-
low the colors of the President and if it
meant war would any American hesitate
TO respond? There was no alternative
between further humiiating delay or of
intervention.
In conclusion Mr.. Morgan said
In this condition Of impotency to es-
tablish permanent peace in Cuba and per-
manent security for our own people,
while the Spanish monarchy is dominant
in that island, we have no alternative left
TO us but the single choice batyyppn tha
continuous repetition of the evils por-
trayed IN the message of the President or
IL base, humiliating and cruel delay on
our part while rapine aud destruction are
rampant IN Cuba, in the hone that some
fortunate turnsin events may relieve us
from duty that we owe to humanity, to
christian civilization, to the spirit and
traditions of our country and our neople,
and 20 the lives and liberties of our peo
pie in Cuba who are now held by the
cruel power of Spain. do not rely upon
any authority for what | have said be-
yond the Presidents message and the re-
port OF the Secretary of State. That is
enough; the facts are incontrovertable and
our duty is plain. If we fail to act upon
them, we take the responsibility of Il de-
lay to perform a plain duty, at the ex.
pense OF our people whose lives are in
constant peril"
AT the close OF Mr.. Morgan's speech he
asked for the adoptions-of the resolution
presented yesterday requesting the Secre-
tary of State for the papers in the Com.
petitor case and in other cases involving
the arrest of United States citizens by
continued Oh fourth page