The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-03-25
SPEECH BY MILLS
Cuban Resolutions but Short
Steps in the Right Dr.
rectiOn.
The Duty of the United States Is
to Render Positive AS
siStance.
Navy Appropriation Bill as Re-
ported to the House Car
ries $31.11O. 543.

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The dis
placement of the Cuban resolutions
had no apparent effect in diminishing
the attendance in the senate galleries,
as it was expected that Senator Mills
resolutions proposing the use of the
army and navy in taking possession of
Cuba, and holding it until the people
had established local self government
would occasion further debate. Bills
were passed amending the law pre-
scribing the death penalty for Indians
convicted Of rape, and leaving the pun
ishment discretionary with the court;
authorizing the Kansas City, Watkins
and Gulf railroad company to build q
bridge across the Red river at Alex
andrla. La.
A resolution offered by Senator Hoar
was adopted, requesting the president
to transmit to the senate all dispatches,
correspondence, from Nov. 8, 1875 to
1878 concerning the p~acifcation of the
then pending conflict in Cuba.
Mr.. Mills Speaks.
Senator Mills was recognized at this
point in support of the Cuban resolu-
ton introduced by him. He said the
resolutions heretofore before the senate
were steps in the right direction, but
very short steps. The people of Cuba
had far greater claims on the United
States than mere recognition of bellig-
erency. If Ireland struck for liberty
today, the hearts Of the American PEG
pie would beat in Sympathy, and so IL
Poland and Hungary asserted the right
of liberty. But the United States had
much closer relations to Cuba than to
Ireland or to Poland and Hungary. for
it was part of the Western Hemisphere,
over which the Monroe doctrine ex-
tended the influence of this country.
MIR. Mills declared that the Monroe
doctrine was a law of protection, and
as such God was the author of it. 1t
was the same right Of self protection
which an individual exercises in abat.
ing a nuisance or destroying a powder
house near his premises.
Jefferson U.ed Plata Words.
Jefferson had used plain words in
threatening to join England and sweep
the French fleets from the sea if France
persisted in holding the mouth of the
Mississippi river. The same spirit had
brought forth President Cleveland's
Venezuelan message. Cuba stood as
the key to the gulf, and our unvarying
policy, said MIR. Mills. has been to re.
sist any transfer of Cuba TO another
monarchy. The United States has
stood by al q jailor and prevented Cuba
from going to France or England And,
if we insisted on keeping Cuba in the
possession Of Spain, was it not the
moral obligation of the United States
to see that Spain gave Cuba fair gov.
eminent, to see that the hell Of Span.
ish despotisL was lifted from the
Cuban people?
Will Elect Senators Who Will.
THE day will come" said Mr.. Mills,
"when the American codscience will be
aroused to its guilt in permitting the
oppression of Cuba, and when that con-
seriousness comes. the American people
will fill this chamber with senators who
will stop that oppression"
The senator read Of atrocities attrib-
uted to General Weyler, and added,
'lnlS IL the WoIA VI tuat dtroClous
scoundrel. He could not be in Cuba to-
day if the United States would draw her
sword. How the cheeks of our Ameri-
can women must be suffused, how our
children must blush to know that this
government stands idly by while Spain
with the keys of her dungeons dang
ling at her side. permits such an afro.
cious villain to raise his hand against
dafansaless m