The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-28
Question Of Recognition Dis
cussed in Both Houses.
BUT NO VOTE WAS TAKEN
Though Mr.. Hit Tried to Force
a Vote in the House.
THE SENATE WILL ACT TO-DAY
Senator Vest Makes One of His Char
acteristic Speeches Pleading
for Recognition of the
Insurgents.

Washington, eD. @i.-~+A sun Us
speech by Mr.. Vest in behalf of Cuba
was the event of to-day in the Senate.
1t came unexpectedly as Mr. Vest
seldom announces his speeches or
makes preparations.
The Senate had agreed that the final
vote on the Cuban resolution would be
taken at 4 p. m. tomorrow, and the
debate was proceeding, Mr.. White, OF
California, and Mr.. Gray, of Delaware,
contending as a legal proposition that
the United States could not at this time
recognize Cuba's independence This
aroused Mr.. Vest, first for questions of
remonstrance and then to one of the
outbursts Of eloquence, with which he
at times electrifies the Senate.
He said he had not intended to speak.
but his words came with such fire and
such beauty of diction that the Senate
chamber was quickly crowded to hear
him. Where would the United States
be to-day, asked Mr.. Vest, if this policy
urged by the California Senator had
been followed Instead of assembling
here as a Congress, this would be an
other British colony, another appen-
age of the British crown. France
recognized the independence of the
United States, and sent her armies and
fleets, and placed on us debt OF un-
dying gratitude.
In ringing tones Mr.. Vest declared
tha. il we, as the great republic of the
world, proposed to stand BY these peo-
pie in their struggle akin to our own,
then We must help them in their time
Of need And if this aid was not
given BY sending our fleets and armies
for no one expected that-tE&1 at
least it should be by stating to the
world, what the Senator believed be-
fore God to be true, that Spain could
never again establish her dominion
over that island. Mr. Vest drew a
vivid picture of Spain's bloody rule
over the old Spanish-American depend
encies. Then he added:
"Of all those vast dominions won by
blood, won through torture and fire.
there remains to-day TO this toothless
old wolf the simple island Of Cuba.
And Spain to-day, like the giant De-
spair in that wonderful picture of
Bunyan, almost helpless, sits at the
door Of the dark cave of despotism and
grins with impatient rage at the pro-
cession Of splendid republics that
march on in the progress towards
civilization and liberty. That wolf
can never retain that single cub.
Never can Spain hold the island of Cuba
after she has been unable 10 hold one
foot Of soil South of us in all the wide
area Of the Southern half Of this CONT
nent."
Mr.. Gray interrupted to ask if, as a
matter Of existing fact, Cuba had now
established a condition of existence.
With another burst of cloquence Mr..
Vest responded it was not for us to
determine whether the Cubans had com
pletely established themselves. The
question for us to determine was: Can
Spain re-establish her power and do
minion over Cuba?
The Cubans demonstrated to-day
that they had the power 10 resist
Spain. A year ago, their uprising was
a mere infant. Now every Cuban il a
patriot. They have abandoned homes
and families for the cause Of freedom.
Spain may eXtermnate them. But,
said Mr.. Vest with impassioned tones,
'Spain viii never, never, never again
make them tn" unwilling subjects of
her power"
The Senator spoke with contempt
Of the statements that the Cubans
were negroes and mulattos. So much
the more should they have our sympa
thy, said he.
Mr.. Vest added this apotheosis to
liberty:
Liberty lives with the poor and OPP
pressed, not with the wealthy and the
powerful. 1t throbs in the breast of
the Gagged bird and has gone with mar
tyrs TO the stake and kissed their
burning lips as the spirit winged its
fight to God. Liberty cannot be eX-
tinguished when a people are unani-
nous in defense of the rights which
God has given them"
An expression of sympathy was a
farce, continued he. He denied and
reDudiated the doctrine that every yes
tige Of Spanish power must disappear
from the island before we could rec
ognize Cuba as independent. Were we,
a God-fearing people, 10 stand dumbly
by while this bloody Spanish general
drove these people into a pen and
slaughtered them?
IF we do" exclaimed Mr.. Vest, 1T
will curse u.s. Retribution will be
visited upon us, for such a blind dis
regard Of our destiny and our duty"
Mr.. Vests peroration was striking
ly beautiful as follows
"Shall we, the great eXemplar Of
Republican institutions throughout
the world, declare that in our opinion
the people of Cuba are able to main
tain their independence and have
achieved it? Are we TO wait until that
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