Evening star., 1896-03-10
Senior Dupuy de Lome's Statement
Severely Criticised.
SENATORS ALLEGE It's IMPBOPRIETY
Messrs. Gray and Hale Come te
His Defense.
NJ ALTERS IN THE HOU S z

drawing card in the Senate. The galleries
were beseged long before the session OPEN
ed today, and by the time the Senate met
the crowds within the galleries and those
eager to gain admission at the various en-
frances showed that there would be an
other large attendance when the Cuban
resolutions were reached.
In the opening prayer Rev. Wallace Rad
cliffe made passing reference to the bless
ings of peace, and invoked divine guidance
and blessings on all nations.
Mr.. Lodges Explanation.
AS soon as the journal had been read MIR.
Lodge (Mass) rose to question of personal
privilege. He said he had read on Sunday
an interview attributed to Senior Dupuy de
LONE of Spain. There was nothing singu-
lar in this fact, as the Spanish minister
communicated largely through the newspa-
pers. But in this case the minister called
in question the accuracy of a statement
made by him U4odge)
The Senator sent to the desk and had
read the minister's reference to Mr..
Lodges utterance calling in question the
translation of a statement attributed TO
General Weyler, in which the latter de-
clared that he would ''exterminate' the
insurgents. Mr.. Lodge commented ON the
eXactness of the translation. and said that
a literal rendering of General Weyl,rs Ian
euage would be that he would ..clean ont
the large insurSent bands ard 'eXter-
inmate the small ones. Mr.. Lodge said
he did not wonder at the extreme sensitive
| ness of the Spanish people. but ne lid lot
think this offered any excuse for The Span
ish minister in adopting the course he
had. He had been referred to his
torian. but in truth he was the cX-parte
representative of Spain, and what lie had
disclosed from time to time sub;racted
from the general sum of information on
the Cuban subject. 1t was pretty well
Senate
and House were purely domestic "latters.
and il was not proper for representative
of a foreign country to communicate except
through the State Depar tment. # an
American minister in Europe discussed the
political affairs there he would be sent
home. Mr.. Lodge read from the letter
Of Daniel Webster, when Secretary of
State, protesting against a statement by
the Austrian minister as to a domestic
matter. The Senator added a most en-
phatic protest against public comment LE
any diplomatic representative on the de-
bates in Congress. The Constitution pro-
tected Senators for language used in de-
bate. 1t one of the safeg IA IDS of
free speech.
Mr.. Lodge said he knew what any foreign
government would do with minister TAX
ing such course. He knew what had
been done under Ike circumstances. He
knew what Daniel Webster would have
done in such case.
Mr.. Gray Defends De Lomc.
United States should proceed according to
the judgment Of Il self-respccting ration.
unmoved by the emeutes at Valencia CT
Madrid, and without being turned aside to
discuss a question of translation between
a Senator and minister.
Mr.. Gray said he would be quick TO re-
sent an attack on the privileges of a Sena-
tor. But in all fairness he thought it
hardly worth while to stretch senate 'ial
preroSativeS and privileges in order to
question a gentleman who had no power
to reply on behalf of Spain.
Our feeling will be better expressed if we
do not take advantage of every criticism
which differs from our own views. There
should be some concession to the stress of
the situation. This was a most vital time
for Spain and for the Spanish minister,
With this stress of circums tances We
should not be over nice in insisting on
diplomatic proprieties and in finding fault
with the minister in view of what had been
said in the Senate
Mr.. TelIer's Views.
Mr.. Teller (Colo) said the rule was un-
varying against communication by for
eign minister except through the State De-
partment. There should be no comment by
a foreign minister. He should not be heard
at all, except in the regular channels Twice
had foreign ministers been sent home for
sta tements of less Importance than this
But considering the circumstances -
added Mr.. Teller, had l been in authority
L would not have sent MIN home for this
offense, but would have had the Secretary
of State, in a most kindly way suggest
that repetition Of the offense would lead
to his going home" Mr.Teller then turned to
the conditions in Spain. He did not think
the outbreak of students should give of
feEse. The Spanish authorities were doing
al. in their power to stop the trouble There
was 10 probability that Spain would dis
sent In an offensive way to the passage of
a ma ol.rfio
had right to recognize the belligerents.
Spain would naturally show some feeling.
hut she would not go to war. There was a
ripple of applause which the Vice Pres-
de1t checked when Mr.. Teller referred to
his sympathy with the Cubans
Il would be delighted said he, ''to hear
that Havana had passed into the hands of
the insurgents. I would be delighted to
near that the insurgents had run the Span
lsh soldiers into the sea- But, the Senator
added while he had this sympathy, yet he
lelt no irritation over the student ebull-
tions in Spain. In conclusion, MIR. Teller
vigorously repeated that if the Spanish,
minister repeated this public utterance the
Senator would favor giving him his walk
ing papers,"
The American people would not tolerate
any dictatton or criticism from foreign rem
resentatives accredited here.
Guilty of an lmpropriety,
Mr. Chandler On. HI also thought the
Spanish minister had been guilty of an i'm
propriety. His references were offensive.
Il desire to say" interposed Mr. Morgan,
that the Spanish minister misquotes what
I said on the floor of the Senate
That illustrates the point 1 desire to
make," continued Mr.. Chandler proceeding
to quote Scnor De Lome's references to our
war of the rebellion. 1t was unseemly he
said, for the Spanish minister to have writ
ten such a communica ton. 1t could not be
countenance1.
If the minister from Spain were to be al
lowed to write his reply every morning to
the debates in Congress, Senators and mem
bers " ould naturally reply, and the inevita-
BILE result would be daily exchange be-
tween Congress and foreign representa-
tives. He repeated that it was unse emily.
Suppose Amba assador Bayard should have
selected me of the remarks made by Lord
Salisbury or Balfour in the house of com
mons concerning Venezuela, and had in the
London Times undertaken to controyart
them. Would not the Senator from Della
ware (Mr.Gray) think he should be prompt
ly recalled?
Mr.. Gray Sets Himself Right.
1.-THE Senator misunderstood me-" inter-
rupted Mr.. Gray. II did not say that the
Spanish minister had not been guilty of a.
breach Of diplomatic usage, but that very