Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-28
MIR. VESTS ELOQUENCE.
The Cuban Debate Draws From Him
an ImpnssfOned Speech.


The somewhat monotonous course of the
Cuban debate in the Senate yesterday af-
ternoon was Unexpectedly interrupted by
the delivery by Mr.. Vest of an impromptu
speech in behalf of the men who are try
ing to thrt w off the Spanish yoke His ut
teranccs fairly electrified the Senate The
contention advanced by Senators White
and Gray, that the United States could not
now recognize the independence of the Gu
ban republic, brought Mr.. Vest to his feet
with one Of the most remarkable speeches
of the session in remonstrance.
He spoke of Spain toothless old wolf,
who had lost one by one all her litter, and
was still clingng to this single remaining
cub. He pictured her as the impotent giant
of despair in the Pilgrims Progress gazing
on defeat In impa ssioned words he made
an apostrophe to liberty of rare beauty and
fervor, adding with ringing emphasis that
the Cuban patriots would never, never,
never again become the unwilling subjects
of Spain. At the close of the speech Mr..
Gray, who opposed Mr.. Vest. said that Il
eloaLence could achieve the freedom of
Cuba, then the burning words OF the Mis-
souri, Senator would set her free.
After apostrophiZing the name or WASH
ingtor as the friend of universal liberty,
and calling upon the Senate in his memory
to act quickly and decisively, Mr.. vest said
mean to stand by these people who are mi
tating us and endeavoring to make gov
eminent for themselves like that or TINS
country, we must help them in their hour
Of need, and If we do not go so far as to do
it by arms which is not advocated by any
body in this chamber or out of 1t, we can at
least do it by stating to the world that we
believe the attempt of the monarchy or
Spain to suppress this Instruction as they
term 1t, this endeavor to form republic
upon the Island of Cuba. is absolutely hope
less and desperate, as l believe under Coo
it is today. There will never come the hour
when Spain can reassert her dominion over
the Island of Cuba. 1t is impossible that
she should do so. and 1 speak from the
great teachings of history and experience.
Marked With Blood.
1.-THE course of Spain upon this continent
is marked with blood. There was time
when the Spanish dominion extended al
most from the southern limits Of the
United States to the farthest and southern
most point in South America. No American
can ever forget those burning pages of
Prescott that describe the conquest of
Mexico and the conquest of Peru, when the
Spanards, with the lust for gold and the
lust for blood, marked their terrible path
way across the countries lying south of
u.s. OF all those vast dominionS won by
blood, Won through torture and fire, there
remains today to this toothless old wolf
the single Island of Cuba. And Spain to-
day, like Giant Despair in that wonderful
picture of Bunyan, almost helpless, sits at
the door of the dark cave of dsspotism and
grins with impotent rage at the procession
Of splendid republics that march on In the
progress toward civilization and liberty.
cub. Never can Spain hold the Island of
Cuba, within sight of the republic of the
United States, but five hours away from us,
after she has lost ell the South American
rnXyino of nn hos 10 hold
one foot of soil south of us in all the wide
area of the southern half of this continent.
An ApOstrOphe to Liberty.
eve are told now that these are negroes,
mulattoes, Indians who are fighting for
independence. So much the more cause
why we should sympathize with them and
say God Eelp them in their dire extremity.
Liberty lives with the poor and the op-
pressed. not with the wealthy and the
powerful 1t throbs in the breast of the
Gagged bird. and has gone with martyrs to
the stake and kissed their burning lips as
the spirit winged its flight to God. Lib
are unanimous in defense of the rights
which God has given them If these peo-
pie, ignorant and poor, struggling against
this despottsm, have initiated US, why
should we content ourselves with the roor
expression of sympathy with their cause?
We are confronted now with one over
whelming, overruling, absolute and deter
inmate mn eos question In this debate. Shall we,
lions throughout the world, declare that in
our opinion the people of Cuba are able to
maintain their independence and have
island is desolated by fire and sword? Are
we, q Christian and God-fearing people, to
stand silent and dumb while the Spanish
governor r1sna. called general, declares that
and butcher them into subsection to the
Spanish throne? Sir. If we do it, God will
curse us II we do this thing and stand
mere until desert has been made of that
splenold island, you may be certain that
the time will come when there will be retri-
button upon US as a people, because we
have not been true to the task assigned
us by providence. because we have not
cherished the legacy of self-government as
bequeathed to us by our fathers.,