Evening journal., 1896-02-26
GRAY PLEADS FOR CUBA.
HIS YESTERDAYS SPEECH IN THE
SENATE OF GREAT INTEREST.

Tho Man From Delaware Looked Upon ne
Representing the Presidents Views Re-
Earding This ouestion-says the Halter
Should BE Left TO Cleveland.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20 The speech Of
Senator Gray upon the Cuban resolutions
In the Senate yesterday afternoon was Of
great interest, because the senator from
Delaware Is looked upon as representing
the views Of the President eEarding this
question Senator Gray did not oppose
the resolutions but, on the contrary,
declared that II We are to recognizes the
belligerency Of the insurgents, the mat
ter should be left In the hands OF the
President. aud that he should be permit
TED to take the initiative.
Mr. Gray spoke Of the forbearance the
United States had long shown toward the
Spanish ruls over Cuba, which was a
constant source Of irritation. he said
the recognition OF oelligerency did not
involve any affront to Spain The latter
country had recognized the Southern
Confederacy,yet that had not interrup ed
the amicAble relations between the Unitsd
States and Spain How long wss the
United States TO close its eyes and Its heart
to the oppression OF spain In Ouba2 asked
the Senator. How could we refrain now
from giving some expression of American
feeling Of sympathy with Cuba2 The
present unnatural condition could not
last long. Spain could continue her
control OF CubA only by respecting the
rights and liberties OF the Cuban people
peace and prosperity shall prevail or else
she must cease to govern them Our
pulses will quicken when we hear pf men
shot TO death for upholding tho banner
that We upheld. But It Is pot becoming
that the United States offer a threat 10 q
foreign country. Il iB however, asking
too much that we should steel our hearts
against those for whom we have undeni
able sympathy The Senator also argued
that Cong ress could not, with a concur
rent resolution, grant belligersnt rights
to the Cubans or any one else In a
manner binding upon the executive
branch OF the government and he, there
fore, considered IL both the part OF
common sense aud patriotism to lesvs
the matter with the executive and not
attempt to Infringe upon the rights and
prerogaiivos Of q coordinate branch Of
this government
The wisdom OF this position Is undeni-
able. The State Department has been
watching the progress OF events In Cubs
very closely, and whatever information ID
obtalnRble regarding the state Of the
country and the condition and character
Of the insurgents has been furnished
the department The President and
Secretary Olney are fully informed as to
the probable effect OF such action as ll
proposed by the Senate resolution, and
are better able to estimate the cost to
the United States Of huch a. step as is
contemplated than the Senate can pos
slbly be.
The knowledge the Senate possesses is
obtained from the newspapers and from
reports sent to Congress from time to
time by the President. There Is, doubt
less, foundation for the sympathy which
Senator Morgan and other senators upon
both sldes OF the chamber have ex-
pressed, but It Is plain that action
fraught with possible serious conse
quencss to the nation should not be
taken without the most careful consid
Grafton and after full investigation
Such an investigation the Senate has
not made. and their pio position is there
fore to rush blindly into position from
which they may be only too glad 10 re
treat few months hence.
Nevertheless. 10 Is probable the resclu
tions will pass the Senate, and not at ali
improbable that they will pass the
House also. The question will then arise
whether or not the President will bs
obliged to regard the action OF Congress-
as being more than an expression oi
opinion.