Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-16
)PY FIVE CENTS.
MORGAN PLEADS FOR CUBA
Senator from Alabama Advocates More
Decisive Policy.
COMPETITOR PAPERS ARE CALLED FOR
Allen Offers II Resolution Demanding
nm Inquiry ns to the Alleged
Use of Money In the Re
cent Campaign.

| of Alabama held the attention of the senate
and wel-hlled galleries for an hour today
! by his earnest advocacy of a stronger decisive
| policy in dealing with the Cuban question.
| The prominence of Mir. Morgan In the Cuban
| debate of last session, when he had charge OF
! the Cuban resolutions reported from the COM
mittce on foreign relations, gave special in
| terest to his speech today. He spoke in DIS
passionate style, although his words had a
drectness and severity in pcturing the hor-
rors existing in Cuba such as are seldom
heard in the senate. Mr. Morgan spoke freely
of the possibilities of war, welcoming 1t IL
necessary to guarantee the protection Of
American citizens. He asserted that SPANS
bankruptcy would prevent the collection OF
any indemnity for wrongs The senator
questioned the wisdom of the presidents POSI-
tion that granting of bcllgerent rights would
be "untimely." At the close of Mr.. Morgan's
speech his resolution was adopted request
ing the secretary of state for papers and in
formation relative to the Competitor pris-
oners and other American citizens held in
Cuba by the Spanish authorities The ques-
tion Of passing the bin granting Nancy ALA
bach pension, the veto of the president not
withstanding. oCCasoned considerable debate,
but was finally passed over the veto-yeas,
IL nays H. Early in the day Mr.. Allen in
troiuccd u resolution for the appointment Of
a committee of nine senator's to investigate
the extent to which money was used in the
recent presidential election.
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmagc delivered the
prayer at the opening of the senate today.
In the absence of the vice president, Mr..
Frye occupied the chair.
Mr.. Hale, republican of Maine, reported
the pension appropriation bin without
amendments OF any kind, and gave notice
that he would call it up tomorrow. Tho
house concurrent resolution for holiday
adjournment from December % to January
reported favorably and agreed to.
Mr. Morgan democrat of Alabama. pre-
sented the credentials of Edmund Winston
Pettus as a senator from Alabama for the
term beginning March next to succeed
Mr.. Pugh.
ALIENS ELECTION INQUIRY.
Something of a stir was created when
Mr.. Allen populist of Nebraska, offered a
resolution for a committee of nine senators
ION the use of money in elections The
resolution directs that the committee shall
thoroughly investigate the extent to which
money, If any. was used in connection with
the recent presidential election, either In
promoting the nominations or influencing
in any manner the choice of presidential
electors, and to inquire whether any such
expenditures were excessive. illegitmate,
corrupt or unlawful, especially to inquire
and ascertain to what extent for such pur-
poses the owners of silver mines, gold mines,
the bankers, the manufacturers, the rail-
roads other corporations and Million
aires of all classes made contributions, and
what contributions, IL any, were made by
persons and corporations residing abroad"
The resolution further empowers the pro-
posed committee to send for persons and
papers, and directs report by the first
Monday of December, 1897
Mr.. Allen made no remarks on the rCsolu-
tiOn but sent to the clerks desk and had
read several newspaper clippings contain
ing charges of Irregularities In connection
with the recent election. The resolution
was then referred to the committee on
tinEent expenses, Mr.. Allen remarkng that
he earnestly desired a speedy report back
to the senate.
Mr.. Dngley came on the floor during
the transaction of morning business and
conferred for some time with Mr.. Aldrch,
republican of Rhode Island.
The bill validating certain New Mexican
bonds was taken up. the house amend
ments agreed to and the senate amend
ments disagreed to. so that the bill now
goes to the president.
Mr. Palmer, democrat of Illinois, called
up one of the pension bills. heretofore
vetoed by the president. but yielded to Mr..
Morgan for a speech on Cuba.
MORGAN'S CUBAN PLEA.
Mr. Morgan said: 81 will conhne my re-
marks to comments upon the facts stated
in the recent annual message of the prCsi-
dent and the report of the secretary OF state.
am not able to discover that the president
has made any specific recommendations or
indication as to any action he deems II
proper or eXpedient for congress to take
with reference to Spain or Cuba nor that
he had indicated any course, except a
still patient waiting, that the executive
proposes to take. Congress, thus left to its
own initiative, must assume its own re-
sponsbillty in this matter Of most serious
gravity"
Congress must give to the statements
of the president unhesitating acceptance
as to matters that were committed by the
constitution to his especial charge. When
he undertakes to state the facts that affect
our relations with other powers we must
accept those facts, unless the dlsproof OF
them Is overwhelming.
This message Is. therefore. Of the most
impressive importance a statement OF the
leading facts and conclusions that bear
upon our duties in respect to the conflict
of arms which has ragged for over two
years in the island of Cuba. and it has the
support of nearly all American belief
have not heard that Spain cOntroverts any
statement OF the president in his message.
The evidence that comes from private
sources relative to the condition of Cuba
and the horrors of persecution, rapne and
determination visited upon tho people OF
Cuba admits of no doubt as to its credl-
bility. Yet 1t presents pictures so incred-
IDLY inhuman and disgraCcful to the
civilization of this age that It stuns the
mind into disbelief that such things can
be true"
Mr.. Morgan's views on the line OF action
which should be adopted were summed in the
although / believe that bel
ligerent rights should be accorded to Cubans.
inasmuch as the president prefers a more
coerclye policy and warns Spain that the time
is now near at hand for decisive action, |
will support him In any movement that viii
save our people on that island from further
outrages. will not obetruct his course with
questions Of propriety, but viii follow the
colors when planted by the president on the
advanced ground that the concession of bell
llgerent rights has become untimely and that
every duty demands active intervention. IL
that crumbles away, | viii again fall back
to the position that just care for our own
people requires us to declare an armed
ready TO assail either belllgerent
that lnAicts wrongs on our people. II the
president should say, The time has arrived.
the hour has struck would any American be
- base as not to hold up his hands, while
the battle Is raging"
AS Mr. Morgan spoke the galleries filed
and his words were followed with close at
tenton by the senators and the large number
Of spectators.
Mr.. Morgan went on to speak Of the try
Ing eituatlon which required prompt action
70 save thousands OF poor people from cruel
and deliberate butchery. The wholesale
magFacrCe of SDain we're no surprise to the