The record-union., 1896-03-18

WASHINGTON, March 17.-In four
nours' speech to-day Senator Morgan of
alabama closed his defense of the ac-
tion of the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations in reporting the Cuban reSolu-
rions. He replied TO the criticisms of
Senators Hale Of Maine and Hoar of
Massachusetts in connection with the
statements from the Spanish Minister,
and he placed against those arguments
on the side of Spain the statements Of
Quesada, the Cuban representative in
Washington, and various newspaper
publications, beside various written
communications in regard to stories of
atrocities perpetrated in Cuba during
the last insurrection. His speech to-
day and yesterday occupied altogether
seven hours 1t win be followed to-
morrow by a speech on the same sub
5ect by Mills of Texas.
Senator Pugh of Alabama also
brought to a close to-day the speech
(which he begun yesterday in favor of
khe free coinage of silver.
When the Senate convened to-day a
hill to pay Rear-Admiral- Roger N.
Stembel (retired) the highest pay and
emoluments of his grade was reported
drom the Naval Affairs Committee and
passed. He is now retired on three
dourths pay.
The House bill concerning the distill-
Ding of brandy from fruits was reported
davorably from the Finance Committee
and placed on the calendar.
A joint resolution was introduced by
Cannon Rep) of Utah directing the
Secretary Of the Interior to open to
public entry the Uncompa ghre Indian
Reservation in Utah. excepting agri-
cultural lands heretofore allotted or Sc
1ected for allotment to those Indians.
Under objection to its immediate con-
sideration by Allen (Pop.) of Nebraska
5t went over.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Elkins (Rep.) of West Virginia instruct
ing the Committee on Foreign Relations
TO report material facts as to the war in
Cuba was laid before the Senate, but, at
the suggestion of EIkins, it went over
Gntil tomorrow.
Pugh Dem) of Albania then took the
floor to continue the speech which he
had begun yesterday in advocacy of sill
Ner coinage.
AT D. m. the Cuban resolutions were
taken up, and Morgan Dem) of AIS ;
them. Morgan began by speaking of
S the supersensitivents of Spain because
she felt the sand sliding from under her
feet, while 1.-The Gem of the Antilles"
was passing out of her grasp. He sent
TO the Clerks desk and had read what
he called the Spanish Minister'S "dia-
tribe against the Senate and Senators" !"
lie spoke of Senior de LONE as "a super
cillious foreign Minister" and said that
dt was high time for the House and the
Senate to close their doors against such
attempts to influence them.
Morgan spoke of the censorship of
cable between Cuba and America by
the Spanish authorities, and said that,
so far as the mails were concerned, he
had been informed by a Catholic priest,
who knew perfectly we'll both Spain and
Cuba, that the mails between Cuba and
the United States were constantly
opened and their contents examined.
He characterized Senor de Lome's state
ment to the press as "a fragrant abuse
of privilege"
It was certainly time, ne added, that
the diplomatic affairs of the United
States were withdrawn from public
tinkering and tampering. If the SEN
ate was to be continually kept in up
roar and confusion by kilograms com
ing from the Premier Of Spain to some
newspaper editor in the United States,
TO be read in the Senate as authorita-
tive statements, the State Department
might as we'll be abolished, leaving the
people to rely on those men who had
acquired eminence in nrwspaperdom for
the purpose of gaining knowledge of
what is transpiring in foreign coun-
tries
Morgan then discussed the point or
the constitutional guarantee against
Senators or Representative being held
nc account for words spoken in debate.
He might, in his place in the Senate,
calumniate any citizen of the United
States having some connection with
public affairs without being accounta-
BILE for libel.
Gray Dem.) of Delaware asked Nor
gan whether the citizen in question
would not have the same freedom OF
speech.
Morgan admitted that he would, but
it turned out in this case, he said, that
the Minister from Spain was not cit
izen of the United States. He was
entirely protected by the law of ma
lions against any proceeding to hold
him accountable for libel, either Grim
inally or civilly. There was where the
rub came in which sealed a Minister'S
lips.
Morgan read the historical incident
of the interview between Jefferson and
the French Minister, Sevet, and ex-
claimed. passionately: Would to God
that we had somebody here now who
had a just conception of the constitu-
tional rights of the different parts OF
this Government
81 have not asked" he continued for
hhe dismissal of this Minister. Let him
stay if he wants to, but have a right
to claim the protection Of the Constitu-
aion of my country against any assault
that may be made upon my votes or
speeches I have a perfect indifference
10 what Senior de LONE may say; but
am not going to subordinate myself
quietly to any man in the world, but
more especially to a foreign Minister,
whose country is now being made sub
1ect of serious examination in the coun-
ellis of the Senate"
Hale (Rep) of Maine called atten-
4ion to the fact that the Chairman OF
4be Committee on Foreign Relations.
sherman, did not share in Morgan $