Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-16
Mr.. MORGAN ON CUBA
His Speech on His Resolutions for
Correspondence.
BELIEVES War EXISTS ON THE ISLAND
The Responsibility for Not Stop
ping 1t Must Be Fixed.
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED

| Mr.. Morgan (Ala.l took the floor soon af-
| ter the Ser ate conven ed today for a speech
| on his Cuban resolution, introduced yester-
! day, but yielded temporarily for some rou-
| tine business.
| A letter was received from the Attorney
General in response to an inquiry stating
that no aliens were employed in the De-
| partment of Justice.
Bills were passed giving compensation
| for bricge built ir the Yellowstone Ma
| tional Park; granting right of way to the
| Denver, Cripple Creek and Southwestern
railroad II rough the South Park and Plum
Creek Forest reservation. Colorado; appro-
priating s2OO,OOO for a public building and
site at Mckeesport, Pa.
! Mr.. Morgan ON Cuba.
Mr.. Morgan then proceeded with his
speech on the Cuban situation He said the
| proximity of the island 10 our shores, our
| commercial relations with the Cubans, the
| American ownership of much property
| there, the actual residence of many Ameri-
cans there, etc, all combine to compel us
| to examine into the conditions existing in
| Cuba, and to determine for ourselves
| whether a state of war or a state Of peace
| existed.
| He spoke of the impatience of American
| people in witnessing the painful occurrences
| in Cuba, while our government measured
! the losses by dollars. and submitted claims
A
great civil conflict had wased in Cuba since
| the fall of "a, he said, and had increased
with startling magnitude, until lD,0uO
| Spanish troops were in the field Yet upon
denial of these self-evident facts rests the
position Of Spain, that the United States
must not recognize a condition of war as
| existing.
Mr.: Morgan said the fragrant conditions
existing might escape the attention of those
in authority. yet it must shock the world
| that diplomatic fallacy permits the asser-
0on that no war exists. This diplomatic
fallacy is sustained by the claim tnat the
Cubans have no forts, when the wise gen.
eraishfp of the Cubans kept them from con-
centrat.ng in forts. 1t was sustained also
by the claim that the Cubans had no flee.
and no seaports, when it was evident tina.
these could be maintained only by heavy
artillery and equipments not possessed by
the insurgents
These. said the Senator, were the asser-
tons OF carpet knights and chivaIric war
riors but to sensible military leaders bent
on gaining independence rather than a
display of sentiment. they were the climax
of abSurdity.
The Senator declared that the ofrenses
committed by those Americans now held
at Havara were no more serious than
smuggling. 1t was the first duty of this
government to demand that the military
trial OF the American pris soners be set
aside. Until this was done no other or
1urther negotiations should be considered
Until set aside, declared Mr.. Morgan every
day Is day of national humiliation to us
as a people
Conclusive Evidence of Atrocities
After reviewing the course of the United
States in the struggles for free Institutions
the Senator compared it with the search
for technical and frivolous excuses to
debar US from remedies against such
tyrants as Weyler.' He referred to the
conclusive evidences of atrocities and the
shooting of non-combatants.
With war recognized as existing, the laws
OF Har, as applied by the law Of nations
would become appliabfe to our citizens now
serving in Cuba, and would forbid Spain
from treating them as insurrectionists.
Mr.. Morgan said in conclusion: 1T is
therefore, the proper course for Congress
to observe to send a joint resolution to the
President declaring that a state of public
war exists in Cuba and that the parties en-
gagged in that war are belligerents to each
other, whom the laws of nations equally
apply, if such is the opinion of Congress
This is duty of wise and sincere patriot
ism, although it may not be otherwise i'm
perative for the reason that such dec
laration is not legislative act and is not
therefore, required to be sent to the Pres
ident for his approval. Congress can waive
that question, and should not raise it in
matter that does not necessarily involve
the status of the constitutional distribution
of the powers of our own government,
whether 1t is in state of war or peace
but only concerns duty We owe to our
own people in determining for ourselves
peace exists in Cuba.
Responsibility of the President.
IF the President, acting on the assump-
tion that a declaration of the existence of
war in Cuba, and recognition of the rights
or the parties engaged in that war as bel
ngerents, falls within his exclusive consti-
tutional power in conducting diplomati,
intercourse with foreign governments
should choose to ignore the existence of such
war, Congress, after the almost unani-
nous expression OF opinion on that subject
owes it to the honor of the BODY to devolve
the responsibility upon the President un-
der existing circumstances. Some depart-
ment or the government must become re-
sponsiple TO our own people. and to the
judgment of mankind for continuing to uer-
nit the falsehood to remain unrebuked
that peace prevails in Cuba, and that war
does not exist there Whether it is Com
greSS or the President that denies the facts
and repudiates the appeal to the sentiments
of our people and the honorable duty of our
people, and the honorable duty of our gov
ernment, there will be a great account to
render in the end, for the blood that
patriots are shedding every hour in the
cause of human liberty, that word from
Congress or the President would stop"
At the close OF Mr.. Morgan's speech he
asked TO have his resolution referred to the
committee on foreign relations. Mr. Cul-
lom pointed out that Mr.. Sherman chair
man of that committee, was absent and sug-
gested delay.
neSOlut1On referred.
Il have no objection so long as action can
be had today" said Mr.. Morgan. But If
this goes over the country will be in trou-
bic about it, that's ALL" Later, when Mr.
Sherman returned to the Senate, the resolu-
ton was referred, after being changed so
as to request the President, instead of the
Secretary of State for copies of the cor
respondence regarding the protocol and it's
bearing upon the trial and condemnation of
United States citizens captured in or near
Cuba.
When the bill relating to the sale of gas
in the District of Columbia was taken up
Mr.. Kyle Is. d. spoke in favor of municipal
ow nership of gas plants, and in this con-
rection defended the populist party from
the charge of socialism, declaring that the
popuists were no more socialistic than the
republican and democratic parties
Distinguished Men ut Dinner.
Austin Corbin, president of the Long Is
land Railroad Company, brought together
an unusually pleasant party of gentlemen
at a dinner at the Shorehar last night The
wera Vioa prac,dopt