Evening star., 1896-12-19

Spain should attempt anything like
a landing. this would probably be made
somewhere in the south closest to Cuba.
But. as ] have said. II war should be de-
clared. Congress would at once authorize
the enlistment of volunteers, and these
woIld be ieaoy to meet any soldiers lande i
by Spain anywhere
Against Recognition.
Gen. Blue of Kansas said that he had not
given the question of actual war much
consideration, because he did not believe
that hostilities were imminent. II am in
favor of the independence of Cuba" he
said. regarding it's ownership by Spain as
a menace to this government, but l don't
favor the recognition of the independence
OF Cuba when II is conceded that there Is
no civil government and no port of entry.
Such action would not meet with the ap-
proval OF civilized nations, and would tend
to establish Il precedent which would re-
turn to plague us i do not believe ma
jority of the House will approve of the
ultra action of the Senate committee on
foreign affairs. j have thought that Spain
would not hazard war with the United
States unless her pride and prejudice should
get the better Of her Judgment. She will
not fierce conflict with us unless stung
TO desperation In that event she would
probably seek aid of the great civilized
powers. Should war come L do not be-
lieve she would attempt TO invade the ter
ritory of the United States. but would con-
tent herself with using her navy and in
entrenching her forces in Cuba. She would
need all the troops she could command in
the western world through the aggression
Of the arms of the United States.
The prompt invasion of Cuba by us would
become necessity. and would. of course.
he one of the first moves to be made. Our
uupr prJtcctrd coast cities would, OF course.
offer opportunities to the Spanish navy.
In the beginning might have the worst
of II. but i'm the end Spain would be COM
pelle,s to pay indemnities and surrender her
possessions i'm the West Indies. Spain can
not land any sufficient force in any portion
of the United States to seriously harm or
annoy US If such attempt were made it
would doubtless be at some point on the
southern coast most accessible for inva-
sion: probably in Florida.
Not Going to Have War.
Gen. Henderson of Iowa said: I'VE are
not going 10 have war. The Cameron reso-
lution has not passed. and don't believe
in encouraging this war talk. We have had
enough agitation already. and We don't
want our business interests again inter-
rupted by talk of war or actual war
War Wight BE PrOtracted.
This l.; the way General Walker of Vir-
ginia talks about the matter: Il am op-
posed 10 the Cameron resolution because I
United States would be justified in bringing
on trouble. If there should be war though
don't think We would have any fighting
on land III this country. The war would
be- confined to the ocean and to Cuba The
United States would. of course have TO
land troops in Cuba ard there would be
considerable lighting over there. We could
land as many troops in Cuba as Spain: but
II would take all of our resources and the
war even then might be protracted for
lons TIME AFTER 1t was all over what would
we have for our trouble? The United
states could not land an army in Spain and
tn- latter could not land one here. While
the conflict was in progress some of our
clteS might be bombarded and burned and
commerce would be destroyed for a while"
Texas and louisiana
Among other members of the House, some
OF Wfom were also veterans of the last
war but in moro humble positions. there
was good deal of talk about the proha-
ility of war. Representative Pendleton of
Texas said that Spanish warships might do
Farm at Galveston in his state. but that il
would rcver do for the SDaniards to at
tempt TO land an army on Texas territory.
He said that 2.Dp0 organized volunteers
-Culd be quickly raised in Texas TO mea-
ana defeat any Spanish army which could
he landed He thought that the present
state militiG might he able to take care of
rhe SpaniardS
about the protection now afforded New
orleans in the way of fortifcations said
y was not as good as when the federal
1eet went there during the civil war. He
did not know what might be the conse-
Iuences- die says there are no fortifca-
tions around New Orleans but old Fort
Phillips and Fort Jackson. both of which
nave been practically abandoned.
We are in bad need of a system of coast
fortfHca tiOnS.' he said
spain Could III, Nm NnferJaI
Representative Woodman. who has been
active In Introducing resolutions in favor
of Cuba. gave his views ON the probability
OF wdr and its outcome as follows:
In my opinion Ii would be impossible for
Spain To do any material damage TO this
country in case of war. Some of our ports,
Ike Boston. New York. Mobile, Charleston
ana San Francisco are equipped with large
disappearing guns. which would blow any
thing that Spain floats out of the water
Where we have not those guns we have
enough battle ships and men-of-war to
amply protect our coasts against anything
Spain has
a brave confederate soldier. said: why
should there be war? The passage of the
Cameron resolution ought not to provoke
war This country has right to recog-
nlZe the heiiISerency of a country without
expecting war as a rssul-." Mr.. Saysrs
Is I'm favor Of the passage of the Cameron
resolution. and as stated, believes that this
can be done without war. He believes
that all the talk that Spain will resent
the passage of these resolutions Is made to
operate against the resolutions when they
CCme up for action.
No Real Information.
Mr. Cannon of Illinois said: I'VE have
bad no real information of the state of af-
fairs in Cuka since tine Presidents message
Reports printed in the press one day
and denied the next-I can see no useful
end to he attained by aeitating the aues-
tion what my own act or The action of
the House would be on a supposed state of
affairs When We called upcn TO act
upon Information on real state of affairs
as they exist we Will taka such action as
justice and patriotism shall dictate, with
due regard to our treaties and TO the real
interests OF the United States.''