Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-04-02

Mr.. President; | was one of the few
senators who "A week ago last Friday
voted against the Cuban resolutions then
.ubm. ed by the committee ON foreign
relations | have seen no reason since to
regret my action, and ! VIII to-day, or
whenever vote shall be taken, vote
against adopting the report of the COM
mittee- covering the resolutions which
are reported ~ the committee Of CON
ference. All of the reasons which at that
time seemed to me pressing and CON
elusive against any such action as was
then contemplated and as IS contem-
plated here, have grown in strength in
nv mind since that day.
did not feel then that upon so i'm
portHnt matter, closely involving rcla-
tons With hitherto friendly power, the
Senate possessed information to Justify n
recognition Of belligerency against a
friendly government, and in favor OF the
insurgents upon the island OF Cuba.
did not believe that the intlammatory APP
pea.s that were made to this body by
senators in favor OF the proposition,
based upon alleged statements OF atroci-
ties and horrors on the island OF Cuba
were sufficiently backed up as facts for
the Senate to act upon; and that feel
ing, MIR. President, has become greatly
strengthened by events that have oc-
Cured and other information which has
been brought to light since the day when
the resolutions were passed
voted may" also because the question
OF the treatment that should be given to
instruction in the island OF Cuba against
the Spanish government is no new sub
jet. PRESIDENT Grant one alluded to
these outbreaks as "periodicai," and |
well remember that in the Firty-tirst
Congress, III my early service in the other
House, in the year 1870, q condition OF
affairs largely like the present was then
brought before Congress, and deliberate
pu pose made known and urged to IN
yoiye this country in possible conflict
with the government OF spain by recogni-
ton OF belligereney to the then Cuban
Insurgents.
The matter was before both Houses OF
Congress. In the House OF Representa-
tives it had been considered at length by
the committee on foreign affairs of that
body, presided over by General Banks, a
representative from the state OF Massa-
chusctts, and that committee stood ready
To report, and did report, the conclusion
which hold in my hand in document
coming over from that Congress. going
almost a. far as the resolut ions now be-
fore the Senate.
Fortunately for the country, fortunately
for The interests OF peace, there WAS then
IN the Presldent's chair man " hose love
OF liberty and hose patriotism certainly
were equal TO those POSSESSED by the
senate committee on foreign relations
and who knew great deal more about
beIligerency and war than they do, or than
any OF us do General Grant. On the
18th OF June, 1870, General Grant from the
executive office sent to Congress the
message - hieh il in the book that | have
before me. | shall ask the secretary 10
read from il. not the " hole text, for | do
not want TO pro!oue the debate and my
part in il VIII mainly be citing certain
papers, communications, and documents
bearing upon this most important qucs-
ton,
1t wi! be interesting TO senators who
listen 10 the uttcf"nees OF Genera! o'rHnt
IN 1870 upon the question now before this
body, a. IL recognizing the beltigereney
Of the insurgents in cuba, 10 notice ho"
Tint message sounds a. though II mad he' II
written r. Today, rs though all the cun-
g. ittrst,,.4., thet Then ire-rutt4 them
selves TO General Grant we're eon-.der"=
tons upon condition OF affairs that
exists in this year 1896 instead Of the year
$50 and the application OF ia" that he
makes to the circumstances i Iuot ~
pertinent, Is just H. directly IN the Line ~
international law upon the subject, AS
though the message had come in to-day