The herald., 1896-04-05
CUBANS DESERVE FREEDOM
Eockrell Of Texas Talks Of Duty to q
Strugglln & People
Night Session Of the House to Discuss the
Question
There Is No. Wanting Opposition. and EIo-
quent :..embers Draw horrid Pictures Of
the War Which may Result From the
Recognition Of Cuba
Asseci.ted press Special wire.

WASHlNGION, April 4.-Ine mouse
decided today to vote on the Cuban
question resolutions Monday next i'm
mediately after the reading of the jour-
nal.
The agreement was accompanied by an
understanding that todays debate on
the resolution should be continued into
the evening. With the exception of an
hour given over to miscellaneous busi-
ness at the beginning of the session
the entire day and night sessions were
devoted to the discussion of the wisdom,
expediency and justice of adopting the
resolutions recognizing Cuban belliger-
ency and rendering the friendly offices
of the United States for the settlement
of the trouble. On one hand 1t was
contended that the United States
should take a position in favor of Cuba
because the Cubans had earned this
and were entitled to our sympathy and
support, and on the other hand it had
not been demonstrated that they had
made sufficient progress in the war to
Justify, under the practice of nations,
recognition as belligerents.
The house was the only branch of
congress in session today. Several
bills Of minor importance were passed.
among them being one for the relief of
settlers within the indemnity grant of
the New Orleans Pacific railroad.
A. Fisher IN. W caused brief ripple
by offering a resolution directing the
secretary of agriculture to comply in
spirit with the resolution of congress
directing the distribution of seed, and
have seeds inclosed in packages in ac-
tordance with directions of senators
and members He asked for immediate
consideration. Loud (CaL) objected.
The resolution went ove..
Livingston (Dem., Ga.) suggested an
amendment directing that each pack
age should contain five paper seeds.
Watson (Rep., Ohio) called up the bill
for the protection of the salmon fisheries
In Alaska, prohibiting the erection of
dams, baricades, etc, in streams such
as will prevent the ascent of salmon and
salmon trout, authorizing the secretary
tions where they exist. Barnham
(Rep., Cal.) objected. The bill went
over.
The election contest of the Fifth Ala
bama district was passed on by the
house committee on elections, which
voted to unseat James E. Cobb. Demo-
cratic incumbent. and seat Goodwin,
who ri !, against him as a Populst.
Accordih>y to the returns the vote was:
Cobb, 1851; Goodwin. 1908. Allega-
tions of ballot box stuffing and intimi-
dation were made. The committee de-
cided Goodwin should have a majority
of about 1900.
The bill granting pension of 500
per month to General John M. Thayer
pasesd. Leonard (Rep). of Pennsyl-
vania, presented report of the COM
mittee Of elections in the case of w. c.
Robertson VS.. George d. Harrison,
Third Alabama District. recommending
the adop ion of a resolution declaring
Harrison entitled to seat. The reso-
luton was agreed to without debate.
Adams (Rep. of Pennsylvania) men,
ber OF the committee on foreign affairs,
was the first speaker on the Cuban res
olutions.
q He should have refrained from ad-
dressing the house further on this
uuestion but for the extraordinary per-
Sormance of the gentleman from Maine
yBoutelle yesterday" Referring to the
c,arge that the people were not behind
TIE effort of congress to grant proper
re ognition to Cuba, he asserted that
congress had seldom before received
so many petitions on any subject Ad-
ans contended that handful of SEN
ators had taken advantage of the rules
of the senate to prevent the adoption
of the conference report by filibuster-
ing. Speaking of the merits of the res
olutions Adams said the Cubans had
organized a form of government and
were in every way entitled to the recog-
milton contemplated by the resolutions.
Adams read the resolutions adopted by
leading citizens Of Mantua, province
of Pinar del Rio, announcing adherence
to the cause of tba insurgents, to re-
futesthe charges t'iat they had no sup
port he cities. The original draft
of the resolutions was in Senator Sher-
mans possession. Knox ,(Rep. Mass
read letter from his colleague, Draper.
member of the foreign affairs commit
tee, opposing the adoption of the con-
ference report. Knox for himself said
measures should be taken to end the
barbarous warfare. For this country
to fail to do this would be to incur loss
of our own self-respect as we'll as to
\ deserve the contempt of all foreign ma
>ons.
S Cockrell (Dem., Tex) told OF let
terA e had received imploring congress
to stup the hue and cry about Cuba
because 1t was running the moneyed
interests, and said the patriotism of
t. all these people could be compressed
into the size of a nickel. They had
forgotten the duty owed by this repub-
lie to struggling people. Maceo and
Gomez had exhibited degree of gen
eralship never excelled. for Spain has
been year endeavoring with 135, 900
troops to conquer 10000 troops in an
island not so large as his (Cockrelrs)
district, and had never been able to
hold foot of territory beyond the range
OF her cannon and gunboats Mr. Cock
rell said Cuba was entitled to her inde-
pendence, and If he could have his way
he would take this old wolf of Spain
by the throat, force her to pull her
= Weyler and her murderers off and con-
cede absolute independence to these
brave people,
This declaration was received with
applause.