Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-27

day for definite and final action and 1t
Is expected that votes will be taken at
an early day on the several pending
propositions requesting Spain to recog-
nize the belligerency Of Cuba and re-
questing the recognition OF Cuban In
dependence. There is every indica-
ton also that the debate will lead to
more radical and decisive resolutions.
The opening of the debate drew large
crowds to the galleries and there were
frequent demonstrations of approval at
the stirring and dramatic utteranCes Of
the several speakers Senators Lodge
uep., Mass) and Morgan dem, Ala)
were particularly forciblc and direct In
their language, Morgan expressing the
belief that war between the United
States and Spain would result from rec
ognizing the CubanB as belligerents. In
graphically picturng the rise and
spread OF the rebellion Lodge said:
Just Il year ago another revolution be-
gan 1t began In the eastern part Of
the island with a small band Of 500
men. With the vast wilderness of Iy-
Ing bulletins that comes from Spanish
sources 1t Is very dilllcult and IT Is not
worth while perhaps to try to trace the
battles which have been fought. But
there are certain great facts which
there Is no mstaklng. Those men who
started so lceby year ago in the
eastern part Of the island have cropt
over that island from one end to the
other The 500 has grown until oven
today hostile accounts represents
them at $4,000 in the field.
We know that the railroad lines are
cut, that the telegraph lines are down,
that every report Of II Spanish victory
that comes to us In the newspapers IL
followed by II statement of q fresh In
surgont avalanche. We know as
matter OF fact that the whole of that
island today, except whore Spanish
fleets ride at anchor and whore Span
ish armies are oncamped IL In the
hnnds Of the insurgents. We know
that they have formed government,
that they held two elections, that every
officer In the army holds his commits
sion from the government which they
have established. We know the terms
Of that provisional government, and in
the presence of these facts and the
ilghting that these men have done, |
think II not unreasonable In them to
ask some recognition al the hands of
The United States. Comparing the
former commanders, Gen MARTINEZ
Campos, with the present one General
Weylcr, Lodge said; MARTINEZ CampoS,
The ablcst general in Spain has been
recalled because he failed to put down
the inBurrcCtion, recalled when the
insurgent trool.J had been actually In
the suburbs Of Havana, ana In his
place has been sent man whose only |
reputation known to the world is that .
OF the most cold blooded brutality in |
the last war for liberty in that island" ,
Again he senator said, referring to the
desperate fighting of the Insurgents:
Cuba Is lighting not only for indie
pendcnca, These men are lighting for
their lives, Every one of them has 4
price on his head and Il rope around
his neck They have all shown that
they could fight we'll They are fight
INK the battle of despair" There was
hearty applause ms Lodge
closed with the following pcroration:
If that war goes on In Cuba with the
added horrors which this new general
brings with him, If II continues, the re-
sponsihllty Is on us. We cannot escape
II. We should exert every influence of
Lhe United States Standing as | be-
h,,, l,, r.,r
cation, we should exercise every intlu-
ence of our great country to put Il stop
To the great war which Is now raging
there and try to give to that island
once moro peace and liberty and
secNrtN,"
senator Can (dom, Flnl spoke in the
same vein.
Mr.. Morgan who reported the resolu-
ton expressed the opinion that amy
action that this country might take
looking to Cuba recognition would re
suit In n war with Spain" and he also
said that Spain would welcome u war
with this country which would AFFORD
her legitimate excuse to get rid o' Cuha
IN a way Not to wound her pride. Nor
pan referred to the conflicting iniorma-
ton AT hand. out Of the mass oi de-
tail. however the committee telt lha( "
stood ON firm ground in presenting the
resolution. While Cuba was surround
ed by II navy and controlled by cen
sorship many Of the best means OF IN
formation were uuattninable but Ger
tain definite and positive facts have
been established beyond question MS
premise to the action of the committee.
Morgan then took up the legal Qncs-
lions involved, explaining the duties
and obligations Of recognizing helligcr-
ency And yet" said he, while war
Ia public and beyond the possibility of
question or denial, Spain refuses to rec
ognize war. She fills Mora castle, en-
lies men to penal colonies In Africa,
she innicts penalties unwarranted even
If war did exist, and with war public
and notorious. 1t became the duty OF
all al lNnr ~