The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-03
Mr.. Hit Makes a Stirring
Speech in House.
Asks That Belligerent Rights
Be Given Patriots.
Speaker Reed Counts a Quorum.
Democrats Discounted.

WASHINGTON, April 3.-The galleries OF
the House were well filled today in anti
cipation of a renewal of the Cuban de-
bate in connection with the presentation
OF the conference report on the Cuban
resolution, but the attendance on the
floor was smaller than usual. Some pre-
liminary business was transacted.
Mr.. Murphy, Rep, Ill., secured unani-
nous consent for the consideration of
bill to authorize the construction of
third bridge across the Mississippi river
at st. Louis.
Mr.. Bartholdi (Rep., Mo.,) offered an
amendment which was defeated, to com
pell the construction of the bridge at
least one and bali and not more than
two and a half miles below the Eades
committee on commerce, opposed the
bill on the ground that 4 third bridge
within a distance of two miles would
greatly impede navigation at st. Louis.
Mr.. Murphy and MIR. Joy urged the pas
sage of tie bill becau Sc OF the excessive
tolls charged by the present bridge COM
pany. Mr.. Hepburn maintained that
Congress had the power to prevent the ex-
tortion complained of.
The bill was passed.
Mr.. Pickler, chairman of the pensions
committee, demanded the regular order
proceed with the consideration of private
pension bills reported from the commit
tee of the whole. Mr.. Hit, chairman
OF the foreign affairs committee, thought
he ought to antagonize those bills IL they
would entail debate, in the interest of
the conference report on the Cuban reso-
lutions
"Cuba can watt" replied Mr.. Pickler,
"while we pass these pension bills"
Mr.. Hit finally agreed to withhold his
motion IL Mr.. Pickier would demand the
previous question on each bill as il was
called up. The Democrats insisted that
there ought TO be debate, and Mr..
Erdman tDem., Pa. promptly made the
point OF no quorum on the first
bill. The speaker counted 200 MEM
Erdman then attempted to secure the
yeas and nays on the passage of
the bill, but only 22 members supported
his demand. On the next bill Democrats
refrained from voting and less than a
quorum voted, but when Mr.. Erdman
overruled it, stating that the char had
already ascertained that a quorum was
present Mr.. Erdman went through the
motions'of demanding "division" on
each vote, but his opposition was unavail-
ng.
At 2:25 Mr.. Hit moved the adoption of
the conference report on the Cuban reso-
lutions and spoke in advocacy thereof
Mr.. Hit made stirring speech urging
that in fairness Cuban belligerency should
be recognized. In concluding bis re-
marks he said: IL is sometimes objected
that we ought not to encourage the Gu
bans to separate government, as they
woulc imply enter upon anarchy and
succe-s 2 revolutions as so often has
hapreng4 with other spanish-American
colonies. But, in fact, Cuba differs from
all the others, except Chile, in that two
thirds of its population are of European
origin. Chile and Cuba are the only two
spots In Spanish America, where the Span
ish are colonized in the fashion in which
the Anglo-saxons colonized by transplant
ing their people and building up their
own races.
Chile has been for 80 years conspicuous
in South America for ability and energy.
Her securities were good in every Euro
pean market, 40 years ago. The other
Spanish American countries were in
fact, populations largely OF Indian blood
ruled by small proportion OF people of
the European race. The million white
people OF Cuba once organized into inde-
pendent government will soon settle into
stable conditions and enter upon a career
OF prosperity.
Ii is our duty to treat them today with
fairness, to observe a neutrality that is
real. Americans who are descendants OF
those who struggled throughout a contest
againt tyranny like that today in Cuba
snoulu not Dc IHlse 10 tne memory OF
their fathers, nor to the traditions and
spirit OF their history. We arc under no
obligations to favor spain and oppression
against Cuba and freedom. Remember
how Spain invaded and seized upon Santo
Domingo when the United States was
engaged in he war of the rebellion. IL
was disclosed in the debates of the Span
ish Cortes afterward that occupation of
Santa Domingo was entered upon ex-
pressly to thwart the influence OF the
United States and prevent our obtaining
that spain SO easily recognized the bel
ligerency of the Confederacy
month, before blood was shed i'm
battle 1t was done in cooperation with
Louis Napoleon, who, aso pursuing the
same line OF oppression, took advantage
of our trouble to overthrow the Repub-
lie OF Mexico and set up an empire there.
We have no debt OF gratitude and should
be influenced by no sentiments but those
terest which is the true guide in the
policy of nations.
When this vote has been given. as 1t
will be, overwnemingly by this House,
concurring with the enate in expressing
the will of the people OF the United
States, We cannot doubt that the execu-
tive will act and obey the voice of the
nation ana that we will speedily hear
that the President has recognized the
belligerency OF the struggling Cubans.
he waning cause of Spain has been APP
months past. II will not be long until
we shall have an end OF all the bombnstic
pretensons and denominations of Meylcr's
savage operations and the Cubans, having
vindicat,d q their rights with their arms,
will enjoy the liberty they have earned.