The record-union., 1896-03-03
THE HOUSE TAKES ACTION.
Continued from First Page.)

war. He was not enamored with the
prospect of war. He was not afraid
to stand in his place and say that he
deprecated war. There was nothing
seductive about the prospects of war
War was horrible, and was only to be
entered upon when honor and necessity
demanded it,
He did not mean to say that the
adoption of the resolutions would neces-
sarily produce war, but he would say it
was the entering wedge. The House
was driving upon a course which might
lead to war, and that, whether right
fully or wrongfully, the House ought
not to do under suspension of the
rules, but only in accordance with every
rule of deliberation to safeguard such
action. (Some applause)
He repeated that the representatives
of the American people should not pro-
ceed in q matter of this kind with un-
seemly haste.
Cummings Oem.) of New York advo-
Gated the resolutions. The gentleman
from Maine (Boutelle), he said, objected
on account of lack of information. If
that gentleman had read the procIama-
tions of General Weyler he had all the
information desired. If General Grant
when commanderof the American army
had issued such proclamations. the
whole civilized world would have gasped
IN horror, and every nation would have
recognized the Confederate States. He
(Cummings) would not compare Wey-
ler with Alva nor with Balmaceda. nor
would he call him a wolf as he had been
called in the Senate, but he would say
of him that he was a ella monster of
despotism" daughter and applause).
poisoning with his breath the atmos-
phere of American civilization"
In answer to Turner's argument as to
the Cuban patriots having no territory
or capital, Cummings asserted that they
held more ground in Cuba than the
Confederacy had held lin proportion)
one year after the firing on Fort Sump-
ter. And he also declared that if Cen
eral John c. Breckenridge and Jubal
Early had maintained their position
around Washington as long as Maceo
and Gomez had maintained theirs
around Havana the prospects of the
Confederacy would have been much
brighter than they were at the time of
the battle of Bull Run. applause
Call (Rep.) of assachusetts opposed
the resolution. He yielded to no one in
sympathy for the Cuban patriots. but
the House of Representative should be
governed not by it's sympathy, but by
its judgment, and should not start out
with haste and enthusiasm on a path
way which might lead the country into
war. The fact that there were many.
A al
for nothing. The fact that millions
OF American capital were invested
might count for nothing The fact that
the business men of this country had
been overwhelmed with burdens for. the
last three years might count for moth
ing. But it seemed to him that the
Committee on Foreign Affairs should
give to the House Gf il was going to
usurp legislative functions) some def
mite information as to the effect which
the resolutions would have on the peo-
rle of the island. He understood that
the benefits to be conferred by bellig-
erency were very vague, and that under
international law Spain would derive
about the same benefits as the Cubans.
Moody (Rep.) of Massachusetts also
opposed the resolutions, and expressed
his concurrence with the views of Bou-
telle
Tucker (Dem.) of Virginia said that
as the only member of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs who opposed the
resolutions he ''felt like one who treads
alone some banquet hall deserted" but
that he was not to be diverted, because
of the unanimity of the sentiment ex-
Z
committee. The plain right of the citi-
zens, he said, if Spain did not grant to
the patriots (so-called) of their own,
based on the choice of the people, then
the United States was to give it to them
by force of arms.
THE Southern people," Tucker con-
tinued, 'are not for war. They have
had enough of it. They know what
it is. They have borne the burden and
heat of the day, through four years of
war, and they know what it means.
They are to-day pursuing their peace
full avocations. When the proper time
comes they will come to the support
of this Government, and defend it's in
terests against attack. But to-day,
without cause, except sympathy, we
are boldly and defiantly challenging
war with Spain. This resolution, in my
judgment, should not be passed.
fuckers speech closed the arguments
in opposition, and then the arguments
in support of them were wound up by
Hit He explained his hearty concur
renee in the views expressed by Bou-
telle and Turner as to appreciation of
the gravity of the hour. The Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs had considered
the subject for two months. Nearly six
ago, said Hit, the representa-
tievs showed that there were q, 900 men
in arms defending the organization of
the Cuban Republic, SO that the revo-
lutionists had an armed force even if
they had not altogether a Government.
They had a great organized movement,
and that was belligerency and war,
and was entitled to recognition.
I'VE are not seeking a war;" Hit
continued, nor is the Government of
Spain A telegram which I have re-
ceived from the Secretary of State
while this debate has progressed shows
how utterly unlikely it is that an at
tempt will be made by Spain to pick
quarrel with US, and to bring on an un-
necessary war The telegram read: I
nave received a QiSpdlcn from Iay1Or,
United States Minister at Madrid.
which / think your committee and
members of the House should know
The Minister of Spain has just called
On me to express deep regret that mobs
have insulted the Barcelona Consulate,
breaking windows. He had offered COM
plete reparation, and informs me that
his Government. on its own motion, has
taken every precaution to guard lega-
ton
Boutelle asked Hit what impression
that dispatch had made on his mind |