The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-28
ELOQUENCE OF Mr.. VEST
The Senator from Missouri Pleads
for the Cuban Patriots.
INTEREST IN THH STRUGGLE
War for Inde pc ndence Of Cuba the Sub.
iect Of Oratory in Senate and
House-PossibiIities Of a
War with Spain.

Washington, Feb. 27.--The cause of
Cuban Independence had strong advo-
cacy and support in the senate today
In u speech OF fervid and impassioned
eloquence, delivered by Senator Vest.
of Missouri. He spoke of Spain as
toothless old wolf sitting at the door of
the cave of deSpotism and grnning at
the procession OF free republics; and he
denounced the declaration of Captain
General Weyler and asked whether the
senate should sit silently and dumb
while the CubanS We're butchered into
subsection to the Spanish queen. IF
we do" he exclaimed, God will curse
us. The time Will come when there Will
be u retribution upon us as people.
because we have not been true to the
task assigned us by Providence, and
have not cherished the legacy of self
government beQueathed to us by our
fathers"
Mr.. Vests splendid rhetoric was list
ened to with rapt attention and great
admiration by - full senate and crowd
ed galleries, and his peroration was APP
plauded on all sides. He was followed
by Mr. Gray, of Delaware, who compli-
mented him with the remark that II
the independence OF Cuba could be
achieved by eloquence it had been
achieved by the burning words that had
fallen from the lips of the senator from
Missouri. No one could have heard
them, he said, without sympathiZing
WIN IeellHS Will WIlltn tHt
tors heart was throbbing, and without
giving favorable response to every as
piration which he had uttered for that
unhappy island.
Mr. Gray went on to argue the futil-
ity Of declaring Cuban independence
when every senator knew that the
struggle for 1t was not yet successful.
The Cuban debate Is to be continued
tomorrow, Senator Sherman, of Ohio,
being one of the senators who is to
take part in it: and the voting on the
resolution and amendments Is to begin
at j. m.
The subject of the seacoast defences
Of the country was deliberately treated
In Il speech by Senator Proctor, OF Ner-
mont in which he advocated land for
tifications in preference to the crea-
tion of a powerful navy; and 1t was
announced Immediately that the COM
mittee on fortificationS contemplated a
trip to New York to examine the de-
fences of that harbor.
Bills appropriating $500, 900 first
class revenue steamers for the Pacific
coast and 100000 for a public build
ing at Newport News. Va, were passed.
Also the army appropriation bill, with
no greater delay than that caused by
its being read in full. 1t appropriates
over $23, 1000, 900. and Is the fifth of the
annual appropriation bills that has
passed the senate.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The house of representatives today
was on the verge of declaring it to be
the sense OF congress that the govern
ment Of the United States should rec
ogniZe the belligerency of the revolu-
tionists In Cuba, maintain an attitude
Of neutrality between them and the
Spanish government, tender it's good
offices to secure. Cuban independence,
and, to intervene in the conflict pro-
crossing on that island, IL necessary
TO protect legitimate American inter-
ests there. But the objection by Mr..
Boutelle (Rep., Maine) prevented the
great majority of the house from carry
ing out its desire and the matter has
gone over until later in the day.
The incident was the climax of the
proceedings of an important and inter
esting season. At once. after the read
ing of the journal. the house proceeded
TO further discuss the contested elec-
tion case of Van Horn VS.. Tarnsey from
the Fifth Missouri district. and the de-
bate was continued until 430, at which
hour by previous agreement, the vote
was taken. Messrs Prince Qllinois),
Long (kansas) and johnson Undiana),