Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-03
DIFFERS FROM THE FORMER IN veRBlAeg
Much More Precise and Definite in Its
Statements.
pPosITloN MUSTERED SEVENTEEN VOTES
Debate on the Measure Less Sensational
Than in the Senate.
EXPRESS NO FEAR OF IMPENDING WAR
Turner, Tucker and BoutcIIc Lead
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Say
They HIVE Had War
Enough.

Enough
WASHINGTON, March Cuba Libre had
field day in the house. Despite the war
talk from Spain, the struggling patriots in
Cuba were eulogzed and sympathized with in
two hours debate, and the rules were then
suspended and the resolutions by the house
foreign affairs committee were adopted as a
substitute for those of the senate by an over
whelming majority, 2S6 to II.
An analysis of the vote shows that 1888 re-
publcans, forty-three democrats and five
populists voted for the resolutions and nine
republicans and eight democrats against
them. The debate which preceded their
adoption was animated, and breathed a spirit
OF liberty. At times 1t was exceedingly
dramatic, and particularly when forebodings
of war were uttered, but there was no stem
ming the strong tide. The setting Of the
scene was brilliant. The galleries were
black with people attracted by the prospect
Of the stirring event. In the reserved gall
lery were many prominent person.
ages. Even the displomatic gallery.
which is usually empty, was thronged
with the representatives of foreign countries.
On the floor the attendance was the largest
of the session. A number of senators came
over from the other end of the capitol to
watch the debate. The enthusiasm Of the
members and spectators ran riot several
times, and the opponents of the bill cut a
sorry figure when they attempted to counter
demonstration.
Owing to the brief time allotted for de-
bate, members were fortunate in securing
two or three minutes to present their ideas.
Under suspension of the rules a bill was
passed to grant the Arkansas & Northwest
ern railroad right Of way through the In
dian Territory, and a bill to retire Lieutenant
Commander r M Rrowp
OF the officers injured in the Samoan wreck,
as commander, was defeated 5S to SIS. The
senate resolution directing the secretary or
agric' ture to purchase and distribute the
seeds authorized by the current law was
adopted.
Mr.. Hit. chairman CT the foreign affairs
committee, arose. Immediately hush fell
on the house. He, moved to suspend the
rules and pass the resolutions reported by
the house foreign affairs committee fer recog-
nzing Cuban belligerency, as follows:
Resolved, BY the house of representatives,
Of congress state of public war exists
tn tn SIR f to h fe saes
should observe strict neutrality between
Resolved, That congress deplores the de-
struct!on of life and property caused by the
war now waging in the island, and believ-
the people OF Cuba and other nations would
the choice Of the people Of GEba It is tRs Hs
sense of congress that the government of
and friendly Influence to that end.
Resolved That the United States has not
nd tReT eooneys
on this continent, but from the very close
and Sesn m 9e h of the United
of its proximity and the extent of the COM
msrce e between zen the two peoples the present
Of the United States that congress is of
the opinion that the government of the
the legitimate interests of Americans by
intervention, If necessary.
MATURED WITH CARE.
"These resolutions" said Mr.. Hit, "have
been considered with great care by the for
eign affairs committee. In many meetings,
through several months the question has
been discussed They have been rpened and
matured after consultation with the most
eminent jurists. In the interests Of right
of peace, of our own country, and in the in
terest of those who are making a struggle
with which we sympathiZe we believe these
resolutions present the more practical. con-
serVative and effective mode of action. They
propose first, that congress shall express its
opinion that a state of public war exists in
the island of Cuba, and that we recognize it.
Second that the conditions prevailing on that
island, which have involved such great and
deplorable losses will find a permanent So
luton only in the establishment of a gov
ernment by the free choice cf the people Of
Cuba themselves, and that our gov
interest Ct Spain, of Cuba, and of all
other nations. And, third. in view of the
vast interests Of our people in the island of
Cuba so close a neighbor, in view of the
immense commerce that Is being destroyed
and the prodlgious investments Of our Amer
lean citizens there being consumed that our
government, while II has never entered into
any connection between European powers
and their colonies in any of the struggles
which have taken place between them, should
be prepared 10 protect the interests of cur
American citizens by Intervention, II inter-
yention be necessary, The resolutions ought
not to cause any trouble between us and any
country not seeking to foment trouble
with us.
II think that gentleman will agree with
me, that the proposition Of the committee is
far more prudent and effective than the
senate resolution FIRST, as to the belliger-
ency of the Cubans--that there Is state
of war Is fact shown by many things
besides newspaper reports. The official re-
ports Of our consuls show the growth and
extent Of the war. II Is net a production OF
the ten years insurrecton OF 1868 to 1873.
More than one-half year ago the consuls
report that the armed forces then In the
field contonding with desperate earnestness
and unconquerable viii, were three times
greater than the men engaged in the re-
belllon of 1865, when at the height of it's
power, and the tide Of war has swept on
from ons side Of the island to the othep
until today the Spanish authority Is not ID
'"'t sAVlfNeu VNe' ""'e 'hHh oHS-th'iub
probably not more than one-fourh of Ito
territory.
EXTENT OF THE FORCES.
"The Spanish minister made public state.
ment on February %, in which he said that
125, 900 troops have been sent to the island
by Spain. IL not that war? Is that police
force putting down a street disturbance?
Recently the captain general of Cuba Issued
a lengthy proclamation, which we have read
with horror, which contained detailed reguIa-
tiOns and prescriptions concerning this
war, in the very terms aud spirit OF ths
orders issued by Nap ellen when he CONS
the greatest forces ever enlisted IN
modern warfare.
1T will not do to say that this Is guerills
warfare; 10000 OF the finest 01lders thai
ever marched into Spain took possession Of
Ito cities, as the Spanish troops have taken
possession Of the Cuban cities aud assumed
to subdue people who could only resist
by means Of guerilla warfare; az what was