The record-union., 1896-01-30


question. AS predicted in these dis
patches as would be the case, the COM
mittee found itself unable to report
resolutions favoring belligerent rights,
but they took such action as may soon
lead to practically the same thing.
Immediately after the Senate met Nor
gan reported to the Senate the following
resolutions:
Resolved, By the Senate, the House
of Representatives concurring, that
the present deplorable war in the island
of Cuba has reached q magnitude that
concerns all civilized nations, to the
extent that it should be conducted, if
unhappily it is longer to continue, on
those principles and laws of warfare
that are acknowledged to be obligatory
on civilized nations when engaged in
open hostilities, including the treat
ment of captives who are enlisted in
either army; due respect to cartels for
exchange of prisoners and for other
military purposes; truces and flags of
truce; the provision of proper hospitals
and hospital services to the sick and
wounded of either army; be it further
Resolved, That these representations
of the views and opinions Of Congress
be sent to the President, and if he con-
ours therein that he will in a friendly
spirit use the good offices of this Gov
ernment to the end that Spain shall be
requested to accord to the armies with
which it is engaged in war the rights
of belligerents, as the same are recog-
nized under the laws of nations.
These resolutions were accompanied
by a comprehensive report. Among
other things, the committee says:
''The Congress of the United States,
deeply regretting the unhappy state
OF hostilities existing in Cuba, which has
again been the result of the demand of
a large number of the native popula-
ton of that island for its independence,
in a spirit of respect and regard for the
welfare of both countries, earnestly
desire that the security of life and prop
erty and the establishment of perma
nent peace. and of a government that
is satisfactory to the people of Cuba
should be accomplished.
And to the extent that the people of
Cuba are seeking the rights of local
self government for domestic purposes,
the Congress of the United States ex
presses its earnest sympathy with them.
The Congress would also welcome with
satisfaction the concession by Spain of
complete sovereignty to the people of
that island, and would cheerfully give
to such a voluntary concession the COR
dial support of the United States. The
near proximity of Cuba TO the frontier
of the United States, and the fact that
it is universally regarded as a part of
the continental system of America,
identifies that island so closely with the
political and commercial welfare of our
people that Congress cannot be indif-
ferent to the fact that civil war is flag
rant among the people of Cuba.
Nor can we longer overlook the fact
that the destructive character of this
war is doing serious harm to the rights
and interests of our people on the is
land, and to our lawful commerce, the
protection and freedom of which is safe
guarded by treaty obligations"
The committee emphasizes the fact
that the United States in the various
struggles between Cuba and Spain, has
always observed in perfect faith all Of
its duties toward the belligerents. Al
though difficult, the task was performed
with vigor, impartiality and justice, in
the hope that Spain would so ameliorate
give them peace, contentment and pros
perity. The committee say this result
has not been accomplished.
THE hospitality which our treaties,
the laws of nations and Christianity
have extended to the Cuban refugees
has caused the committee adds, dis
trust by the Spanish Government as to
the fidelity of the United States Gov
10 ff.f Hoo r.f1
This distrust has become a source of
serious annoyance to our people, and
has led to a spirit of retaliation toward
Spanish authority in Cuba, thus giving
rise to frequent controversies between
the two countries"
Continuing, the report says: ''The alb
sence of a responsible Government in
Cuba, with powers adequate to deal di-
rectly with questions between the peo-
PIE of the United States and the people
and political authorities of the island
has been a frequently recurring cause of
delay. protracted imprisonment, con-
ffscations of property and the detention
of our people and their ships, often upon
groundless charges, which has been a
serious grievance"
Further along the committee say that
the contemplation of unlawful invasion
by reckless persons, when insurrec-
tions have occurred in Cuba, has given
the Government of the United States
anxiety, trouble and much expense in
the enforcement of our laws and treaty
obligations of neutrality, and these oc-
ca sions have been so frequent as to
make these duties unreasonably oner-
Gus upon the United States Govern
ment.
In the present struggle, the report
says: THE devastation of Cuba in the
war that is now being waged both with
fire and sword is an anxious and dis
tUrbing cause of unrest among the peo-
pie of theUnited States, which creates
strong rounds of protest against the
continuance of the struggle, which is
rapidly changing the issue to one of ex-
istence on the part of a great number
of the native population.
ut is neither just to the relations
that exist between Cuba and the United
States, nor is it in keeping with the
spirit of the age or rights of humanity.
that this struggle should be protracted
until one party or the other should be-
come exhausted in the resources of
men and money thereby weakening
both until they may fall prey to some
stronger power. or until the stress of