The San Francisco call., 1896-03-25
FIERY WORDS IN
CUBA'S CAUSE,
Senator Mills of Texas
Hurls Defiance at
Spain.
HIS JOINT RESOLUTION.
Declares the United States Should
Enforce the Rights of the
Patriots.
THAT IS THE MONROE DOCTRINE
If Necessary the Army and Navy
Ought to Seize the Troubled
Islands.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 24.-The
matter OF chief interest in the Senate to-
day was the speech of Mills of Texas. in
the President to procure from the Spanish
Government the right of self-government
for Cuba, or in the event of Spain's re-
fusal to take military possession OF the
island and hold it until the Cubans organ
ize government and raise military and
naval forces for its defense. Mills took the
ground that, inasmuch as the United States
would not permit England, France or any
other country to purchase or obtain the
island from Spain and thus ameliorate the
condition of the inhabitants, the United
States was morally bound to put stop
to the cruelties and misgovernment
there, and to aid the Cubans in
establishing a government of their
own. This idea was elaborated by Mills in
a passionate speech, which at times drew ap-
plause from the galleries. He asserted that
the United States had the rights not only
in Cuba, but in every foot OF soil in the
western hemisphere; that that was the
Monroe doctrine; that that doctrine was
as old as humanity, and that God AL
mighty was its author. as it was the right
of self preservation. THE United States
should say to Spain," Mills exclaimed,
F" "'You must give that island self-govern-
ment or we will; we are able to do it,
too.'"
After Mills speech some additional cor
respondence bearing on the Cuban ques-
ton was brought forward by Morgan of
Alabama and then the joint resolution was
placed on the calendar.
A bill was reported from the Judiciary
Committee and passed amending the law
in regard to the punishment of Indians for
a felonious assault (the penalty now being
death) so as to leave it discretionary with
the court.
Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts, offered
resolution, which was agreed to, requiring
the President to transmit to the Senate
copies of all dispatches, notes and tele-
grams iny the Department of State from
November, 1875, until the pacification of
Cuba in 1873, which relate to mediation or
Intervention by the United States in the
affairs of that island, together with all
correspondence with foreign Governments
relating to the same topic.
The joint resolution introduced yester-
day by Mills (D.) of Texas, looking to the
seizure of the island of Cuba by the
United States in case the Spanish Govern
ment shall refuse to grant self-government
to the Cubans, was taken up. and Mills
addressed the Senate in advocacy of it.
He would have voted, he said, for all the
resolutions offered on the subject of Cuba
because they were steps-although short
steps-in the line of march which it was
the duty of the people of the United
States to take. The island of Cuba
did not. Mills declared, stand in
the same relation to the people
OF the United States as Hungary, Poland,
Ireland or Armenia did. If it did, then
the craftsmanship of the United States
had been at fault for a hundred years. The
United States had never asserted that it
had any rights In Ireland, Hungary, Po-
land or elsewhere in Europe. but it had
asserted its rights in every solitary acre of
land on the western hemisphere. 1t had
there the highest right-the right of self
preservation. The Monroe doctrine, he
declared, was as old as humanity and God
Almighty was its author. For when he
made man he placed in him the right to
preserve his life and liberty. The fathers
OF the republic had said for hundred
years to Cuba, to England, to France. to
all the earth: "You shall not touch one
solitary acre of this land with your SOW
ereignty.''
1--WE have said," Mills continued, "that
we will resist with ali the power of this
Government the transfer of the island of
Cuba to any European power. Jefferson
said it. Gallatin said it. John Quincy
Adams said II Henru CLAW said IL Mar.