The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-30

the issue to one of existence on the part Of
great number of the native population.
1t 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 strug-
gle should be protracted until one party or
the other should become 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 human sympathy or the resentments
engendered by the long and bloody con-
hict should draw into the strife the unruly
elements of neighb oring countries.
This civil war, though it is great in its
proportions and is conducted by armies
that are in complete organization and di-
rected and controlled by supreme military
authority, has not the safeguard OF car
tel for the treatment of wounded soldiers
or prisoners of war. In this feature of the
warfare it becomes duty OF humanity
that the civilized powers should insist
upon the application of the laws of war
recognized among civilized nations TO both
armies. AS our own people are drawn
into this struggle on both sides and enter
either army without the consent of our
Government and in violation OF our laws,
their treatment when they may be
wounded or captured, although it is not
regulated by treaty and ceases to be a
positive care of our Government, should
not be left TO the revengeful retaliation
which exposes them to the fate of pirates
or other felons.
The inability of Spain to subdue the
reyolutionists by the measures and within
the time that would be reasonable, when
applied to occasions ot ordinary civil dis
turbance, is misfortune that cannot be
Justly visited upon the people of the
United States, nor can it be considered
that a state of open civil war does not
exist, but that the movement is a mere
insurrection and its supporters mob of
criminal violators of the law, when it is
seen that it requires an army of 100000
men and all the naval and military power
of a great kingdom even to hold the al
legged rebellion in check.
''It is due to the situation of affairs in
Cuba that Spain should recognize the ex-
istence of a state OF war in the island and
should voluntarily accord to the armies op-
posed to her authority the rights OF
CSA4iEO4CAlto uiucI IuS 1dNS Vi udLlOIlS.
In conclusion the committee saws that
"the Congress of the United States, recog-
nizing the fact that the matters herein
to are properly within the control
of the chief executive and within the prin-
ciples of our constitution, it becomes the
duty of Congress to define the final atti-
tude of the Government of the United
States toward Spain. 1t presents these
considerations to the President in support
of the resolution which the committee this
morning reported favorably to the Senate"
A minority report was submitted by
Senator Cameron. Cameron favored the
immediate passage of a resolution request
ing the President to interpose his friendly
offices with the Spanish Government for
the recognition of the independence of
Cubr, and in his report he cited much of
the history of the late War of the Rebel
lion to show the attitude of the Spanish !
toward the United States at !.
that time.
When the vote in committee was taken |
several Senators were absent. but all pres
ent voted for the resolutions, which were
drawn by Morgan, among them being
Morgan, Todd, Gray, Turpie and Frye.
Members of the commi ttee say that un-
less Spain shows q speedy determination |