The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-17
HE'S AFTER GROVER
MORGAN TAKES a FRESH START
ON THE CUBAN QUESTION.


Cuban BeIIigerency May be Fixed
Where 1t Belongs-Bow Diplomatic
Fiction Protracts the Contest in Cuba
spaip,s Case One of Brszen Denial.
Washington, May 1.-THE Cuban
question was revived in the senate 10
day when Mr. Morgan OF AiaDdhla'
who reported the original resolution
smoke in favor OF further and more de-
cisive action toward the recognition
of the Cubans as belllgerents. Ihe
senator declared il to be the duty OF
congress to adopt joint resolutions on
heIIigerency which, unlike the previous
concurrent resolutions, should require
tine approval of the president and thus
6x responsibility. At the close of Mr..
Norgan's speech, the senate adopted,
without division, the resolutions intro
duced by him directing the committee
on foreign relations TO inquire into and
report on the treaty relations between
the United States and Spain relating
10 the Americans now under condem-
nation at Havana, also requesting the
president for the recent diplomatic cor
respondence with Spain on the subject.
The resolutions have no reference TO
the recognition of beliigerency, although
they served Mr.. Morgan as a text Tor
his speech on that line.
Eulogies We're delivered on the late
W. H. Grain, of Texas, after which, as
a further mark of respect TO the deceas-
ed, the senate adjourned.
CASE RESTS ON DENTAL
MIR. Morgan in his speech said the
proximity of the island to our shores,
our commercial relations with the Gu
hans, the American ownership OF much
property there, the actual residence or
many Americans etc, all combined TO
compel US to examine into the condi-
tions existing in Cuba and determine
for ourselves whether a state OF war;
or a state of peace existed.
He spoke of the Impotence or the
American people in witnessing the pain
full occurrences in Cuba, while our gov
eminent measured the losses by dollars
and he submitted claims for compensa-
ton for individual losses. A great
civil conflict had waged in Cuba since
the fall Of 1894, he said, and had in
crea sed with startling magnitude until
$780, 900 Spanish troops were in the field.
Yet, upon a denial of these self-evident
facts rested the position Of Spain that
the hunted States must not recognize
a condition of war existing.
A DIPLOMATIC FICTION.
Mr.. Morgan said the fragrant condi-
ton existing might escape the atten-
ton of those in authority, yet it must
shock the world that a diplomatic fall
lacy permits the assertion that no war
exists The diplomatic fallacy is sus-
tained by the claim that the Cubans
have no forts, when the wise general
ship of the Cubans kept them from con-
centrating in forts. 1t was sustained
also by the claim that the Cubans had
no fleet and no seaports when 1t was
evident that these could be maintained
only by heavy artillery and equip
ments not possessed by the insurgents.
These, said the senator. were the as
sertions Of carpet knights and chlVal-
rio warriors, but TO sensible military
leaders bent on gaining independence
rather than a display Of sentiment, they
were the climax of absurdity.
The senator declared that the offenses
committed 10Y those Americans now
held at Havana were no more serious
than smuggling. 1t was the first duty
of this government 10 demand that the
military trial of the prisoners be set
aside Until this was done, no other
or further negotiations should be con-
sidered. Until set aside, declared Mr..
Morgan. every day is a day of national
humiliation TO US as a people.
A SEARCH FOR EXCUSES.
After reviewing the course Of the
limited States in the struggles for free
institutions. the senator compared it
with the search for technical and frtv-
oIous excuses TO debar from remedies
against such tyrants as Weyler." He
referred to the conclusive evidences OF
atrocities and the shooting of non-com-
batants.
with war recognized as existing.
the laws of war as applied by the law
of nations would become applicable to
our citizens now serving in Cuba and
would forbid Spain from treating them
as insurrectionists."
Mr.. Morgan said in conclusion: at
is therefore the proper course for con-
gress to observe. to send joint reso-
luton to the president declaring that a
state Of public war exists in. Cuba and
that the parties engaged in that war
are bclligerents, TO each Of whom the
laws Of nations equally apply, if such
is the opinion of congress.
This is a duty of wise and sincere
patriotism. although ii may not be 9th
er wise imperative. for the reason that
such a declaration is not legislative
oct and is not. therefore, required 10 be
sent to the president for his approval
Congress can waive that question and
should not raise il in a matter that
does not necessarily involve the status
of the Internal distribution of the pow
ers of our own government whether
st IS in a state Of war or peace. hut only
concerns a duty we owe 10 our people
In determining for ourselves whether
a state Of war or 4 condition OF peace
exists in Cuba.
To FIN RESPONSIBILITY.
''If the president. acting on the as
sumption that a declaration OF the ex-
istence Of war in Cuba. and recogni-
ton of the rights Of parties engaged
in that war as ibellgereats falls within
his exclusive constitutional power in
conducting diplomats intercourse with
foreign governments, should choose 10
ignore the existence Of such a war. con-
Eress, after the almost unanimous ex-
preston Of opinion on that subject, owes
Il 10 the honor OF this body 10 devolve
the responsibility upon the president.
Under existing circumstances some de-
partments of the government must be
Some responsible to our own people and
10 the judgment of mankind for con-
tinuing TO permit the falsehood 10 re-
main unrebuked that peace prevails
n Cuba and that war does not exist
there. Whether il is congress or the
president that denies the facts and re-
pudiates the appeal 70 the sentiments