Evening star., 1896-01-29
CUBAN RESOLUTIONS
Majority Report of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee.
MR.. CAMERON'S MINORITY REPORT
Neither ContempIates More Than
This Governments Good Offices.
MATHIS IN THE HOUSE

There was an interesting prospect in the
Senate today. Mr.. Tillman Is. CO had
given notice of a financial speech, which
vas to be the first since he entered the
senate. There was added interest from the
Senator's unique personality, his reputa-
ton for vehement oratory, and his promi-
nence while governor of South Carolina
during the state dispensary excitement
Mr.. Mitchell (OregD and Mr.. Call CFIa.)
also expected to speak, and possibly Mr.
Villas Wis) and Mr.. Palmer uI). A long
session was expected. as Mr.. Jones (ArkD,
In charge of the bond silver bill. desired
to clear the way of speeches IN order 10
make an effort 10 secure a vote tomorrow
Cuban Resolution.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala), from the committee
ON foreign relations, reported on the reso-
luton for the recognition of tie belligerent
rights of the Cuban insurgents The Sena-
tor read the report in full stating that it
Favored action on a substitute resolution.
The reading of the resolution and report
was followed with close attention 10y Sem
ators.
| Following is :, copy of the resolution, .,
| full:
Resolved by the Senate 0he House Of
Representatives concurring), That the pres
ent deplorab!e war in the Island of Cuba
mas reached magnitude that concerns all
ciNtllZed nations to the extent that il should
| be conducted. if unhappily it is longer 10
continue, on those principles and laws Of
| warfare that are acknowledged TO be obli-
/ gatory upon civilized nations when en-
| gagged i'm open hostiiities, including the
treatment of captives who are enlisted in
eilher army due respect TO cartels for
eAchange OF prisoners and for Other mill
| tary purposes; truces and flags of truce;
the provision of proper hospitals and hos
pltal supplies, and services to the sick and
1 wounded OF either army; be il further
/. Resolved, That this representation of
! the views and opinions of Congress be sent
| TO The President, and if he concurS therein
| that he WILL in friendly spirit use the
| good Offices Of this government to the end
| that Spain shall be requested to accord TO
| the armies with W hich it is engaged in war
the rights Of belligerents as the same are
| recognized under the law of nations.
| The Accompanyin Rcpart.
| The resolution was accompanied by a re-
port. The report says: THE Congress Ct
the United States, deeply regretting the un-
happy state of hostilties existing i'm Cuba.
which has again been the result of the de-
mand of large number of the native popu-
| lation of that island for its independence
| III spirit CT respect and regard for the
| welfare of both countries, earnestly de-
sires that the security Of life and property
and the establishment Of permanent peace
and of a government that is satisfactory
TO the people of Cuba should he accom-
| plished. And 20 the extent that the people
| OF Cuba are seeking the rights OF local
| self-government for domestic purposes the
| Congress of the United States expresses
| its earnest sympathy with them. The Con-
gress would also welcome with satisfaction
| the concession by Spain of complete SOW
| ereignty 10 the people Of that island, aid
would cheerfu!ly give TO such a voluntary
| concession the cordial 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
| a part of the continental system OF Amer
| lea, identifies that island so closely with
| the political and commercial welfare of our
people that Congress cannot be Indifferent
to the fact that civil war is fragrant
| among the people of Cuba"
Injury to Commerce.
The report then sets forth that il is I'M
| possible to longer overlook the fact that
the destructive character OF the war is do
ing serious harm to the rights and inter
ests of cur people on the island and to our
lawful commerce. the protection and free
| dom of which is safeguarded by treaty OBJ
| lgaticns 1t is recalled that in former
| wars of the same character as the present
| the United States has always observed all
| of its duties toward the belligerents. This,
the report says, was difficult task, but
| 1T was performed with vigor, impartiality
| and justice in the hope that Spain would
SO emeliorate the condition of the Cuban
people as to give them peace, contentment
| and prosperity. This desirable result has
not teen accomplished. Its failure has not
resulted from any interference on the part
of our people the government with the
people or government of Cuba.
"The hospitality which our treaties, the
laws of nations and the laws Of Christian
ity have extended to Cuban refugees IN
the United States has caused distrust on
the part of the Spanish government as 10
the fidelity of our government to Its obli-
cations of neutrality in the frequent nsur.
rections of the people of Cuba against
Spanish authority. This distrust has often
| become a source of serious annoyance TO
our people. and has led to spirit of re-
taliation toward Spanish authority in
Cuba, thus giving rise to frequent contro-
versies.''
Temptation TO Filibustcrs.
Reference is made to the absence of re-
, sponsble government in Cuba as cause
of delay of protracted imprisonment and
property confiscations; also 10 the fact
that these Cuban instructions have ever
proved a temptation to filibus:ers from
this country, causing trouble and expense.
1t is asserted that the devastation of Cuba
in the present war that is being waged
with fire and sword" is a cause Of unrest
| among the people of the United States,
| creating strong ground for protest against
| its continuance. This struggle, the report
says, is rapidly changing the issue 10 one
of existence on the part of great num-
| ber of the native population. The report
| continues: "It is neither just to the rela-
tons that exist between Cuba and the
| United States nor is IL IN Keeping WITH the
spirit of the age or the rights of humanity
| tina. this struggle should be protra cted un-
| til 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 strong power, or un-
| til the stress of human sympathy or the re
sentiments engendered by long and bloody
| conflict should draw into the strife the
| unruly elements OF neighboring countries
| This civil war, though it is great in its
proportions, and is conducted by armies
that are in complete organization and d.
| rectei and controlled toy supreme military
authority, has not safeGuerd OF a cartel
. | for the treatment of wounded soldiers or
| prisoners of war.
ssIn this feature of the warfare il becomes
. tiutv of humanity that the civilized pow
ers should insist upon the application OF
| the laws of war, recognized among civil
: lied 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 10
be a positive care of our government. should