The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-28
SPAIN SCORED IN THE SENATE.
,,,sT MAKES a SPIRITED PLEA
FOR THE CUBANs.


cuba All That Remains 10 the
ToothIess Old Wolf, and the Wolf
Unable TO Retain the Cub-The
vote on the senate Resolutions to
Re Taken To-day.
Washington, Feb. IA resolution was
--orred TO the Senate to-day from the
committee on contingent expenses, to au-
-borize the committee on coast defenses
=, lake testimony and then visit such
rrsces as may be necessary. This provis-
ian was objected to by Mr.. COckrell, on
the ground that it would give rowing
Command TO the committee on coast de-
fsrses. The chairman of the committee,
Mr. squire. however. said that the COM
,nittee might desire to examine the de-
lenses of New York city and he was will
ING TO have that limitation put in the res
,,ution. The resolution was amended in
that way, and was agreed to.
The subject of the sea coast defenses
of the country was deliberately treated in
a speech by Mr.. Proctor, rep, of Yer
mont in which he advocated land fortii-
cations in preference to the creation of a
powerful navy.
BILLS appropriating $4,000 for two first
class revenue steamers for the Pacific
coast. and 100000 for public building at
Newport News. Va, were passed. Also
the army appropriation bill. with no great
or delay.than that caused by it's being read
in full. 1t appropriates over $23,0OOOOO,
and is the fifth of the annual appropria-
lion bills that has passed the Senate.
The Cuban belligerency resolution was
taekn up; and on the suggestion of Mr..
Morgan, in charge of it, unanimous con-
sent was given that at / o'clock to-mor-
row the vote shall be taken on the reso-
luton, and all the amendments.
In the colloquy on the subject Mr. Hill
said that he had desired to speak; but
had to leave the city and would not ask
for delay and Mr.. Sherman said that he
would occupy half an hour tomorrow in
his remarks on the resolution.
Mr. White dem, of California, cOntin-
ued the speech begun by him yesterday
contending that the question of the recog-
milton of the Cuban belligerency or of Gu
ban independence was one Solely Wlthln
the AUCTIONS of the executive department.
of the government and that congress mad
no right TO impose its will upon the Pres
ident in such a matter. As to the recog-
milton of Cuban independence, he said, that
the independence of new government
could not be recognized until the real
vital disturbances were practically closed
and until the parent country was us
posed of. Under prevailing conditions the
recognition of the Independence or CUBA
would be not only contrary 10 all prece-
MI Vest asked what would have become
of the struggle for American independence
if France had adopted the policy adXo-
Gated by the senator from CALIFORNIA! me
American people, Mr. Vest sald, Would
have to-day been English subjects, instead
of being free citizens of a free country.
France, during the struggle, had recognlz-
cd the independence OF the Omted states
and had gone further than any other
country had ever gone on a like case-ex-
cept from self-interest. She mad sent her
armies and fleets and had put upon the
people of the United States a debt OF I'M
III We mean to stand by these people
in Cuba, who are initiating us, ana are
themselves, we must help them in their
hour of need. l do not go so far as TO
say that we should do it by arms That
is not advocated by any one in this cham
Der or out of it. We can at least Go II
by stating to the world that We believe
the attempt of this monarchy OF Spain
TO suppress the Instruction (the attempt
TO form a republic in the island of-Cuba),
is absolutely hopeless and helpless as
believe, under God, it is to-day. Never
will come an hour when Spain can reas-
sert her dominion over the island OF Cuba.
1t is impossible for her to DO IT, speak
from the great teachings OF history ana
The course of Spain on this continent
is marked with blood. There was time
when Spanish dominion extended from the
southern limits of the United States TO
the most southerly point OF South America
ing pages of Prescott, which describe
Mexico and Peru, when the Spanardss
with the lust of gold and the lusI OF
across those countries. OF all that vast
dominion, won by blood, won through tor
ture and fire, there remains to-day 70
that toothless old wolf the single island
of Cuba; and Spain to-day, ike giant
despair, in that wonderful picture OF
Bunyan's. sits almost helpless at the
door of the dark cave of despotism and
grins with impotent rage at the process
sion of splendid republics that march on
in the progress of civilization and the tu-
lure
Mr. President, that wolf can never re- =;
tain that single cub. Never can Spain
hold the island Of Cuba after she has lost
all these South American provinces.
This question:" Mr.. Vest went on, is
not whether Cuba has achieved her lnde-
pendenee The question is whether SPAN
can conquer Cuba Can Spain continue 10
hold Cuba. as province? l deny LEI II.
say that the ten long years of SUCCESSFUL
resistance to Spain by Cuba shows that
Cuba to-day has the power to and VIII
maintain successful resistance. This thing
a wear ago was what the French call an
emuete, a mere handful of men called
brigands' the east coast some or
whom were hung as pirateS-hostes hu-
mani gerisu-to-day it is an insurrectlon.
Every Cuban is a patriot. The Cubans
have given up homes, families, every ming NJ, l
people like that can be conquered; never,
never never. Will they again be willing
subjects to the throne of Spain?
Der the burning Grafton of Henry Clay
when he spoke for Greece in 1874; ana
when he predicted that so long as Their.
mopylae and Marathon were remembered
no Greek would lay down his arms before
the Turkish power. We are told that the
Cuban insurrectionists are negroes, mu-
IattOs, Indians. So much the more is the
reason we should say, God help them in
their dire extremity. Liberty lives with
the poor and oppressed, not with
the wealthy and powerful: 1t throbs in the
breast of the imprisoned bird; it has gone
with the martyr to the stake, and has
taken its flight with his soul to GOD.
Liberty cannot be extinguished when a
people are unanimously in defense of
rights which God has given them. And
II these people, ignorant and poor strug-
Cling against despotism, have initiated us,
why should we content ourselves with a
bare expression of sympathy with their
cause? 1t is a mere farce for US to do
anything else than to declare our belief
70 the world that the Spanish cause is
helpless in the island of Cuba
| deny and repudiate the doctrine that
oil vestige of Spanish power must be elm
mated from Cuba, before we can recognize
ne Independence of that people. Are we
10 wait until the island is made desolate