Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-03


 to declare that a state of public war ex- ists in the island of Cuba"
 As to the recognition of the southern Confederacy by Spain, Mir. Turpie re called the fact that the people of the Confederacy held at the time region of country extending from the mouth of the Potomac to the Rio Grande, and that it had an army against which the com bined legions of Caesar and the pha- lanxes of Alexander would have been utterly unavailing. (Applause) He was amazed that an effort was made to do in this country what was done in Barcelona yesterday--to appeal to the mob spirit with tales of Spanish horrors and atrocf- ties. He reminded the house that the Spanish government had made the amende honorable to the government of the United States for what had occurred yesterday in Spain, and had apologlzed for It. The Spaniards, MT. Turner said, might be high blooded people, but they had within their breasts the spirit of an- cient chivalrv. The stories told Of span ish outrages n Cuba were utterly 1ncred- ible. He did not believe in the unspeak- able outrages said to have been perpe- trated under the orders of General Wey- Ter during the last insurrectlon in Cuba. Besides, at that time General Weyler was not in command, but was subordl- nate officer He recalled General Grants statement in one of his messages to con gress on the subject that during those ten years of struggle the Cuban general, Ouesada. had at one time executed $50 prisoners of war tat one fell swoop. 50 that after all it was only story or mu- tual atrocities. He did not believe that state of war such as was understood under international law existed in Cupa. And he again referred to General Grant, who had laid down the rule that in order to recognize belhgerency it must be made to appear that the insurgents held an extensive territory, had an organized government, a capital, at least some sea port. and that they could give protection to citizens and could levy and collect taxes
 ..What information" MT. Turner asked. 'haye we from the gentlemen reporting these resolutions on single or these m portant and material questions? Wno IS the president of this so-called repuonc! I understand that he is a citizen of the United States, and l understand that ne is now in the United States, instead or taking his fate along with the patriots fighting for freedom. Where is the capl- tai of that country? How many men have the insurgents in their army! Who knows? What great battles nave tney fought? Where are their gallant chief tains who have met the eDemy in the open plains? Instead of war, we have had only stories of conf1agration, lncen- diarism, dynamite, destruction or prop erty and assassination.
 If had my way the first time an out rage was committed on any one or our citizens in Cuba would send our navy to the island. I would send 10000 men to rescue any American citizen from wrong and oppression and the question is whether we shall, in the dark, without information, take a measure Whlcn would affect our friendly relations wltn Spain, and on which may depend such o ,oonoantous oi1estion as that of peace and war.
 MT. Turner was followed on the oppo- site side of the question by MT smith, republican, of Michigan, and he by MT. Boutelle, republican, of Maine, on the same side He argued against haste. He did not mean to say that the adoption of the resolution would necessitate war, but he would say that it was the enter ing wedge; that the house was entering upon a course which led to war; and that, whether rightfully or wrongfully, the house ought not to do that under sus- pension of the rules, but only in accord ance with every rule of deliberation to safeguard such action. (Some applause)
 MT. Cummings, democrat, of New York, advocated the resolutions. He called General Weyler "a gilamonster of despotism' daughter and applause) He said h 1isoned with his breath the atmosphere of American civilization In answer to MT. Turner's argument as to the Cuban's patriots having no ter ritory or capital, MT Cummings assert ed that they held more ground in Cuba that the Confederacy had held Gin propor- portion) one year after the firing on Fort Sumter. And he also declared that if Gen. John C. Breckenridge and Jubal Early had maintained their position around Washington as long as Maceo and Gomez had maintained theirs around Havana, the prospects of the Confedera- cy would have been much brighter than they were at the time of the battle Of Bull Run. (Applause)
 MT. Mccall, republican, of Massa- chusetts, opposed the resolutions. He yielded to one in sympathy for the Gu ban patriots but the house of represent tatives should be governed not by sym pathy, but it's judgment and should not start with haste and enthusiasm on a pathway which might lead the country into war.
 MT. Moody, republican, of Massachu- sets, also opposed the resolution and ex- pressed his concurrence with the views of Mr. Boutelle.
 MT. Tucker democrat, of Virginia, said that as the only one of the committee on foreign affairs who opposed the resolutions, he felt like one who treads alone some banquet hall deserted; that he was not to be di- yerted because of the unanimity of sem
 
 of the committee from expressing his honest sentiment about "the dangerous character of those resolutions" The sec ond resolution, if presented to Great Brit ain in the case of the Irish people, who have been struggling for 100 years for To- cal self-government, would be considered by Great Britain as an affront. It de- clared that the people of the United States believed and that other nations believed that the only permanent solu- tion of the contest was in recognizing the independence of Cuba. He expected that "other nations would rather do their own thinking" and he asked: What right have we to dictate to foreign country with which we are on friendly relations what sort of government any of her people should haveY
 The plain English of the resolution was that if Spain did not grant to the Cuban patriots (so-called) a government of their own, based upon the choice or the people, then the United States was to give it 10 them by force of arr-s. The southern people," MT. Tucker continued, "are not for war. They have had enough of it. They know what it is. They have borne the burden and heat of the day through four years of war, and they know what it means. They are today pursuing their peaceful avocations. When the proper time comes they will come to the support