The herald., 1897-04-06
Leads to Protest by the
Senate
THE PRESIDENT ADVISED
TO MAKE OBJECTION TO III
vERA's MURDER
Other Subjects Are Discussed but
Nothing Else Voted on--Flint
Gets His Office
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The senate
today by unanimous vote adopted q
resolution reciting the reports that Gen.
Ruiz Rivera, the Cuban commander, Is
about to be tried by drumhead court
martial and shot, and expressing the
judgment of the senate that If these re-
ports are true, the president Of the
United States should protest to the Span
ish government against such violation
of the rules of civilized, warfare. This
resolution does not go to the house Of
representatives and becomes effective
as a measure of advice to the president
by It's adoption today. Although oppo-
sition was withdrawn on the final vote.
there was a spirited opposition In the
early stages of the debate and test vote
on the comparative strength of the Gu
ban and anti-Cuban sentiment In the
senate. The test occurred on motion
to refer the resolution to the commit
tee on foreign relations.
Hale maine, Rep), who has been
prominently identified to the opposition
to Cuban resolutions, made the motion
of Massachusetts,, another prominent
figure in the opposition to Cuban reso-
lutions. The debate was very spirited.
and at times quite personal, Allen Of
Nebraska and Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire clashing with Hoar. The Hale
motion to refer was defeated, 81 to 81,
and the resolution was adopted, A to 0.
Hoar and Hale refrained from voting.
Another Cuban resolution COMES up
tomorrow, that of Morgan of Alabama,
declaring that a state of war exists In
Cuba and recognizing both parties as
belligerents.
After the disposal of the Cuban ques-
ton, the day was given to speeches. Mr..
Elkins of West Virginia speaking for
two hours ON the development of tho
American merchant marine, and Lind
say of Kentucky advocating the pas
sage of the bankruptcy bill known as ths
Torrey bill, now before the senate.
Late in the day joint resolution by
Bate of Tennessee was agreed to. d.
recting the surgeon general of the ma
rine hospital service to aid the Missis-
sippi river flood sufferers by the distri-
button of tents, blankets, food and
medicine under the epidemic fund OF
1899. and to purchase further supplies
under the present epidemic fund, for
distribution.
When the Cuban debate was precip-
itated Allen emphatically dissented. he
said. from the proposition that the amer
ican congress must sit idly by while
this savage and barbarous contest pro-
ceeds at our threshold. Within 100 miles
of our shore women and children we're
being butchered and the methods OF
civilized warfare set at defiance. MUIR
der, rapine and devastation were play
ing their part in the destruction OF
the island, and were we, as Christian
people, he asked. to sit by and not
raise our voice in defense of these
Allen declared that Spain's course had
been one of bloodshed and cruelty.
This was so notably true as to recent
events In the Philippine islands and In
Cuba that Spain had been made as
an "outlaw nation" not entitled to rec
ognition by civilized nations. 1t was
time for us to act, declarNt the senator.
"If the president will send our navy
to Cuba" exclaimed Allen, aid warn
Spain that she must observe the meth
DDS of civilized war, or every Spanish
seaport will be razed to its foundations.
hostilities would cease and Cuba woul9
be free within three months"
Hoar (Mass., Rep.) responded In .
calm and impressive manner. He spoke
of the aspirations of the founders Of
the government in establishing the sem
ate as the stay and resisting power
against those passionate and fitful gusts
of sentiment that had wrecked every
republic on earth. He believed in the
dignity and greatness of the senate in
spite of ignorant criticisms and OF the
scurrility of the London Times. But
there were some gentlemen who seemed
to think that the function Of the senate
was to edit daily newspaper and ped
die 1t out at or cents a copy. gath
ering up all current reports and current
events and prophesying events to o.
cur. In the pending resolution congress
was asked to give an affront to pow
erful and friendly nation. The symbol
of the senate was more properly the
sturdy and slow-maturing oak rather
than the mushroom, which rotted in an
hour. This resolution was based on mere
prophecy, surmise and prediction"
1T is a fact" asserted Allen from
across the aisle. Does the senator
(Hoar) confess himself in such igne-
rance?"
Hoar declined to yield, but Allsn
insisted on repeating that the danger =
General Rivera was an authenticated
fact. known to all people.
Hoar. continuing, asked the Nebraska
senator to possess his beautiful soul In
patience" He denied that there Wao
anything but report and prophecy st the
basis of this resolution. Prophecy wac
far from being an exact science. Hoar
rejected with indignation assertionp
that he was guided on this great q0ep> S