Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-06
M'KINIEY'S DUTY
In the Case of the Cuban lnsur-
gent Ruis Rivera,
AS LAID DOWN BY THE SENATORS,

Should Protest Against His Trial and Exc
cution by Court-Martial - Resolution,
Adopted - to O, Hoar and Hale No,
Voting-Allen of Nebraska Very Beliiy
erent-Hoar's Idea of What the Senate
Should Be-Outiine of the Debate.
Washington, April 6.-The senate yes
terday by unanimous vote adopted a
resolution recitirg the reports that Gen.
erai Ruis Rivera, the Cuban com.
mander, is about to be tried by drum
head court martial and shot, ard ex-
pressing the judgment of the senate
that If these reports are true the pres
ident of the United States should pro-
test to the Spanish government against
such violation of the rules of civilized
warfare. This resolution does not go to
the house Of Representatives, and be-
comes effective as measure Of advice
to the president by it's adoption. AL
though opposition was withdrawn on
the final vote, there was spirited op-
position in the early stages of the de-
pate, and test vote on the compare
tive strength of the Cuban and anti
Cuban sentiment in the senate The
test occurred on q motion by Hale to
refer the resolution to the committee or
foreign relations. The motion to refer
was defeated-21 to 27-and the resolu-
ton was adopted-44 to 0-Hoar and
Hale not voting.
Alien Says Il Is Time to Act
When the Cuban debate was pre-
cipitated Allen emphatically dissented.
ne SAID, from the proposition that the
American congress must sit idly by
While this savage and barbarous con-
test proceeds at our very threshold.
Within 100 miles of our shore women
and children are being butchered AMI
the methods of civilized warfare set al
defiance. Murder, rape, rapine and de-
vastation are playing their part in the
destruction of the island" And were
we, Christian people, he asked, willin--
to sit by and not raise our voice in
defense of these people? Allen de-
clared that Spain's course had been one
of bloodshed and cruelty This was 81
notably true as to recent events in the
Philippine islands and in Cuba that
Spain had been made an OUTLAW ma
ton, not entitled to recognition br
civilized countries. 1t was time for Us to
act. declared the senator.
If the president of the United States
will send our navy to Cuba" ak.
claimed Allen, end warn Spain that
she must observe the methods of civil
lzed warfare, or that every Spanish sea-
port would be RACED to its foundation
hostilities would cease and Cuba would
be free within three months"
Hoar's Idea of the Senate,
Hoar responded in a calm and i'm
pressive manner. He spoke of the as
pirations of the founders of the gov
eminent in establishing the senate as
the stay and resisting power against
those passionate and fitful gusts of
sentiment that had wrecked every re-
pubic on earth. He believed in the
dignity and greatness of the senate. l.,
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
peddie it out at 2 or cents a COW.
gathering up all current reports and
rumors and prosphesying what was to
occur. This resolution was based on
mere prophecy. surmise, prediction.
1T is a fact" asserted Allen from
across the aisle. Does the senato-
lHoarl confess himself in such ignor-
ance?"