Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-19
SSH CONGRESS-.
Continued from page -

said on having fairness In TINS DISCUS
sion II will not be misrepresented on
the floor of the Senate and Will not
have American history perverted even
for the benefit of the Cuban sutgSnls'
he declared.
Mason dismissed the protest ilghtiy
and with such a jocular manner that
the galleries broke into LOUD laughter.
Proceeding, Mason said: when you
get at the deep undertone of the CHRIS
tan people of this country. they say
let us have freedom in Cuba. Let the
Spaniards go back to their own iand.
and let us have no slaves upon our
continent. You can call us jingos as
long as you like You may define lingo
as often as you please. Patrick Henry
was a jingoist according to the ueflni-
ton of the gentlemen who are trying
to keep the insurgents in Cuba. Every
man who had rather fight than to buy
peace at the dishonor of his wife or
his child had been called lingo, from
the days of early republics until now.
Il am for the liberty. for the inde-
pendence of Cuba. on a better ana
broader ground. l propose better IN
vironment, not for trade or commerce,
not for the extension of territory-and
that is the difference between the or
binary English lawmaker and our
selves. i would not extend our trade
one dollar: | would not sell one pound
of American corn at the point OF the
bayonet. l would not steal the island
of Cuba But we hesitate because of
an ancient barnacle known as interna-
tional law and Presidential jurisdic-
ton
Mason next referred to the disclaimer
of former Assistant Secretary of State
Rockhill, that he had ordered United
States consuls in Cuba to color their
reports, and added: He may deny,
if he Will, directing the United States
consuls to withhold reports. but he
cannot deny and show the file marks
of his office upon the proposition that
we believe to be true. that for days and
months he has been in possession of
that information and that it has never
gone to the Executive until Saturday.
At another point. Mason exclaimed;
Mr.. President. if we did not have
ship in the world and every gun was
melted into plow share. If every bay
onet was buried, if every ship we ever
had was sunk into the middle of the
sea, there is no nation in the world,
much less Spain, that would ever dare
strike our colors or invade American
soil" applause in the galleries.)
Referring to the Cuban plank in the
St. Louis platform, he said: You re-
member how the great hall rang, and
the great struggling liberty loving peo-
Il ut ct IN -
publican party was on the high road to
success. Mckinley said: Liberty for
Cuba viii comet The Republican party
spoke and from the days of Lincoln TO
the days OF Mckinley the Republicans
have never stepped backward yet from
one plank of their platform, and they
shall not do it now.
Was it not true? In the name Of
God and the light of prophesy have
you read the message Of Mckinley
Then go back and read the first chap
ter of Revelations, or the last chapter
of Exodus and see whether in the light
of prophecy, taking Mr.. Mckinley
message, our splendid President and
our splendid convention was not true
Did he not tell you that 500 American
citizens are starving there? Did Ne
not tell you in our convention that
they had so lost control of Cuba that
they could not protect American citi-
zens?"
Mason's closing words were as fol
lows: Mr. President, no one but fears
war, but if to keep our promises with
cuba and protect her means war, bet
it come If to protest against the
at, nd oh nc,
war. let it come If to defend the
honest daughters of brave patriots
means an insult to Spain and war. in
the name of God let it come and come
quickly, for | tell you whether We
speak or not, the civilization of the
Nazarene is upon us, and whether you
sleep bound hand and foot by the rules
Of order, or whether you shall speak
like American brave men. the mark Of
the Nazafene is upon us, liberty shall
prevail ard the island Of Cuba, under
the providence of God, shall be free
Hear of Massachusetts. replied 10
Mason. He referred to the speech
which had preceded as 'exuberant
oratory" and said sarcastically that
Notwithstanding it, the power Of inter
rational law would prevail. The only
effect of recognition would be to give
Spain the right to search our ships at
sea and to take away from American
citizens in Cuba all hope Of reccmpense
for injury done them. He alluded sar-
caStically to Mason'S innocent ana
youthful ardor Thereupon Mason
asked him viii the senator yield for Il
question:
Six of them" replied Hoar, seeming
~ in an angry mood.
Are you willing to have a vote on
this question:" Mason queried.
Il expect to have one,' was the
answer.
"Will you help to get one?' Mason
persisted.
q expect to help to get more intel
lisent one than some of the senators
seem to want" Hoar replied.
Then he proceeded to express surprise
that "all this great brass band Of talk
about talk of outrages on women and
children practiced at our doors should
be followed by this squaklng morsel
of a resolution" Parodying the opro-
sition, Hoar detained Whereas, our
ancestors loved liberty and whereas We
are the greatest nation on earth" and
similar whereases and remarked per-
onthctically, "whcn we are the greatest
nation we will stop talking about it.