The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-04-08
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
1t Causes an Exciting Debate
In the Senate.
THE ALLEN RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
Senator Allen Declares That Spain's
Course Had Been one of Bloodshed d
aud Cruelty y-The Reso utions as They
Passed Other Business.


reciting the reports that General Ruiz
Rivera, the Cuban commander, is about |
to be tried by drumhead courtmartial |
and shot, and expressing the judgment |
Of the senate that if these reports are |
true, the president of the United States |
should protest to the Spanish govern |
ment against such violation of the |
rules of civilized warfare. This reso.
luton does not go to the house of rep |
and becomes effective as
measure of advice to the president by
its adoption. Although opposition was
withdrawn on the final vote there was
spirited opposition in the early stages
of the debate and test vote on the
comparative strength of the Cuban and
anti. Cuban sentiment in the senate.
The test occurred on q motion to refer
the resolution to the committee ON for
eign relations.
Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me.), who has been
prominently identified with the opposi-
ton to Cuban resolutions, made the mo-
ton to refer, and it was supported by
Mr.. Hoar (Mass.), another prominent
figure in the opposition to Cuban reso
lutions. The debate was very spirited
and, at times, quite personal. Mr.. AL
len (Neb.) and Mr.. Gallinger IN, H.
clashing with Mr. Hoar. The Hale mo.
tion to refer was defeated-2l to 81
and tle resolution adopted-44 to 0. Mr..
Hale and Mr.. Hoar refrained from vot.
ing.
Another Cuban resolution comes up
today, that of Mr.. Morgan (Ala) de-
claring that state of war exists in
Cuba and recognizing both parties as
belligerents.
After the disposal of the Cuban ques-
tion the day was given to speeches, Mr..
Elkins CIV. Va.) speaking for two
hours on the development of the Amer.
lean merchant marine and Mr.. Lindsay
(Ky.) advocating the passage of the
bankruptcy bill, known as the Torrey
bill, now before the senate. Late in the
day a joint resolution by Mr.. Bate
(Tenn.) was agreed to directing the
service to aid the Mississippi flood suf-
ferers by the distribution of tents,
blankets, food and medicine under the
epidemic fund of 1895 and to purchase
further supplies under the present epi-
demic fund for similar distribution.
When the Cuban debate was precipi-
tated Mr.. Allen emphatically dissented,
he said, from the proposition that the
American congress must sit idly by
while this savagry and barbarous con-
| test proceeds at our very threshold.
Within 100 miles of our shore women
and children were being butchered and
| the methods of civilized warfare set at
defiance. Murder, rape, rapine and de-
vastation were playing their part in the
destruction of the island. And were
we, Christian people, he asked, willing
to sit by and not raise our voice in de-
fense of these people Mr.. Allen de-
clared 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 an outlaw nation
not entitled to recognition by 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,"
exclaimed Mr.. Allen, land warn Spain
that she must observe the methods of
civilized warfare or that every Spanish
seaport would be razed TO its founda-
tion, hostilities would cease and Cuba
would be free within three months"
Mr. Hoar (Rep., Mass responded in
@ calm and impressive manner. He
spoke of the aspirations of the found
ers OF the government in establishing
the senate as the stay and resisting
power against the passionate and fitful
gusts Of sentiment that had wrecked
every other republic on earth. He be-
lieved in the dignity and greatness of
the senate in spite of ignorant criti-
cisms and of the scurrility of the Lon.
don Times. But there were some gen.
tlemen who seemed to think that the
fuction of the senate was to edit daily
newspaper and peddle it out at 2 or 3
cents copy, gathering up all current
reports and rumors and prophcying
what was to occur. In this pending
resolution the senate was asked to give
an atfront to a powerful 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, pre-
diction.
1T is fact" asserted Mr.. Allen from
across the aisle. "Does the senator
(Hoar) confess himself in such ignor-
ance?"
Mr.. Hoar declined to yield, but Mr..
Allen insisted on repeating that the
danger to General Rivera was an au-
thenticated fact known to all men. Mr..
Hoar continuing, asked the Nebraska
senator to possess his beautiful soul in
patience" He denied that there was
anything but report and prophecy at the
base OF this resolution. Prophecy was
far from being an exact science. Mr..
Hoar rejected with Indignation any as
sertions that he was guided on these
great questions ON humanity by the in
terests or opinion of the business ele-
ments, as had been suggested. When
the time came for any we'll considered
movement in behalf of humane war
fare in Cuba or elsewhere, Mr.. Hoar
said, it would have his support. But
the question now was whether the
United States would act on guesses and
prophecy In giving an affront to Spain.
1t was evident that considerable per-
sonal feeling was being aroused by the
debate. Mr.. Allen again took the floor,
addressing himself frequently to Mr..
Hoar in person.
1t was surprising, said Mr.. Allen
ironically, that the Massachusetts sena-
tor (EIoar) compared himself to the
sturdy oak, why he (Allen) was char
acteri2ed as a mere mushroom. The
! danger to General Rivera was not
rumor, and in so characterizing it, the
Massachusetts, senator showed his
"weakness and nuarilitv The Annar-
Iuan peopio knew Cne Iacts ana the
Massachusetts, senator knew them-this
meant that Rivera was about to be
tried and shot"
II wish l had the power TO land
| United States soldiers on the island of
Cuba and to send our fleets there" said
Mr.. Allen, land the Spanish forces