The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-20

a proposition TO abdlcate entireiyr'
This question was addressed especially
to Mr.. Hoar, who said that he did con-
slider such change possible a year and
four months after the first effort.
Mr. Hoar said that To accept a propo-
sition to abandon the island would in
volve less OF affront to s.ain than a
suggestion looking To dicSltion as to
the laws she should make.
Mr.. Foraker then read a letter written
by Secretary Olney a. year ago TO Min
lister Dupuy DE Lone of Spain. which.
the senator said had not heretofore been
printed. In this letter. Mr.. Olney stated
to the minister that the latter's hope of
a termination OF the insurrection had
been completely destroyed.
Mr.. Foraker also read from an Off
cial communication. just received. show
ing the power of the insurgent army
to-day. The letter stated that in the
districts which General Weyler declared
were pacified. there are more insurgents
under arms than there were IL months
ago. having troops to the numsyer OF
10000, armed with repeating rifles. In
pursuance of fixed policy, the insur-
gents avoided pitched battles. The
writer asserted that the war would drag
along with the result OF untold suffer-
ing and the murder of men, women and
children
Mr.. Foraker read from Secretary
Olney's report that the American peo-
pie had an interest In any struggle for
freer political institutions. but especially
IN struggle raging almost I'm sight OF
our shores. marked by bitterness and
excesses on both sides. making no dis
elimination between belligerents and
neutrais, impoverishing and starving
many Americans. The interest of the
United States. according to Secretary
Olney. was next to that OF Spain. Re-
plying to the statement that recognition
would mean relieving Spain of lisbility
for damages for destruction to- Amer
lean property, Mr.. Foraker said that
claims OF this nature, amounting, 20
millions, could be found In the state
department. but Spain had refused to
recognise them. II Spain would not
recognise them she would not pay them.
In all seriousness. he would rather hold
the obligations OF the insurgents than
the obligations OF Spain.
Time to End Partnership in HelIish War.
1t was time, Mr.. Foraker said In con-
clusion. that the United States ceased
policing her shores in the interest Of
Spain. It was time 20 end quasi CO.
partnership in a brutal and hellish war.
and for his part no vote or act would con-
tinue this unholy alliance.
Mr.. Hoar replied to Mr.. Foraker. con-
tending that the senate should have
authoritative facts set forth like a judicial
finding Of court in an official report.
He complained that Mr.. Foraker wanted
the senate to act on information which
to xayno snt nt % ~.
practical thing to do was to propose
mediation. and IL that was rejected, to
have the facts presented to the SEN
ate and take the action the facts war
ranted. What Spain had declined was
what any self-respecting nation would
decline. Che insisted that while she
retained Cuba she should make laws
for that part OF her kingdom. That was
not decline ton of mediation Twenty
years ago Spain had said there might
be circumstances under which she would
eccept mediation, and if the facts
claimed by the senator from Ohio were
true, IL must seem to him that the golden
hour had arrived
Mr.. Foraker interrupted to suggest
that recognition would not hinder me-
diation, to which Mr.. Hoar assented-
Mr.. Hoar called attention to a state
ment In Secretary Olney's letter which
Mr.. Foraker had not read, that the war
was conducted by the insurgents, not
by pitched battles, but by applying the
torch to plantations and striving Ia
starve out the Spanish soldiers by de.
stroying plantations and business.
"If it was true that the insurgents
were thus destroying the property OF
American citizens- was IL violation ot
the rules of war that they were banished
or punished by death?' he asked. and
added. II would like a report from the
committee on foreign relations on that
point"
He did not know whether, IL Cuban
or an American citizen were caught
handed in such business, he should
not be put to death. Federal soldiers
| had been executed In the American rev.
| olution, after q trial by a drum head
| court martial. for burning a military
| bridge.
Even though Spain had refused to pay
American claims. Mr.. Hoar argued, II
| did not follow that she would not be com
| PEELED to pay them. England had once
refused, point blank, to pay the Alabama
| claims, and the same power, which
forced England to pay those claims,
would, force Spain to pay.
Mr.. Thurston (Neb.) took the floor,
but the senate adjourned. and he will
make his address today.