Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-09
MORGAN CONTINUES.
THE SENATOR RESUMES HIS
SPEECH ON CUBA.
OUR FLAG A "DISCRACED RAG.
That Is, If 1t Doesn't shelter Amcri-
cnns-Inudvertent Admission %
the Observation-Disclosures Bill.

WASHINGTON. April S.-Thc Senate
to-day heard Mr.. Morgan, OF Alabama,
for the third successive day. on his reso-
luton declaring that a state of war ex-
lists IN Cuba. He was severely critical
Of SPANS methods against American
prisoners. and went over in detail the cir
cumstances Of the Competitor case.
Mr.. Morgan said he would close his
speech at the next meeting OF the Sem
ate. when he would present letter from
one Of the Cuban officials OF the Eastern
province Of the island, showing the com
plete civil system of government now
maintained by the Cubans.
Mr.. Chandler offered a resolution,
which was agreed TO, as follows:
Resolved. That the Committee on
Interstate Commerce be directed TO in
vestigate the payments made, or agreed
to be made. by the Interstate Commerce
Commission for attorneys fees; and,
also to inquire whether in any cases the
attorneys of the commission have
also been employed by railroad COM
panies in similar cases: and further,
whether any additional authority from
the Congress is required for the employ
ment Of counsel in any pending pro-
ceedings which have been instituted by
or on motion of the commission"
The resolution of Mr.. Earle Demo
craD, of South Carolina, Tor the reOr-
ganization Of the Senate committees
went over. Mr.. Chandler presenting an
amendment 10 be urged when the reso-
luton is taken up. The amendment pro-
vides that on Tuesday, April 10Th, at
=. NJ. the Senate will proceed TO APP
point its committees
The Morgan resolution declaring that
a state Of war exists in Cuba was then
taken up, without objection, and Mr.. Nor
gan resumed his speech in support Of 1t.
The Senator referred to the statement
of Mr. Hale yesterday. that the number
of American prisoners in Spanish pris-
ons was reduced 10 twelve. In sar-
castle tones, Mr.. Morgan said that such
releases as had occurred were the result
of duplication by our government, and
perhaps il would be appropriate 10
adopt vote of thanks to Spain for not
Staying these prisoners outright. Aside
from the official testimony as 10 the
conditions in Cuba. the newspapers had
piled up mass of testimony, which es-
tablished beyond question that the war
was being prosecuted by Spain con-
trary to all the rules Of civilized war
fare.
ADMISSION BY DUPUY.
Mr.. Morgan commented on a letter
written by VI. Dupuy de LONE, the Span
ish Minister. to Miss Clara Barton, re-
lative TO Red Cross work in Cuba. In
the course of the letter, use is made of
the expression during the present war;
This. declared Mr.. Morgan, was an IN
advertent admission by the Spanish MIN
lister. despite all his diplomatic cunning
that war was going on. And yet, Con-
gress and the President would not recog-
nize that state of war which would as
sure the American prisoners the treat
ment due them.
Mr.. Morgan said the question OF put
ting Americans in Spanish prisons coulu
not turn on number, whether seventy
four or twelve were in prison. Suppose,
instead of seventy-four, il had been only
one. who would say that the United
States Government would maintain It's
dignity by standing by while this one
American citizen was held by Spain n
violation Of treaty provisions and CON
trary to every principle of civilization ana
Justice? The United States had warned
Cuba, said Mr.. Morgan. We should exer-
else sort Of guardianship over that is
land against. all other nations. But"
exclaimed the Senator, that guardian
ship. if we have it, is like the guardian
ship of the evil one over condemned
soul. We are warning nations that they
must hold aloof while we stand by and
see the inquistorial methods OF Spanish
warfare, Spanish dungeons, and Spanish
tyranny executed against Cubans and
against our own people without one word
of protest"
Mr.. Morgan spoke Of the Competitor ex-
Dedition. He reviewed the circumstances
Of the case, the departure of the little
schooner, probably for tie purpose OF
carrying aid to the insurgents. In par
ticular the Senator took up the case or
young Ona Melton. one Of the COMPETE
tor prisoners and followed the progress
of his trial and imprisonment 'incom-
municado" in Spanish dungeon. Mr..
Morgan declared 1t was a long violation
of treaty rights and ordinary methods of
judicial procedure. Young Melton, said
he was held in a loathsome cell, wherein
forty others were sometimes crowded. not
because guilt had been established against
him, but because he is an American boy.
0ASL VI In. DlAEs
Mr.. Morgan then reviewed the case Of
DR.. Diaz. While preaching at Habana
bomb-shells had been thrown into his
church, and he and his brother were ar
rested and held for seven days 'incom-
nunicado." The evidence Of such Spanish
cruelty came TO the Senate from unim-
peachable sources. 1t was, declared the
Senator, record of horror unmentionabie
to decent and civilized ears. 1t could not
even be described on the floor or the
Senate without shocking all present and
driving people from the galleries TO the
outer corridors.
Mr. Morgan read portions Of the evil
dence given by Messrs. Lawrence and
Diaz and heretofore published as
Senate document. He said he had tried
for year TO get from the State Depart
ment the facts of the case of owen
Melton, and that not until the closing
DAYS of the last administration was he
able to get even partial statement. The
Senate would be in the dark to-day as
TO the Melton case If the committee had
not secured evidence of the facts. There
was not a more innocent man Oh the
face of the earth than Ona Melton,
and yet this young American was held
by Spain, in fragrant and contemptuous
defiance Of treaty rights. Mr. Morgan
read from the laws and treaties to show
the unjustifable character of Meltons
imprisonment. Then the Senator ex-
claimed with great vehemence, 'Whe-
Their there are seventy-four prisoners in
Cuba, or 1900, or whether IL is one, in
the person of Ona Melton. this Arkan-
sas youth, the flag of the United States.
If ii refuses to shelter him, is a disgraced
rag"
BANKRUPTCY BILL
Mr.. Morgan gave way at 2 o'clock to
the bankruptcy bill. Mr.. Nelson, OF
Minnesota, spoke for two hours on the
bill opposing the pending Torrey bill
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