The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-09
uoUcAN STILL RAGING MADLY.
,,rUENr OF AMERICANS IN Gu
NJ BA DENOUNCED.

ricans in Cuban PRISONS the
70, of This Government should
.be Same-ParticuIar Instances
camel treatment Cited-A ReSO-
ION 10 Investigate the Employ
mt of Lawyers by the Inter-
- commerce COmmis siOh.
.r--,i,eton, April s.-The Senate to-
ss,rd MIR. Morgan of Alabama for
O'' ,,ird successive day on his resolu-
,sclaring that a state of war exists
rba He was severely critical OF
..o,s methods against American priso-
and went over in detail the circum-
,as in the Competitor case. Mr.. Nor
said he would close his speech at the
., meeting of the Senate, when he
Ia nresent a letter from one of the
I'm officials of the eastern provinces
- ,ba island showing the complete civil
.-.er, If government now maintained by
the Cubans.
,,r chandler offered a resolution which
- aqreed to. as follows: Resolved, that
~, ,ommittee on Interstate commerce be
a,ra,ted to investigate the payments made
~ agreed to be made by the interstate
ooromerce commission for attorneys fees;
aud also to inquire whether in any cases
tho attorneys of the commission have also
boon employed by railroad companies in
sir,uar cases; and further, whether any
additonal authority from congress is re-
,u;rAd for the employment of counsel in
anv pending proceedings which have been
instituted by or on motion of the commits
sion"
The resolution OF Mr.. Earle, dem, of
South Carolina, for the reorganization
of the Senate committees, went over, Mr..
Chandler presenting an amendment to be
urged when the resolution is taken up.
The amendment provides that on Tues
dav. April 20, at p. m, the Senate will
proceed to appoint its committees.
The Morgan resolution declaring that
state of war exists in Cuba, was then
taken up without objection, and Mr.. Nor
gan resumed his speech in support of it.
The senator reverted to the statement of
Mr.. Hale yesterday that the number of
American prisoners in Spanish prisons
was reduced to twelve. In sarcastic tones
LIZ. Morgan said that such releases as
had occurerd were the result of supplica-
ton by our government, and perhaps it
would be appropriate to adopt vote of
thanks TO Spain for not Staying these
prisoners outright. Aside from the Off
cial testimony as to the condition in Cuba,
the newspapers had piled up mass OF
testimony, which established beyond ques-
ton that the war was being prosecuted by
Spain contrary to all rules of civilized
warfare.
Mr. Morgan commented on letter writ
ten by Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish min
lister to Miss Clara Barton, relative to
the 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 mad
vertent admission by the Spanish MIN
ister despite all his diplomatic cunning,
that the war was going on. And yet con-
gress would not recognize that state OF
war which would assure to American
prisoners the treatment of prisoners OF
war, and not of insurrectionists.
Mr.. Morgan said the question of pro-
tecting Americans imprisoned in Spanish
prisons could not turn on numbers, wheth-
er "a or u were in prison. Suppose, In
stead of "a, it had been only one. Who
could say that the United States govern
ment would maintain its dignity by stand
was held by Spain in violation of treaty
provisions and contrary to every princi-
pie of civilization and justice. The United
States had warned off European nations
from all control over Cuba, said Mr.. Nor
gan. We seemed to exercise a sort of
guardianship over that island as against
all other nations. But" exclaimed the
senator, that guardianship, if we have
it, is like the guardianship of the devil
over a 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 peo-
pie, without one word of protestation.
Mr. Morgan spoke of the Competitor ex-
petition. He reviewed the circumstances
of the case; the departure of the little
schooner, probably for the purpose of car
rying aid to the insurgents. In particular,
the senator took up the case of young
Ona Melton, one of the Competitor prison.
ers, and followed the progress of his trial
and Imprisonment incommunicado in the
Spanish dungeons Mr.. Morgan declared
that 1t was a long course of violation of
treaty rights and the ordinary methods of
judicial procedure.
Young Melton, said he, was held to-day
IN loathsome dungeon, not because guilt
had been established against him. but be-
cause ne is an American boy He was
held in miserable place in which at
umes forty other prisoners were crowded.
Three pals of water were brought to them
daily to quench their thirst from the ra-
lions of dry Goldfish. These facts had
oeen stated to tbe Senate committee on
foreign relations by two credible witnesses.
including Rev. DR.. Diaz.
MT: Morgan then reviewed the case of
Dr. Diaz. While preaching at Havana.
pombshells had been thrown into his
church; he and his brother were arrested
ana held for seven days incommunicado.
Inc evidence of Spanish cruelty came
70 the Senate from unimpeachable
sources. 1t was, declared the senator. a
record OF horror, unmentionable to de-
cent and civilized ears. 1t could not even
We described on the floor of the Senate
without shocking all present and driving
people from the galleries to the outer cor
Mr.. Morgan read portions of the evil
Gence given by Messrs. Lawrence and
Diaz, and heretofore published as a Sen
ate document.
Mr' Morgan also read from the laws and
treaties 70 show the unjustihable charac-
Yer OF Melons Imprisonment. Then the
senator exclaimed with great vehemence.
Wnether there are "A prisoners in Cuba