The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-27
THE SENATE'S CUBAN DEBATE
REVELATIONS FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT ADD UNUSUAL
INTEREST.
SERIOUS PHASE Of THE QUESTION
Names Os Consuis Furnishing he-
Ports withheld, Fearing Assas-
sInntion-Tbis Fact Aroused
the Ire of Several senator's.

Washington, May lo.-hnolheT SUI
ring debate on Cuba occurred III the sen
ate today. 1t was Of the glye-ana, ,;,le
order. with sharp parliamentary fencing
The main speeches of the day were
mode by Senator FOrakers Of Ohio. Can.
non of Utah. Lindsay of Kentucky and
Uoar Of Massachusetts II was the hrs'
speech of any length made by Mr.. For
iaker since he entered the senate and in
addition TO this the Ohio senator il one
of the Cuban subcommittee of the com
mittee on foreign relations. lie spoke II
favor of reference of the resolution tC
the committee, but on the general ques
ton declared his purpose of supporting
the resolution recognizing Cuban bellig
erency when ii should be reported by the
committee.
Mr.. Cannon was bitter in his dcnuncia.
ton of Spanish atrocity, characterizinp
the captain general Of Cuba as that mad
dog Weyler."
Mr.. Lindsay declared if the informa.
ton furnished by United States consuls
was so shocking as to subject them to
danger of assassination If their names
were disclosed it was time to send war
ships to Cuba and to terminate all diplo-
matte relation with that country.
II was developed In the course of col
Joquy between Senators Foraker, Nor
gan and Vest, that the state department
had withheld the names of United States
c0nsuls reporting on the serious condi-
ton of affairs in Cuba because il might
lead to their massacre.
Mr.. Vest declared this presented the
most serious phase of the subject, as it
was time to protect our officials with
warships If their personal safety was
threatened for making reports to their
government
No action on the resolution was taken,
but Mr.. Morgan said he hoped to secure n
vote tomorrow on Mr. Halc's motion to
refer. He desired to do this, he said,
In order that the Cuban resolution might
not antagonize the tariff bill, Monday.
When the Cuban resolution came up
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire moved
that the adjournment today be until
Monday, disclaiming at the same time
any intention on the part of the oppo-
nents of the resolution to delay action.
The debate proceeded on Mr.. Chambers
motion and branched off into unexpected
channels.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri said he had seen
statements TO the effect that three mem
bers on the committee of foreign rea-
tons had visited the state department
and had had access to the evidence fur
nished by the United States consuls.
Why was II that three senators had this
Information and the senate did not have
it?
Mr.. Morgan answered that three SEN
ators on the committee had been sent as
u subcommittee to the president and
secretary of state to confer on the Gu
han question. They had received GER
tain information and the Injunction was
laid 'on them that the name of Gen. Lee
was not to be used in connection with
the information.
The reason given for this" added Mr..
Morgan, 'was the fear that the officials
who gave the information would be mas
sacred. Another reason was that we had
no vessels ready to meet the outbreaks
of vicious people ready to massacre"
WAS this statement official that mas
sacre might ensuc?" asked Mr.. White
of California.
Yes, official" responded Mr.. Morgan.
MIR. Vest, by further questioning,
brought out the fact that the president
e and secretary of state had requested that
the names of consuls sending the infor-
nation should not be disclosed.
Mr.. Foraker had been one of the sub
e committee to visit the state department
So far as he was concerned. he said, no
restrictions had been placed on him ex-
Neept as to the use of names of consuls
and places.
Mr.. Vest, addressing Mr., Foraker,
snid:
call attention to the statement of
the gentleman from Alabama that the
president and secretary of state desires
that the names of consuls should not be
gwen as it would involve their assassi-
nation Is that soI"
Not in that language" replied Mr..
sori,ker, but 1t was suggested that the
Iisclosure of names might do moe harm
la,
And now to come to the serious oucs-
tion, continued Mr.. Vest. impressiyely.
has the government sent gunboats to
see tnnt our consular officials are nro-
iectedI Must we be told that they may
be assassinated if their names are given
That Is the serious question"
Mr.. Morgan explained in detail how the
ihJuhction OF secrecy had been placed
upon the committee.
mn, Mr.. Foraker said the department felt
that there should be a reserve in giving
the sources of its information. 1t was
quite usual course.
Mr.: Hoar pointed out that it was usual
10 withhold the names of consuls when
Jhe disclosure might result in n demand
for their recall. Mr. Hoar also cmnhn.
sized desire for an early vote on the
Cuban question.
The motion of Mr.. Chandler that when
the senate adjourn tomorrow it be until
Monday, prevailed without further di.
vision. ''''' VII
Mr.. Cannon of Utah, after an intense
; denunclation of the mad dog, Weyler."
recalled sentiment written by senator
under n picture he had seen of the RE-
deemer in New York:
"Oh, Christ, come back. The money
. changers are in the temple" and said that
he Thought he heard the speeches for the
commercial interests" in the senate. Put
ting sarcastic stress on the quoted words.
he DECLARED: "The money changers are
!, in the temple of human liberty"
" this nation could not stand alone
without tlte help of the monarchies of Eu.
rope, If 1t could, not survive without sac
rificing manhood for the sake of securing
investments of foreign capital, it had
come to totteriha old age. and God
would blot il out as be has other failures.
Ihe country needed NOT 50 much tariff
'or financial reform as it needed greater
unity. Nothing would so uttte the coun-
atry sas a declaration that monatthy should
mot Cypress the neighboring countries.
ltis only objection TO the resolution was
that 1t did not go far enough; the United
States should establish Il protectorate over
Cuba and hold it until the island was
able to govern itself.
The message which the senator from
Massachusetts would send to the Amer
leans in Cuba. was:
Endure oh, suffering ones. even unto
death. and we will coliact Jo,oaoo. c.,