The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-01

this kind. grant you-aud [ call the
Senator's attention TO the proposition
that while she courts OF our country
have repeatedly decllred that the
President OF the Unit d States may
lawfully give recog nition to u people
under conditions SIMILAR to that Of the
Cubans, while the courts OF our country
admit that when SUCH recognition is
accorded by the action ofthe President
Of the Uuited States, IL stands as the
action OF the country, | challenge the
Senators to find me one case, TO read
me n line in tho decisions Of the
courts OF the United States, which !
directly or indirectly, by exact state
mept or by i~ntendment, denies that
that same power may be otherwise ex-
ercised or that the Congress of the
United States may not also act.
Where shall wo turn for the delini-
tton OF executive power? Shall we
go to the established doctrines OF mon
arches under otuer syst ms? We IA
not safely look there. Ii we do, the
Congress Of the United States, under
our constitution, as to all those subjects
over which 1T Is given Jurisdiction, has
the same absolute power OF action AZ
has the Parliament Of Great Britain,
n the power of Great Britain through
It's Parliament has never been limited,
but is Supreme. Where shall we go
Lot us go to the spirit OF republican
institutions which animated our fathers
when they drew that sublime instru-
meut, and going there, | insist that
they did not believe in a govern ment
Of any one man, and they did not in
tend to vest, and did not ,est, in any
one man the sole power Of acti II in
great and important matters affecting
the welfare Of the whole people,
Mr.. President, war is an abhorrent
thing. l hope that it's bloody shadow
may never all athwart our sky
again. War is a terrible thing, and yet
no ad anc toward liberty has cverbeen
made except by the bloody pathway OF
war. War in defense OF human liberty
and human right Is Gods thunder
storm it clears the air for humanity's
advance.
Let US have no talk of war. 1t Is
nonsenical. 1t is interj cited in this
debate for the mere purpose OF delay
ing, OF procrastiuattug, Of defeating
action in this important matter.
Mr.. President, [ have only sought, in
u general way, to show to the people
OF the United States that our proposed
action is right and just. | am u con
scrvative-conservative in thought, in
Judgment, and in action. | hold bv
inheritance the stubborn cOn-erva-
tism of the Now England hills. BY my
professional life | lave been taught
that every question should be carefully
considered, scrutlnlH ID, and examined,
and that hasty action is always dan
gerous.
| have not been hasty in reaching the
conclusion to vote for the pending Joint
resolution. | have not resolved upon
my course without the most careful
and patient examination Of the consti-
tuition OF my country. | have not de-
termined what | would do without
listening to all this great debate, with
out fortifying myself with a thorough
knowledge of international law and all
the facts that exist in regard to the
island of Cuba. When | vote there
will be behind my vote my delib crate
Judgment, my conscience and my man
hood as an American citiz n.
MIR. President, | am free to confess
to the great Senator from Massachu-
seLtS that in the consideration Of This
question my sympathy, my love of
country, my love Of liberty have gone
hand IN hand with my investigation of
the important facts and m study of the
the principles of law that govern the
case. | would not divest myself in this
important action from all c~OnsiGcra-
tiOnSO of sentim mt.
Almost thirty years ago a story went
the rounds Of the American press, aud
this was IT,: The story said that one
day a little ship was captured by the
Spanish authorities in an attempt to
land arms upon the Cuban shore. The
crew were seized. tried by drumhead
cOurt-martial, n sentenced to be shot
at the sunrise OF the morrow. Among
those men was one humble, simple
American sailor. He had enlisted for
the voyage without knowing the des-
tlnation OF the vessel or the character
OF the cargo carried !; ct ne was seized
and tried, il you may so call it, and
sentenced to be shot at the sunrise oil
the morrow.
In some way late at night word
ach the American consul IT the
nearest seaport town. He had no op-
pu'tunity to wait upon the authorities
of Spain he had no chanc, to appeal
for official action but as Il D nta-
tive of the United States, at daylight
OF the morning he MOUNTED his horse
anu hasteped away to the scene of the
execution. When he arrived he found
these sailors, and among tn, IN the
American sailor, drawn up in line, and
opposite them, with guns in their
hapuo ioauJ ~ SiIODI bucin uOWD, were
the soldiers OF Span.
Our con-ul went to the officer II.
charge and said, "Sr. that m "a is a
cltizc Of the United States. us has
committed no Intentional crime
against the King OF Spain. In the
name Of my country | demand that he
be given an opportunity in the civil
courts OF Cuba to establish and main
tain mis- innocence" The Off. ser said,
Sir, | have the warrant OF the King
OF Spain to shoot that man at the rising
OF the sun, and he will sur, ly die"
The sun came over the sea, kissing
the distant pillows with a tinge of
glory. Thai same ray of sunshine, it
may be, shone through the window of
a little cottage in the northern land,
upon the sleeping face of a devoted
wife u ~" cr~'v hnad Of tho innocent
oapo thaI lay a. r~st ur,4 ar molly
breast.
the sun came over the sea and fell
upon the brow Of this American citi-
z Il condemned To die. The order was
given, Ready Aim - The American
consul, seeing that no other effort
would avail, drew from his bosom a
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