New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-06
PRICE THREE CENTS.
IN BEHALF OF RUS RIVERA.
THE PRESIDENT ADVISED TO MAKE
A PROTEST TO SPAIN.
SENATE WITHOUT DISSENTING voTY
AFTER A BITTER personal. DEBATE

Washington. April Ex-senator Allen. OF Me-
braska succeeded In passing his so-calied Rivera
resolution this morning. after precipitating an
other bitter and highly personal debate over the
proprety OF Interference on the part OF this
country with the course OF military or civil Jus
tce In another country with which the United
States Is at peace.
The resolution as offered and voted on was
simply q declaration that In the Judgment OF
the Senate. II Rivera Is TO be executed the
President should protest against such VIOLA
ton Of the rules Of civilized warfare. After
long wrangle over the ambiguity and wholly
conditional character OF this declaration, In
which Mr.. Allen, Mr. Hoar and Mr.. Gallinger
took the leading parts Mr.. Hoar tried to have
the resolution referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations. Only twenty Senator'S sup
ported him in this move, while twenty-seven
voted against reference. Then, with some
verbal amendments, the declaration was passed
unanimously. 1t Is apparently drawn not 70
commit the Senate. Congress. the Executive or
any other Department of the Government to
anything In particular
Mr. Allen urged the immediate adoption OF the
resolution He emphatically dissented, he said,
from the proposition that the American Congress
must sit idly by while this savasery and BAR
barous contest proceeds at our very thresnolo.
Within a hundred miles Of our shore women ana
children were being butchered. and the METHODS
Of civilized warfare set at defiance. Murder. ra-
pine and devastation were playing their part IN
the destruction of the island. And were we,
Christian people, he asked, willing TO sit by and
not raise our voice in defence OF these people?
Mr.. Allen declared that SPANS course had been
one OF bloodshed and cruelty. This was 80 nota-
bly, true to recent occurrences In the Philip
pine Islands and In Cuba that Spain had been
made an OUTLAW nation not entitled 10 recog-
milton by civilized countries. If the President
Of the United States will send our Navy 10 Cuba,
exclaimed Mr.. Allen "and warn Spain that she
must observe the methods OF civilized warfare
or that every Spanish seaport would be razed
70 its foundations hostilities would cease, and
Cuba would be free within three months"
MR. HOARs APPEAL TO REASON.
Mr. Hoar responded in a calm and impressive
manner He spoke Of the aspirations OF the
founders of the Government in establishing the
Senate as the stay and resisting power against
those passionate and ftful gusts Of sentiment
that had wrecked every other Republic on
earth He believed in the dignity and greatness
of the Senate. in spite Of ignorant Criticisms
and OF the scurrilty Of The London Times
But there were some gentlemen who seemed 70
think that the function OF the Senate was to
edit daily newspaper and peddle II out at TWO
or three cents a copy gathering up all current
reports and rumors and prophesyng wat was
to occur In this pending resolution the Senate
was asked 70 give an affront TO powerful ana
friendly nation. The symbol OF the Senate was
more properly the sturdy and slow-maturins
oak. rather than the mushroom, which rotted IN
an hour. This resolution was based on mere
prophecy, surmise and prediction.
600 aI 1Tr
the aisle. Does the Senator confess himself
in such ignorance?"
Mr.. Hoar declined to yield. but Mr. Allen in
sisted on repeating that the danger 10 General
Rivera was an authenticated fact known To all
men, Mr.. Hoar continuing. asked the Nebraska
Senator to possess his beautiful soul In pa
tience" He denied that there anything
but report and prophecy as the basis OF this
resolution. Prophecy was far from being an tx-
act science Mr.. Hoar rejected with indl9na-
tion any assertions that he was guided on these
great questions OF humanity by the interests or
opinion of the business elements, es had been
suggested. lie shared none Of this lnimosity to
so-caed business interests, for the prosperity
of this class meant hope and happiness 10 every
working man. while a blow 10 that interest
meant poverty and despair to millions OF hneri'
can homes When the time came for any we'll
considered movement in behalf Of humane war
fare in Cuba or elsewhere, Mr.. Hoar SAID, II
would have his support. But the question now
was whether, the United States would act on
guesses and prophecy in giving an lffront to
Spain.
BITTER FEELING AROUSED.
II was evident that considerable personal feel
ing was being aroused by the debate. Mr.. Allen
again took the floor. addressing himself fire.
quently to Mr.. Hoar in person. 1t was surpris-
ing said Mr.. Allen Ironically that the Massa-
chusetts Senator compared himself 10 the sturdy
oak while he (Allen) was characterized as
mere mushroom. The danger 10 General Rivera
was not rumor. and in SO characterizing II the
Massachusetts Senator showed his weakness
and puerility." The American people knew tho
facts, and the Massachusetts, Senator knew
them-that this man Rivera was about to be
tried and shot. II wish had the power 70 land
United States soldiers on the Island of Cuba and
10 send our fleets there" said Mr.. Allen, and
the Spanish forces would be ground TO nfnitesi-
nal pieces or this barbarity would end" Mr..
Allen closed with further sarcastic references
10 Mr.. Hoar saying that the Massachusetts,
Senator might be mistaken In his belief that the
care Of the Senate was IN his keeping.
Mr. Hale said that he would be willing 10 pass
a resolution !nquiring OF the state Department
what information II had on the matter The De-
partment was in daily communication with Cuba
through its agents The Senate had had ex.
perence in taking steps based on newspaper
rumors which II afterward regretted. There
fore he moved the reference of the resolution to
the Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. Morgan inquired IL Mr.. Hale admitted thas
a state of war existed in Cuba
There is conflict going there there 10
fighting more or less bat no great battles. re.
piled Mr.. Hale. He did not suppose state OF
war existed as II would il two European Powers
we're fighting But he added there was
guerilla war; lives were being lost and property
destroyed .., "a
Mr. Stewart spoke Of the war as prutai anu
disgraceful TO the civilization OF the age
MIR. GALLINGER TAKES A HAND
Mr. Gauinger referred sarcastcally 10 Mr.
rJoar as having a habit Of settling great ques-