The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-26

| to Spain. He described the condition
of the starving and outraged Ameri
cans, and scored the minority of the
Senate for preventing action on theil
behalf. "But the minority is always
the Senate" he shouted, and the Sen.
ators laughed at the well.placed hit
The Senator had newspaper accounts
read to certify to the existence of q
legitimate and legally organized Cuban
government, dwelling at length upon
its workings. Senator Wellington in.
terrupted to ask if this was the kind
Of evidence that is to be relied upon 10
prove the existence of Cuban govern.
ment. eff Cuba holds her government
under the trees with only the stars OF
God over it," replied Mr.. Mason, 1"
am for that government just the same"
Senator Gallinger submitted an official
document, printed by the authority of
ence of the Cuban government. "a
government on paper" shouted Mr..
Wellington. "That's more than Wash
ington had at Valley Forge" replied
Mr.. Mason. Mr.. Wellington insisted
that back of Washington was the Con-
tinental Congress, and with much pas
sion he charged Mr.. Mason with falsi-
flying history for the benefit of the
Cuban insurgents. Mr.. Mason replied
that Mr.. Wellington should not get ex-
cited, and repeated that Washington
had only paper government at Valley
Forge, and paper, moreover, mot
worth continental damn" eve pro-
pose to give you what Washington gave
the Engli at Valley Forge" he shout
ed. At this the applause was so great
that Vice-President Hobart read the
rule against it, and warned the spec
tators against It's repetition. 81 got
my Cuban doctrines from st. Louis" he
declared, "and l adhere to them"
He then savagely attacked the minority
for fllibustering against the Cuban res
olution. The Republican party never
broke its pledges when it had the legis-
lative power to fulfill it, he said. The
Cuban plank of the last national con-
vention, written by Senator Lodge, and
which was adopted while the rafters
rang with applause and cheers, must
be lived up to, and Republican Sena-
tors who seem to have gone 10 sleep
and forgotten their pledges must
arouse themselves in Cuba's cause.
Senator Mason read striking instances
of Spanish outrages upon Cuban insur-
gents. Would this great, powerful ma
ton submit TO such things? He stood
in the United States Senate, free
man, and demanded that the hand of
this government be raised to protect
humanity. He was opposed to war,
but if war were to come as reply to
the notice of free America that liberty
and humanity shall prevail and Cuba
be free, then, in Gods name, let war
come.
The long ard exciting debate in the
Senate on the joint resolution termi-
mated on Thursday and the resolution
passed the Senate by vote of Al to ID.
The resolution as passed is as follows:
Resolved, That condition of public
war exists between the government of
Spain and the government, proclaimed
and for some time maintained by force
of arms, by the people of Cuba, and
that the United States of America
shall maintain strict neutrality be-
tween the contending parties, accord
ing to each all the rights of belliger-
ents in the ports and territory of the
United States." An analysis of the
vote shows that the affirmative was
cast by Is republicans, 10 democrats
and four populists, and the negative
II republicans and two democrats.
Senator Thurston spoke eloquently and
at considerable length. He closed his
speech by declaring that the United
States should send her strongest battle
ship to Cuba and station her in the har-
Dor of Havana, where her frowning
guns might revive hope in those strug-
Cling to be free. Just before the vote
was taken Mr.. Hale of Maine, who has
been the recognized leader of the OPP
position to the resolution, arose for a
final word of protest. He spoke with
intense earnestness and feeling, with a
tinge of bitterness in his tones. 1t
was evident, he said, that nothing now
could stay the course of the Senate in
passing this resolution. In the vote
Just taken the foreign policy of this
administration had been dictated, and
dictated by those in opposition to it.
81 believe" continued Mr.. Hale,
"that the passage of this resolution in
wolves the United States possibly and,
l fear, probably in war in the near fu-
ture." When the presiding officer an
nounced the passage of the resolution
yeas, Al nays, 14-the pent-up feel
ing of the spectators found expression
in noisy and long continued demon
stration. Mr.. Chandler, who was in
the chair, pounded his gavel, and Mr..
Howley, springing to his feet, ex-