The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-09

Protecting Americans Against spanish
Prosecutions.
Washington. April 6.-sIuch bad
blood was developed in tha senate to-
day over the Cuban question and there
were numerous stormy passages and
acrimonious personal charges.
Most Of the day was given TO the
bankruptcy bill, Senator Stewart, of
Nevada, speaking in opposition. The
discussion drifted to the financial ques-
ton, Senators Chandler and Stewart
having an amusing discussion on BIZ
metallism.
During the day Senator Earl, dem
ocrat, Of South Carolina, introduced a
resolution fer the immediate reorgani-
cation Of the senate committees and
the filing of ali vacancies. He spoke
briefly, for the first time since enter
ing the senate, on the injustice OF
keeping the new senators from commit
tee service. The resolution went over
till tomorrow.
The Cuban question came UP on Sen
ator Morgan's resolution declaring
that a state of war exists in Cuba and
recognizing both parties IS beiliger-
ents.
Senator Morgan was recognized in
support of the resolution, speaking in
his usual calm n diSpassionate style.
He spoke of the long and weary con
test, which the Spanish authorities had
been Unable to check. 1t was right, he
said, that congress should initiate such
action as the United States was to
take. He did not wish to occasion a
ferment in the United States, even
though the hearts Of the American peO-
pie are full of this subject. If the
United States government had taken
proper care Of its citizens in Cuba,
great loss of life and property would
h n wa hnnn aida DIT 800 Ar-ar
ment had not taken care of its people
and it was time that it did SO. This
resolution was designed to place the
United States in a position to protect
it's citizens. But" he added, Il am
almost hopeless, after the policy of the
past months, that any administration
Will get its courage UP to the point of
sending u ships to Havana and de-
handing justice and liberty for our
people," He referred to the death of
DR.. Ruiz and commented on the re-
ported purpose of the administration to
send a lawyer to Havana to investi-
gate. Instead of hunting out a law
yer to go down to Havana" declared
he, "our authorities might we'll send
a ship of war to Havana with a COM
missioner on board and say to Spain:
If that man has been murdered, you
must punish the guilty ones, and, on
the spot make immediate indemnity"
Senator Hale came with a serious
question and there was a rapid eX-
change with Senator Morgan. DO I
understand" queried Senator Hale,
that the senator objects to sending to
Cuba an agent-be he lawyer or not
to establish the ~facts?"
las an American" responded Sena-
tor Morgan, L would regret to see
a lawyer go there, but if L were a
British subject 1 would expect to see
a ship Of war, as we'll as a lawyer, go
there"
Then, the senator would send a
ship of war before the lawyer to es-
tablish the fact" pursued Senator
Hale.
Il would send both the ship of war
and the lawyer" answered Senator
Morgan, and then he added amid
laughter, but I would not have much
use for the lawyers He went on to
say that he regretted that the rights
and liberties of our American people
We're being held so lightly as to be
converted into mere law suits.
What we need" exclaimed Senator
Morgan, "is action, resolution, deter
minatiOn, urpOS conclusion, that
shall protect the people against these
~Outrages; and an exhibition of that
determination in the island Of Cuba
would do more good than all the law
suits ever brought"
Senator Morgan hoped that action
would not be retarded by the state
ment Of the senator from Maine hat
the Cuban are not conducting a fash
iOnable fight"
Senator Morgan argued that the rec
ognitiOn of the belligerency of the Gu
bans could not be construed as a hos
tile act against Spain. The b~elligeren-
cy of the confederate states had been
recognized by Great Britain and Spain,
but the United States never construed
this as a hostile act. SPANS recogni-
ton of the c~onfederacy was before the
battle of Manassas and before the con
federate states had shown their ability
to resist the federal government. In
the course of his speech he referred to
Spanish prisons being stuffed with
American prisoners. This brought on
another sharp exchange with Senator
Hale.
What evidence has the senator
(Morgan), asked Senator Hale, that
the prisons of Cuba are filled with
| American citizens. I do not believe
that assertion. My information is just
the reverse. 1t is to the effect that
within the last six months, practically
within the last six weeks, every case
in which our authorities have inter-
vened for release of a citizen has been
responded to in a friendly tone. and in
nearly every case their release has oc-
Cured"
Senator Hale added that his attitude
was in no sense due to any friendship
for Spain. He cared nothing about
that. He sought only to have the dip
lOmatic usage Of 100 a maintained
with calmness and not in an inf1am-
matory spirit.
Senator Morgan responded hat the
authority was ample for the statement
that twenty-eight people had been
stuffed into a room 10 by Z feet in di-
mension. Perhaps the senator from
Maine would accept that He (Mor-
| gam did not believe the senator was
capable of believing anything rejecting
on one of these sanity angels Of Spain.
The Maine senator had not answered
the question as to who was his authori-
ty. Then Senator Morgan added: But
/ know who it is. The world knows
who it is The enator cannot conceal
the fact that he is in communication
with the Spanish authorities"
Senator Hale was at once on his feet
speaking with great earnestness, but
free from agitation. Not one single
item of this information has come
from the Spanish authorities" he de-