The record-union., 1897-04-06

be Tried by Drumhead Court
Martial and Shot, the Government
of the United States Should Pro-
test to the Spanish Government
Against Such Violation of the
Rule sof Civilized Warfare.
| WASHINGTON, April 5.-The Sem
ate to-day by unanimous vote adopted
a resolution reciting the reports thai
! General RulS Rivera, the Cuban COM
mander, is about to be tried by drum
| head courtmartial and shot, and eX-
pressing the judgment of the Senate
that If these reports are true the Presi-
dent of the United States should pro-
test to the Spanish Government against
such a violation of the rules of civilized
warfare. This resolution does not &C
| to the House of Representatives and
becomes effective as a measure of ad-
vice to the President by it's adoption
! to-day.
Although opposition was withdrawn
on the final vote, there was spirited
opposition in the early stages of the
debate, and test vote on the compare
tive strength of the Cuban and anti
Cuban sentiment in the Senate The
| test occurred on a motion to refer the
resolution to the Committee on For
eign Relations. Hale (R.) of Maine
who has been prominently identified
with the opposition to Cuban resolu-
lions, made the motion to refer, and
| it was supported by Hoar of Massa-
chusetts, another prominent figure in
the opposition to Cuban resolutions
The debate was very spirited, and at
| times quite personal, Allen of Ne
/ braska and Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire clashing with Hoar
The Hale motion to refer was defeat
| ed-21 to 81, and the resolution was
adopted-44 to @. Hoar and Hale re-
Trained from voting.
After the disposal of the Cuban ques-
! ton the day was given to speeches
Elkins of West Virginia speaking for
two hours on the development of the
American merchant marine. and Lind
say of Kentucky advocating the pass
age of the bankruptcy bill. known as
the Torrey bill, now before the Senate
| Bate of Tennessee was agreed to, di-
recting the Surgeon General of the Ma
rine Hospital Service to aid the Missis-
sippi River flood sufferers by the dis
tribution of tents, blankets, food and
medicine under the epidemic fund OF
1893. and to purchase further supplies
under the present epidemic fund fol-
distribution
When the Cuban debate was precipi-
| tated Allen emphatically dissented, he
said, from the proposition that the
| American Congress must sit idly by
while this savagery and barbarous con-
| test proceeds at our very threshold
! Within 100 miles of our shore women
and children We're being butchered, and
| the methods Of civilized warfare set al
| defiance. Murder, rape, rapine and
devastation were playing their part in
| the destruction of the island and were
Christian people, he asked, willing tC
sit and not raise their voices in defense
of this people?
Allen declared that SPANS course
had been one of bloodshed and cruelty
| This was so notably true as to recent
events in the Philippine Islands and in
Cuba that Spain had been made an
outlaw nation" not entitled to recog-
milton by civilized nations. 1t was time
for US to act, declared the Senator
IF the President will send our navy tc
Cuba" exclaimed Allen, land war;
Spain that she must observe the meth
DDS of civilized warfare or that every
Spanish seaport will be RACED to its
foundation, hostilities would cease and
months.
Hoar CR) of Massachusetts respond
ed in a calm and impressive manner
He spoke of the aspirations of the
founders of the Government in estab-
fishing the Senate as the stay and re-
sisting powers against those passion
ate and fitful gusts of sentiment that
had wrecked every republic on earth
He believed in the dignity and great
ness of the Senate in spite of ignor-
| ant criticisms and the scurrility OF
the London Times" But there were
some gentlemen who seemed to think
that the function of the Senate was te
edit a daily newspaper and peddle il
out at two or three cents a copy. gath
ering up all current reports and cur
rent events and prophesying things tc
occur. In the pending resolution Con
gress was asked to give an affront tc
powerful and friendly nation. The
symbol of the Senate was more proper
ly the sturdy and sow-m maturing oaL
rather than the mushroom which rot
ted in an hour. This resolution was
based on mere prophecy, surmise, pre-.
diction.
1T is a fact asserted Allen from
across the aisle. Does the Senate,
CHoar) confess himself in such ignor-
ance?"
Hoar declined to yield, but Allen in.
sisted on repeating that the danger t.
General Riviera was an authenticated
fact known to all people.
Hoar, continuing. asked the Nebras skis
Senator to possess his beautiful sou
in patience" He denied that there wa.
anything but report and prophecy a
the basis of this resolution Prophec,
was far from being an exact science
Hoar rejected with Indignation any as
I sertions that he was guided on thes,
great questions of humanity by the in
terestS or opinion of the business ele
ments, as had been suggested. TIL,
Senator shared none of this animosit,
to so-called business interests, for tn,
prosperity of this class meant hope ant
happiness to every workingman. Will,
| a blow to that interest meant poyert,