The herald., 1897-05-19
CONDITION
OF CUBANS
Stirs Senators to Fervid
Orat0ry
MASON PREFERS A WAR
To the Continuance of Spanish
Atrocities
UNDER PROVIDENCE OF GOD
THE ISLAND OF CUBA SHALL BE
FREE
Hoar Grows Sarcastic About Brass
Band Of Talk Followed by the
Squeaking Morsel Of
Resolution
THE ISLAND OF CUBA SHALL BE
FREE

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. May 1s.-Cuba again
occupied the foreground in the senate
today. 1t drew large crowds to the gall
leries and brought two notable speeches,
the one by Mr.. Mason OF Illinois, in favor
of the Morgan resolution and the other
by Mr. Hoar Of Massachusetts, in oppo-
sition to it.
The Illinois senator pictured in fervid
terms the distress in Cuba, dwelling par
ticularly on the starving condition of 800
United States citizens, as reported by the
president, and called upon the senate to
throw off it's lethargy and pass the Nor
gan resolution.
Mason had several sharp tilts with
Wellington Of Maryland, the latter pro-
testing that he was being misrepresent-
ed. 1t led to considerable commotion in
the galleries, during which Wellington
declared that he could not be choked of
by the rudeness Of the galleries.
Hoar spoke in his usual calm and dig
nified style, and took occasion to deride
buncombe appeals to constituents and
braggadocio as to our national strength.
Hoar's criticisms, although impersonal.
were clearly aimed at Mason. Senator's
Gallinger Of New Hampshire and Haw-
ley Of Connecticut also spoke. the former
for the resolution and the latter urging
that the United States should not rush
into war while our coast defenses are
manifestly inadequate.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock the presiding
officer laid the Morgan Cuban resolution
before the senate, and Mason of Illinois
was recognized.
The senator began with sarcastic ref
erence to the polite delays" of the SEN
ate which had taken the place of the
"old game of filibuster."
ION one pretense or another" he said,
"the opposition to this resolution has
succeeded in delaying action day after
day. Day after day the American peo-
pie had awaited that action, had ex-
pected that at least the barbarities of
the Spaniard would be checked, until at
last 1t seemed as though the voices Of the
American people were to remain silent
while the sale Of girls, the murder of
children and the barbarities which the
Spaniards call war proceed in Cuba"
The senator declared it was time to
act, to carry out the platform Of the Re-
publican party and to speak here and
now in behalf of Cuba. Mason referred
to "that splendid gentleman" in the pres
idential chair and. to the presidents
Cuban message in proof of the serious
conditions prevailing in Cuba.
Here is the proof" exclaimed the SEN
ator, ''in the communication of the
president stating that 800 citizens of the
United States have been forced into
towns and are destitute. Who forced
them there? Was 1t the insurgents?
Then there is war in Cuba. Was it the
Spaniards? Then, If there is not war,
there ought to be and with Us. Eight
hundred Americans driven from home,
starving, and still some senators say it
is not much of war!"
The senator said that with this state
ment that 800 Americans were suffering
we passed resolution in substance say
ing Please, kind Mr.. Spaniard, let us
bring home our Americans and protect
them under our flag"
And yet there is no war in, Cuba. If
800 American citizens are being driven
TO starvation" exclaimed Mr.. Mason.
compelling us to send from our shore
to protect them, in the name Of God, if
It Is not war, what Is 1t ?'
Mr.. Mason turned his attention to the
favorable to England made by
wellington of Maryland yesterday.
Yes, we owe her (England) good
deal" declared Mason, "but we settled
a good part of it at Bunker iTIll."
The senator read newspaper extracts
showing the condition of affairs In Cuba,
~Is that the kind of informa tion," in
terjected wellington, that the senate
Of the United States is to have as basis
for resolution of belligerency?"
Macon replied that the senate must act
on its best information, and when the
Spaniard sells his daughter, murders his
boy and conceals the facts, the people
must rely on the American correspond
ent to get at the facts. The senator paid
a glowing tribute to those CORE spond-
ents, some Of whom had risked and given
up their lives to present the facts to the
American people.
He referred to the death of Correspond
ent Crosby who fell on the field during
an engagement.
"And yet" suggested Gallinger, IRON
ically, there is no war in Cuba"
Mason and wellington had a warm
col2oquy as to what the latter had
said of the paper" government Of the
Cubans, and as to the difference Of the
strength Of the Cubans and that Of
at Valley Forge. The Illi-
nois senator declared that he cared
nothing az to the forms Of the Cuban
government Of the location Of its capt!
tai, for Il It had nothing but the heayens