The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-21

that this was a complete admission of
all that had been asserted of the impO-
tency of the Spanish cause in Cuba.
Peace in Cuba" exclaimed the SEN
ator, if there is peace in Cuba, it is
the peace of devastated fields. Peace
in Cuba? If there is peace in Cuba,
it is the peace of desOlated homes, of
ravished women and starving children
and the paens of this peace are sung
by the uncOffined dead.
IF peace ever comes to Cuba" he
added, it will come under the Cuban
flag, when the last remnant of despotic
authority is turned pack to foreign
shores"
The senator spoke at some length on
the points of the international law in
vOlved and closed as follows:
These things the United States of
America can Intentionally and law
fully do. Let US dispatch the mightiest
battleship of the government to Cuba.
Let US station her in the harbOr of
Havana. There her frOWning guns may
disturb the spirit of tyranny by night
and by day her shining stars may cheer
| the hearts of theses who are struggling
to be free
The gallery broke into applause at
the closing reference to the battleship,
but the presiding officer quickly check
ed the demonstration.
While Mr.. Thurston spoke the gall
| leries had filed to overlooking and
crowds were at the entrance awaiting
an opportunity to go in. Mr.. Elkins of
| w vest Virginia IOIlOWeO, urging that the
senate should not act precipitately, but
should await the inquiries now being
made by the officials of the govern
ment He insisted that there was
nothing before the senate to warrant
action at this time. There was no
Cuban government to recognize he as
serted What was the postofice ad-
dress of its president, if-the recognition
was to be sent to him? asked Mr.. Ell
kins. It would have TO be delivered
by General Miles, with the army be
hind him, asserted the senator. He
derided the statement of Mr.. Mason
that Cuban babies were taxed at birth
and Cuban brides taxed at the altar.
What becomes of the grown people %
he asked, sarca stically.
Very few of them grow up an
swered Mr.. Mason amid laughter.
Senator EllIins went on to say that
the possibilities of war were being
treated very lightly. He added: Spain
can declare war and not fire a gun,
and it will cost this nation $500, 900 0OO."
He urged that the president was as
patriotic and as jealous to protect our
interests as any senator. Why" he
asked should this senate seek to CO.
cree the president to action and place
him in a false pOsition?"
Mr. White of California opposed the
resolution and was led into several
lively and amusing exchanges with Mr..
Chandler. He argued that recognition
was exclusively an executive function.
Mr.. White said the recognition of the
CuDanS as DelI2eTeILS would IN no way
relieve them from the obligations of
the neutrality laws. The senator said
the real object of this resolution was to
bring about war with Spain. It was
easy, he said to kindle the enthusiasm
of the American people, but it should
be remembered that their liberty was
not to be found on the battlefield.
Mr.. Hawley spoke briefly the de-
sira bility of conservative and cautious
action at a time of serious emergency.
He closed at $40 p. m. and the voting
began. The pending question was on
the Hale motion to refer the Cuban
resolution to the committee on foreign
relations. The vote was followed with
intense interest by the crowded gal
leries. Senators who had taken leading
parts in the debate moved hurriedly
about the chamber marshalling their
forces. The Hale motion to refer was
defeated by the decisive vote of yeas,
10; nays, "a.
A hum of excitement ran through the
galleries as the vice president in calm
tones announced the defeat of the mo-
ton to refer, adding that the question
was on the adoption of the resolution.
It seemed likely that a final vote would
be taken at once, but Mr.. Fairbanks
took the floor for his first speech in the
senate He was glad to observe that
there was no difference among senators
regarding their desire for freedom in
Cuba. All were anxious to see liberty
established on the desOlate island.
Referring to the st. Louis platform,
Mr.. Fairbanks said he fairly repudiated
the Interpretation of Mr.. ThurstOn on
the Cuban resolution adopted at st.
Louis. The platform was for the ex-
ercise of the good offices of the United
States; the pending resolution was
for recognition of Cuban belliger-
ency. The senator spoke of the misery
and want prevailing in the country.
The manufacturers were alike discOur-
aged. They were not suffering from
WeyIer, but from the delays of the tar
if. Pass the tariff" was their cry.
The way being clear for vote on the
Morgan resolution, Mr.. Hale who has
been the recognized leader of the Oppo-
sitiOn rose for final word of protest
He spoke with intense earneStness and
feeling, with a tinge of bitterness. In
the vote just taken, he said, the foreign
policy of this administration had been
dictated and dictated by those in OppO-
sition to it believe" continued Mr..
Hale, that the passage of this resolu-
ton involves the United States possibly
and fear probably in war with SPAIN
Mr.. Hale asserted that this administra-
ton was confronted with the remarka-
BILE condition of having its foreign poll
cy dictated by those in antagOnism to
it.
Mr.. Gallinger answered Mr.. Hale. say