The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-21
Senate by an Overwhelming Vote
Recognizes the Insurgents as
Belligerents.
The Final Vote Preceded by Two Tests OF Strength
and Bitter Debate in Which All the
Leaders Were Involved.
An Early War With Spain Predicted by Mr. Has
as the Result of the Action Taken.

WASHINGTON, May 20.-The long
and exciting debate on the joint reso-
luton, recognizing the existence of
state Of war in Cuba and declaring that
strict neutrality shall be maintained
by the United States, passed the sem
ate by the decisive vote Of Al to "A at
late hour this afternoon. The an
nouncement Of the vote was received
with tumultuous applause, which drew
from Senator Hawley an emphatic pro-
test against mob demonstration" The
resolution as passed is as follows:
Resolved, That a 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
between the contending parties. according to
ports and territory Of the United States.
The vote on the final passage of the
resolution was as follows:
Yeas-Bacon, Baker, Bate, Berry, Butler,
Garter Chandler chilton Clay S9eRrei
German, Hansbrough, Harris (Kan.), Heit-
field, Jones (Ark.), Henley, Lindsay, Nc
Bride, Mantle, Mason, Mills. Morgan, Nelson,
Pasco, Pettigrew, Pettus, Pritchard, Rawlins,
Shoup, Stewart, Thurston. Tillman Turner,
Turpie, Walthall-H.
Nays-Allison Burrows Caffery Fairbanks,
Gear, Hale, Hanna, Hawley, Hoar, Spooner,
Wellington, Wetmore, White and Wilson-14.
An analysis of the vote shows that
the affirmative was cast by eighteen
Republicans, nineteen Democrats and
four Populists, and the negative by
twelve Republicans and two Demo-
Gratis.
Prior to the final vote, the motion of
Senator Hale, to refer the resolution to
f~,. o1otin
defeated, yeas nineteen, nays thirty
four. Mr.. Fairbanks, of Indiana, pro-
POSED substitute, providing that the
president extend the good offices OF the
United States to Spain towards secur-
ing an end to the conflict and the ulti-
mate independence of the island. This,
too, was tabled, yeas 35, nays 10. Then
followed the adoption of the original
resolution.
The voting occurred after an exciting
debate, participated in by Senators
Thurston (Neb) Elkins CIV. Va-);
White (CaL); Fairbanks Qnd); Hale
(Me.); Spooner (Wis), and German
(Md). Mr.. Thurston, who presided
over the Republican national conven-
ton at st. Louis, recalled the stirring
scene when that convention enthus-
iastically inserted a Cuban plank in
the platform and declared that this
resolution was in partial fulfillment OF
that pledge. Messrs. Elkins and White
urged a conservative course and an
inquiry by a committee. Then came
the first vote-that on the Hale mo-
ton to refer. 1t was a test of strength
and the defeat Of the motion assured
the passage of the resolution. MI.
Fairbanks tried to stem the tide by
Offering compromise proposition,
somewhat on the lines Of the Cuban
plank adopted at ST. Louis, but 1T met
the same fate as the Hale motion.
This brought Mr.. Hale forward for
a final protest He spoke with intense
earnestness and feeling and with
trace of bitterness in his words. He
| declared that the elements opposed to
the nistration-Democrats and
Populists-had furnished the bulk Of
the vote in favor of the resolution to
table, and that the foreign policy OF
the administration was thus to be die
tated by it's opponents. He expressed
the fear also that the resolution would
lead to war with Spain. Mr.. SpoOner
added his protest against tying the
hands Of the administration. Mr.. Cor
man closed the debate, resenting the
suggestion that party lines were drawn
ON the resolution and asserting that
the administration should have dis
patched a war vessel to Cuba to pro-
tect our officials on the island. The
final vote was then taken and the SEN
ate adjourned until next Monday.
BITTER DEBATE.
Mr.. Thurston in presenting his reso-
luton spoke of the bloody contest which
had ragged during the last two years.
There was ample information as to Its
extent from American correspondents
who had written their dispatches on
the field of battle, from the reports
which filled the records of the senate
and in the archives Of the state de-
partment. Every man in the United
States ought to be ready for action
on this question at this time, and If
anv senator was not sufficiently In
formed Mr.. Thurston commended him
to the consideration Of his constituents.
The senator referred to the st. Louis
convention, over which he presided, and
pictured the scene when, with
mighty shout that seemed to lift the
roof above our heads,') the Cuban res
olution was passed by the convention.
That declaration could not be faithfully
carried out unless we first recognize the
Cubans as belligerentS and thereby lay
the foundation for the full executing Of
that declaration. 1t was whispered, Mr..
Thurston said, that this resolution
came from Democratic sources, and
that this Republican administration
should direct the policy on this great
subject. II am a party man OF the
ultra type" proceeded Mr.. Thurston.
"but over and above my duty to my
party is that to my country, humanity
and to God, and I would be unworthy
of my great party If shaped my course
on this resolution through party consid-
erations.
eff peace ever comes to Cuba" he
added 'it Will come under the Cuban
flag, when that last remnant Of des-
pot1c authority is turned back to for
eign shores"
The senator spoke at some length on
the points of interna tional law involved
and closed as follows: These things
the United States Of America can con-
stitutiopally and lawfully do. Let us
dispatch the mightiest battleship Of the
United States to Cuba. Let us station
her in the harbor Of Havana. There
her frowning guns may disturb the
her shining stars may cheer the hearts
Of those who are struggling to be free. !"
The gallery broke into applause 1t