Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-20

would not entertain a proposition cont1n-
uing her sovereignty, we could not expect
her to entertain a proposition based on
condition precedent OF abdication Of au-
thority."
Mr.. HOar's Contention.
Mr.. Hoar:
ut seems to me, whether reasonably or
rnreasonably, that Spain now, a year and
three months or four months later, might
entertain a proposition for Intervention to
secure independence. q. If she did not.
we should have some reason to know where
we stood. Notwithstanding the fact that
she declined to permit the mediation Of
foreign country to determine what laws
she should make for her subjects.
Nov, I conceive 1T would be a much
greater loss Of dignity on the part of the
United States, If one of our states were in
revolution, to permit a foreign government
to dictate or suggest what laws we should
pass while she continued ours than it would
be to suggest the impossibiiity OF our long
er maintaining our control at all. &c. not
only are the two propositions separated
from each other by a year and three
months of time CROWDED with important
events. out they seem to me. with great
difference to my honorable and distinguish
ed friend, to be different rom each other in
point of acceptabiity to Spain However. I
later" N>
Mr.. Foraker-'I quite agree with the sem
ator from Massachusetts, that what Spain
refused to do year or more ago she might
De willing to do today; but is it reasonable
,lor we are to consider what is reasonable
here-taking into consideration her uast
history with respect to this matter. to ex
Pect that change of mind has overcome
her! we must all remember In this connec-
ton that when the ten years war was In
progress there the friendly Offices of this
government were rendered to the end that
peace might be secured, and they were then
rejected. but with the reservation that Spain
he FviD ,I,HNs-
ward her by the United States and would
II circumstances should change later In the
progress of that war, avail herself of our
1fiehdiy offices; but the whole ten years
more was heard from Spain.
NOW. in view of that fact. and In view
oI the manner in whichs these friendly Off
G e., Were rejected, l for one deem it entire
~ unreasonable to suppose that Spain
would entertain with any more favor pnW
e Imam She Old one year ago a tender of tho
friendly offices of this government: and 7
afHd ~ YET 10 be convinced that it would
aco 10 the agreeableness, in the estimation
OF spain, of this tender If it should he basel
oh 'he condition of abdication instead of
continuation of sovereignty.
FavOrs Intervention.
therefore, to resume the argument:
There remain but the two other ways 7
have specified. We can take notice of thar
condition of things by the recognition of
peiigerency, according to the bellIeerents
peilserent rights, or we can intervene. It
IS my Judgment. Mr.. President that INFER
c cgntloa is the better. the shorter, the more
Cuba. e o''ncui'y III
think the time has come when tho
ohited states government would he irsti,;aS
nh. M aayihs 70 spain that the proceedings
Whicn nave been there going on SO long
Should, IN the name of civilization. In the
name CT humanity, as well as because of
. eneir destructive influences upon our inter
immed itMe 10 stop, and come to a stop
INN. That is what / think. Man.
iie e.sIis or applause In the =galIeriesI
Much solicltude has been rnanifesteG &c
~ me character of the civil government If
d das Insurgents zen in Cuba Has anybody
;S ioeu lne c1Vll government of the Snan
lard IN Cuba? The Snaniard has mo ciri,
government In Cuba. He has throupho,,t
me Island. wherever he asserts anthoritr
Tha al ohiy martial law and military force.
inele IS no pretense of any other kind of
government. On The contrary although # ha.
pech SAID that this is but a paper govern
lneht the fact is found and reported to the
zen senate py the committee on foreign relations
ana established also by commupica tirns
OF an Official character on file In the S,o,a
department, that the insureent rubans
nave thoroughly organized government
4! me sense that they haye a written con,
sttution, president and, other officers Of
state; they have a cabinet; thew nave MI
me machinery necessary. if it were only
ieit 70 1tse:f, 10 administer the civil affairs
- ne peopie ana TO entitle them to take
d place among the nations of the earth
That Is the character of the Situation in
.hat respect. What is 1t in others? We are
tosu we must not rely upon newspaper re-
20. -. l am happy in the fact that l do
nave In my hand again the official com
InuEicatlon from the then Secretary If
state, Mr. Olney, dated April 4, 1886 in
c wnlcn, unaer al the soemhities of mis- off,
cidi position. in the discharge of the high
duty upon which he had entered. he do
scribes the existing conditions In Cuba as
they had been Heretofore, made known to
MIN by official communications On file in
the department OF which he was the head.
w men newspaper Article is referred
10, ana senator says, I do not choose to
believe It,, that is his privilege; it is I'M
oniciai; 1t Is unauthorized. You may he
i ass II; l may disbelieve 1t. We may have
1lnerent opinions about its credibility But.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, when the duly authorized
agents OF this government in their official
communications state facts to us, we are !
all alike bound to believe them
he then quoted from the official corre-
spondence, as printed in another column.
The Duty of the Government.
In conclusion, Mr.. Foraker said:
1.-The insurgent in Cuba today, in the abb
sence of the recognition proposed by this
Joint resolution, is but a traitor on land |
ana pirate on sea. He is shot like dog
when captured on shore, instead of being
treated as prisoner of war. If they had |
a battle ship, and he were ON her and cap |
tured. he would be hanged at the yardarm |
as a pirate. And here in our country he Is |
known only as vioiator of our municipal |
law, and denied all recognition under the |
law of nations. Recognition will change all |
This. Let me particularize further.
EVERY such case as this Is to be de- |
termined by its particular facts. There |
are today hundreds of American youths In |
the insurgent army. One Of them, cap
tured with gun in his hand, taken in bat !
tie, Is. like the Cuban ihsurgent, but q |
traitor to be shot in his tracks When this !
government refuses to recognize belligeren-
cy. great and mighty and powerful as 1t ISL |
Is absolutely without the power to protest |
against it; but when we shall have recog- |
nized belligerency, we have invested this |
government with power to- say that man |
1ghting for human liberty, for national In |
dependence. taken in the line OF duty, with |
arms in his hands, gallantSand heroic, shall |
be treated as soldier engaged in legiti- |
mate war, and shall be accorded all the |
rights and privileges that belong to prison
srs of war captured in battle.
Another thing-I might stand here and |
iwell upon this almost without 1imH-in all |
this matter there is something of higher |
concern to me, something that appeals to
my conscience more than anything else |
that has been adverted to in This debate l
VyrNN y1<1A ~ IT,