The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-26
S C.W 20 New Series

fore the Senate at 2 O'clock, but the
debate proceeded on the motion for
adjournment until Monday, and it
branched into unexpected channels.
Mr. Vest, of Missouri, said he had
seen statements to the effect that
three members of the committee on
foreign relations had visited the State
Department and had access to the
evidence furnished by United States
consuls This evidence had never
been laid before the Senate Nothing
had ever been received as to Consul
General Lees view on the situation.
Why was it, he asked, that three
Senators had this information ard the
Senate did not have it {?
Mr.. Morgan answered that three
Senators on the committee had been
sent as sub committee to the Presi-
dent and Secretary of State to confer
on the Cuban subject They had
received certain information, and the
Injunction was laid upon them that
the name Of Gen Lee was not to be
used in connection with the informa-
tion /; that the substance of the in
formation could be used, without
names and places from which it
originated
The reason given for this" added
Mr.. Morgan, "was the fear that the
officials who gave the information
wonld be massacred Another rea-
son was that we had no war vessels
ready to meet the outbreaks Of vic
ious people, ready to massacre"
WAS this statement official that
massacre might ensue ?" asked Mr..
White Of California
Yes, official" responded Mr..
Morgan
Here M. Vest came forward with
series of questions ga committee
of three Senators visited the. State
Department to examine consular re
ports on the status of affairs in Cuba
Now, do l understand that an antece
dent condition, was imposed upon
them that they should not make pub
lie the sources of this information 2"
"The injunction was laid on the
members Of the sub committee that
the Names of consuls and the places
from which the reports came should
not be given" answered Mr.. Nor
gan
"Does the Senator object to stat
ing," queried Mr. White, "what
officer Of the government made th:s
request =
..Both officials, the President and
the Secretary Of State replied Mr.
Morgan.
Mr.. Morgan explained in detail
how the injunction of secrecy had
been placed upon the committee At
first, he said, the Secretary Of State
had seemed reluctant to go into the
question. The Secretary at first pro-
posed to read the reports to the COM
mittee. Some dispatches which had
been in the hands Of Assistant Sec
retary Rockbill were brought io
Then Judge Day, the new Assistant
Secretary of State. come in, and the
statement was made that the informa
ton was given il the strictess conf
dence and without authority 30 use
the names and places OF consuls fur
nishng the information.
The Senator said he declined to
receive the information On these con-
aitions. 1t was then arranged that
the committee should meet the Sec.
retary Of State at his residence this
evening, but Mr. Morgan said he
wrote note to the Secretary. sayin g
he could not be presented under tie
circumstances.
~As l understand. +" in.erposed MIR.
Foraker, cone of the main reasons
against giving names aud places Of
our consuls was that he might cut off
our source Of information ~
There was much interest manifest
cd when Mr. Foraker of Ohio rose TO
speak
81 want to say at the outset he
announced, that l will vote for this
resolution, or some resolution like
it.
In adopting the resolution the Sen
ate would act strictly in accordance
with international law There could
be no question of recognizing the in-
dependence Of Cuba. because no one
claimed that independence existed.
Intervention was also out ofthe ques
ton, Mr.. Foraker declared, for rea-
cons which he proce ded to explain.
The explanation, being the announce
ment of the fact hitherto unknown,