The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-03
ne one line IL the decisions Of tho

.ee--.1....>......-...s.-
me one line IL the decisions of the
Courts OF the United States, which
directly or indirectly, by exact state
ment or by intendment, denies that
ercised or that the Congress OF the
U ntted States may not also act
=, where shall we turn for the detini-
tion OF executive power? Shall we
go to the established doctrines OF mon
archies under otuer systems ? We can
not safely look there. n we do, the
Congress of tho Uoited States, under
our constitution, rs to all those subjects
over which 1t Is given jurisd ictiou, has
the same absolute power of action az
has the Parliament Of Great Britain,
and the powerOf Great Britain throuph n
| It's Parliament has never been limited.
but Is sdpfem,. Whore shall we 90 )
Lot US go to the spirit of republican
institutions which animated our faith ers
when they drew that sublime instru-
mont, anc going there, l insist that
.9ey ana not believe In govern mont
Vi any one man, and they did not in
tend to vest. and did not ,est, in any
one man the SOLE power of action In
great and important matters affecting
the welfare OF the whole people.
Mr.. President, war is an abhorrent
thing. | hope that its bloody shadow
may never fall athwart our sky
again. War il u terrible thing. and vet
NO advance toward liberty has everbsen
made except by the bloody pathway of
war. War in defense Of human liberty
and human right Ia Gods thunder
storm ; it clears the air for humanity's
advance.
Let us have no talk of war. 1t is
nonsenlcal. 1t Ia Inter- jected in this
debate for the mere purpose OF delay
ing, OF procra3tinattng, of defeating
action in this important matter.
Mr.. President, l have only sought, in
general way, to show to the people
OF tho United States that our proposed
action ts right and just. am q con-
servatlve-conservat In thought, in
Judgment, and in action. | hold bv
inheritance tho stubborn conaerva.
tism of tho New England hills. By nv
professional life l have b.en taught
that every question should be carefully
considered, scrutin a ID, and examined,
ana that hasty action is always dam
gerOns.
| have not been hasty in reaching tho
conclusion to vote for tho pending Joint
resolution. | have not resolved upon
my course without the most careful
and patient examination of the consti.
tuition OF my country. | have not de-
termlned what | would do without
listening to all this great de bate, with
out fortifying myself with a thorough
owledge Of International law and all
the facts that exist in regard to the
island Of Cdba. When | vote thera
will be behind my vote my delib crate
judgment, my conscience aud my man.
hood as an American citiZ N.
MR. PrGSiilpDt n,n FREQ
To the great Senator from Ma,sachu-
) 1T, that in the consideration Of this
question my sympathy, my love OF
country, my lovo OF liberty nave gone
hand In hand with my inves tiyation of
| tho i'm portnut f,I Is und my study of tho
the principles of law that govern the
case. | would not divest myself in this
! important action from ali considern-
tiOns Of sentiment.
| Almost thirty years ago II story went
the rounds OF the American press, and
this was t.: The story said that one
! day Il it'll; ship was captured by the
| Spanish authorities in an attempt to
land arms upon the Cubln shore. The
| c:G" were; Sci%sd. fried by uruuiyaG
| court mar tia', and sentenced to be shot
at the sunrise OF the morrow. Among
those men was one humble, simple
American sailor He had enlisted for
the voyage without knowing tho des-
tlnation OF the vessel or the character
OF the cargo carricd yet he was seized
anu TILED, ii you may SO call it, and
sentenced to be shot at the sunrise of
the morrow.
10 some way late at night word
reached the American consul at the
nearest seaport :O"r. Flo had no ou-
ortunity ia wait upon tle authorities
or spain: he had no chance to appeal
for Official action but as u representa-
tive Of the United States, at daylight
OF the morning he m"u", q his ~Urse
and hastoned away 49, n % the
execution: When 80 ar'l, eu ne found
these sailors, and among them the
American sailor, drawn up in line, and
opposite them, with guns ia their
hands ready to shoot them down, were
the soldiers Of Spain.
Our consul went to the officer In
charge and said, Sir. that man is a
ctiZ n OF tho United States. He has
committed no Intentional crime
against the King of Spain. In the
name OF my country [ demand that he
be given an opportunity in the civil
| courts of Cuba to establish and main
tain his innocence" The officer said :,
Sir, / have the warrant Of the King
or Spain to shoot that man at the rising
Of the sun, and he will surely die"
The sun came over tho sea, kissing
the distant pillows with tinge Of
glory. That same ray of sunshine, it
may be, shone through the window Of
a little cottage In the northern land
upon tho sleeping face Of devoted
wife and the curly head Of the innocent
babe that lay at rest upon her holy
breast.
The sun came over the sea and fell
upon the brow Of this American citi-
I'm condemned TO die. The order was
given, I" Ready. Aim - The American
consul, seeing that no other effort
would avail, drew from his bosom a
silken flag OF our own free land, and,
springing for ward, wrapped its glorious
folds around this man condemned to
die, and turning to the soldiery OF
Spain cried out, Shoot If you dare ;
but II you shoot that man, you shoot
| the flag of the greatest nation OF the