Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-21
A Cuban Message.
President Mckinley Asks Congress 20
Aid Destitute Americans In the Island.


Aid Destitute Americans I'm the Island.
The President sent this message to Con-
gress Monday:
"To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tdticeS:
"Oficial information from our consuls
in Cuba establishes the fact that a large
number of American citizens in the island
are in a state of destitution, suffering for
want of food and medicine. This applies
particularly to the rural districts of the
central and eastern parts. The agricultur-
al classes have been forced from their
farms into the nearest towns where they
are without work or money. The local
authorities of the several towns, however
kindly disposed, are unable to relieve the
needs of their people and are altogether
powerless to help our citizens.
"The latest report of Consul-General
Lee estimates six to eight hundred without
means of support | have assured him
that provision would be made at once to
relieve them. To that end | recommend
that Congress make an appropriation of
not less than $4,000 to be Immediately
available for use and under the direction
of the secretary of state.
at is desirable that part of the sum
which may be appropriated by Congress
should, in the discretion of the secretary
of state, also be used for the transporta-
tion Of American citizens desiring to re-
turn to the United States who are without
means to do so.
own. MCKINLEY"
The message is commended for its con-
servative tone and its avoidance of any
language or reference that would give
pretext for an inhammatory outbreak in
Congress on the Cuban question.
In the Senate the message was received
with the commendabe spirit in which it
was conceived. A resolution making the
appropriation was at once passed without
debate or dissent. But unfortunately, this
was not the case in the House. In that
body Mr. Bailey of Texas, the young Dem
ocratc leader, refused to permit immedi-
ate consideration of the resolution unless
he could have attached TO it rider EN-
bodying the Morgan resolution recogniz-
ing the Cuban insurgents as belligerents.
Discussion in the Senate.
The session of the United States Senate
on Tuesday was devoted to a debate on
the Cuban question. Senator Mason of
| Illinois made fervid speech declaring that
the Cuban insurgents ought, as a matter of
right, to be recognized as bellgerents by
| this government. Mr.. Mason declared
that without the aid of Lafayette the gov
ernment defended by George Washington
was not worth continental and that the
| United States ought to play in Cuba the
| part of Lafayette and the French in the
| American colonies in 171S. Senator Hoar
| of Massachusetts made a Commute reply
| to Mr. Mason's ''brass band of talk" ef-
fectively demolshing what little of argu-
ment was contained in the speech of the
| Illinois senator.
This debate was continued at Wednes
days session of the Senate, when heated
speeches were made by Morgan of Ala
bama, Gallinger of New Hampshire and
Cannon of Utah. Senator Foraker, a
member of the foreign relations committee
declared himself fatty in favor of interven-
ton. In the course of his remarks he dis
closed several bits of important informa-
tion hitherto kept secret, which were gath
cred from the official correspondence now
in the hands of the administration. Among
these was the fact that so long ago as
April, 1896, Secretary Olney made a pro-
! posal to the Spanish government for me
diation, which was refused From infor
nation given out by personal friends ol
President Mckinley it is apparent that he
is proceeding with vigor and great care ir
his investigation of the Cuban question
If his personal representative, Mr.. Cal
houn, confirms the reports of Consul-Gen
eral Lee. there is no doubt that the Presi
dent will, in due time, suggest to the Mad
rid government, in a friendly and cour
teous, but very positive way, that the wal
must be brought to a close and the gooC
offices of the United States will be ten
dered to secure this end on basis which
shall be honorable, both to the Spanish
government and to the insurgents.
The exciting debate in the Senate on the
Cuban question ended yesterday with thu
passage, Al to IA, of joint resolution rec
ognizing the existence of state of war il
Cuba and declaring that strict neutrality
shall be maintained by the United States
In the House the resolution appropriatin!
$50, 900 for the relief of American citizens
in Cuba was passed after bitter partisan
debate. Representative Hitt speaking fol
the administration, gave an intimatior
tina. President Mckinley is working TO Sc
cure Cuban independence.