The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23
OF BLEEDING CUBA
TROPICAL ISLE PROMINENT IN
THE THEME OF SENATOR
DAVIS TALK. 3
UNITED STATES NOT BLIND
TO SPANISH WRONGS OR INACTIVE
IN PROTECTING THE OP-
PRESSED ISLANDERS.
SPAIN MUST NOT THREATEN,
Or Her Bravado May BE Met by
Decisive Measures ON Column
bias Part.


Inc entertainment season OIL InS
Merriam Park Lecture association was
opened last evening under most auspi-
cious circumstances, by reception to
and address by Hon. Cushman K. Da-
Wis, Minnesota's senior senator.
Woodruff's hall was filed by the large
audience, which numbered the elite of
Merriam Park, all of whom were in
eveGfng dress. The hall was handsome
ly decorated with palms and potted
plants, while in the center was beau
tiful autumn piece of vari-colored
leaves; in compliment to the distin-
guished guest the walls were festooned
with the national colors, and draped
across the back of the stage was the
flag of Cuba-the red, white and blue
standard with the lone star.
An informal reception was held dur
ing which music was furnished by the
Kootenaf orchestra. Light refresh
mentS were then served, after which
Rev. w. c. Covert, who acted as mas
ter of ceremonies, introduced the speak
er of the evening, Senator Davis. Mr.
Davis was rendered an ovation as he
advanced to the front of the platform
After expressing his pleasure at being
present and paying a tribute to the lee
ture bureau and to that comparatively
modern institution itself, the lecture
he announced as the subject of his dis
course, An Informal Talk on the Man.
ner in Which Foreign Relations Are
Conducted and spoke, in brief, as
follows:
You cannot pick up a newspaper
without seeing some question in it
ABOUT the foreign relations between
lhls country and some foreign power
me question a week ago was whether
tAls country would feel itself bound
TO return Miss Cisneros to her Cuban
prison; the next thing was when Bis
marck pronounced the Monroe doc
trIne a piece of American insolence
and the papers this evening gave prom
irence to the fact that Spain protested
because this nation had done nothing
to prevent the fitting out of filibuster-
ing expeditions to Cuba. Why, the
truth is that this country has done
nothing but to endeavor to suppress
them! TomOrrow's paper may tell US
of the trouble with England in an en-
deavOr to effect a conference for the
protection of our sealing interests-so
a knowledge of the workings of the
senate committee on foreign relations
may be interesting.
The senate of the United States, by
reason of its cooperation and treaty
power, has a peculiarly intimate rela-
ton with foreign powers. The pOliti-
cal leaders in the senate may stand
on each side of the partisan line and
hurl imprecatiOns at each other, but
from the time of Washington down to
this, with few, and those few very dis
astrous, exceptions, our committee on
foreign affairs has presented an un-
broken front to the foreign nations;
party differences were sunk in a unit
ed spirit of patriotism. We may have
our domestic difficulties, like the quar-
rels between husband and wife, but
let an outsider step in and you will
see the couple unite in eXpeiling him.
So does that body of American citi-
Zens discuss these matters from uni
tary point of view, and that explains
why when the American people set
their faces against a foreign foe, there
is a unanimity which bids that foe be-
ware.
THE senate committee on foreign
relations consists of eleven members
OF which the party in power always
has a majority of one. The meetings
are largely confidential and by the ne
cessity to have no differences they
are made harmonious. Matters are
talked over in a conversational way
and different views exchanged; some
times the members grow emphatic in
their remarks but we have few diff
ferences Of opinion.
Treaties are referred by the senate
to that committee. The right of in
ception of a treaty is solely by the
president, but it must go to the senate
for confirmation and thus to this COM
mittee, and it is with matters of this
kind that the committee has most to
do The committee rejected the ar
hitration treaty last February. Many
people thought they saw in it per-
petuity of peace, but we found that it
bound US to arbitrate all matters with
foreign countries, and that the boards
of arbitration were to be composed
One-half of European diplomats. Thus
we would have been obliged to arbi-
trate the Nicaraguan question, the i'm
MIGRATION question, and other matters
of LITIGATION which are matters for any
government to decide for itself-and we
rejected the treaty without hesitancy."
Senator Davis then went on to re-
cite several incidents coming before
the committee which shows how every
government is bound to protect the
rights Of its citizens, to see that they
are not abused or their rights trampled
upon by other powers. One of these
is now before the committee and we
give it in the senator's words:
"A young man named Melton, from
Kansas, left twenty months ago to go
correspondent for a newspaper. He
sailed on the schooner Competitor,
which carried supplies to the insur-
gents The vessel was captured by
Spanish gunboat and all the crew
were taken to Havana and lodged in
iail there, were tried by military
tribunal and sentenced to be shot. This
government demanded a new trial, but
it has never taken place and Melton
and two others have lain in Jail for
eighteen months awaiting the action Of
Spain What was their offense? Try
ing to go to Cuba Their offense I'M
der a brutal, bloody code not found in
other country was that by attempting
to enter the island in which there was
insurrection they were punishable by
death. Did we, in our Civil war, make
such a preposterous law? No, but
Spain. which has left the bloody mark
of it's hand upon every American coun-
try demands the. life Of these men
but does not dare take It.
Had we acknowledged the belliger-
ency of Cuba two years ago, as we
should have DONE these men if caught
might be liable to punishment, but
only under a code of war such as every
civilized country recognizes. Spain
proposes that Cuba shall have autOn-
ony, but it will not be such an
autonomy as Canada possesses, which
| is almost freedom. 1t would be sucn
an autonomy as would be enforced by
Gen. Blanco, whom, when he descends
to hell, all the demons will rise to DO
him reverence.
s'Spain says that if we do not pre-
vent the fitting out of f1libusters she
will regard it in a very serious light
I say that If Spain continues to i'm
pose upon US, then will the Cuban star
rise from the sea Of blood in which it