The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-21
MAY MEAN WAR.
Senate Passes Mr.. MOrgan's
Resolution
RecOgniz ing Belligerent Rights
Of the Cubans.
HALE FEARS RESULTS,
Other Senators Believe it Will
Lead to War.
House Passes the $4,000 Re-
lief Measure.


citing debate on the joint resolution.
recognizing a state of war in Cuba ana
declaring that strict neutrality shall be
maintained by the United States, pass
ed the senate by the decisive vote of
Al to IA at a late hour yesterday after
noon.
The announcement of the vote was re-
ceived with tumultuOus applause which
drew from Senator Hawley an emphatic
protest against mob demonstration"
The resolution as passed is as follows:
Resolved, etc, That a condition of
public war exists between the govern
ment of Spain and the government pro
claimed and for some time maintained
by force of arms by the people of Gu
ba, and that the United States of
America shall maintain a strict neu-
trallty between the cOntesting parties
according to each and all the rights of
belligerents in the ports and territory
of the United States.
An analysis of the vote shows that
the affirmative vote was cast by IS
Republicans, 10 Democrats and Pop
lists, and the negative by Il RepubH-
cans and 2 Democrats.
Prior to the final vote, the motion of
Senator Hale to refer the resolution to
the committee on foreign relations, was
tabled; yeas, "a; nays, 10.
Mr.. Fairbanks of Indiana proposed a
substitute, providing that the president
extend the good offices of the United
States to Spain towards securing an
end to the conflict and the ultimate in
dependence of the island.
This too, was tabled; yeas, 35; nays,
Is. Then followed the adoption of the
original resolution. The voting occurred
after an exciting debate participated in
by Senators ThurStOn of Nebraska,
Elkins of West Virginia, White of CAL
ifornia, Fairbanks of Indiana, Hale,
Spooner and German.
Mr. ThurstOn, who presided over the
Republican convention at St Louis,
recalled the stirring scene when the
convention enthusiastically inserted the
Cuban plank in the platform and de-
clared that this resolution was in par
tial fulfllment of that pledge Messrs.
ElkinS and White urged a conservative
course and an inquiry by a committee.
Then came the first VOte-that on the
Hale motion to refer. It was a. test of
strength, and the defeat of the motion
assured the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Fairbanks tried to stem the tide
by offering compromise proposition,
somewhat on the lines of the Cuban
plank adopted at St Louis, but it met
the same fate as the Hale motion
This brought Mr.. Hale forward for a
final protest He spoke with intense
earnestness and feeling, and with
trace of bitterness in his words. He
declared that the elements opposed to
the administration Democrats and
POpulists) had furnished the bulk of
the vote in favor of the resolution and
that the foreign policy of the admins
tratiOn should not thus be dictated by
it's opponents. There was a fear also
that this action would lead to a war
with Spain.
Mr.. Thurston spoke of the bloody
contest which had ragged during the last
two years. There was ample infOrma-
ton as to its extent from American cor
respondents who had written their dis
patches on the field of battle. from the
reports which filed the records of the
senate and in the archives of the state
department.
Every man in the United States ought
fn he V oCtinn this
at this time, and if any senator was not
sufficiently informed Mr.. ThurstOn
commended him to the consideration
of his constituents. The senator re
ferred to the St. Louis convention over
which he presided and pictured the
scene when with a mighty shout that
seemed to lift the roof above our heads
the Cuban resolution was passed by the
convention.
That declaration could not be faith
fully carried out unless we first recog-
thereby lay the foundation for the full
execution of that declaration. 1t was
whispered Mr.. ThurstOn said, that the
resolution came from Democratic sour
ceS.
Il am a party man of the ultra type
proceeded Mr.. ThurstOn, but over and
above my duty to my party is that to
my country to humanity and to God.
and 1 would be unworthy of my great
party if I shaped my course on this
resolution through party considera-
tons"
Mr. Thurston read the interview of
former Premier Sagasta and declared