The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-27

| that the war would have assumed a civ
| ilized form and the world been spared the
spectacle that was appalling it today: The
| United States could not afford TO shrink
| from the consequences OF recognition. 1t
should 20 forth to the world that one ma
| ton recognized that the people who had
| for three years maintained war against
force that would have subducd any
ordinary instruction. was legally bel
| ligerents.
| Mr. Lindsay argued that the time fore
Swallowed by President Cleveland's mes
sage when Intervention would be necessa-
| nv had come. The question was not
| whether the United States should recog-
nize belligerency, but whether it should
go further to prevent the utter dcyasta-
| ton Of the island.
~ have no desire to force this admin
| stration to act before its time" Mr. Lind
say said, but il is time the admlnlstra-
ton should know, as the people know,
that the time has come when Cuba and
the monarchy of Spain must be separated.
at could not be said that this nation is
| at peace with Spain when it was SAID on
| the floor that the American consuls III
| Cuba could not afford to have it known
that they told the truth about affairs on
| the island for fear of violence"
In conclusion he said II say if Gen
| Lee would be in danger from having the
reports which he makes of his knowledge
given to the public, or any consul, now,
ever humble, il is time that the United
States warshps to protect these officials,
whom Spain can not or will not protect,
or that they be called home and all diplo-
| matte relations with that government be
severed
There was much interest manifested
when Mr.. Foraker of Ohio rose to speak.
81 want to say at the outset he an
nounced, that | will vote for this resolu-
ton or some resolution like it,
In adopting it the senate would act
strictly in accordance with international
law. There could be no question OF
recognizing the independence of Cuba, be-
cause no one claimed that independence
existed. Intervention was also out of
the question, Mr.. Foraker declared, for
reasons which he proceeded to explain,
the explanation being an announcement
of fact hitherto unknown, created sensa-
ton. He said
'In spite of the limitations which are
imnosei upon me, | feel at liberty to
state that mediation has been rendered
by this government and has been reject
ed by Spain"
Mr. Foraker then gave the facts re-
garding the Olney letter to Minister de
LONE He read a sentence from SPAN S
reply to the proposition, as follows; :.
''rherc is no effectual way to pacify
the Cubans except upon condition that
they first submit to the mother country"
That, said Mr.. Foraker, was the end
of this country's efforts at mediation.
The record shows, he continued, that
the purpose of our government in her
intervention was to secure peace by
means consistent with the honor, dignity
and the continued sovereignty of the
Spanish government in Cuba.
Having rejected this proposition" Mr..
Foraker asked, sis it reasonable to sup
pose that she would now entertain Il
proposition to abdicate entirely?
This question was directed especially
at Mr.. Hoar, who said that he did not
consider such change possible year
and four months after the first PROPOSE
ton.
Discussing the Morgan resolution on
its merits Mr.. Foraker said that direct
intervention was better, shorter and
more Christan-like way than the adop-
ton of the resolution. He would say to
Spain:
"In the name of civilization and hui
mainly ms well as in the interest of our
commerce, you must come to stop and
you must do so Immediately
This declaration brought out a burst
of applause from the galleries, which was
promptly checked by the chair.
The resolution under consideration did
not go so far as this. 1t was n mistake
to suppose that it's adoption meant war
between the United States and Spain.
Cuba has no right TO ask the United
States for this intervention nor Spain to
object to it,
Mr.. Foraker then read at length from
the Olney letter, as well rs the consular
report, which is credited to General Lee.
Mr.. Foraker referred to the starving
condition of six or eight hundred Ameri-
can citizens in Cuba, Mr.. Elkins inter
rupting sharply: How do you know
thatT' he asked.
81 know it from the state department."
answered Mr. Foraker.
But how does the senate know of it
officially" persisted Mr.. Elkins.
I'VE are asked to vote away our iudg-
ments on the private information of sen
at0rs who slip away to the state depart
mcnt and 20 into executive session.
Mr.. Foraker answered jocuarly that
the West Virginia senator should not be-
come irritated when he enjoyed the same
privilege of slipping away to the state
department.
MIR. Foraker admitted that if Cuba was
a country with which the United States
had no transactions there would be no
cause for it to take notice of the insur-
rcction, but all authorities agreed that il
was our right and duty to act "seasona-
ble' under the circumstances. The whole
controversy, Mr.. Foraker asserted. was
united on the point of eXpediency of rec
ognition. He admitted that recognition
would give Spain the right to search
ships of the United States for goods con-
traband of war and relieve Spain of La
bllity for damages for destruction of
American property. OF the latter result,
he said he would not regard it as a Sc
rious loss. l have found in the state de-
partment claims piled up there amount
ing to many millions for the destruction
of American property in this rebellion.
and in each aud every instance the pre-
sentation to the Spanish government of
such claim has been followed by a
long diplomatic correspondence, winding
up in every case, without n single ex-
ception, with the fiat, direct refusal to
recognize such n claim. And it is a no
torious fact that if Spain did recognize
them she would be unable to pay them,
In all seriousness l would rather hold the
obligations of the insurgents than of
Spain.
1t was time, Mr.. Foraker said, in con-
clqision that the United States ceased
policing her shores in the interest of
SPAN. 1t was time to end this quasi
co-partncrshp in a brutal and hellish war.
ana Tor his part no vote or act would
continue this unholy alliance.
Mr.. Hoar replied to Mr.. Foraker con-