The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-21

"a Dissenting Vote.
as it always did, on the side of the i'm
mensely rich. They might escape the
question here, but could not before the
people of the country, for no previous
question" could save them before that
august tribunal The authorities of in
ternatlonal.law were in support of recOg-
milton and if this act brought war on the
United States we would drive Spanish
ships from the sea and make them pay
two-fold the damage they did to Ameri-
can commerce.
Bad as war was he would not have it
deter the United States from it's duty to-
ward a weak and suffering nation He
could not forget that another nation
when our fathers were weak and suffer-
ing, had come to our relief and he would
not leave the sentence of piracy suspend
ed over the patriotic Cubans by with.
holding from them the aid France gave
to us.
He said: 'You declare that Americans
are suffering from the war in Cuba and
yet you refuse to recognize that war ex-
lists in Cuba. If war does not exist there
the United States should declare war,
for nothing but the necessities of war
can justify penning up American citi-
zens and starving them
The attitude of the House would be a
surprise to the Republican masses, he
continued, for the Republican convention
had not only declared that war existed,
but that it was the duty of the United
States to terminate that war, protesting
a solicitude for Cubans they now refused
to carry out. Those were fine words, but
in strange contrast to your action today
Then you were anxious to do more than
the sound Judgment of the country would
perhaps sanction, now you refuse to do
what common sense demands.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois, followed Mr. Bailey
He spoke of the necessity of the passage of
the resolution. The money for the relief
of American citizens in Cuba could not
be taken out of the emergency fund. He
explained how quickly the relief could
be given by telegraph.
The object of offering the belligerency
resolution now, Mr.. Hit insisted, was
for the purpose of embarrassing the Presi-
dent in the midst of negotiations for the
projections and relief Of American citi-
zens in Cuba. 1.-THE purpose of the Re
publicans" declared Mr.. Hit, sis to Sc
cure peace"
Mr.Hitt opposed interfering with diplo-
branch of the government.
Mr.. Bailey in reply to Mr.. Hitt said
that if the latter desired to make the
question recognition of belligerency one
Of party politics, he was willing to ac-
cept it and the Democrats would vote in
favor of belligerency.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, said that no one
could tell how many Americans had
starved in Cuba, while the gentleman
from Texas was masquerading in coarse
demagoguery.
This speech closed the debate on the
adoption Of the rule.
Mr.. Bailey moved that the rule be re-
committed to the committee on rules
with instructions to substitute for it the
rule proposed by him.
THAT is out of order,' declared Mr.
Dalzell, whereupon Mr.. Bailey spoke up,
81 appeal from the decision of the chair, -
before the Speaker had made decision.
~ knew from the assurance with which
the gentleman from Pennsylvania spoke
what the ruling would be- he said in
explanation of his haste
"Perhaps the gentleman had more
inner light Mr.. Reed replied loosely,
proceeding to declare that the motion
was not germane.
The Speaker was sustained by Ill to
49, and the debate on the question was
begun by Mr.. Williams of Mississippi.
Mr.. Williams declared that the Republi-
can party when out of power had boasted
itself the. party of courage; in power,
dodged all great questions.
Speaker Reed, if he was an Indian
chief, would be- known as the "man
afraid of his followers" because the
Speaker feared to submit the question
of recongition to the House, knowing
that American manhood was for it.
One Republican member, Mr.. Robbins
Of Pennsylvania, had voted against his
party on the last vote and he told the
House that his views Oh the Cuban ques-
hac ny1 n al ricit 70
Cuba in January last. If money did
not suffice to relieve the Americans in
Cuba, armed troops should be sent for
that purpose.
There was an interesting passage when
Mr. Livingston of Georgia was declaring
that the only sensible course was for
this government to end the trouble by
interrupted him to ask, s'Don't you think
/ it would be better for the President to use
| his authority to secure independence?'
sI do" answered Mr.. Livingston
''and now that l have answered your
question, answer me, when will the Pre-
| sident do that?"
Mr.. HIT hesitated while the House list
ened intently, and Mr.Llvlngston pressed
him for an answer.
II have no right to speak by any au-
| thority," Mr.. Hit began, and hesitatino
to word his answer rightly, finally con.
tinued, IT have reason to believe that the
President is taking as active and effec-
tive steps as he can to secure the indepen-
dencs of Cuba and that fact am con
virced has reached Spanish headquarters
for news reaches us today that the min,
lister who will probably be in power in &c
days, has said that the Cuban war is ut
terly hopeless.
The debate was closed for the Demo
cratic side by Mr.. Mcmillan of Tennes
see. who declared that two-thirds of the
Republicans desire the resolution fol
recognition nse but because of the failure
hands of one man..
Then the resolution was adopted.