The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-09
Senator Morgan's Third Day
of Speech Making.
SARCASTIC TOWARD HALE
DE LONE HIMSELF HAD CON
CEDED IT TO BE WAR"
BAD CASE OF YOUNG MELTON
He Is An American Boy, and With
Forty Others Is Confined in
Loathsome Dungeon--OetaIis
of His Prison Lite.

Washington, April S.-Ihe senate co'
day heard Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama, 1oI
the third successive day on his resolution
declaring that state of war exists III
Cuha. He was severely critical of SPAN
methods against American prisoners, ana
wont over in detail the circumstances IN
the Competitor case. Mr. Morgan salo
no would close his speech at the NEXT
meeting of the Senate, when he would
present a letter from one of the Cupaf
officials of the eastern province of the
island showing the complete civil system
of government now maintained by the
Cubans.
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution
which was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, that the committee ON inter
state commerce be directed to investigate
the payments made or agreed to be mace
nv tha interstate commerce commission
for attorneys fees; and also to inquire
whether in any cases the attorneys OF the
commission have also been employed by
railroad companies in similar cases; anu
further whether any additional authority
from Congress is required for the en-
p.oyment of counsel in any pending pro-
ceedings which have been instituted by or
on motion of the commission"
The resolution of Mr.. Earle, (Dem., ).
ca. for the reorganization of the senate
committees, went over, Mr.. Chandler pre-
senting an amendment to be urged when
the resolution is taken up. The amend
ment provides that on Tuesday, Aril ~.
at 9 d. M, the Senate will proceed to
appoint its committees.
The Morgan resolution declaring that q
state of war exists in Cuba was then
taken up without objection and Mr.. Nor
gan resumed his speech in support of 1t.
The Senator reverted to the statement OF
Mr.. Hale, yesterday, that the number or
American prisoners in Spanish prisons
was reduced to II. In sarcastic tones
Mr.. Morgan said that such releases as
had occurred were the result of suppl
cation by our government and perhaps
it would be appropriate to adopt vote
of thanks to Spain for not Staying these
prisoners outright. Aside from the Of
fetal testimony as to the condition IN
Cuba. the newspapers had piled up a
mass of testimony which established be-
yond question that the war was being
prosecuted by Spain contrary to all the
rules of civilized warfare.
Mr.. Morgan commented on letter
written by Dupuy De LONE, the Spanish
Minister, to Miss Clara Barton, relative
to Red Cross work in Cuba. In the
course of the letter use is made of the
expression during the present war;"
This, declared Mr.. Morgan. was an an
advertent admission by the Spanish Min
lister, despite all his diplomatic cunning,
that war was going on. And yet Con-
gress and the President would not rec
ognize that state of war which would as
sure to American prisoners the treat
ment of prisoners Of war and not of in
surrectionists.
Mr.. Morgan said the question of pro-
tecting Americans imprisoned in Spanish
prisons could not turn on numbers;
whether IA or u were in prison. Sup
pose, instead of IA it had been only one.
Who could say that the United States
government would maintain its dignity
by standing by while this one American
citizen was held by Spain in violation OF
treaty provisions and contrary to every
principle of civilization and justice. The
United States had warned off European
nations from all control over Cuba, said
Mr.. Morgan. We seemed to exercise
sort of guardianship over that island as
against all other nations.
"But," exclaimed the Senator. that
guardianship, if we have 1T, is like the
guardianship Of the devil over con-
demned soul. We are warning nations
that they must hold aloof, while we stand
by and see the inquisitorial methods of
Spanish warfare, Spanish dungeons and
Spanish tyranny, executed against GU
bans and against our own people with
out one word Of protest"
Mr. Morgan spoke of the Competitor
expedition. He reviewed the circum-
stances of the case, the departure of the
little schooner probably for the purpose
of carrying aid to the insurgents. In
particular the Senator took up the case
of young Owen Melton, one of the Com
petitor prisoners, and followed the pro-
gress of his trial and Imprisonment in
communicate in the Spanish dungeons.
Mr.. Morgan declared that it was long
course of violation of treaty rights and
the ordinary methods of judicial proce-
dure.
Young Melton, said he, was to-day in
a loathsome dungeon, not because guilt
had been established against him, but
because he is an American boy. He
was held in a miserable place in which
at times forty other prisoners were
crowded. Three pals Of water were
brought to them daily to quench then
thirst from the rations of dry cod hsh
These facts had been stated to the
Senate committee on Foreign Relations
Inv two credible witnesses, including
Rev. DIR. Diaz. Mr. Morgan then re
viewed the case of DIR. Oaz. WINE
preaching at Havana bombshells nae
been thrown into his church; he and hi
brother were arrested and held for sever
DAYS incommunicado. The evidence O
such Spanish cruelty came to the Senate
from unimpeachable sources. 1t was
declared the Senator, record or h0rro
unmentionable to decent and civilized
ears. 1t could not even be dlscredItet
on the floor OF the Senate without shock
ing all present and driving people from
she galleries to the outer corridors.
Mr.. Morgan read portions of the evl
dence given by Messrs. Lawrence am