New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-19
FIERY CUBAN ELOQUENCE.
SENATOR MASON WOULD HAVE BAY.
ONETs SENT WITH FOOD.
RECOGNIZE THE INSURGENTS, HE SAYS EVEN
AT THE COST OF WAR WITH sPAIN-A
SPIRITED REPLY FROM SENATOR
HoAR-PRosPECT OF A VOTE
on THE MORGAN

on THE MORGAN
RESOLUTION
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUyE.l
Washington, May 1S.-Mr. Mason. OF illinois,
blew bugle blast in the Senate this afternoon IN
favor Of recognizing the beligerent rights OF the
Cuban insurgents which may may not have
been worth a thousand armed recruits to the
cause Of the Cuban patriots. Mr.. Mason Is moth.
ing IL not direct. vehement and forcible In his
oratorical methods. and his speech commanded
general attention as much because Of its fiery
zeal and unrestrained feeling because Of It's
individual flavor and the originality Of Its rhe-
toric
The Junior Senator from Illinois pleaded for
the recognition Of Cuban belligerent rights as the
fulflment both OF Republican party pledges and
policy and Of the broader obligations OF inter-
national justice and humanity He deprecated
too strict adherence to the principles Of interna-
tiona law In the face Of cruelty and oppression
in Cuba, and declared that Cuban Independence
should be secured by this Government, even at
the cost Of with Spain.
Mr.. Mason took issue sharply with Mr. yelling
ton. who spoke yesterday against the Morgan
resolution. and also openly charged the opponents
OF that measure with fbustering. to prevent .
vote upon 1t in the Senate.
SENATOR HOAR AT HIS BEST.
+ Mr. Mason's speech drew spirited and pointed
answer from Senator Hoar who applied his for
midable powers Of sarcasm to Kidding the log1o
OF the Illinois Senator's position. The passage
Of the Morgan resolution. he maintained. would
njure rather than aid the cause OF the insurgents
and only serve to make more desperate the condi-
ton Of American citizens and property holders
in Cuba Mr.. Hoar's speech was one Of the most
vigorous and pungent to which he has treated the
Senate in many weeks. Other Senator'S drift
ed into the debate, and the Morgan resolution
finally went over without action.
Senator Hale said this afternoon in a coloQuy
with Senator Mason that for his part he favored
an early vote on the question OF recognizing
Cuban beligerency and the indications are that
time for vote will be set within the next tsw
days.
The difference Of opinion in the Senate on the
question whether the President alone has the
right to recognize the belligerency Of Cuba or
whether the Constitution gives this right to
Congress is certain however to bring more than
one Senator into the debate who otherwise would
OF prepare a speech Such Senators are known
by their declarations in private to be wholly
in sympathy with Cuba, but they are not at
present inclined TO vote to pass the Morgan
resolution because they regard the authority
for recognizing the belligerency Of Cuba as be-
longing to the President.
THE PRESIDENTS RIGHTS RECOGNIZED.
A leading Senator from the West, speaking
privately this subject to-day. undoubtedly
voiced the sentiments of many Of his colleagues,
although some OF them will probably vote for
the resolution The speaker is one OF the ablese
lawyers in the Senate and debater TO whom
the Senate never fails to give marked atten-
ton. Now let me say first and last" he re-
hOlt wi
the Cubans, and. as for SPAIN Here he
paused. while look flashed over his face which
indicated more expressvelv than words that he
had no love Tor Spain. tEut / am going to
speak on the Cuban question because hold that
the President and not Congress has the right
to recognize the belligerency OF Cuba. JOINT
resolution Of Congress would have to be signed
by the President or returned with Dis oD1ec-
tons But l regard the resolution now before
the Senate determined move TO force the
President into action no matter what the conse.
quences may be, and am not In favor or tnat
sort Of legislation just at this time. so far
as the Cuban correspondence in the Depart !
ment OF State is involved there is no DOUBT
whatever that II is Of a very serious character.
1t is so serious that its publication would I'M
medately jeopardze the life OF every American
official in Cuba. | am not sure but that IN thae
part of his policy Cleveland was right in with
holding it from Congress. At any rate. 1t would
be both unwise and unsafe TO give 1t out JUST
now. Were I member OF the Committee on
FOREIGN Relations, should hold that such corr
respondence ought to be kept secret, in spite
Of all clamor to the contrary"
Referring to the appropriation OF SoO.OO
recommended in the Presidents message as q
small sum, in view of the great suffering In
Cuba and also OF the probable difficulty In dis.
tributing relief under Spanish rule. the Sena~
tor said 1T does not follow that we must STOP
at S500cO IL more should be necessary. You
will observe that the President says not less
than $4,000 to be Immediately available leav.
ing the way open to further appropriations Il
they found necessary. And then there need
be no anxiety about distributing the relief II
will get there. but not, fancy through the Red
Cross even II Spain has consented TO let the
American Red Cross go into Cuba"
WOULD SEND RELIEF BY A GUNBOAr.
After a moments silence the speaker added
with an emphasis not to be mistaken There
is Just one way to send relief to starving Ameri.
cans in Cuba 1 would send 1t by an Ameris
can gunboat and have it distributed by Amerts
officers"
. Had small bomb dropped suddenly the little
group to whom the Senator was talking could
hardly have been more startled. Although not
as outspoken against "jingoism" Mr.. Hale
it is we'll known that the Senator making the
last remark Is decided conservative In mat.
ters Of foreign policy The opportunity was
too good to pass unnotlced, and one or hio
listeners said in a tone Of mock seriousness:
Senator. l congratulate you and congratus
late the country and Cuba or-well on another
lingo in the Senate"
The Senator was caught, and he acknowledged
It by funny little look OF surprise But he
rallied quickly, and replied: "Oh. the ID
take the 'Jingoes' and Welllngton's BOBBY speech.
too I am no lingo on Cuba or anything eloe.
But. ell the same: say would send relief TO
Americans In Cuba by American gunboat
and have Ii distributed by American officers"
RATTIE OF SHARP TONCIrES