Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-06
IN RIVERA'S BEHALF.
THE SENATE PROTESTS AGAINST
HIS EXECUTION.
NOT A VOTE In OPPOSITION.
TEST VOTE ON CUBAN STRENGTH
IN THE SENATE.
show n Majority of Six In Favor of
the Cubans, With FOrty-eight
Senator'S Voting-Spirited,
and, ut Times, Per-
sonnl Debate.

Washington, April 5.-The senate to-day,
by unanimous vote, adopted resolution
reciting the reports that General Ruis
Rivera the Cuban commander, is about to
be tried by drumhead court-martial and
shot, and expressing the judgment OF the
senate that, If these reports are true, the
president of the United States should pro-
test to the Spanish government against
such a violation of the rules of civilized
warfare This resolution does not go to
the house of representatives and becomes
as measure of advice to the president by
its adoption to-day. Although opposition
was withdrawn on the final vote, there was
spirited opposition in the early stages of
the debate, and test vote on the COM
parative strength of the Cuban and the
anti-Cuban sentiment in the senate. The
test occurred on a motion TO refer the
resolution to the committee on foreign re-
lations. Mr.. Hale, Republican, of Maine,
who has been prominently identified with
the opposition to Cuban resolutions, made
the motion to refer. and 1t was supported
by Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts,, another
prominent figure in the opposition to Gu
ban resolutions. The debate was very spir-
tied and at times quite personal, Mr.. Allen,
of Nebraska, and Mr.. Gallinger, of New
Hampshire, clashing with Mr.. Hoar. The
Hale motion to refer was defeated, q to q,
and the resolution was adopted, "A to 0.
Mr. Hoar and Mr.. Hale refrained from
voting.
Another Cuban resolution comes up to-
morrow, that of Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama,
declaring that a state of war exists in
Cuba and recognizing both parties as bel
ligerents.
After the disposal of the Cuban question
the day was given to speeches, Mr.. Elkins,
of West Virginia, speaking for two hours
on the development of the American mer-
chant marine, and Mr., Lindsay, of Ken
lucky, advocating the passage of the bank
ruptcy bill, known as the To-rey bill, now
before the senate. Late in the day joint
resolution by Mr.. Bate, of Tennessee, was
agreed to, directing the surgeon general of
the Marine hospital service to aid the Mis-
sissippi river flood sufferers by the dis
tribution of tents, blankets, food and med
icine under the epidemic fund of 1898, and
to purchase further supplies under the
present epidemic fund for distribution.
When the Cuban debate was precipitated
Mr.. Allen emphatically dissented, he said,
from the proposition that rhe American
congress must sit idly by while this saw
agery and barbarous contest proceeds at
our very threshold. Within 100 miles of our
shore, women and children were being
butchered and the methods of civilized war
fare set at defiance. Murder. rape, rapine
and devastation were playing their part in
the destruction of the island. And were
we, Christian people, he asked, willing to
sit by and not raise our voice in defense of
these people? Mr.; Allen declared that
Spain's course had been one of bloodshed
and cruelty. This was SO notably true as
to recent events In the Philippine Islands
and in Cuba that Spain had been made an
ton by civilized countries. 1t was time for
us to act, declared the senator
IF the president of the. United States
Allen. land warn Spain that she must OBJ
serve the methods of civilized warfare or
that every Spanish seapo:t would be razed
and Cuba be free within three months
Mr.. Hoar, Republican, of Massachusetts,
responded in a calm and impressive man.
founders of the government in establishing
the senate as the stay and resisting power
against those passionate and fitful gusts of
sentiment that had wrecked every other
rel ublic on earth. He believed in the dig
nifty ard greatness of the senate, in spite of
ignorant criticisms and of the scurriiity of
gentlemen who seemed to think that
the function of the senate was to edit Il
daily newspaper and peddle it out at 2 or
cents copy, gathing up all the current
reports and rumors. and prophesying what
was to occur. In the pending resolutions
congress was asked TO give an affront to a
powerful and friendly nation. The symbol
cf the senate was more properly the sturdy
and slow maturing oak, rather than the
mushroom, which rotted in an hour. This
resolution was based on mere prophecy,
surmiSe, prediction.
"It is fact asserted Mr. Allen from
across the aisle. Does the senator CHoar)
confess himself in such ignorance?"
Mr.. Hoar declined to yield, but Mr. Allen
insisted on repeating that the danger to
General Rivera was an authenticated fact
known to all men. Mr. Hoar continuing.
asked the Nebraska senator to possess his
beautiful soul in patience" He denied
that there was anything but report and
prophecy at the basis of this resolution
Prophecy was far from being an exact sci
ence. MIR. Hoar rejected with Indignation
any assertions that he was guided on these
great questions of humanity by the inter-
ests or opinion of the business elements as
had been suggested. The senator shared
none of this animosity to so-called business
interests, for the prosperity of this class
meant hope and happiness to every work
ingman. while a blow to that interest
meant poverty and despair to millions of
American homes. When The time came for
any well considered movement in behalf of
humane warfare in Cuba or elsewhere Mr.
Hoar said. it would have his support But
the question now is whether the United
States would act on guess and prophecy in
giving an affront to Spain.
1t was evident that considerable personal
feeling was being aroused by the debate
Mr. Allen again took the floor addressing
himself frequently to Mr.. Hoar in person.
It was surprising, said Mr.. Allen from
{cally that the Massachusetts senator
(Hoar) compared himself to the sturdy oak.
while he (Allenl was characterized as a
n-b