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

ought to be ready for action on this
question, at this time, and if any Senator
was not sufficiently informed Mr. Thurs
ton commended him to the consideration
OF his constituents. The Senator referred
to the ST. Louis convention over which
| he presided, and pictured the scene, that
with mighty shout seemed to ''lift the
| roof above our heads the Cuban resolu-
tion was passed by the convention
. That declaration could not be faithfully
carried out unless we first recognize the
Cubans as belligerents and hereby lay
the foundation for the full execution Of
that declaration.
| 1t was whispered, Mr.. Thurston said,
| that this resolution came from Democratic
sources and that this Republican admin
| lstration should direct the policy on this
great subject.
II am party man of the ultra type,''
proceeded Mr.. Thurston, "but over and
above my duty to my party is that to my
country, to humanity and to God, and /
would be unworthy of my great party, if
shaped my course on this resolution
| through party considerations.
No Republican he said, could afford to
vote against this resolution for the reason
that 1T was introduced by the Democratic
| Senator from Alabama
| Mr.. Morgan quickly disclaimed personal
authorship of the resolution, saying it
was but a copy of the one offered in the
Mr.. Thurston read the interview of
| former Premier Sagasta, published today
and declared that this was complete ad-
mission of all that had asserted of the
impotency of the Spanish cause in Cuba.
Peace in Cuba, exclaimed the Sena-
tor, IF there is peace in Cuba, it is the
peace of devastated field. If there is
peace in Cuba, it is the peace of desolated
homes. If there is peace in Cuba, it is
the peace OF ravlshed women, and starving
children and the paeans of this peace are
sung by the uncotffned dead"
At another point, the Senator declared
that war, bloody and cruel proceeded in
Cuba and Spain is no nearer the subjuga-
tlon of the insurgents than she was at the
opening of the first engagement. If peace
ever comes to Cuba, he added it will
come under the Cuban flag, when the last
remnant of despotic authority is turned
back to foreign Shore
Mr.. Thurston read from the inter-
national law writers to show that the
recognition of Cuban belligenerency
would not be an affront to Spain. He
| argued also that recognition was power
which could be exercised by Congress or
by the President. There was the fullestcon
tdence in the wisdom and sagacity of the
President, but in this grave crisis, Con-
gress as well as the President should bear
the responsibility.
| Referring to the right of search which
would follow a recognition of belligereney
Mr.. Thurston said there could be no
proyocation TO war if the search was CON
Quoted in accordance with international
law but if the search was conducted by
Spain OF any other power without resi- pect
to international law, there ought to be
war by the United States of America;
and war shall come to maintain the
honor of the nation
Mr.. Thurston insisted that it was time
this government by it's action gave the
Cuban cause a proper position before the
world the right to carry their flag on
land and sea, the right to stand beside
Spain in the money markets of the world,
the right to struggle in an honorable
way.
Then the Sentor closed as follows,
"The United States of America can con-
stitutionally and lawfully do so let us do
to them now. Let us despatch the
mightiest battleship of the United States
to Cuba. Let us station her in the harbor
of Havana. There her frowning guns may
then disturb the spirit of tyranny by
night and by day her shining stars may
cheer the hearts of those who are strug
Cling to be free
The gallery broke into applause at the
closing reference to a battleship but the
presiding officer quickly checked the
demonstration.
Mr. ElkipS of Woct Viro,;y;o fol1oxroJ