The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-06-11

anu IL WOuIu COSV ghAS o.
ment $500. 900. 900 to even get
ready to meet Spain.
We know Spain cannot conquer
us; we know that We are power
full and in the end must conquer
Spain. But after spending
thousands Of millions to do this.
we would in the end have Cuba,
and we do not want Cuba. Mr..
President, we cannot pass this
resolution without the danger OF
war. The moment that this reso
luton is passed the right will
vest in the Spanish Government
to search our ships. With the
inaamed popular mind in this
country and with the feeling in
the Senate, Spain could not take
sailing vessel of a hundred
tons into port without our gun.
boats going down there and tax.
ing it away. We would not wait
for any proceedings in her courts.
l insist that we should proceed
with caution and be fortified with
facts; that we should be advised.
no NOT EMBARRASS THE
PRESIDENT.
In my judgment this proceed
ing should be initiated by the
Executive. He has the power
and the jurisdiction under the
Constitution. He has his hand
or the pulse. He knows every
hour what is going on in Cuba.
He is as patriotic as any of the
Senators who become frenzied
with patriotism and love of lib
erty. He can be trusted. ! am
willing to follow where he leads.
He knows when this Government
should take action. His oath is
as solemn as ours. and the inter
ests and dignity of the Govern.
mentare safe in his hands. Leave
this great question with him
where 1t belongs; in his own way
and at the proper time he will
act and act wisely. 1t does seem
to ME that to proceed in this
way is a sort of impeachment of
the wisdom and patriotism of the
President of the United States.
And as yet he has advised no
course of action; he has said
nothing on this question to US I;
no message from him has reach
ed US that the time has come in
his judgment for action. Respond
ing to popular clamor, the Sen
ate proposes to pass a resolution
which coerces the President,
forces him to take action before
he may desire to do so. The
passage of this resolution can
only embarrass him and possibly
bring him into conflict with Con-
gress. He has sent his own agent
to Cuba. 1 am satisfied he is
giving this question the best and
wisest consideration. Congress
is powerless to controlh his action.
NO PRECEDENT.
Mr.. President, there is no pre-
cedent for this proposed action.
Nothing of the kind has ever been
attempted before. l doubt if any
thing like this proceeding has
ever occurred in the history of
the Government-forcing the
Executive to take action that
may involve the country in war,
and against his judgment. We
can not go on in this way. with a
conflict between the Executive
and legislative branches of the
Government.
have not had the time to ex-
anime this question. | do not
belong to the Foreign Relations
Committee. Senators cannot
pursue all great questions COM
ing before the Senate to proper
conclusions. We are charged
with different duties, and we
must rely on the great commit
tees of the Senate. The Foreign
Relations Committee makes no
report: Is not asked to make any.
The resolution has been for a
month before the Senate and not
referred to the Foreign Relations
Committee. I ask, in common
fairness to Senators who have
10 vote nm This question: | ask, in