The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-06
TO SAVE GEN. RIVERA.
Aliens Cdban Resolution Passes the
o"Iatc After Spirited Debate.
Senator's Hoar and Hale Made
Strong Objections.
President Is Directed to Protest Against Exc
cution Of Cuban Commander.

resolution regarding General Ruis
Rivera. the Cuban patriot now Span
ish prisoner was adopted yesterday by !
unanimous vote In the senate The reso-
luton recites that II Is reported that Ruis
is to be Immediately tried by drumhead
court martial and shot, and expresses
the Judgment of the senate that the
president should protest to the Spanish
government against such procedure.
Although opposition was withdrawn on
the final vote there was spirited opposi-
ton In the early stages OF the debate and
a test vote on the comparative strength
of the Cuban and anti-Cuban sentiment
in the senate. The test occurred on
motion to refer the resolution to the
committee on foreign relations. Mr.
Hale (Rep Me), who has been prom
inently identified with the opposition tc
Cuban resolutions. made the motion TO
refer, and IL was supported by Mr.. Hoar
OF Massachusetts,, another prominent
figure IN the opposition to Cuban resolu-
tions.
The debate was very spirited, and at
time quite personal, Mr.. Allen of Ne
braska and Mr.. Gallinger Of New Hamp-
shire cIashing with Mr.. Hoar. The Hale
motion TO refer was defeated-21 to 81
and the resolution adopted-A to 0.
Mr.. Hosr and Mr.. Hale refrained from
voting.
Another Cuban resolution comes up
today. that OF Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama.
declaring that a state Of war exists In
Cuba and recognizing both parties as
belligerents.
After the disposal Of the Cuban ques-
ton the day was given to speeches, Mr..
Elkins OF West Virginia speaking for two
hours on the development Of the Ameri-
can merchant marine. and Mr.. Lindsay
of Kentucky advocating the passage OF
the bankruptcy bill. known as the Torrey
bill. now before the senate. Late In the
day a Joint resolution by Mr.. Bate OF
Tennessee was agreed to. directing the
surgeon general of the marine hospital
service to aid the Mississippi river Hood
sufferers by the distribution OF tents.
blankets. food and medicine under the
epidemic fund Of 1893 and to purchase
further supplies under the present cpl
demic fund for similar distribution.
The Cuban question came up on the
resolutions of Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Morgan,
heretofore introduced. The Allen reso-
luton protests against the trial OF Gen.
eraI Ruis Rivera, the Cuban commander,
by drumhead court-martial
Mr. Allen urged the immediate adop-
ton Of the resolution. He emphaticaiy
dissented, he said, from the proposition
that the American congress must sit
idly by while this savagery and barbar-
Gus contest proceeds at our very thres-
hold.
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 out
law nation" not entitled to recognition
by civilized countries. 1t was time for
us to act. declared the senator.
"If the President of the United States
will send our navy to Cuba" exclaimed
Mr. Allen. and warn Spain that she
must observe the methods OF civilized
warfare or that every Spanish seaport
would be razed TO its foundation. hos
tilities would cease and Cuba be free
within three months" "
As. HoAr, (Rep., Mass.) responded in q
cain and Impressive manner. He spoke
of the aspirations of the founders Of the
government in establishing the senate
as the stay and resisting power against
those passionate and fitful guests of
sentiment that had wrecked every other
republic on earth. He believed in the
dignity and greatness Of the senate In
spite Of ignorant criticisms and OF the
scurriiity OF the London Times. But
there were some gentlemen who seemed
to think that the function of the senate
was TO edit daily newspaper and peddle
it out at or cents copy gathering up
all current reports and rumors and
prophesying what was to occur. In this
pending resolution the senate was asked
t. give an affront to a powerful and
friendly nation. The symbol OF the SEN
ate was more properly the sturdy and
slow maturing oak rather than the
mushroon which rotted in an hour. This
resolution was based on mere prophecy
surmise and prediction.
Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me.) said that he would
be willing to pass resolution inquiring
of the state department what informa-
tion IL had on the matter. The depart
ment was In daily communication with
Cuba through it's agents. The senate
had had experience taking steps based
on newspapers minors, which it after
ward regretted. Therefore he moved
the reference Of the resolution to the
committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Gallinger CRep., N. H. referred
sarcastically to Mr.. Hoar as having a
habit Of settling great questions with a
wave of his hand. He quoted from
speech in which Mr. Hoar had said that
hut for incorporate action by the senate
Cuba would have achieved her indepen-
Ience, and that senators who made
Epeeches for Cuba were doing so to Sc
cure the applause Of newspapers. This
Mr.. Gallinger spoke OF as "a courteous
criticism OF members of this body" He
read n resolution introduced by Senator
Sherman during the former war in Cuba
In 1870. and referred to IL as one of the
''intemperate resolutions so disturbing
to the heart OF the senator from Massa-
chusetts."
MIR. Hoar. I'm a brief reply. said that the
friends of the resolution seemed to be In
tolerant, OF opposition and given to mis-
Interpreting and misrepresenting the
ntterances of the opposition. but that he
would not follow the example Speak
ing of the war of 1870. Mr. Hoar asserted
that negotiations had then been i'm
progress under the guidance of the sec