The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-05-27

knowing that American manhood was for
| it. He called upon Mr.. Hit to state to
the house that the president intended by
executive action to recognize the Cubans,
which statement would, he asserted, put
a stop to agitation.
One republican member, Mr.. Robbins
of Pennsylvania, had voted against his
party on the last vote. and he told the
house that his views on the Cuban ques-
ton We're based on u personal visit to
Cuba in January last. He told of Mr..
Charles Gown, an American citizen and
newspaper man. who of Mr.. Robbins
personal knowledge had been captured by
the Spaniards, whose American passport
had been struck from his hand by the
Spanish officer, who had been tied to n
| tree and cut to pieces by the Spaniards.
Another American citizen from Indiana
he knew, who. refusing to give money to
n Spanish officer who demanded it, had
been struck on the head with a sword
and wounded, but afterward been driven
| from his plantation and was now living
in Havana on the charity of the Ameri-
can consulate. He told of thousands of
| citizens men, women and children, who
were penned up and starving in cities,
and said that the methods of Weyler
were equalled only by the inquisition
If money did not suffice to relieve the
Americans in Cuba, armed troops should
be sent for that purpose.
The point was made by Mr.. Livingston
of Georgia that $4,000 would suffice to
| feed the Americans for month, and
that the appropriation must be repeated
monthly for an indefinite period rs long
as the war was permitted to continue.
| There was an interesting passage when
Mr.. Livingston declared that the only
sensible course was for this government
| to end the trouble by recognizing the GU
bans. and Mr.. Hit interrupted him to
ask:
Don't you think it would be better
for the president to use his authority to
secure Independence
~ do" answered Mr.. Livingstone "and
now that / have answered your question,
answer me: When will the president do
that?"
Mr.. Hit hesitated, while the house lis
tened intently, and Mr.. Livingston press
ed him for an answer.
81 have no right to speak by any au-
thority," Mr., Hit began, and hestating
to word his answer rightly, finally contin-
ued:
II have reason to believe that the pres
ident is taking as active and effective
steps as he can to secure the independ-
ence of Cuba, and that fact, / am con-
WINGED, has reached Spanish headquar'
tiers. for news reaches us today that the
minister who will probably be in power
in thirty days has said that the Cuban
war is utterly hopeless"
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama spoke OF
Weyler as the Nero of the Nineteenth
Century"
Mr.. Adams of Pennsylvania paid trib
ute to the president for securing the re-
lease from Spanish prisons forty Ameri
cans who had been left there by the neg
lect of the last administration.
Mr.. Clayton of Alabama criticised the
republicans for holding out diplomatic pre-
dictions that the president would act, and
being asked for authority for the state
ment, disclaimed any authority.
The debate was closed for the demo
cratic side by Mr.. McMillin of Tennessee
who declared that two-thirds of the he
publcans desired the resolution for rec
ognition, but because of the failure t.
organize, the house legislation was in thu
hands of one man.
Mr.. Bell of Colorado said the resolu
ton was n mere attempt to evade prac
, teal action; that the Havemeyers ant
Searles had FASTENED to washington
when it was known that a message wa
to be sent to congress to see that tn
, message contained nothing inimical t
commercial interests.
, Mr.. Simpson recommended that char
! ity should begin with Americans at home
, and quoted Mr.. Wanamaker,. who, n
: said. had become calamity bowler"
: Mr.. Hull of Iowa and Mr.. Brown Q
Ohio closed the debate for the republi
cans. Then the resolution was adopte'
, without dissenting vote. :,
The report of the conferees on the gu
, sonite lands of Utah, the only unsettle,
feature of the Indian appropriation bill
was presented and disposed of as men