The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-26
CUBAN BKL1eEREscY.
Ths Morgan Resolution Adopted BY the
Senate.

WAsHIxGroN, May 2i.-The long de-
bate on the joint resolution recognizing
the existence of a state war in Cuba and
declaring that strict neutrality shall be
maintained by the United States passed
the Senate by the decisive vote of Al 10
Il yesterday. The announcement of the
vote was received with applause. The
resolution reads as follows:
Resolved, That condition of public
war exists between the Government of
Spain and the government proclaimed
and for some time maintained by force
of arms by the people of Cuba, and that
the United States of America shall main
tain a strict neutrality between the con-
tending parties, according to each all the
rights of beligerents in the ports and
territory of the United States"
Prior to the final vote the motion of
Senator Hale to refer the Teslution to
the committee on foreign relations was
tabled-yeas, 81; nays, 49, Mr.. Fair
banks proposed a substitute providing
that the President extend the good offices
of the United States to Spain toward Sc
curing an end TO the conflict and ultimate
independe nee Of the island. This was
tabled-yeas, S5; nays. l3. Then follow
ed the adoption of the original resolution.
Speeches were made on the resolution
by Messrs. ThnrstOn, Elkins, White,
Fairbanks, Hale, Spooner and German.
Mr.. Thurston demanded immediate ac-
ton on the resolution. He had full con-
fidence in the President, he said, but in
this crisis Congress as well as the Presi-
dent, had responsibility. He declared
that the United States should send her
strongest battleship to Cuba and station
her in the harbor of Havana, where her
frowning guns might awe the spirit of
tyranny and revive hope in those strug-
Cling to be free. Mr.. Thurston read the
interview of former Premier Sagssta, and
declared that this was complete admis-
sion of all that had been asserted of the
impotency of the Spanish cause in Cnba.
peace in Cuba!" exclaimed the Senator.
"If there is peace in Cuba it Is the peace
of devastating fields. Peace in Cuba, If
llAClt - DtdN0 liA Nhbst ~ - AAD fN~sNS VI
desolated homes. Peace in Cuba. If
there is peace in Cuba it is the peace of
wronged women and starving children,
and the paeans of this peace are sung by
the uncoflined dead. Ifpeace ever comes
to Cuba it viii come under the Cuban
flag, when that last remnant of despotic
authority is turned back 10 foreign
Shores"
Messrs. Elkins and White urged a con-
servative course and an inquiry 10y a
committee. Then came the first vote
that on the Hale motion TO refer. 1t was
test of strength, and the defeat of the
motion by a vote of 81 to 10 assured the
passage of the resolution. Mr.. Fairbanks
tried to stem the tide by offering COM
promise proposition somewhat on the
lines of the Cuban plank adopted at st.
Louis, but il met the same fate as the
Hale motion. Then Mr.. Hale came for
ward for a final protest. lie declared
that the elements opposed to the admin
acknowledgements and Populists-had
furnished the bulk of the vote in favor
of the resolution, and that the foreign
policy of the administration was thus
to be dictated by its opponents. He ex-
pressed the fear also that the resolution
would lead to war with Spain. Mr..
Spooner added his protest against tying
the hands of the administration. Mr..
German closed the debate, resenting the
suggestion that party lines were drawn
on the resolution, and asserting that the
administration should have dispatched a
war vessel to Cuba, to protect our Off
cials on the island.
The final vote then was taken and the
result brought cheers from the galleries.