The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-26
POLITICAL.
Cuba In the Senate.

the government of King George the
Third for its American policy have
formed material for American school.
boy declarations for a century past.
So Cuba, despite the Pharisaic aver.
sion of Senator Hale of Maine, and the
classic barbarity of Hoar of Massachu-
sets finds generous hearted, resolute
champions in that sepulcher of common
sense, common humanity, and every
day patriotism, the United States Sem
ate. During the past week Senator
Daniel of Virginia and Billy" Mason
of Illinois have shaken up senatorial
serenity over the savageiy and misery
in a neighboring island, and have
drawn the applause of the galleries
both in the capitol at Washington and
all over the United States by their elo-
quent espousal of the cause of the Gu
bans and the cause of humanity. AT
the close of technical argument ON
the power of recognition of the indie
pendence of new candidate for ma.
tionality, Senator Daniel said:
"There has been condition of war
in Cuba for two years and half. The
diplomacy of the Spanish government
has succeeded in binding the eyes of
the diplomats of the United States to
the realization of that fact. But the
world knows the fact that there is war
- La hon cd h
bloody, lame ntable, cruel, savage war
war in which Spain has employed a
larger army than the British govern
ment ever sent to put down the insur-
rection of the American colonies in
1776. And that army is opposed by an
army on the other side. 1t may be
that the tactics of that other army have
been those which George Washington
advised Braddock to follow-not to
march in solid divisions, where they
could be moved down by artillery, but
to attack the enemy according 10 such
weapons as they had opportunity to
employ. Now when Congress under
takes TO recognize that fact of war we
are told that we must not do it. Con-
gress must not demean itself in the
spirit of neighborship and humanity to
a struggling people because it might be
conceived to be inimical to Spain.
shall not be restrained by that consid-
Grafton. But it is not inimical to Spain.
We have the right, in all good friend
ship to Spain, TO realize toward her
rules which she realized and which all
Europe realized, and which the United
States, through its president and gen.
erals, realized when we had civil war
in this country-that when the guns
were laundering they could hear them,
that when the soldiers were marching
and fighting they could see them
marching and fighting. 1t is a fact
that there is war in Cuba whether we
record it in our resolution or not. 1t
is fact that there is public war in
Cuba whether we sympathize with Gu
ba or with Spain. And, it being fact,
it is an act of humanity for us 10 deal
with it and to throw the great moral
weight of this government so as to see
that the war is conducted with as close
an approximation to Christian usages
and civilized customs as is practical lie
under the circumstances. 1t is said
that this means war. / deny it. If
Spain should declare war upon us; if
she should seek 10 foment war against
US because. we recognize the belliger-
ency of her former subjects who have
been fighting her for two and half
years, she will have an unjust cause of
complaint and war against us, and we
will have just cause of complaint and
war against her. do not want to see
the American people involved in war.
l look upon war as one of the greatest
calamities that can befall the human race
But there is one other greater calamity
and that is to have the high public
spirit of great nation 30 dead that it
looks upon plumber and murder and ar
son with Indifference, to have the pub
lie spirit of a great nation so deadened
that it hesitates or delays one instant
to 60 forward and do proper act be-
cause of fear of war;"
Mr.. Daniel went on to argue that, as
Cuba is right at our doors, we have just
ground for Intervention. But aside
from that we have, he said, assumed an
obligation toward Cuba by warning the
countries of Europe that we will not
permit them to NEEDLE with her affairs.
Realizing that to be an obligation"
he said, 81 still would not have this
country act hastily about it. l would
not have it act uncautiously about it
but in clear and sure-footed steps /
would go forward, and let the people in
Cuba know that we expect them to be
accorded by Spain belligerent rights;
that we expect their prisoners to be
treated as prisoners of war and not shot
down as dogs, and that the modern
Christian civilization of the great Amer
lean republic shall give cheer to those
that are oppressed and mourning t
those who would Cypress them. Let u
recognize the belligerency of the CubaI
people, which is fact, and in sending
bread to our own people there as an &C
of charity, let US act to those who ar,
engaged in this awful strife in an equa
spirit of justice" Great applause il
the galleries.
On the following day, when Sen
ator Morgan's resolution recogniz
ing the beligerency of the Cuban
was before the Senate, Mr.. Mason
Illinois new Senator, made his maidel
speech. He stirred up the sympatheti
crowds in the galleries and provoke,
angry retorts from Hoar of Massachu
setis and Hale of Maine To prOy