The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11
SENATE.

u
Point of Order in the House.
SENATE.
Washington, February 9.-For more
than three hours today the senate
chamber rang with eloquent appeals
in behalf Of the Cuban insurgents. An.
nounced speeches were delivered by
Senator Cannon, of Utah, and Senator
Mason, of Illinois, in advocacy Of the
adoption Of resolutions which they pre-
sented to the senate yesterday. Fol-
lowing Senator Cannon's speech Sena-
tor Hale, of Maine, addressed the SEN
ate briefly, urging the senate to up
hold the policy of the administration.
Long before Senator Cannon rose to
address the senate, the galleries were
packed with people who were aware
that this would be a field day of Cuban
oratory. Senator Cannon's speech was
a calm and dispassionate argument in
support of his resolution.
While Senator Cannon was speaking,
sensational incident occurred A
member of the house of representatives
standing near the speaker, audibly de-
nounced as lie, seemingly some state
ment Senator Cannon had made. Sen
atOr Cannon, pale with feeling, made
reply to what at the moment seemed
an insult, but which was subsequently
satisfactorily explained.
Senator Mason followed Senator Hale
in a long, and at times fiery, speech,
in which he urged the president i'm
mediately to intervene in the Cuban
war and end the struggle which on
both sides had become SO brutal as to
shock the sensibilities of the civilized
world.
Senator Butler, of North Carolina,
presented an amendment to the con-
stitutiOn enabling congress to lay and
collect an income tax.
Senator morrill,, of Vermont, called
up his joint resolution authorizing the
gliding of the statute of liberty the
dome of the capitol. The resolution
appropriates $4,000 for the proposed
work, and after a short discussion it
was adopted, 80 to %.
THE CANNON RESOLUTION.
The resolution offered by Senator
Cannon, of Utah, yesterday, urging the
president to notify Spain that if it fails
to recognize the independence of Cuba
before March 4th next, this govern
ment would then recognize the bellig
erent rights of the Cubans and ninety
days thereafter assert the independence
of the Cuban republic, was then laid
before the senate and Senator Cannon
was recognized.
In opening Senator Cannon, reply
ing to the criticism of a New York
newspaper, said that something more
harmful than talk will result from the
discussion of the Cuban question by
congress. After discussing the general
features of the Cuban question, Mr..
Cannon said:
II charge now that the purpose Of the
administration is in COnsOnance with
the wishes of the Spanish bondholders,
and before peace is secured in Cuba,
security for the payment of the tre-
mendous debt of $400, 100000 must be
given by the blood stained island. That
L say appears to be the wish of the
administration and L may say of
Spain"
Senator Cannon said that President
McKinley's signature to a document
would see the Cuban people free.
What" he asked, lis it that stays the
hand of Mckinley" Senator Cannon
maintained that is was no answer sat-
isfactOry to the Cuban patriots or to
the sympathizers with them that the
battleship Maine should be sent to
Cuban waters. Above all it was no
satisfaction to see the stars and stripes
dipped to the Spanish ensign. 1t is no
answer to those in waiting for some
thing effective and fraught with re-
suits, that the administration should
have under consideration at this time
a treaty with Spain looking to re-
ciprOcal trade relations with the Span
ish government relating to the island of
Cuba.
In conclusion Senator Cannon main
tanned that the present policy of the
administration was to hold the Cubans
while Spain outraged and pillased the
island. Il believe that one strong,
brave word spoken in time will abso-
lutely free Cuba, and 1 am firmly of
the belief that the result Of such a
word would not be war between Spain
and the United States"
Senator Hale followed Senator Can
non with a motion to refer the Can
non resolution to the committee on for
eign relations. and with a speech
deprecatory of the policy of congress
sional declaration on the Cuban ques-
tion, and in support of the course of
the administration on that subject.
A STRONG FLEA FOR CUBA.
Senator Mason was then recognized.
Il deny" he said, in opening. the in
sinuation that this is an effort to put
#he administration in leading strings.
am charged with seeking war;" eX
claimed the senator. ''but may resolu-
tion is for peace. One word from this
administration would bring peace to
this continent, and under the provi
dence of God, we believe it would
bring independence to Cuba. The
thumb screws of the inquisitiOn are
again brought into use in Cuba. The
pinchers that tear the flesh from hu-
man bones have contributed to the car
nival of cruelty. Three hundred thou
sand people starved. Three hundred
thousand more marching to the grave!
and yet the cry is raised that war is
being sought, when the one and only
cry lis for peace and an end to this
atrocity.''
Referring to the duty of the United
States Senator Mason said: This
government ought to maintain that the
horrible rrassacres which are now too
common in the island of Cuba and