Evening star., 1898-02-10
THE WAR IN CUB A
Senator Mason Addresses the Senate at
Length.
He Declares That Civilized Methods
ernment Should Interfere.

Mr.. Mason continued his speech on Cuba
In the Senate yesterday afternoon until
about o'clock, the galleries being filled
with an audience which showed the great
est interest in the subject under discus
sicn.
Mr.. Mason referred to the statements of
Mr.. Hale that Grant had not interfered in
the ten years war. but he urged that the
situation both in this country and in Eu-
rope had materially changed since that
time. Our own country, he said was in
the throes of reconstruction at that time
and was in no position to- intervene in
that war. Now position is different,
and back of it all was the demand of our
own people that we take official and def
mite cognizance of the war in Cuba. This
he discussed from the view point of an in
terna tional lawyer. Referring to the duty
of the United States, Senator Nilsson said:
This government ought to maintain that
the horrible masSacreS which are now too
common in the Island of Cuba and con-
Quoted under the guise of warfare must he
stopped. We have no right as a neutral
nation. fully regardful of the rights of all.
TO look upon such warfare as within ally
reasonable construction of international
law. The flag of truce has been abandoned,
prisoners of war are being shot, and it
Is evident that no rule of civilized warfare
is being observed. The conflict has de-
veioped into mere matter of murder on
both Sides-priSonerS of war being shot or
ma cheted without trial" Mr. Mason de-
scribed the recent killing of the Cuban
general Aranguren, depicting brilliantly
and with much effect all the shocking de-
tails of that act
He declared hat this was not civilized
warfare, and he held that the government
of the United States had ample authority
to Interfere and to demand that the rules
of warfare recognized by civilized nations
be respected. He referred briefly to the
trip made by Captain General Blanco
through the island, riding, he. did ride.
in an armored car under heavy escort OF
Spanish troops. Thus he went" declared
Mr.. Mason, leaving men. women and
children to starve while the funds which
We're placed in his hands to relieve the
Ecos We're being used to appeal as bribes
to the Cuban leaders with itching palms.
Mr.. Mason then read letter purporting
to be the answer of General Gomez to Cen
eral Blanco's offer of a vessel to enable
him Gomez to leave the Island of Cuba
in safety.
Think of this grand old soldier, brave
as he is.'' shouted Mr.. Mason, fighting. for
a country he loves; fighting in storm and
sunshine; fighting, too, with the knowl-
edge that his own son had been sacrificed
to the cause. Think of him being approach
ed by that bribe giver, that military pros
honor!
Now that the Spanish forces have refused
open battle, said Mr.. Mason, the only hope
of Spain is to overcome the Cuban lead
erS by bribes. Reverting again to discus
sion of the bearing of international law
upon the conflict, Mr.. Mason contended
that Uncle Sam was, in effect, police
man whose duty it was to exercise his
power to prevent further boodshed upon
the fair island. Should the President take
such action" declared Mr.. Mason, ''he
would, as has been the case in every other
crisis of our country. have behind him the
oil thsa
people,
Letter From n Convent.
Mr.. Mason read letter from an Ameri-
can woman who is a mother superior in a
convent in Havana to friend in this
country. picturing the condition of affairs
there. The war" she said, has de-
stroyed the country, but, while it has made
| many poor, it has made others rich" Con-
tinuinS. she said Weyler had succeeded in
killing hundreds Of thousands by his policy
OF concentration There could he said be
no Vicarious atcnements for a nations
crime. and the law of compensation would
demand punishment for the crimes here
inflicted. While these men and women
were starving, the senator said the bucket
shops send US price lists. "As for me-" he
exclaimed Il cannot give attention to pork
prices in Illinois so long as this condition
OF anairs continues in Cuba. These stock
Jobbers tell US that war is hell. All right,
In Cuba 1t is worse than hell,'
Dante he said pictured with unrivaled
pen the horrors of hell! but was incana-
Bile of depicting the terrors of life in one
OIL the concentradoeS. Continuing Mr. Ma
son said that when the bucket shops write
the legislation for the country the evil day
Is upon u.s. The republican party had
promised to put a stop to this conditinn
OF aHairS. and no one man had right to
lnlerdlct his resolution, let him sit i'm the
W w nite House or elsewhere. At this point
the applause was vociferous, and it re-
CURED vigorous efforts to secure order
Mr.. Mason declared that notwithstand-
ing the declaration of the St Louis nIat-
FORM, h nothing had been done-''nothing."
ne said, except to pass a belligerency res
olutlon in the Senate, and he added
amidst general laughter referring evident
ly TO Speaker Reed, lit is not certain
whether he will pass it on the other side
Mr.. Mason declared Spain was iealous of
our nearness to Cuba and expressed the
opinion that there WAS an effort in Spain
10 force this country to buy Cuba. He said
the Spaniards had always been hostile 10
republican institutions of this country In
deed, from the beginning of our history
there had scarcely been an administration
which had not been compelled to deal with
the bad faith OF Spain. Spain was without
honor. without cash and without credit
Her soldiers were conscripts and her can
tain generals either thieves, like Weyler.
or bribe givers. like Blanco. We do not
want the island, but if necessary to save
the women and children of the island LET
US for Gods sake buy it, said Mr. Ma
son. He declared that the autonomy which
Spain had offered to Cuba was gold brick
which Spain was trying 10 work off on the
President He said the President had seen
only the telegraphic summary furnished by
the Spanish ministry when he wrote his
message and that this summary was the
result of mere confidence game on the
part of the Spanish ministry. 1t was evil
dent he said. that the President had been
deceived, as the real scheme was withheld
until after the message was written
Autonomy RidicuIed.
Mr.. Mason ridiculed the scheme of au-
tonomy proposed. He pointed out that the
captain general could dissolve the proposed
Cuban parliament and pass the appropria-
ton bills and declare martial law "at his
own sweet WILL" without any reference to
the desires of the Cuban people. And
yet said Mr.. Mason, this is the glorious
scheme of autonomy which is to do so.
much for Cuba. Is that the independence
the republican party proposed to assist the
Cubans in obtaining
TT is mere bluff.a gold brick which
Spain is giving Cuba"
He declared that President Mckinley was