The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-16
Cuba's Cause in the Senate.

To crowded and applauding galleries
Senators Cannon of Utah and Mason
of Illinois on Wednesday of last week
pleaded for help for bleeding and starry
ing Cuba. In the course of his re-
marks Senator Cannon said:
"War is ended in Cuba. The heroism of
battle has given place to controversy OF
hunger Spain no longer has the courage
or the credit to maintain offensive opera
tons in the field. She is only holding to
the appearances OF a struggle in Cuba in Or
der to satisfy the creditors who have ad-
vanced the millions by which she has sought
to hold the Cuban people in subsection. The
policy of Spain toward Cuba is not that Of
warfare. 1t is a policy to subdue by brib-
cry, by corruption, by starvation the peo-
pie whom Spain and her cohorts could not
conquer in the field. If there be any policy
on the part of the United States, it is one OF
utilization with that movement by which
Spain shall be enabled to saddle on Cuba
the vast amount Of debt incurred in the vain
endeavor to conquer that island. More than
four hundred millions in bonds are held by
Spanish Creditors-the vast mass of which
was issued to obtain funds with which to
carry on the struggle in Cuba.
Il charge that the purpose of the Admin
istration in delaying action on the part OF
the American people is in consonanCe with,
II not in direct partnership with, the Will
of the Spanish bondholders, who are de-
termined that before freedom is allowed
Cuba, security shall be given on that blood
stained island for the debt. AS to auton-
omy, its offer was an insult, and If it had
been accepted, it would have been carried
out only as a pretence. The President OF
the United States can by a pen stroke stop
the bar barities that are being committed,
set Cuba free, and relieve the islands from
the burdens which she sustaius, 1t is al
most earthly omnipotence which he pos
sesses. A recognition of belligerency at
any time since the war began would have
brought the war to speedy conclusion,
and would now absolutely terminate the at
tempt of Spain to hold possession of Cuba.
One word will do it, The bare signature of
the Presidents name to the recognition OF
bellgerency will do it. What hand is it
that stays William Mckinley from signing
his name to a recognition OF bellgerency?
What whisper is it that says to him, Waltz
We have waited, while Americans confined
in Cuban prisons have been starved, tor
tured, and assassinated. We have waited
until all American property in the island
and all commerce with the island have been
destroyed. We have waited until war Itself
has ended and until starvation has begun
Our cup OF waiting is full"
Senator Mason read from the Stats
tics of deaths and outrages furnished
by the Bishop of Havana, showing that
500 900 have persisted within the last
year. He spoke of Blanco's attempt tC
bride Gomez, and read the Cuban com.
mander's indignant answer, saying
"Think of it, think of this old Gomez
brave man that he is, fighting in sun
shine and in rain, his only son, soul Of
his SOUL as he expressed it, sacrificed
on the altar of his country, approached
by bribe-giver, Blanco. Blanco haC
been beaten in the field, and now it re
mains for him only to offer brides
Blanco is not fearful of bribery, but h,
has never been known to meet the Gu
bans in the open field of fight"
To the stockdealers and to CONNER
cial protests he flung this reply:
"There is no vicarious atonement for
nations crime, no escaping the Cross q
Calvary. We lived in the shadow of tn
law OF compensation for a hundred years
We set our flag in the sky and said: 'Thi
is the land Of the free and the home of til
brave And at the same time we wer
selling women and children to the highes
and best bidder for cash. The law OF con
pensation went into operation, and we di
not have materials enough, at the end {
the war, to make headboardS for our 80
diers' graves The bankers and keepers {
bucket shops are wiring me to-day to col
slider the price OF wheat and pork in IN
own State. / say to you that, with the pit
ture of starving women and children
Cuba, / have no heart to look at the pric
of pork in Illinois. [Applause]. They to
than hell. Dante with all his word pain
ing has never described anything 30 no
rible. And this is the war which the r.
publican party promised to stop. / den
the right OF any one man to be better X
publican than am, whether he sits in u
White House or in the Senate OF the lutte
States" Applause]
''We will show that the Spanish stat
ment is false which says that we are see
ing for land, or power, or treasure. III
nations of the world will see, as we tai