The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-20

Pingree from this mornings papers de-
| nounoing the trend of affairs in the Re-
publican party. MIR. Bishop asked if Mr..
Brucker stood sponsor for Gov. Pingree's s
statements, to which the latter replied
that the Republican party elected him.
I'VE repudiated him." said Mr.. Bishop.
If I helped to elect governor on a
Democratic platform / should stand by
him, said Mr.. Brucker.
I'VE did stand by Gov. Pingree until
he ceased to be q Republican. Did you
stand by Grover Cleveland?" Qaughter)
II did, replied Mr.. Bruoker, until
ne became nominated by the same Repubo,,
lioan methods Gov. Pingree denounces. :"
(Republjcan jeers.)
MIR. Hit thought that the spirit Of yes
| terday's agreement had been violated and
! that the general debate should be cur
tailed somewhat. He asked that debate
be closed at one O'Clock tomorrow, but
finally agreed to four O'Clock.
MIR. Williams, Democrat OF mississippi,
gave notice that motion would be made
at the conclusion of the general debate to
| reccmmlt the bill.
i MIR. Hit opened the general debate with
an Important statement as to our reia-
| tipns with Spain and Cuba, and the
course of the administration. He referred
to the keen interest with which the
| struggle in Cuba had been watched and
how in the last Congress the House con-
CURED In the joint resolution expressing
1t as the sentiment of the Congress thai
the insurgents should be recognized: That
the resolution went unheeded and the war
went on. The present Executive had
come into power year ago. His sentl-
ments were well known. On this noor
and in all his public utterances he had
shown his sympathy with any people
struggling to better their condition. He
sketched the course of affairs since Mr..
Mokinley's advent to power and said the
President had Immediately demanded the
| release OF the American prisoners IN
Cuba. In many cases his demand was
| complied with, but not in all,
Then by the hand of an assassin the
| leader Of the policy Of stern conservative
oppression had fallen. His successors pur-
sued the same policy until overthrown.
When the liberal ministry came in the
President had again pressed for the re-
| lease of the American prisoners. The
ministry yielded at last and all had been
given their freedom. But the President
had gone farther. He had protested with
suoh emphasis and energy against the
concentration that Gen. Weyler had been
recalled in disgrace and the policy OF con-
cen ntration had been abandoned. Further
| even than this the President had gone
| He had notified the Sagasta ministry that
| the war must cease and proposals of
settlement be made within reasonable
time. These representations had been
made owing to the great interest over the
| struggle the Cubans were making. The
| Presidents representations had been
listened to by Spain and the scheme Of
salf governments, modelled upon that of
Canada, had beer issued. Whether it
would be successful, whether 1T was prac-
| tionble or sincere, many might doubt
Perhaps 1t would be harsh Judgment
now TO say is had already failed. But
that it WINS sincere events had already
made clear. Those who understand Spain
and her nlachinations far better than we
had passed judgment and had already
| attempted to destroy the autonomy
scheme and to pull down the Sagasta
government, which had proposed 1t. The
Commercial class in Havana, Cubans OF
violence and turbulence. They had
Ehreetened tho very existence of Havana.
| ,rfEyerY act OF the President, continued
Mr. Hit, had shown the spirit which
animated him in his public utterances in
the past. He had achieved much in g few
monehs, but he said ne Thought it unW1se
| for the United States at this time to
| recognize the belligerenoy Of the insur-
gents.
Mr. Hit admonished the members that
national action must be vindicated before
| the world and that we must prove In
what we do that We are actuated by no
vulgar greed to rob neighbors or to seize
property Of others. Proceeding, he dwelt
upon the effect OF the extension OF bel
| ligerents rights to the insurgents, arguing
| that it would give Spanish cruisers the
right of search and impose great hard
ship on the Cubans who were without o
A milo limo ahOiIt CIlha UaE
now the limit Of the Spanish cruisers,
right of search A declaration of bellig-
| erency would allow Spain's warships to
hunt our vessels on the high seas. In the
lexisting situation good men sympathlz-
| ing with Cuba's cause were constantly
making their way to the islands. sup
plies, guns and ammunition were going
| from the United States. 1t was said that
every pound of powder fired in the cause
of Cuba's freedom had come from this
country. No Spanish cruiser could now
mclest our vessels on the high seas.
| Members might ask why with all these
advantages in store for them, the agents
Of the Cuban republic in this city aesirea :;
belligerent rights. II could explain it.
said Mr.. Hits, 'sbut prefer to do so in
the words of one of these agents to me.
we KNOW said this gentleman, that we
have much to lose in the matter of sup =
plies, but we also know that if Spanish
cruisers begin to stop American sKlppers
| 1t will not be long before hasty shot 1t
fired. With that shot public opinion in
Spain and the United States will plunge
those countries into war. Then our battle
will be over
"That, perhaps, is a very just argument
for the Cubans." continued Mr. Hltt,
"but not for an American II we are to
have war let Us face it directly, not be
forced into it by chance. do not blame
the Cubans, however, any more than
blame tho confederates, who during the
rebellion hoped to precipitate war be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
knowing that once war came, the con-
tract for freeing the confederacy would
be taken off their hands -
Mr. Hit spoke of the Spanish authority
in Havana as tottering between armed
forces without and tumultuous riot with
in, but with impressive words he warned
the members that the vast responsibility
Of action with the momentous conse-
quences that might ensua rested on the
shoulders Of the executive and not on
members of Congress who might be
making speeches for popular approval.
"Let US remember" said he,, ",that we
have a faithful pilot at the helm: and
that If the ship Of state is near the rapids
vra chor1,3 be Datjept, and ready to SUPPORT