The record-union., 1898-04-13


lations Committee.
A RESOLUTION BY ALLEN
Following this came a resolution IroIl
AIr Allen Of Nebraska, Whlch was d.
follows.
That a state Of war exist sbetWeeh
the limited States Of America and the
Kingdom Of Spain. and that the pollt-
cal existence and national independence
of the Republic Of Cuba, no" ana Tor
some time maintained by force of arms.
is hereby recognized; that the ffeslaeht
is empowered and directed to take at
once such cIfectual steps which may
be necessary TO secure an early ter
minatiou Of hostiities in Cuba, and an
INDEPENDENT ana stable government by
the people thereof, and 10 enable him
to carry out the purposes of this reso-
lution he is hereby empowered and di-
rected to use the land and naval forces
OF the United States
The resolution went over under the
rules.
RELIEF FOR REFUGEES
Mr.. Pascoe of Florida presented a
Joint resolution directing the President
to use not to exceed 5000 of the fund
appropriated by Congress to relieve
American citizens in Cuba for the relief
Of American citizens and others who
have recently landed in Florida from
Cuba.
He explained that while the citizens
of Florida were doing all in their power
to assist the refugees, their means were
limited.
The resolution was agreed to.
CONGRESS ONLY CAN DECLARE
WAR.
Mr.. Pettus of Alabama presented
legal argument upon the authority of
Congress and the President, under the
Constitution. in declaring and prosecut-
ing war. Congress alone, he said, has
power to declare war, and to delegate
this power to the President, or any
other officer If war is to be waged,
Congress must order what shall be the
nature of the war declared, and as
Commender-in-Ch of the army and
navy the President must carry on the
war as directed by Congress, and in no
other way.
Yet. what are we advised to do?"
inquired Mr.. Pettus. If you boil the
words down to their true meaning, it
is evident that we are advised to dele
gate to the President the power to in
terVene and make war, if he sees fit,
without any declaration of war at all.
War made in such a manner-Without
a declaration of COngress-Would be a
disgrace to the land"
When Mr.. Pettus had concluded, Mr..
Allen endeavOred to secure the passage
OF a bill just received from the House.
To this Mr.. Mason of Illinois. who
had announced his speech on the Cuban
situation, objected.
7 had hoped" suggested Mr.. Allen,
that the Senator would yield. Hostili
ties viii not begin to-day"
4 am not so sure of that" retorted
Mason, "as the Senator from Nebraska
seems to be"
Lindsay of Kentucky gave notice that
he would tomorrow address the Sen
ate upon his resolution.
MASON FOR WAR.
Mason then proceeded with his
speech. He had prepared it carefully
and confined himself to his manu-
script. His speech was a long argu-
ment in favor of the recognition by
this Government of the independence
of the Cuban Republic Mason was
accorded the closest attention by SEN
atOrs. Mason said in substance:
As before announced to you in Ian
guage which could not be msunder-
stood, l am for war, and have been
since the hour our flag was lowered in
Havana harbor and the lives of our
citizens taken by the Government of
Spain. But l am and have been for
this declaration of war only as a means
of securing an honorable peace.
4 have no desire to destroy the Span
ish nation, but her flag must be dis
eighty over Cuban territory as an
atonement for the lowering of our flag,
sinking our ship and numbering our
men. While / am for war l realize
that I have but one poor vote in the
war-making power Of this Government,
and I stand ready in this hour to up
hold the hands of the Executive and
take the best I can get.
I have been mdulging in a hope that
seemed almost a certainty-that the
Executive would recommend interven-
tion and independence to the Cuban
Republic. Intervention by force of
arms as recommended by the Presi-
dent is war. To declare for interven-
ton without declaring directly openly
for war seems to lack frankness, and
Savors too much of Spanish diplomacy.
If we can have armed intervention
without recognizing the independence
of Cuba and can have nothing else. I
must accept the will of the majority,
reserving to myself the right to re-
Spectfully protest, and also reserving
the right to fight for independence for
the brave men. women and children of
Cuba"
Mason then went into the history of
what had ben done by this country in
the past regarding recognition, and
, continued:
Mr.. President it seems almost like
insulting the intelligence of my COL
leagues to call attention to the civil
Government existing in Cuba and con-
trolled by the insurgents. when I eX-
plained that through that Government
they have collected hundreds of thou
sands CT dollars and maintained a
standing army that has kept at bay
nearly 2G4oGG armed and equipped
Spanish soldiers and has given evil
dence Of as great bravery and endur-
ance as any army in the recorded past.
The brilliant orator from Iowa said the
other day in the other house that
towering above the dark waters of
that mysterious harbor of Havana the
black-winged vultures watch for the
dead. while over it and over all there
is the eagles piercing eye sternly
watching for the truth
Mr. President. is il to continue to
be an eagle. or is the avarice and greed
OF the nation to cause it to descend