The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-13
WAR SPEECH BY MASON
The Illinois Senator Makes a Hit
in Congress.
REPLIES TO M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE.

1777, Both Favoring Recognition of Gu
ban Independence-stirrin Appeal
Behalf of the stricken Cubans by the
Illinois Senator.
Washington. April Ex-senator Ma
son delivered speech in the senate In
answer to the presidents message The
speech, which declares for war. is likely
to have it's effect upon congress. 1t is
aimed to answer the presidents refer
ence to President Jackson's message
against recognition OF the Independence
Of Texas. The senator shows that fol-
lowing Jackson's message congress rec
ognized the independence and credited
charge d'affaires to the Texas capt.
tai. The senator says, while the presi-
dent invoked executive precedents, he
ought not to deny congress the right to
apply legislative precedents in the same
case. The Mason speech quotes from
Henry Clay In favor of recognition and
from the action of France in 1177 to-
ward the American revolutionists.
when Texas Was Recognized.
The senator says that when the re-
were only 10000 Anglo-Americans with
in her borders. There are more men
under arms in the insurgent army to-
day than there were men, women and
children in Texas when her independ-
ence was acknowledged by an act of
congress. The total army of Texas con-
sisted of fewer than 500 men. Senator
Mason took the floor shortly after
tn he
sage. He was interrupted at the out
set by remark Of Allen: "Hostilities
will not commence today
II don't know about that" sharply
rejoined Mason. "Wait until you hear
my speech"
The senator was not again interrupt
ed The speech was less impassioned
than he usually delivers, but it's effect
on the senator's, especially that portion
in which he answered the presidents
reference to the Texas case, was
marked and listened to with the clos
est attention.
Jackson's Recommendation.
Commenting upon the presidents
message, in which he referred to Presi-
dent Jackson's recommendation against
recognition of the independence of Tex
II propose now TO show, since the
executive has Informed us what the
executive branch of the government
thought at that time, what the execu-
tive branch thought and did on the
same question.
''If the executive feels bound by ex-
ective precedent / must be permitted
to feel bound by legislative precedent
President Jackson issued the message
spoken Of and l call particular atten-
tion to dates-on the 21st day of Decem-
Der, 1896, Immediately thereafter the
resolution was introduced into the SEN
ate of the United States recognizing
Texan independence by Robert j.
Walker, United States senator from
Mississippi.
Action of Congress.
"On the 1st of March, before Presi-
dent Jackson's time had expired, that
resolution was debated and passed by
the senate of the United States by a
vote Of % to % and a motion to recon-
slider on the following day was lost
by tie vote of "a to "a.
The house of representatives imme-
diately made an appropriation for
diplomatic agent from the United
States to the government of Texas,
thereby pursuing the very course sug-
gested by Henry Clay in his attempts
to recognize In congress the independ-
ence of Spanish-American states.
THE last official act of President
Jackson, previous to his retirement
from the executive chair, was the NOM
ination of Alcee Lablanche as charge
d'affaires to the new republic Of Texas.
1T is a historical fact that within a
few days thereafter the newly accred-
tied ministers from the republic of
Texas were given an audience at the
White House and they were duly rec
ognized as such ministers by the repub-
lie Of the United States.
Exceedingly Unfortunate.
"I would not wish to suggest that the
learned lawyer who furnished the au-
thorities for this branch of the presi-
dents message was In the least disin-
genuous, but II Is exceedingly unfor-
tunate that the mere opinion of the ex-
ecutive should be cited as a precedent,
when as a matter of fact, the govern
ment Of the United States, composed
of the executive and legislative branch
es, did set precedent in absolute con-
fiict with the opinion of President Jack
son. cited in the message.
I'm other words. the message cited
by the present executive from Presi-
dent Jackson was delivered on the 21st
day OF December. 1886. and in less than
ten weeks after sending his opinion to
congress he recognized the independ-
ence of the republic Of Texas by ac-
crediting ministers to and receiving
ministers from that republic.
vulture and Eagle.
"The brilliant orator from Iowa, Mr..
Cousins, said the other day in the house
that. lowering about the dark waters
of that mysterious harbor Of Havana.
the black-winged vulture watches for
the dead, while over 1t and after all
there is the eagles piercing eye. eter-
nally watching for the truth.
"Mr. President, Is II to continue to be
an eagle. or IL the avarice and greed of
the nation to cause II to descend and
partake of the vulture's food? Perez,
writing to Aranguren. said: The Yam
KEGS are hogs. and IL you conquer your
own independence they will absorb
YOU Mr.. President. did he. tell the