The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-17

little short of folly. Before extending
recognition, Platt said, it would be nee
| eSSary for the United States to strike
from history the words of many of the
| nations statesmen and give up the
Monroe doctrine
Platt concluded with an appeal for
calm and deliberate action-such as
| would be approved by all future gen
erations.
BACON APPEALED FOR RECOGNI-
TION OF INDEPENDENCE.
A strong appeal for recognition of the
| independence of the present Cuban re-
public was made by Bacon of Georgia.
In beginning he said it was unfair to
charge that all Senators who differed
from the President upon this question
We're hostile to him. He did not APP
prove of the Presidents message in it's
entirety, because it was impossible for
him to grant such power to a President
as Mr.. Mckinley evidently desired
WELLINGTON OF MARYLAND.
Wellington of Maryland followed Ba-
con, and as he arose to speak there was
a stir in the galleries The speaker
said he was thoroughly satisfied that
there was no good reason for the
| United States going to war with Spain
No war could be justified at any time
by any nation unless all diplomatic
agencies had been exhausted, and he
could not see that result in the mes
sage of the President.
I WillVote for peace; I will stand
for peace as long as peace is possible"
he said. Il do not stand here as an
apologist for the Spanish policy.
believe the people of Cuba had a right
10 ,lNDf
Spain. But We, as nation are out
| side the situation We have nothing
to do with the rebellion now going on
in the island"
Wellington argued that the message
of the President had been wholly mis-
construed; that instead of an appeal
to Congress to sanction war, it was
exactly the reverse, but the war frenzy
was abroad, and Congress was rushing
hopelessly into hostilities.
| The President, / believe. in his heart
feels that war is not necessary"
He read the closing paragraph of the
Presidents message, and placing his
Interpretation upon it, said that the
words indicated that the Executive still
| believed that the armistice granted to
the insurgents would yet work out
peace.
Passing to the internal dissensions
existing in Spain, he said that the
| United States would be held responsible
should the Carlists overthrow the pres
ent dynasty, which he hoped would
continue many years.
Upon the question of the responsible
ity as to the destruction of the Maine.
Wellington passionately said that he
could not think that Spain blew up our
vessel IF so, then the responsibility
rests upon General Blanco, in COM
mand at Havana, and | cannot believe
that General BIanco would sanction
such an outrage. One touch of nature
makes the whole world akin, even
though the kinship be with a Span
lard"
In concluding he said: eff war must
be, Maryland will be with you; but in
this fateful hour she is for peace"
! TURPIE OFFERS AN AMENDMENT
Turpie of Indiana in order to make
perfectly clear the resolution reported
by the minority of the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee, offered an amendment
to insert after the word independent
the following: And the Government
of the United States hereby recognizes
the Republic of Cuba as the true and
lawful Government of that island"
/ CAFFERY OF LOUISIANA.
Caffery was then recognized. Il have
stood before on the brink of war" he
said. Although young then, I coun-
seled moderation, but my opinion was
swept to the winds and 1 was carried
along with my people into the most CO.
lOssal war in the history of civilized
nations. Our people We're a unit then.
If war is to be waged, we ought to be
a unit now. But it seems that whoever
dares to utter thought in opposition
to hasty or ill-coneeived action subjects
himself to the gibbet in the popular
breast"
Caffery then entered upon a discus
sion of the Cuban situation, declaring
that it was manifest that the power
Of Spain was slowly dying in Cuba
and that, her sovereignty without our
interference would be swept from the
island.
Caffery maintained that recognition
! was an executive and not legislative
function.
Whose fight is it?' he vehemently
asker. lin which we are going to par
ticipate? It is not our fight, but fight
between certain insurrectionary fac
tions in the Island of Cuba and the
Spanish CROWN
He then paid a glowing tribute to the
wisdom. the patience and the high pa
triotism of the President Even with
out intervention on our part, it was
the opinion of Caffery that the Island
of Cuba would be free; that in the very
nature of things Spain would have to
relinquish her hold in the Western
| hemisphere
HAWLEY OF CONNECTICUT.
| Hawley of Connecticut pronounced
judgment upon the message of the
President as one of the great State pa
pers that would be justified in the light
Of history. He criticised the resolu-
tons as presented, and thought that to
all intents and purposes the House
resolution more nearly reached all the
phases of this complicated question
than any reported.
WHITE OF CALIFORNIA.
White of California said he stood be-
fore the Senate to address himself to
the most momentous question which
had ever been brought to the attention
of the American people. It was disa-
greeable to dissent from the committee
view-to set aside the popular feeling.
The plaudits of the people were always
inspiring, but the Senate was confront
ed by a solemn duty, a solemn respon-
sibility. and so far as he was con-
| cerned he could no more give up his
convictions than he could yield up his
| life. The Senate was here to face a
war which now must come upon the