New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-10
THE CUBAN DEBATE IN DETAIL.

Washington, Feb. 9.-In anticipation Of speeches
to be delivered on the relations OF the United
States and Spain concerning the Cuban war tha
galleries OF the Senate crowded at an early
hour to-day Indeed, the public galleries were
filled before the Senate met at Y O'clock and tho
reserved galleries filed rapidly soon after noon
The interest evidently not confined 10 the peo-
pie in the galleries. When the Vice Presidents
gavel fell. opening the session. noticeably larger
number Of Senator'S present than is usual so
early in the day The notice given yesterday by
Senators Cannon and Mason that they would ad-
dress the Senate resolutions they had intro
duced served to draw Senators from their COM
mittee-rooms early in the session.
The resolution offered by Mr. Cannon urging
the President 20 inform Spain that II she fails TO
recognize the independence OF cuba before March
this Government would then recognize the
bellgerent rights OF the Cubans and ninety days
thereafter assert the independence Of the Cuban
Republic was laid before the Senate and Mr.. Can
non recognized to speak II.
Mr.. Cannon, In opening his speech read from Q
New-York newspaper n statement in effect that
the speeches to be delivered to-day would amount
to mere talk, and that nothing more harmful than
talk would result from the present agitation Of ths
| Cuban question in the Senate" Mr. Cannon said
that It was not his purpose nor the purpose OF
those who believed with him. 10 disturb IN any
way the peace and welfare Of the people or the
| United States He did not, he said. desire to
| reflect unnecessarily on the policy OF the Presi-
dent but a phase Of the question raised by tho
| newspaper article to which he had referred that
ought to be considered. Ry what authority, he
| asked did any public journal assert that nothlnS
more substantial and effective than talk would re-
| su-t from the discussion OF the Cuban question IN
| corcress2 Has some concerted plan been ar
ranged?' he asked. by the carrying into enect
OF which the will of the people in this country - 10
| ha undoneq I want to say that something moro
/ fror 70
of the Cuban question by Congress lnose re-
r,,s will strike men In Congress and men In hign
! ia.os IN the Administration. We have been told
that a noicy in the treatment Of this cuban ques-
| t nos ~ no inaugurated that would startle tho
! coun,rv but that policy has not yet deveiopeh
.War" continued Mr. Cannon rs ended IN 'uo~
! rho war that there existed has developed INTO
brutal contest Of hunger Spain. he thought nad
MT tho courage to pursue operations against mo
| trio,s in the field The Government AT Madrid
was bankrupt her greatest statesman han passeo
away and in the conduct OF the CUBAN "'r si'
| had adopted a policy 10 subdue n"r eh'n''S .,
| bribery and starvation Should the enor's OF
snain succeed the result would be 10 sadp'e on '''
| neonle Of Cuba the enormous debt OF H""'""' a
20. ..o, had ~ q great extent been incurred In
,h ,,i, effort to subdue the spirit OF liberty mai'
fested by the Cuban patriots
cp,r1CrsING THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
discussion
,ho Cuban question. Mr.. Cannon said: l chafse
- .ha, tho nurpose OF the Administration ~ IN
o.o,arce with the wishes OF the Spanish oohn-
s,ar. aud before peace is secured In Cuoa secur-
,y for the psyment Of that tremendous deot must
ha given By the blood-s,ained island That' say.
oa,rs 10 be the wish of the ADMINISTRATION. ana 1
may say OF Spain .
Referring 10 the situation as II was presen'eo
,,hon Mr. Mckinley assumed the Presidency. MI.
Cannon said that II almost An earthly ON
nipotence which the President possessed ana pos
-. row The recognition of the belligerent
r,shto ~ the insurgents would have been OF I'M
mense advantage at any time during the present
war but now such recognition would aoso'uteiy
.a-ri,a,e the terrible struggle. Mr.. Cannon thought
{, necuI,arly significant, that all Spanards and Span
sh svmpa hzers were opposed TO the recognition OF
,ho heuigerency OF the Cuban patriots. while every
cha, had maintained from the first that rscogni.
80, wouh he of such advantage as 10 enable them
20 wrsst victory from what otherwise might pos
~. ho da,eat III the Chief Executive OF this
| oorn,rv had dreamed when ne entered upon mis-
du,ss n, the power that was TO be conferred oy Ms
9th unon him Il would scarcely have neen possio'e
o ,,n, % conceive OF greater opportunity TO SEE
io', io' ', ,,oo than was then presented 10 him. His
| ,a,r,e ~ a document would now set that people
| . What IL n that stays the hand os Mchhiey'
| W. have waited long. but our waiting mas oeeh III
vain and our cup OF waiting is now fuiL
Wr cannon maintained that II was no answer sat
,s,.c,ory 10 the Cuban patriots or 10 the ssinPa-
,h,vsr. with them that the batte-ship Maine shou'o
| he .ent 10 Cuban waters. Above AL IL was ~
| ,.,.ction 10 see the Stars and stripes dppea u
,hs snanish ensign II is no answer to those III
.a,,,nv for something effective and fraught with
results that the Administration should have uhaer
| confederation at this time treaty with Spain look