The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-04-16
TO FREE CUBA.
Resolutions Bearing on the Question
Introduced in the Senate.
Eloquent Pleas Made-President's Program
Too Mild For Senator Mason-Says the
Executives Intervention Savory
Of Spanish Diplomacy.

I
Of Spanish Diplomacy
Ringing speeches were made i
the Senate Tuesday on the Cuhal
question. Three resolutions bearin
upon the question were introduced
one by MIR. Lindsay of Kentucky
directing that the contemplated op
erations against the Spanish arm,
in Cuba be in conjunction witt
Gen. Gomez, the supreme command
to be vested in the United State
forces, to the end that the indepen
dence of the Cubans be restored
the second, by Mr.. Wilson Of Wash
ington, directing the President to a
once take such steps as will restor
to the Cuban people an Independent
republican form of government, ant
the third by MIR. Allen of Nebraska
declaring the existence of war il
Cuba and directing the President t
take steps to stop it and secure tt
the people of the island a stable
and independent government.
Following the introduction of the
resolutions, speeches were delivered
by Mr.. Pettus Of Alabama, MIR. Ma
son of Illinois, and Mr.. Butler O
North Carolina.
Judge Pettus presented an argu
ment that Congress could not dele
gate to the President the power to
make war either in a general or a
special sense, and declared that the
making of any war without an ex.
press declaration by Congress would
be disgrace to the Nation.
Mr.. Mason said: II am for war
and have been since the day our
flag was lowered in Havana harbor
and the lives of our citizens taken
by the government of Spain. But
| am and have been for this decla-
ration of war only as a means of
securing an honorable peace.
81 have no desire to destroy the
Spanish nation, but her flag must
be dishonored by surrendering her
sovereignty over Cuban territory as
an atonement for the lowering of
our flag, sinking our ship and MUIR
dering our men.
Il have been INDUCING in a hope
that seemed almost certainty that
the executive would recommend in
and independence to the
Cuban republic. Intervention by
torce of arms, as recommended by
the President, is war. To declare
for Intervention without declaring
directly for war seems to lack frank
ness and savors too much of Span
sh diplomacy. If We are to have
armed intervention without recog-
nizing the independence of Cuba
and can have nothing else, l must
accept the will Of the majority, re-
serving 10 myself the right to fight
Tor independence for the brave men,
women and children i'm the island
Of Cuba"
"Mr. President" continued Mr..
"are we to forget our citi-
,ens who went down in the harbor
IF Havana in our greed for gold
md territory? Are We to leave the
ioor open to compel additional
erms from the insurgents who-sac-
'ificed their wives, their children
md their homes? Do we wish
pecial treaties of commerce and
cave the door open for that? Do
We wish to relieve some American
INVESTORS who have bought Spanish
'onds and who wish to trade them
or the bonds of the republic? Do
We, worse still, wish to leave the
loor open to compel those brave
nen and women to accept terms of
autonomy or to pay blood money
o the Spaniards or the Shylocks
# our own land?
MAY / be forgiven if l express
he hope that the heart of the Exec
tive may be touched in their be-
alf? May We not hope that their
ast lingering look of life be not
nth suspicion and hatred upon our
ag; that it may not rest upon that
olor of the yellow flag of Spain,
ut that in their rapt and parting
noments they may be soothed and
ustained by the sight of their own
ag-the flag with single star-the
ag of the Republic of Cuba?"
WOULD AvENGE THE MAINE.
Mr.. Butler of North Carolina fol
owed Mr.. Mason. He expressed
ne hope that the Foreign relations
ommittee might be able to bring
/ resolution that the Senate
hight adopt unanimously, as
oted for the $50, 900, 900 emergency
ppropriation. In the present cir
lmstances we would, in the opin-
IN of Mr.. Butler, be justified in
irving every Spanish vessel from
le seas and laying waste every city
nd town of Spain. This because
the destruction of the Maine
ne Of the foulest crimes in history.
[e maintained that the United
tates had even more exalted rea-
ms for the establishment of Cuban
dependence than reasons of hu-