The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-24

the United States which a year ago would
have been inoffensive. would now be al
most a cause Or war. He expressed the
opinion that the. Cuban affair would even
tEally re submitted to the arbitrament of
the sword between the United States and
Spain. but he did not want war precipi-
tated by rash acts of legislation. Mr. For
aker thought the day not far distant when
the time for action by this country would
arrive and that the chief magistrate of the
nation ought to rejoice that the legislative
branch OF the government was preparing
to support him in asserting American
rights. Mr.. Thurston counseled calmness
and prudence. for he believed that the
country was rapidly drifting into a war
with Spain. We ought To have patience"
SAID he. and wait as great and powerful
people. not in fear. but In hope that some
satisfactory conclusion of the present diff
hculty may be reached" Mr.. Hoar main
tanned that the floor of the Senate was
no proper place for angry discussions of
International affairs and that no senator
ought TO utter anything that might not
well be uttered by the President OF the
United States. He expressed his willing
ness however. TO give his support to the
executive should the time for action ar
based upon clear and unmistakable facts.
Mr.. Aliens amendment was ruled out of
order and the appeal from the ruling taken
by the Nebraska senator was laid on the
table by q vote of 81 to 5.
ALIENS PROPOSED INQUIRY
Early in the day Mr.. Allen offered q reso-
luton providing for a committee of five
senators who should go to Cuba and ascer-
tain the precise situation on the island
Under the rules it went over until to-mor-
row. The resolution follows:
Whereas, 1t is the established doctrine OF
the United States that the western hemi-
sphere shall be dedicated TO republican
toImS OF government recognizing the DO
htical equality of human beings; and,
whereas, The principles of the Monroe
uoctr1nes or the doctrine of national self
preservation, is as applicable in wrestling
any portion of this continent from the
grasp of foreign countries as in preventing
them obtaining additional territory; and
Whereas, The Island of Cuba, by reason
OF It's location and close proximity to the
United States, should by right be dedicated
TO 4 republican form of government; and
Whereas, A republican form of govern
ment is and has been for nearly three years
maintained in said island by force of arms;
Whereas, 1t is alleged that 100000 per-
sons on said island have died of starvation
by reason OF being concentrated by the
Spanish government at various points, with
out being fed or afforded opportunity to
provide food for themselves, and hundreds
arc daily dying; and,
Whereas, The dictates of humanity re-
quire the intervention of the United States
In such case, therefore,
Resolved, That a select committee of five
senators shall be appointed whose duty It
shall be to forthwith make a thorough in
Nesugation and inquire into and report on
the following subjects:
"First--TO what extent the work of con-
reltrating the inhabitants of Cuba has been
carried on by the Spanish government and
N said HOY in
the last three years died as a result Of
starvation or for lack OF sufficient food,
extent concentration is being practiced
there by Spanish authority, and the condi-
tons of the people concentrated.
'Second--Whether the concentrated Gu
bans have been adequately sheltered,
clothed and fed by the Spanish government
or by others, or have been permitted to
obtain food and clothing for themselves.
'Third-What lawful steps. If any, are
necessary and can be taken by the United
States to bring the war in Cuba to speedy
termination on grounds honorable alike to
Spain and Cuba. and which will result in
the kingdom of Spain relinquishing its hold
on the island and in the establishment Of a
republican form of government there.
''Fourth-To what extent Spanish barbar-
ity and cruelty have, during the war now
IL progress on the Island OF Cuba, been
practiced toward the inhabitants of Cuba.
and what can be lawfully done by the
United States, If anything, to ameliGrate
And to these ends and for these pur-
poses said committee may sit at such times
and places as they may see proper during
the sessions of Congress and in vacation,
and shall have the right to visit and take
testimony in Cuba if deemed proper to do
So All testimony taken shall be preserved,
and the finding of said select committee.
together with all testimony, shall be re-
duced to writing and reported to the Senate
at early date as practicable"
Both the Military Academy and the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bills were
passed. Cir. Hansbrough attempted to Sc
cure action OH the bill to regulate the
laws of Alaska, but on objection from Mr..
Turner, of Washington it went over.
THE POPULISTS SPEECH.
Respecting the belligerency amendment
Mr.. Allen thought statement was due the
country The amendment, he said, is prac-
tically a copy of two resolutions which have
already passed the Senate. Referring to the
unfavorable report presented on the amend
ment by the foreign relations committee
Mr.. Allen said that it was confession and
avoidance, and meant simply that the COM
mittee did not desire to act on it. The truth
was, he said, that Congress was merely
finding some excuse under which it could
continue business and escape censure. His
desire was to find whether Congress could
in any way be induced cajoled kicked
into putting the country in dignif1ed atti-
tuu6 OH the SuDdn uutSllOH. ldhiIlS the
main issue involved, he asserted that he
had reliable information that no less than
IS per cent. of the Cuban population, or
500 900 people, had persisted in Cuba within
the past three years as IL result of Spanish
cruelty "And yet" said Mr.. Allen, lest
VIC, the Senate, a body of eighty-nine men,
offend the House OF Representatives, con-
sisting of 357 men, a point of order is to be
made against this amendment and 1t Will
go the way of very much valuable legiSla-
ton" Mr.. Allen said that il the Repub-
lican party could suffer TO see the Cubans
exterminated by starvation IN plain viola
ton of its platform and of the Christian
sentiment of the country the Republican
senator's ought to be willing to face the
question on a yea and nay vote.
Mr. Morgan said the Senate had twice
passed the Cuban belligerency resolution
substantially as it was now offered; but both
times it had been done openly and frankly.
1--WE have no right" said he, Ito make q
declaration of war against Spain under
cover and that is precisely what this reSo-
luton would mean. If this amendment
was attached to the appropriation bill Spain
might well regard it as a cause of war. AS
/ have before indicated, the conditions ana
situation in Cuba were entirely different
when this resolution was passed by the
Senate" He asserted that between 100000
and 100000 people had starved 10 death IN
Cuba. This awful condition of affairs.
said Mr. Morgan. makes our positlon IN
the Cuban matter extremely delicate In
tervention of the kind proposed year
ego means war. IT could mean nothing else.
An intervention on the part OF this govern
ment in the present critical condition or
affairs would almost certainly be regarded
10 refer TO the conditions and circumstances
which have been brought about by the
events of the past ten days In the present
circumstances IL would not be consistent