The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-21

overshadOwed the interest i'm the Cuban
debate which has continued unimterrupt-
edly in the House for three days during
the consideration of the Diplomatic and
Consular Appropriation bill
Mr.. Clark, Dem, Mo-, opened the de-
bate with one OF his chara cteristic
breezy speeches.
He said in part:
IF Spain does not bring the war to Il
| speedy conclusion the United States
ought to eXpel her from the western
| hemisphere. There can be no doubt rs
to what has been our traditional foreign
| policy. What our foreign policy is I'M
| der the Mckinley administration, like
| the peace of God passeth all under
standing. There ought to be no question
as to our foreign policy in the future.
Tersely and bluntly stated, it is this
and it ought to be enforced with iron
hand-that we intend at all hazards and
at whatever cost, to thoroughly dominate
the western world.
Elm these days of McIIannaism, our
foreign policy is so feeble, so cringing.
so cowardly that even old and decrepid
Spain insults our flag, maltreats our citi-
zens and searches our Ships with perfect
ilnpunity; and President Mckinley in
our honor. assert our supremacy and
teach the insOlent and impotent donsa
lesson they would never forget, passes
the hat around and invites the Anneri
can people to contribute aims for starry
ing and dying Cubans.
''TO every suggestion that we should
re-enter upon a vigorous foreign policy.
which will thoroughly protect American
citizens and American interests on ev-
cry art of THE habitable globe. we are
met with the hysterical shrek that we
are advocating war. 1t is not true, but
suppose it were? There are some things
worse than war-deplOrable as war I'M
quoStiOnably iS-and one of them is to-
play the cry1baby act until we are despie-
cd of all nations and kindreds and
tongues"
MY Republican friends he said in
conclusion, II invite you to lay aside the
weight that is holding you down, assert
your rights, come out on the side of
eternal justice and human liberty, there
by demonstrating that you are worthy
of the high vocation wherein you are
called. We Democrats and Populsts
stand here ready to remove from Amer
lea her great reproach. We ON this side
will contribute one hundred and fifty
two votes. If only twenty seven Repub-
licans will break the yoke, defy theirl
task masters and join us in this noble
work, before the sun sets this day We
will send the glad tidings ringing round
the world that Cuba is Free!" freeI
thank God, by the aot of the Americanl
Congress-"
Mr.. Williams, Dem, Miss.) a mem
Der of the Foreign Affairs committee
sneered at the statement of Mr. Hittl
yesterday that the granting of belliger-
ent rights to the Cubans would afford
them no advantage.
Shades of history and all the people,
who have ever rebelled against tyranny"
he exclaimed, what pity that George
Washington, Nathaniel Green and Thos.
Jefferson. when seeking the recognition
of belligerency during the revolution did
not know that beIligerent rights would
not be advantageous TO them. What
a pity that Robert E. Lee, Jefferson
Davis and other Confederate statesmen
were not Informed that beIligerency
would not aid their cause when they
were seeking that recognition abroad.
Mr. King, democrat, Utah), who has
recently returned from a visit to Cuba,
gave the House some of the results of
his personal observation. He described
the narrowing conditions there. char
acterized the scheme of autonomy as a
delusion, and declared if peace came on
that basis Spain would saddle the war
debt on Cuba. There would be resist
ance, and once more the fires OF reyOlu-
ton would be kindled. Permanent
peace could not come to the island until
independence was achieved.
Mr.. Johnson, Republican, Indiana),
in a fifteen minute speech sustained the
course of the administration The
President, he said, had displayed good
sense, sound judgment and exalted pa
triot;sm. Congress. he said would not
be warranted in attempting to override
the President and rushing the country
rashly into a war fraught with tremend-
Gus consequences.
Mr. Simpson, (Populist. Kansas, !
speaking for the third party. said he
was not lying awake o'nights" worry
ing over the Cuban question. But he
was satisfied, he said, that the real Sc
cret behind the attitude of the admin
istration, was the fact that the holders
of Spanish bonds, $400.000,000 inl
amount were not yet satisfied that they
would get their money.
After some brief prO-Cuban speeches
by Mr.. Robinson, Democrat, Indiana),
and Mr.. Cochran, Democrat, Missouri.
Mr. Dingley, Republican, Maine), took
the floor to reply to some of the remarks |
made during the course of the debate |
relative to the wage reductions in the
cotton industry during the past few
months.
1t was due to the sudden and un-ex-
pected decline in the price of cotton.
In three months the price had declined
30 per cent. because the Southern plant
ers insisted upon growing 100000 bales
more cotton than the world wanted.
In addition to this he pointed out the
effect of the competition that had grown
up in the South, where longer hours and
lower wages were the vogue. Event
ually the South would come up to the
Northern standard, but temporarily pres
ent conditions gave the South advantage. |
at O'Clock the committee rose UNDER
the arrangement made yesterday, and
reported the bill to the House. One of
the most dramatic and sensational cpl |
sodes of this Congress followed. The
speaker of the House and Mr.. Bailey, of
Texas, the Democratic leader. clashed
nm, n 0tITnS finI1 Of -