The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-24
Senators Express the Opinion
That 1t Is Coming
And They DON'T Want to Hurry
1t Along.
VOTE DOWN MEASURES
Calculated to Precipitate a Cri-
sis in Cuban Affairs.
Teller Thinks All Rests With
President Mckinley.

Washington, Feb. 24-While the SEN
ate had under consideration the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill
! yesterday, a sharp debate on the Cuban
! situation was precipitated by Mr.. Allen
(Neb.), who offered as an amendment
the resolution passed by the senate a
year ago recognizing the belligerent
rights of. the Cuban insurgents. The
debate became general and occupied
nearly four hours. In the course of a
reply to the preliminary statement by
Mr.. Allen. Mr.. Morgan (A1a.), said that
this country's relations with Spain at
the present time were seriously strained
and that Intervention by the United
States, which a year ago would have
been inoffensive, would now be almost
cause of war. He expressed the
opinion that the Cuban affair would
eventually be submitted to the arbi-
tratment of the sword between the
United States and Spain, but he did
not want war precipitated by rash acts
of legislation. Mr.. Foraker, of Ohio,
thought the day not far distant when
the time for action by this country
Mr.. Thurston CNeb), counseled calm
ness and prudence, for he believed that
the country was rapidly drifting into
war with Spain.
Mr.. Hoar CAIass) maintained that
the floor of the senate was no proper
place for angry discussions of interna-
IlO4al audATS ana LnaI no senator ought
TO utter anything that might not we'll
be uttered by the president of the
United States.
Mr.. Aliens amendment was finally
ruled out of order, and the appeal from
the ruling taken by the Nebraska sena-
tor was laid on the table by a vote of
81 to 3. Early in the day Mr.. Allen Of
fered e resolution providing for a COM
mittee Of five senators who should go to
Cuba and ascertain the precise situa-
ton on the island. Under the rules it
went over until today.
Both the military academy and the
diplomatic and consular appropriatiOnS
bills were passed.
Respecting the belligerency amend
ment, Mr.. Allen thought a statement
was due to the country. The amend
ment, he said, was practically a copy of
two resolutions which had already
passed the senate. Referring to the
unfaVOrable report presented on the
amendment by the foreign relations
committee Mr.. Allen said it was a con-
fusion, and meant simply that the COM
mittee did not desire to act upon it.
The truth was, he said, that congress
was merely finding some excuse under
which 1t could continue business and es-
cape censure. His desire wa sto find
whether congress could in any way be
induced, cajOled or kicked into putting
the country in a dignif1ed attitude on
the Cuban question.
Taking up the main issue involved he
asserted that he had reliable informa-
ton that no less than 35 per cent of
the Cuban population, or 500 900 people
mad persisted in Cuba within the past
three years as a result of Spanish cru
city.
And YETI said Mr.. Allen, lest we.
the senate, a body of SO men, offend the
house of representatives, consisting of
357 men, a point of order is to be made
against this amendment and it will go
the way of very much valuable 1egis-
latiOn.'
Mr. Teller did not ACCEPT Mr.. Nor
gan's position that the adoption of this
amendment would be a declaration of
war. He had, he said, reached the con-
clusion that the recognition of belliger-
ency rested with the executive He had
reached this conclusion with regret but
still he thought it correct. Still. if the
matter rested with him exclusively he
would recognize the belIigerency of the
Cubans if he knew it would bring war
tomorrow, for he was sure that such
intervention at such a time and in such
a cause would secure for us in such
struggle the sympathy of all civilized
nations
Mr.. Hale in charge of the bill, yielded
to Mr.. Hoar, who said he desired in
Justice to himself and to those who be-
lieved with him, to refute the charges
of coWardice which had been hurled at
those who differed from him by the
senator from Nebraska. (AIIen) He
discussed the situation from the stand
point of an international lawyer. main
tanning that the recognition of belli-
gerency in ordinary circumstances was
not a cause of war. 1t was not neces-
sarily an unfriendly act
Mr.. HOar maintained, however that
before taking any action of that kind
the United states ought to have a, clear
and unquestiOned statements of the
facts in the case He expressed the
opinion that the enactment of a bill
ngerency resolution at the present time
would be productive of war because of
the friction that would be created by
Spain exercising the right of search OF
United States vessels on the high seas
have ALWAYS - said NTr
vOred a resolution proposing media
ton, but if that fails I am in favor of
supporting the executive department
when the time shall come and when the
case is so clear and fragrant that all
constitutional representatives of the
American people substantially agree to
the facts"
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, made a speech
in favor of granting belligerent rights
to the Cubans at once.
Mr.. Hale made the point of order
against the amendment that it was
general legislation, and had under the
rules, no place in the bill. The vice
president sustained the point and Mr..
Allen took an appeal from the ruling.
Mr.. Mason Gid said he could not be
deferred either from sustaining or op-
posing the ruling of the chair by any
over grown reverence he had for the
rules of the senate or of any other al
legged deliberatiVe body, but he said he
desired to appeal to Mr.. Hale to let the
bill go over for a few days in order
that senators might examine into the
rules and authorities bearing upon
them.
Mr.. Bacon CGa.) speaking in support
of teh ruling of the chair, drew from
the galleries an enthusiastic round of
applause, which was quickly suppress
ed, however, by the vice president He
said that one of the greatest causes
ever tried before the nations of the
world was now being tried in Havana
Let US do nothing" said he, that will
in the least way enbarrass those who
are conducting that investigation. The
wreck of the Maine now lies on the