The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-30

opened to feed our people. Definite plans
were not even suggested by the Prcsi-
dent, fearing TO injurc our rotations
with Spain. Spain could not conquer
her own Insurgents. Had we been n
grasping nation VIC could any time
within two years have made aggressive
and forciblc annexation, taking advant-
age OF the crimes OF Spain and the
misfortune OF Cuba. ~
THE night came on, q dark, q gloomy
night natural and proper time for
Spanish bravery, Our men were asleep
In a friendly harbor they were never
challenged 10 try their courage. They
were not whipped in honorable battle,
but choked. burned stranglcd and
drowned. without n chance 10 dic fight
Ing for life, without moment to say q
prayer. In the twinkiing OF an eye
they stood IN the presence OF their nln-
ker. Suppose ninety OF them had been
United States senators, suppose the
balance had been members of Congress
or made up OF Judges and leading pro-
fessional and business men, would forty
days have elapsed before war began, or
suppose each senator had q son or q
fathcr there? Do we tell our children
tho truth when we say that the life OF
every American citizen Is OF equal value
before tho law? They were not ssna-
tors; they were sailors. Their widows
and orphans cry aloud to us: the silent
appeal OF us seamcn comes to US again
and again, saying we are flesh OF your
flesh, bone OF your bone, and blood OF
your blood: we loved, and died for the
flag that shields you. What Is TO tbe
our answer: shall We answer with
money? {.rs5
"Mr. President. speak only. for my
self. and am for war. applause in
the galler!es).
"But gentlemen may say: Don't say
you are for war-say that you are for
armed intervention which means war;
II believe in calling things by their
right name. II we believe that mur-
derlng our men. sinking our ship and
lowering our flag Is not cause for war,
say 80, and refer Il, as they did the
ylrginius affair, and allow our brothers
to be sold like stock for gold II 1t IS a
sponslbllity put upon us by the con-
but to the whole world. Let US not
say one thing and mean another. For
Cots sake let us not Spanishize our
diplomacy, but rather speak the truth
and prove ourselves true disciples OF
James G. Blaine.
I've can hide no longer under the ex-
ecutlve wing. We can either declare
war or refuse Il. Congress alone can
declare war. for one am ready to vote
now. You may continue to cry peace.
peace, but there can be no peace while
Europeans own and butcher their slaves
on the same continent where our flag
floats. But there are those WHO say
that the court does not fx the respon-
sIbillty. It was not necessary: the
peace at any price men cannot escape
So The law fixes the responsibility.
We were in Spanish waters and over
Spanish soil. The harbor is owned by
Spain. The explosives in that harbor
were owned and controlled by Spain.
II it was 4 torpedo 1t was q Spanish
torpedo; II it was mine, 1t was Span
ish mine, no explosives have been on
sale In Havana for over 4 year to pri-
vate citizens; if 1t was gun cotton It
was Spanish gun cotton, and II 1t was
dynamite, 1t was Spanish dynamite.
The power to explode 1t was controlled
by Spain. A government acts only
through its agents and officers as much
as they controlled tho discharge OF their
cannon. It was owned. located and ex-
ploded by Spain and Spain must an
swer. E
shall oppose any plan to assist Spain
to place any kind OF autonomy on Gu
ba. Spain cannot be trusted to keep
her promise, and we cannot undertake
TO compel her 20. Aside from that poor
Cuba has paid larger price for liberty
than we did, and she must be free. T
shall oppose any plan that looks to
forcing Cuba In the future to pay Spain
in cash for her liberty. Her land Is full
Of graves and her future generations
must not be mortgaged.
It Is claimed BIZ some that Cuba
ought to be willing to pay SPANS Gu
ban war debt. Cuba to pay for the
powder and lead that killed her people;
to pay for the torches that burned her
homes! To pay the back wages OF the
Spanish soldiers who rarished their
wives and daughters! Never, by any
vote Of mine!
Some tell US we must wait for Span
ish elections. II her elections are as
rotten US her dlplomacies, We cannot
wait. II .s claimed that II we will wait
until the Spanish elections, Sagasta will
give all concessions. Are we TO be fool
ed twice with the same trick? Is De
Lone so soon forgotten? Some tell US
We are not prepared. When shall we be
better prepared? VIII It be when the
Spanish 1otIlla has crossed the water
and rests complacently on her base OF
supplies within five or six hours dis
tance OF onr feet? We know now Off
cially, what we have believed for forty
days. Shall we wait until she can de-
stroy more OF opr ships and men2 God
forbid that such a crime should be
charged to us. Let US awake! Shake
or the Chinese narcotic, that lures US
in drowsY insolence, murmuring,
Peace at any price: awake as our
forefathers did at Concord and Bunker
Hill; awake to glorious war against
nation that burns homes and murders
women and children, awake to glorious
war that seeks no gain for US In treas
ury or. territory, but war to drive the
oppressor from the continent, TO set the
Cuban flag In the sky forever, and q
war that will help us for generations to
come, by giving notice that the honor
OF our flag and the lives of our citizens
must be respected by the nations Of the
world! tApplause).
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Nothing or.n Dramatic or Startling Ma.
turn Trsnspires Yesterday.
WASHINGTON. March % = Thu