The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-10
BUTCHERY SHOULD BE STOPPED.
eeeeses s.essssssssssssss

Eyes, and in some provinces the per cent
is one In two" answered Mir. aaron. He
said he would establish his statements bv
the letters of MIR. Pepper, nian OF reoog-
nEscd statements.
Mr.. Hale nterposcd that II the state
ments of newspaper correspondents were
TO be considered. then both Vows might be
given and the statement OF Mr.. Wrigntmaii.
another newspaper correspondent. should
be placed alongside of Mr. Peppers.
Mr.. Mason proceeded to read the state
menls OF CORE respondents as TO the famine
and distress in Cuba.
He called attention to the fact that Mr.
Peppers startling statements had been
written since the mild hammered Rlapco
had assumed control IN Cuba and had at
tempted to bribe the insurgents into peace
1.-The insurgents whom he was afraid to
fight
He referred to the statements Of Mr..
Hale that the government had not Inter-
fcred In the ten years war but he urged
that the situation both IN this country and
In Europe was materially changed slnce
then. Our own country, he said. was III
the throos Of reconstruction at tho time,
and was In no position to intervene ia that
war; Now our position is different, and
back Of IL all was the demand Of our peo-
ple that we take of the island Infinite cog
nlzance ofpthe war In Cuba This he dis.
cnssed from the point OF an irtcrnational
law. Referring to the duty of the United
States, Senator Mason said:
This government ought to maintain
that the horrible nassacres which are
now so common in the island OF Cuba, and
conducted under tho guisc of warfare,
must be stopped. We have no right rs u
neutral nation, fully regardful of the rights
Of all tn loiS unnn such warfare as with
in any reasonable construction OF interna-
tlonai law. The flag of truce has been
abandoned, prisoners of war are being shot.
and 1t Is evident that no rule of Civilized
warfare is being observed. The conflict
has developed into mere matter OF murder
on both Sides prisoners of war being shot
or machoted without trial"
Mr.. Mason described the recent killing
OF the Cuban general, AranGuen, giving all
the shocking accounts of that execution.
He declared this was not civilized warfare.
and he held that the government OF tho
United States had ample authority TO !ntt.-
fere and demand that the rules of warfare
recognized by civilized nations be respect
ed. He referred briefly to the trip made
by Captain General Blanco through the is
land, riding as he did in an arInorcd car
under a heavy escort Of Spanish troops.
Thus he went" declared Mr.. Mason,
leaving men, women and children to
starye while the funds which were plucod
In his hands 20 relieve the distress OF the
reconcentrados and pacificos were being
used to appeal as brides to the Cuban lead
ers with itching palms."
Mr. Mason then read q letter purporting
to he tac answer OF Gomez to General
Rlanco's offer of absolute pardon and en-
able Gomez 10 leave the island in sifety.
Think of this grand old soldier. brave as
he is, shouted MIR. Mason, fighting Tor a
country he loved, fighting In storm and
misunderstanding, too, with the knowledge
that his own son had been sacrificed 10 the
cause
Now that the Spanish forces have TO-
fused open battle,'' said Mr.. Mason. the
only hope OF Spain Is to overcome the Gu
ban leaders by bribery"
Reyerting again to the discussion bearing
on international law, Mr. Mason said that
Uncle Sam was, in effect policeman,
whose duty it was to exercise his power to
prevent bloodshed upon the fair island.
Should the president take such action"
declared Mr.. Mason, he would, as has been
the case In every other crisis Of our coun-
try. have behind him the army and navy.
and, above all. the people,
Mr. Mason read letter from an Ameri-
can woman. who is mbrher superior in the
convent in Havana to friend in this coun-
try picturing the condition of affairs
there.
The war;" she said, has destroyed the
country. but while ii has made many poor
1t has made others rich"
Continuing. she said Weyler had succeed
ed in killing thousands by his policy of
concentration. There could. he said be no
Ncarious atonements for sucn crime. and
the law Of compensation would demand
punishment for the crimes here inflicted.
While these mon and women were starving,
the senator said, the bucket shops send us
price lists.
"As for me-" he exclaimed. II can rot
give attention TO pork prices in Illinois 20
long as this condition of affairs continue;
In Cuba. Those stock jobbers tell US that
war Is nell All right. In Cuba 1t is worse
than hell
Dante he said. pictured with UNI
rivaled pen the horrors of hell, but was in