The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-04-21
TALK IN THE SENATE.
CUBA'S FREEDOM THE SUBJECT
OF A HOT DEBATE.
Some Plead for Peace, While Others
Urge Vengeance on Spain, and De-
clare 1t Is Time to End the Conflict
on the Island.
Proceedings in Upper House.

tives Wednesday i'll adopting its declara-
ton upon the Hispano- American situa-
ton, made the Senate Thursday the storm
center of the war elements. The galleries
were packed and thousands were turned
away. BY unanimous consent, at the
request of Senator Davis, chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee, the res
olution as reported by the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee was laid before the Sen
ate and debate began.
The debate was not particularly inter
esting, although. there were some spicy
dialogues and two or three dramatic
scenes. An attack was made upon the
President by MIR. Turner of Washington,
which was very bitter in tone. He de-
scribed the policy of Mr.. Mckinley Oh the
Cuban question as ''etfervescent and iri-
descent promises accompanied by mys-
| terious reserve that was awe inspiring.
| During the progress of the debate there
was large attendance and number OF
chairs were brought in to accommodate
| u number of Representatives who came TO
hear the speeches.
Senator Uoar replied to Mr.. Turner.
He spoke i'll Il low tone of voice, with
great earncstness and solcmnity, and ev-
cry word he uttered WAS distinctly heard
| by every person in the chamber. Mr..
| Hoar recited many incidents i'll our earlier
history that bear directly upon the pres
ent situation, and urged the Senate TO
practice that self-restraint which Is more
sublime than to yield to tempest of ex-
citement and Indignation" No one felt
more deeply the awful horrors of the
Maine, no one was more jealous of the
| national honor than he, no one feared war
less; but he pleaded with his colleagues
not to plunge the country into hOstlities
without being certain they were on the
| right side. He defended the President
with eloquent zeal.
Senator Gray, Democrat, made all
earnest speech in defense of a Republican
President. Senator Fairbanks of Indiana
also spoke. The Cuban resolutions, how
ever, were not party question in the
Senate. Both the Republicans and the
Democrats were very sharply divided.
Among the most earnest supporters of the
President were Messrs. Caffery, Faulk-
ner, German, Gray and other Democrats,
while the most radical sympathizers of
the insurgents were found on the Republi-
can side-Messrs. Chandler, Thurston,
| Proctor, Orakrr ana Mason.
| During Senator Fairbanks speech Mr..
| Davis, the chairman of that committee,
made repeated efforts to reach an agree
ment for an adjournment, and after Sen
ator Fairbanks had concluded Senator
Davis moved that the Senate adjourn un-
til 10 O'Clock Friday, and upon that mo-
ton the test of the strength of forces
came. The roll call sho"sd it to be de-
feated by two majority, the vote being ~
i'll the negative and 80 in the affirmative.
Senator Cullom took the floor, but yield
ed to Mr.. Davis to renew his efforts TO
reach an understanding limiting debate.
| This precipitated 4 scene. The Senators
forgot their dignity, and proceeded in an
informal way to discuss the proposition.
| They crowded in the main aisle i'll front of
| the Vice President in heated discussion,
and for a while it was feared the disgrace
full scenes in the House Wednesday would
be repeated. Mr.. Cockrell pleaded with
| Mr.. Davis for a motion to adjourn, leay-
ing the Senate to set an hour for the final
vote ut Fridays session. Senator Carter
opposed deliberation and demanded ac-
ton. He said twenty-three Senators had
announced their intention to make
speeches, and yet every one knew not a
vote ON the floor would be changed should
the debate continue for week. He was
literally applauded, and when the gal
leries were censured by the Vice-Presi
dent Senator Pettus of Alabama took vi
their defense and claimed they voiced the
sentiment of the American people. The
applause, he said, commenced on the floor
and Mr.. Mason, with apparent satisfac-
L. tl, h.
One of the great speeches of the day
was delivered late in the afternoon by
David Turpie, Democratic Senator from
Indiana, who is generally regarded as one
Of the ablest lawyers in the United States
Mr. Turpie, in speech of less than thirty
minutes, attempted to demonstrate thai
if this Government interviewed i'll the Gu
ban situation without first recognizing
the independence of the insurgent repub
lie it would thereby become liable for III,
Spanish Cuban war debt, amounting t,
about S400, 100000.
After Il six-hour session the Senate ad
journed with the Cuban question unset
tied, and no arrangement made for tax
ing vote.
| War Speech by Cu1IOm.
| Inc senate met 1T ~ ciOch rluay
and it was announced that an adjourn
;:Ient would not be taken until Il vote hat
been rea ched on the Cuban question. De
spite the lowering clouds which threat
ened to po.r out their suspended torrents
at any moment, and despite, too, the un
usually early hour of convention, the gal
leries were thronged when the Vice-Presi
dents gayel fell. At the suggestion o
Mr.. Davis the ordinary morning business
was set aside and the Foreign Relation
Committee Cuban resolutions were lai,
before the Senate.
Senator Cullom of Illinois was the frs
speaker. In referring to Spains appea
to the European powers he said:
Spain i'll her appeal to the European
powers, appealed to the divine right o
kings but America appeals to the divin
right of the people. We propose to d
our duty to God and humanity, to libert
and ourselves, by saying to Spain: 'Hol
your hand; you shall not outrage libert
and humanity in Cuba any longer" Th
speaker also said the hour for action wa
about to strike, and that it was the dut
of the Senate TO face the crisis boldly an
Loyalty. And if Spain shall see prope
| to resent our acllOn WHeH we tell ner
withdraw, we shall not hesitate to tax
up the gauntlet and appeal to the god o
battles and to the judgment of mankin
to justify our cause" concluded Mr.. Gu
lom.
Mr. Berry of Arkansas was the mex
speaker He said great responsibilit
rested upon the President, and while
should be supported in this crisis the Ser
ator himself believed the Senate shoul
go further and pass a resolution recol
nizing the independence of Cuba. Th
language should be so plain, he said. tina
no one could fail to understand its NEAR
ing The whole world Il week ago belieN
ed this Government would take such
step. The belief had since been sprea
that we intend to put upon the Cubans oil
legations they could rot and would not a:
sumo Mr. Berry said that after he hear
Senator Proctor's speech on Cuba, b
Berry remarked to Mr.. Vest of Mi
souri,: That speech means war" NJ
Berry added that the Proctor speec