The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-20
declared Mr.. Hepburn, who directed the
clerk to proceed with the reading of the

| Can it be possible that we have reached
| the point where this side of the House can
: not appeal from the decision of the chair?"
| he called.
| Mr.. Hepburn directed Mr.. Terry to take
| his seat, and the clerk droned on with the
reading. Mr. Lewis fousid parliamentary
| way Of discussing his amendment, however,
| by moving pro forma amendment to strike
! The reading of the bill went on inter-
| rupted every few minutes by fve-minute
! speeches from the Democratic side on Cuba
| SULZER BURNING FOR WAR.
M. Sulzer Dem. N. Y) offered an
amendment directing the President to notify
Spain that unless the war ceased in thirty
days we would recognize the independence
of Cuba and enforce our position by force
of arms 1t went the way of its predecessors,
but Mr.. Sulzer managed to get five min
utes on a pro forma amendment, in the
course of which he asked Mr.. Hit whether
| the committee on foreign affairs intended to
! suppress all resolutions and bills recogniz-
! ing the frightful state of affairs in Cuba.
Mr.. Hit paid no heed TO the question. THE
! gentleman like his party, fails to answer
! exclaimed Mr. Sulzer. Il refer him to the
| St. Louis platform. Democratic laughter
| and Republican jeers)
| Michigan politics were injected into the
proceedings at this point by a controversy
| between Messrs Brucker (Dem.) and Bishop
| (Repo, of that State. The former read some
remarks of Governor Pingree from this
|
affairs in the Republican party. Mr.. Bishop
| asked if Mr.. Brucker stood sponsor for Gov
| ernor Pingrees sentiments. to which the
| latter replied that the Republican party
I'VE -repudiate him. said Mr. Bishop.
IF l helped to elect Governor on a
Democratic platform | should stand by
him. said Mr.. Brucker.
I'VE did stand by Governor Pingree until
| he ceased to be a Republican Did you
stand by Grover CIeveland?" Gaughter)
Il did, F." replied Mr.. Brucker, until he be-
came dominated by the same Republican
| methods Governor Pingree denounces.
| Republican jeers)
Mr.. Wilson (Dem.. s. CD presented the
Cuban question in still a new form in the
| hope to ingraft it on the bill 1t provided
for a change in the salary of the United
| States consul general at Havana pending
| the continuance of the present war. Mr..
| Wilson declared that it would be blot on
| the name of the House of Representatives
if it prevented a vote on the question of
war in Cuba--a blot comparable only to that
of the law written in blood and of the law
written so high that it could not be, read.
Mr.. Hits point of order disposed of this
last amendment Mr.. Hit thought the
spirit of yesterdays agreement had been
violated and that the general debate should
be curtaied somewhat. He asked that the
debate be closed at ] o'clock tomorrow, but
finally agreed to O'Clock.
MIR. Williams Dem; Miss( gave, notice
that motion would be made at the con-
clusion of the general debate to recommit
the bill.
Mr. Hit opened the general debate by
foreign relations with Spain and Cuba and
the course of the administration The pres
ent executive, he said, mad come into power
q year ago. His sentiments We're Well
known On this floor and in all public ut
tcrances he had shown his sympathy with
any people struggling to better their condi-
ton. Hastily he sketched the course of af-
fairs since Mr. McKinleys advent into
power. Mr.. Hit said the President had i'm
mediatey demanded the release of the
American prisoners in Cuba. In many
cases his demand was complied with but
a
sin, the leader of the policy of stern con-
servative oppression had fallen. His sue
cesSor pursued the same policy until over
thrown. When the Liberal Ministry came
in the President had again pressed for the
release of the American prisoners. The
Ministry yielded at last and all had been
given their freedom But the President had
gone further: He had protested with such
emphasis and energy against the barbartie S
Of the war and the policy of concentration
that General Weyler had been recalled in
disgrace and the po9ey of concentration
had been abandoned.
THE PRESIDENTS ULTIMATUM.
Further even than this the President had
gone. He had notified the Sagasta Minis
try that the war must cease and proposals
of settlement made within a reasonable
time These representations had been made
owing to the great interest all over the
country in the struggle the Cubans were
making. The Presidents representations
had been listened to by SPAIN said Mr.
Hit, and the scheme of seff-government,
modelled on that of Canada had been is
sued. Whether it would be successful, said
he, whether it was practical or sincere
many might doubt Perhaps it would be a
harsh judgment now to say it had already
failed. Those who understood Spain and
her Vaccinations far better than we had
passed judgment and had already attempt
ed to destroy the autonomy scheme and to
pull down the Sagasta government, which
had proposed 1t. The commercial class in
Havana, Cubans of Spanish birth had vent
ed their rage in riot and turbulence. They
had threatened the very existence of Ha-
Vana.
Every act of the President, continued Mr.
Hit, had shown that the spirit which ami
mated him in his public utterances in the
past had achieved much in a few months,
but he said that he thought it unwise for
the belligerency of the insurgents. Mr. Hit
admonished the members that a national
action must be vindicated before the world,
ana that we must prove in what we do
that actuated by no vulgar greed
to rob a neighbor or to seize property of
others A declaration of belligerency, he
explained, would allow Spain's war ships to
hunt our vessels on the high seas
In the existing situation good men, sym
pathizng with Cubas cause, were constant
| ly making their way to the islands. Sup
plies guns and ammunition were going
from the United States it was said that
every pound of powder fired in the cause
of Cuba's freedom had come from this
country. Members, he said, might ask why,
with all these disadvantages in store for
them, the agents of the Cuban republic in
this city desired belligerent rights Il could
explain it. said Mr.. Hit, but / prefer to
do in the words of one of these agents
to me- We know said this gentleman,
that we have much to lose in the matter
of supplies, but we also know that If Span
| ish cruisers begin TO stop American skip
| pers it will not be long before hasty shot
| is fired. With that shot public opinion in
| Spain and the United States will plunge
| those countries into war; then our battle
! will be over That, perhaps, is a very just
argument for the Cubans,' continued Mr..
Hit, but not for an American If we are
to have war, let us face it directly, not be
| forced into it by chance
| Mr.. Hit spoke of the Spanish authority
| in Havana as tottering between armed
| forces without and tumultuous riot within
but, with impressive words, warned the
| members that the vast responsibility Of ac-
tion, with the momentous consequences that
| might ensue, rested on the shoulders of the
executive, not members of Congress-
| who might be making speeches for popular
! approval. Let us remember" said he
| and that if the ship of state is near the
| rapids we should be patient and ready to
| support him if he takes the step which the
| honor and the interests of our country may
| demand
URGED TO SUPPORT M'KINLEY
He referred to Genera! Lee as an officer
Of ability and experience who could be re-
lied on TO guard zealously our honor at
Havana, and concluded with an eloquent ap-
peal to the members of the House. though
they might have had differences, to drown
all other voices they did in the Vene-
zuelan crisis and stand by the President and