The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-20
minute speeches from the democratic

side on Cuba.
Mr.. Sulzer, democrat of New York,
offered an amendment directing the
president to notify Spain that unless
the W. ceased in 80 days we would
recognize the inoepende-.os or Cuba
and enforce our proposition by force
of arms 1t went the way or its prede-
cessors, but Mr.. Sulzer managed to get
five minutes on a pro forma amend
ment. in the course of which he asked
Mr.. Hit whether the committee on for
eign affairs intended to suppress all
resolutions and bills recognizing the
frightful state of affairs in Cuba.
Mr.. Hit paid no heed to the ques-
tion.
THE gentleman, like his party, does
not answer" exclaimed MIR. Sulzer. Il
refer him to the st. Louis platform"
| democratic laughter and republican
| jeers.)
Mr.. Wilson. democrat of South Caro-
| lima, presented the Cuban question in
still new form in a hope to engraft
| it on the bill 1t provided for
change in the salary of the United
States consul general at Havana, pend
| ing the continuance of the present war.
Mr.. Wilson declared that 1t would be
blot on the name of the house of rep
| resentative if 1T prevented a vote OH
| the question of war in Cuba, blot
| comparable only to that of the law
written in blood and flame; written so
/
Mr.. Hits point of order disposed of
! this last amendment. Mr.. Hit thought
that the spirit of yesterdays agree
ment had been violated, and that the
| general debate should be curtalled
somewhat He asked that the debate
be closed at l o'clock tomorrow, but
| finally agreed to o'clock.
| Mr.. Williams democrat of Mississippi,
/ gave notice that a motion would be
made at the conclusion of the general
debate to recommit the bill. Mr.. Hit
opened the general debate with a brief
| but important statement as to the for
eign relations with Spain and Cuba and
| the course of the administration. The
present executive, he said, had come
| into power year ago. His sentiments
were well known on this floor, and in
| all his public utterances he had shown
his sympathy with any people strug
| Cling to better their condition. Hastily
| he sketched the course of affairs since
| Mr.. McKinley's advent to power Mr..
Hit said the president mad Immediate
| ly demanded the release of the Ameri-
can prisoners in Cuba. In many cases
his demands were complied with. but
| not in all. Then by the hand of an aSsas-
sin, the leader of the policy of stern
| conservative oppression had fallen. His
| successors pursued the same policy un-
til overthrown. When the liberal min
istry came into power the president had
| again pressed for the release of Amer
lean prisoners. The ministry had
yielded and all We're given their free
dom. But the president had gone fur
ther. He had protested with such
emphasis and energy against the bar
barities of the war ana the policy of
concentration that General Weyler had
been recalled in disgrace and the pol
icy OF concentration had been aban
doned Further even than this the
president had gone. He had notified
the Sagasta ministry that the war must
cease and proposals of settlement be
made within a reasonable time. These
representations had been made owing
to the great interest all over the coun-s
try in the struggle in which the Cubans
| were engaged. The presidents repre-
sentations had been listened to by
Spain and the scheme of self-govern-
ment had been issued. Whether it
would be successful. he saio; whether
it was practical ar sincere, many might
doubt. Perhaps il would be a harsh
Judgment now to say it had already
failed. But that it was sincere, even
this had already been made clear. Those
who understood Spain and her machin
| ations far better that we, had passed
judgment, and had already attempted
to destroy the autonomy schme and
to pull down the SagaSta gov
ernment, which had proposed 1t.
The commercial class of Havana, Gu
bans of Spanish birth, had vented their
| threatened the very existence of Ha-
| vana Every act of the president, con-
tinued Mr.. Hit. had shown that spirit
which animated him in his public ut
terances in the past. He had achieved
much in five months; but ne thought it
| unwise for the United States at this
time to recognize the belligerency OF
the insurgents. Mr.. Hit admonished
the members that national action
| must be indicated before the world,
| in, -hnt
do that we are actuated by no vulgar
greed to rob a neighbor or 10 seize the
property of others.
| A declaration OF Deiif5cTncy. he ex-
planned. would allow Spain's warships
to hunt our vessels on the nigh seas. In
| the existing situation good men SYM
pathizing with Cuba's cause were con-
| stantIy making their way to the ISL
andS. Supplies, guns, ammunition
were going from the United States. 1t
was said that every pound of powder
fired for the cause of Cuban freedom
had come from this country. Members
he said might ask why, with all these
advantages in store for them, agents of
the Cuban republic in this city, desired
| belligerent rights.
Il could explain it," said Mr.. Hit.
but | prefer to do so in the words of
one of those 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 Spanish crui
sers begin to stop American steamers,
| ii will not be long before a 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 very just argument for the Cuban. =
| continued Mr.. Hit, but not for an
American. If are to have war. let us
seek it directly. not be forced into it by
| chance"
Mr. Hit spoke OF the Spanish author
ity in Havana as tottering between
armed forces without and tumultous
riot within. but with impressive words
warned the members that the vast
responsibility of action with the mo-
mentous consequences that might en-
sue. rested on the shoulders of the ex-
ecutixe. not the members or congress
who might be making speeches for
public approval