The times., 1898-04-05
CUBA IN THE SENATE.
Mr. Rmvyiins Pleads for DecIarn-
tIon of War.

Surance had been given tnat no message
would come from the President before
! Wednesday, We're not disappointed alto
gether in their eagerness to hear some
thing on the Cuban question.
Speeches were made by Senators Clay.
Perkins. Mantle. and Rawlins. All OF
these gentlemen advocated the complete
independence of Cuba, and declared that
further delay was only sacrificing the
honor of the nation. These speakers
We're cheered by the spectators, who
seemed alert and impatient TO voice their
approval of any action along this line.
An indication of the expectancy pervad-
| ing the galleries was manifest later in the
| day, when the dooTkeeper announced in
his clear tones: "A message from the
President of the United States The
words produced a wave of expressed ex-
citement, which. however soon died out
as nothing was done with the message.
1t was simply routine business, aceOmpa-
MED bv nominations.
Mr.. Pettigrew. Is. d. presented tel
egram from a town of about five hundred
inhabitants in his State, which read: All
people here want torpedo flotilla turned
back or destroyed. Patience exhausted"
Mr.. Gear Qowa) also read a telegram
and asked it to be inserted in the Record.
1t was from the legislature of his State
and indorsed the action of Congress and
| the President on the Cuban question, and
pledged it's support to the Administration.
| A resolution was passed requesting the
Secretary of the Navy to inform the
Senate as TO the total number of lives
lost in the Maine disaster; the total num-
Der rescued, and the total number of
bodies yet uncovered. This resolution
was introduced by Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Turner Washington introduced the
following resolution and asked that it go
over until today:
Resolved. That the Committee on For
| eign Relations of this body be directed
| to report at the earliest possible moment,
and without waiting for the concurrence
| or advice of any department of the Gov
! eInment, what action, If any, in view of
| the loss of the battIeship Maine and the
destruction Of the lives of 266 American
| sailors. and i'll view of the well-knowu de-
plorable condition of affairs in the island
| of Cuba, is required by the Congress of
| the United States TO sustain and vindicate
the honor and dignity of this nation, and
| to meet and answer the obligations OF
humanity imposed on this Government as
the result of the condition of affairs in
said island; and that the said committee
report by bill, resolution or otherwise, as
| it may deem most expedient.
! Mr. Chandler called up the resolution
he had offered last Friday asking for
| information relative to the Cuban ques-
| ton from the Secretary of State and at
| the request of MIR. Davis. Chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, the resoIu-
| ton went over until Wednesday,.
| Like action was taken with reference
| to Mr.. Quay's resolution calling fer
report of the Committee on Foreign Re-
| lations Tuesday.
| Upon the request of Mr.. Lodge 5000
| additional copies of the report OF the
Board of Inquiry were ordered printed.
Mr.. CIay's Position.
Mr.. Clay of Georgia here obtained the
floor and addressed the Senate on the
| Cuban question, basing his remarks. he
said. on the resolution offered by Mr..
| Foraker While Mr.. Clay was earn
estfy desirous of speedy settlement of
| this question. he also was desirous that
/ that settlement should be made peace
fully
He said that while he stood ready to
| support every policy necessary TO MAIN
| tain the honor of the nation, yet if there
was any feasible way to secure a peace
full settlement of this question it should
be pursued
In great crisis like this said he,
I'VE should exercise patience; and so
| long as the executive branch of our
| Government gives US reasonable as
| surance that the proper steps are being
taken, let US uphold our President and
give him our support.
This nation has been on the verge of
war for many weeks, and it is the part
I of good craftsmanship to use every hon
I orable means TO avert it.
Mr. Clay asserted that the independ-
ence of Cuba was an absolute necessity.
That il was our Christian duty to inter-
fere. He quoted many writer's on inter
national law, who have asserted this poll
| icy.
If the statesmen of Spain would view
the situation in its true light they could
not, Mr.. Clay said fail to reach this
! conclusion.
Now. what is the duty of our Govern
| ment?'' he asked. Our first duty is TO
| protect our own people. and keep them
| from war, if possible. Coming. as l do,
from the South. realize that that part
| OF the country would be the greatest
| sufferers in case Of a war with Spain.
Il shall not vote to involve this country
into war if We can avoid it l shall vote
| to recognize the independence of Cuba
and if Spain accepts that as declaration
4, of war. We will meet the issue
| If war did come, there would be one
| satisfaction, said Mr. Clay, and that was
| that it would forever end Spanish con-
! troll on this hemisphere The senator re-
| viewed the present condition of the Gu
| bans and the causes leading up to it The
| situation there. he said. ought 10 appaH
| the civilized people of the world. One
| thing was sure. the Spanish troops would
never be able to whip the insurgents and
the only way Spain could ever hope to re-
gain control of the islands was to exter-
inmate the Cubans completely. II was to
the interest of Spain as we'll as the
United States to have the present con-
dition of affairs settled as quickly as pos
sible and as peaceably as possible The
only way to do this was to give the ISL
ands independence and let the Cubans
work out the question of government for
themselves.
Mr. Perkins followed Mr.. Clay. saying
he desired to explain his position in this
matter The history of the United
States, he declared is the history of a
nation. Its foundation is the broad prin-
ciple of liberty which it demands for it
self. and cheerfully comedies to others
Ii marks our intercourse as a nation
with the world. We have ever been pa
tient and slow 70 wrath seeking the
right rather than the advantage reaIiz-
ing thai only in the former can lie the
victory.
Mr. Mantle then spoke in favor of i'm
mediate action in the Cuban question
He said that the sympathy and indigna-
ton of this nation was today aroused as
it had not been for a third of a century.
That the verdict of every patriotic Ameri-
can was that the time for diplomatic re-
lat h11 mas sod IL