The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11

war are being shot and it is evident
that no rule Of civilized warfare is be-
ing observed. The conflict has devel-
oped into mere matter Of murder on
both sides-prisoners of war being shot
or macheted without trial.
He referred briefly to the trip made
by Captain General Blanco through the
island, riding as he did ride, in an
armored car under a heavy escort of
Spanish troops. Thus he went de-
clared Senator Mason, leaving men,
women and children to starve, while
the funds which were placed in his
hands to relieve the distress of the re-
concentrates and pacificoes were being
used to appeal as ibrIbes to the Cuban
leaders with itching palms. Now that
the Spanish forces have refused open
battle, the only hope OF Spain is to
overcome the Cuban leaders by bribes.''
Senator Mason read letter from an
American woman who is q mother su-
perior in a convent in Havana to a
friend in this country, picturing the
condition of affairs there. THE war;"
she said, 'has destroyed the country,
but while it has made many poor it
has made others rich" Continuing,
she said: "Weyler has succeeded in
killing hundreds of thousands by his
policy of concentration"
While these men and women were
starving, the senator said, the bucket
shops send us price lists. These stock
jobbers tell US that war is hell All
right! In Cuba, it is worse than hell.
Dante pictured with unrivaled pen the
horrors Of hell, but he was incapable
of depicting the terrors of life of one
of the concentradoes The republican
party has promised to put a stop to
this condition OF affairs and no one
man has right to interdict this res
olution, let him sit in the White house
or elsewhere"
Senator Mason declared that not
withstanding the st. Louis platform
nothing had been done-"nothing"- he
said, except to pass belligerency res
olution in the senate and" he added,
amidst general laughter, referring
evidently to Speaker Reed, at is not
certain whether HE will pass it on the
other rside."
Senator Mason declared Spain was
Jealous of our nearness to Cuba and
expressed the opinion that there was
an effort in Spain to force this country
to buy Cuba; that Spain was without
honor, without cash and without
credit. I'VE do not want the island,
but if necessary to save the women
and children of the island, let US, for
Gods sake, buy Them" said Senator
Mason. He declared that the autonomy
which Spain had offered to Cuba was
a gold brick which Spain was trying
to work off on the president. He de-
clared that President Mckinley was
being imposed upon until the Spanish
authorities had time to murder and
bride yet few more of those to whom
local government had been prom
Used. ''And YETI said he, 1--WE are told
to be patient. Oh! Lord, how long?
n
tion of this dreadful struggle. Are there
not now enough graves in Cuba?'
In conclusion, Senator Mason said:
'fMr. President. if there is to be war;
let it be a war not of our seeking, not
q war in which cur soldiers shall carry
torches in their hands, but let it be a
war either in defense Of cur country
or DE in defense of the imperishable
jewels of humanity, jewels more sacred
than life, war of glory and of hon
orr
On motion of Senator Hale, the res
olution was referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
Senator Morgan introduced a reSOlu-
ton requesting the president to send
to the senate copies of reports made
by the consul general of the United
States at Havana and other consuls of
the United States in Cuba relating to
since the 4th of March last, and also
requesting the president to inform the
senate ''Whet ether any agent of a gov
ernment in Cuba has been accredited
to the government or to the president
of the United States. with authority
to negotiate a treaty of reciprocity with
the United States or any other dip
lOmatic or commercial agreement with
the United States; and whether such
the representative of such government
in Cuba
The resolution was allowed to lie on
the table and at O'clock p. m. the
senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The republican majority was increas-
ed today from forty nine to fifty, when
the house by a vote of 143 to III IN
seated Mr.. Plowman, democrat, of Ala
,bama, and gave the seat to Mr.. AL
drich, republican. This was the first
contested election case decided by the
present house against the sitting men,
ber
Previous to the reOpening of the de-.
bate a special deficiency appropriation
bill was passed. carrying 100000 for
the payment of jurors fees in the Uni
ted States courts. and S115,O0O for wit
ness fees.
Mr. Sulzer. democrat, of New York,
attempted to secure recognition for the
introduction in open house of a reso-
tuition which, after reciting the con-
tents of a letter alleged TO have been
written by Senior Dupuy de LONE, the
Spanish minister. to Don Jose Canale-
Jas editor of Ell Heraldo OF Madrid
(Which letter was published this morn
ing) and after alleging that said letter
was an insult to this country, declar-
ed it to be the sense of the house that
the Spanish minister 'tbe given his
passports and sent home in disgrace
He was cut off by a demand for the
regular order.
The debate on the contested election
case was short. During the course of
it, Mr.. Linney. republican. OF North
Carolina, said the negroes in the south
were steadfast in their loyalty to the
republican ticket. '.AS we'll expect to
be able to shoot off the horns of the
n ter he