The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-28
Mr.. BUFFERS
''' SPEECH
In Support Of His Resolution to
Make Reparation for the
Maine Disaster.
CUBA MUST BE FREE

a Cuban Republic Mu.t be Established Ia
stand rs - Monument Ia the Preacher
ousIy Murdered H~ro.. of the Maine
TIL. Con.un,u alton andthe Expulsion Of
the spanish flag Prom the We.tsrs
uemi.pher. tn. Only sumeient K~para-
,ion for the Destruction Of our Battle
ship.
Mr.. Butler. Mr.. Preside NJ, l do
not desire 10 enter into discussion
Of the Cuban situation aud the Pres
ideut's message to-day. ] prefer to
wait until to-morrow, when the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, it Is to
be hoped, will bring in it's report but
it is probably well that We should
have some sort OF an understanding
now.
belong to what is called the op-
position on this fl ,or. SO far we
have stood by the President and up.
held his hands as loyalty as any Re-
publican on the Il jor or AZ any MEM
Der OF his Cabinet. When l asked
for $50, 200, 900 to defend the nation
nj honor, there were none in Con-
gress who voted that appropriation
more heartily and joined more fully
IN expressing unlimited confidence.
approval and support of the Presi-
dent than did the POpulists, Silver
Republicans anG Democrats.
Mr.. President, for one cast that
vote with as much pleasure as any
that / ever cast. lam ready to con-
tinue to uphold the hands Of the Ad-
ministration as long as can do so
and represent the sentiments of my
people and respect myself. But in
asmuch as the President Of the Uni
ted States has not upheld the nation
al honor and has sent in message
which cannot have the approval,
am sorry to say, of the Peoples par
ty, and which has not the united sup
port of his own party, l rise to say
that I sincerely trust that the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, in an
hour like this, when our national
honor is at stake and when humanity
and liberty are hanging ir the bal
ance, may be able to bring in q reso-
luton that we can stand and vote fol-
uuitedly and unanimously as we did
upon the appropriation Of $50, 0O0,.
900 to be placed in the Presidetn &
hands to vindicate and defend the ma
tional honor.
Mr.. President, have heard it in.
timated that there were some mem
bers of the opposition, probably re-
ferring to either Democrats, Silver
Republicans or Populists, who nigh
find some pleasure and some politi
cal satisfaction il the Administration
should fail to measure up to wha
American manhood and patriotism
and national honor demand. l d.
not believe that there is any such sen
timent harbored by any man on thi
floor or In the other branch of Con
gress who belongs to the opposition
l for one repudiate such sugges
ton. II there is anyone, though
who for political advantage could TO
. moment take pleasure in seems
the Administration take such ,
course as would bring humiliation
upon our nation, such course q
would be condemned at the polls b,
an indignant and outraged Ameri
can people, then have no more re
spect for that person than have TO
the stock jobbers and bond shylock
who like vultures have been hanginl
around the White House, and VIII
are trying to put their fingers int
this grave situation and make mer
chandlse out of the bones of our mur
dered sailors and the furnished hon
or Of the nation.
The Senator from Illinois, [Mr. Ma
son] entertained and instructed q
by quoting some most important pre-
cedents. But, Mr.. President, we ar
dealing with a situation that is un
precedented. The history of the worl
so far has not been blackened by
crime that parallels the crime of Fet
18th in Havana harbor. 1t was q
unparalleled crime in blackness, VII
lainy, and treachery. Every clvi
lied nation and all Christian peopl
would be bound to uphold our hand
and approve our conduct If we wer
to use our army and navy to driv
every Spanish vessel from the sea an
lay waste her towns and cities (
avenge that most foul crime.
We have q chance, however, I
force atonement for that crime on
plane higher than justifiable r,
venge. We have an opportunity
avenge it in the interest of human
ity and liberty. II there were n
Cuba, IL Weyler and the cruel Spar
ish soldiers had never desecrate
and polluted the soil of that unhav
Ply island, this country could M
face the world and maintain its sci
respect without avepging such
crime as the destruction of the Main
and the murder of our sailors. "
here We have q message from on
Chief Executive, whom we woul
like to follow and support il he ha
the courage to lead, who refers [
this most dastardly and lnfamor
crime against our nation Is trifin
incident, who makes no recomm enc
alton about it, but suggests tn.
Spain has suggested that We migl
be able to arbitrate it at some tin
in the future. 1t is sickening; it
humiliatins!
Mr.. President, am for avengin
the Maine, and would be for aven,
ing 1t IL Cuba did not enter into II
question. But Cuba is o fellow-su
ferer with rs. She is being lavishe
and pillaged by the same DEVILS
cruelty and treachery that blew q
the Maine and murdered cur sailor
therefore let us rise to the plar
that the people of the world shout
expect . great republic to rise to Q
such an occasion, and not avene
the Maine by conquest, not by dc
msnding indemnity or laying vast
her towns .and cities for rsveng
but let rs in dignified way, thong
in language that cannot be misu,