The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-27

cases his demands were complied with,
but not in all. Then, by the hand Of an
assassin, the leader of the policy of stern
oppression had fallen.' His successors
thrown. When the liberal ministry came
in the president had again pressed for
the release of the American prisoners.
I The ministry yielded at last and all had
| been given their freedom. But the pres
! ident had gone further. He had pro-
tested with such emphasis and energy
! against the barbarities of the war and
| the policy of concentration that Gen.
| Weyler had been recalled i'll disgrace
and the policy of concentration had begn
| abandoned. Further even than this Che
president had gone He had notified the
/ Sagasta ministry that the war must
! cease and proposals of settlement made
! within a reasonable time. These repre-
sensations 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 self-government modelled
| on that of Canada had been issued.
! Whether il would be successful, said
he, whether practical or sincere, many
might doubt. PeRhaps it would be a
harsh judgment now, to say it had al
ready failed. But that it was sincere,
who understood Spain and her machina-
tons far better than we, had passed
Judgment and had already attempted to
destroy the autonomy scheme and to pull
down the Sagasta government which had
proposed it. The commercial class in
| Havana, Cubans Of Spanish birth, had
| ventad their rage in riot and turbulence.
| Thy had threatened the very existence
" Havana.
Every act of the president, continued
Mr. Hit, had shown the spirit which ami
mated him in his public utterances in
the past. He had achieved much in Il
few months, but he said he thought it
unwise for the United States at this
time to recognize the belligerency of the
insurgents.
AIr. Hit admonished the members that
Il nations action must be indicated be-
fore the world
A declaration of beligerency, he ex-
planned, would allow SPANS warships to
hunt our vessels on the high seas. In
the existing situation, good men sympa-
thizing with Cuba's cause were constantly
making their way to the island. Supplies,
guns and ammunition were going from
the United States.
1t was said that every pound of pow
der used in the cause of Cuba's freedom
had come from this country. Members,
he said might ask why, with all these
advantages in store for them, the agents
of the Cuban republic in this city desired
belligerent rights.
II could explain it," said Mr.. Hit,
"but | prefer to do so in the words of
one of these agents We know said
this gentleman, that we have much to
lose in the matter of supplies, but we
also know that if Spanish cruisers began
to stop American shippers it will not be
long before hasty shot is fired. With
that shot. public opinion in Spain and
the United States will plunge these coun-
tries into war; then our battle will be
over That, perhaps, is very just ar
gument 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 author
ity in Havana as tottering between
forces without and tumutuous riots with
in, but with impressive words warned
the members that the vast responsibility
of action wiAh the momentous conse-
quences that might ensue, rested on the
shoulders of the executive, not on men,
beers of congress who might be making
speeches for popular approval. I
"Let us remember" said he, that we
have faithful pilot at the helm. and |
if the ship of state is near the rapids we |
should be patient and ready to support |
him If he takes the steps which the honor |
and interests of our country may de-
mand."
lie referred to Gen. Lee as an officer
of ability and experience who could be
relied upon to guard jealousy our honor
mt Havana and concluded with an elo-
luent appeal to the members of the
house, though they might have differ
nnces, to drown all other voices as they !
did in the Venezuelan crisis and stand by
the president and the country. While
he could not prophecy as to the future,
he solemnly assured the house that the
president would not disappOint the eX-
pectations of his countrymen.
Throughout Mr.. Hits speech he was
listened to with the closest attention;
thronged galleries leaned over to catch
MS words. AS he concluded roar of
approval swept the floor and the gal
cries.
Mr.. Dinsmore (dem.) of Arkansas of
he foreign affairs committee declared
hat the time had come for giving the
Jubans the recognition they had so long
sought. He arraigned Mr.. Hit and the
republican side for alleged inconsistency,
,iting the Cuban policy under the Cleve,
and administration, and then branched
,ff to tariff, civil service, bimetallsm
md various other topics.
Returning to Cuba. he declared that
40 act of this government could bring
war with Spain. A bankrupt monarchy
which could not put 10000 ragged SOL
Tiers in the field would not enter upon
| contest with the United States.
Mr.. Adams (rep.) of Pennsylvania,
member of the foreign affairs committee
md chairman of the subcommittee on
[,uha rnIlowoI Mr. DinsmOrp and con- |