Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-20

|
Of search. A declaration of belliger-
cncy would allow SPANS warships t.
hunt our vessels on the high seas.
| In the existing situation good men
| sympathizing with Cuba's cause were
| constantly making their way to the
island Supplies, guns and ammunition
were constantly going from the United
States. 1t was said that every pound OF
powder fred in the cause of Cuba's free
dom had come from this country. No
Spanish cruiser could now modest our
vessels on the high seas. Members might
ask why with all these advantages in
store for Thorn. the agents Of tn" Cuban
republic in this city desired bclleercnt
rights.
81 could explain it, said Hit "but |
prefer to do 50 in the words of one OF
these 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 cruisers begin "a
stop American shippers ii will not be
long before hastS shot is fired With
that shot public opinion in Spain and
the United States will plunge thos, coun-
tries INTO war Then our battle viii be-
over.
That perhaps is very just argument
for the tnbanS, continued Hit, ''mt
not for IN American. If we are to have
war, tel us Fac" 1t directly. mot he forced
into IL by chance. ! do not blame the
'ubanS, however any more thHn blame
the tont"dpratcS, who. during the Rebel
Ion, hoped to pr""pitatc war between
the nitcd States ana Great Rrituin
Knowing thar when war came, the con
tract tor freeing the Confcd"racY would
he taken off their hands"
mt spoke al IN" Spanish authority in
Havana as t"ttering hctwcc1l armed
forces without ana tumutuouS riot with
III. bGt with tmpr"NSlv" words III warned
IN" members that the vast responsibility
az action. With the momentous conse-
4ucnc"S that might onsuc rested on the
shoulders of the Executive, not on mem
beers OF Congress who might be making
speeches for popular approval
Let us remember. said he "that we
have faithful pilot at the helm ana
that ii the ship of state is near the
rapids we should be patient ana ready
to support him If nc takes the step
Which the honor ana the interests Of our
country may demand"
lie referred Ia Gen. Lee a4 an officer Of
ability. who could be relied upon to guard
our honor ut Havana aud concluded
WITH an eloquent appeal to the members
Of the House 10 drown an other voices
as they did in the Venezuelan crisis ANA
stand ny The President and the country.
WI nile ne could not propnesy aa 10 the
future, h" solemnly assured the House
that the President would not disappoInt
the expectations of his cnunlrymrn
Throughout Hits speech he was lis
tened To with The closest attention.
Members crowded about him ana the
throneed galleries leaned over to eaten
his words. As he concluded u roar of
approval shook the floor and the gal
lcritS.
DinSmorr. Ark. Democratic member
81 the foreign affairs committee. de
elared that the time had come for civ
Ing the Cuhans The recognition they had
s" long sought. tie arraigned iiitt ANA
tn" Republican side for alleged iucon-
si~trncy, citing their Cuban speeches u1-
dcr the cleveland administration ava
then brauched off 10 the tarin and civil
service ANA various other topics Rrturtf-
Ing to cuba. hr declared that no act rs
this government could bring war VITA
Spain For bankrupt monarchy which
could not put down 35.e"n ragged Cuban
soldiers would not enter upon Il contest
with the 'uitcd States.
Adams, Rep. Pa, a member Ut the fur-
eiEu aft airs committee. ANA chairman Of
til" subcommittee on Cuba contrastei
the iHaction and apathy Of the last az
mnisirajion toward Cuba with tine
achievements of This. He maintained
that the recognition Of helliEvrcuCy wa
purely an Executive function
Did you not vote for bellgerency tn
the last CouGrt $50 asked Sulzer
~ did. responded Adams. hut then
"'. were seeking 90 protect Americau
property. That property is now destroyed.
NJ we're seeking t. free American pri~-
au.r~. They arr now all free. This whole
question is nearing solution of its own
UrIghl Spain is bankrupt. She cannot
-rud another man To Cuba There arr
rt"t~ m ildv9uu. The handwriting has
Jppcs"rd on tn" walt,
lu reply 10 % direct question as tn wins
his subcommittee had not reported tl,
SouAtc resolution. hc said the committee.
aHd called for official information 'fhe2
could moi rely GA newspaper reports whoa
tHtr SIN ~ This City the two Sides nf
tn" question presented ~ different news
idutrS.