Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-02-18

milton of belllgerent rights What whisp-
er is it that says to him waltz"
In connection with the question Mr..
Cannon asserted that the president had
the greatest opportunity which ever fell
to human being to make great name
for himself in the cause of liberty. The
recognition of belligerency would have
enabled the Cubans to wrest victory out
of the struggle, and even now would
bring an end to the terrible situation.
Mr.. Cannon also called attention to the
fact that although the president had
been unanimously requested by the SEN
ate to state what action he had taken to
protect American lives and property in
Cuba, he had treated the inquiry with
the contempt of silence.p 4 g. e.7sfl
When Mr.. Mason was recognized, the
expectancy of the great crowd which
swelled the galleries was at the keenest
pitch. He had awaited this opportunity
smiling, and taking occasional notes of
Mr.. Hale's speech. He stood in front of
the Republican side of the chamber, &C.
casionally stepping into the front area.
There was buzz of comment as he
arose, and his resolution was read from
the desk. He began to speak in an easy
conversational way, but gradually warm
ed to the subject. He had hesitated
long, he said, as he feared that by some
incautious step he might iniure, rather
than benfit, the Cuban cause. But he
was ready to make the step now, feeling
that any blame must fall on him, for he
assumed full personal responsibility.
81 deny the insinuation," said he,
sharply, "that this is an effort to put the
administration in leading strings" He
was a Republican, and he was proud of
the patriotism of the executive. But,
Mr.. Mason said, he spoke his personal
convictions on the cause of Cuba. The
senator from Maine (Hale) had declared
that no American names could be cited
in connection with the Cuban cause, but
at least two names could be given from
passing memory-Funston of Kansas,
and Raby, son of well-known citizen of
Chicago. Supplies and relief had been
flowing to Cuba, and with them the
arms and powder with which the Span
iards were to kill the women and child
rem of Cuba. II am charged with seek
ing war;" exclaimed the senator, "but
my resolution is for peace. One word
from this administration would bring
peace to this continent, and, under the
providence of God, we believe it would
bring independence to Cuba" There
was a burst of applause at this de-
claration.
The thumbscrews of the inqusition
were again brought into use in Cuba,
proceeded Mr.. Mason. The pincers that
tear the flesh from human bones have
contributed to the carnival of cruelty.
Three hundred thousand people starved
Three hundred thousand more marching
to the grave! And yet the cry was
raised that war was being sought, when
the one and only cry was for peace and
an end to this atrocity.
Mr.. Hale interrupted at this point to
say that Mr.. Mason's figures of those
said to be dead and starving were far
exaggerated, and out of all proportion to
known population of the island. "Such
statements are monstrous," declared Mr..
Hale.
"That's what think" nterposed Mr..
Mason, and again the galleries applauded
vigorously at the quick sally.
The statement was monstrous, added
Mr.. Hale, in its inconsistency with the
known number of people on the Islands.
The figures given would show, he said,
that one out of three of the population
had died.
"Yes, and in some provinces 80 per
cent. or one in two," answered Mr.. Ma
son. lie said he would establish his
statement by the letters of Mr.. Charles
NJ. Pepper, man recognized as conser-
vative in his statements. Mr.. Hale in
terposed with the remark that if the
statements of newspaper correspondents
were to be cited, then both views should
be given, and the statement of Mr..
Richard Weghtman should be also
quoted.
Mr.. Mason proceeded to read the state
ments of correspondents as to the famine
and stress in Cuba. He called attention
to the fact that Mr.. Peppers startling
statements had been written since the
mildmannered Blanco has assumed con-
troll in Cuba, and had attempted to bribe
the insurgents into peace-insurgent
whom he was afraid to fight. He re-
ferred to the statements of Mr.. Hale
that Grant had not interfered in the ten
years war, but he urged that the situa-
tion both in this country and in Europe
had materially changed since that time.
Our own county, he said, was in the
throes of reconstruction at that time,
and was in no position to intervene in
that war. Now our position is different.
and back of it all was the demand of our
own people that we take official and
definite cognlzance of the war in Cuba.
This he discussed from the view point
of an international lawyer.
Referring to the duty of the United
States, Senator Mason said: "This gov
eminent ought to maintain that the hor-
rible massacres which are now too COM
mon in the island of Cuba. and conducted
undpr the Ouise Of warfare n,uet ha