The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05

to vote on a resolution which declares
that the Cuban patriots have fairly
won their independence. CApplause on
the democratic side.) 4
II believed yesterday-I know today
that the policy of that side of the house
was to delay a decision of his question
in the hope that the rich n powerful
interests of this, and other nations,
will compel the struggling patriots of
Cuba to buy the freedom that they
have fairly won with their courage
and by their sword. applause on the
democratic side. I owe the republi-
can party no kindly offices. But / will
venture to warn it hat if it's leaders
agree n the republican party anc
lions the agreement to compel any peO-
pie under Gods sun to buy hat liber-
ty which God has given to them, that
party will never urvive long enough
to escape the Odium Which will be fast
ened upon it by the outraged senti-
ment of the American people. Cap
plause on the democratic side.)
NJ Chairman, liberty is not>a pur-
chaseable commodity. CRenewed ap-
~plause). There was a time in his re-
public when no man in high station
would have suggested that n nation
would sell it, or that nOthe hOuld
be compelled to buy it. applause on
the democratic side). 1t is a birthright
of man; and it is their duty to assert
it, though war be necessary to it's &C.
sertion. prolonged applause on the
democratic side). II myself, Mr..
Chairman, as averse to war as any
gentleman. On this side, during the
present session we lave walked up to
the altar and made a willing sacri-
flee of our political advancement. We
know and you know, that a war will
be to the advantage of the party in
power and you, knowing it, will still
know it no better than we do. Yet
with a knowledge that we are pursu-
ing a policy to the advantage of our
political opponents, n to the injury
of ourselves, you must admit that I'VE
did all you asked us to do.
"In all the history of this republic no
party has ever acted more patrioti-
cally or more unselfishly than the dem
ocratic party have acted during his
crisis. (Applause on the democratic
side). There was a time when this
threatened war could have been avert
ed. Six months ago if you had done as
we urged you to do; if o had recog-
nized the rights of these struggling pa
triots to fight for Independence, war
would have been averted and Cuba
would today be an established fact in
the history of the world" (Applause
on the democratic side.)
IA member-"And the tbattleship
Maine, with all the accompanying lives
of American seamen, would not have
been sacrificed"
Mr.. Bailey, continuing: "And that
unfortunate disaster which has hOrri-
fled humanity and Inundated our
American citizenship, would never have
occurred. You refused to act and the
progress of events has simply intensi-
fled the situation. The longer you
~0-tr0~4 1o;,, ~ ,Irl t1a 1Arca~ rn1
postpone action-the more certain it is
that war and war alone will eXtricate
you. In trying to allow Spain to COM
plete her recOnquest of Cuba o have
made it absolutely necessary that you
shall intervene in the cause of free
dom. There may be time still to avert
a war. Within the last forty-eight
hours a representative of the Cuban
republic has said to me hat they did
not desire us to engage in war with
Spain; hat all they ask is thart we
recognize their independence, to give
them the credit and standing to which
they are entitled among the nations
of the earth, and with their strong
arms and with their own brave hearts,
they will achieve their independence.
"A representative of the Cuban re-
public said to me with great frankness
and feeling: we do not seek to involve
the United States in a war with Spain.
Tt is unnecessary. Give US a recogni-
ton Of our independence 50 that we
can obtain arms and heavy artillery
and in thirty days we Will put am
army of 100, 900 Cuban patriots in the
field and in thirty days more the flag
of Spain will be trailing in the dust of
Cuba (Applause ON the democratic
side). That is their spirit. Why do
we not meet them in it? War! You
invite it with all its horrors. I know
the horrors as well as the gentleman
from Indiana CMr. J~Ohnson). I wit
messed it's d~esolation. My father and
my kinsmen came back from the bat
tlefields, rendered historic by the cour-
g of those who wore the blue, as
we'll as of those who wore the grey.
When they turned from A~ppomattox,
wher they had left everything except
their honor, they came back and on ev-
cry hand they witnessed the horrors
and desolations of war. Where they
had left a happy home, they found
a mass of charred and iblackened ruins.
We do not wan war.
But, Mr.. Chairman, we might as
we'll be frank. If it takes a war to
free the island of Cuba, my voice is,
n the voice of those with whom I
have the honor to act, is: Cuba free,
without war if possible, Cuba free with
a war if necessary" prolonged ap-
plause on the democratic side.)
Mr.. GrOSyenOr reDInblic9n ~ Ohio