The herald., 1898-02-24
ASPANISH WAR
Said to Be Only a Question
of Time
AMENDMENT OF ALLEN
CAUSES SERIOUS DEBATE IN THE
SENATE
MORGAN OBJECTS TO RIDERS
Declaration of War Should Be Made
Openly, Not Under Cover of an
Appropriation
soc.ated Press Special Wire

| u Slarp ueDdte on tne CUBAN siludtioh was
precipitated by Allen of Nebraska, who Of
fered as an amendment the resolution
passed by the senate year ago recognizing
the belligerency rights of the Cuban in
| surgents, as follows:
Whereas, 1t is an established doctrine
of the United States that the Western
hemisphere shall be dedicated to repuo-
| lican form of government recognizing the
political equality of human beings; and
Whereas, The principle of the Monroe
doctrine, or the doctrine of national self
preservation, is as applicable in wrestling
any portion of this continent from the
grasp of foreign countries as in preventing
them from gaining additional territory;
| and,
Whereas, the Island Of Cuba, by reason
| of its location and close proximity TO the
| United States, should of right be dedicated
to a republican form of government; and,
Whereas, A republican form of govern
ment is and has been for nearly three
years maintained In said Island OF Cuoa
by force of arms: and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that 500, COO persons
on said island have died of starvation by
reason of having been concentrated py
the Spanish authorities at various points
provide food for themselves and hundreds
are dying daily; and,
Whereas The dictates of humanity re-
quire the Intervention of the United states
in such cases; therefore,
Resolved, That q select committee of
five senators shall be appointed whose
duty it shall be to forthwith make a
thorough investigation and inquire into
and report on the following subjects:
"First-To what extent the work of con-
eentrating the inhabitants of Cuba has
been carried on by the Spanish government
and how many persons on said island
have in the last year died as result OF
starvation, and to what extent concentra-
ton is now being practiced there by Span
ish authorities and the condition of the
people concentrated.
"Second-Whether the concentrated
Cubans have been adequately sheltered,
clothed and fed by the Spanish government
or by others, or have been permitted to
obtain food and clothing for themselves
"Third-What lawful steps, if any, are
| necessary and can be taken by the United
States to bring the war in Cuba to a
speedy termination on grounds alike hon
orable to Spain and Cuba, and which will
result in the kingdom of Spain relinquish-
| ing its hold on the island and in the estab-
lishment of a republican form of govern
ment there.
''Fourth-To determine to what extent
Spanish barbarity and cruelty have, dur
ing the war now in progress in Cuba, been
practced toward the inhabitants of Cuba,
and what can be lawfully done by the
United States, if anything, to ameliorate
the conditions,
ITO these ends and for these purposes
said committee may sit at such times and
places as they may see proper during the
sessions of congress and in vacation, and
shall have the right to visit and take tes-
| timony in Cuba, if deemed proper to do So
"All testimony taken shall be preserved
and the finding of said senatorial commit
tee together with all testimony. shall be
reduced to writing and reported to the SEN
ate at as early date as practicable.
| Both the military and the diplomatic
consular appropriation bills were pre-
sented.
| Hanbough attempted to secure action or
the bill to regulate the laws of Alaska, but
on objection from Mr.. Turner Of Washing
| ton it went over.
| Respecting the belligerency amendment
Allen thought a statment was due to the
| country. The amendment, he said, was
practically copy of two resolutions
which had been already presented. Refer
ring to the unfavorable report presented
| on the amendment by the foreign relations
committee, Allen said that it was a con.
|
that the committee did not desire to act
upon it. The truth was, he said that con.
gress was merely finding some excuse
under which it could do business and es
| cape censure. His desire was to fine
whether congress could in any way be in.
duced. cajoled or kicked into putting the
country in a dgnified attitude on the
| Cuban question.
Taking up the main issue involved, he
asserted that he had reliable information
that no less than SO per cent of the Cubar
population, or about 100000 people, had per.
ished in Cuba within the past three years
as a result of Spanish cruelty.
And yet" said Mr.. Allen, 'Iest we, the
| senate, body of eighty-nine men, offend
the house of representatives, consisting OF
3jT men, point of order is to be made
against this amendment, and it will go the
way of very much valuable legislation"
| Mr.. Allen said that if the Republicans
| could suffer to see the Cubans eXtermnatec
by starvation, in plain violation of it's plat
form and of the Christian sentiment of the
country, the Republicans ought to be will
ling to face the question on yea and nay
| vote.
Mr. Morgan said the senate had twice
passed the Cuban belligerency resolution
| substantially as it was now offered, bu
both times it had been done openly ant
| frankly.
1--WE have no right" he said, ito max
| a declaration of war against Spain unde
cover, and that is precisely what this reso
luton would mean. If this amendmen
were attached to the appropriation bill
Spain might well regard it as cause TO
war. AS I have before indicated, the con
ditons and situation in Cuba were en-
tirely different when this resolution wa
passed by the senate"
He asserted that between 3000 900 ant
600 600 people had starved to death in Cubs
This awful condition of affairs" sal
Mr.. Morgan, "makes our position in tn
Cuban matter extremely delicate. Inter
vention now of the kind proposed a yea
ago means war; 1t could mean nothing
else An Intervention on the part of thi
government in the present critical condi
ton of affairs would almost certainly b
regarded by Spain as a cause of war.
almost dread to refer to the conditions an,
circumstances which have been brough
about by the events of the past ten days
"In the present circumstances, 1t woul
not be consistent with the feelings o
characteristic of the sentiments of tn
American people to do anything that woul
in any way aggravate the situation whic
has been brought about by the event
leading up to the inquiry now in progres
at Havana.
"If, however, any senator believes in
declaration of war and will draw up sue
declaration, with sufficient and prope
grounds upon which to base it, will vol
for it."
| At this point Mr.. Allen interrupted M
Morgan to disclain any intention Of NAL