The times., 1898-07-31

can do much for these islands. The Mic
araguan Canal bill will surely pass the
Senate and House at the winter session
of Congress. and be signed by the Pres-
dent. The canal will be built in three
years. ! know that the estimates say
six. but after careful study of the whole
question, / am convinced that the entire
work can be completed in three years.
Then we will undoubtedly have cable
to Hawaii in a very short time. l under
stand that the Hawaiian government
has already passed such a bill, subject
to the approval of the United States 1t
goes without saying that we must have
both countries connected by cable as
soon as possible. You can see. in view
of all these things, that our country has
a great many important questions 10 con-
slider In negotiating a treaty of peace
with Spain. We must not hamper or
eighteenth century policy; but, as Lowell
says;
Launch our Mayfower and steer boldly,
Through the rough and wintry sea;
Nor attempt the Futures portals
With the Past's blood-rusted key.
Senator Stephen l.. Elkins. former Sec
retary of War, said: II favor holding on
to every bit of territory that Spain loses
in this war. She can never pay us a
sufficient indemnity, and hence we will
have to take her islands as payment
for our expenditures in freeing Cuba.
Under proper conditions these islands
will become valuable possessions of the
United States, and l don't think that We
ought TO turn them over 10 Spain again.
She has shown herself incapable of rul-
ing them, and her government over then
has been a synonym for all that is vile
and CORRUPT.
I'm treating for peace l favor the re
tention of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. as well as giving Cuba her inde-
pendence."
Senator Cullom of Illinois said: In
settling our account with Spain | think
that we ought TO keep everything that we
have secured through the fortunes of
war We lost some Of our bravest men
in the siege of Santiago, and have poured
out our best blood and our treasures to
free Cuba. Now let Spain foot the bill.
She brought this on herself by her
wretched and horrible conduct of the war.
We cannot soak her hard enough for
causing the loss of so many of our boys
in blue"
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania said:
Il am in favor of taxing Spain pretty
heavily as the price of peace I don't
think that we should let her down easily.
On the contrary, / believe that we should
hold on 10 the Philippines and Porto Rico
as well as any other islands that we may
capture. We can never expect q war in
demnity to be paid in cash, and hence
these Islands would go a long way to-
ward reimbursing US for our heavy ex-
penditure of blood and money"
Senator Money of Mississippi said:
Il want to see Spain stripped down 10
the peninsula and have nothing left her
of colonial possessions. She deserves no
better fate Her brutal treatment of her
dependencies forfeits any claims that she
may have TO them. She snould never be
allowed To have sway again In Porto Ri
co, the Philippines Cuba-indeed. any
where outside the peninsula. But in set
Ting our accounts with her. what is wis
est TO be done is another thing. / don't
look for an early peace. If any other
nation says we shall not have the Phil
ippines, then We ought to take them. But
under other circumstances we want TO
pause, before saddling upon ourselves a
lot of islands believe in a very liberal
policy towards the Cubans They have
fought like brave soldiers, and perform
ed deeds of vaior. Consequently, they
should receive the kindest treatment al
our hands, They are our allies and the
testimony of a number of our American
officers is that they did splendid service
before Santiago. Consequently. I think
we should cooperate with the CubG4s as
far as possible and help them TO estab-
lish a stable form of government In the
unhappy island. II will not do to hob
mob too much with the Spaniards We
know what 10 expect from them. Our
sympathies should be with the Cubans
first last and all the time"