Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-04-20
Liberty for the Island.

tiyeS on Wednesday declared for nteP-
yention in Cuba. After one OF the most
exciting and memorable days in its his
tory, the House, by u vote of 322 to 10,
adopted Il resolution which nine-tenths OF
its members believed made war with
Spain inevitable. BY nearly unanimous
vote the President of the United States
was authorized to intervene for the pur-
pose of securing n free Cuba. Thunder
Gus applause ON both sides of the hall and
in the galleries greeted the announcement
of the result of this momentous roll cali.
AL the afternoon the House had been
in state of intense excitement, ard the
day was marked by number OF lens..-
tional scenes. On account of internal es-
plosions in the House the sergeant-at
arms was twice compelled to intervene
with his mace to stop what bade fair to
be devastating war among the members.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions late Tuesday afternoon agreed by
unanimous vote ON resolutions recognizing
the right of the Cubans to independence
and empowering the President to compel
Spain to withdraw from the island.
These resolutions are preceded by a
stirring preamble which declares that the
prevailed for two years in the island of
Cuba, so near to our borders, has shocked
mankind and is disgrace to Christian
civilization. 1t is further set forth that
this condition of anarchy eliminated in
the destruction of Il United States bat
tleship and 266 of its officers and crew
who were on friendly visit in the harhor
of Havana. This state of affairs, it is
said, can no longer be endured, and there
fore, according to the facts set forth in
the Presidents message, in which Con-
gress was requested to act, the Senate
committee adopts the resolutions when
are as follows:
Resolved, first-That the people of the
island or Cuba are, and of right ought to
be, free and Independent.
Second-That the war Spain is wagng
against Cuba is so destructive of the COM
plercial and property interests of the Uni
ted States. and so cruel, barbarous, and
inhuman In Its character, as to make II
the duty of the United States to demand,
and the government of the United States
hereby does demand, that she at once
withdraw her land and naval forces from
Cuba and Cuban waters.
| "Third-That the President of the Uni
ted States be, anu he hereby Is, author
| lied, empowered, and directed to use
| the entire land and naval forces of the
United States, and to call into the service
of the United States the militia of the
several States, to such an exteEs as may
be necessary to carry these resolutions
| into effect"
The scene in the Senate chamber
| Wednesday when Senator Davis, chair
man of the foreign relations committee,
presented the resolution declaring Cuba
| free and Independent was dramatic. The
report came in much sooner than expected
| linn Iiota aff hn
| The resolutions went to the limit of the
pro-Cuban sentiment. The report ac-
| companying the resolutions, which was
also presented by Senator Davis, was a
| very thorough review of the entire situa-
| ton.
The reading of the report occupied for
| ty-seven minutes. Senator Hoar de-
manded that the resolution lie over under
the rules until Thursday The Vice Presi-
dent reserved his decision upon the y&int
OF order and recognized Senator Foraker,
who yielded the floor to Senator Turpie
The latter presented the report of the mi
nority of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, as follows:
The undersigned members of the COM
| mittee on Foreign Relations cordially
concur In the report made upon the Gu
ban resolutions, but favor the imme-
| dlate recognition of the republic Of
| Cuba as organized in that island, as n
| free, Independent and sovereign power
| among the nations of the world.
The minority report was signed by Sen
ators Turpie, Mills, Daniel and Foraker.
| Conservative Senators showed DISPOSE
| ton to delay action on the resolutions by
debate Senator Davis said there was no
disposition to unduly press the question,
though it would be pressed as rapidly rs
possible. The chair decided Senator
Hoar's point of order we'll taken.
| Two Reports i'll House.
Late Tuesday night the Republican
members of the House Committee on
| Foreign Affairs agreed to report the fol-
| lowing:
The President Is authorized, directed,
| and empowered to intervene at once to
| restore peace on the island of Cuba and
| secure to the people thereof firm, stable,
| and independent government of their
own, and is authorized to use the army
| and navy forces of the United States to
| secure this end
| The House committee on foreign affairs
went into session about 1920 O'Clock
| Wednesday morning. At Ills the com
| mi tee took recess until l o'clock. The
| Republicans were agreed and the recess
was taken to allow the Democrats to con-
suit the leaders with the hope that unani-
nous action m.lht be had.
The Republican majority of the House
| foreign affairs committee ut 1 80 Wcdnes-
| day afternoon agreed to report IL reSolu-
| ton in substance the same as that de-
cided upon Tuesday night The Demo
| cratic members of the committee, how
ever, agreed upon a resolution as sub
| stitute for the majority report i'll which
the recognition of the present Cuban gov
| ernment is demanded.
At exactly ) O'Clock the Speaker rccog
nized Mr.. Adams, acting chairman of the
| foreign affairs committee. He asked
| unanimous consent for the consideration
| of the resolutions which he submitted.
Mr.. Bailey objected to the consideration
/. of the resolutions Charges and counter
| charges were banded across the floor.
| fist fight on the floor of the House almost
| followed The Speaker ordered the SER
| geant-at-arms to use the silver mace,
| the emblem of the Houses authority.