The herald., 1898-04-13
AN EYE ON THE RECORD

1
culated to confound the best guessers.
| AN EYE ON THE RECORD
On June 80, 1895, the senate committee
on foreign relations, to whom had been
referred several Cuban resolutions, re-
ported a substitute for all, and a run
ming debate ensued until February 20,
| 1896, when the substitute resolutions
were passed by the decisive vote Of ga to
/ 6. They requested the president to use
the good offices of the government with
Spain to accord to the insurgents the
rights Of belligerents;" declared that a
condition of public war existed, and rec
commended that "the United States
should maintain strict neutrality be-
tween the contending powers. according
to each the rights of belligerents."
On March I'd the house committee on
foreign affairs reported. as a substitute
for the senate resolution, three resolu-
tions, declaring that a state of war
exists in Cuba; that the only solution is
Cuban independence, and that the United
States should be prepared to protect the
legitimate interests of our citizens by
intervention II necessary" The sub
stitute passed-yeas 1852, nays II.
The senate refused to accept the house
resolutions, and the house took up and
passed the senate resolutions, 247 yeas,
27 nays.
On May 20, 1897, the senate, by vote
Of Al to IA, passed a resolution, offered
by Senator Morgan, declaring that the
United States shall maintain strict
neutrality between the contending pow
ers, according to each all of the rights
of belligerents."
The attitude Of the Republican party
upon the Cuban question, up to very
recent period, admitted of little doubt.
The Cuban plank of the St. Louis plat
form was in language following:
We believe that the government of
the United States should actively use
its influence and good Offices to restore
peace and give independence to the
island.
In his message to congress, December 8,
1897, President Mckinley said:.
The near future will demonstrate
whether the indispensable condition of
q righteous peace, just alike to the
Cubans and to Spain, as we'll as equit-
able to all our interests so intimately
involved In the welfare Of Cuba, is
likely to be attained. If not, the ext
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes. that ac-
tion will be determined in the line of in
disputable right and duty. 1t will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy,
in the light of the obligation this gov
ernment owes to Itself. to the people
who have confided to it the protection of
their interests and honor. and to hu-
manity
Representative Hit, chairman Of the
house committee on foreign affairs,
closed a speech on the Cuban question,
March 18th. last, as follows:
solemnly assure the house that the
president will not disappoint the ex-
pectations of his countrymen.
On March II, 1896, when chairman Of
the senate committee on foreign rela-
tions, John Sherman, In the course of
speech, said:
If war does not exist in Cuba, where
outside of hell does 1t exist? 1t is idle
for Spain to declare that war does not
exist there, when in fact war is going
on more atrocious than any in the his
tory of the Dark Ages. 1t is impossible
that the present terrible condition of
affairs shall continue much longer.
Neither Democrats nor Popuists, in
public or private utterances, have been
so profuse in their declarations regard
ing Cuban independence as have the
Republicans. But Democrats and Pop
ulists have stood as stone wall,
throughout the long struggle, in defense
of the main contention, and today con-
stitute the only solidified element in
congress upholding the cause of the
Cuban patriots and the flag of the
country. The plank of the Chicago plat
form regarding the Cuban question reads
as follows:
We extend our sympathy to the peo-
pie of Cuba in their heroic struggle for
liberty and independence.
The national convention Of the Peoples
party adopted this straightforward
We believe that the time has come
when the United States should recog-
nize that Cuba is and of a right ought
to be free and Independent state.
At no time since the crisis became
grave has the attitude of the Repub-
lican majority in congress been so, well
defined as to give assurance to the
country of precisely what might be de-
veloped by roll call.
AT no time since the revolution broke
out in Cuba has the attitude of the DEM
ocratic or Peoples party in the country,
or of the allied minority in congress,
been equivocal. Every member of it has
been ready at any moment to vote upon
the main issue-the absolute independ-
ence of the Cuban people.
THE POLITICAL EFFECT