The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24
Do Not Believe the Conflict
Can Be Very LoDg
Postponed.
Hot Talk Brought Out in Debate
Precipituted by q Resolution
introduced by Allen Of
Nebraska.

, sire was to find whether Congress could
in any way be induced, cajoled or
kicked into putting the country in a
dignified attitude on the Cuban ques-
ton.
Taking up the main issue involved,
he said he had reliable information
that no less than 33 per cent of the Gu
ban population, or 100000 people, had
persisted within the past three years as
result of Spanish cruelty.
And yet" said Allen, '1est we. the
Senate. a body of eighty nine men, of
fend the House of Representatives
consisting of 357 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 if the Republican
party could suffer to see the Cubans
exterminated by starvation in plain
violation of its platform and of the
Christian sentiment of the country, the
Republicans ought to be willing to
face the question on an aye and no
vote.
Mr.. Morgan said the Senate had
twice passed the Cuban belligerency
resolution, substantially as it was now
offered but both times it had been
done openly and frankly.
1--WE have no right" said he, ito
Spain under cover, and that is pre-
cisely what this resolution would mean.
If this amendment were attached to
the appropriation bill, Spain might
we'll regard it as cause of war. AS
I have before Indicated, the conditions
and situation in Cuba were entirely diff
ferent when this resolution was passed
by the Senate"
He asserted that between 300,0 600 and
ho1 ctr -n1 IN h IN
Cuba.
This awful condition of affairs
said Mr.. Morgan, makes our position
in the Cuban matter extremely deli
cate Intervention now of the kind
proposed a year ago means war. 1t
could mean nothing else. An inter-
vention on the part of this Govern
ment in the present critical condition
of affairs would almost certainly be
regarded by Spain as cause of war.
l almost dread to refer to the condi-
lions and circumstances which have
been brought about by the events of
the past ten days. In the present cir
cumStances it would not be consistent
with the feelings or characteristic of
the sentiments of the American peo-
pie to do anything that would in any
way aggravate the situation which has
been brought about by the events lead
at Havana.
eff, however, any Senator be-
lieves in a declaration of war, and
will draw up such a declaration with
sufficient and proper grounds upon
which to base it, I will vote for it."
At this point Mr.. Allen interrupted
Mr.. Morgan to disclaim any intention
of making declaration of war against
Spain. He expressed the opinion that
his amendment could, in no way, be
construed into such a declaration
IF we should put this amendment
on the pending appropriation BILL" re-
piled Mr.. Morgan, Spain. would be
fully justified in interpreting our mean
ing to be that we were extensively in
terfering in her affairs. However, I
do not believe any Senator has in mind
a declaration of war.
cit would not overtax the ability
of any man to prepare such a de-
claration with proper and sufficient
grounds upon which to base it.
81 will not, however, vote for any
declaration of war in disguise. The
Spanish are a great and powerful and
proud people, and they believe their
course is right. / do not wish to pro-
woke them to declaration of war. I
have always believed and believe now
the war in Cuba could not be termin-
ated without involving the United
States in hostilities. I believe the
matter will be eventually submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword. The
whole world recognizes Spain's inabil-
ity to conquer the Cubans, and sooner
or later we shall become, in my opin-
ion, involved in the armed controversy.
The pending amendment is little else
than declaration of war in disguise.
If we mean to declare war. let us do
so like men and not endeavor to con-
ceal ourselves behind so transparent a
cloak. Those who are constantly seek
ing to benefit the sacred cause of Gu
ban liberty cannot accomplish their
purposes by such rash acts of legisla-
ton as is this amendment
Mr.. Morgan declared the Cubans had
already fought and won their revolu-
ton, and nothing remained but for
them to continue their belligerent at
titude until Spain should recognize the
republic.
Mr.. Teller did not accept Mr.. Nor
gan's position that the adoption of this
amendment would be declaration of
war. He had, he said, reached the
conclusion that the recognition of bel
ligerency rested with the executive He
had reached this conclusion with re-
gret, but still he thought it correct. In
this view, Congress could do no more
than announce it's opinion. True, this
opinion should receive some attention
at the hands of the executive, but the
last administration had given no
weight to such an expression of opin-
ion, and he (Teller) was convinced the
present would follow the example Of its
predecessor. In the matter of inter-
vention, Mr.. Teller said he never had
gone beyond the point of saying the
United States had right, under inter-
national law to Interfere to the extent