The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-13

dent must carry on the war as directed
| by congress. and in no other way.
yet. what are we advised to do?" in
quired Mr. Pettus eff you boil the
| words down to their true meaning it is
evident that we are advised to delegate
| to the president the power to intervene,
and make war if he sees fit, without any
declaration Of war at all. War made in
such manner-without a declaration Of
| congress-wouId be a disgrace to the
nation"
When Mr.. Pettus had concluded Mr.
Allen endeavored to secure the passage
of a bill just received from the house
To this Mr.. Mason Oll), who had an
nounced his speech on the Cuban situa-
ton, objected
Il had hoped" suggested Mr. Allen,
that the senator would yield HostiEties
will not begin today.
Il am not 50 sure Of that" retorted Mr.
Mason, "as the senator from Nebraska
seems to be-
Mr.. Lindsay CKy) gave notice that he
would tomorrow address the senate upon
his resolution.
49, ~NAo~'OAA l4ICAA p4pCtSucu Will WIS
speech. He had prepared it carefully. and
confined himself closely to his manuscript
His speech was a legal argument in favor
Of the recognition by this government of
the independence of the Cuban republic.
Mr.. Mason was accorded the closest at
tention by the senators.
Mr.. Mason said, in substance:
MR. MASON'S SPEECH.
"As before announced to you, in Ian
gLage which could not be misunderstood,
l am for war. and have been since the
hour our flag was lowered in Havana
harbor and the lives of our citizens taken
by the government of Spain. But l am
and have been for this declaration of war
only as a means of securing an honorable
peace.
Il have no desire to destroy the Span
ism nation, but her flag must be dishon-
ored by surrendering her sovereignty over
Cuban territory as an atonement for the
lowering of our fiag, sinking our ship
and numbering our men. While l am
for war, I realize that have but one
poor vote in the war-making power of this
government and l stand ready in this
hour TO uphold the hands of the executive
and take the best can get. had been
indulging the hope that the executive
would recOmend Intervention and indie,
pendence of the Cuban republic. Inter-
vention by force of arms as recommends
ed by the president. is war. To declare
for Intervention without declaring direct
ly. openly, for war, seems to lack frank
mes sand savors too much of Spanish
diplomacy. If we can have armed inter
vention without recognizing the independ-
ence of Cuba, and can have nothing else,
must accept the viii Of the majority.
reserving to myself the right to fight for
independence for the brave men, women
and children in the island Of Cuba
Mr.. Mason then went into the history
of what had been done by this country
in the past regarding recognition, and
continued:
Mr.. President, it seems almost like
insulting the intelligence of my colleagues
to call attention TO civil government, ex-
listing in Cuba and controlled by the in
surgents, when it is known that through
that government they have collected hun
dreds of thousands of dollars and main
tanned a standing army that has kept at
bay nearly 100000 armed and equipped
Spanish soldiers and has given evidence
of as great bravery and endurance as
any army in all the recorded past. The
brilliant orator from Iowa said the other |
day, in the other house, that towering
above the dark waters of that mysterious |
narbor of Havana the black winged vul- /
lures watch for the dead, while over it |
and over ell there is the eagles piercing |
aye sternly watching for the truth
MIR. President. is 1t TO continue to be I
In eagle or is tho avarice and greed Of the /
nation TO cause It 10 descend and partake |
If the vulture's food?
Perez, writing to Arangueren said:
The Yankees are hogs. and if you con-
luered your own independence they VIII
absorb you
Mr. President, did he tell the truth?
Mr.. President are we going out on an
,rrand of mercy loaded down with day
books and Journals? Are we to forget
'ur citizens who went down in the harbor
f Havana, in our greed for gold and
erritory? Are we 10 leave the door open |
o compel additional terms from the in
urGents who sacrificed their wives. their
hildren and their homes? Do we wish
pecial treaties of commerce and leave the
oor open for that? Do we wish to relieve
ONE American investors vino have
ought Spanish bonds and who wish TO
raGe them for the bonds Of the republic?
% We. worse still, wish 10 leave the
DOR open to compel those brave men
nj women 10 accept some terms OF au-
onomy or TO pay blood mney 10 the
paniard. or to the Shylocks OF our own
and? May be forgiven If I express the
ope that the heart OF the executive
lay be touched in their behait2 Nay We
OF hope that their last lingering OF life F.,
Z not with suspicion and hatred Upon
our tag and mine, that II may not rest
pom the hated color % the yellow flag
Spain. but THAI in their rapt and part
lg moments they may be soothed and
by the sight OF their own flag ;
he flag OF the single star-.he flag o. the
spuhHc of Cuba?"
BUTLER FOR THE OPPOSITION. !
Mr.. Butter N. c. followed M Mason.
Ie said THAI ne belonged n wnat vas
opularly termed the opposi ton on the
cor Of the senate, bJs, he maintained thas
us opposition had thus far upheld the
snds OF the administration as lovauv
s had the best friends OF the president
nj we're ready % continue to GO SO.
, long as they could. and preserve cher
slf-respect. NJ. Butter expressed the Z
Gpe that the foreign relations COMMIT
e might be able % bring II resolution