The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
Intervention That Will Drive Spain
from the Western Hemisphere Is
What the Ipdianian Wants.
VIGOROUS, INSTANT ACTION
THE BATTLE CRY OF MESSRS. TUR-
NER, KINNEY AND HARRIS.
Meetings OF the senate and House
Committees on Foreign Relations
and Foreign Affairs.

against Spain and TO maintain that war un-
til the people of Cuba made free from
Spanish starvation and cruelty and the gov
crnment of the island firmly established as
independent republic.
This utterance by Senator Chandler, of
New Hampshire, in a carefully prepared
statement of his position on the Cuban
crisis was the climax of an extended dis
cussion of the subject participated in by
several members of the Senate this after
neon. Speeches had been delivered by Mr..
Turner of Washington, Mr.. Harris of Kan
sas and Mr.. Kenney of Delaware, all of
whom took strong ground for vigorous and
instant action by the United States. Indeed.
Mr.. Turner took substantially the same po-
sition as that of Mr.. Chandler. basing his
demand for action upon the Maine catas-
trophe.
Profound attention was attracted by a
speech delivered by Mr.. Turpie, of Indiana,
che Of the members Of the foreign relations
committee. Briefly but scathingly he re-
viewed the Spanish conduct of Cuban af-
fairs, and declared in the strongest terms
fer intervention that would mean some
ihing-that would drive Spain from control
of every foot of territory in the western
hemisphere. The speech was a clear con-
Csc statement of the position in which this
country had been placed by Spanish out
RACES, insults and crimes
At the opening of the session Mr.. Caffery
presented telegram from the commercial
bodies of New Orleans, which he desired to
have read
rs this one of the stereotyped kilograms
in favor of peace which we are all re-
ceiving at this timer" inquired Mr.. Cockrell.
If it were stereotyped. and if such tele-
grams We're being sent from all parts of the
COUNTRY replied Mr.. Caffery, II should be
very glad of it."
f Il suppose it is one of the peace tele-
grams, said Mr. Cockrell, "as l hold in my
hand one of a similar nature from the Re-
Mo
Mr. Platt of Connecticut, said while he
sympathized with the tenor of the. tele-
grams. he did object to the insertion of such
matters in the record
MR.. TURNER'S SPEECH.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Turner, OF
Washington declaring war against Spain
was then laid before the Senate and its au-
thor took the floor in advocacy of it, The
speech was brief, but was given the most
careful attention by both the galleries and
the Senate. The fateful question of peace
or war;" he began, belongs in its last
analysis to the Congress of the United
States. Believing this, / have no apology
the highest respect for the President and
his office, but the time has now arrived
when some expression ought to be made on
this subject by this Nation spectacle
has been made of the United States in the
whole matter, With a diplomatic represent
atiVe at Madrid" declared Mr.. Turner,
"complicating the business of this country
and defeating even his own frantic efforts for
peace at any price, with private secretary
the alter ego of the Notwithstanding
appeals throughout the country for petit
tions and memorials to control an unruy
and unpatriotic Congress, with the manner
in which the fate of our battle ship was
treated by this country, with the frantic
appeals for delay it is not surprising that
the American people are outraged and have
given notice that they propose to take the
whole matter into their own hands,.
Discussing the Maine disaster, on which
Mr.. Turner practically based his speech, he
declared that no reasonable man could fail
to realize that the battle ship was destroyed
through cowardice and perfidy of Spanish
officials, who, by their action, made their
government responsible for the crime. The
same officials who had laid the mine had
anchored the Maine over it and exploded it,
The act was cowardly and perfidious in the
extreme and constituted warfare. Mr.. Tur-
ner declared that 1t was immaterial whose
was the hand that sent the electric spark
on it's fatal mission. Spain was in every
sense responsible for the act-an act that
ought properly to be resented by the United
States.
From the time of Alva down to the time
of Weyler Mr. Turner declared. the record
sination, brutality and cruelty. rapine and
arson The Spaniard of 1900 and the Span
lard of 1900 are one and the same individ-
ual 1t had remained for the Maine dis
aster to demonstrate that civilization had
passed the Spaniards by and that they are
now as ferocious, brutal. cunning and
treacherous as they ever were. This gov
eminent should act at once. Mr.. Turner
was in favor of declaration of war, but
expressed himself in readiness TO do any
thing that would drive the Spaniards from
the western hemisphere, and he expressed
the hope that, as 3 senator Of the United
States, he would very soon have an oppor-
tunity to cast his vote for a measure that
would accomplish that result.
HARRIS, KENNEY, CHANDLER.
A brief but pointed statement Of his posi-
tion the Cuban question was then made
by Mr.. Harris (Kansas.) lie had prepared
his speech, which he read from the manu-
script. After reviewing the position of the
United States and Spain with reference TO
Cuba, he maintained that for a long time
this country had been fully justified in en-
forcing her demands by armed Intervention.
He declared that wrath was a right
eous wrath. and our action would not i'm any
sense be revenge. In conclusion. he said
that a Just war promotes all that is highest
and best I'm national life
Mr. Kenney followed with a strong appeal
for the independence OF the Cubans.
There is not. said he, in all this land
any State whose people are more thorough
the people Of Delaware After discus
sion OF the present critical situation he said
that if belIigerent rights had been. granted
10 the insurgents two years ago Cuba would
now be free and probably untold misery.
the horrors of war and the expenditures OF
vast treasure would have been avoided In
conclusion. after stating his reasons why
the Spanish government should he held
sponsible for the present condition. Mr..
Kenney said that for all these reasons we
ought To fight. and for such reasons we
United States should declare war
Mr.. Chandler then said THE United
States ought Immediately to declare war
against Spain. and 10 maintain that war
until the people of Cuba are made free from
Spanish starvation and cruelty and the
government of the island firmly established
as an independent republic Reasons for de-
claring war are apparent TO the world