The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-13

the president OF the United States be and
he is hereby directed to employ immedi-
ately the land and naval forces of the
United States In aiding the republic OF
Cuba TO maintain the Independence
hereby recognized.
Sect. s-The president of the United
States Is hereby authorized and directed
to extend immediate relief to starving
people OF Cuba, and for this purpose the
sum Of 81. 000 900 Is hereby appropriated.
CONGRESSIONAL oRATORY.
Both Branches Listen to Speeches on the
Question OF the Hour.
Washington. April 13.-For nearly
three hours yesterday the senate had
the Cuban question an its several phases
ander discussion. Three resolutions
were introduced, one directing that the
contemplated operations against the
Spanish army in Cuba be in concert with
General Gomez, the supreme command
to be vested In the commander OF the
United States forces, TO the end that the
independence Of the Cubans be secured;
the second. directing the president at
once to take such steps as WI secure to
the Cuban people an independent gov
ernment; and the third. declaring the
existence OF war in Cuba and directing
the president TO take steps to stop IL and
secure to the people OF the island a stable
and independent government.
Following the Introduction Of the reso-
lutions speeches were delivered by Mr..
Pettus. Mr. Mason and Mr.. Butler.
Judge Pettus presented an argument
that the congress could not delegate to
the president the power to make war
either in a general or In a special sense,
and declared that the making Of any war
without an expressed declaration by con-
sress would be a disgrace TO the nation.
Mr.. Mason's speech was largely a legal
argument In favor of the recognition of
the independence Of the Cuban republic
and was delivered with fire and We
hemence. Are We to be governed by
precedent" he asked. Here Is the
struggling island of Cuba. and it does
not seem possible that any one now can
doubt, after the testimony Of our col
league. the senator from Vermont. as
to the high character OF the native Gu
bans In revolt against Spain. Mr.. Pres
ident. 1t seems almost like insulting the
intelligence of my colleague to call at
tention to that civil government, when
1t is known through that government
they have collected hundreds of thous-
ands OF dollars and maintained a stand
ing army that has kept at bay nearly
100000 armed and equipped Spanish SOL
diers. and has given evidence of as
great bravery and endurance as any
army in all the recorded past.
ua fn
went down in the harbor of Havana in
our greed for gold and territory? Are
we to leave the door open to compel ad-
ditional terms from the insurgents who
sacrificed their wives. their children and
their homes? Do we wish special
treaties Of commerce and leave the do.<
open for that? Do we wish to relieve
some American investors who have
bought Spanish bonds and who wish to
trade them for the bonds Of the republic? :?
DO We. worse still, wish to leave the door
open to compel those men and wom-
en- to accept some term OF autonomy or
to pay blood money to the Spaniards or
the shylocks Of our own land? May
be forgiven IL express the hope that the
heart of the executive may be touched
in their behalf. May we not hope that
their last. lingering look of life be not
with suspicion and hatred upon your
flag and mine; that 1t may not rest upon
the hated color of the yellow flag OF
Spain, but that In their rapt and parting
moments they may be soothed and sus-
tained by the sight Of their flag, the
flag with single star. the flag of the
republic OF Cuba"
Mr.. Butler spoke for the Opposition"
on the floor Of the senate, maintaining
that II had thus far upheld the hands
OF the administration In the present
crisis and would continue to do so for
definite and vigorous policy. He re-
GREETED that the president had not pre-
sented such a policy to congress. and
held that Intervention without the rec
ognition of independence would simply
mean the crushing of the Cuban in
surgents.
While Mr.. Hill was discussing In the
house the question of reforming the cur
rency. Mr.. Simpson became so obstrep-
erous that Mr. Hopkins. who was In tho
chair, ordered him to take his seat.
When the Kansan declined he instruct
ed the sergeant-a at arms to use the silver
mace. the emblem OF the house authority.
10 compel him. One OF the assistants
took the mace out OF its place on the
nalachite pedestal and marched up the
aisle toward Mr.. Simpson. The latter
laughed at him. Take that thing
back" he said. AS the mace cannot be
employed under the rules in committee,
tho chair did not press the comma nd.
and the incident closed with round of
laughter.
Shortly after the adjournment Mr.
Lentz tDem.. O) made n vicious as
sault upon what he described as the
vacillating policy OF the president. read
Ing from various newspaper reports to