The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-01
HOT TALK IN THE HOUSE.
Continued from First Page9


the injury of ourselves, you must admit
that we did all you asked US to do.
In all the history of this republic no
party has ever acted more periodically or
more unselhshly than the Democratic par
ty have acted during this crisis. (Applause
from the Dcmocratsl. There wos a time
when this threatened war could have been
averted. Six months ago If you had done
as we urged you to do, if you had recog-
nized the rights of these struggling pa
triots to fight for independence war would
have been averted and Cuba would to-day
be an established fact in the history of the
world" Applause on the Democratic side)
A member: And the battleshlp Maine.
with all the accompanying lives of Amer
lean seamen, would not have been sacri-
feed"
Mr.. Bailey, continuing: And that I'M
fortunate disaster, which has horrlhed hu,
mainly and Inundated our American citi-
zenship, would never have occurred. You
refused to act and the progress of events
have simply intensified the situation. Tho
longer you postpone doing right-the longer
you postpone action-the more certain it
is that war, and war alone, will extricate
you. In trying to allow Spain to complete
her reconquest of Cuba you have made it
absolutely necessary that you shall inter,
vene in the cause of freedom. There may
be time still 40 avert a war.
within the last forty-eight hours a rep
resentative of the Cuban republic has said
TO me that they did not desire us to en-
gage in war with Spain; that all they ask
is that We recognize their independence,
to give them the credit and standing to
which they are entitled among the ma
tons of the earth, and with their own
strong arms and with their own brave
! hearts they will achieve their ndepend-
ence.
"A representative of the Cuban repub.
lie said to me with great frankness and
feeling: We do not seek TO involve the
United States in a war with Spain. 1t is
unnecessary. Give us a recognition of our
independence, so that we can obtain arms
and heavy artillery, and in thirty days we
will pun an army of a hundred thousand
Cuban patriots in the field, and in thirty
days more the flag of Spain will be trail
ing in the dust of Cuba applause on
the Democratic side.)
THAT is their spirit Why do we not
meet them in it? War! You invite 1t with
all its horrors. l know the horrors
as well as the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. Johnson). I witnessed its desolation
My father and my kinsmen came back
from the battlefields rendered historic by
the courage of those who wore the blue
as well as of those who wore the gray
When they turned from Appomattox, where
they had left everything except their
honor, they came back and on every hand
they witnessed the horrors and desolation
of war. Where they had left happy
home, they found masses of charred ana
blackened ruins.
'FWe do not want war We have twice
offered you the opportunity to avoid IL.
But, Mr. Chairman, we might as well be
frank. If it takes a war to free the island
of Cuba, my voice is, and the voice Of
those with whom have the honor to act,
is Cuba Free without war If possible;
CUBA free, with war il necessary "
prolonged applause from the Democrats
Mr.. Grosvenor, Rep, of Ohio. whose ut
terances are given great weight, owing to
his close friendship with the administra-
ton, answered Mr. Bailey: II rise" no
said, ito point out one or two absurd
statements constantly repeated in tho
newspapers, and which found an echo in
the voice of the gentleman from Texas
He warns this House that If the Presi-
dent attempts to force the Cubans to buy
their freedom. hell will break loose in
about fifteen seconds on the Democratic
side. Nobody proposes to force Cuba to
buy their independence. 1t Is like tai1
told by the idiots full OF sound and fury
and full of nothing. There Is no such
proposition by, to, or from the administra-
ton, and the whole idle prattle OF this
so much folly and nonsense, and yet
statesman, leader of great division up
on this floor, rises and solemnly warns the
Republican side Of this House that if the
President drives Cuba to buy her indie
pendence they will go to work to prevent
1t. Nobody has attempted il, it is an idle
dream of somebody and talk of the news.
papers" 45t
"Wil the gentleman state" interposed
t.
he believes from what he knows that 1t Is
not in contemplation by the President in
the negotia tions now going on to treat of
a money consideration for the freedom OF
Cuban"
1T is too contemplate to answer" re.
Piled Mr.. Grosvenor such thought
never entered into the head of any man
connected with the administration.
isn't there an intimation Of that kind
in the negotiations at Madrid?"
What have we to do with the negotia-
tons at Madrid?" asked Mr.. Grosvenor.
II say the purchase Of Cuba by the gov
eminent, or the suggestion of its appro-
val is story told by an idiot. There never
was anything in it, and this is only done
to fan anew the fame that seeks for polit-
ical advantage upon this floor by spring
ing so-called questions of privilege, that
make the author OF them ridiculous in the
sight of common humanity.
Now, in conclusion: The administra-
ton of this government to-day is anxious
for the freedom and Independence of Gu
ba as any gentleman on the other side of
the House. (Applause) There Is not one
man from the President down to the hum
blest member on this floor who will ever.
without the consent of the Cuban insur-
gents, ratify, agree to. or approve any
settlement of the Cuban question that does
not involve absolute independence for Gu
ba. (Applause) there is not gentleman
on the other side of the House who knows
this fact better or from more direct
source of information than does the gen
tieman from Texas: because he has had
the fullest opportunity to learn the fact
and he knows it Is unjust to the Presi-
dent to intimate that he to-day knows that
the President is trying to force Cuba TO
buy her independence.
"Mr Chairman. this movement will go
forward. The Republicans of the House
and the Senate and the loyal people of the
United States, Republican and Democrats.
are in favor of the independence of Cuba.
But they are in favor of avoiding war II
ii can possibly be done consistently with