The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-26
Senator TiI!man'S Speech on Cuban Affairs,
"A STRONG AND ABLE EFFORT.

Cries Aloud in Behalf of y People
Who are Struggling to be Free.
Greenville Mountaineer.
The speech Of Senator b. II. Tillman
on Cuban affairs was reported very
briefly In the press dispatches, and to
give some Of his constituents u better
idea OF what he said on this engrossing
topic, we will make some extracts
from the speech itself. The Washing
ton Post said that, as Tillman arose to
address the Senate, there was com
motion in the galleries and wheeling
about OF the chairs of the Senators,
who were anxious to hear the Senator
from South Carolina. Mr.. Tillman
said
Mr.. President, this is a grave, solemn
crisis in the nations affairs. 1t is not
time for words to be lightly spoken.
Whatever we may do, whichever of
the resolutions we have under con-
sideration shall be adopted, the only
| possible ending to them or to such
action will mean war. There is to be
war in any event unless Spain ignom-
niOusly backs down.
We were told last night, and DO
doubt the American people feel it is
true, that this is a time for action and
not for words. But, MIR. President,
the eXigency is not so pressing but
that we can make the issues Gear and
| say to the world what we mean to do,
and say it in words that can not be mis-
| construed.
shall address myself to this ques-
| tion in no partisan spirit. We gave
| IN | hitiO hprn yunnlyS nf
q unanimous House and q unanimous
| Senate.
| populists, Democrats, Republicans are we,
| But we are all Americans to make Cuba
free.
At least, Mr.. President, | hope we
are. | feel that | can claim this for
the American people with the cxcep.
| tiOn OF 4 few thousand who live within
the purview or within the influence of
boards Of trade and chambers of com
merce and banking hou. es, and that
that sentiment now pulsates in the
| breast Of every true American.
II shall in my speech present facts
and utter words that may have the ap.
poarancc Of partisan bias | disclaim
any such purpose, but [ hope shall be
able to so measure my words that
Will be given the credit for trying
simply to present my views in clear
and unmistakable manner and have
my views based on facts and their
nccess ary deductions.
| r-gret that | can not rise TO the
high and pure plane which the Senator
from Delaware (Nr. Cray claimed
yesterday to occupy. have "suspi-
ci0n" in my nature, MIR. Presi dent,
and 1T has been driven into me by the
fact that my association with men has
led me to know that the angels in this
world are very few and far between,
and | have heard none OF their pinions
iluttCring in this Chamber since have
been here. Laughter. | am frank,
ara have always been SO. | speak that
which | feel, and have always Judged
other men SO until have been forced
by sad experience to know that there
are many who, like Tallcyrand, use
their tongues to conceal their thoughts.
Who is responsible for the condition
OF war into which we are fast hasten
ing? The Executive, after exhaust.
ing diplomacy and being exhausted
by diplomacy-bcca he has got to
the end OF his rope laughter under
the whip and lash OF outraged public
opinion, after Withholding his message
time and again, and being told by the
members Of the two Houses that he
must act, sends q message looking to
intervention, and the House of Repre-
sCntatives, which has had this resolu-
tion of belligcrcncy in its keeping since
last May, at last decides to act, and
then, with indecent haste and only
forty minutes debate, as though it
were the ukase OF o. czar at the White
House, passes a resolution declaring
for Intervention and proba bic war, and
sends it to this body. Are we to sit
here silent and not discuss the condi
tions under which this war should be
conducted and carried on? No, Mr.
| President, we have waited long
enough too long. If any harm shall
come by reason OF waiting, it does not
lie wi .h the Senate or at our door. II
the Spanish llotilla and the accompany
ing fleet shall get into American
waters and some OF our battle ships
shall be sent to join the Maine, it will
not be our fault.
We have acted once. We have been
ready to act for month or more, but
other branches of the government have
delayed. Let the responsibility rest
there. Now let us deccnty and in
order, and with proper clucidation of
the facts and the conditions, discuss
this question calmly and in q spirit Of
patriotism, and arrive at just and
proper conclusion in other words, let
us be sure we are right and then go
ahead"
Mr.. President what is the contcn-
tion here? What are we discussing :?
Why the delay ? Simply about the
form OF ethe resolution which we shall
adopt the results Of which are so
momcntOus both to ourselves and to
the people to WHOM we pretend, or to
whom we intend, to give relief. 1t is
whether we shall recognize govern
mcnt which two years ago we declared
existed, and which one year ago we
reiterated existed, or whe ether we shall,
in obedience to the Influences at the
White House, leave the thing in q
ncbulOus condition, so that there may
be any Interpretation put upon it that
the Executive chooses hereafter.
What are the causes which have led
the House Of Representatives to lingcr
so long, to wait before recognizing
bclligerents rights? What are the
causes which have prevented one Tx
ecutive elected by one party and his
successor Of another party, notwith
standing the obligations, OF its plat
form, which he acCepced when he was
nOminated-wh what, say, are the in
tluences which have made these men
linger and put oil the day Of redemp-
tion for Cuba | wish to God that |
had no suspicion.' | would that the
circumstances were not sn"!, as to