Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-29
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20.
SENATE.


sistible attraction. The prospective
consideration of the critical problem in
the Senate to-day drew another ire
mendous crowd to the galleries and, as
on previous days when Cuba was the
foremost topic, hundreds of people
jammed the corridors, disappointed be-
cause they could not gain admission.
When the Senate convened beauti
full horseshoe of roses and violets stood
on the desk of Senator Gallinger.
When Senator Mason entered the
G amber the people in the galleries
recognizing him, applauded vigorously.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the finance com.
mittee, reported joint resolution pro-
viding for tie importation, free of du.
ty, of military supplies secured abroad
into the United States and asked for
its immediate consideration. 1t was
passed.
Several joint resolutions bearing
upon the Cuban question were then in
troduced, each one creating lively
sensation as it was read.
The first was by Mr.. Allen. Mr.. AL
lens resolution, was at his request,
laid on the table.
A declaration Of war was next intro
duced by Mr.. Rawlins.
Mr. Foraker then presented resolu.
ton recognizing the independence Of
Cuba and favoring armed Intervention.
Mr.. Foraker asked that the resolution
go to the foreign relations committee.
He said that his resolution had been
long delayed. He had intended, he
said, to present it at the opening of the
session last December but he had with
held it at that time because of the
Presidents message. That message, he
said, gave promise that within reason
able time definite and decisive action
would be taken.
Mr.. Foraker spoke of the delays
caused by the De Ions incident and
the Maine incident, but declared that
the Cuban question would come up
whatever was done with the Maine.
Senator Frye introduced resolution
reciting the conditions in Cuba and d.
recting the President, in his discretion,
to take steps 10 drive the naval and
military forces from the island of Cuba
and to secure the complete indepen
dence Of the island.
The Foraker and Frye resolutions
went to the Senate committee on for
eign relations. The Rawlins resolution
also went to the foreign relations COM
| mittee.
Mr.. Mason followed the introduction
of the resolutions with vigorous war
speech. He described wildly the dis
aster to the Maine. He said that if 80 of
the victims had been Senators or sons
of Senators we would not have been 40
days declaring war; Yet the lives Of
all American citizens were sacred alike
uuder our law and equally entitled to
consideration. Mr.. Mason said the
catastrophe should be replied to vigor-
ously. He could not speak for others
but for himself he was for war. This
declaration brought out vigorous out
burst of applause from the galleries.
Mr.. Mason declared there could be no
peace so long as European nation
owns and butchers its slaves on this
hemisphere. He said it was not neces
! sary for the Maine court to fix the re
sponsibllity. The law did that. If it
was o -pedo or mine it was Span
ish torpedo or Spanish mine. Hence
Spain must answer He would op-
pose any proposition looking to in
demnity as he would oppose making a
diplomatic incident of the catastrophe.
He would oppose any kind of autono-
nay or any plan to assist Spain, but his
demand was that the Spanish flag
should be driven from the western
hemisphere. Neither did he believe
Cuba should be required to pay an in.
demnity to Spain. eve are told" he
said, "we must wait on the Spanish
elections, but if Spanish elections are
as rotten as Spanish diplomacy we had
better not wait" "Let US awake" said
Mr.. Mason in conclusion, ito glorious
war as did our fathers-a war that shall
insure the honor and respect Of
our flag all over the world
l shall oppose any plan to assist Spain
to place any kind of autonomy on
Cuba. Spain cannot be trusted to keep
her promise, and we cannot undertake
to compel her to. Aside from that
poor Cuba has paid larger price for
liberty than we did and she must be
free. 1 shall oppose any plan that
| looks to forcing Cuba in the future to
| pay Spain in cash for her liberty. Her
land is full of graves and her future
generations must not be mortgaged.
Some tell us We are not prepared,
When shall we be better prepared. Will
it be when the Spanish torpedo hotilla
has crossed the water and rests COM
placently on her base of supplies with
ia FIVE or six hours distance of our
feet? Shall we wait until she can des-
troy mora of our ships and men God
forbid that such a crime should be
charged to us. Let us awake Shake
of the Chinese narcotic that locks us in
drowsy Incidence, murmuring "pence
- .nv price," awake as our fpretathers
did at Concord and BunA-. hlil'
At the conclusion of Mr.. Mason's
speech bill providing for q national
exposition of American products and
manufactures in Philadelphia was
passed.
Mr.. Morgan secured the passage OF q
resolution calling upon the President
for information as 10 the disposition
made of Congresses appropriation of
$50 900 for the relief of American citi
z-ns in Cuba and as to the number of
American citizens relieved from the
fund.
The Senate then began the consider
ation of uDohiecte6 bills on the pension