The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-10

Cuban leaders by brides. Mr.. Mason con-
tended that Uncle Sam was in effect q
policeman whose duty it was to exercise
his power to prevent further bloodshed
| upon tho island.
"ShouId the President take such act.
ion," declared Mr.. Mason, che would
have behind.him the army and the navy
and above all, the people. ~ :.
Mr. Mason read a letter from an Ameri-
can woman who is a mother superior in
convent in Havana, picturing the sad
condition of affairs there. Weyler, said
Mr.. Mason, had succeeded in killing
hundreds of thousands by his policy of
concentration.
The law of compensation would de-
mand punishment for the crimes here
inflicted While these men and women
were starving, the Senator said, the BUCKET
shops sent us price lists.
"These stock jobbers," he excl eimed,
'teIl us that war is hell. In Cuba 1t
Is worse than hell"
Mr.. Mason said that when the buket
shops wrote the legislat on of the coun-
try the evil day was upon us. Inc he
publican party has promised to stop THIS
condition of affairs and no man had q
right to fnterdict this resolution, let
him sit in the White House OF elsewhere
(Applause.)
ing the declaration of the ST. Louis plat
form nothing had been done" Nothing,
he said, Except to pass beilIgerency
resolution in the Senate, and he added
amidst laughter, referring evidently to
Speaker Reed, cit is not certain whether
be will pass it on the other side -
Mr.. Mason expressed the opinion thau
there was an effort in Spain to force
this country to buy Cuba. He said the
Spaniards had always been hostile TO the
Republican institutions of this country
Spain was without honor, cash or credlt.
Her soldiers were conscfipts ana ner cap
tain generals either thieves like Wsyler
or bribe-givers like Blanco. We did not
want the island, but If necessary to save
the women and children of the island
let vi, he said, for Gods sake, buy them.
Ee declared that the autonomy which
Spain had offered to Cuba was gold
brick which Spain was trying TO work of
| on the President. The President had
been deceived, as the real scheme was
withheld until after his message was
written.
| eve have fed the starving women and
Children" said he, eve will settle with
Spain on land or seq. have no dispo-
the admi Illustration. 1 have little interest
in anything but this great question. l
have little heart to look 1000 miles to the
westward of our great country-to Ha-
waii-When we have such a struggle go
| ing on in Cuba almost at our very doors. :"
In conclusion, Mr.. Mason said: :" Mr..
President, if there is to be a war, let it
| be a war not of our seeking, not war
| in which our soldiers shall carry torches
| in their hands, but let it be a war in de-
| Tense of our country or in defence of the
imperisable jewels OF humanity, jewels
more sacred than life, d war of glory and
of honor"
On motion of Mr.. Hale the resolution
was referred to The committee on foreign
relations Mr.. Morgan introduced re
solution requesting the President to send
copies of reports made by the consul
| general of the United States at Havana
and other consuls of the United States
| in Cuba relating to- the war which have
been received since the fourth Of March
last and also requesting the President
to inform the Senate whether any agent
of the government in Cuba has accredlt-
ed to the government or to the President
of the United States with authority to
negotiate "a treaty of reciprocity with
| the United States; and whether such has
been recognized and received as the re-
port of such government in Cuba. The
resolution was laid on the table.
| Mr. Chandler then called the resolution
| declaring Mr.. Corbett not entitled to the
seat of senator from Oregon, and Mr.
| Pettus, Democrat of Alabama, spoke up
on it. He contended that the question
| involved in Mr.. Corbett's case had been
| long settled by the Senate There was
no reason for further attempt at over
| turning the law as established.
At O'Clock the Senate adjourned.