The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-13

1 llO4l0 anu OlAlCQ dUcIlCo.
Washington. April 1g-For nearly
three hours today the senate had the
Cuban question in its several phases
under discussion. Three resolutions
bearing upon the question were intro
duced. one by Mr. Lindsay of Ken
lucky. directing that the contemplated
operations against the Spanish army in
Cuba be in conjunction with General
Gomez, the supreme command to be
vested in the United States forces. to
the end that the independence of the
Cubans be restored; the second, by Mr..
Wilson of Washington. directing the
president to at once take such steps as
will restore to the Cuban people an in
/ dependent form of government, and the
third. by Mr.. Allen of Nebraska, de-
claring the existence of war in Cuba
and directing the president to take
steps to stop it and secure to the people
of the island a stable and independent
government
CUBAN SPEECHES.
Following the introduction of the
resolutions. speeches were delivered by
SIR. Pettus of Alabama, Mr.. Mason of
| Illinois and Mr. Butler of North Caro-
/ lima Judge Pettus presented an argu-
ment that the congress could not dele
gate to the president .he power to make
| war. either in a general or in special
sense, and declared that the making of
any war without an express declaration
1 by congress would be disgrace to the
nation.
Mr.. Mason's speech was largely a le-
gal argument in favor of the -recogni-
ton of the Cuban republic and was de-
livered with characteristic fire and We
| hemence.
Mr. Butler spoke for the Opposition
on the floor of the senate. maintaining
that. it had thus far upheld the hand, of
the administration and would continue
to do so for a definite and vigorous
policy. He regretted that the president
had not presented such policy to con-
gress. and held that Intervention with
out the recognition of independence
would simply mean the crushing of the
/ Cuban patriots.
/ Consideration of the sundry civil bill
was resumed, but no progress was
made
RELIEF FOR REFUGEES.
Mr.. Pascoe CFIorida) presented joint
resolution directing the president TO use
not to exceed $1,000 of the fund appro-
priated by congress to relieve American
citizens in Cuba for the relief of Amer
/ lean citizens and others who have re-
Gently landed in Florida from Cuba. He
| explained that while the citizens of Flo
rida were doing all in their power TO
assist the refugees. their means were
/ limited The resolution was agreed to.
! Mr.. Pettus (Alabama) presented a le-
/ gal argument upon the authority of the
congress and the president under the
constitution in declaring and prosecut-
Il N
POWER OF CONGRESS.
Congress alone, he said has power to
declare war and TO limit it. but has no
authority to delegate this power to the
president or any other officer. If war
is to be waged, congress must order
J what shall De the nature of the war de-
clared. and. as commander in chief of
the army and navy, the president must
carry on the war as directed by con-
greSs. and in no other way.
Yet. what are we advised 10 do?"
inquired Mr.. Pettus. IF you boil the
words down to their true meaning, it is
evident that we are advised to dele
gate TO the president the power to in
tervene and make war, if he sees fit,
without any declaration of war at ALL
War made in such a manner-without
a declaration of congress-would be a
disgrace to the land
NOT SO SURE
| When Mr.. Pettus had concluded. Mr..
Allen endeavored to secure the passage
/ of bill just received from the house.
To this Mr.. Mason of Illinois. who had
announced his speech on the Cuban
situation, objected.
Il had hoped" suggested Mr.. Allen,
that the senator will yield. HostilitieS
will not begin today"
Il am not so sure of that" retorted
Mr.. Mason. ''as the senator from Ne
/ braSka seems to be.
Mr.. Lindsay (Ky.) gave notice that
he would tomorrow address the senate
upon his resolution.
| Mr.. Mason then proceeded with his
| speech. He had prepared it carefully,
and confined himself to his manuscript
His speech was a legal argument in
favor of the recognition by this gov
eminent of the independence of the
Cuban republic Mr. Mason was ac-
corded the closest attention by sena-
tors.
MASONS SPEECH
Mr.. Mason said in substances:
AS before announced to you in Ian
guage which could not be misunder-
stood. / am for war. and have been
since the hour our flag was lowered in
! Havana harbor and the lives of our
I citizens taken by the government of
| II. loul etlt1 anu nave bCCA AOA
| this declaration of war only as means
of securing an honorable peace.
Il have no desire TO destroy the
Spanish nation. but her flag must be
dishonored by surrendering her sover-
eighty over Cuban territory, as an
atonement for the lowering of our flag,
sinking our ship and numbering our
men. While am for war. 1 realize that
have but one poor vote in the war
making power of this government, and
/ stand ready in this hour TO uphold
the hands of the executive and take
| the best I can get I have been in
dulging in a hope that seemed almost
certainty that the executive would
recommend intervention and independ-
ence to the Cuban republic. Interven-
ton by force of arms. as recommended
by the president. is war; To declare for
intervention without declaring directly