The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-10

said: II charge now that the purpose of the
administration Is III consonance with the
wishes of the Spanish bOndhOders and be-
fore peace IS SECURED in Cuba security for
the payment Of that tremendous debt must
DC given by the bloodst8ined island. That,
J say, appears To be the wish of the admin
istration and. / may say. of SPAIN
A SENSATIONAL INTERRUPTION.
A sensational interruption of Mr.. Cannon
occurred. There was buzz of conversa-
ton among those of the spectators-mem-
bers Of the House of Representatives and
others who lined the inner walls of the Sen
ate chamber when Mr.. Hale addressed the
Vice President. He expressed the hope that
order might be preserved and the rules of
the Senate strictly observed Just as the
interruption occurred AIR. Cannon had made
the statement that every rifle in the hands
Of the Cuban patriots had cost them $500.
After quiet had been restored Mr.. Cannon,
whose race was white paper and who
was evidently painfully affected by his emo
ton, said: 7 do not ordinarily object to
remarks of denial concerning statements
which make on this floor. However, to a
statement which l just made the audible
comment was added that it was lie. |
care less, MIR. President for the remark
than Tor the spirit which actuated ii. /
reasSert II as a solemn truth that the Cuban
patriots have paid $500 for every rifle they
nave in use i'm their army. These arms
nave come from the United States. Every
railroad and every express company and
every filibustering expedition which has
landed arms and munitions of war upon the
Island OF Cuba has taken its deadly toll"
The remark which Mr.. Cannon referred
20 came from a member of the House who
was talking to another member just behind
the senate chairs In conclusion Mr.. Can
non maintained that the present policy of
the administration was to hold the Cubans
while. Spain outraged and pillaged the
island. Il believe that one strong, brave
word spoken in time will absolutely free
cuba, and am firmly of the belief that the
result OF such word would not be war be-
tween Spain and the United States
Mr.. Hale followed Mr.. Cannon with a mo-
ton to refer the Cannon resolution to the
committee on foreign relations. and with a
speech deprecatory of the policy of con-
greSsi0nal declaration the Cuban ques-
ton and in support of the course of the adj
mlnistration Gu that question. The Cannon
and Mason resolutions were. he said in
tended to put the administration i'm leading
strings in its policy as to Cuba They as
sumo that the country cannot wait upon
the executive, but are intended to drive the
administration into course fraught with
danger and one which may involve the coun-
try in an armed conflict with a now friendly
power. Mr.. Hale also discussed the policy
involved in the amendment to the diplo-
offered by Mr.. Alien This amendment pro-
vides for the recognition of Cuban belliger-
ency.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS. DONE.
Taxing up the policy of the administra-
ton, Mr. Hale said it had been clearly out
lined in the Presidents first message. The
statement of policy then made was, he
said, most clear and conclusive. The Presi-
dent had in this document laid down the
chart of his conduct as to belligerency and
had said THAT he would act if occasion
should demand action on his part. AS
matter Of fact. the administration had
acted. and most effectively, and one of his
acts had been iii refutation of Mr.. CannOns
assertion that there were many American
citizens imprisoned in Cuba. Since the
writing of the message the President had
lease of all American citizens in Cuban
Jails, and there were none now left in dur
ance in that country. But this was only
administration in this field. The President
had made an appeal for benefactions and
had secured the opening of the doors for
the introduction of the aid our people have
so freely sent. Furthermore, the command
ing general whose barbaric methods had
rendered him unpopular had been removed
at the Presidents instance. Still another
result was the establishment of autonomy
which was a charter of human liberties
broader and deeper than is maintained ANY,
where on the globe in a dependency by an
Anglo-Saxon government. All this had
been done, but the result of these efforts
was still in the balance. Hence, in the face
OF these facts. intlaminatory resolutions
were out of place. The Senate he said was
not an intiammatory body, and would not
be carried OFF it's feet. Nor did he agree
with Mr.. Cannon that the people at large
wanted war If our people really wanted
to fight, they could have gone to Cuba to
Mr.. Hale asked, and paused for a reply.
for the name of an American citizen with
an English name who had gone to fight i'm
Cuba Had the Utah senator in his mind
the name of such a person? OF the 250. 900
old soldiers living none had gone across the
narrow strip of water that separated Cuba
from the United States to fight for the free
dom of that island. 1t was clear to the
Maine senator that the fight was to be
made in the United States Senate and there
only. Mr. Hale controverted the idea that
the administration had been cowardIy in its
treatment of the Cuban question. saying the
results showed the contrary to be true He
closed with motion to refer the resou-
ton to the committee on foreign relations
which was done without division.
Mr.. Cannon again took the floor for
brief personal explanation bearing upon the
scene in which he had participated towards
the close Of his remarks. He said the gen.
tleInan to whose utterances he had taken
exception had explained to him that the
utteranceS had reference to another subject
He was willing, he said. to accept the ex-
PLANTATION, as he had no doubt the Senate
would be.
THE HON. BILLY" MASON.
Mr.. Mason was then recognized, and the
expectancy Of the great crowd which
swelled the galleries was at the keenest
pitch. He had awaited this opportunity.
smiling and taking occasional notes of Mr.
Hales speech. He stood in front of the
Republican side of the chamber, OCCASION
ally stepping into the front area There
was a buzz of comment as he arose, and
his resolution was read from the desk. He
began TO speak in an easy conversational
way, but gradually warmed to the subject
he had hesitated long. he said. as he feared
mat by some incautious step he might in
gure rather than benefit the Cuban cause
But he was ready to make the step now
Ieellng that any blame must fall on him.
nal acfl ffxr
i deny the insnuation" said he sharp
~, that this is an effort to put the adj
minlStratlon in leading strings He was
Republican, and he was proud of the pa
triotism of the executive. But. Mr.. Mason
tho cause of Cuba. The senator from Maine
(Hale) had declared that no American
names could be cited i'm connection with the
cuban cause but at least two names could
Kansas. and Raby. the son of a well-known
citizen of Chicago. Supplies and relief had
been flowing to Cuba and with them the
arms and powder with which the SpanardS
were To kill the women and children of
Cuba.
Il am charged with seeking war" ex-
planned the senator but my resolution is
for peace Gne word from this adminstra-
ton would hiring peace TO this continent,
and under TIE providence of God we he
lieve it would bring Independence to Cuba,
Ihere was burst of applause at this dec
laration. The thumbscrewS of the inquisi-
ton We're again brought into use in Cuba
proceeded Mr. Mason. The pnchers that
tributed TO the carnival of cruelty. Three
hundred thousand people starved Three
hundred thousand more marching to the
grave. And yet the cry was raised that
war was being sought. when the one and
only cry was for peace and an end to this
atrOcity