Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-04
Mr.. CLAY ON CUBA
Independence the Only Solution Of
the Problem.
DESTROYS OF AVERgIHG WAR
Action in the Senate on the Sub
ject Postponed.
THRONG SPECTATORS

The intense interest manifested by the
people in everything that pertains to the
Cuban question was again manifested to-
day at the Senate end of the Capitol. De-
| spite the specific statement that the Prasi-
dents message would not be sent to Con-
| gress today, and the inferential understand
| ing that the subject Of Cuba might not be
| even referred to. the people came by the
| thousands. AS early as o'clock many
were sitting or standing on the steps lead
| Ing up to the Capitol entrances. Some of
them carried their lunches, evidently deter
mined to sit through the entire session ami
see all there was to be SEEM
1t was great audience that looked down
upon the chamber when the Senate con-
vened. Every seat in every gallery, except
the diplomatic, was filled, and even in the
diplomatic gallery there were several faces
from the various foreign legations.
The chaplain in his prayer referred feel
ingly 10 the death of the wife of Associate
Justice David ]. Brewer of the United
states Supreme Court. No allusion was
made to the pending crisis between Spain
and the United States
MI Petugrew Is. d. presented a tele-
gram signed by more than a hundred of his
constituents reading: "All parties here
want Spanish torpedo fotilla turned back
| or destroyed. Patience exhausted"
Mr. Gear Qowa) presented resolution of
| the Iowa legislature indorsing the action
| CT the President and Congress" upon the
Cuban question and rledging it's support to
| the administration
Mr. Allen presented and secured the pas
| sage of a resolution directing the Secretary
| of the Navy to inform the Senate as 10 the
total number of lives lost in the Maine dis
aster; the total number rescued, and the
total number Of bodies yet uncovered
Mr. Turner (Wash.) introduced a resolu-
ton which he asked should go over until
tomorrow IF in the meantime nothing has
been done in the matter" The resolution
directs the committee on foreign relations
| to report at the earliest moment without
waiting for the concurrence or advice of
| any department of the government what
| action, If any, in view of the Maine dis
aster and of the deplorable condition of
Cuban affairs should be taken to preserve
| the honor and dignity of this country.
When the resolution offered last Friday
| by Mr.. Chandler On. H requesting the Sec
rotary Of State to send to the Senate Gu
Ian consular correspondence was laid be-
| fore the Senate, Mr.. Davis. chairman of the
| foreign relations committee. asked that the
resolution "go over until Wednesday,"
The resolution presented by Mr.. Quay
| Pa-) calling for a report from the foreign
| relations committee on the Cuban question
| by Tuesday also went over a. the request
| of Mr.. Quay.
Quite Unexpectedly a discussion of the
| Cuban question was precipitatai and two
set speeches were delivered upon ii.
MIR. Clay ON the Cuban Question.
Mr. CLAW 0ya \ ha Se6 his arlxS ha col
| upon the resolution submitted by Mr.. For
aker of Ohio, u resolution in favor of ind=-
| pendence and, If necessary, armed inter-
vention. While he fully prepared to
support the administration in it's action
upon the Cuban matter, he was DESTROYS
| that war should be avsrted If it could be-
| by any possibility. Mr.. Clay felt that the
administration ought to be afforded every
opportunity to bring about a diplomatic So
luton of tie pending trouble, and he Felt
certain that so long the legislative
branch of the government was assured that
| the President was acting with judgment
and patriotism 1t would wait upon bis
recommendations.
Mr. Clay said he was satisfied that no
permanent peace could be had in Cuba that
did not include the independence of the
CLbans. With them it is liberty or DEATH
The remedy to be applied to the situation
In Cuba was, in Mr.. Clay's opinion, abso-
lutte independence, it was evident that
the island could no longer be held under
Spanish sovereignty.
Other Speeches.
Senator Perkins (Cal-), in a speech on The
Cuban question, declared that the blowing
UP of the Maine by the Spanish officials
vas an act of war, and he believed it was
| so regarded by nations of the world.
Senators Mantle and Rawlins followed in
order, both speaking for Cuban indie
pendence.
At the close Of Mr.. Rawlins' speech the
Senate took Up the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill.