The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-17


GUS institution, the Louisiana lottery"
spain's Power Slowly Dying
Mr.. Caffery then entered upon discus
sion of the Cuban situation, declaring that
it was manifest that the power of Spain
was slowly dying in Cuba and that her
sovereignty without our interference would
soon be ended there. 1.-THE adoption by
the senate of the resolution reported by
the minority of the foreign relations COM
mittee," he declared, would be to stultify
ourselves and the president would be bound
to veto those resolutions"
Mr.. Caffery, speaking of the recognition
of the insurgents, said
Estates cannot be made like paper money,
in which counterfeits must necessarily play
a most important part"
He thought the war feeling must be eX-
ceedingly strong to justify the acceptance
of counterfeit even under the sweep of
patriotism and enthusiasm.
What fight is it?' he vehemently asked,
SIN which we are going to participate 1t
is not our fight, but fight between certain
insurrectionary factions in the island of
Cuba and the Spanish crowd"
He then paid glowing tribute to the
wisdom, the patience and the high patriot
ism of the president.
Even without Intervention on our part
it was the opinion of Mr.. Caffery that the
island of Cuba would be free.
Before the very nature of things Spain
would have to relinquish her hold in the
western hemisphere.
A Great State Paper
Mr.. Hawley, of Connecticut, pronounced
the message of the president as one of the
great state papers which would be justi-
fled In the light of history. He criticised
the resolutions as presented and thought to
all intents and purposes the house resolu-
tion more nearly reached all the phases
of this complicated question than any
reported.
Mr.. White, of California, stood before the
senate to address himself to the most mo-
mentous question which had ever been
brought to the attention of the American
people. 1t was disagreeable to dissent
from the common view to set aside the
popular feeling. The plaudits of the people
were always inspiring, but the senate was
confronted by solemn duty, solemn re-
sponsibility, and so far as he was concerned
he could no more give up his convictions
than he could yield up his life The sem
ate was here to face war which now must
come upon the country, but he thought 1t
not amiss carefully to consider the situation
which confronts us.
1.-THE record here made" said he, will
live as long as reason and justice"
Spain Had Failed of Its Duty
Nobody doubted, he said, that the gov
ern of Spain has failed of it's duty and
msgoverned Cuba. No one doubted the
issue of the coming war between Spain and
the United States That the triumph of
this country would result was certain.
But" said Mr.. White, "our nation with
its S0,000000 of people and vast resources
is great enough to do exact justice. 1t
has been we'll and thoughtfully said that
no more sublime spectacle has ever been
presented than that of a great nation sac
rificing for justive it's passion and PRIDE"
Mr.. White declared that in view of the
recent action of Spain in making a large
appropriation for the relief of the recon-
centrados and in abolishing the edict of
concentration she has met the only argyll
ment of many senators in favor of hostil-
tiles. Spain has swept their footing from
beneath them and they no longer had a
standing in court.
In significant peroration he said:
'Those of us who dissent from the ma
jority do SO from the dictates of con-
science but whatever resolution Is passed,
pledging this country to a declaration,
that history will have to decide whether
right or wrong, you will find no deserters
in the camp. We have our opinions deep
ly rooted, perhaps, and firmly set, but we
are all Americans When that judgment is
rendered there is-but one action that can
be taken. Shoulder to shoulder hand In
hand, we will march forward with equal
step to vindicate that government which
we believe to be the best Almighty God
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