The times., 1898-02-24

Just nor right, nor honorable. nor con-
Sistent with the character of the Amer
lean people that at this moment of time
we also should bring pressure 10 bear
upon this question of any character that
would have a tendency to disrupt the
honest expression of judgment that we
are now taking in the island OF Cuba.
Mr.. Mason: why would il not be far
better way To let the whole matter go
over for another week There is no hurry
about This bill al the present time, and |
think in view of the statements that
the Senator has just made. that ii would
be better to let il go over until next
week
Mr. Morgan: ''The question might be-
I come worse. or ii might become better.
! ] have no control over this bill; but on
the question which is now before the
Senate the committee has already made a
report. Now if the Senator from Ne
/ braska or the Senator from Illinois feels
/ that the United States ought to make
declaration of war against Spain for what
+ has occurred in that island. and will draw
up a declaration and state the grounds
for il. | viii vote for IT, provided the
grounds are true.
I Mr. Allen: 'The declaration of neutral
/ ity or belligerency is not a cause for war,
and this amendment is only such decla
ration
! Mr. Morgan: "A declaration of bellig
erency Mr. President, can be accepted by
Spain as either hostile act or a friendly
act according to the surrounding circum
stances. If we pass this resolution
through the Senate of the United States
today, and put fl on this appropriation
bill. Spain would be entirely justified in
receiving that as declaration of war
Mr. Allen: why"
Mr.. Mason" Because Of the surrounding
circumstances. The circumstances are
such that we could not today pass that
resolution that was passed here last May
without an appropriation BILL if you
please, without giving Spain the right to
interpret our meaning to be that we were
Extensively interfering in her affairs.
will draw a resolution declaring war
II Srepeat. if any Senator in this Senate
against SPAIN and state the grounds,
will vote for it But, sir, il will oVertaN
the powers of any man to do IL on any
ground at all that would be just and
righteous under the laws of nations. |
will not vote for a declaration of war
against Spain in Disguise.
Mr.. Lodge, who is a member of the
Committee on Foreign Relations. here
took up the question He went over the
ground and stated the course of the two
previous resolutions on this subject. He
said this was n question which should
stand on its own merits and should not
be q rider on any appropriation Dill
Continuing. he said: I'VE have passed
upon this question: we have dealt with
il in q suitable and proper manner; our
opinion is before the world, and before
the other house awaiting its action 1 do
not think that We ought for even one mo-
ment to consider placing such an amend
ment as this upon an appropriation bill.
That, Mr. President is the unanimous
opinion of the Committee on Foreign Re
lations. committee which has been.
and which is, entirely favorable to the
cause for which the Cubans are fighting,
which feels the profoundest sympathy
in their struggle. and the deepest de-
testation of the horrors enacted in that
island and which earnestly desires to see
the Cuban ended. and the honor and
interests of the United States boldly and
firmly guarded and maintained; but
neither the cause of the Cubans nor the
dignity of this Government will be SUBJ
served by adopting extreme and unusual
parliamentary methods of dealing with
this question. We have recognized bel
ligerency so far as the Senate is concern
ed, and | do not think that we ought to
enter on q struggle Of this kind with the
other house.
lit is for that reason. Mr.. President,
and for that reason alone, that the Com |
mittee on Foreign Relations has reported |
as il has; and j trust that the Senate will |
see fit to sustain the views of the COM |
mittee. 10 which these subjects are most |
especially entrusted
Mr. Teller: Il do not intend TO discuss
the Cuban question, but / cannot allow |
the statements of the Senator from Ala |
hama TO go unchallenged that this