The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-19
SENATE.

Washington, April 16.-The United
States senate has spoken.
It's voice is for war-war until the
saffron flag of Spain shall have oeen
f,,rled in the western hemisphere and
furled forever.
It's voice, too, is for the independence
of the infant republic of the Gem or
the Antilles"
Free Cuba and the independence of
the island republic" was the shibbo-
leth of the senate throughout the four
days Of debate which ended tonight
While the verdict returned was de-
cisive. it is just to say that it was not
final Notes of discord-almOst fore
bodying in their tone-were sounded
This foreboding was not due in any
sense to anxiety about the result or
the impending conflict. 1t was prompt
ed by fear lest, if the action taken by
the senate should ultimately be accept
ed as final, this government might be-
come involved in complications that IN
future years would prove serious.
At 9:1O o'clock tonight the Davis res
olutions, those reported from the COM
mittee on foreign relations, amended
so as to include the recognition OF the
republic of Cuba, were passed by
vote of CT to 21 as a substitute for the
resolution adopted by the house Of rep
reSentativeS.
All day long the contest waged with
an earnestness, energy ability ana
eloquence seldom equaled even in the
senate of the United States. From lO
o'clock this morning until the moment
of the final vote the intensity OF the
interest did not abate for an instant.
Under the agreement limiting the du-
ration Of the speeches, except in Specl-
fed instances, to fifteen minutes, ev-
cry senator who so desired had an op-
ortunity to express his views.
No less than twenty-five senators ad-
dressed themselves to the momentous
question under consideration during
the day and while, under the rule, elab-
crate arguments were impossible, the
speeches were characterized by an i'm
passioned force and eloquence rarely
heard in or out of the halls of the
American congress.
It was not until the first vote-that
on the amendment of Senator Turpie,
of Indiana, providing for recognition
of the island republic-had been taken,
that the senate was brought face to
of it's action.
The scene in this chamber Of many
historic debates was one Of incOmpar-
able solemnity and impressiveness. The
galleries, which had been filled appar-
emily to their utmost throughout the
day, were massed with brilliantly at
tired women and men distinguished in
all walks of public and private life.
On the floor was every member elect
ed to the senate, save one, Senator
Waithall, of Mississippi, who was again
detained from his seat by serious ILL
ness. So deep was his patriotic inter-
est in the pending question, however,
that he notified Senator Spooner, of
Wisconsin, with whom he was paired,
that he could not deem it fair to hold
him to the pair and would, therefore,
release him in order that he might
vote.
The test vote quite naturally was on
the amendment Offered by Senator
Turpie, recognizing the independence
of the Cuban republic. 1t prevailed by
a majority of IA, the vote being 81 to
81. By political parties, the vote was
cast as fallows:
Yeas-Republicans II, democrats q,
populists Z, silver republicans s. Nays
Republicans 80, democrats 5.
Upon the final vote the alignment OF
parties was quite different from that
on the Turpie amendment. An analy-
sfs of it is as follows: Yeas-Republi-
cans "a, democrats 81 populists T. silver
republicans 5; total ST. Nays-Republi.
cans 10, democrats 2; total q.
THE resolution as finally agreed upon
by the senate is as follows:
The house heading, number and en-
acting clause, the senate preamble
resolution, the Turpie amendment and