Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-15
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON April Is.
SENATE.


SENATE.
Despite the lowering clouds which
/ threatenened to pour Gut their suspend
ed torrents at any moment and despite,
too, the unusually early hour OF conven-
| ton the Senate galleries were thronged
this morning when the Vice Presidents
gavel fell precisely at ten o'clock. War
discussion, powerful magnet, here
tofore, to-day proved irresistible, for in
, addition to discussion, action by the
Senate was expected by some persons.
Indications before the Senate con-
vened were that the debate would be
| prolonged, perhaps far into the night,
as it was the expressed intention OF
| Chairman Davis to endeayor 10 force q
continuous session until the pending
resoluNons were disposed of. When
the Senate adjourned last night the
Vice President mad before him list OF
tweniy.threeS Senators who had express
ed their intention to address the Sen
ate upon the momentOus question be-
fore it. Whether all of them will avail
themselves of the opportunity to talk is
somewhat predetermined, as dozen or
more have announced that they will
not stand in the way of al early vote.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Davis the
ordinary morning business was set
aside and the foreign relations commit
tee Cuban resolutions were laid before
the Senate.
Mr.. Culom delivered carefully pre-
pared speech covering the general
Cuban question. After directing atten.
ton to bis own record in the Senate
upon the Cuban matter Mr., Cullom de-
clared that the hour for action by this
country Was about to strike. Step by
step Spain had been pushed back from
the western hemisphere and now she
was about to lose another-and the
chief-gen CT her colonial possessions.
If Spain should be permitted TO pursue
her course in Cuba she would go on
without remorse and destroy, if posi-
BILE, the patriots to the last man.
Mr.. Platt presented resolutions pass'
ed by the republican editorial associa-
| ton Of the STATE of New York endors-
| ing the Presidents course on the Cuban
question.
They were laid on the table.
Mr.. Berry spoke in favor of
the recognition of the independence
of the present republic OF Cuba.
He pledged the South to loyalty TO the
flag. While he would reserve his judg-
ment until the record had hsen made
up of the valor Of the southern soldiers,
| he believed the record would be i'm
perishable in the history Of modern
civilization; and at the close Of some
glorious day with the stars and stripes
flying oyer tie plains OF desolated
Cube, the valor of the southron would
stand side by side with the yalor CT his
northern comrades. There were many
manifestations OF applause in the gal
leries upon the conclusion OF Mr.. Rerry's
speech, which brought Mr.. Cockrell to
his feet with protest against such a
display of comlendation, and invoked
the Vice President to ANNOUNCE to the
galleries that the Senate could not be
turned into beer garden. Accord
ingly the presiding officer informed the
immense concourse of people present
that they would have to observe the
dignity of the Senate or the galleries
would be cleared.
Mr.. Daniel was next recognized. He
said "We stand upon the edge of war
The netion is one with the sword in its
hand, and if the word that now hest
tates upon the lips be spoken. and the
command Forward be given, upon
some proud day the stars and stripes
will be waving oyer Moro castle and
Cabannas prison." He said he was
now face to face with situation that
betokened grim visaged war, and he
wanted to do everything possible to
support the President in the needs of
the hour. He invoked the white dove
of peace to spread it's wings over the
impressive scene, displacing the
eagles shrill cry, but found in
the invocation nothing but war.
81 WISH" said Mr.. Daniel, "to cast my
vote in my own good time, without
pressure behind me. War will wait
day. Possess your aonls in peace, gen.
tlemen, while the awful issue o. war or
peace is decided. The men who de-
clare this war are not the men who
will prosecute it In the field. They are
not the men who will sustain the glory
and bullet tettered standards before
the enemy. They ere not the men
even who will pay the taxes imposed
to carry Cd the var. Let the Senate
go on 10 its measured tread, amid no
rancorous scenes. We speak not as
party men, but as men who would arm
the executive branch of this govern
ment etrongly and well to perform a
great duty az we see it. In my judy
mnent," ss!!d be, 'onr &&rst step should
be to write on the sststute books e the
country q recognition OF enc great
Cuban republic. which has won place
among the Independent nations by its
own valiant sword"
Some sharp criticism of the Presi-
dents action and message induced
heated colloquy between Mr.. Daniel
and Mr.. Gray. In response to ques.
ton of Mr. Daniel directed at Mr. Gray
as to the position of the President, the
Delaware Senator replied: II agree
with the Senator from Virginia in that