The record-union., 1898-04-14

and conquer the insurgents in Cuba has
been futile, we shall continue to deny
to the people of Cuba and also TO the
| Government established by the insur
gents CT Cuba. a recognition of inde-
/ {pendence"
! Foraker then entered into a compari
son Of the Presidents recommendations
! and the recommendations of the COM
nlittee, stating that while there were
some differences of opinion as to what
should be done, they were in accord as
to the main great purpose. AS to the
form and character of Intervention, the
committee differed with the President,
4. believing the time had come when no
further negotiations were in order, and
the committee had provided for action
imm date ard specific, as they believed
to be in character and keeping with the
desires of the American people in re-
spect to this matter
Foraker declared that the recognition
of the independence Of a people strug-
Cling for freedom was always a ques-
ticn Of fact as Of law. The facts as to
Cuba, he said were already established,
not only from newspapers and other
sources Of information, but from Presi
Dental messages, and especially and
particularly from the very able report
OF the Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations. These facts as to
Cuba Foraker reviewed at length.
Continuing. he declared that when
ever the struggle on the part of SOW
ereign to recover lost authority had
ceased to be attended with q reasonable
hope or expectation of success, then
other countries have a right to recOg-
rize the independence of the opposing
people.
Senator Foraker then gave a number
OF reasons why the Cubans should be
recognized, giving details as to the
character of the Government.
Foraker declared that in the matter of
craftsmanship the President and Vice
/ President of the Cuban republic would
compare favorably with the President
and Vice-President of the United States.
Foraker discussed at length the vari
Gus branches of the Cuban Republics
government, showing that the financial,
school and postal systems were, in his
opinion, most excellent in all respects.
He further maintained that the rec
OgnitiOn of the Cuban Republic would
secure to this country the assistance of
Maxine Gomez and his splendid army
Foraker declared that with guns and
ammunition at his command, Gomez
could swell his army of 30, 900 or 10000
to possibly 100000, and that his army,
properly equipped, could evict the Span
ish battaliOns from the island of Cuba.
! Should our navy simply blockade the
harbors, SO that the Spaniards could
! take no provisions, the Cubans would
| speedily put an end to the war, and
| there would be no need for this Govern
ment to expose its troops to the ravages
/ of yellow fever and to other difficulties
that would attend campaign in that is
land in the rainy season.
Foraker discussed at length the ques-
ton of liability for 100000 of Spanish
/ bends to which the revenues of Cuba
are pledged, and in the course of his
argument he was Interrupted by Elkins
of West Virginia. who asked whether
the Cuban Government would not
shoulder the same liability in the event
! of the success of Gomez's army
THE MAINE HORROR.
! Foraker then turned to the Maine af-
1 fair, and declared that he would not be
arguing for armed intervention if he
! did not believe that such course would
give US an opportunity to punish Spain
for the destruction of the Maine and
2G6 of our officers and sailors. CAP
rlause in the galleries)
The contention of Spain that the
Maine was blown up by accident he
bla landed as "a lie to the living and
libel upon the dead" and he declared
that Spain, by her own effort at de-
fense, stood convicted in the presence
Of the world of that hideous and cow
ardly crime.
In conclusion, the Ohio Senator said:
What is our duty in view of it, Mr.
President? We owe to the brave men
dead to Yindicate their regulations
from the brutal charge that they died
Of their own negligence. We owe it,
NIr. President, to the splendid record
of the American Navy to preserve it
from the tarnish sought to be put upon
it. We owe il, Mr.. President, to our
! own good name among the nations of
the earth that the perpetrators of such
a crdel outrage shall not go unWhipped
of justice. No nation can afford to
pass by such an affront as that in s
! lence.
Tt is not morality: it is not Chris
tianity; it is not religion; it is not COM
mon decency; it is not common sense,
but only a maudlin sentimentality to
talk in the presence of such circum
stances and facts about the horrors
Of war War is horrible, always to
be deplored and ever to be avoided. if
It can be avoided consistently with the
dignity and the honor and the good
name of the nation. But, Mr. Presi
! dent, much as war is to be deplored,
it is a thousand times better to have
it in a case like this than to be written
down before all the nations of the
earth-pusilanimous wanting in
pluck and courage.
Yes, Mr. President, business inter-
ests may be interfered with loss of
life may occur, and pretended evils
may arise. but no matter what the
cost in the presence of this great COM
manding duty. we must so forward.
The time. l repeat. for diplomacy has
passed. The time for action has come.
Let the doubling, the hesitating. the
opposing go to the wall while the
strong and patriotic, liberty-lOving
masses of the people coming from all
sections and all pursuits and vocatons
of life rally as one man around our
gallant army and navy, and taking
the flag of our country carry it on to
triumphant victory. (Applause in the
galleries) A victory Mr.. President,
for civilization over barbarism: vic
tory for the right and capacity of man
10 govern himself; a victory for the
Western Hemisphere: q victory for
freedom and liberty and independence;
a victory worthy Of the descendants
of the heroism which achieved our own
Independence and worthy followers of