The record-union., 1898-04-05

but this was not ALL For three years
the Spanish authorities had been i'm
prisoning and numbering American
citizens. OF these facts the Executive
doubtless had been fully advised by
the consular reports, but these reports
had been withheld on the plea that it
would cndanger the safety of our Of
ficials in Cuba to give them out. If
this was true, it revealed a wretched
state of affairs.
Continuing, Mr.. Rawlins said, delay
had been sought last week by the
friends of the President, on the plea
| that message was soon to be sent
in from the President which would
meet all the demands of the country.
AT the same time the private and con-
fidential Secretary of the President was
sending message to his friends urging
| them to the utmost eXertion TO bring
pressure 10 bear to secure peace. We
We're next told that an ultimatum had
been sent TO Madrid demanding the
concession of Cuban Independence;
now comes an interview with Premier
Sagasta, in which he said no demand
had been made by this Government for
the independence of the Cubans. Which
representation was correct
Mr.. RaWlins criticised our hating
policy in strong language, saying that
it was such as to justify Spain in hold
ing the United States in contempt. He
added that the crime of the explosion
of the Maine was due to our indecsion
and coWardice, and that such an act
would never have been perpetrated
upon any other nation.
In conclusion, he made an argument
for absolute declaration of war in
stead of a declaration for armed inter
vention. To pursue the latter course
would be to throw the responsibility
Of declaring war upon the President.
To pass such a resolution would be to
afford opportunity for the peace at any
price party to continue its efforts as
the resolution would be one which the
President could with propriety ignore,
because the responsibility for definite
action rests with Congress.
MIR. Rawlins expressed the opinion
that four weeks would decide an armed
conflict between Spain and the United
States and that it would be decided
without the loss of life. In support
of this assertion, he counted the accom-
plishments of the Cubans themselves
in their efforts to gain their independ-
ence under most unfavorable circum-
stances.
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
At the conclusion of Mr. Rawlins'
speech the sundry civil appropriation
bill was taken up.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Hans
brough of North Dakota, providing for
two additional registers and receivers
of public lands in Alaska whose salar-
les shall not be less than 81, 800 each
per annum nor more than $1,000 was
agreed to- The committee amendment
suspending the executive order of Feb
ruary 81, 1897, reserving certain lands
in the States of Wyoming, Utah. Mon
tana, Washington, idaho and South
Dakota, as forest reservations was dis
cussed at length.
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire pre-
cipitated the discussion by asking for
an explanation Of the amendment. The
explanation was given by Messrs. Tel
Ter of Colorado, Wilson of Washington,
Stewart of Nevada and Shoup of Idaho
At > o'clock, without disposing of
the amendment, the Senate on motion
of Mr.. Allison of Iowa, went into execu-
| tive session and soon afterwards adj
| journed.