The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-17
BACON's SPEECH A STRONG ONE.
Members of the Georgia Delegation
Greatly Pleased with 1t.

Members of the Georgia Delegation
Greatly Pleased with 1t.
Washington, April Ex-senator Bacon's
speech was particularly clear-cut and
forceful statement of the reasons why
recognition should be granted the cuban
government, and why this was not only
the most just, but the safest and, indeed,
the only logical course to pursue. No
speech that has been delivered has been
given closer attention than this. The SEN
ator was particularly clear in his state
ments of the reasons why in his opinion
the resolutions passed by the House should
not be made the action of Congress. Those
members of the Georgia delegation who
thought with him and who showed ii by
their votes were particularly pleased with
this speech which presents so clearly the
reasons for the action which they had
taken. Under the House rules they had no
opportunity whatever for explaining their
position. 81
The senator's speech was limited to fif-
teen minutes, and naturally he could give
but brief summary of the reasons which
impelled him to favor recognition and to
oppose the House resolutions. He con-
tended that those who differed with the
President could not justly be attributed
with unfriendliuess or hostility. While the
| had been one of those who desired peace
it is apparent that war must come and il
only remains to- shape the issue properly
He differed with the recommendations
of the President of the United States
especially the Presidents desire to have
the power to declare war conferred upon
him, and also in regard to the recognition
of the independence of the republic. He
declared that both he and his colleague
agreed on these propositions. and they
could not, therefore vote for the House
resolutions.
He opposed the contention that the pre-
rogative Of recognizing the independence o.
a nation rests with the executive alone, anC
| ne quoted from President Jackson's las
message to show that he held the same
view of the case.
! He paid eloquent tribute to the magni1
cent valor of the Cubans, who went into
battle knowing that if taken prisoner.
they would be put to death.
He pointed out that in case war came th'
greatest sacrifice would have to be made
by the people of the South. They would no
be laggard in the struggle. but they die
| ask that If they were 10 make this sacr
! flee, it be not a sacrifice in the interests Of
the holders of Spanish bonds, but in tht
| interest of humanity.
In concluding his remarks, Senator Ba
con sent to the clerks desk and had read
two very significant extracts from Spanish
newspapers which he regarded as going
| long way toward fixing the responsibility
for the Maine explosion upon Spain.
One of these was an interview with Ad.
miral Beranger, former minister of ma
rine who assured the Spanish people oil
the safety of the Cuban ports, Havana
Cienfuegos, Nuevietas and Santiago dc
Cuba which he declared were defended by
electric and automatic torpedoes with a
| large range of action. Commenting upon
! this e. impartial regrets the confession
made by the admiral, first, because il
warns the enemy, and second, because il
would be used as an argument TO fix upon
Spain the responsibility for the destruction
of the Maine.