The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-04-20
IN FAVOR Of CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
SENATE AGGRESSIVE.
II Il Demanded That Spain At Once Relin.
quish Her Authority Upon the Island
President Authorized to Act.


last Saturday night with n resolution
adopted by the Senate recognizing the
Republic of Cuba as the true govern
ment OF that island. These resolutions
must now be returned to the house. and
II there agreed upon the presidents
signature will be required before war
can he declared.
These proceedings will entail delay
during which time both the United
States and Spain will continue their
war preparations and the European
powers may again endeavor to use their
efforts to prevent an engagement.
The resolutions adopted by the senate
after u four days debate were as fol-
lows:
Resolved by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
states of America In Congress assem-
bled
First That the people OF the Island
OF Cuba are and OF right ought to be
free and independent, and that the
government of the United states here
by recognizes the republic of Cuba as
the true and lawful government of the
Island.
Second, That II is the duty of the
United states to demand and the gov
ernment of the United States does
hereby demand that the government
of Spain at once relinquish It's author
ity and government In the island of
Cuba and withdraw It's land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
Third, That the President of the
United states be, and hereby is, di-
rtcted and empowered to use the en-
tire land and naval forces OF the
United States and to call into the ac-
tual service of the United States the
militia of the several states, to such
extent as may be necessary TO carry
these resolutions into effect
Fourth, That the United States
hereby disclaims any disposition or
intention to exercise sovereignty,
, jurisdiction or control over said ISL
and. except for the pacification there
Of; and asserts its determination when
that Is accomplished. to leave the gov
ernment and control of the island to
Its people.
The resolutions were passed by
vote OF G7 to q.
The debate In the senate on the Cuban
resolutions Friday, beginning at the
unusually early hour of 10 o'clock, con-
tinued until far into the night, and yet
the throngs remained as If held by
some spell. All the speeches were char
acterized by brilliancy and eloquence,
but 1t Is no detraction from the effort
of any man to say that the notable ut
terances were made by Mr.. Wolcott,
Mr.. Daniel and Mr. Spooner. Mr.
Daniel carried aloft the flag of recog
milton Of the Cuban Republics inde-
pendence, while both Mr.. Wolcott and
Mr.. Spooner magniflcently supported
the policy Of the President and the
Foreign Relations Committee in favor
of armed Intervention with ultimate in
dependence. Amid all the talk, how
ever IL Is not apparent that single
vote on the main question has been
changed.
The house of representatives We'd
M tAG NJ NtNx aAat xys.tN Ntt.fr
and memorable days in It's history, by
vote of 322 to 10, adopted a resolution
which nine-tenths of its members be-
lieve makes war with Spain inevitable.
II is q fact which was grimly COM
msnted upon by members, as they
spoke OF the future, that every war In
which the United States has engaged
in began in April and that Wednesday
was the anniversary of the fall of Fort
Sumter, which aroused the patriotic
fervor of the North and made the four
years of civil strife certainty.
The resolutions adopted direct the
president to intervene at once in Cuba
to restore peace and secure to the
people of this island "a stable and inde-
pendent government of their own" and
authorize him to use the army and
navy to execute the purpose of the re-
solutions.
The resolutions In full follows:
Whereas. The government Of Spain
for three years past has been waging
war on the island of Cuba, against a
revolution by the inhabitants thereof,
without making any substantial pro-
gress towards the suppression OF said
revolution and has conducted the war
fare in a manner contrary to the laws
Of nations by methods inhuman and
uncivilized, causing the death by star
walton Of more than 100000 innocent
non-combatants, the victims being for
the most part helpless women and chill
dren, infcting intolerable injury to the
commercial interests of the United
States, involving the destruction Of the
lives and property of many of our cit-
zens. entailing the expenditure of mil
lions of money in patrolling our coasts
and policing the high seas in order to
maintain our neutrality; and
Whereas, This long series of losses,
injuries and burdens for which Spain
Is responsible has eliminated In the
destruction Of the United States bat
tleship Maine in the harbor of Ha-
vana, and in the death Of 2G0 Of our
seamen;
Resolved. That the president is here
by authorized and directed to intervene
at once to stop the war in Cuba, to the
end and with the purpose of securing
peace and order there, and establishing
W tHc iiCt VI thc PSoPiC tHSiScA
stable and independent government
of their own In the island of Cuba. and
the president Is hereby authorized and
empowered to use the land and naval
forces of the nation to execute the pur-
pose of this resolution"
There is a general feeling in Washing
ton among public men that the action
of congress as foreshadowed in the re-
solutions, renders the situation ex-
tremely critical, and conservative
leaders OF both parties consider war
inevitable. as a result OF their adop-
tion, unless Spain makes final and
complete surrender by giving up the
island Of Cuba. The situation Is re-
garded as so critical that the Republic
ans Of the ways and means committee
as a result of private conferences. have
reached an agreement as to a method
of raising $l00. 100000 additional re-
venue annually for the prosecution Of
the war by increasing the tax on beer
and tobacco. and placing tax on cof-
| fee and tea They also agreed to au-
thorize the issue OF popular loan of
| $500 900. 900. and the issue OF certificates
Of indebtedness to meet emergencies.