The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-21
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Mr.. Foraker Says the Cuban Republic
Has Reen RecogniNcA.


WASHINGTON, April 20.-During the five
hours of discussion in the Senate this after
noon OF it's recent action on the Cuban res
olutionS in the course of which several eX-
tended speeches were made by senators who
voted against the conference report on the
resolutions, only one point was developed.
This was made by Mr. Foraker in the
course of a brief statement concerning the
recognition of the Cuban republics indie
pendence He said: II think quickly, speed
ily possibly even now, on the very day
when the utinatum has been sent to Spain
pursuant to the resolutions that passed
here, this government has practically recog-
nized the republic of Cuba, and think, pos
sibly, it is true we will all know by to-mor-
row that that government is to-day being
officially dealt with by the representatives
of this government, as it should be- This
utterance coming from a member of the
foreign relations committee, created pro-
found sensation among senator's. Being
pressed for the source of his information,
Mr.. Foraker replied that it was positive,
but not official"
The following resolution was presented by
Mr.. Allen; THAT, in the opinion Of the Sem
ate, no circumstances can arise in the re-
lations of the United States of America
an increase of the interest-bearing bonded
Indebtedness of this government, or that
will in any manner interfere in the reform
of the financial affairs of the United States
on lines laid down in the National Peoples
party platform of July, 1896"
The resolution went over under objection.
Bills providing for disposal of lands on
abandoned portions of Fort McGinnis mill
tary reservation, in Montana, and for the
relief of certain settlers thereon, and pro-
viding for the construction of bridge
across the Yalabusha river between Lefiore
and Carroll counties, Mississippi, We're
Consideration of the sundry civil bill was
resumed and Mr. Cockrell continued his
speech on the Cuban question, begun yes
terday
Mr.. Vest inquired soto voice, of Mr..
Cockrell if he proposed to take the back
In concluding Mr. Cockrell said that he
desired to have passed by Congress such
resolutions as would declare the Cuban pa
triots free and independent, and that not
the slightest restraint or constraint should
be placed upon them. They would, he
doubted not, be able in a short time to gain
their freedom.
MR.. TELLER'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Teller, speaking on the same subject,
said that he had no desire unduly TO criti-
else the President or the administration.
He had felt from the beginning there should
be unaninity of action on the part of all
parties in Congress if there was to be war
a war which he thought might have been
averted if the preceding administration and
even the present one had acted properly its
part in the diplomatic negotiations. He
was of opinion that the friends of the adj
ministration, besides being willing to have
war with Spain, were also willing to seek
war among the political factions in this
body Mr. Teller then reviewed the action
of Congress upon the Cuban question. Com
ing down to the speech OF Mr.. Hale last
Saturday night he said that it was the first
time In his long experience in the Senate
that he had heard Congress threatened with
an executive veto or had heard the Senate
threatened with deadlock with the House
of Representatives. During several days he
declared it was indecently whispered about
the Senate that the President would veto
the resolutions if they contained provision
for the recognition of the Cuban republic.
He did not believe that the President had
ever authorized any man to say that he
would veto resolutions sent to him by Con-
gress, at least no such information to that
effect had reached him from respectable
sources" He believed that the discussion
last Saturday night had grown partly out
of the excitement of the moment and partly
out of desire to precipitate political dis.
cussion.
Mr.. Teller maintained that he and those
who had voted with him had voted against
the conference report in the early hours of
Tuesday morning to sustain great prln-
ciple. Had they been successful then there
could be no doubt that now there would be
in the resolutions passed a. clause recognize
ing the independence of the Cuban repub-
lie. Mr. Teller maintained that even to-day
there was no necessity for intervention by
the United States. Should we recognize
Cuban independence and give the patriots
our moral support he mad no doubt they
would be able to sustain themselves and
gain their freedom.
STABLE" MEANT INDEPENDENT.
Mr. Foraker called attention to state
ments made in the Senate two years ago
by the present secretary of state. Mr.. Sher-
man. to the effect that the Cuban republic
had an established form of government, adj
ministered by officials of high standing.
character and ability. He held, therefore,
that if those statements were true two
years ago their truth had been strongly ac-
centuated since that time, and that ii was
further entirely proper for the United States
to recognize the government of the Cubans.
1t was here that Mr.. Foraker made his
statement regarding the official recognition
of the representa- tives of the Cuban repub-
lie. In discussing the diplomatic negotia-
tons between this country and Spain Mr..
Foraker read from a newspaper clipping
| what was said to be q semi-official state
ment, In effect that in a formal dispatch
sent by the President to the Madrid gov-
| eminent the attorney general had changed
| the term independent government TO
made because stable, was the word of di-
| plomacy to be employed in the circum-
| stances. When Minister Woodford had IN
| quired what construction was 10 be placed
upon the word stable" the President had
replied that II must be regarded as mean