Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-12
FOR RECOGNITION
Senator Mason Speaks on the Cuban
Question.
ACTION OF CONGRESS ON TEXAS
Taking an Instance From the Presi-
dents Message.
FRANCES ACTION RECALLED

Senator Mason of Illinois addressed the
Senate at length this afternoon on the
Presidents message sent to Congress yes
terday, and advocating the recognition of
the independence of the Cuban republic.
He said in part:
LAS before announced to you In language
which could not be misunderstood, I am
for war, and have been since the hour our
flag was lowered in Havana harbor and the
lives of our citizens taken by the govern
ment Of Spain. But I am and have been
for this declaration of war only as
means of securing an honorable peace.
II have no desire to destroy the Spanish
nation, but her flag must be dishonored by
surrendering her sovereignty over Cuban
territory as an atonement for lowering our
flag, sinking our ship and numbering our
men. While l am for war, realize that l
have but one poor vote in the war-making
power of this government, and l stand
ready in this hour to uphold the hands of
the executive and take the best 1 can get.
1 have been indulging in hope that SEEM
ed almost a certainty-that the executive
would recommend Intervention and indie
pendence to the Cuban republic. Interven-
ton by force of arms, as recommended by
the President, is war. To declare for inter-
for war seems to lack frankness and savors
too much Of Spanish diplomacy.
IF We can have armed Intervention with
out recognizing the independence of Cuba
and can have nothing else, must accept
the will of the majority, reserving to my
self the right to respectfully protest and
also reserving the right to fight for indie
pendence for the brave men, women and
children in the Island of Cuba.
THAT on this line 1 am following the
way blazed by that great statesman, Henry
Clay, In 1910, and followed by the Congress
of the United States, will at least excuse
me from the charge of self-assertion, even
if l fail to enlist my colleagues in tins
cause.
Mr.. Clay's speech was delivered March
"a, 1918, the House being in the committee
Of the whole and having under considera-
ton an appropriation bill providing for the
support of the government for 1919, Mr..
Clay being anxious that our government
should recognize the independence of Bue-
nos Ayres, and pleaded for the emancipa-
ton Of South America from the Spanish
yoke, Believing that to send minister to
Buenos Ayres was the best way at that
time to acknowledge the independence of
Buenos Ayres, he offered an amendment
which provided for our sending minister
to that country. His speech that day deals
with the propriety of acknowledging the in
dependence of another state: whether 1t
should be done in that way and whether it
was usurpation of executive function for
the legislative branch to speak first. shall
quote fully on each branch, and l am con-
tent to follow him. First, as to our duty in
acknowledging independence. Then, as
now. We were troubled by the cruelties, the
barbarities and atrocities of Spain. Then,
as now, Spain sought to subjugate and rob.
Mr.. Clay insisted that If there was an
established government in Spanish America
We were in honor bound to acknowledge it,
unless We renowned all the principles that
had hitherto guided our councils. He
clearly demonstrated that the united prov
inces Of the Rio de la Plata possessed such
a government. He described it's boundaries
and its people as you would today describe
the Island of Cuba and the brave people
who have fought for it's independence The
united provinces had then, as Cuba has
now, lawmaking power; they had, as Gu
ba has, the power to levy and collect taxes.
Mr.. Clay, in this great speech, read the
message of the supreme director, delivered
to the congress of the united PROVINCES
which ask the privilege to insert as an
appendix to my remarks. After showing
no more soundly organized government
than is shown today in the republic of Gu
ba, he said:
Are We not bound, then, upon our own
principles, to acknowledge this new repub-
lie? If We do not, who will? Are we to
expect that kings will set us the example
Of acknowledging the only republic on
earth except our OWN"
The Case of Texas
Mr. Mason then referred to the quotation
In President Mckinley's message from
President Jackson's message wherein eau
ton was urged as to recognizing the inds-
pendence of Texas. President jackson
used these words.
Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate
that we should still stand aloof and main
tain our present attitude, If not until Mex
leo Itself, or one Of the great foreign DOW
ers, shall recognize the independence of
the new government, at least until the
lapse of time or he course of events shall
have proved beyond cavil or dispute the
ability of the people of that country to
maintain their separate sovereignty and
to uphold the government constituted by
them"
Senator Mason went on
Il purpose now to show, since the execu-
tive mas informed us what the executive
branch of the government thought at that
| time. what the legislative branch thought
and did on the same question. If the ex-
ecutive feels bound by executive precedent
I must be permitted to feel bound by legis-
lative precedent
President jackson did issue the message
spoken of-and 1 call particular attention
to dates-On the 21st day of December, 1885,
yet Immediately thereafter a resolution
was introduced into the Senate Of the
United States recognizing Texan indepen-
dence by Robert ]. Walker, United States
| senator from Mississippi.
ION the LIST of March, before President
Jackson's time had expired, that resolution
was debated and passed by the Senate OF
| the United States, by a vote of % to o.
| and motion to reconsider on the following
day was lost by a tie vote of "a to "A.
THE House of Representatives immedi-
| ateiy made an appropriation for diplo-
| matte agent from the United States to the
government of Texas, thereby pursuing the
very course suggested by Henry Clay in
his attempt to recognize In Congress the