Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20

replied that he expected to take minute to
| conclude his remarks.
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Cockrell
| said that he desfred to have passed by Con-
gresS such resolutions would declare the
! Cuban patriots free and Independent, and
| that not the slightest restraint or con-
| straint should be placed upon them. They
would, he doubted not, be able in a short
| time to gain their freedom.
Mr. Teller Cob, speaking upon the Same
subject. said that he had no desire unduly
| to criticise the President or the admins
| tration. He had felt from the beginning
| there should be unanimity 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 til, present one,
had acted pIoperiy its part in the diplo-
matte negotiations.
He was of the opinion that the friends of
the administrations 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 MIR. Hale Satur-
Gay night. re said that it was the first
time in his long exre rience in the Senate
that he haG heard Congress threatened
with an executive veto or had heard the
Senate threatened with a deadlock with
the House of Representatives For sew
eral days, he declared. it indecently
whispered about the Senate that the Pres
contained a provision for the recognition of
the Cuban republic. He did not believe
that the President had ever authorized
airy man to say that he would veto reSolu-
items sent to him by Congress: at least. 10
such information to that effect had reach
ed him from respectable sources. In his
experience he had never known much
temper to he manifested in the discussion
o. serious proposition. He then called at
tcntion to the fact that when he had press
ed Mr.. Hale the latter had disclaimed any
intention to speak for the President. q
He believed that the discussion Saturday
night had grown partly out of the excite
Eient of the moment and partly out of
desire to precipitate political discussion.
Mr.. Teller maintained that he and those
who voted with him had voted against
the conference report early in the hours
of Tuesday morning to sustain a great
principle. Had they been successful then
there could be no doubt that now there
would be in the resolution passed clause
recognizing the independence of the Cuban
republic.
So far as he was personally concerned,
the criticism which had been passed upon
him would have no effect. All he would
have to say 10 the people Of Colorado
would be that he had been 6iametrically
opposed To the Senator from Maine tMr.
Hale) on the Cuban question. That state
ment would be perfectly satisfactory to
them
Mr.. Teller maintained that even today
there was no necessity for intervention by
the United States. Should we recognize
Cuban independence and give the patriots
our moral support he had TO doubt they
would be able to sustain themselves and
gain their freedom.
Mr.. Teller maintained and his statements
were supplemented by Mr. Butler IN. O.,
that the Cuban republic was really first
rate government not perhaps good in all
respects as was the government of the
colonies at the time of the revolutionary
war. but nevertheless sound and in good
form.
Mr.. Foraker (OhioJ called attention to
statements made in the Senate two years
ago by the present Secretary of State Mr..
Sherman. to the effect that the Cuban re-
public had an established form of govern
ment, administered by officials of high
standing, character and ability He held
therefore that if those statements were true
two years ago their truth had been strong
ly accumulated since that time. and that it
was further entirely proper for the United
States to recognize the government of the
Cubans. He added that beginning today
the resolution passed by Congress and the
transmitting of an utimatum based there
on TO Spain was practically a recognition
by this government of the freedom and in
dependence of the Cuban republic.