Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-20

without and ,umultous riot within. but with
impressive words warned the members that
the vast responsibility OF action, With the
momentOu5 consequences that might ensue
rested ca the shoulders of the executive, not
on memberu Of congress whc might be max
Ing speeches for publication.
Let us remember" said he, THAT we have
a flithful plot at the helm, and II the ship
OF state is not near the rlpids. we should
be patient and ready to support him If he
takes the step which the honor and the In
terests Of our country may demand"
LEE is ON GUARD.
He referred to Geaeral Lee as an officer
OF ability cnd experience, who can be relied
on to gulrd joaiously our honor at Havana,
and concluded with an eloquent appeal to the
members OF the house, though they might
have difference, to drown all other voices
as they did in the Venezuelan crisis, and
staad by the president and the country.
While he could lot prophesy as to the future,
he assured the country tnat the house would
not dIEdppont the expectations OF his coun-
trymon.
Throughout Mr.. Hits speech he was
listened to with the closest attention Mem
hers crowded about him and thronged gal
leres leaned over to catch his words. AS he
concluded a roar OF approval swept the floor
and the galleries.
Mr.. Dinsmore (Ark), democratic member
of the foreign affairs committee, declared
the time had come for giving the Cubans the
recognition they had so long sought. He
arraigned Mr.. Hit and the republican side
for alleged Inconsistency, citing their Cuban
speeches under the Cleveland administration,
and then bTanched of to tariff, civil service
bimetallism and various other topics Re
turning to Cuba, he declared that no act
by this government could bring war with
Spain, for bankrupt monarchy which
could not put down $4,000 ragged Cuban sol
diers, would not enter upon contest with
the United States.
CONTRASTS ADMINISTRATIONS
Mr.. Adams rep, Pa. member OF the
foreign affairs committee, followed Mr.. Dins-
more and contrasted the apathy CT the last
administration toward Cuba with the
achievements of this dwelling particularly
on the release of all American prisoners in
Cuba the change in the Spanish war meth
DDS and the abandonment of the policy of
concentration. He maintained that the rec
ognition Of belligerency was purely an eX-
ecutive function.
Did you not vote for bellgerency in the
last congress?" asked Mr.. Sulzer.
81 did" responded Mr. Adams, "but then
we were seeking to protect American prop
erty; that property is now destroyed. We
were seeking to free American prisoners:
they are now all free. THIS whole question
Is nearing a solution of its own weight.
Spain is bankrupt. 1t cannot send another
man to Cuba. There are riots in Havana.
The handwriting has appeared on the wall"
subcommittee had net reported the senate
resolution he sid the committee had called
for official Information. I'VE cann-t rely on
newspaper reports when we see in this city
the lwo sides Of the question presented by
different newspapers"
Mr.. Berry dem, Ky) eloquently pleaded
Cuta's Corse After 10000 Cubans had gone
down to taer death during the last four
years, he said, 1t was absurd for members TO
stand on the floor cf the house and deny that
state Of war exiss on the island today.
81 don't fear war" said Mr.. Berry. 81
think little blood running would be good
far US. Let Spain fire on the American flag
just once and the fame will be kinded that
will free Cubl."
But what will happen to u.s." asked Mr..
Mahaney.
"Oh, we can take care of ourselves re-
piled Mr.. Berry.
After some further remarks by Mr.. Wheeler
dem, Ky) in favor of gran ing belligerent
rights to the insurgents the committee rose,
ans at o'clock the house adjourned.