The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-10

secure the release or al Alh0A Ioe'-A -"
zens from Cuban jails and there Wss A D,,t
49, 1aSt IN DURANGO in that country. But
tbis was only one of the many accom-
nlisbments of the administration IN tnls
Held Tlhe President had made an appear
fo,. hanefactions and had secured the open
inc of the doors for the 1ntroductlon OF
the aid our people had SO freely sent.
Furthermore the COMMANDING general
whose barbario methods had rendered
him unpopular, had been removed at the
president's instance. Still another result
was the establishment of autonomy, which
was a charter of human liberties, broader
and deeper than was maintained any
where on the globe in dependency by
Anglo-Saxon government Ali this had
been done, but the result of these efforts
was still in the balance. Hence in the
face of these facts infiammatory resolu
tions were out of place. The Senate, he
said, was not an infammatory body and
would not be carried off it's feet. Nor did
he agree with Mr.. Cannon that the peo-
pie Mt large wanted war. If there had
been any such sentiment it would have
found a better outlet than through Sen
ate resolutions. If our people really
wanted to fight they could have gone to
Cuba. to do it. He asked and paused for
a reply for the name of an American citi-
zen with an English name who had gone
to fight in Cuba. Had the Utah senator
in his mind the name of such person?
OF the 900 old soldiers living, none
had gone across the narrow strip of wat
er that separated Cuba from the United
States to fight for the freedom of that
island. 1t was plain to the Maine sena-
Gor that the fight was to be made in the
United States Senate and there only
Mr.. Hale controverted the idea that the
administration had been cowardly in ats
treatment of Cuban questions, saying the
fcfI Chn bnc
He closed with d motion to refer the
resolution to the committee, on foreign
relations which was done without dIVls'
ion.
Mr.. Cannon again took the floor for o
brief personal explanation bearing upon
the scene. in which he had partlclpaIea
towards the close of his remarks. he
sold the gentleman to whose utterances
he had taken exceptions had explained TO
him that the utter ance had reference 20
another subject. he was willing, he
said. to accept the explanation, as he mad
no doubt the Senate would be.
Mr., Mason of Illinois was then recog-
nized and the expectancy OF the crowd IN
the galleries was at the keenest pltch.
Mr.. Mason had taken occasional notes or
Mr.. Hale's speech Hesstood in front of
the Republican side of the chamber, oc-
casionally stepping into the front area.
There was buzz Of comment as he arose
and his resolution was read from the
desk. He began to speak in an easy, con,
vocational way, but gradually warmed
he said, as he feared that by some in
cautious step he might iniure rather
than benefit the Cuban cause. But he
was ready to take the step now, feeling
shat any blame must fall on him, for he
assumed full personal responsibility
~ deny the insinuation." said he sharp
w." that this in an effort to put the ad-
mini tration in leading strings.
| He was a Republican and he was proud
of the patriotism of the executive, but
Mr.. Mason said he spoke his personal
convictions on the cause of Cuba.
The Senator from Maine (Hale) had de-
clared that no American names could be
cited in connection with the Cuban
cause, but at least two names could be
given from passing memory, Funston
Of Kansas, and Raby, son of a we'll.
known citizen of Chicago. Supplies and
relief had been flowing to Cuba and with
them the arms and powder with winch
the Spaniards were to kill the women ana
children of Cuba, u am charged ma 1,n win
"but my resolution is for peace. One
word from this administration would
bring peace to this continent and under
the providence Of God we believe it
would bring independence to Cuba. =
The thumb-screws of the Inquisltlon
were again brought into use in Cuba,
proceeded Mr. Mason. The pinchers that
| tributed to the carnival of cruelty. Three
hundred thousand people starved. Three
hundred thousand more marching TO the
grave. And yet the cry was raised that
war was being sought, when the one and
only cry was for peace and an end to this
atrocity.
Mr.. Hale interrupted to say Mr.. Mason g
| figures of those said to be dead and
starving were far exaggerated and out
| of all proportion to the known population
of the island. s'Such statements are
monstrous, declared Mr.. Hale.
THAT'S what I think interposed
Mr. Mason, and sgain the galleries
applauded vigorously.
The statement was monstrous, ADDED
Mr.. Hale, in it's Inconsistency with the
known number of people on the island.
The figures given would show, he said,
that one out of three of the population
had died.
eyes, and in some provinces 80 per
cent. or one in two," answered Mr.. Ma
son. He said he would establish this fact
| by the letters of MIR. Pepper, man reeog
nized as conservative in his statements.
| Mr., Hale interposed that IL the state
| ments of newspaper correspondents were
| to be cited then both views should be
given and the statements of Mr.. Wright
man, another correspondent, should be
placed alongside of Mr.. Peppers.
Mr.. Mason read the statements of cor
respondents as to the famine and distress
| In Cuba. He said that Mr.. Pepper S
startling statements had been written
since the mild-mannered Blanoo had as
sumed control in Cuba and had attempt
ed to bride the insurgents into peace-in-
surgents whom he was afraid to fight.
| Referring to the statement of Mr.. Hale
| that President Grant had not interfered
in the ten years war, he urged that the
situation had materially changed since
| that time. Our country was then in the
throes of reconstruction and WAS in no
position to intervene. Now our position
was different and back of it all was the
demand of our people that we take official
| cognizance of the war in Cuba.
| Mr.. Mason said: ''This government
ought to maintain that the horrible mas
saores which are now too common in
Cuba and conducted under the guise of
warfare must be stopped. We have no
right as a neutral nation, fully regard
| full of the rights of all, to look upon such
warfare as within any reasonable con-
struction of international law. The flag