Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-24
CUBA IN THE SENATE.

continued DIS auuIess vi Iuceuhy ou tho
Philippine question. In its course he
became involved ia sens ational COLO
auy with Mr.. Hale, over the govern
ment's conduct OF affairs 10 our "lnsular
possessions"
Mr.. Spooner had hardly begun his
speech when Mr.. Hale interrupted him
TO say that 10 view of what had hap
pened is Cuba il would have been bet
ter had we abandoned it. II thick We
would have been be ter off II we had
not taught the Cubans the lesson that
has been taught 10 the last few months"
Mr.. Spooner-Whst lessonp
Mr.. Hale The lesson of fraud, pecu-
lation, cheating, appropriation OF reve-
nues, stealing, carnival in every direc-
ton of corruption and fraud.
Mr.. SpoOner (warmly)-It is little
tiresome for me TO be called upon Cd
this side of the chamber to reply to a
democratic speech.
Mr.. Hale-I sm as good republican
as the Senator from Wisconsin. | do
not recognize any party obligations
that compel me to consent to the prop
osition that everything has gone right
10 Cuba.
MIR. Spooner-Nobody pretends it.
Mr.. Hale-I do not think the expert
ment has been failure. would vote
tomorrow to withdraw from Cuba and
leave that people to establish and Sc,
up and maintain their own govern
| ment. The time will come when re-
publicans will be glad when we get out
of this thing without worse things hap
pening than are now.
Congress is rs much at fault. The
| administration is not at fault. The ad-
| miuistratiop has selected men who are
believed to be good men. have very
grave suspicion. think there are
very powerful influences in this coun
try, largely located in New York city,
largely speculative and connected with
money making eu erprises. that are de-
termined that we shall never give W
Cuba. / thiuk that the time will never
come unless something earnest and
drastic lie done by Congress, that the
last soldier of the United States will be
withdrawn from Cuban soil. l do not
think the President favors holding
Cuba.
Mr.Spooner-IfI were, as the Senator
says he is, inclined to doubt for one mo-
ment that the United States governmen
will sessonably withdraw from Caba,
should be ashamed OF the government
and ashamed of It's action.
Mr.. Hale-That assurance from the
Senator more than repays me for all that
| have said. l shall count upon him il
| the future.
Mr.. Spooner-To say that the Senator
, will count upon me 10 the future is little
less than sn insult. This is govern
ment OF honor, and it is a people oil
honor. When the Senator expresses .
, fear that the peoples desire to keep the
pledge of this government will be allow
ed TO slumber by the voice of CONNER
calism, he degrsdes the people and un-
derestimates their integrity.
10 reply to Mr.. Spooner's defense OF
this governments action in Cuba, MIR.
Tillimsn (dem }. OF South Carolina, de-
| clared that our agents on the island
we're carpet baggers, and the sooner
they got out the better.
"Oh." replied Mr.. Spooner, "if the
Senator from South Carolina finds a
carpet-bagger in heaven when he gets
there he will prefer to 90 to the other
place."
Il certainly will, replied Mr.. Tillmsn, land
| il the Senator had suffered as much from car.
pet-bsggers as the people of South Carolius
ne would understand why Pm protesting
against srpet-baggng."
Continuing, Mr.. Spooner said that if Mr..
bryan shOuld ever become President OF the
United States he believed he would appoint
men to proceed to Cubs and other island pos
sessions, just as President Mckinley was az
pointing them.
After spirited 6olloquy between Mr.. Spoon.
er and Mr.. Tillmsn, in which the latter ex-
pressed the belief that Mr.. Bryan, as Pres-
dent, would settle the pending question in q
way different from that adopted by Mr.. Nc
Kinley, Mr.. Allen, (pop.) OF Nebraska, rose
and protested against making a'political foot
ball" of Mr.. Bryan's name.
"Of course" Ietorted Mr.. Spooner sarcastic
csly, II am willing to receive lessons in poll.
tical etiquette from the Senator from Nebras-
ka."