Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-30
ANNEXATION OF CUBA
Mr.. Elkins Addressed the
Senate on the Subject.
MR.HANNA TAKES ISSUE
HOUSE CAUCUS WITH SENATE ON
BUFFALO EXPOSITION.
Refuses to Concur on Charleston APP
propriation-Bin Passed to In
crease Schley's Pay.
MR.HANNA TAKES ISSUE


Unger IN HI. chairman of the committee
on pensions made a brief statement of the
work done by the pensions committee dur
ing the present session. 1t showed that the
bills relating to pensions introduced in the
House aggregated 1918. while the aggre-
gate number introduced in the Senate was
292 The total number passed by both the
House and the Senate was 1.151
A resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan call
ing upon the Secretary of State for state
ment of the expenditures of the isthmia1
canal commission was adopted.
The Senate insisted on its amendments to
the naval appropriation bill, and the fol-
lowing conferees We're named: Messrs.
Hale Perkins and Tillman.
Bills were. passed as follows: To prohibit
the killing or taking of seals porpoises,
whales or marine animals or fish of any
kind in the waters of the United States by
means of explosive materials; to extend the
time for the construction of a bridge across
Corpus Christi channel, Texas, by the Ar
ansas HarbOr Terminal Railway Company;
to authorize the director of the census to
compile statistics relating to irrigation; re-
Iatng to the transportation of dutiable
merchandise at SUPPORTS OF Tacoma and
Seattle, Wash.
Mr.. EIkins CIV. VaD then addressed the
Senate in support of his resolution provid-
ing for the annexation by the United States
of the Island of Cuba.
Annexation of Cuba.
Mr.. EIkins said that his resolution had
been misunderstood. 1t had no bearing
upon Cuban reciprocity and was not intend
ed TO have any. 1t simply voiced in con-
crete form his judgment that Cuba ought
to be annexed to the United States. and the
sooner the better for both countries. The
resolution did not suggest annexation of
Cuba in an offensive way. 1t provided that
the Cubans must take the Initiative, and
only after they had asked for annexation
could the United States act.
For nearly century, he said. the annex
alton of Cuba to the United States had
been the ambition of American statesman
ship He pointed out that many distin-
guished and patriotic American statesmen,
from jefferson to Mckinley, had favored
annexation. and he thought the present
was an Opportune time ito carry into effect
the weli-defined wishes of ma jority of the
people of Cuba and the United States in
regard to annexation. 1t is in the interest
of both countries. The environments of
Cuba. with the trials and difficulties that
beset her On the threshold of. her national
life. stand in the way of her being long an
independent nation; while as state in the
American Union her people would be pros
porous and progressive: and enjoy the lib
erty and all the blessings that would flow
from being part of the best, greatest and
1reeSt government in the world.
free trade amongst the states has never
lowered the price of labor worked in
nag floats the price of labor advances
But for the war with Spain, although
so successful and glorious, Cuba would now
be part of the United States
Even with the war had ii not been for
our declaration that the war not waged
Tor conquest or ACKNOWLEDGMENT known as
the Teller amendment. Cuba would today
De a part of the United States Just as
= Porto Rico and the Philippines are This
amendment has proved both mischievous
and unwise
American Union and the isthmian canal
shall be completed, which is now assured
Porto Rico. Cuba, Hawaii and the Philip
pines will be the outpOsts of the great re-
public, standing guard over american in
terests in the track of the worlds com
merce in its triumphant march around the
globe.
There is a tendency In all human affairs
IN government trade and commerce to con-
centraton and combination. Meteors go
TO the sun; small nations are becoming
parts of great nations. and Cuba in her
present environment, situated as she is
cannot be expected to resist this tendency
The effect of the Platt amendments will
be to help bring about annexation A ma
tion cannot long remain half free and half
dependent; such condition ennbarra sses
neaIthy progress in national life and leaves
but little room for the exercise of the
genius and Intelligence of people in af-
1alrs OF government. especially when under
pose AK
There was long discussion and fierce on
position TO the annexation of Texas-much
more. think, than there will be to the
annexation of Cuba-but it came at last as
surely as the annexation of Cuba will come.
Lhere Is not a loyal and true American to
De FOUND within the confines of the republic
VINO would give up Texas, and within a few
years after Cuba becomes state in our
Union not an American will be found will
ing To part with the island"
Mr. Elkins. in closing said too much had
neen SAID about what We owed TO Cuba and
now much depended upon our relations
with the island. He added: "Our able Sec
rotary Of war. who cOnquers with his cold
and frosty intellect. and never had a not
thought, never was swayed by passion in
ms lie. deliberately wrote down these
words in his report: The peace of Cuba Is
necessary to the peace of the United
States
Now. who on earth believes that?" He
continued TO ridicule the idea, which he
said. permeated the statements in the Sem
ate saying that it was "extravagant talk.
ana II was everywhere 1t is all through
Inc country. 1t is Epidemic
Repudiates Mr.. Elkins' Remarks.
Mr.. Platt Comm, while he disclaimed
any Intention Of replying In extenso to Mr..
EIkins expressed the fear that the intro
auction OF the resolution and Mr.. Elkins'
speech might be misunderstood and re-
scented In Cuba He feared the Cubans
might not understand that Mr. EIkins. in
his resolution and in his remarks repre-
scented only his personal opinion. He was
satlShed that Mr.. Elkins did not represent
upon the subject any considerable portion
OF the people Of the United States He be-
Heved the people of Cuba would have a
right 10 charge the United States with had
lath II the United States now should trsti-
tGte propaganda for the annexation OF
the island -
1T would be most unfortunate" said he.
II mat feeling should prevail In Cuba and
therefore wish to say that the resolution
ana remarks Of the senator from West
virginia do not represent the sentiments of
the people Of the United States"
MI Hanna Takes Sharp Issue.
Mt. Hanna (Ohio) took sharp issue with
MT Elkins Cor his assertion that Presi-
dents from Jefferson to Mckinley had
Favored Cuban annexation. Whatever had
oeen the inducements and arguments in
FAVOR OF annexation. 1t never was accom-
Plished- That fact was a sufficient indica-
ZION OF the sentiments of the American
people the subject.
MT Hanna said that when President Nc