The National tribune., 1903-07-30

crime to induco 1erican Intervention Al
interesting inAdeBt of this session was
the visit of Senators Proctor. Money. Gal
linger and Tharst6n to Cuba They re
lated their observations to the Senate, and
their narrowing accounts of the acute con
ditions there existing stimulated the gen
eral feeling that the time for action or
our part was near at hand. A little later
the Committee on Foreign Relations. con
sisting of SenatMs Davis, (who had sue
ceeded Mr.. Sherman as Chairman upon
his becoming Secretary of Statel, Frye
Cullom, Lodge. Clarke. Foraker. Nor
gan. Gray, Turpie. Daniel and Mills. con
cluded that The destruction of the Maine
was compassed by the official act of tn,
| Spanish authorities land the ascertainmcni
of the particular person is not MATERIAL
or was made possible by Il negligence Oh
| their part willing and gross as to he
equivalent in culpability to positive crimi
nal action
They expressed their belief that recos
milton of the belliserency of the Cubans
| If 1t had been given Seasonably when II
was suggested by concurrent resolutions
to that effect passed by Congress, would
have caused speedy termination of the
war without involving the United States
in the contest but that now it would
fall short of meeting the situation. Thc;
| might have repeated the remark with ref
erence to the failure of the House Repre-
sentatiyes to concur in the joint resolu-
ton of the Senate recognizing Cuban bel
ligercncy.
At this time Spain was engaged in the
last hopeless effort to bring about an arm
Cmy, and our Minister at Madrid, Gen
Woodford. was still parleying with the
Spanish Ministry upon some vague prop
| osition, which it was thought might pla-
cate the Indignation of the American peo.
pie by assurance from Spain. of stable
Government based on the participation OF
the Cubans therein.
But the day of diplomacy had passed
and the press of the country clamorOusly
called for, while the people impatiently
expected some decisive word from the
President. Indsposed to war and hav-
ing done all he thought he could to pre-
vent it. the President spoke that word on
April ]. 1898, in a message to Congress,
in which he reviewed the Cuban revolu-
tion and recommended the fOrcible inter
vention of the United States as Il neutral
to stop the war. according to the dictates
of humanity and following many historic
precedentS where neighboring states had
intervencd to check the hopeless sacri.
flee of life by internecinc conflict beyond
their borders, justifying themselves on
national grounds.
He added these words: at involves,
however, hostile constraint upon both the
parties to the contest. as well to enforce
Il truce as to guide the eventual settle
ment."
Two days afterward April 13. 1893, the
Committee on Foreign Relations through
their Chairman submitted an able report
i'll favor of Intervention and recommended
the adoption of
JOINT RESOLUTION
for the recognition of the independence of
the people of Cuba. demanding that the
Government of Spain rclinquish its au-
thority and government in the island Of
Cuba, and to Withdraw its land and ma
val forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
and directing the president of the United
States to use the l,,nd and naval forces of
the United States ito carry these resolu-
tious in effect.H .lr
4 minority, consisting of Messrs Tur-
pie. Mills, Daniel and Foraker, concurred
in the report. but favored THE immediate
recognition of the Republic of Cuba as Or
saniZed in that island as a Free inde-
pendent and sovereign power among the
nations of the world
The resolution as originally offered by
Mr.. Foraker had contained such n pro-
vision. and on the motion of Mr.. Turpie
the words were inserted in the first clause
''and that the Goyernment of the United
States hereby recognizes the Republic of
Cuba as the true and lawful govern
ment of The island.'' The debate OH this
question was deeply interesting.
The suggestion Of the President, of neu
tral mtcrvention-of hostile constraint on
both parties without any recognition of
rights to the nsurgents-was specially
,as., oil 81,
spect which this Republic should show
10 Deighboring people following its ex-
ample. Abraham Lincoln in the House
81 Representatives on Feb. u, 1913. de-
c!ared that "any people, anywhere, being
inclined and having the power, have the
right TO rise up and shake off the existing
Government and form new one that suits
them better" This is a most valuable and
sacred right and right which we hope
and believe is to liberate the world 1t
was by the exercise Of this right that the
United States became n free Nation. 1t
was this right that the Cubans were eX-
ercising against the most odious and cruel
despotsm that has ever oppressed any
land on the American continent. 1t was
but Just that we, who were the first TO
proclaim the right, should be the first to
accord It to our neighbors. Besides. the
consideration weighed with some that the
recognition of the Cuban Government
would give us n competent authority and
ingratiate our country into its confidence
and good will. 1t is the destiny of the
island ultimately to be annexed to the
United States and a liberal policy would
best pave the way to that consummation.
Eager and impatient crowds filled the
Senate galleries and awaited the result of
the debate, while the press of the country.
in morning issues and extra editions, warn
ed the Senate that the Spanish fleet of
Cervera was heading under full steam to
attack American ports, and that while the
Senate debated Rome might perish. -
Every Senator except the lamented Wal
thall. who was then sick and soon after
ward departed this life. was present.
BY a decisive vote the Senate supported
the view that the Republican Govern
ment of Cuba should be recognized. and
| the amendment tc that effect was carried
| the vote being as follows:
Yeas-51-Allen, Bacon, Baker. Bate.
Berry. Butler. Cannon. Chandler, Chiffon,
Clay. Cockrell. Daniel. Foraker. Gallin.
ger, Harris, Heitfeld, Jones (Ark.). Jones
New, Kenney, Kyle, Lindsay. McEnery,
McLaurin, Mallory, Mantle, Martin, Ma.
son, Mills, Mitchell. Money. Murphy, Mel
son, Pasco. Penrose. Perkins, Pettigrew,
Pettus, Quay, Rawlins. Roach, Smith,
| Stewart. Teller, Thurston. Tillman. Tur-
| ley. Turner, Turpie, Vest. White, Wilson.
Nays-37-Aldrich Allison. Burrows