The Sun. — 1870-06-08 (London, England)

BEN. T. HUTCHINS."  THE CUBAN QUESTION IN THE HOUSE OF  REPRESENTATIVES.  WASHINGTON, May 24.  The most striking features of the House proceedings today were the temporary defeat of Lynch's prescription for the terrible malady afflicting American tonnage and a very interesting and apparently unpremeditated discussion of the Cuban question. The present defeat of Lynch was looked for. There were rumours afloat in the air for a week past that such would be the result of all his labour and pains ; but nobody I fancy, anticipated that to-day during- the discussion of such a dry subject as the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill for the second time, one of the most remarkable debates of the session would have occurred, and yet I think it not unreasonable to predict that out of the spontaneous outburst in behalf of Cuba on the floor of the House to-day more solid results are likely to flow, calculated to give shape and character to foreign policy, than anything that has happened here since the advent of Grant's administration. During the life of the present Congress many speeches were made in favour of lending a helping hand to struggling 'Cuba, but they an fell barren of effect. Members listened but seemed indifferent and careless about the matter. It really appeared as though Congress had no heart for anything but reconstruction and the African, as if the great representative body of the great republic of the world was unable to settle domestic troubles and at the same time extend a generous aid to a feeble but noble people battling against tyranny and oppression. But when Mr. Voorhees, of Indiana, in a speech of impassioned eloquence, drew a vivid picture of the American flag, dishonoured by Spanish insolence, and caused to be read the account of the insults offered to our consul at Santiago de Cuba he commanded the most breathless attention and roused the House to a genuine expression of sympathy, which all former efforts failed to evoke. There was not a single member who dared to uphold the supine policy thus far practised in regard to Spain. Republicans who are recognised as the ablest leaders of the House expressed themselves freely in favour of prompt action, and some of them even attacked the Administration over the shoulders of the Navy Department, rather unjustly, for not having long ago vindicated the sacred character of our flag both in Paraguay and Cuba. Mr. Dawes was very emphatic in expressing his condemnation, and Logan, of Illinois, in a speech of great earnestness and power, called for a vigorous and honourable policy in regard to struggling Cuba, Mr. Banks, of Massachusetts, declared that the Foreign Affairs Committee were ready and eager to make a report whenever an opportunity would be given, and that he bad been waiting for a chance to do so, and at the same time stated that he and his committee would be found as anxious and willing to defend American rights as any body of men in Congress or out of it. There seems to be little doubt, from the character of all the remarks made, that something will be done speedily to resent the Spanish insults, and to chew to Spain and the world that the American flag must be respected, and that the rights of American citizens abroad can not be invaded with impunity. Indeed the feeling seemed to be so strong during the height of the excitement to-day that I verily believe had any member proposed,to consider the subject in regular form, and moved to allow General Banks to make a report then and • there there would not have been a single dissentient vote. As the case now stands both sides of the House are strongly committed to the cause of Cuba as against Spain, and some action may be expected in regard to Consul Phillips, the American citizens murdered in Cuba, and the entire Cuban question within a very few daYs