Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — VOTE FOR FREE CUBA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VOTE FOR FREE CUBA

Republic Is Recognized by tbe American Senate. = WAR RESOLUTIONS PASSED. President McKinley Directed to Use Our Whole Military Force, --"'" ' SPANIARDS MUST SKEDADDLE Their Immediate Withdrawal from the Island Is Demanded. Upper Branch of Congress by an Overwhelming Majority Adopts a Resolution Declaring for Armed Intervention and Recognizing the Present Cuban Rcput»lic-Any Intention of the United States to Exercise Sovereignty Over tbe Island Is Positively Disclaimed-All Members t eck to Record Their Views on tbe Momentous Issue —Warlike Spirit Is filiown. The United States Senate at 9 o’clock Saturday night, after thirty-five hours consumed in talk, adopted the Cuban resolution reported from the foreign relations committee, with the minority amendment reported by Senator Turpie. It was a composite resolution, containing as it did the Senate preamble, the House enactment clause, the Senate majority resolutions with the incorporation of the Turpie amendment for recognition, and having added to it the Davis declaration ®f intentions. This makes the Senate resolution almost identical with the resolution introduced by Senator Foraker of Ohio. It declares that the people of Cuba are and ought to be free; recognizes the Cuban republic as the legitimate government of Cuba; demands that Spain shall withdraw front the island, and authorizes and directs the President to intervene and employ the land and naval government to carry these deehmriions into effect. “Free Cuba and the independence of the island republic” was the shibboleth of the Senate throughout the four days of debate which ended Saturday night. The contest was between those who favored recognition and those who opposed recognition and wanted only intervention. Recognition won by a majority of fourteen. All day long the battle waged with earnestness, energy, ability, and eloquence seldom equaled even in the Senate of the United States. From 10 o’clock iu the morning until the moment of ttye filial vote the intensity of tbe interest'did not abate for an instant. Under the agree-* ment limiting the duration of the speeches, except in specified instances, to fifteen minutes, every Senator who so desired had nn opportunity to express his views. No less than twenty-five Senators addressed themselves to the momentous question under consideration during the day, and while, under the rule, elaborate arguments were impossible the speeches were characterized by an impassioned force and eloquence rarely heard iu or out •f the halls of the American Congress. It was not until the first vote —that on tbe amendment of Mr. Turpie of Indiana providing for recognition, of the island re-

public—had boon taken that the Senate •was brought face to face with the tre-, jnendous importance of its action. Ircene of Historic Interest. The scene in the chamber of many historic debates was one of incomparable solemnity and impressiveness. The galleries, which had been filled apparently to their utmost capacity throughout the were massed with brilliantly attired women and men distinguished in all wniks of public and private life. On the floor was every member elected to the Senate save /one, Mr. Walthall •f Mississippi, who was detained from his seat by serious illness. So deep was his patriotic interest in the pending question, however, that lie notified Mr. Spooner of Wisconsin, with whom he was paired, that lie could not doeui it fair to hold him to the pair and would, therefore, release him in order that lie might vote. In the semicircular area baek of the Senators' desks were seated and standing men many of whose names are household words, throughout the length and breadth of the land. Over all were floods •f electric light, softened by the multicolored glass, in which are lined the coals •f arms of the forty-five sovereign States •f the Union. It is no detraction from the brilliance •f the debate of the dny to note that the great—the uotablc—utterances of the dosing hours of debate were made at night. -Mr. Hale of Maine, Mr. Gorman of Maryhsdn, Mr. Ailison of lowa, Mr. Aldrich of Khode Island, Mr. Jones of Arkansas, and Mr. Iloar of Massachusetts, all deep-

ly impressed by the magnitude and possible awful consequences of the step about to be taken, addressed the Senate with an eloquence and solemnity born only of the most profound feeling for their country’s welfare. As the words fell from their lips the chamber thrilled with an intensity of interest which bordered upon awe. The test vote quite naturally was on the amendment offered by Mr. Turpie recognizing the independence of tho Cuban republic. It prevailed by a majority of 14, the vote being 51 to 37. By political parties the vote was cast as follows: Yeas— Republican, 11; Democrats, 28; Populists, 7; Silver Republicans, 5. Nays— Republicans, 32; Democrats, 5. Upon the final vote the- alignment of parties was quite different from that on the Turpie amendment. An analysis of it follows: Yeas—Republicans, 24; Demo-

erats, 31; Populists, 7; Silver Republican, 5. Total, 07. Nays—Republicans, 19; Democrats, 2. Total, 21. Those Senators who held but Jp the last and recorded themselves against the resolution were Allison, Aldrich, Burrows, Cattery, Elkins, Fairbanks, Hanna, Hale, Hawley, Hoar, Mcßride, McMillan, Morrill, Platt of Connecticut, Platt of New York, Pritchard, Sewell, Spooner, Wellington, Wetmore, and White.

HOUSE REJECTS RIDER. Adopts Senate's Resolution Without Recognition Clause. The House on Monday, by a vote of 179 to 150, concurred hi the Senate amendment to tile House resolution, but striking out the clause recognizing the present Cuban republic, and also the words “are and” in the clause of the Senate resolution which declares that the "People of Cuba of right are aud ought to he free and independent.” For two hours the National House of Representatives was iu a turmoil. It was called to order at 10 o’clock and adjourned immediately, au old rule having been dug up which prevented the House from receiving communications from the Senate when that body is not in session. Inasmuch as the Senate did not meet until 12 o’clock there was nothing to do but adjourn until that hour. The time was put in caucusing in the committee rooms and on the tloor over the proposition to concur in the Senate resolutions with the Turpie amendment recognizing the present insurgent government stricken out. and also the words “are and” in the resolution declaring that "the people of Cuba are and of right ought to he free and independent.” 9 A motion to that effect was prepared by Representative Hopkins and was to have been offered by him, but on consultation that duty was transferred to Mr. Dingley, the recognized organization leader. The resolutions ns amended by the House were sent back to the Senate.

GEN. MAXIMO GOMEZ.