Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — TALK IN THE SENATE. [ARTICLE]

TALK IN THE SENATE.

CUBA'S FREEDOM THE SUBJECT OF A HOT DEBATE. Some Plead for Peace, While Other* Urate Vengeance on Spain, and Declare It le Time to End the Conflict on the Island. Proceedings in Upper House. The action of the House of Representatives Wednesday in adopting its declaration upon the Hispano-American situation, made the Senate Thursday the storm center of the war elements. The galleries were packed and thousands were turned away. By uuuuimous consent, at the request of Senator Davis, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, the resolution as reported by the Foreign Relations Committee was laid before the Senate and debate began. The debate was not particularly interesting, although there were some spicy dialogues and two or three dramatic scenes. An attack was made upon the President by Mr. Turner of Washington, which was very bitter in tone. He described the policy of Mr. McKinley on the Cuban question as “effervescent and iridescent promises accompanied by a mysterious reserve that was awe inspiring.” During the progress of the debate there was a large attendance aud'a number of chairs were brought in to accommodate a number of Representatives who came to hear the speeches. Senator Hqnr replied to Mr. Turner. He spoke in a low tone of voice, with great earnestness and solemnity, and every word he uttered was distinctly heard by every person in the chamber. Mr. Hoar recited many incidents iu our earlier history that bear directly upon the present situation, and urged the Senate “to practice that self-restraint which is -more sublime than to yield to a tepipest of excitement and indignation.” No one felt more deeply the awful horrors of the Maine, no one was more jealous of the national honor than he, no one feared war less; but he pleaded with his colleagues not to plunge the country into hostilities without being certain they were ou the right side. He defended the President with eloquent zeal. Senator Gray, a Democrat, made an earnest speech iu defense of a Republican President. Senator Fairbanks of Indiana also spoke. The Cuban resolutions, however, u-ere not a party question iu the Senate. Both the Republicans and the Democrats were very sharply divided. Among the most earnest supporters of the President were Messrs. Gaffory, Faulkner, Gorman, Gray and other Democrats, while the most radical sympathizers of the insurgents M ere found on the Republican side —Messrs. Chandler, Thurstou, Proctor, Foraker and Mason. During Senator Fairbanks' speech Mr. Davis, the chairman of that committee, made repeated efforts to reuch an agreement for an adjournment, and after Senator Fairbanks had concluded Senator Davis moved that the Senate adjourn until 10 o’clock Friday, nnd upon that motion the test of the strength of forces came. The roll call showed it to be defeated by tuo majority, the vote being 32 in the negative and 30 iu the affirmative. Senator Cullow took the floor, but yielded to Mr. Davis to renew his efforts to reach an understanding limiting debate. This precipitated a scene. The Senators forgot their dignity, nnd proceeded in an informal May to discuss the proposition. They cron-ded in the main aisle in front of the Vice-President in heated discussion, and for a while it M’as feared the disgraceful scenes iu the House Wednesday would be repeated. Mr. pockrell pleaded with Mr. Davis for a motion to adjourn, leaving the Senate to set an hour for the final vote at Friday’s session. Senator Carter opposed deliberation and demanded action. He said tu-enty-three Senators had announced their intention to make speeches, and yet every one knew* not a vote on the floor would be changed should the debate continue for a week. He was liberally applauded, and nheu the galleries were censflVed by the Vice-Presi-dent Senator l'ettus of Alabuma took up their defense and claimed they voieed the sentiment of the American people. The applause, he said, commenced on the floor, and Mr. Mason, with apparent satisfaction, announced that he hud started it. One of the great siteeches of the day was delivered late iu the afternoon by David Turpie, Democratic Senator from Indiana, M ho is generally regarded as one of the ablest lawyers in the United States. Mr. Turpie, in a speech of less than thirty minutes, attempted to demonstrate that if this Government intervened In the Cuban situation without first recognizing the independence of the insurgent republic it M-ould thereby become liable for the Spauish-Cuban war debt, amounting to about $400,000,000. After a six-hour session the Senate adjourned uith the Cuban question unsettled, and no arrangement made for taking a vote. War Speech by Cullom. The Senate met at 10 o'clock Friday, and it Mas announced that an adjournment would not be taken until a vote had been reached on the Cuban question. Despite the lowering clouds which threatened to pour out their suspended torrents at any moment, and despite, too, the unusually early hour of convention, the galleries were thronged when the Vice-Presi-dent’s gavel fell. At the suggestion of Mr. Davis the ordinary morning business •was set aside and the Foreign Relations Committee Cuban resolutions were laid before the Senate. Senator Cullom of Illinois was the first speaker. Ift referring to Spain’s appeal to the European powers he said: “Spain, in her appeal to the European powers, appealed to the “divine right of kings,’ but America appeals to the divine right of the people. We propose to do our duty to God and humanity, to liberty and ourselves, by saying to Spain: 'Hold your hand; you shall not outrage liberty and humanity in Cuba any longer.’ " The speaker also said the hour for action was about to strike, and that it Mas the duty of tbe Senate to face the crisis boldly and loyally. “And if Spain shall see proper to resent our action when we tell her to withdraw, n*e shall not hesitate to take up the gauntlet and appeal to the god of battles and to the judgment of mankifed to justify onr cause,” concluded Mr. Cullom. .. I ' ■ : ;, ~ v Mr. Berry of Arkansas was the next speaker. He said a great responsibility rested upon ijhe Prestdwt, and while he should be supported in this crisis the Senator himself believed tbe Senate should go further aad pass a resolution recognising the independence of Cuba. The

language should be so plain, he said, that ■ no one could fail to understand its mean* ■ ing. The whole world a week ago believ- ■ ed this Government would take snch a | step. The belief had since been spread If that we intend to put upon the Cubans ob- I ligations they could not and would not as- E eume. Mr. Berry said that after he heard 1 Senator Proctor's speech on Cuba, be fl (Berry) remarked to Mr. Vest of Mis- If souri: “That speech means war.” Mr. I Berry added that the Proctor speech i touched the hearts of the American I pie from one end of the land to the other. I “If we fail to respond,” he continued, “we -1 will be regarded as sneaks and cowards.” 1 The speech of Senator Berry was ap- I pluuded, which moved Senator Cockrell 1 to demand silence from the galleries and 1 an enforcement of rales. Accordingly the I presiding officer impressively informed the I immense concourse of people present that 4 they Mould have to observe the dignity of 1 the Senate or the galleries would be clear- I ed. Senator Daniel of Virginia followed Mr. Berry. Mr. Daniel said that he had been nn advocate of peace, but the time for Mar seemed now a£ hand. “We stand upon the edge of war. This nation is one with the sword in its hand, and if the nerd that now hesitates upon the lips be spoken and the command ‘Forward’ be ‘ given, upon some proud day the Stars nnd Stripes will be waving over Morro Castle and Cabanas prison.” Mr. Daniel said he was content neither M’ith the House resolution nor with the Senate committee's resolution, nnd served what he termed a warning to the country that if the resolutions reported by the Foreign Relations Committee were it would mean that American - guns would be turned in the faces of Maximo Gomez and his liberty-loving followers. Senator Daniel’s speech was a bitter arraignment of the President. He openly charged that the President meant to use the forces of the army and navy to suppress the insurgents. The sharp criticism of the President’s action and message induced a heattd colloquy between Senators Daniel and Gray. Senator Gray said the insinuation was false and that the Senator from Virginia (Daniel) was the only one in the United State* who would dare to make such a charge against the President. A sensation followed this charge. Seuator Daniel proceeded in a sensational manner, lie said: “I speak plainly. We do not speak Spanish in this chamber and then stab our brother under the flftb rib. lam glad to get Into the open air of the discussion permitted in a free country.” There was great indignation among radical Senators Mho were convinced that war was inevitable at the lack of vigor in the resolutions passed by the House, and particularly in the omission of the clause compelling Spain to at once withdravv from Cuba.