Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — THEY ARE UNITED [ARTICLE]

THEY ARE UNITED

Senate and House Reach an Agreement After a Memmorable Struggle. J Joint Resolution Adopted Which Aooorda with the Views of President McKinley. After a Session Lasting Nearly All Night the Senate Yields to the Demand of the House. Independence of the Cuban People Reo ognlzed—No Recognition of the Present Government Spain Mu«t Relinquish Her Authority and Remove Her Force®, or t War Will Follow. Washington, April 19>—After one of the hardest-fought battles betweeen the two houses known In many years, congress, at jtp early hour this morning, camo to an Agreement upon the most momentous question It hue dealt with in a third of a century. The Cuban revolution wm passed, and will P 6 sent to the president this morning. Its provisions mean the expulsion of Spain from the island of Cuba by <ie armed forces of the United State*. There were many roll calls in both houses, and each body held tenaciously for its own resolution, The conferees had groat difficulty m ggneeing. The first conference showed £ determination on the part of the hougs |iot to yield a single point, and it was only sifter long consultations with the housp leaders that they agreed to allow the little words “are and" in the first section oi ue senate resolution, which declares that the people of Cuba are, and of right ought tp be free and independent. The resolution, as finally adopted, is that reported from the senate committee on foreign relations, with the addition of the fourth soq(lon, known as the Teller amendment, disclaiming any intention on the part of the United States to acquire Cuba The resolution cannot be sent to President McKinley until after it is signed by the presiding officers to-day. THE RESOLUTIONS. Their Full Text as Adopted by tha Senate and House. following is the full text of the resolutions as agreed upon by the conferees and adopted by the senate and houset ’•Joint resolution for the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish Its authority and government in the Island of Cuba, and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the president of the United States to use the land and pgval forces of the United States to t carry these resolutions into eileot. “Whereas, The abhorrent oondltlens Which have existed for more than throe years in the island of Cuba, so near our Own borders, have shocked the moral sense Of the people of the United States, have been a disgrace to Christian civilisation. Culminating, as they hays, in the destruction of a United Stet** battleship, with MO Of Its officers and crew, while on a friendly Visit in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer bo endured, as has been set forth by the president of the United States in bls message to congress of April U, 1898, upon Which the action of congress was Invited; therefore, “Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, In congress assembled s “First, That the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right-ought to be, free and Independent. “Second, That it Is the duty of the United States to demand, and the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government In the Island of Cuba and withdraw Ita land And naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. "Third, That the president of the United States be, and ho hereby Is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and to cell Into tho actual service of the United States the militia of the several states, to such extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect. “Fourth, That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said Island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts Its determination when that Is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people.” IN THE HOUSE. Incidents of the Memorable StrnirMle Over the Cuban Question. Washington, April IB.—The house, after one of the hardest and most desperate fights In ita history, succeeded tn forcing the senate to yield the main contention In the war resolutions—the Independence of the existing government In Cuba. With that exeeptlon the house accepted tho senate resolutions. Tho republicans who joined with the democrats In an attempt to oonour in the senate amendments entire rallied 14 Votes at one time, and on every vote thereafter the vote dwindled. When tho final Vote wao taken, shortly before three o'clock this morning, 810 votes were oast for the declaration upon which wo are to go to war, If war It Is to bo. Hix votes only were oast against it. They Included five republicans and one democrat. The l‘ro«i‘*<ll»s». Washington, April 19.—The house struck out the paragraph of the senate resolution which provides recognition of tho Cuban republic. There was Intense excitement on the floor during the balloting. Tho short adjournment. from 10 o’clock until 18. gave tho leaders time to exert pressure on the boltinf republicans. On motion of Mr. Dingley ths house voted to concur In the senate resolution. With the Exception of the clause recognising Cuban Independence, which wae struck out. The vote wae 179 to 1M Tho announcement of tho vote, 179-IM. end the decisive victory wao loudly applauded by tho republicans. Senate Heturn* Resolution*. At 1:40 p. m. tho resolution* were returned to the house with the senate’s deeielon to nonconcur. Mr. Dtngley, Mr. Dailey and Mr. Bromwoll were on t-belr feet asking for recognition. The speaker recognised Mr. Dingley, who moved that tho nouso Insist upon Its amendment and gsk for a conference. Mr. Bolley raised the point that a motion to recede and oonour Would take precedence. The speaker said ho thought not Mr. Bailey olted a precedent from the Twenty-ninth congress, which, he said, covered the exact case In point. The speaker asked to see it. The members waited with breathless Interest w|>i*« the speaker examined It. When he

Sodded that it wotfld hold the democrats applauded. The speaker then recognised Mr. Rromwell (rep., O.), who formally made the motion to recede and concur. Voted Not to Recede. This time tho democrats cheered, and the galleries joined in the demonstration. Ao the previous question cut pff debate, tho speaker ordered the rdll called. The vote came so unexpectedly that the leaders of the respective sides sent messengers and officials scurrying hi all directions to drive in absentees. Carriages wore sent clattering to the down-town hotels at a gallop, and committee rooms, restaurants and every likely place whore a stray congressman might bo routed out by the pages and employes of tho house. It was like a oall to arms. The responses on the roll call were followed closely for further defections from tho republican side, but there wore no acquisitions. In fact, two at the republicans who voted against tho motion to concur with an amendment on the last vote, Messrs. Johnson (Ind.) and Loud (Cal.), Voted With the republicans. They did not, however, properly belong to the defection on the other vote, as they voted as they did because they oppose any action whatever. The announcement of the defeat of tho motion—l4B to 119— was the signal for another demonstration on the republican eld*. The following 18 republicans voted for the motion to concur! Belknap, Lorimer. Mann, Warner and White (Ill.). Bromwoll and Brown CO.), Colson (KX-h (Wla), Dorr (W. Va.), Johnson (N. D.) and Bulloway (N. H.). Conferees Named. Mr. Dingley’s motion to insist and ask for a conference was then agreed to without division, tho opposition realising the manifest uselessness of demanding a roll call. Just befpre five o’clock the speaker announced the appointment of Messrs. Adams (rep., Pa.), Heatwole (rep., Minn.), and Dinsmore (dem., Ark.), as conferees on the Cuban resolution*. A reeess was taken until six o’clock, and at that hour the houee further recessed until eight o'clock. Deadlock Continues. The house reconvened at eight o'clock. Several of the member* of the house were in their dress suits, and in the galleries were many brilliant evening costume*. Nothing was done until 8:46 p. m., when the clerk of the senate announced the disagreement of the senate to tho. house amendment and the appointment of conferees. A motion to recede and oonour was again lost-144 to 177. Secretary of War Alger, who entered the hall arrayed In a dress suit while the vote was being recapitulated, joined in the republican demonstration of approval when tho result was announced. Mr. Adams’ motion for a further conference was then agreed to without division. The speakei again appointed Measrs. Adams, Heatwole and Dinsmore conferees. Mr. Adams moved a recess until 11 o’clock. Mr. Johnson (rep., Ind.) antagonised this with a motion to adjourn, but the chorus of hoes was so fierce that bo withdrew It and Mr. Adams' motion was agreed to. Bing Patriotic Songs. While the house was awaiting a half hundred of the representatives gathered tn the lobby in the rear of the hail nd awoke the echoes With patriotic songs. The battle hymn of the republic was sung by (Jen. Henderson, of Ipwa, “Dixie” and otter songs wore sung, led by some of the exconfederates and then In trmendous volume the corridors rang with an improvisation, “Hang Gen. Wexler on the Sour Apple Tree as We Go Marching On.” The war Spirit was reflected in the songs. More Reoesso*. At 11 o’clock the house took another recess until 11:30 p. m., to give the conferees another opportunity to meet. At 11:80 p. m. the house was formally notified of the action of the senate, and another recess until 18 o’clock was taken Immediately. At midnight the house recessed until 12:80 a. m. to await tho action of the conferees. At 12:03 the house conferees asked to b* allowed to have a conference alone, and there was then a prospect of reaching a compromise on the original basis. At 12:30 the house again recessed until one a. m. Conferees’ Report. Shortly after on* o’clock th* confer**! presented their report to the house. Mr. Adorns moved tho adoption of tho report, and upon that motion he demanded tho previous question. The galleries gave cheer after cheer as the resolutions were read. Tho demand for the previous question cut off debate, and Mr. Bailey and Mr. Johnson (rep., Ind.) appealed for a few minutes time. Mr. Adams refuted to yield time for debate, owing to the lateness of tho hour. Mr. Johnson protested indignantly. Mr. Bailey demanded the ayes and noes, and tho roll was called. Report Adopted. The conference report was adopted by the house—3l9 to & Great applause followed. The following voted against the adoption of the report: Boutelle (rep.. Me.), Brewer (dem., Ala.), Gardner (rep., N. J.), Johnson (rep., Ind.), Loud (rep., Cal.), McCall (rep., Mass.). The vote was announced at 2:43 a. m., and Immediately thereafter the house adjourned. IN THE SENATE. DiiXerenc* Over the Cubnn Resolution Prolongs the Session. Washington, April 19.—The tocslr\of war Ims been sounded by the American congress. At 1:1$ o’clock this morning th* senate received the report of the conference committee of the two branches of the congress, and 13 minutes afterward had adopted It. There was a fight to the last minute, however, the advocates of recognition of the Independence of th* laland republic standing their ground until they were fairly knocked down by a vote of 42 to 85. The minority vote was cast by tho** who wanted radical action and Insisted that the resolution should carry with it recognition of the Independence of th* Cuban republic. Upon thia a split developed which very nearly proved fatal to any action at all. A Remarkable Session. The adoption of the conference report brought to a oloee on* of th* most Interesting and tumultuous sessions of th* senate held In years. Such so*nee of confusion and excitement have rarely been witnessed In the ordinarily staid and dignified body a* characterised Its proceedings from noon Monday until nearly two o'clock this morning. Interest In all other questions was dwarfed into Insignificance by th* on* overwhelming question of war—war which all now regard to be absolutely Inevitable. Efforts were made to transact tn* regular business of tho senate, but It was with th* utmost diffidence that senators performed the work. Among those who remained upon the floor while tho euodry oivll bill was under consideration tho confusion was so great that business could scarcely proceed. Notbwtthstandlng the via* president's earnest and oonetant effort to preserve order, th* member* gathered in group* about th* chamber, excitedly discussing th* various phases of th* question of the hour. lilt ter noes Hetweon Senate and Hbhic. A feeling of bitterness grew up between the senate and house during th* late afternoon and evening that at on* tlm* seemed likely to delay aotion. Cooler counsels prevailed, however, and a determination of th* momentous question was Anally reached. Those who were fighting for recognition of the island republic early decided that th* senate should not take the initiative In requesting a conference between the two house*. They further resolved that when th* senate conferee* were Anally appointed at least two of them should represent th* majority sentiment of that body. Th* radical advocate* of Independence slowly, but no«M th* lews surely, lost ground, however, being swept back by th* powerful and

compact minority opposed to them. They yielded only after on* of the bitterest contsets in the history of ths senat*. Means War. Ths scene in the senate, even up to the minute of adjournment, was on* of wonderful beauty and Impressiveness. Hundreds of brilliantly-attired women and men in evening dress filled the galleries. On the floor were the makers of the country’s history, awaiting the verdict from the conference committee. When, finally, it came there was a hush in the great chamber which a few seconds before had been thrilling With ahimatton'. When the verdiot had been returned and accepted by th* senate - the great audience dispersed dispersed quietly, almost solemnly. All realised that the verdiot meant war, and th* action taken was too momentous to inspire anything less than awe. The Proceedings. Washington. April 19.—1 n the senate Monday Senator Mason (III.) introduced and nsd referred to the naval affair* committee a concurrent resolution tendering the (hanks of congress to Capt. Sigsbee for the pourage, heroism and devotion displayed by him upon the occasion of the terrible calamity which befell his command in the dektruotlon of the United State* battleship Maine. At 2:68 p. m. the message clerk of the bouse of representative* appeared at the main entrance of the senate with a package of bills and resolutions in hand. Almost immediately Vice President Hobart, interrupting the debate, recognised the clerk. He presented to the senate several bills and resolution* which hod been passed by the house, Including that relating to the intervention of th* United States in the Cuban rebellion. The last were the resolutions adopted by the senate on Saturday night and agreed to Monday by the house, with certain amendment*. There was an Instant commotion in the chamber. Scores of member* of the house were on th* floor awaiting the action of the senate upon the house amendments, and although nearly every senator at the capitol was present, Senator Chandler (N. Hj noted the absence of a quorum and deqaand

e 4 a call of the senate. The roll call truncated the presence of 75 senators. Senate Nonconcurs. Senator Davis, the chairman of the foreign relations committee, requested that the message from the houne concerning the Cuban resolutions be laid before the senate. After the reading of the message Senator Davis addressed the senate. Ho said that with a few exceptions the resolutions from the house were practically the same as the senate resolutions. Tho exceptions noted by Senator Davis wore the striking out of tbo words "and are" and‘the provision tn the senate resolution providing for the recognition of the present Cuban republlo. Senator Davis then moved that the senate concur In the house resolutions. Senator Stewart (Nev.) op posed concurrence. Tho motion to ooncur was defeated—yeas, S 3; nays, W Ten republicans voted no. Hetnrsed to the House. Senator Hale said there could be hut one alm in the proceeding against conference, and that was to drag on everybody Into supporting the recognition Cuban amendment. Senator Halo urged tho Importance of leaving a conference commltto* The motion for a conference committee was defeated 81 to 43. The senate then at once sent the resolution back to the house. Eater In the day the senate decided that the ohatr should appoint conferees. Senators Davis. Foraker and Morgan were appointed, and a recese was taken until eight p. m. At 8:18 p. m. the conferees returned. There was a visible stir tn the galleries as the chairman of the conference committee. Senator Davis (Minn.), rose to present ths report and make hie statement to the senate. Senator Davis said that, In conformity with the Instructions of the senate, tho oonfsreeeWmet a like committee from tho house and, after full and free discueolon, ho had to report that the conferees had failed to reach an agreement. Senator Davis then stated the points of dloegTsement. and that there had been no difficulty to agree to the house resolution as amended, but the point of contention rose over the Insertion of the words "are and" In the #rst section, which says tbs people of Cuba "are and qf right ought to be free and independent." tie said the majority of the conferees had agreed to wajvs the Turple amendment providing that the words above mentioned be inserted. But tbo senate conferees wore met wfth refusal to so agree, and ho reluctantly reported tbo same to tho senate. Senator Cockrell (Mo.) then moved to insist upon the senate resolution. Considerable debate followed. Tho first part of tho motion, that to Insist upon tho senate amendments, was carried without division. Tho second part, that requesting a further conference, was disagreed to, » to 40. War neiolstlon Introduced. At 8:18 p. m., on motion of Senator Allison (la.), a recess of one hour was taken. After tho recess Senator Morgan presented a joint resolution declaring war against Spain, which was road and allowed to lay on tho table. House Aska Farther Confrreace. At 10:28 Chief Clerk Browning, of the house, presented a message from that body asking for a further conference upon

the Cuban question upon the disagreement of the two houses. Senator Davis moved to Insist upon the senate amendment and grant a conference, but Senator < Allen asked for a division of the question. The motion to agree to a conference was adopted before the second portion of the motion. Senator Alien’s motion to have th* senate name the conferee* was lost, 28 to 49. Senator Davis’ motion was carried, and the president pro tempore (Senator Frye) appointed Senators Davis, Foraker and Morgan. A recess was taken for half an hour. On reassembling a further recess was taken until 13 o’clock. At 1:14 a. m. Senator Davis presented the conference report, and It was at once adopted—43 to 35. Th* detailed vote on the adoption of the conference report follows: Tho Vote. Teas—Aldrloh, Allison, Baker, Burrows, Carter, Chandlef, Clark, Cullom, Davis, Deboe, Elkins, Faulkner, Foraker, Frye, Gallinger. Geer, Gray, Hale, Hanna. Hansbrough, Hawley, Kyle, Lodge, McMillan, Mason, Morgan, Morrill, Nelson, Penrose, Perkins, Platt (Conn.), Pritchard, Proctor, Quay, Sewell, Shoup, Spooner, Warren, Wilson, Wolcott—42. Nay*—Allen, Baoon, Bate, Berry, Butler. Caffery, Cannon, Chilton, Clay, Cockrell, Daniel, Harrla, Heltfeld, Jones (Arkansas), Jones (Nev.), Kenney, Lindsay, MoEnery, McLaurin, Mallory, Mantle, Martin, Mitchell, Money, Pasco, Pettigrew, Pettus, Rawlins, Roach, StewaH, Teller, Turner, Turple, White—3s. At 1:50 a. m. the senate adjourned.