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About The Abbeville chronicle. (Abbeville, Ga.) 1896-1953 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1898)
The Abbeville Chronicle VOL. II. I Accepts Senate Resolutions. Concurrence Was Not Reached, However, Without a Pro longed Contest—The Vote Was 310 to G A Washington special says: The house of representatives after one of the hardest and most desperate fights in its history, succeeded at an early hour Tuesday morning in forcing the senate to yield the main contention in the war resolutions—the independence of the existing government in Cuba. With that exception the house accept ed the senate resolutions. The senate Cuban resolution had been passing from one legislative body to another continuously during the day. It was sent to the house from the senate at noon. The house sent the resolution back as the senate passed it, preamble and all, with the exception that the pres ent republic in Cuba was not recog nized. The word “are” was stricken out, leaving (he preamble to read that the Cubans “ought and have a right to be free.” After a hot fight the two houses came to an agreement. The republicans who joined with the democrats in an attempt to concur in fourteen J}je senate votes jimemjments time enfjre and rallied atone on every vote thereafter they dwindled. When the final vote was taken short ly before 2 o’clock Tuesday morning 310 votes were cast for the declaration upon which we are to go to war, if war it is to be. Six votes only were cast against it. They included five republicans and one democrat. Tho six votes against the report were: Boutelle, republican,Maine; Brewer, democrat, Alabama; Gardner, republi can, New Jersey; Johnson, republican, Indiana; Loud, republican, California; McCall, republican, Massachusetts. The provisions of the resolution mean the expulsion of Spain from the island of Cuba by the armed forces of the United States. There were many roll calls in both houses and each body held out for its resolution. The sen ate passed the resolution by a vote of 42 to 35; tho house by a vote of 310 to C. The first conference showed a de termination on the part of the house not to yield n single point and it was only after a long consultation with the house leaders that they agreed to al low the little words “are and” in the first section of the senate resolution which declars that the people of Cuba aro, and of right ought to be free and independent. The resolution as finally adopted is the same as reported from the senate committee on foreign rela tions, with the additional fourth sec tion known as the Teller amendment, disclaiming any intention on the part the United States to aquire Cuba. There was a fight to the last minute, the advocates of recognition of the in dependence of the island republic their ground until they were fairly knocked down by a vote of 42 to 35. The minority report was cast by those who wanted radical action and insisted that the resolution should carry with it recognition of the inde pendeudeof the Cuban resublic. Upon this a split developed which very nearly proved fatal to any action at all. The reception of the conference re port brought to a close one of the most interesting and tumultuous sessions of the senate held in years. Such scenes of confusion and excitement have rare ly been witnessed in the ordinarily staid and dignified body as character ized its proceedings from noon Mon day until nearly 2 o’clock Tuesday morning. LOOKING TO VVEVLER. Rumor. That Ho Will Command Spanish Army In Cuha. The Madrid correspondent of The Daily Telegraph (London) says: “Several influential and outspoken journals believe that in the event of war Lieutenant General Weyler will be placed in the chief command of I learn that a member of the cortes intends to make a proposal in that sense, hut it is questionable whether it has any hopes of success. “It is possible that au attempt will be made when the cortes meets to re place the present ministry by a more energetic one in order that the con duct of war may he iu strong hands.” ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY APRIL 21, 1898. A PLAN OF ATTACK PRACTICALLY AGREED UTON. TROOPS RUSHING SOUTHWARD. Naval and Land Force* Will Make Simul taneous Onslaught According: to Plans. A special to the New York Times says: The plans for the joint land and naval attack on Havana have been practically decided on. They have been the subject of deliberation of a number of meetings of the naval strat egy board, of councils of the joint war and navy boards, and of military offi cials. From the first it was con sidered absolutely essential that there should be a joint movement of tho land forces of the United States against the Spaniards in Cuba, and the only thing left for discussion was the best c mrse to be pursued in carrying out this plan. One difficulty that has continually presented itself is the fact that the navy is ready for an advance on Ha vana within an hour after the declara tion of war, while the army could not possibly throw any considerable force in Cuba in less than forty-eight hours. It is now decided that the fleet will nt once move on Havana, invest it and at the same time hold open the Florida straits for the free transportation of troops into the island. A part of the fleet will be employed for this pur pose, as well ns to keep open the gulf to the west of Havana for a like pur pose. As soon as the army is ready a con siderable body of troops will he thrown into the province of Dinar del Rio, in the neighborhood of Bahia Honda,and an advance upon Havana will be be gun at once. The fleet will eo-operate with the land forces from the moment they land in Cuba,and both will attack Havana simultaneously. Even if the resolution finally passed by congress does not recognize the present republican government in the island, the plan of the army is unite with the armies of Gomez and Garcia as allies against the Spaniards. It is probable that troops will be sent to join these revolutionary armies in Puerto Principe or Santa Clara, or that ships will he sent to transport some of the Cuban troops to the vicinity of the capital. In any event, and effort will be made to co-operate at once with the armies of the revolutionary leaders in the work of driving the Spaniards out of the island. With the establishment of a stable and independent govern ment in free Cuba, the army will have nothing to do, at least in the prelimin ary part of the campaign. Its task is to sweep the Spaniards out of the is land. To do this most effectively it will at once seek the closest alliance with the revolutionary troops. MOVEMENTS OF NAVY. Mission of the Flying Squadron Not Made Known. A Washington special says: As Secretary Long has given notice that no news whatever respecting the movements of the navy will he made public, nothing can be learned cf the whereabouts of the flying squadron, consisting of battleships Texas, Mass achusetts, cruisers Brooklyn, Minne apolis and •Columbus, which sailed from Hampton Roads Wednesday. The impression is deep, however, that' the squadron has moved for the purpose of intercepting hostile fleets hound for American waters. The movement of the Spanish fleet is now of more importance to us than our own. The Spanish flotilla is still at the Cape Verde islands, fully two thousand miles from Porto Rico. The armored cruisers Vizcaya and Ad mirante Oquendo have sailed from Porto Rico with a view of joining the torpedo fleets. There is now no doubt among navy officials here that the whole Spanish fleet is mobilizing at Cadiz and the Cape Verde islands, forming two squadrons for hostile purpose. The only ships the Spanish now have in Havana are the cruisers Alfon so XII and Nueva Espana. This gov ernment has massed at Key West two battleships, three cruisers, five gun boats, three monitors and six torpedo boats. THE STORY ABSURD That Southern Sohller. Will Hear the Brunt of Battle Alone. A Washington special says: The story that it has been determined to put the southern militia to the front and make southern soldiers hear the brunt of invasion of Cuba is vigorously denied by those in authority. General Alger, secretary of war, treats the report as absurd and says there is absolutely not a word of truth in it. No such plan has been deter mined upon, and there 1 as been no idea in the minds of any of those in authority of placing upon the soldiers of the south any burdens 1hat ate not shared equally by other soldiers. Will Concentrate On the Coast. Troops Will Begin to Hurry South at Once—Decision of War Department Cre ated Excitement. Deoidedly the most warlike step taken by tho war department in pre paring for the possibility of au en counter with Spain jvas inaugurated Friday, when orders were issued for concentration at four points in the south of six regiments of cavalry, twenty-two regiments of infantry and the light batteries of five regiments of artillery. At Chiekamauga there will he six regiments of cavalry and the light bat teries of five regiments of artillery; at New Orleans, eight regiments of in fantry; at Tampa, seven regiments of infantry, and at Mobile, seven regi ments of infantry. Since the civil war no such proportion of the army has been mobilized and the movement it self is the best evidence of the gravity pf thp situation gs looked upon by the president and his advisers. While the troops are to he*seattered among the points designated, all orders will ho issued from Atlanta, as in that city Major General Nelson A. Miles, who will have command of the army, will locate his headquarters. The determination to rendezvous the troops where-they can be accli mated to the conditions of a moro tropical climate has been under con sideration by the president and his cabinet for some time. It was not until Friday, however, that the presi dent, in view of the enormous expense which will be entailed, felt justified in taking this step. When Secretary Alger returned from the cabinet meeting he at once called into conference General Miles and Ad jutant General Corbin, and acquainted them with the result of the cabinet’s deliberation. There were hurried con sultations, in which the quartermaster general, who has charge of the trans portation' of troops; the commissary general, who looks after their subsist ence, and representatives in Washing ton of various railroads running to the south, participated. The heavy batteries of artillery in the five regiments will remain at their present posts. The two regiments of artillery re cently authorized by congress have not been recruited the full strength, and in addition aro not well equipped with horses and other necessary re quisites, and therefore are not included in Friday’s Qrders. The department has so distributed the "twenty-two regiments of infantry at such convenient places on the gulf that they will be accessible for trans portion to Cuba. Instructions to the commanding officers of the regiments ordered to move were sent out late in tne after noon, with directions to be put into into effect as soon as possible, It is the confident expectation of the offi cials that the movements in some places will- begin nt once. The rail road facilities, the officials say, nrw more than ample to meet the demands of the occasion, and no troublo will be experienced in mobilizing this large body of men at the places designated within a reasonably short space of time. The command of the army will de volve upon General Miles, who is now at the head of the military branch of the government. TOBACCO REVENUE RAISED. Tax Will Be Collected From All Dealer. In ih ft Wefifl. The prevailing opinion among man ufacturers of cigars,tobacco, cigarettes and snuff and brewers that in the event of war there will he a marked increase in the internal revenue tax levied on their products, it is said at the treasu ry department, undoubtedly will be verified, The law, it is stated, will contain ft special provision which will result in the increase in tax being collected from all wholesale and retail dealers in whose hands these products may he found when the law goes into effect. THEIR REASONS GIVEN FOR TOT ING WITH THE MINORITY. SAYS RESOLUTIONS ARE UNJUST. And Are Against the Interests of the Cubans—Confers Too Much Power on President. A Washington special says: The Georgia members who voted against the house resolutions on their final passage are well satisfied with their position. They contend that not only is recognitio* of the republic of Cuba the only safe position for this goverh ment to assume, but they say if this government is to intervene at all it should be in the interests of the Cubans, and not ngainst them. These men have all the time con tended that recognition was the con servative position to take, the only way by which a solution could be reached which would mean peace with honor. They have not advocated war, and have felt if we are to have war Spain should lie tho aggressor, as would be the case under the plan they sup ported. By their vote on the motion to re commit with instructions they showed their willingness to go even to the length of adopting the republican re solution provided it contained a recog nition provision. But they thought that was as far as they ought to go. Tho business end of the resolution, they thought, put thq discretion of when to act practically in the hands of the president, and they opposed that. They think also that the provision for a “stable and independent gov ernment of their own,” leaves it to the president and his advisers to say what is such government; for saying who are the lust citizens, for saying who shall not have a hand in making that government. If not that, there would Tie some thing worse, As to the responsibili ties involved in intervention without recognition, they contend that there is a strong probability that if the United States should intervene in Cuba and take the island and reduce it to pos session, the United States would lie bound to I'o-y the Spanish-Cuban bonds. These bonds amount to $400, 000 , 000 . They are held by French, English, German • and American capitalists. Spain has pledged the revenues of Cuba to pay them. They ask, suppose the United States did not, by virtue of taking possession and holding Cubans its own, take the island, cum ouere, would not the United States be bound to pay or assume the payment of these bonds? Would not the French, tho Gorman and English holders of these bonds induce their government to insist upon this view? In such ease what would the United States do? Deny the legal liability and deny moral obligation, it having deprived the citizens of other governments of their property by tak ing away from them all security or opportunity for the collection of their property or bonds. STRONG EVIDENCE That Maine Wan Wrecked By Spitiil.li Official*. Tho testimony by the senate com mitteeon foreign relation in connec tion with the investigation into the re lations between the United States and Cuba was made public Thursday. It constitutes a hook of about (i-50 pages and includes not only testimony taken since the disaster to the Maine, but also much that was taken before and running back for a year or more. The statement which contains the greatest current interest is that made by Consul General Lee, on the 12th inst. In this statement General Lee said that he was informed on very good authority that the Spaniards had placed two rows of torpedoes just at the mouth of the Havana harbor, by Monro Castle, within tho past, two months, or subsequent to tho Maine disaster, and that the switchboard is in a room in the castle. He said, however, that ho had no information of the placing of any torpedoes before the Maine was destroyed, and none in regard to the purchase abroad by the Spanish authorities. CREATED GREAT EXCITEMENT. Washington Went Wild Over the Army Order. I.sued. The decision of the war department Friday afternoon to move the entire United States army to Florida at once created the greatest excitement Wash ington. led The decision to issue the order to great activity at the war depart ment. After conferences between Secretary Alger, General Miles, Adju tant General Corbin and Quartermas ter General Lndingtou, it was stated that no trouble wntever would be had in getting the most ample rail road facilities in the prompt transpor tation of the troops. Strong Speeches on Resolutions. 1 Dill 111 SESSION. Arguments Presented Both For and Against Senate Major ity and Minority Reports. The action of the house Wednesday in adopting its declaration made the senate the center of the war elements at Thursday’s session. The gal lories were packed, and thousands were turned away. A message was received from the house transmitting to tho senate the Cuban resolution, passed by the house. By unanimous consent, at the re quest of Mr. Davis, chairman of the foreign relations committee, the reso lution as reported to the foreign rela tions committee was luid before the senate. The resolutions in full aro as fol lows: “Whereas, The abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have shocked the moral sense of the people of llie Unit ed States, have been a disgrace to Christian civilization, culminating, as they have, in tho destruction of a United States battleship, with two hundred and sixty-six of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been sot forth by the president of the United States in his message to congress of April 11, 1898, upon which the action of congress was invited, therefore Resolved, “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 demand, that the government of Spam at once relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. “Third—That tho president of the United States be, and be hereby is directed and empowered, to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and to calling into 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.” This is substantially the same as the majority resolution in the house which was passed Wednesday afternoon by a vote, 322 to 19, except that this senate resolutions calls also for the immedi ate evacuation of Cuba by (Spain and brings out the Maine incident more prominently. Washington,began Mr. Turner, of a speech in which he sharply criticised the administration for its “vacillating and irresolute, cowardly and pusillan imous policy,” pursued by it in the Cuban question. declared himself Mr. Turner strong ly in favor of the resolution presented by the minority of tho committee • on foreign relations and for so doing said he needed no further justification than the magnificent state paper which ac con ipauied the majority report. He declared, however, that the same ma levolent influences which has paraly zed the executive and almost caused the people to revolt, were still at work. If these influences should succeed the who country wouldknow the disgrace ful story and the nation would he shamed. Mr. Hoar followed Mr. Turner. He thought the present was no time for impassioned rhetoric and manifesta tions of approval of war sentiment. He did not accept the doctrine in this oon nection of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Mr. Hoar deprecated the exhibitions of feeling towards the president, who was, he said, in diplomacy tho repre sentative of all the people and what the president does we as a people do. As for himself he not only approved what the president had done,but what ho had refrained from doing. Mr. Turpie, of Indiana, followed Mr. Hoar in a speech for the recogni tion of Cuban republic. It was agreed that tho senate re main in continuous session until a vote was reached on the war resolu tions. NO. 14. GIVING DETAILED DIRECTIONS FOR MOVEMENT OF TROOPS. TO MOBILIZE AT CHICKIMMlGfl. Secretary Alger Selects the Commander* of the Various Divisions Affected by the Order. The following is Major General Miles’ order, issued at Washington Friday, giving in detail the directions for tho movement of troops as decided upon: Adjutant General’s Office, Washing ton, I). C., April 15, 1898.—Com manding General, Department of East, Governor’s Island, New York. With the approval of the Secretary of War.—-The following regiments of cavalry and light batteries of artillery are relieved from duty at their present stations and will be ordered to pro ceed to Chiekamauga Piirk, Ga: “All the light batteries of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth regi ments of artillery and the First, Sec ond, Third, Sixth, Ninth and Tenth regiments of cavalry. “The following regiments of in fautry are relieved from duty at their present stations and will be ordered to the following points: “To New Orleans, La.: Tho First, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-third and Twen ty-fourth. “To Mobile, Ala.: Second, Third, Tenth, Eleventh, Nineteenth, Twenti eth and Twenty-second. “To Tampa Fla.: The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Thirteenth, Seven teenth and Twenty-first. “The commanding general, depart ment of the Colorado, will detail n company of the Fifteenth infantry to proceed to Fort Wingate and take sta tion at the post. Tho posts from which the whole garrison is withdrawn one officer and a detail of two men from each company will be left in charge of tho post. All transporta tion will accompany the troops. “The necesities of tho post from which all public transportation is withdrawn will he provided with hired transportation through the quarter master’s department. Troops will he provided with thirty days’field rations and necessary camp equippage. You will give the necessary orders for tho execution of tho movements of tho troops in your department as indicat ed above. Acknowledge. “if. C. Cobbin, Adjutant Goneral. “By command of Major Gen. Milos.” A copy of the above was sent to the commanding generals of the following departments: The department of tho Gqlf, At lanta, Ga. The department of Colorado, Den-' ver, Col. The department of California, Sail Francisco, Cal. The department of MiBHouii, Oma ha, Neb. Tho department of Dakota, St. Paul, Minn. The department of the Lakes, Chi cago, Ill. Secretary Alger also immediately selected the commanders of the divis ions of the army that are to assemble at the places named, all of whom are well known for their service in the military branch of the government. For the division at New Orleans, Brigadier General W. B. Shntner, now at San Francisco, in command of the department of California, was desig nated. For that at Tampa, Brigadier Gen eral J. F. Wade, now in command of the department of the Dekotas, at St. Paul, Minn. For Mobile, Brigadier General J. J. Coppinger, who is in command of the department of Missouri, at Omaha, Neh. For tho post at Chiekamauga, Major General J. K. Brook, in command of the department of tho lakes, with headquarters at Chicago, was chosen. These officers have authority to take with them to their new commands their entire staff of officers and a quarter master. The latter, however, presum ably will proceed to their prospective assignments for the purpose of making necessary arrangements for camp grounds and many other requirements incident to the presence of an army. SAGASTA DEPLORES MESSAGE. Huy* It Was Forced* From McKinley By l'ubile Clamor. A dispatch from Madrid received at London says: "Sonor Sagasta, the Spanish pre mier, is quoted as saying that he con siders President McKinley’s message to be ‘deplorable, ’ and he is said to have expressed the belief that it was ‘forced from him by the clamor of congress, which took advantage of his weakness, although President McKin ley personally wished to modify it. ' rl Senor Polo y Bernabe hus been in structed to present Secretary Sherman with a further memorandum.’
