Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1898 — THOUSANDS IN LINE. [ARTICLE]

THOUSANDS IN LINE.

NATIONAL CAPITAL BESIEGED WITH EXCITED HUMANITY. President McKinley's Message to Congress on the Cuban-Spanish Situation was Awaited with Strained Anxiety. Was an Anxious Crowd. Wasnlngton correspondence: Undaunted by the disappointment of Wednesday, the multitude again besieged the capitol Monday morning before the doors were opened. Many camped out on the marble terraces ail night and others began streaming in through the dawn. But the thousands did not begin to arrive until about 0 o’clock. The day was dark miid gloomy. The smoke hung heavy over tlie capitol and city and the Stars and Stripes above the dome and terrace clung limp and damp to their flagpoles. The experience of Wednesday, when tliousands who held tickets to the reserved galleries could not even get to the corridors leading to the galleries, had resulted in better arrangements, so far as the reserved galleries were concerned, and all holding tickets were accommodated. The multitude suffered, however. The space for the public was restricted aud only comparatively few of the thousands who stood in the dense line stretching down stair aud corridor to tlie basement for hours were admitted. As an Wednesday, many women fainted in the crush and were carried out and others dropped out of the lines at last from fatigue and exhaustion. Prominent personages from all over the Union were pointed out here and there. The diplomatic gallery was filled with members of the diplomatic corps, with their ladies, eager To see how Congress would receive the situation as left by diplomacy. The executive gallery, save for the first row of seats, was also filled by ladies and gentlemen holding tickets from the White House. The scene was memorable aa the eye swept the banked galleries and the animated group of members oil the floor below, but there was less hubbub and evidence of excitement than there was Wednesday. In subdued tones everybody was discussing the latest phase of the situation. The general public, as manifested by the spirit of the galleries; seemed in favor of brushing aside the latest offer of Spain, and this feeling was* reflected by some members on the floor, but the conservatives circulating here and there were counseling calmness and patience.

The message asks Congress to authorize the President to take measures to secure termination of hostilities in Cuba and to secure the establishment of a stable government there and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary fur those jnirtKises. The President says the only hope of relief from a condition which can no longer be endured is the enforced pacification of the island. The issue is now with Congress and he awaits its action, standing prepared to carry out every obligation imposed on him by the constitution, Spain's decree for a suspension of hostilities is submitted to Congress for just and careful attention, with the observation that if the measure attaius a successful result "’then our aspirations as a peace-loving people will be realized. If it fails, it will be only another justification for our contemplated action.” Tlie Maine incident figures prominently in the message. The President argues that the wreck of the Maine in Havana harbor shows that Spain is not able to guarantee security to foreign vessels. Spain has disavowed any connection with that disaster and has offered to subffiit to arbitration all tlie differences which may arise from that affair. After the reading of the message the leaders of the various elements hurried into conference; Very few were prepared offhand to express opinions as to whether the message was satisfactory in all particulars. or not. The applause at the conclusion of the rending was not general on the floor of the House, nor in the galleries. It was, in. fact, confined to very temperate handclapping on the Republican side, the galleries hardly making any demonstration. The Democrats maintained dead silence, although they had given approval of the sentence declaring that hostilities must come to a conclusion.