Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1898 — MUST SAY THE WORD [ARTICLE]

MUST SAY THE WORD

Congress to Decide the Question of Peace or War. PLACED ENTIRELY IN lIS HANDS. President McKinley Transfers the Responsibility—What Course Will Be Pursued by the Law-Mak-er ers Cien’t Be Foretold. Washington, April, 12.—The future of the relations of the United States with Spain and to Cuba now rests with congress, th® representative body of the American people. What course the elected men composing it will pursue cannot be foretold. The foreign committees of both houses now have the subject in theirSiontrol. and after duet deliberation, will report to their respective branches what they consider should be the attitude of the United States on the grave question presented. Early action by the committees is expected, but exactly when it may be looked for is not now determinable, Congress Now Responsible, The full responsibility of the subject was placed upon congress, when .Pres!. ’ent McKinley on Monday transmitted to it a carefully prepared and anxiously awaited message relating to our negotiations with Spain as to its Warfare in Cuba and drawing therefrom his personal conclusions and recommendations. No message In recent years, not even that of Presided Cleveland on Venezuela not President Harrison on Chili, caused such widespread and intense Interest. No message was ever listened to with more close attention by both galleries and members at both ends of the capitol. For a long time a large majority in both houses has favored recognition of the independence of Cuba; for more than two years, as voiced in resolutions passed by congress, the recognition of belligerency has been sought. Both of these propositions were authorized in the message, and consequently in this regard the message did not accord with the majority sentiment. The message left congress very much at sea, because of th® disparagement in views between it and the executive are obstacles hard to surmount, unless, as now seems possible, congress sees its course to lie in accord with the president’s recommendation. It is genI erally believed that the president would I have been authorized to intervene with the i army and navy had it not been for the con--1 eluding paragraphs of the document, which announced the latest phase of diplomatic negotiations. In Congress. After the message had been read in confress it was referred by the senate to th® oreign relations committee, and by the 1 house to the committee on foreign affairs. Senator Butler (N. C.), in rising to offer 1 a resolution, said that it was perfectly evidentthatthe message just read did not mean the Independence of Cuba for which the patriots of the Island had so long been i struggling. The president, said he. merely asks us to authorize him to stop the war in Cuba. That could not be done until the Spanish flag was hauled down from th® island forever. Senator Butler then presented a resolution declaring the destruction of the Maine to be an act of war on the part of Spain against the United States; recognizing the independence of the Cuban republic: demanding that Spain at I once withdraw her land and naval forces | from Cuba, and directing and empowering ! the president to Use, If necessary, the entire land and naval force of the United 1 States to carry these resolutions into effect. The resolution Went over under th® ; rules. Committee at Work. The senate committee on foreign relations immediately went into session, but > reached no definite conclusion. From the I fact that the republican members held a consultation after the meeting adjourned and what was said regarding It, the Inference was'drawn that some strong measure was necessary in order to carry any' action by the committee through the senate. A declaration of war was talked of, and a i declaration that the people of Cuba should I be free, coupled with authorization to the j president to bring this about by armed in- , tervention was suggested. It is well known I that any proposition advanced will be met i in the senate with an amendment declaring the independence of the present Cuban government, and to so frame a resolution as to carry a majority of the senI ate and at the same time meet the recomI mendatlons of the president is the result I which tl o foreign relations committee is i trying to secure. Opposed to Radical Action. The conservative senators also met in the afternoon and determined to oppose any radical measure. If It should be reported by the senate commits e on foreign relations. They will oppose by debate a recognition of independence of the present i government and a declaration of war, ! and will consent to action only along the \ lines of the recommendations of the presiI dent as to intervention at his discretion. Temper of the House. 1 The temper of the house could not be accurately determined, but there, as In th® •egate,* the proposition for Cuban Independence has to be met. A ly-report from the committee on foreign affairs that doe® not carry with it this feature will be antagonized by an amendment, and the prospects are that nearly all the democrats and many republicans would favor it. ; The radical republicans In the house ar® thoroughly dissatisfied with the president’s message, and while they are fearful of the effect it will have upon the party organization tin y believe trat the tin,, has come When they jnust break away and ui Ito with thedemocrats if necessary to force through resolutions that they think will represent the views of the people. Polo Im Silent. The Spanish minister, Senor Polo, remained at the legation during the day. sending and receiving many dispatches and conferring with his advisers. Ho cabled the entire president’s message to Madrid, except only the historical references to Gon. Grant’s message, Texas, etc. The minister said he must decl , e to make the slightest public allusion to the president’® message, as any remark from him would be Inconsistent with his position. It is known, however, that Senor Polo is keenly sensitive to the language of the message. What Its effect will be upon his service here Is not known, for no word has yet come as to the effect of the message upon the authorities at Madrid. No new diplomatic phases of tile question® developed Monday at the state department. Secretary Sherman said he would not be surprised If the Madrid cable report proved true that Minister Woodford was about to leave Madrid At the same time the state department was without advice® that thia step actually had been taken. Gfen. Lee Is en route here, and it is expected that his arrival will be the signal for a notable demonstration.