Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-03
r,ni.biug Fish.

Finishing Fish.
Writes the Heralds Washington cor
respondent:
The closer the day for the meeting Of
Congress approaches, the more anxiously
the Cuban question is discussed in Wash
iurton circles. 1t is pretty generally
admitted on all sides that some decisive
action must be taken then at least, II not
sooner. The matter cannot drag along
as il has heretofore, under the policy OF
mastery inactivity recommended and
followed cut by Fish and Sumner. II
must eliminate in our Government
openly and plainly either declaring for
the Cubans or adopting q proclaimed
settled policy antagonistic to that which
in former times marked our course in re-
gard to nationalities struggling for free
dom, and especially for the establish
ment of free republican institutions like
our owp. Congress will force this di.
lemma upon the Executive. II VIII
wait O reasonable time perhaps for the
Administration to make some recommen-
dation on the subject, but after granting
such reasonable delay, and failing TO re-,
ceive any hints or intimationa, it will
take the matter, so far as it constitution
ally can, into its own hands, and by
adopting resolutions bold and unequivo-
cal in their language compel the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet to speak out and
declare themselves on one side or the
other. There is no question what the
character Of such resolutions would be-
The sympathies of nine out OF every. ten
members of Congress are on the side OF
plucky little Cuba. Leading members
who have called here lately have not
hesitated to state that it is solemn duty
on our part to extend helping hand to
Cube. They have gone farther and de.
clared that they would state their belief
from their places in Congress, and by
their voice and actions strive to convert
the Government as whole to the same
policy.
Some members who have been here re-
Gently evidently hold the belief that Mr..
Fish is responsible for our unrepublican
attitude toward Cuba. They say he is
the only one In the Cabinet who steadily
and persiatently clings to the do-nothing
policy. Had it not been for him, they
say, Grant long since would have pro-
claimed himself on the side of Cuba.
Therefore, say some Of these Congress
men, we ought to have vote of censure
against Fish at the next session. Such q
proposition have good reason to believe,
would fall as fat as pancake. There
would not be corporars guard to vote
for it. However much Congressman in
general may condemn the course OF Mr..
Fish, they pretty uniformly agree that he
has been and still is aciuated by the
purest of motives. Besides, they know
that in pursuing the policy he has in re-
gard to Cuba, be himself has been run
ming counter to his own strong sympa-
thies. he is as much friend of Cuba
es any man in the country, but believes
that good faith and strict observance
of our treaty obligations forbid that we
should adopt any other course than that
which has been pursued by the ad-
ministration thus far. He considers alse
that we would be assuming an attitude
directly at variance with the one we have
maintained in regard to the Alabama
claims.
That NJ. Fiah is honest and sineere in
these views admits of no questions, and
members of Cor gress concede that much,
and also that il would be the worst OF
taste to vote want Of confidence in him
simply for being honest. But suppose
for o moment that such thing as vote
of censure should be adopted, would it
not involve the whole Cabinety The
declared object of such Q vote is to force
Mr.. Fish to retire from the Cabinet
Would it have the desired effect2 Would
he feel called upon to throw up lis port
folio any more than any other member
of the Cabinet? am disposed to think
be would not. Besidef, he is not in
debted to Congress for hls position. He
holds il from the President, aud so long
az the latter shows no signs Of a want OF
confidence be (Fisb) would not by any
law of propriely be col strained to tender
his resignation. The whole idea is very
Euglisby, and would not work here at all.
His opponents had better try some other
way Of getting rid of him.
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