The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-27
FISH.
A Curious Movement TO Dust the Secretary of
SIuIe--EIis Mastery Inactivity the Cuban
Question 10 be Censured by Congress.

A Curious Movement TO Dust the Secretary of
SIaIe-EIis Mastery Inactivity on the Cuban
Question 10 be Censured by Congress.
Writes the HerdLdS Washington correspondent
The closer the day for the meeting of Congress
approaches, the more anXousy the Cuban question
is discussed in Washington circles 1t is pretty gene
rally admitted on all sides that some decisive action
must be taken then at least, If not sooner The mat
Ter cannot drag along as it has heretofore under the
policy of mastery inactivity recommended and fol-
lowed out by Fish and Sumner. 1t must culminate
in our Government openly and plainly either decar-
ing for the Cubans or adopting
proclaimed settled policy antagonistic to
that which in former times marked our
dom, and especially for the establishment OF free
republican institutions like our own. Congress will
force this dilemma upon tine Executive 1t will wait
a reasonable time perhaps for the administration to
make some recommendation on the subject but
after granting such reasonable delay and falling TO
receive any hnts or intlmauOns' IL VIII take the
matter, far as itconstltutlonay can, into It's own
hands and by adopting resolutions bold and unequi-
vocal Ia their language compel the President ana
his Cabinet to speak out and declare themselves
or one side or the other Ihere Is no question wnaC
the character or such resolutions would De- The
sympathics of nine out oI every ten members OF
Congress are on the side OF plucky little Cuba.
Leading members who nave called mere lately nave
not hesitated TO state that 1t is a solemn duty
part to eXrend a helping hand to Cuba They have
zone further and declared that they would state
their belief from their places in Congress, and by
their voice and actions strive TO convert the Govern
ment as a whose to the same policy.
Some members who have been here recently evil
dently hold the belief that Nr. Fish Is responsible for
onr ,,rpnubcan attitude towards Cuba iThey say ne
is the only one in the CABINET who steadily aud per-
sisently cngs to the dOnothing policy. Had it not
been for him, they say, Grant long since would
| have proclaimed himself on the side of Cuba.
Therefore, say some of these COngressmen,we ought
to have vote of Censure against Fish az the next
session. Such proposition, have good reason 20
believe, would fail as nat as pancake There would
| not be q cOrpOTas guard to vote for IL. However
! much CongTessmen in general may condemn the
| course OF Mr.. Fish, they pretty uniformly agree
that he has been ahd stll Is actuated by he purest
| of motives Besides, they know that in pursuing
| the policy he has in regard TO Cuba he hm-
| self has been running counter to his own strong
| sympathies. lie Is as much friend OF Cuba as
| any man in the country, but believes that good
faith and strict observance OF our treaty ODliga
| tOns forbid that we should adopt any other course
than that which has been pursued by the admins
tration thus far lie considers also that we would
| be assuming an attitude directly at variance with
the one we have maintained in regard 10 the Ala
| bama claims THAT Mr.. Fish Is honest aud sincere
| in these views admits OF no question, ana members
| OF Congress concede that much, and also That II
would be the worst OF taste TO vote want of
confidence in him simply for being honest. But
supposing for moment that such thing as a vote
OF censure should he adopted, would IL not
involve the whole Cabinet? The declared
object OF such vote is to force Mr.. Fish 10
Ietire nom the Cabinet Would it have the desired
enecG Would he feel called upon to throw up ms
Poruollo any more than any other member OF the
SSaDineV am disposed to think he would not.
Desues ne IS not indebted to Congress for his
position. He holds il from the President, and so
iDng as the latter shows signs OF want OF cont
nnehoe, ne SFls) would not by any law of proprety
De constrained TO tender his resignation, The
Mnoie iuea IL very Englishy, and would not work
heIe ~ AT, HIS opponents had better try some
OtheI way Vi geltng rid Of him.