The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CONGRESSMAN ARE SULKING
IN THEIR TENTS.
An Incident in the Senate Showing How
Careless of Results to the Administra-
ton Democrats Have Become
They Are Holding Cleveland
Responsible for Election
Results
Special Correspondence.

Washington, Dec. lit has, even at
this early date in the present session of
congress- become apparent that Mr.. Cleve-
land is not to have that strong and loyal
support from his party associates that
was at one time freely and spontaneously
accorded him. That such feeling should
appear at this time is not strange. The
history of the long session of the Fifty
third is of too recent making to have
been forgotten when so many differences
of opinion and of policy arose to cause
hard feeling and personal animosity be-
tween the president and the Democrats
in congress. And then the result of the
recent election was not such as to soothe
wounded feelings. Too many who had
been true and steadfast friends of the
president met defeat at the polls. and so
many of them are inclined to hold him
largely responsible for their retirement
it is not to be expected that their senti-
ments just now towards him would be
of the warmest kind. Many of these de-
feated members now seem to be willing
to allow matters to slide as they will
without doing aught to stem the current
Freed from responsibility themselves by
their constituents, they are willing to at
tend to their duties for the balance of the
term for which they were elected in q
purely perfunctOry way without care
for the future.
That such feeling does exist here in
congress at present is almost daily shown
by little things-straws tho they are
on the waters of congressional life, they
nevertheless show the set of the tide.
One of these significant happenings oc-
Cured in the senate yesterday when
the resolution introduced on the
previous day by Senator
Lodge making inquiry into the surrender
of two japanese students by the United
States consul to the Chinese and their
subsequent torture and death, was laid
before the senate for action in the regu-
lar order of business. For some little
while the utmost silence prevailed on the
floor. Not motion or suggestion was
heard from anyone, and it began to APP
pear that the administration was with
out representative on the floor. Finally
however, Senator Sherman broke the
spell by remarking that in a matter so
delicate, involving, as it did, a question
between two warning countries, between
whom the United States was neutral, it
would not be well to act hastily, and the
better plan would be to refer the resolu-
ton to the committee ON foreign re-
lations. Such action was opposed by
Senators Lodge and Chandler. After
some little discussion Senator Morgan,
CHdlTuldu VI Tic iOIelSh ICIutlouo IOul-
mittee, was appealed to. Thus forced,
as it were, into the discussion, he ad-
mitted it would be wise to refer the reso-
luton, and it was so ordered. The spec
tacle was thus presented of Republi-
can senator advising against action pro-
posed by his own party colleagues, and
leading his opponents away from an ac-
ton which might probably have caused
the president some little embarrassment,
had the resolution been passed at this
time. The embarrassment referred to
would not only have been to the presi-
dent, but might have involved the whole
country. At present the question of the
students is in the hands of the state de-
partment and is being investigated.
Any action the senate might take on
result of that investigation would be
looked upon by both Japan and China
as the utterance of this government.
The United States has maintained it's
position of neutrality between the two
countries, and it would hardly be ad-
visable at this time to take any action
that could possible give offense to both
or either of the contestants.