Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-16
Anxiety in Regard to It by His
Political Associates.
FOREIGN QUESTIONS TO COME UP
His Experience and Sagacity Needed
in Their Adjustment.
HIS DIPLOMATIC EQUIPMENT


His personal friends naturally are the
Speaker Reed has just made to town for
the express purpose of getting the latest
news from the sick bed at first hand shows
how strong the feeling is that knits Mr..
Hit to those with whom he is intimate.
But, aside from this, the republican lead
ers generally are anxious. There is so
much important work for their party to do,
and for some of which Mr.. Hit is so ex-
ceptionally well qualified, that the bare
threat OF his not being able to take up the
burden of work next winter alarms them.
1t is considered no disparagement of any
body else to say that in the field of foreign
affairs Mr.. Hit is without an equal among
those who will participate in the proceed
ings of the next House. He has had
very large experience; he has tact, good
temper, good debating power, and, what
is invaluable in prominent service on the
floor of the House, he enjoys the unquali-
fled respect of both political friends and
fees. That, ii he lives and is strong
enough to assume the duties of the place,
he will be the next chairman of the House
committee on foreign affairs is certain, and
that the place Will be of the highest i'm
portarce both to the republican party and
to the country at large stands confessed
by mere catalogue of the questions GER
~N~-N~
consideration.
Three Questions Certain.
O-The Hawaiian question. This may
assume two forms. There may be an in
vestgation ordered of the Cleveland-Wi
Dole episode The action of the last House
in blocking the way and protecting the
in that matter is still Bit
terly resented by the republicans, and
they are threatening to go into the affair
on their own account next winter. Then
the question of the annexation of the
islands may come up, and that is very
important question. If it does come up it
will require much more skill in the han
ding than the other for whereas an in
vestigation of democratic laundering could
not be expected to produce anything more
than some good campaign material, the
proposition of raising the flag over Hawaii
as American territory would involve the
whole matter of an advanced and i'm
proved foreign policy. All the party wis
dom obtainable would be desired then.
(2)-The Nicaragua canal. This quest
will now, for the first time. take definite,
business-like shape Heretofore there has
been some maneuvering and pranking for
one. purpose or another. Serious differ
ences over details existed between the
two houses of Congress, and these suf-
feed to insure that nothing in the end
would be accomplished, But everybody
seems to mean business now. There is
to be dug, and everybody is cheering on
the enterprise. Every fellow is reaching
out for a spade. But the enterprise is so
very important and means so much to the
whole world that great care will be neceS-
sary in the drafting of the required legis-
lation. Men of diplomatic as well as men
of business experience will be looked to for
suggestions.
C3)-The Monroe doctrine. Nobody be-
lieves that the republican party will fail to
make some important deliverances in Con-
gress next winter on question so vital as
to what American influence on the affairs
of this hemisphere really means. The re-
publicans insist that there is such an in
fuence, md that there must be no doubt
as to its scope and meaning: They them
selves have very definite IDEAS on the
ton shall not rest when the Corinto cpl
sode has left it. That episode, in their
Judgment, was virtual humiliation of the
United States, and they want to repair the
injury as speedily as possible. But, as
they see. the question is not to be settled
in heat or in haste, or by bluster 1t is
business fit for the biggest men in the
country. and they will invite counsel from
the democrats as well as from their own
ranks. They will receive it. too. Mr.. Nor
gan in the Senate-considered by many
men the peer of any statesman OF MS day
will go as far in the dignified assertion OF
American rights and duty as the foremost
of the republicans. There must be a Mon
roe doctrine. or doc Fine covering the mat
ter so long understood in the United States
under that title. But doctrine of like i'm
port by any other name would smell as
sweet in this country.
The Delicate Cuban Question.
N-Cuba. What is the American desire
with regard to that island? Some Ameri-
can statesmen favor purchase and annexa-
tion. Other men of equal prominence in
public affairs favor assistance to the Gu
bans and then protectorate. The ques-
ton is growing in Importance. Spain may
succeed in putting down the present re-
volt, but the spirit of resistance to Spanish
rule is deep-Seat ted on the island, and the
belief is that sooner or later it must tri-
umph. The Cubans love the United States.
They would become citizens of this govern
ment tomorrow if they could. Whenever
their day of triumph comes they will be
certain to turn here for recognition and
assistance Shall they be turned away. as
the Hawaiians have been, like an unwel-
come person at the door, or be taken into
camp like a man and brother, and a knife
and fork be given them? The question is
more delicate than the Hawaiian question,
for the reason that in Hawaii the contest
was distinctly between an advanced high
grade civilization and a thinly veneered
barbarism. 1t was startling when a few
Americans were found to stand up for the
latter. In Cuba it is a question of good
governments momentous question, but
void of all inhuman features. The United
States is at peace with SPAN, and Synlpa-
thy with the Cubans must, ii at all, be
expressed with due regard to that fact.
Care and Wisdom Needed.
It is thus to be seen how much care and
wisdom and experience must be bestowed
upon the business of the foreign affairs
committee of the next House, and how
greatly it is desired that the chairman of
that committee shall represent all that is
best and most capable in his party. Mr..
Hit has served in the State Department as
assistant secretary, in France as the chief
attache under Minister Washburne, and
since then as member of the foreign af-
fairs committee of the House He enjoyed
intimacy with Mr.. Blaine and profited by
that great mans ability and spirit. He has
ability and spirit nimself of high order,
and is regarded, indeed, as being, with the
single exception of John w. Foster the
best equipped man for diplomatic business
in the United States. There is a general
and most earnest desire that he may re-
cover.