The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-26
MANY THEORIES ADVANCED
For the Queer Action OF Sen
a+or Sherman.
IN REGARD TO THE MATTER
IT Seems Probable That the Business
lasarest of Few New Eng
landers Dictated This
Policy.
News and Observer Bureau,
Metropolitan Hotel,

When John Sherman arose Monday
in the Senate, and agreed utterly to
abandon the fight he had for several
weeks been making for the Cuban res
olution, it is but a mild observation to
say that there was a distinct surprise,
and theory after theory was advanced
for the queer action of the old man
from Ohio. 1t may be remembered
that few days ago, in these columns,
it was noted that the sentiment seemed
to be rapidly growing in the Senate,
at least, against the resolution, and
the names of the six Senators who
originally opposed the resolution were
given, and then additional names were
given who could safely be put down on
the side of the Hoar-Hale crowd. Yet
all these names amounted to not more
than thirty-five at most, and i'll the
face of this uninviting opposition the
Senator from Ohio suddenly, without.
warning, at the suggestion of Hoar
agreed to let the resolution go back to
conference. It was strange and I'M
looked for. A few moments afterwards
Senator Mills gave notice of the speech
which he made yesterday On the ex-
4reme joint resolution which has been
told of in the press dispatches. But the
prevailing opinion. on the withdrawal
of Sherman was that Mills perform
ance would be but oratorical, signify
ing nothing, and that really the Cuban
incident was closed as far as Congress
was concerned. Indeed, to strengthen
this theory, when Hill yesterday mern-
ing insisted upon the House resolu-
ton and asked for another conference,
McCreary ttlFning to him is authorize
lively quoted to have said, "Well, that
ends it" And no doubt the momen-
tary congressional opinion is that the
leaders for some cause or other have
made all this fuss temporarily TO lull
the people, never having intended to
take any marked action. A great many
ieyel-headed people say that in doing
this, Congress has done wisely, but
then, there are others And it is in
connection with "these others" that
there springs up another theory. This
theory is that. first, something more
pronounced will shortly come from the
conference committee and be rapidly
put through. Second, that the back
down of Sherman seemed reasonless
and inexplicable with sixty Senators
on his side Third, that if the intent
be to put action i'm Cuba to sleep there
will be protest coming from a great
body of American citizens all over this
country. Thus, in response to some
such early possible demand from the
people, it is figured out that Congress
may shortly be pushed to even a joint
resolution of sympathy, at least, to
which it was lately thought that Cleye-
land would be favorable. OF course,
the American mind is too practical to
accept anything so illogical and so far
from well-balanced action as was the
joint resolution of Senator Mills. But
it is believed that the people win ask
some action. at any rate, that they viii
not rest with the mere talk that has
been going on seemingly 50 insincerely
for the last two weeks.
This insinceritY was sharply limited
at in the remarks of Senator Allen as
well as in the remarks of Senator Mills.
The suggestion of sugar stock was the
dominant key of suspicion III the
speech of Senator Mills, and that set
free all kinds of doubts in the pro-
fessed sympathy for Cuba. Then an
other story comes that Hale was urged
to his pugnacious course by nothing
less than the demands of constituents
who wish no recognition of Cuba's
belligerency. Tt is said there are some
owners in New England possessed of
Cuban property who DO lIot wish to
forego the chance Of getting inden-
nifty from Spain for any possible jn-
jury TO their interests by that practi-
cal release Of claim which might lie
in acknowledgement of belligercncy.
Then there are some who went to the
far-fetched theory that Sherman had
had a conference with Cleveland and
was acting in consonance with the
Presidents wishes. 1t is said that
Sherman and Cleveland often take
counsel together, and that the two
have great admiration, one Tor the
other. 1t matters not which of these
theories one may adopt, or whether
we adopt any, the fact remains that
Sherman must have come into the
Senate chamber Monday morning pre-
pared to do what he did do, and he
is in consequence now referred to as
a man whose day is gone, who is
kicked about as q football in the Sen
ate even by such interiors as Hoar and
Hale who in point of prestige aHe mere
shoe-lacers to him. Whatever may
come out Of the whole matter, and
whatever of hot-headedness may be
attributed TO Mills, it is worth
noting here and now that
the sincerity of the Southern Senators
has had no suspicion thrown upon it,
They followed Sherman out Of broad
humanity, feeling that the duty Of lis
tening to the plant OF people asking
only TO be let alone, and for liberty
involved a principle that overtopped
even the technical principles Of inter-
national usage. But they seemed to
have been mistaken in their allies; this
suspicion Of sordidness behind the sud-
den change of sentiment to the North
ern Senators will take better shape in
the next few days, apd the Cuban
question will be found, doubtless, not
10 have been shelyed. Right or wrong,
the position of the resolution does
rot possibly represent any abatement
in tire neonIe Of sYmpathY for the Gu