The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-16
They ShOwHamiltOn FiSh'S
Great Wisdom.
His Diary Has Much Inter-
eSting Cuban Matter.
Belligerency Came Near Being an
Accomplished Pact.
copyrighted. 1901

StutcS scihVe HlhllN hlIlSlonS NcFc llaNe
both by Senator Sherman and Senator
Hill as to the attitude of President Grant
and the then secretary Of state, Hamilton
Fish. Senator Sherman declared that
there was conflict Of opinion over Cuban
affairs between the president and his sec
retary of state.
The speaker OF the assembly, Hamilton
Fish, son OF the late secretary, is In pos
session OF information on this subject
contained In the diaries kept by his father
that Is OF great Importance in the contro-
versy. On the authority of these diaries
II is shown that the president had at one
time, under the circumstances of pend
Ing negotiation Mt Madrid, been inclined
to recognize the belligerency of Cuba; but
on June IL. 1870, the opinion of the presi-
dent and the cabinet was unanimous that
there were no facts TO justify the declara-
ton of bclligcrency, and that the satisfac-
tion OF the president with the Cuban
policy OF his administration. and its effects
upon the country and the Republican
party, found expression few weeks later
In thanks I'd the secretary of state for
whatever share In Ii may have been due to
his wisdom and judgment
During his eight years service In the
state department., Mr.. Fish kept chiefly rs
n reference record for his own eyes, diary
In his own handwriting containing min
ute OF important transactions, OF his con-
versations with the president, members OF
the cabinet, senator's and other leading
public men, In regard TO the more promi-
nent OF the foreign questions with which
he had to deal. From May 81 TO June l3,
1870, the date OF President Grants mes
sage TO congress on Cuban belligerency,
the entries in the diary are many and very
full In regard 10 tho origin, preparation,
discussions In the cabinet and final com
pletiOn Of the special message Some of
these entries have peculiar interest in
the light OF recent events and We're yes
terday shown TO your correspondent
Under date Of Feb. 10, 1870 there Is a
suggestion of rift In the unity of the Re-
publican party in defense of that policy,
respecting foreign affairs, which policy
the president had announced in his an
nual message of the previous December
The entry Is rs follows:
Called this morning (by appointment to see
Senator John Sherman on subject of the unit
OF coinage. After conversing on that subject
referred TO his resolution introduced in the
senate and his speech in favor OF recognizing
the belligerency of Cuba. and asked if he had
recently examined the treaty with Spain of
1895. He said he had not: was not aware Of
the existence Of such treaty. l referred TO
it's provisions and to the probable eonse-
quences OF the exercise by Spain of the right
OF visit (or of search; thought our people
would not submit To il, and that the conse.
quences would soon develop In war: said that
fighting was not bellgorency; there is fighting,
hsxe h.llt a.. Is..l..
ernment of the insurrectionary party; no po.
litical organization, etc.
He admitted that he had not examined the
subject closely, but said there Is a good deal
Of excitement in the country on the subject
advised him, In connection with the passing
of his resolution Of belligerency, TO prepare
bills for the increase of the public debt and TO
meet the increased appropriation which will
be necessary for the army, navy, etc.
Politics Considered.
An evident solicitude among Republi.
cans lest the party, In the presence OF the
autumn election, should be
divided on the Cuban question. by reason
of representations TO the country In regard
to the presidents real attitude, Is indicated
by the secretary on June 10:
Judge Orth and General Butler called in
the evening in regard TO the sending OF mes.
sage by the president on the question or Cuban
Orth says the vote will be close
Banks Will make the closing speech, but there
are some 20 or 30 members who may be de-
cided by his speech, but would not go against
the presidents views.
On June l2 there Is this entry:
Stay at home and prepare message on the
Cuban bellgerency question TO be submitted
FOR the presidents consideration, in case he
agreed 10 send one. He has not yet returned
from his fishing excursion.
OF the discussion In the cabinet on the
18th, the day on which the special mes-
sage was sent tn congress, the diary says:
II was generally admitted that If war is 20
bo resorted TO, " should be by direct declara-
tlon and not by embarra sing Spain by dec
Iaration of belligeroncy; agrees unanimously
that no condition OF facts exists TO Justify bel.
hgcroncy. Finally, tho president amends his
sentences by referring in general terms TO
seizures ON the high seas. embargo, and Of
property and personal outrages. Robson
adds the concluding sentences, claiming that
the question OF belliserency Is distinct from
those questions OF wrong which are being
pressed for decentralization, and IL not sat.
SIZED. they will be made the subject of n IN.
ture message. Aud thu,it is agreed that the
message shall he sent IN.
Speaker Fish SAID that the original
lraft OF the message, with its many era.
sures aud interllneations, Is all in Mr..
Fishs own hand. Tho message sent TO
and printed rs executive docu-
nent No. 90 is verbatim. as I'm that draft,
down to the following paragraph, near the
end:
There H. no dc facto government, In the island
Df Cuba sufficient To execute law and main.
tam just relations with other nations Spain
has not been able 90 suppress the opposition 10
Spanish rule ON the island. nor Ia award
speedy justice 90 other nations, or citizens of
Dthor nations, wien their rights have been in.
vaded.
Those two sentences were written and
Inserted by the PRESIDENT; the next two
were written in cabinet session, on tho
presidents suggestion, and by the secre
iary Of statc the last and concluding
Ihrcc were written and added In cabinet
session by the secretary Of the navy.
Speaker Fish then showed extracts 90
;hat the policy of the admin
Istration on this matter Of Cuba appears
to have becn adopted by the Republican
party I'm the decisive vote ia the house oi
on the pending resolutions
4