The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-05
IS 4 SPHINX is TO GUBA
Cleveland Has Given No Hint of
His Intentions.
DEMOCRATS IN THE DARK
Action of the House and Senate Would
Warrant IA I'rocIn nation Of bel
ligerency, But Both Parties Are
Wondering IL He VIII Issue It
What Public Men Say.

What viii the President do with the
Cuban resolutions, should they ever emerge
from conference committees and reach him?
The fact that it was an open secret that
the President and Secretary Olney were
disposed to proceed in very conservative
manner in regard to Cuban recognition,
fully approaching the many difficulties
surrounding the question, has been stated
i'll The Times, and has since been repeated
and confirmed.
1t is well understood III Congress that
but for Il knowledge OF this fact ana
consequent indisposition 10 cmbarrasS the
executive, Il joint resolution instead or a
concurrent resolution would nave been
adopted by both Houses.
1t is felt by leading members of the
House that the President can be depended
upon to 90 what is proper, ana that the
action of the two houses in passing rcsO-
buttons favorable To the Cuban insurgents
gives him the Endorsement Of those bodies
should he deem proper TO issue a pTocla-
nation Of belligerency.
HAS GIVEN NO HINT.
But Will he take such Il step? That
question was last night put TO number
of prominent Republicans and Democrats
In the House. The Republicans claimed
to have no knowledge OF the Executives
intentions, and said the only person com
petent to speak with intelligence upon the
subject was Mr.. Cleveland himself
The Democratic leaders were equally IN
certain. In their opinion the President
Will study the situation carefully and if
he should toe satisfied from the official
correspondence that Weyler proposes to
inaugurate a reign of terror in the island
he Will incline more strongly 70 accord
the insurgents bclligerent rights than would
other wise be the case.
II is not believed that under any circum-
stances he viii act upon the matter for
several weeks, should he do so al all.
1t is asserted that the opposition TO the
resolution would have been greater in the
House had not Il yea and nay vote been
taken.
VOTE WEAKENED 1T.
One Southern representative OF marked
prominence said that the legislature OF
his State had passed resolution calling
upon their members OF Congress to support
any proposition expressing ynIpathy
with the Cubans and that be voted for the
resolutions, therefore, because. as he ex-
pressed it, he did not desire 10 fly in the
face OF his constituents.
Other members recall the promptneSS
with which the Spanish government ex-
pressed its regrets for the outTages In
Barcelona ON Sunday last: their pa ymcnt OF
the celebrated Mora claim some mont rs ago;
the protection afforded by thenlto A American
property interests in Cuba AMI other evi-
dcnces OF desire 10 placate the United
States, and regret that circumstances
forced them to take a position, which,
in their opinion, places this government in
the attitude OF embarrassing u friendly
nation already Impoverished financially
and struggling in the throes OF a Civil war.
On the other hand the friends of free
Cuba are emphatic in their assertions that
Spanish rule in Cuba must be ended al any
cost.