Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-19
THE SENATE AND CUDA.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations agreed yesterday TO report the
Cameron Joint resolution. which recog-
p,zes "the independence of the repub-
Ito Of Cuba" and provides that the
United States will use their friendly Of
fees with the Government of Spain to
bring TO a close the war between spain
and Cuba" As a result of this action.
there was great excitement in Wall
street and big slump in stocks.
As we see II. however. there was no
more reason for Wall streets taking
alarm over the action of the committee
than there is for believing that the reso-
luton will soon have the force and ef-
feet of law. AS is well known, Wall
street spectators. both bulls and bears
seize upon every possible pretext to shake
mn the market for their own advantage;
and. as the report of the committee was
nm "oppOrtunity" for the bears, these
worked 1t. as usual. for all it was worth.
Regarding the ultimate fate of the reso-
hutton. until there shall be marked
change in the situation in Cuba, or some
Thing very unforeseen happens, the
chances of its becoming operative would
appear to be quite remote. Holders Of
good securities, therefore. would do well
not TO worry overmuch as yet, and per-
sons who are Furnishing their arms TO
light Spain would better possess their
souls in patience awhile longer.
President Clevelands annual message
committed him distinctly to no change
for the present in the Cuban policy of
The administration. His decision in this
matter was based. supposedly. upon the
observations on the island Of General
Fitzhugh Lee. our Consul-General at Ha-
bana. who not only made written reports
10 the government regarding the situa-
ton in Cuba but is known to have had
Surfing his visit home personal interviews
with the President and Secretary Of State
nnent the Cuban question. The pre-
sumption. therefore is that the position
of the President as TO Cuba is well forth
hed-a presumption strengthened by the
statement that Mr. Olney. who was be
fore the Foreign Relations Committee,
antagonized the determination of the
committee. Since the Presidents mes
rage was laid before Congress nothing
Is known to have occurred in re-
spect ,eof the Cuban issue that
would Justify him in changing his policy
The death q Mac9o. which so aroused
the people of this country. has nothing
10 do with the case. Spain. through her
Minister at Washington. has made a
denial Of the charges against her in con-
nection with his death: and to doubt
that denial would involve an injustifable
Insult to the Spanish Government. The
logical inference is, therefore, that, even
should the Cameron resolution secure
enough votes in both houfes Of Con-
gress to pass IT. the President would
veto st. Moreover, IL is probable that
his veto would be accompanied by such
information. drawn from Consul-General
Lees report. as would tend materially
towards unfolding his hands.
But II Is by no means certain that Con
gress Will pass the resolution even as an
original proposition. and much more II
doubt is the question of its friends being
able to command the necessary two-third:
vote 10 pass II over the Presidents veto
1t has been given out from Canton on the
very DtSl VI duNuOiily tH'b
elect Mckinley Is in accord with Mr.
Cieveland's no-change policy, and natu-
rally. this fact will deter many Republi-
cans in Congress. hitherto ardent Cuoar
sympathizers. from supporting move
ment antagonistic to that policy.
The greatest danger TO be apprehendeC
from the action Of the committee is tina
II may cause Spain 10 take some step tina
will further incense our people and fore
the administration TO change its policy
but that danger is hardly to be regarded
RS imminent. AS we have had occasion
10 remark before. Spain has learned I
good deal about the power OF this natioi
since the Cuban troubles began, and vii
be apt 10 think twice before provoking u
too far. This contention is borne out b,
the comparatively quiet manner In whcl
the Presidents references TO Cuba in hi
message were received in Madrid.
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The Board OF Estimates OF the city o
no q A. -f.A .