The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-23
While the Question Is Debated
Citizens Demand Freedom
for the Patriots.
GENERAL MACEOS DEATH NOW
SEEMS CONFIRMED.
But the Insurgents Are Not Dismayed
and Struggle Bravely Against
the Spaniards.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. %. -
Though the Congressional debates have
not been forthcoming to stimulate the
interest brought out by the latest phases
of the Cuban situation, the manifestations
of feeling on that topic have not lessened.
The position assumed by Secretary Olney
has been the main feature OF discussion in
private and public, and, so far as the
opinions of members of Congress go in the
matter, it is apparent that the burden OF
general declarations is antagonistic to the
views declared by the Secretary of State.
At the same time it is felt that the many
instances wherein distinguished gentle
men, prominent in public life, in lnterna-
tional law scholarships and in business,
have given open expressions OF views,
fully indorsing the position of the ad-
ministration on the Cuban situation, have
not been without tendency to sensibly
temper what some regard a too hastily
formed judgment as to the immediate
necessity of ignoring Mr.. Olney's views.
In all the discussions held by Morgan
OF the Committee on Foreign Relations,
he has taken no backward step from his
original position that Olney's attitude is
beyond all proper precedent and an asser-
ton of power for the executive that has
never been delegated to that branch of the
Government by any decision of the Su-
preme Court.
Sherman, the chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, holds as well that the
position of 0lney in the present particular
is untenable under the constitution.
Morgan says that if the President can
recognize the Cuban republic independ-
entity of Congress. he can displace Mr.. de
LONE of his rights to represent the Span
sh monarchy here. New England Con-
gressmen, with ohly perhaps one or two
exceptions, notably Chandler, who vigor
ously adheres to his heretofore expressed
opinion that it would be preposterous for
an executive to notify Spain not to expect
until the new administration comes into
power any action on the Cuban question,
are disposed to be more conservative.
Senator Hawley of Connecticut does
not hesitate to say point blank that he
disapproves of the Cuban resolutions.
The two Maine Senators differ, though
very slightly, in respect to the Olney res
oIuiion. Senator Hale does not doubt the
correctness of the stand taken by the
Secretary of State, and his colleague, Frye,
who is a member of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, while he has been in
clined to think Olney is right, has not
freely determined what the effect would
be if the Cameron resolution should pass.
A sentiment that has considerable stand
ing upon Western Representatives is ex-
planned by the declaration of Senator Nc
MILAN OF Michigan, who thinks the posi-
ton taken by the President and the. ..Cabi-
net on the Cuban question is proper one.
The Secretary of State himself is not
content to rest quietly in the face of re-
peated dissent to his statements. He
has not been slow to refer to the position
of Senator Morgan as clearly inconsis-
tent one, and referring to-day to the
answer made by Morgan in the Senate
Yesterday to question by Senator Hill
that it was preposterous to question the
right of Congress to recognize the inde-
pendence of Cuba. Morgan took an al
most entirely different view last February,
when the concurrent resolution express
ing the sympathy of Congress for the in
surgents and urging the President to use
his good offices with Spain to bring about
a termination of the struggle on the island
was in discussion in the Senate. His re-
marks on that occasion have direct bear
ing upon the issue raised by the Secretary
of State. According to Secretary Olney
the Senator from Alabama at that time
coincided with the position now assumed
NV tho ayacutiva