The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-11
THE PRESIDENTS PART.

Wnat was said yesterday by Mr..
Gray, of Delaware, when the Cuban
question was before the senate, is of
account because the member from Del
aware is one of the very few men in
cordial terms with the president and to
reflect the Administrations views Mr..
Gray expressed. the opinion that this
country ought not to heed the turmoil
In Spain, that it should find itself dis
posed to excuse attacks on the United
States consulates, and that there need
be no especial stretching Of the senate
rial privilege for the sake of reconciling
any little controversy that may have
arisen between Minister de LONE and
any member of the senate. Senator
Gray is one of the members of congress
who want the Cuban resolutions to fall
Back of yesterdays talk are incidents
which are worth mentioning because
IN the progress of the Cuban discus
sion. several things have occurred
which the dispatches to the western
press have not made altogether clear.
A few days ago. some of the Washing
ton correspondents sent out word that
the president would not act favorably
In the matter Of the proposed recogni-
ton of belligerent rights for the insur-
gents. On this question the president
himself had, of course, not been heard
from in person. However, the Wash
ington correspondents made their pre-
diction with considerable assurance,
and they agreed that their statement
was backed by the word of a man who
was very close to the president and
fully acquainted with his intentions.
This talk had an unusual sequence.
On Friday of last week President
Cleveland was interviewed. He per-
sonally authorized a press dispatch in
which he said: II see it is assumed i'm
certain quarters that the report pub
lished a few days ago on the Cuban
question may be taken as defining the
attitude of the administration on that
subject. l wish you would say l never
saw the statement nor heard of il until
1 read 1t In the newspapers and even
then neglected to read all of it, suppos-
ing IL represented nothing more than
a newspaper guess. 1 do not know how
1t originated nor by whom it was con-
structed or inspired. but I know I am
in no manner responsible for it nor in
any way related to ii. l only desire TO
say in addition that | do not know
whether the publication referred TO
represents the views of the administra-
ton on the Cuban question or not"
Following this declaration from the
president, came announcements from
some of the correspondents that their !
authority for the statement in question
was Secretary Olney. From the secre- |
tary, as far as we know, not a word
has been heard since last Friday: sew
eral eastern newspapers OF the latest
date that has reached this Office base |
their editorial comment on the assump- |
ton that Mr.. olney did in fact sneak |
for the administration, and thar he /
went as far as to say that the president
would not recognize the Cubans as bel
ligerents.
In connection with this talk. account
is TO be taken of the remarkable dis
patch which reached this country four
or five days ago under Madrid date
IL read: "Senor Dupuy de LONE. Span-
ish minister at Washington. has tele-
graphed to the government saying that
President Cleveland had declared that
though the United States might recon-
nize the Cubans as belligerents no
would always oppose intervention 4,
Cuba"
1t all amounts to this: Enough is
known in Washington TO warrant the
members Of congress in assuming that
the president is out OF sympathy with
action that contemplates the recognI-
ton OF the insurgents. 1t remains 10
be seen whether the congressman care
10 be guided by the wishes Of the white