The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-19
BENT ON WAR
JINGOES IN CONGRESS SEEKING
TROUBLE WITH SPAIN.
Secretary of state OIney's Advice Tn
needed by the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations.
PRESIDENT ALSO IGNORED
CAMERON's JOINT RESOLUTION FOR
CUBAN INDEPENDENCE,
And Promising VucIe Sans Friendly
Onces TO Emo the StrusSfe, 10 ne
Reported on Monday.
CERTAIN TO ANGER THE D0NS
AND, If ADOPTED BY CONGRESS,
MAY PRECIPITATE WAR.
Two Strong Points Made by Secretary
Olney in a Statement 10 the
senate Committee.
Two Strong Points Made by Secretary
Olney I'm n Statement 10 the
senate Committee.
Mr.. MORGAN THE ARCH JINGO
HE WOULD SEND An ARMY OF YAM
KEGS TO CUBA, If NECESSARY.
How Insurgents Would Profit III Their
Independence Was Recognized
by the United states.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-Excitement Is
running high in Washington tonight. and
political speculation is fairly riotous on
the result of the action of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations to-day on Cuba.
The extreme sensitiveness of the business
public on this issue shown by the
instantaneous break i'm the securities mar
ket, the drop in quotations marking as
large a shrinkage in values as occurred
year ago when the President sent in his
Venezuelan message. The committees de-
cision is in direct response to what the
members believed to be a popular demand,
and is in fat opposition to the position of
the administrati atior. 1t is difficult to tell
which gets the hardest slap-Spain or the
Cleveland administration. A resolution to
declare for Cuban independence mot bel
lgerency. mind) and rendering the friendly
offices of the United States was reached
within ten minutes after Secretary Olney
had solemnly assured the committee that
there was no revolutionary government TO
recognize-that it was merely a government
on paper; the so-called Cuban republic had
not asked for recognition in due and proper
form, and the only visible evidence any of
the committee had of the existence of such
republic is a company of Cuban trouba-
dours, whose mission thus far has been
chiefly the production of fake stories of
Cuban victories. Administration partisans
are going about tonight calling the COM
mittees action ''wanton," an 'inexcusable
attempt to involve the country in a war
with Spain," etc.
The committee was unanimous in favor
of announcing the result of its deliberations
to-day and of reporting the resolution to
ha TO 10
reasonable doubt but that the resolution
will pass the Senate when 1T reaches a
vote. 1t is not probable, however
that a vote will be taken in that body
until after the holiday recess, which will
begin with adjournment on Tuesday next
and last until Jan. 5.
This action Is without precedent. When
in the early part of this century. Mexico
General America and the Spanish colonies
of South America revolted against the rule
of Spain, their independence was not
recognized until it had become an accom-
| plished fact. Before extending such recog-
milton President Monroe sent his own
| agents to those countries to examine into
and report the actual conditions of af-
| fairs. This report being to the effect that
| those countries had really gained their in
| dependence ard had established civil gov
ernments, the recognition of their inde-
pen6"nce followed matter of course.
| This recognition OF the existence of a new
| gov rnment has always heretofore been ad-
mittedly an executive and not a legsla-
| tive function. Just what good it would do
| the Cubans to acknowledge their inde-
pende nee when it is a palpable fact that
they have not gained such independence,
and not established a civil government,
hav ta1 hav no nf fraa
| communicating with the outer world, and
| there being no way for minister or other
| diplomatic agent OF this government to
| reach the Cubans save by passing through
| the Spanish lines, it is difficult TO under
stand, unless this country is prepared to
| make good its acknowledgment by force of
arms. This. of course, is what the Cubans
| themselves hope for. They know better
| than the so-called ''jingoes'' i'm a commit
| tee of Congress that the mere acknowl-
| edgment of their independence when IL does
| not exist a fact can avail them nothing
| in their struggle unless we back up such
| acknowledgment by an alliance and the
| sending of troops and fleets to the island
| to assist them in expelling the Spaniards.
At least one member of the foreign rela-
| tions committee has admitted that the reso-
luton, as adopted by the committee is
equivalent TO a declaration or war with
| Spain. If the resolution be finally adopted
| by the House and approved by the Presi-
| dent. or permitted to go into effect without
his approval. or be passed by Congress 10y
| a two-thirds vote in each house over his
| veto. the issue OF war or peace would no
| longer rest with us, but with Spain.
| Whether Spain. under the circumstances,
| would deem the adoption of such a resolu-
| ton casus belli remains TO be seen. There
| is no question but Spain will have the sym
| pathes OF the European governments with
| her, but il is extremely doubtful whether
| any European government would give her
| assistance in the event of war.
OF course. the final issue of war be.
| tween the United States and Spain
would not be in doubt. but at the outset
there seems to be no question that Spain
| could infiict serious damage TO our interests
and to some at least of our seaport towns
| and cities Nevertheless. there is no dis.
| guising the fact that there Is a war feeling
| in the country. 1t has been manifest about
the Capitol ever since Congress assembled