The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.


Who's afraid? Somebody is, and it seems
that his name is Grover Cleveland He is
afraid that Congress is about to compel him
to aid the Cubans. He succeeded in getting
the resolution declaring the Cubans entitled
to immediate recognition as belligerents and
asking the President to use his good offices to
persuade Spain to recognize the independence
of Cuba, which was adopted by the Senate
with only six dissenting votes, made ICON
current" instead Of Joint which makes it
just about as valuable to the Cubans as the
concurrent resolution adopted by both
branches of Congress some weeks ago and
which is now hid away in a pigeon-hole in
some White House desk has been to the
Armenans, whom it was intended to help.
He wanted the resolution made concurrent
because it would then leave him free to act
just as he pleased and just as though such n
resolution had never been heard Of. He was
afraid that the resolution would be made
Joint, as many Senators wished it to be, as in
that case he would have been compelled to
show his hand, either by vetoing it or allow
ing it to become II law. with or without his
signature.
Although he succeeded in getting his way
in the Senate, Mr.. Cleveland is very much
afraid he will not in the House, and there is
good ground for his fear. Unless there is an
unexpected change in the existing sentiment
of the House. there is little doubt that the
Cuban resolution which will be adopted by
the House this week will be made Joint. and
it is probable that it will also be made
stronger than the Senate resolution. Then if
the Senate will adopt the House resolution
without amendment Mr. Cleveland will have
to come out of the woods and let the country
see Just where he stands upon this question,
within ten days after its final adoption. If he
vetoes it it will be adopted over his veto, and
he will be compelled to carry out its instruc-
tons.
1t is a rather extra ordinary state Of affairs
when men in Congress who are disposed to
be his friends have to acknowledge that try
us Will they have been unable to ascertain
where the President of the United States
stands upon such an important question
important that the most conservative men i'll
the Senate have publicly stated that it may
lead the United States into war with one or
more Europeau countries. And what makes
the situation even more extraordinary is the
repeated cabegrams from Spain saying that
the Spanish minister in Washington has as
sured his government in the most positive
terms that he has personal knowledge that
Mr.. Cleveland has no immediate intention of
recognizing the beligerency Of the Cubans.
1t might be supposed that these cablegram-
alone would have been sufficient to have
caused Mr. Cleveland to have at least taken
his friends into his confidence, but no; he
takes nobody into his confidence. Conse-
quently there exists II belief that he is afraid
to define his position. This is in unfortunate
conclusion to arrive at but what else can
people think?
Mr.. Cleveland gave Congress quite sur
prise by vetoing the bill providing for the
leasing of school lands in Arizona, by the
territorial authorities. which was passed I'M
animOusly by both House and Senate, and the
House returned the favor by promptly passing
the bill over his veto by Il vote of 200 to SO.
and there is little doubt that the Senate will
What made the veto all the more surprising
was that IL similar bill was passed by the last
Congress for oklahoma, and has worked
profltably for that territory.
The rumors alleging that certain republi-
cans were working to have special meeting
Of the republican National Committee called
for the purpose of deposing Chairman Carter
have received no serious attention in Wash
ington, for the very good reason that every
body knew them to be entirely without
foundation. Senator Carter will retire from
the craftsmanship OF the National Committee
when the st. Louis convention names the new
National Committee. and his successor will
be chosen as usual by the man nominated for
President by that Convention. Even if
Chairman Carter were trying to iniure the
republican party, although nobody in Wash
ington would credit him with being engaged
in such business. he could do the party so
little injury during the few months he has to
remain at the head of the National Commit
tee that it would really be waste of time to
call special meeting of the committee to
depose him.
The Senate committee Oh Elections will
probably report favorably Senator Aliens re-
solution providing for an investigation of the
election of Senator Morgan. of Alabama, and
as the populists have been specially clamorous
for this investigation its adoption by the
Senate would seem to be a certainty but re-
cent votes in that body have made people
cautious about saying that anything not
already accomplished in the Senate is GER
tainty.