Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-24
Further Action Necessary.

The friends of Cuba in Congress would do
well to take note just now of few very
plain facts.
Nothing has come of the concurrent reso-
Lotions passed by an overwhelming ma
jority in both houses according to the in
surgent5' belligerent rights and requesting
the President to open negotiations with
Spain to secure the independence of Cuba.
Nothing will come of them. The Presi-
dent is believed to be in communication
with the Spanish authorities on the subject
of the revolution. but not In the line of the
suggestions of Congress. He is reported to
he urging upon Spain the inauguration of
so-called reforms in Cuba, and to be
hearkening with approval to a repetition of
SPANS old broken promises the sub
ject- That is worse than a useless pro-
ceediEg. It is at once a violation of the
express wishes of the people of the United
States, and an abandonment of the people
of Cuba in their hour of need. 1t ought to
be stopped.
The session is rapidly drawing to a close.
May IS is proposed for adjournment. That
is early, but June 1 is a probable day
There ought to be no hurry. but the more
active of the politicians are anxious to
shut up legislative shop and go uninter-
ruptedly about the presidential business.
And when that IS once begun 1t will over
shadow everything else, foreign or domestic,
until it is completed. Then will come the
short session, with bare time for the trans
action of routine business, and then the
Inauguration of the newly-elected Presi-
dent, and, very probably an extra session
Of the newly-elected Congress for the con-
sheraton Of pressing domestic concerns.
So that, from the day of the close of this
session, for a full year and more, the case
OF Cuba. unless something definite is done
meanwhile, will be left 10 fate and the
President.
Ought lot something further to be done
by Congress before this session closes
The spirit of the body has been tested, and
the people, through their press and the
pulpits. have Endorsed the deliverance. That
deliverance would be sufficient if the execu-
tive were in sympathy with the people
But he is not AS usual, he insists upon
pursuing course Of his own. He has not
formally adopted Mr.. Vanderbilt's famous
view of the people. but in this affair he acts
on it. Should this he permitted? Congress,
for all the snubs ii has received from the
White House. is still the representative
of the people. 1t speaks for the people
Ought not Congress, therefore, seeing that
the action it has already taken is to be
nulilfed by the executive and something
else attempted, to return to the subject ?
Ought not it to try again? 1t has the
power and the votes. The matter need not
provoke prOtracted discussion 1t need not
go beyond q plain declaratio of facts. But
1t should go that far
1t may be true, as suggested in some
quarters, that the President would veto
a joint resolution of import similar to that
OF the concurrent resolutions he is ignor-
ing But why not formally and openly and
explicitly put him on record? At least,
why not pass a resolution reciting the
text of the concurrent resolutions. and
requesting the President. if it cannot get
his consent to act in accordance with the
sentiment contained in them, to take no
ectlon at all. Certain it Is that the wishes
or the people of the United States are
We'll understood about this business. and
the influence of their government ought not
10 be exercised to defeat the aspirations of
a nelShboring people, with whom they sym-
pathize, TO set up an Independent govern
ment of their own.