The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-24
SENATOR HALE'S PROGRAM
NE LEADS THE OPPOSITION TO
THE CUBAN RESOLUTION.
i He VIII Meet the "Sympathizers" in
Open Field and VIII Not
Delay Action.

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Hale
has received letter from Senator Hoar.
who is absent from the city, announcing
his opposition to the Cuban resolutions
and asking Senator Hale to pair him in
any way that will defeat, delay or bring
to confusion the resolutions reported
from the committee on foreign relations.
Senator Hale, who is expected to lead
the opposition to the Cuban resolutions
in the Senate is preparing for the confi1ct
which he expects to be preciplated after
the holiday recess. 1t IS the generai
understanding that the question VIII be
one of the first to be raised after the
reconvening of Congress, and it IS COM
ing to be understood that it will be
battle royal '"rhe advocates of the reso-
lution." said the Maine Senator to-day,
-"were at first inclined to claim two
thirds majority. / doubt whether they
feel so sang,Tine now and | am sure they
would not if they knew how rapidly the
conservative sentiment in the Senate is
growing
.I was sorry to see," the Senator con-
tinued. that / had been quoted as say
ing in a boastful manner that we should
be able to defeat the resolution on
vote. I would not want to claim that
result at the present time, but | hope
for it in the end Indeed,sI am receiving
assurances from influential Senators ev-
cry day of sympathy with the movement
in opposition to the resolution and be-
Eeve the sentiment in the country is
+ rapidly veering that way. OF course
there are meetings and resolutions on the
other side, but one can gather men togeth-
er in advocacy OF. any cause and get
sigma tures to almost any kind of petit
szsu--ak is that the business
men And; the thinKdIg mssn4of the country
are 0pposed to any step which is liable to
plunge the country into war. In my
own State for instance there is only one
prominent newspaper which advocates
the course advised by the Senate conn
mittee ON foreign relations.
"We have just gone through CAM
paign in which we have promised peace
to the country. Is it consistent to pre-
sent the incoming administration with a
war on the threshold of its existence?
True, there is as undesirable condition
OF affairs in Cuba, but / believe the
reports are exaggerated. At any rate
it is true, that, however, cruel the con-
Qucl Vi the sopdHidiuS, IL uHuS It's eohli-
ternart in the behavior of the Cubans.
1t is their way of fighting; they are diff
ferent from us. From whatever stand
point the question is regarded there is no
excuse in reason or precedent for the
United States to interfere in this insur-
rection. / believe the Senate is rapidly
coming to realize this and am therefore
confident of success in the end. !"
1T has been intimated," suggested the
Associated Press reporter with whom
Senator Hale was talking that you will
flibuster to defeat the Cameron resolu-
tion in the Senator
''No truth whatever in that" he res
ponded ...It will not be necessary that
we should do so. The question raised
by the committee is one of vast magni-
tude and it will excite much debate. The
question of the respective prerogative of
the executive and legislative branches OF
the government which Mr.. Olney's let
ter has raised is calculated in itself to
set the lawyers talking at one another
and there is no telling how much time
may be consumed ON this point. Hence,
/ say that even if the opponents of the
resolution desired delay-which they do
not-they would not have to resort to
extraneoas methods to secure it. 1t
is, above all, foreign to our intentions
to attempt to use the appropriation bills
to accomplish the postponement of the
Cuban question. We are willing that
this subject should be brought up prompt
iy and are content to use only legitimate
weapons in our warfare against il"