The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-24
JERRY'S ANTICS.
Populist Statesman Squelehed Many
Times.
BUT HIS SKIN Is THICK AND HE
BOBS UP SERENELY.
This Country and the Cuban Question--Ad-
ministration Doing Its Best to Secure
Independence of the Island-Immigrant
Inspectors Losing Their Heads.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

inspectors Losing Ihe1r Heads,
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Washington, May 22-Cuba has attracted
much attention this week, and many
words have been spoken in favor of the
men who are in arms against Spain.
Unfortunately there is not only real and
generous sympathy in it all, but great
amount of froth and, it is to be feared, a
| spirit of mischief. There seems to be in
some quarters desire not only to see our
citizens protected and fed in that island,
but also desire for war between this
country and Spain.
| Those who talk SO jauntily of embark
ing this country in war INCLUDE in their
number some Senators and members who
are led by their sentiments of chivalry
and pity. There is reason tosbelieve that
great many others would not object to
seeing this government get into war with
Spain, and that before the tariff bili is
passed and before our affairs of revenue
and currency are adjusted. They know
very well that under such circumstances
this country would probably go to sill
yer basis in short order and might remain
there for some time. The debates of the
week have developed the same old preju-
diees, and the same filings against stock
markets and plutocrats that were heard
from Mr.. Bryan in the campaign.
Senators Hale, Hawley and Hoar, who
have fought for conservative course in
the matter until they have been stigma
tized as pro-Spanish in their sympathies,
understand full well that this country is
in no condition, either in Its finances or
its defences, for conflict with even SO
weak power as Spain. That we should
ultimately win no one can doubt. But
we have great cities as yet exposed with
out defense to any Spanish rover that
might appear with big wooden gum
The Spanish navy ranks up well with our
own, and at present with their coaling
stations at our own doors in the West
Indies, is in much better position to dam
age us than we are in to damage Spain.
Cuba is lost to Spain anyway, and the
people of that country undoubtedly know
it. So the fear that we might take Cuba
would have no deterrent effect on Spain.
The men who are now having so large
an influence in the United States Senate
in favor of hasty and reckless action, are
not generally men of long training in
public affairs. They have not had years
of service in the House and Senate, as
have Messrs. Hale, Hoar and Hawley,
M
the details of our finance, our army or
our navy. OF course there are exceptions
to this; but in general the Masons, the
Cannons and the Ferakers ar men who
have come to the Senate recently without
much preliminary training in National
administration.
The Republican party is now ohargea-
BILE with the responsibilities of admins
tration; and of it's sympathy with Cuba
there is no doubt This we'll understood
fact, together with the attitude of the
administration, is having very favora-
BILE effect, and, as Mr.. Hit said in the
House on Thursday, there is reason to
believe that bef ,re very long peace and
independence may be secured for the
Island. Our State Department is work
ing hard in that direction and it's officials
are confident of happy result before very
long.
With affairs proceeding thus favorably
the attempt to secure from Congress a
law recognizing belligerency is at this
stage fraught with mischief to the country
and embarrassment to the administration
Jerry Simpsons Antics.
The two days week which the House
devotes to sessions is about time enough
for the transaction of the important bust
ness which demands attention If more
time were taken it would be occupied
principally in the antics of Jerry Simp-
son and the few who like to see him per-
form. Jerry has not improved his stand
ing in the House by his performances.
When he came back to this Congress there
was general disposition on the part of
members on both sides of the chamber to
favor him. They had regarded him as a
freak pure and simple when he came in
with the Populist food, and when he was
defeated for reelection to the 54th Con-
gress his associates had begun to realize
that he was not so much Of freak as
they supposed. So when he came back to
the 55th House there was disposition
to regard him as the leader of the Popu-
list party and to take him seriously
But the performances of the restored one
have shattered any such dispositions long