Birmingham state herald., 1897-05-14
SENTIMENT FOR CUBA LIBRA Washington Has a Violent 0ut- aa break of the Fever. |. re DISTRESS OF AMERICANS , the Queen of .he Antilles Adds Fuel to the
 Flame lgnited Through Reports of E.
 Spanish Dictatorship.

den ana Violent outbreak Of Cuban Sent1- ment today at the capitol, and during the early hours the drift of opinion was strongly towards speedy and radical ae- tion by both congress and the executive, but later there was somewhat of a re- action upon is becoming known that the president, while keenly alive to the situ7 ation and anxious to learn everything possible that could guide his conduct of our Cuban and Spanish relations, felt that further information was necessary and for the immediate presen; the ques- tion was rot one of recognition of the belrgerency or independence of the Gu ban insurgents, but relief of Americanj citizens destitute and helpless in the towns of the Queen of the Antilles. f
 The senate foreign rela ations committee, it should be stated, while agreeing with the necessity for the relief of the suffer- j, ing Americans, is favorable 10 more radi- cal measures and a number of it's mem- bers are earnes ly desirous of Instant ae ton by the executive in aid of the insur- gents, but have not succeeded in convert ing the adminiStra ton to their views that present action is appropriate and impera tive. The event of the day was report to Gheir colleagues by the subcommittee of the foreign relations committee, which yesterday examined the state department
 
 not given to ;he public, was so far dis closed in character as to give rise to good deal of excited comment among sen atols and members The report, based upon facts. presented by the United Sta tes consu1s in Cuba. it is said, brings Hout in strong relief the Restitution which exists, not only among the Cuhans, but among che Americans and pacificoS now on the island, who were driven from their farms and into towns by Weyler's orders, nd J,xr tad frnp tif1cr themselves.
 For several days the subject matter of this report has been under discussion, quie3]y among few of the friends of Cuba in congress, and they have no hesl- tauon in expressing their opinions that il is the duty of the executive to delay no longer in taking active s'eps to term- mate the present state of affairs in Cuba. Those representa- tions, however, have not been sufficient to induce nasty action. The presiden. is moving steadily and with all speed that safety and sound judgment warrants in the collection of facts regarding the situa ton as it exists upon che island today. The special agent of the administration is now on the island on a special matter, but is also charged to report on other matters that come under his observation When he reports il is expected the executive will be ready to take action himself, or suggest to con- gresS such action as these facts war
  ga'ion the best means of affording re- lief to Americans as the result of condl- tions now existing. Today the president saw by appoint ment MT. Edward T. Atkins. of Boston, who is largely interested in Cuban sugar plantation
 MT. Atkins was in Washington on per sonal business which brought him in con- tact with Secretary Long, an old friend. To further MT. Atkins business, the sec- 70 a r AflinG Q House and presented him to the presi- dent. The latter hearing that MT. At kins had just returned from Cuba. be- gan 70 cha with his visitor as to the state of affairs as they revealed themselves to a business man, and MT. Atkins gave him a faithful picture of the economic conditions that prevailed in Havana and other portions of the island when he left His s!ory was so interesting that the president summoned Judge Day. as- sistant secretary of state, across to the White House to hear it. MT. Atkins had very little to say about the military situ- ation in Cuba. and what he did utter in that connection did not indicate any lean- ing on his part toward either the Span ish or the insurgents.
 At the Spanish legation the news of the development at the capitol was re- celved with composure. Of course the action of the committee could not openly be discussed without violation of the strict etiquette that governs the diplo- matic body in it's relations to congress, but it was suggested that the fact that the entire attention of the senate for months would be engrossed by the tariff bill might have determined the friends of the Cubans to endeavor to secure some sort of action by congress before the de- bate begins.
 It Is not denied at the legation that suffering exists in Cuba, but such suffer- ing, it was said, is almost always incl dental to war. It is contended that the Spanish government has done all that it could with the means at hand to alleviate the distress. It was pointed out that Spain has granted permission to the Red Cross society through Miss Barton to extend its good offices to the destitute in Cuba and moreover will not place any obstacles in the way of any proper chari- ty in the United States, which has the same object in view. All that it asked is that the food supplies contributed for the relief of the destitute are not used to maintain the Cuban insurrection in the resistance to the Spanish government.
 The senate committee on foreign rela- tions today considered the report of the subcommittee appointed yesterday to confer with the president and Secretary Sherman.
 The report which was prepared by Sem ators Davis and Foraker, confirms the newspaper reports as to the situation of affairs in the island and even goes farther in depicting a deplorable situa- tion than do most of the newspaper sto- ries. Especial stress is laid upon the condition of American citizens in the island. Of these, it is positively stated that there are hundreds in a starving condition and most wretchedly clothed. Thew are scattered in all part of the island and are shown no consideration whatever because of their American citi- Zenship. They are not allowed to return to their plantations even to pick berries or to S cure the lsast article of substance. They lare under the Spanish army, but the army is without a commissarat.
 Thes-report indicates that the Spanish army is not so strong now as 1t was a year ago, largely on account of ravages of yellow fever, smallpox and dysentery, while they indicate no diminution of the rebel forces.
 The ground on which this committees brief report was based was the various reports of Consul General Lee. They make no recommendations as to the American policy, but merelysgive the sit uatior as they see 1t.