The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-13
The Senate Debate On Cuba-An Inn
portant Statement.

pOEtAnt BtntOmcnt-
The debate in the Senate upon the Cuban
question, which was reopened on Monday
with q strong speech from Senator MORGAN
of Alabama, became exceedingly interest
ing on Tuesday because the speech then
made by Senator FORAKER was supposed to
be an expression of the judgment and the
purpose Of the Administration. His utter
ance upon the subject was explicit, and he
spoke as II by authority. 1t seemed as
though the Senator from Ohio had
obtained direct knowledge Of the de.
sign of the Administration, and that
he served, for the moment, as its
mouthpiece. $50 far as the Administra-
ton IL concerned" no said, at is not I'M
dertaking to shirk it's duty as to Cuba On
the contrary, the Administration has its
policy in regard to that question, and in
due time will take action In correspondence
with that policy" It seemed as though he
spoke with assurance when he uttered these
words, and as though his knowledge Of the
matter had been obtained at first hand.
Thereupon q Western Senator addressed to
him this inquiry: "May 1 be permitted to
ask what is the policy Of the Administers
tion in respect to Cubar' The answer
made by Senator FORAKER to this question
is Of profound interest:
-The policy Of the Administration a. I understand
n. s 10 ascertain At once. beyond psradventure, what
arc the exact conditions existing in Cuba. II has
taken steps In that direction. 1t has sent its duly
authorized agent there to mako the inquiry. It will
be but 4 short time until q report Il made to the Ad-
ninistration; . report made by the ADMINISTRATOR
own representative; . report on which the Admins
tration viii feel warranted in taking action"
This is the first occasion on which the
country has obtained any trustworthy in
formation regarding this subject. 1t is the
first announcement of the purpose of
Special Commissioner CALHoUN's mission
to Cuba as the immediate representative
of President MCKINLEY. 1t is the first
time we have had any satisfactory light
upon the Presidents method of composing
apolicy applicable to the case of Cuba We
are indebted to Senator FORAKER for the
valuable communication.
The Senator declares that it Is his under
standing that Commissioner CALHOUN has
been sent to Cuba for the purpose of ascer-
tanning at once what are the exact condi-
tions existing there, and for the purpose
of making a report on which the Admin
istration will feel warranted in taking
action" Mr.. CALHoUN's mission is de-
clared to be that of a "duly authorized
agent" and the Administrations own
representative" These statements lend an
extraordinary interest to the mission in
question. Upon Mr.. CAIHoUN's report the
Presidents policy is to be formed.
We may say that, II that report shall
bear any resemblance to the reports re-
Gently made to the State Department by
another representative of the Administra-
tion, Consul-General FrrzHUGH LEE, there
will very soon be an opportunity for the
definition of a just and satisfactory policy
relative to the Spanish Cuban question.
There is already a good deal of official in
formation about the Cuban war in the
archives of the State Department; but the
President, who Is of cautious disposition,
seeks for more yet, and he desires to get it
from q man with whom he has long been
personally acquainted, in whose judgment
he has confidence, and who is empowered
to make an investigation in Cuba, the like
Of which neither Gen. LEE nor any of our
other consular agents there has ever been
able to make. 1t will be his duty, as we
understand it, to look at the war from both
sides, and to investigate the state of affairs
with thoroughness and impartiality.
Almost Immediately after President Nc
KINLEY had entered upon the duties of his
Office he made it manifest that he enter
tanned this desire. Before the end of the first
month of his Administration he appointed
his friend Judge IA as special commits
Bioner to Cuba and, as soon as the Judge
had racaiuad hia fpatr,otiona fropo tl1
President, he gave the public some knowI-
edge Of their character. "In Cuba" he
said, 81 shall aim to secure certain specific
information, looking over the case gener-
ally; and my report, which will go at once
to the President, may be the means of shap-
ing the Administrations Cuban policy"
These words indicate the Presidents
purpose then as clearly as 1t was indi-
Gated in the Senate on Tuesday by
Senator FORAKER. II the Presidents
arst choice for special commissioner had
not resigned the place for the purpose of
taking another, we might by this time
have had his report upon the Cuban situa-
tion, and the Administration policy might
have been shaped in accordance with it.
There is no reason why 1t should take
Judge DAYS successor a very long time to
make the desired report. 1t ought to be in
the hands of the President, who is solicit
Gus for it, within a fortnight. Mr.. CAL
HoUN left Key West for Cuba on Tuesday
last, n may be in Havana by this time.
, He will probably have to travel as far as
the province of Santa Clara to meet Cap
tain-General WEYLER, but this short jour
ney will be of advantage to him, for the
reason that the General of the revolution
Ia also in that province, and he will need
only a few hours to go from the Span
ish camp to the Cuban camp. BY passing
two or three days at the headquarters of
each of the belligerents, by inviting Gen.
GARCIA to meet him somewhere In the
east, and Gen. RODRIGUEZ to meet him any
where In the west, or. better still, by
making a personal call upon the several
leaders of each of the belligerents, looking