Evening journal., 1897-05-14
SITUATION IN CUBA.
Action May Be Taken For the
Relief of the Inhabitants.
DESTITUTION AMONG THE AMERICANS.
The President, However, wnl Ask For
More Information Before Taking ANY
Steps Toward Sending Relief to
the People of the Island.


sudden and violent outbreak Of Cuban
sentiment at the capitol. and during
the early hours the drift of opinion was
strongly toward speedy and radical ac-
ton by both congress and the execu-
tive but later there was somewhat OF
reaction, upon It's becoming known
that the president, while keenly alive
to the situation and anxious TO learn
everything possible that could guide
his conduct Of our Cuban and Spanish
relations, felt that further information
was necessary and that for the lmmedi-
ate present the question was not one
Of recognition Of the belligerency or in
dependence of the Cuban insurgents.
but of relief for the American citizens
destitute and helpless in the towns Of
the queen Of the Antilles. The senate
foreign relations committee. 1t should
be stated, while agreeing with the ne
cessity for relief Of the suffering Amer
leans is favorable to more radical
measures, and a number of its MEM
bers are earnestly desrous Of instant
action by the executive in aid Of the
insurgents but have not succeeded in |
converting the administration to their
views that present action is appropri- |
ate and imperative.
The event of the day was a report to
their colleagues by the subcommittee Of |
the foreign relations committee, which |
examined the state department Cuban |
reports This statement, though not |
given to the public, was so far disclos-
ed In character as to give rise to a
good deal of excited comment among
senators and members.
Destitutlon Among American Residents.
The report, based upon facts pre-
sented by the United States consuls, II
Is said brings out in strong relief the
destitution which exists not only among
the Cubans, but among the Americans
and pacifcos now on the island. who
were driven from their farms and into
the towns by Weyer's orders and there
by prevented from supporting them
selves.
For several days past the subject
matter Of this report has been under
discussion quietly among a few Of the
friends Of Cuba In congress, and they
have lost no opportunity Of impressing
upon the president their conviction
that 1t is his duty as the chief execu-
tive to delay no longer in taking active
steps to terminate the present condi-
tion Of affairs in Cuba.
These representations, however, have
not been sufficient to induce hasty ae-
tion. The president is moving steadily
sound judgment warrant in the collec-
ton OF facts touching the conditions
that exist upon the island today. To
this end Mr.. Calhoun is now in Cuba
officially on another mission, but also
charged with the observation Of the
conditions that prevail When he has
reported to the president and the latter
has gathered what he regards as a suf-
flcient store OF information based on
-
be ready to take himself or to suggest
70 congress such action as these facts
win warrant. Meanwhile he has under
earnest consideration the best means
of affOrding relief to Americans suffer-
ing as a result of the conditions on
the island.
The president saw by appointment
Mr.. Edwin T. Atlxyns Of Boston, who
is largely interested in Cuban sugar
plantations Mr.. Atlxyns was in Wash
ington on personal business which
brought him in contact with Secretary
Long, an old friend. To further Mr..
Atkyns' business the secretary took
him to the White House and presented
him to the president. The latter,
learning that Mr.. Atkyns had just re-
turned from Cuba, began to chat with
his visitor as TO the state Of affairs as
they revealed themselves to a business
man. and Mr.. Atkyns gave him A
faithful picture Of the economic condi-
tions that prevailed in Havana and in
other portions Of the island when he
left. His story was so interesting that
the president summoned Judge Day,
assistant secretary of state, across to
the White House to hear it, Mr. Day,
had very little to say about the mill
tary situation in Cuba, and what he did
utter in that connection did not indi-
cate any leaning on his part toward
either the Spanish or the insurgent
side.
At the Spanish legation the news OF
the developments at the capitol was re-
ceived with cOmposure. OF course the
action of the committee could not be
openly discussed without violation OF
the strict etiquette which governs the
diplomatic body in it's relations to con-
gress, but it was suggested that the
fact that the entire attention of the
senate for months to come would be en-
crossed by the tariff bill might have
determined the friends of the Cubans I,
endeavor to secure some sort of actor
by congress before the tariff debates
begin.
Spanish Attempts at Alienation.
It is not denied at the legation tha
suffering exists In Cuba, but such SUI
fering, 1t was said is almost always in
cident to war. 1t is contended that tn
Spanish government has done all that
could with the means at hand to allie
viate this distress. 1t was pointed on
that Spain has granted permission I
the Red Cross through Miss Barto
TO extend its good offices to the desti
tute in Cuba and moreover will no
place any obstacles in the way OF an
DroDer charity in the United State
which has the same end in view. A
that is asked is that the food supple
contributed for the relief of the desti
tute are not used to maintain the Gu
ban insurrectionary forces in their re
slstance to the Spanish government.
Rhode Islands State Flower.
Providence May IA. - The scho,
A.. - Ill...l. I-ln..a ~. L..