The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-19
onsulS In Cuba
INSTRUCTED TO Gable Latest
News to Washington.

W 00O4O adtCoe
News to Washington.
WashiDgton, May "A President
McKinley has under earnest considera-
lion the adgisability Of sending mes
cage 10 congress next week on the
Cuban qnession, but has not yet come
20 decision in the matter. though be
! is at present inclined 60 send to the
LEGISLATIVE branch q communication
suggessiDg that measures be adopted to
relieve the distress among America
residents in Cuba. The message, if i:
goes IN, will be entirely pacific 10 tone.
and it can be stated on good authority
that il will not be Of warlike or SEN
satiopai tenor. 10 order to have the
facts On which TO base message, Mr.
Mckinley hes had cablegrams sent to
every consular officer in Cnba. asking
each Of them to give exact information
:s Is TO The state Of affairs 10 his distric,
and to telegraph replies at ooce Il rs
understood to day By some members OF
5sthe senate committee on foreign relations
that this reformation, no doubt, would
Be communicated to the senate. but that
uhether it would be accompanied BY a
message recommending action was yet
) matter Of doubt.
The meeting Of the cabinet to-day
was devoted almost entirely to the con-
sideration Of the Cuban situation.
8 Tsihe meeting occurred an hour earlier
.than usual owing TO the importance OF
the question to be discussed. and the
3 fact that the President aud the cabinet
Here leaving FOR Philadelpb;. at IL DO
The cabinet discussion of the Guban
ssstuation to-day was upon the advisa-
Eiisy Of asking congress 70 provide
Immediate relief to the Americans who
are, according TO the reports received
frsm Consul General Lee, penDed up
IA the cities, and in actual danger OF
ssaryation. Il had DO bearing upoo
tie policy Of the administration toward
Span Or to the Cuban insurgents. ex.
cspl incid ideDtally, but dwels with the
direct and Immediate question OF re-
hering destitute Americans on the ISL
and, !, Secretaty Sherman laid before the
cabinet some Of the most important
docameats Ia the state department
about the situation, aud be-
fore the meeting was over
Judge Day. the assistant secretary
osf stale. personally took TO the White
House some additional papers for which
the secretary had sent Every phase
og tue matter was discussed. the advis-
ability of asking coogress for an appre-
pgiation. Spain attitude, the methods
j for distributing relief il It should be
decided to enter upon is. the necessity
sors aavisability Of having warship ac-
company food supplies Bu: the foal
decision was postponed until Consul
General Lee aud other American coD-
I ssals IN Gnba. probably Mss Calhoun.
nske their reports by cable to the
department. They have been request
ed 10 cable the latest facts as to the ex-
issing situstion These reports will be
here probably when the President and
sthe ca5ine. return tomorrow night It
seems probable row that message will
Be sent TO congress, bns hardly before
Tuesday. as there wouldbe no time to
! prepare il before that day unless Ms.
McKinlev devoted Sunday to the task.
The Spapish minister. Dupuy de
LONE. called at the state department
shortly before nooo to-day and confer-
red sometime With Assistant Secretay
Day relative TO the reported Infection
of this government to send relief to
AmeaicaDs suffering in Cuba. The
miDister gave assurance that the Span
ism government would be in entire syu-
patby with any benevolent movement
and uonld lend every assistance TO is.
The Spanish minister does not ques-
tioa the existance of misery aud suffer-
ing In the island. bat declares that it is
sGch only as accompanies insurrect.on
aud war, heightened in this case by the
diseases peculiar to low tropical coun-
ties. It Is stated that these conditions
have existed for months aud have been
well knows. As to the severity of the
suffering. it is said that it consists
mainly in the lack Of food. medicine
and rursing for the,sick and destitute
The fact that the senate vas not in ses-
sion today and that comparatively few
senators we're at the capital. had a
quieting effect upon the situation in
regard to Cuban affairs. There was
still. however. much interest in the
course that the matter may take on
Mouday.
Seoator Morgao said to-day that the
message Of the President, If it should