The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-17
CUBAN AGITATION A CLOAK.
REPUBLICANS USING IT TO HIDE
THE FAILURE or THEIR POLICY.

Divided as TO the AdvIsnbiIit1 of
Intervention ON the Part of This
Government 10 Bring the War to
CIOse-Representnti Bailey
Takes a Very Conservative view
of the SItuatiOn-Rcpresen
Bartlett OF Georgia ON the other
Hand Hot Headed For War.
Washington, May 16.-Democratic senti-
ment in the House of Representatives. is
divided as to the advisablty Of interven-
tion on the part of the United States to
bring the Cuban war to a close.
Fully half of the democratic members
are absent from the city. having gone 20
their homes convinced that Speaker Reed
does not intend to allow any general legis-
lation to be considered while the tariff bill
is pending in the Senate.
The democratic leaders are here on duty
and some of their views on the subject
will add to the interest of the Cuban SYM
postum. Representative Bailey of Texas,
the recognized leader of the democratic
forces in the House, is not as hot-headed
on the subject as are some OF his southern
brethren. MIR. Bailey says he is not
influenced by sensational statements made
by interested parties, but he win rely on
the official reports submitted to the de-
partment of state by the authorized Off
GERS of the government.
Il have been ready and willing" says
MIR. Bailey, Ito vote to recognize the bel
ligerancy of the Cubans for some time
past, for / believe the insurgents should
be given a chance to establish their inde-
pendence l am not willing however, to
make the United States government re-
sponsble in any way for their conduct.
/ confess l am greatly in doubt as to the
real conditions of affairs on that island.
and while l will go as far as any man or
set of men to protect the honor and in
tegrity of the United States and her clti-
zens, l would not cast my vote in favor
of any proposition that is calculated to
involve our country in war until 1 am
satisfied that the rights Of our citizens
are endangered by foreign power I
realize what terrible thing war is, and
how 1t opens the door to corruption, Euf-
fering and untold misery.
s"There seems to me to be considerable
doubt as to the facts surrounding the
Cuban case, and there Is also some doubt
as to whether the government has the con-
stitutional authority to appropriate public
money to relieve distressed citizens of this
country. / have always voted for these
relief propositions, when 1 felt that the
| treasury could afford Ii, and l see no
objection to sending relief to our citizens
in Cuba If they are in need. If there are
but a few of them, as reported in some OF
4 a a.
would be wise to send a ship to Cuba and
bring all of the suffering Americans back
to their friends and homes in the United
| States. We could better care for them
here than there and besides We would be
sure that they would receive all that we
provide for them"
Representative Bartlett of Georgia, with
his characteristic impetuosity, is in favor
OF recognizing Cuban belligerency without
| delay. II believe in recognizing the belli-
| gerent rights of Cuba" says he, land pro-
| tecting our people at all hazards. We
| have delayed action too long. / believe
we would be justified in intervening even
now, when the conditions are as bad. II
| not worse than they were q year ago The
rights of our citizens are being trampled
on by the Spaniards, and the sooner we
| call them to account, the better il will be
for the poor suffering people in Cuba"
Mr.. Bartlett says he does not get his inn
pressions from the lndignities inflicted
| upon American citizens in Cuba from the
newspapers He says he has read the tes-
| timony taken by the Senate committee on
foreign relations, which Is sufficient TO con-
| vince him that the time has come for the
| United States to intervene by force II
| necessary.
Representative Sayers Of Texas, who is
the senior democratic member OF the APP
| propriatons committee, and one OF the
| fva
not regard the Cuban situation as alarm
| ing He Views the situation from poliu-
! cal as well as an international standpoint.
He says the republicans are beginning "a
realize that their tariff policy Is doomed
| to failure and that scandal Is gathering
| fast around the administration bill, and
| I'm order that attention may be diverted
from the domestic affairs OF the govern
| ment, the foreign questions are pushed 20
| the front. Mr.. Sayers says there Is work
| enough for the administration at home
| n Il would bring about the prosperity so
much desired, without reaching out after
| foreign complications. So far as the DEM
ocratic party in the House Is concerned
] it will not permit the domestic business
of the country to be forgotten, notwith-
| standing the energetic efforts to arouse
public sentiments to a general agitation OF
| foreign affairs.
As to the Cuban situation, Mr.. Sayers
said, II would favor relieving American
| citizens who are In Cuba, not for the pur-
/ pose OF engaging In war, but attending
/ TO their personal affairs, provided those
persons be I'm such condition as TO require
assistance TO preserve their health and
/ life. / am unwilling that the government
| OF the United States should take any ster
not sustained by international law, oi
backed up by precedents. Nor would ]
/ have the government Intervene In the Gu
ban struggle In the absencS Of thorough
/ knowledge OF all the facts which would
/ Justify Intervention. Up 70 the present
| time II does not occur 20 me that we have
been put In possession Of such trust
worthy and reliable information as would
| Justify a resort 10 such a policy"