St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-08


THOMAS BRACKET REED.
The adjournment covered a period of
two weeks, but how swiftly fleets two
weeks when spent among the loved ones
at home. 1t has gone, however, and the
happy moments are now but pleasant
recollections. The statesmen have all
returned to Washington to redouble
their efforts in closing up the urgent
business now pending before congress-
which must be acted upon, If at all
during this congress. in the remaining
days OF this, the short session, the
sands Of whose life will have run out
on March 4, 1897, thus giving Major Nc
Kinley and the Fifty-fifth congress the
right of way.
All the New England members are
back for the fray, looking hale and
hearty. Modest Ex-Governor Dingley
as delightful as ever now chairman of
the committee on ways and means,
and therefore the recognized Republican
leader on the floor of the house, will in
all probability be called to assume still
higher honors in the cabinet of Presi-
dent-elect Mckinley. The most import
ant cabinet PORTFOLIO considering the
present status of our tariff and financial
perpleXities, Is that of secretary of the
treasury, and the extreme likelihood
that Mr. Dingley will be invited to ac-
cept this position at the hands of Major
Mckinley Is in itself a great honor, and
one which the gentleman from the Pine
Tree state will bear with his usual dig
nifty and ability.
Then there is big Tom Reed, also of
Maine. Columns upon columns have
been printed about him, and yet the
mine of material still reveals to the
journalistic explorer many nuggets
that are more interesting than those
which have yet been hauled to the top
of the shaft. He swings the gavel in the
house with his old-time vigilance and
is but one of the many New England
public men in Washington whose brill
liant radiance enlightens the whole ma
ton.
Cuban matters are naturally at the
front now, and New England statesmen
are, as usual, playing no inconspicuous
Part In the progress of the whole mat
ter, and what shall ultimately be done
In the premises really rests to a LARGE
extent in the hands of sturdy New Eng
land, whose bone and sinew is we'll nigh
to the front in Washington.
/ wonder if the good people of New
England ever stop to think how i'm
portant a part their representatives
play in our national government. Let
us look for a moment and see. Take
this Cuban matter, just now the most
absorbing and certainly one Of the most
important diplomatic problems that has
presented Itself to our country for many
years. The whole thing fairly bristles
with New England personality.
First of all, here is Hon. Richard OIL
ney of Boston, Mr.. Clevelands secre-
tary of state slightly known to the peo-
pie of New England as a bright lawyer.
until he entered Mr.. Cleveland's cab
met. His career in the cabinet Is we'll
Known, but in this Cuban discussion
his name has very conspicuously all
reared. He diverted public attention
from what had generally been consid
cred as the main question at stake in
the whole affair, to wit, Should the
United states interfere in the present
insurrecton in Cuba and recognize the
Independence of the insurgents?
1t was naturally quite universally
supposed that If congress should pass
resolution setting forth that this
country should recognize Cuba, that the
president would be in duty bound to ac-
cept such action as the expression of the
1eople of the United States through its
representatives. IN congress. sign the res
olution, and thus the independence of the
Cuban republic would be formal an
complete.
But no. New England jumps to the
front Secretary OlnCy threw a bomb
shell into the camp of the Cuban sympa-
thiaors in congress, especially into that
part of the diplomatic battlefield where
the first engagement on the Cuban mat
ter was about to be fought-the United
States senate, the committee on foreign
relations of that body having lust pre-
Vious to the recent holiday adjournment
reported faVOrably a resolution recog-
nizing the independence of Cuaba. ii be-
Ing the Intention of the senators to call
1t up after the holidays, pass it, forward
the same to the house, enduavor to have
favorable action taken there, and even
tually get the resolution to the president
In time for him TO approve it before the
elapse of his term.
In the meantime, Hon. Richard Olney
oil Boston said not a word. The sphinx
was talkativc compared to him. but tho
hard thinking which the secretary of
state was keeping up was deep and pro
longed
Inc senators We're making their plans
on the supposition that Mr. Cleveland
would comply with the wish of the peo