The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-07
CUBAN BELLIGERENCY.
Speaker Reed Holds the Key
to It.
DILEMMA OF THE PRESIDENT.
why Congress Il Disposed to BE More
Conservative-MeKinley's Hobby and His
Disinolination to yetoes-The Friends
of Cuba Are still Hopeful.


of Cuba Are still Hopeful.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-[Specal. THE
cuban question is sure to come to the |
'front.' in congress pretty soon. Notwith-
standing the recommendation of the presi- |
dent In his message that this country |
should wait n reasonable time to see what |
the elect Is To be of SPANS new policy I'm |
the island, large number of senators and |
representatives think congress should take |
some action without further delay. The |
desire OF the insurgent leaders in this |
country Is that congress recognize the bel
llgercncy of Cuba. All the influence they
possess is To he brought TO bear for the
purpose OF bringing about such recogni-
ton at this session of congress. They hope
to succeed Already resolution recogniz-
| ing belligercncy Is pending in the house,
having passed the senate. As to whether
or not it will he taken up and discussed in
the house and he allowed to come to a
vote depends altogether upon the attitude
of one man-Speakcr Reed
Reed ON the safety Valve.
Last session Speaker Reed sat on the
safety valve so TO speak through several
long and trying months. lie resisted all
the efforts of the friends of Cuba to force
action. His justification was that congress
| had been called together for "a special pur
] pose. The administration was just in Of
| flee and had had no time to look into the
| Cuban question and To determine its pol
| icy in that direction. 1t is obvious these
arguments will not hold good now. Ii the
speaker concludes it tn be his duty 70 stand
| between the house and action concerning
Cuba he must have some new means of
| justifying himself. These may be found
! and the situation thus be held substantial
ly where it Is.
Nor is il at all unlikely that the house
itself will be more conservative than it
was last spring, and the senate rs well.
The conditions have changed. Most men
will agree that since the adjournment OF
congress greater measure OF prosperity
has come to the people of the United
States. There are fewer unemployed men
| and women than there were Il year ago.
The outlook is more hopeful. Unquestion-
ably the temper of the people has changed
to some extent as tn Cuba When things
were about IA dark aS they could be i'm
this country, they thought little trouble
over Cuba certainly could not make the
picture any more somber. Any change
might be "a change for the better. But
now that the situation is much improved
they say they want to hold what they have
gained II prosperity is here or is coming,
| they do not want il stricken down by Il
war or a rumor of war Without doubt
this line of reasoning has had its effect
upon the people and upon the peoples rep
resentatives in congress. 20 lar cannot
discover among the senators and represent
atives any fierce desire to rush to Cuba :
aid.
Beiligerency Claims.
The best argument in favor of recog-
milton of the belligerency of Cuba is that
IL isl matter wholly within the rights oil
the United States. Whether or not state
of war shall! be officially recognized in
foreign country is for a nation to deter
mine solely with reference To its own in
, terests. That there is war in Cuba ana
has been war for n long time no one VIII
deny. If the United States chooses to say
so, and to govern itself accordingly, 1t Is
, the right of the United States, and the ac
ton is not cause for offensc or complaint
on the part of spain.
The true inwardncss OF the desire on the
part of the insurgents friends III thi'
country for recognition of belligercnc,
! was given me today by man who Is III
miliar with all the facts.
"If we recognize bclligerency, said he
lit will not of itself change the relations
between the United States and spain
Peace will reign, as beiore--that u.s. unti
some foolish or oyerzealous Spanish nava
officer exceeds his authority or makes
bad blunder and soizes an American shil
ON the high seas and carries the crew OF
To Spanish dungeon Then there vii
l be an uproar Tho people will demand
that this sort of thing be stopped. This
precisely what the friends OF Cuba ar
counting on They reckon that with
4 state of war officially recognized 1t vii
d not be long before Spain so seriously OF
/, | fends the American people in her exercis
Q of the right of search upon the ocean
. which she does not now possess that wa
will follow.
4 The President's Views.
9 President Mckinley does not want t
face the question of belliRerency. Hemuc
prefers that congress do not pass any reso
luton to that effect and send 10 TO MN 10
his signature. The president would nc
lire to veto such a resolution, nor "
!, would he like to sign 1t. II he adopted tn
n latter course. as Is probable, he would fea
q for the consequences II he vetoed 1t. I'll
L "
= he was the enemy Of liberty
4 One of President Mckinlcy's hobbies
o peaceful relations between the execnti,
I and the congress- He wants harmony II
!; goes out Of his way 20 tell senators M
Q members of congress that 1t - his Hrc'
Q desire To have amicahle relations AKA .
!, operation between the twc crd> u the ~
!: enue. as we say in Washington. E'th''
: congress should defer &c tI',' on 'h' Cur"
), question. He points OF ~ J i hrs'aa
q that a good deal has already 'r'n ;'c'' 7
plisbcd. The spanish ha' o.d'd ihf 81
u inants Of thi. government 1ity ta'e ,
q yersed thcir policy in GREER to si,ti-N ~
!. lie opinion IN this country HAY IA
!; freed all American prisoners " IL @t"i
isb do not succeed H. restoring &C"
Cuba. the inference isNcry liaiE u ~ II
president will act when the time scn {
= and meanwhile congress should h''
T. hands of =,
But the friends OF Cuba, knowing u
y great desire of the president for harmon
ts ous relations with the national leRislntu
}: and his Discrimination to veto mensn