Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-11
ONE LEGACY
Left Over by the Democrats
for Major Mckinley.
Will Haze Cuban Matter to Settle.
0mens Of Trouble With Spain.
We May Get Both Cuba and Hawaiian Islands
In the End.

Ne May Get Both Cuba and Hawaiian Islands
In the End.
Washington, Jan. 10-(SpeciaD.-Pub
lilo men In Washington are settling down
to the opinion that nothing will b done
about Cuba till after the advent of the Nc
Kinley administration. They are now con-
WINGED that the president does not intend
to take any action, and the chances for the
passage Of any resolution by congress that
might precipitate another crisis are becom-
ing less and less with each passing day.
There appears to have been change Of
mind on the part of great many senators
and representatives. Tho death of Antonio
Maceo and the strange stories which were
at first told of the manner in which he met
his fate served to rouse the Indignation of
congress to a high pitch, and the most def
mite result of this state of feeling was the
Cameron resolution for the recognition of
Cuba. The friends of that resolution have
now given up hope of it's passage either In
the house Or the senate. :.
Looking For a Statesman.
The whole Cuban problem will thus go
over to the Mckinley administration, bar
ring some accident which might precipitate
another crisis. This is one reason why
President Elect Mckinley is SO much wor-
ried about filing adequately the office of
secretary of state He realizes that tho Gu
ban problem is most delicate and danger
Gus one to deal with, and he naturally
wants the assistance of Il secretary of state
of ripe experience, sound Judgment, great
tact and profound ability MF Mckinley
will be fortunate if he secures q man big
enough to fill Mr. Olney's shoes, for it is
generally conceded Mr.. Olney has made one
of the greatest secretaries of state we ever
had. This is admitted by Republicans as
we'll as Democrats, and by men who do not
approve the stand which Mr.. Olney recent
1y took as to the constitutional powers of
tho president and of congress respectively
as well as by men who approve his course.
Major Mckinley once said to the writer
that he should deem himself fortunate if
he were to be able to find an Olney for his
secretary of state. He did not exclaim, as
has been reported in some papers, ooh, for
an Olney" as if lamenting the absence of
men of genuine ability and fitness for that
post from the ranks of tho Republican
party. Mr.. Mckinley believes there are
men able to carry on the work of the state
department on the high plane of ability
and strength shown by Mr.. Olney, and
that he will be able to find the man to do
it.
IOok Out For Breakfast" a
find upon conversation with a great
many public men that there is in Washing
ton a general conviction we are going to
have trouble with Spain over Cuba in the
end. They point out that SPANS rule in
Cuba has not been a success; that the is
land is overburdened with debts; that the
conditions are such that as soon as one re-
bellion is crushed another will break out;
that Spain will find 1t necessary to MAIN
tain in Cuba perpetual army of conquest
and subjugation, and that in this day and
generation such a rule cannot be perma-
nent. They also point to the obvious fact
that If this rebellion goes on much longer
the United States government will he
forced by public opinion and in protection
of its own interests and that of its citizens
to interfere, and that interference can have
but one result-the independence IF Cuba.
The best informed men with whom
have talked-and among them are men,
bers Of the diplomatic corps, state depart
ment officials and senators who have made
a special study of the Cuban situation
think independence will be but q stepping
stone to annexation. They call attention
to the fact that the experiment of local self
government has not been successful in any
of the West Indies, and that the property
holding classes of Cuba, even the Cuban
planters themselves, prefer Spanish rule
with autonomy and reform to local self
government. Next to that they prefer an
nexation to the United States. They take
this view because they want stable gov
eminent, and they fear they can never get
1t with their own people as the sovereigns
am not overstating the case when say
that the prevalent feeling among public
men at this capital whose opinions are
worth anything is tbst within couple of
years the United STAY, and Spain are very
likely to be at war over Cuba, and that
after Cuba has had an experience with
home rule she will ask for annexation to
the United States.
Cuba and Hawaii.
Before Cuba secures her independence
her to become part of the territory of the
we'll settled that we shall have made
start in colonial policy in the Pacific
ocean. There are few public men in Wash
ington who do not entertain strong con.
viction that within a year or year and a
half Hawaii will be annexed to the United
States. I have taken pains during the
past six weeks to sound a great many of
our leading men on this subject, and three
fourths Of them are of this opinion. There
is some opposition, but it does not appear
to be strong enough to offer stumbling
block. The understanding at the present
time is that the initiative for annexation
will come from Hawaii, where the leaders
of the republican government are known
to be simply waiting for change Of ad-
ministration in this country for starting
up their movement. The only serious
question as to Hawaii, which have al
ready called attention to in a former letter,
is as to the form of government to be in
stituted there. The prevailing belief is
that Hawaii will come in as federal ter
ritory, to be governed by local legisla
ture and q governor appointed by the pres
tdent.
The trend Of thought and action in the
United States at the present time IL doubt
less toward the institution of q colonial