The sun., 1897-04-27
CUBA ON THE SHELF.
An Interpretation OF Some Recent occurre,,..
at wanhinEton.


WAsHlNoToN' hpri Zo'-f Cuoa has been laid
| on tho sneit, sara irioho OF Cuoa who some.
times gets view OF the ineae or the State De-
| partmont. lhere was some nope In Cuban
| circles when tho oostructionist who recently
held the once OF PRESIDENT went out of the
White House, and when Tho place Of Secretary
| OF State was taken by John sherman. and when
tho Republican party came into power with full
control OF the blouse OF Representatives. The
party had declared Tor Cuban independence,
| secretary sherman had frequently spoken for
| Cuoa IN tho senate, ana IL had been believed that
fresident mchiniey would tolerate no vestige
| OF fCioveiandism IN MS Administrations.
Soon after congress assembled in special ses
| sion there were rumors that tho new President
would DO what mis- predecessor had never done,
by making inquiry into the case OF Cuba, an i'm.
partial inquiry, such rs would enable him 10
adopt a policy suited to the situation. There
seemed 10 Dc confirmation OF these rumors four
weeks ago, when 1t was announced that he had
| appointed his Canton friend, Judge William r.
LAY, 10 serVe as special Cuoan Commissioner,
| LOT tne purpose OF gathering information as to
the stato OF anairs, by whlch information. as tho
Judge hinself SAID. the Administration woudbs
guided. The President twice called him to Wash.
1hgton' gave him his instructions. and held com.
| munication with the Spanish Government re.
e,-N.'b ~''D .N''D''"'' 1"'' e''SA ga tuluBs nhn
peen arranged Tor his departure, and his passage
ticket for Havana had been procured, the une1
pected announcement was made last week that
change had been brought about and that In.
steao OF going 10 CUBA on behalf OF the Presi.
dent, ne would take place In the Department
OF state at Warrington. 1t was thon that a
friend OF CUBA hastily uttered the words Cuba
has been laid on the shelf.
There Is now report that some ono else will
be chosen to make the investigation which
Judge DAY was 10 have made, and that Cuba
VIII not be sheived. There Is reason. however,
for apprehension because of the delay. The
rainy season for Cuba lie at hand. when anything
ike satisfactory investigation OF the situation
there Will be out OF the question. The Commits
sioner Will be unable to travel in Cuba; he will
be there when military operations are suspended
Tor the summer, and he will run the risk OF
catching the yellow fever II he ventures out into
the country. 1t may be expected, therefore,
that he will conclude to postpone his observa.
tons until next autumn, and that meanwhile
the President will have to remain without the
desired information. keeping Cuba on the shelf.
This is discouraaing outlook for the friends
OF Cuba Both President Cisneros and Gen.
Maxine Gomez have expressed strong desire
to receive visit from the American Commis
soner before warlike activity shall be inter
rupted by the weather. II an authorized Com.
missioner cannot got to Cuba during the first
half OF tho month OF May. he might well
delay his departure from this country until oo.
tober next, by which time many things arc
likely to happen. and some things OF Importance
Will be left unaccomplished. 1t is unfortunate
In many respects, that Judge Day has been re-
heved from the duty to which he was assigned
month ago. He is keen observer and man
OF judicial mind, believed to be desirous of fair
play for Cuba.
Cuba Is on the shelf. in the opinion Of an
interested witness of her fortunes in Congress-
1t has been hard for Senator Morgan and Others
to hold the attention Of Senators while pleading
her cause In the Senate. Even II. after all tho
Efforts OF the Senator from Alabama, his bellis.
erehcy resolution were passed there, It would
prooapiy Do thrust aside by the House Of Repre-
sentatives. and thus tho present special session
OF Congress would be fruitless for Cuba. There
arc inexorable enemies Of Cuban independence
In both houses Of Congress. They arc
opposed to the granting OF any rights whatever
to the revolutionists: they would maintain the
Spanish despotism there: they care nothing for
SPANS violation of the laws of war or for the
success of freedom, or for the rights of Ameri.
can citizens in Cuba; they would not even enter
protest against Spains butchery of the whole
OF the native population of the island 1t is DOS.
sible that II Cuba shall be victorious in the war
and If Spain shall abandon Cuba, they will still
e'ohu III opposition 10 the recognition of Cuban
independence by this Government. Their only
desire is that the Cuban repu bile shall be laid ON
the shelf and kept there in the name of Spain.
There arc also plenty of reports. not any n,
which can be regarded as Trustworthy. about
laying Cuba on the shelf through negotiations
between Madrid and Washington The Havana
papers havo recently printed dispatches from
Madrid upon this subject. asserting that Spain
would now accept an offer of mediation like that
made last year by Mr.. Cleveland, In case tho
Americans would agree, in advance, to gusran.
tee spain's authority in Cuba. and to "call
down tho revolution. Most of the news re-
garding this feature of the situation has come
here from Havana and Madrid. The reports
there refer to an exchange OF notes within tho
past few weeks bearing upon mediation. La
L"chd OF Havana is much pleased with the
prospect, and La Union Constitutional says
that the American offer to Spain is so friendly