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

iOCHl paper anu larry loVh ~"
and venerable senators off their 1eet'
What he said in a nutshell was frst,
that there is really no Cuban government
to recognize, and second that even II
congress thought there was ana passed
the resolution recognizing the lndepend-
ence OF 1t, 1t really would not amount TO
anything, the inference being gained
from the interview that Mr.. Cleveland
would not sign the resolution. In other
words, those interested in the CUBAN
matter say it was the administration
challenge to congress to the effect that
the president a'one had the power to
recognize Cuban independence, and that
he was in no wise bound to endorse the
attitude which congress might take.
True, Mr.. Cleveland did not himself
throw down the gauntlet to congress, as
he was away on duck shooting trip IN
South Carolina for a few days, but 1t Is
believed here that Mr., Olney had con-
suited with his chief before coming out
so emphatically on the subject.
Here was a pretty kettle of fish. The
Cuban sympathizers in this city were
much wrought up. They threatened dire
things would happen to Mr. Olney. AT
first they wanted to impeach him. Then
they wanted to discuss the matter, after
calming down q little. He refused to
turned public attention from the real
discuss, and at one fell sWoop Mr.. Olney
point at issue into an entirely different
phase of the case, hardly even thought
of before. That was the situation at the
adjournment for the holidays; 1t Is the
situation now.
Now, the whole debate in the senate
Is not on the advisability of passing the
resolution affordng this governments
recognition of Cuba, but on the right OF
Mr.. Cleveland TO arbitrarily refuse to
sign it in the event of it's passage through
both houses. Almost everybody here
seems to think that this new phase, in
troduced so shrewdly by Mr.. Olney, was
the death knell of the resolution. 1t
was a diplomatic move Of strategy, and
has served it's purpose the wise ones say.
Which was to prevent any immediate ac-
ton on the Cuban matter
Notwithstanding that the subject is
probably side-tracked for the present,
although spasmodic attempts will UNI
doubtedly be made to get 1t back on the
main line of legislative enactment in the
near future, it is interesting to note the
fact that New England men have al
ready played and are still playing an i'm
portant part in the drama in which Cuba
Is the all absorbing theme
OF course, the heavy tragedian in the
cast of characters is Mr.. Olney of Bos-
ton, already alluded to. He is supported
by Hon. Grover Cleveland, who spends
his summers on Cape Cod, ana is, there
fore, for all practical purposes, quasi
resident of Massachusetts These two
actors alone give the Cuban matter rath-
er deep tinge of New Englandism.
But let US look at the makeup of the
committee on foreign relations which
considered and finally reported the
much talked of resolution on Cuba. It's
chairman is the venerable John Sher-
man of Ohio, brother of "Old Tecun-
seh." The New England quota Of the
committee is Senator Frye Of Maine and
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,. Herr
Is another good dose of'New England
ism. Frye is Blaine's successor in tie
senate, while Lodge was elected to take
the place of Mr.. Henry l.. Dawes of
Iittsfield, who grew grey in the public
service. He declined a reelection.
much preferring to make way for the
younger blood and more energetic youth
Of Mr.. Lodge. Mr.. Dawes, however
was prevailed upon to continue his
public usefulness on the Indian commits
sion, which deals with a subject to
which he has given much thought and
study
| undertake to say that William p
Frye is one of the ablest men in Wash
inFton. Certainly he is one of the best
speakers here. Those who have heard
him on the stump will testify to that
even if they cannot agree with his side
of the arguments. The fact that he is
president pro tempore of the senate is
but one indication of how he is regarded
among his associates.
Mr.. Lodge is at the front just now
with his immigration bill, and he is
taking a deep interest in the Cuban
matter, too. Then there is Senator
Hale of Maine, Mr.. Fryes colleague.
He is fighting, and has fought, tooth
and nail, anything that looks toward
pOsite ground from that which Mr..
Frye occupies, but goes to show that
New England representatives here think
and act freely. Many people probably
remember when q little sign dangled
on the main street in Ellsworth, Me. 1t
read: Eugene Hale, counsellor-at-
law" Now he is United States Senator
Hale owns a magnificent house here.
and his family is well known among
Washingtons social set He married
one of Zach Chambers daughters.
Then there are the New England dele
cations in congress, which I shall dis
tuss more at length in subsequent .<
tiers. In this one, suffice it to say tha;
they are all interested in this Cuban
matter and look with pride upon the
part which New England men in the
senate have already played in it.
Twenty-four months from this date
the rapidly growing Japanese navy will
be increased by the addition of two
swift cruisers of American build.
The contracts We're signed Friday last
at the Japanese legation by Minister
Hoshi, representing the Japanese gov
eminent, and by Messrs. Henry Scott
of San Francisco and Charles H. Cramp
of Philadelphia, representing the Union
iron works and the Cramps shipyards
respectively.
Shortly after the termination of the
China-JapGn war, when 1t became
known that Japan proposed building a
large navy, the two American firms sent
agents to Toxic to secure a part of the
work.
The two vessels will cost $4,000, 900
in round numbers. and represent the