The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-05-21
q SENTIMENT

Shh - " - s''
couragiag Reaction soon Follows, and
Americans LA Cuba are Left TO suffer with
the Natives.
WASHINGTON. May 13.-There was .
sudden and violent outbreak of Cuban
sentiment to-day at the capitol and
during the early hours the drift Of
opinion was strongly towards speedy
and radical action by congress and the
executive, but later there was some
what Of a reaction upon its becoming
known that the president, while keenly
alive to the situation and anx-
Gus to learn everything possible
that could guide his conduct of our
Cuban and Spanish relations felt that
further information was necessary and
that for the immediate present the
question was not one of recognition OF
the belligerency or independence OF
the Cuban insurgents. but of relief for
the American citizens destitute in the
towns f the Queen Of the Antilles. The
senate foreign committee. it should be
stated, while agreeing as TO the neces-
sity for relief of the suffering Ameri-
cans, is favorable TO more rational
measures, and a number of its members
are earnestly DESTROYS of in
slant action by the executive
in aid of the insurgents, but
have not succeeded in converting the
administration to their views that
present action is appropriate and i'm
perative. The event of the day was q
report to their colleagues by the SUBJ
committee of the foreign relations
committee. which yesterday examined
the state department Cuban reports.
This statement, though not given to the
public, was SO far disclosed in charac-
ter as to give rise TO a good Zeal of ex-
cited comment among senators and
members.
The report, based upon facts pre-
scented by the United States consuls in
Cuba, il is said. brings out in strong
relief the restitution which exists not
only among Cubans. but among the
Americans and pacificos now on the
island, who were driven from their
farms and into the towns by WeylerA
orders, aud thereby prevented from
supporting themselves.
For several days past the subject
matter of this report has been under
discussion quietly among n few of the
friends of Cuba in congress-, and they
have lost no opportunity of impressing
upon the president their convictions
that it is his duty, as the chief ex-
e%cutive, to delay no longer in
taking active steps to terminate the
present condition of affairs in Cuba.
These representations, however, have
not been sufficient to induce hasty
action. The president is moving
steadily and with all speed that safety
and sound Judgment warrant in the col
lection of facts touching the conditions
that exist upon the island to-day. To
this end, Mr.. Calhoun is now in Cuba,
officially on another mission, but
also charged with the observation
of the conditions hat prevail. When
he has reported to the president and
h latter has gathered what he re-
CARDS as "A sufficient store of informa-
ton, based on facts that cannot be
questioned, he will be ready either to
take himself or to suggest to congress
such action as these facts warrant.
Meanwhile he has under earnest con-
sideration the best means for affording
relief to Americans suffering as a re-
suit of the conditions on the island.
To-day the president saw by appoi mt
ment Mr.. Edwin I. Atkyns, of Boston,
who is largely interested in Cuban
sugar plantations. Mr.. Atkyns was in
Washington on personal business
which brought him in contact with
Secretary Long. an old friend. To fur
ther Mr.. Atkyns' business. the secre-
tary took him to the White House and
presented him TO the president. The
latter learning that Mr.. Atkyns had
just returned from Cuba, began to chas
with his visitors as to the
state OF affairs as they revealed
themselves to a business man,
and Mr.. Atkyns gave him a faithful
picture of the economic conditions
that prevailed in Havana and in other
portions of the island when he left.
His story was SO interesting that the
president summoned Judge Day. as
sistant secretary of state. across to the
White House to hear it.
Mr.. Atkyns had very little to say
about the military situation. and what
he did utter in that connection did not
ihuicate any roaming on MS part 10
either the Spanish or the insurgent
side.
At the Spanish legation the news Of
the developments at the capitol to-day
was received with composurc. OF
course the action Of the committee
could not be openly discussed without
violation of the strict etiquette which
governs the diplomatic body in its re-
lations to congress, but it was sug-
gested that the fact that the entire at
tention of the senate for months to
come would be e%ngrossed by the tariff
bill. might have determined the friends
Of the Cubans to endeavor to secure
some sort of action by congress before
the tariff debate begins.