The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
POpuIist Allen Offers Cuban BelIig-
erency Amendment to the DipIo-
matte Appropriation Bill.
UTAH'S CANNON FOLLOWS
WITH A SHOT IN THE INTEREST OF
AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC,
And the Hon. Billy" Mason Wants the
President to Interfere and Main-
tain Peace in Cuba.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-Cuban war talk
has the "call" at this time in Washington.
and little else is beard. This, too. in the
face of positive assurances from the highest
official sources that the policy of the ad-
ministration is that of answering opposi-
tion to demonstrations calculated TO disturb
existing friendly relations between this
country and Spain. The jingoes are trying
to force the Presidents hand and drive the
administration into precipitate action
against its calm judgment and contrary to
it's policy. Three moves to that end were
made to-day in the Senate, and while none
of them may succeed they can embarrass
the President and may lead to trouble In
spite of the efforts to steer the ship of state
clear of breakers. Senators Mason and Cam
non will talk on their beigerency and i'm
dependence resolutions tomorrow, and the
discussion may may not stop then that
phase of the question. The jingoes are in a
majority in the Senate, and they can so as
far they care to. That is to say, they can
pass one or dozen such declarations as
those introduced to-day and send them to
the House, where several similar projects
have been buried within the last twelve
months.
The Allen amendment to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill is the propo-
sition that is most likely to cause trouble.
If the Senate, in its determination to worry
the President, should insist on passing the
bill with the Allen rider attached 1t
would go to conference committee, and
the two branches of Congress would become
deadlocked for an indefinite length of time
This would be an ever present cause OF
irritation and annoyance and an inexhausti-
BILE theme of newspaper discussion and spec
ulation.
The administration is disturbed over cur
rent developments in the Cuban situation,
and it is useless to deny the fact. The dis
quiet is not over what is going on in the
diplomatic field for matters are well in
hand there. Up to certain point both gov
ernments are in entire diplomatic accord.
Spain is playing for time in the Desperate
hope that something may happen to en-
able her to win the day in Cuba The.
Washington administration is playing for
time in the belief that Spain will reach the
end of her rope one of these not far dis
tant days and listen to overtures from this
government for a settlement of the war;
Information is brought to the White House
that Spanish skies are unstable at 40; that
sources of money supply have been closed
against Spain, and that unpaid bills aggre-
eating not less than $50, 600 are pressing
for payment at the doors of the Madrid
treasury. With this understanding of the
desperate straits to which the Spanish ex-
chequer is reduced it is not considered
strange that the administration should
cling so tenaciously to it's waiting policy
and fight so hard against a change. The
jingoes, however, are unmoved by warnings
from those who understand the inside facts
that they are fooling with dangerous ex-
plosives in fomenting agitation as they are
doing. They proceed reckessly on their
way, bent on crowding events to a crisis
regardless of consequences and it is not
as certain could be desired that they
are not strong enough to make all sorts
OF trouble, even to the involving of two
nations in war. There may be Inflammation
enough in those promised speeches in the
Senate tomorrow to set Spain on fire.
political campaign is on there and the jingo
spirit is running high among the dons, much
higher than in America, with this differ
ence: the Spanish jingoes are in deadly
earnest. An era of history making may be-
at hand. There is a living danger that the
current Of events may get beyond the con-
troll of the President, backed though he is
by loyal House of Representatives. The
possibility is something conservative.
thoughtful statesmen do not like TO discuss.
but which is ever present in their minds
these days,