Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-01
IN ANXIOUS SUSPENSE.
This Is the Situation i'm WASH
ingtOn.

| The Weeks Course of EvenTs---the
President Working EarnestIy for
Pe"ce---COngress Agrees 20 Keep
Hands on until MondaV---FinnI Ne
| gotiations with spain Now la Progress.
The present week has been by far tn e
most strained and excited since the Maine
was blown up, and apparently the stua-
| tion is now more critical than at any time
before. The publication Of the Maine re-
| port on Monday aroused and intensified the
| existing feeling, and the course taken in
Congress by certain senators and repre-
sentatyes has added fuel to the fire. But,
more than this, there is unmistakably a
deep feeling on the part Of the American
| people that existing conditions in the island
of Cuba ought not to be allowed to con-
tinue.
Immediately on the opening Of the ses-
sion of the Senate Tuesday morning Mr..
| Allen Of Nebraska introduced a resolution
| recognizing the independence Of the Gu
| ban republic. This was followed by res
oiuuon proposed by Mr. Rawlings Of Utah
declaring war against Spain. Mr. Foraker
of Ohio then introduced resolution de-
clariug for such Intervention in the Cuban
war as would bring about the independence
Of the CUbans. Following this came a
resolution by Mr.. Frye Of Maine demand
! ing that Cuba be made free. Mr.. Aliens
resolution was laid on the table by his re-
quest The others were referred to the
| committee on foreign affairs. Immediate
y after the presentation and reference Of
the resolutions Senator Mason took the
floor and delivered speech in favor of
armed intervention. The galleries were
crowded. The atmosphere Of the capitol
was hot for war. Everywhere vigorous
criticism Of the Presidents "policy of de-
| lay was heard, coupled with loud threats
! that Congress would take the matter in its
own hands if the President failed much
| longer to indicate that he himself was
ready for immediate action looking to
prompt Intervention.
On Wednesday there was wild and up
roarious scene in the House when Mr.. Bal
| ley OF Texas, the Democratic leader, at
tempted to force the hands of the Repub-
licans upon a proposition to overrule the
| Speaker and pass resolution recognizing
the independence of the Cuban republic.
He was cheered on by the crowded CALLER
les, but the members of the majority re-
fused TO support him, though many of them
| sympathized with the purpose of the reso-
| luton. Mr.. Bailey attempted to compel
apt ha Int IN
was privileged question, and quoted prec-
edents to sustain this view. Speaker Reed
ruled adversely and Mr.. Bailey appealed.
On division Of the House the Speaker
was sustained lis to l39, Republican unity
and harmony carrying the body safely
through the jingoistic attack.
1t is evident that the pressure of feeling
| in Congress has changed materially the
course which the President intended TO
! pursue this week. 1t was understood at
the beginning of the week that he would
send to Congress on Tuesday or Wednes-
day message asking for an appropriation
sufficient to enable this government to
! feed the reconcentrados adequately, the
idea being that-Spain permitting this
form of peaceful intervention-one i'm
portant step would have been gained in
the way of a peaceful settlement and the
final end of Spanish rule in the island. But
this plan was dropped when it became evil
dent that the temper of Congress would
not consent to vote relief unless ii was
coupled with promise that the war should
be ended at once
The uneasiness was at fever heat in
Washington all day Wednesday. Many
senators and representatives called on the
| President for consultation. Among them
were leading members of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations.
The President freely admitted to all
| visiting senators that the negotiations
with Spain were rapidly approaching a
crisis, and said that he felt confident a
| conclusion would be reached by Friday
night at the latest. He asked that in view
of this fact no action be taken by either
| house until after that time, or until the
| present negotiations could be brought to a
close. If he took any of the senators into
his confidence as to the basis upon which
he was proceeding they did not repeat tn e
information in the Senate.
The impression gained ground during
the afternoon, and a statement was in
fact given out over the country that NJ in
lister Woodford at Madrid had been cabled
that Congress would be satisfied with moth
| ing short of complete independence for
Cuba and so to inform the Sagasta minis
try. There was the added guess that pay
ment to Spain of an indemnity of 5000, 600, :
600 by the Cubans had been suggested.
This was the situation up to Wednesda y
night.
| FrI,nusHou In, XUochsnrfnn