The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-20

down the aisles of the house unable to
obtain any relief from THE curative
eye Of the speaker. In all, there are
fifteen members. including Mr. Heat
wole-that is, fourteen working men,
bers-and yet, to all outward appear
ances, the thunders of the explosion
of the Maine did not attract the atten-
ton of the committee sufficiently to
cause it to look towards the door and
say Come in"
Yet early in the session subcommit-
tee was appointed, consisting of Messrs.
Heatwole Adams and Berry, to have
cognizance of Cuban affairs The unin-
itialted might well picture these men,
worn. sleepless, yet tireless, struggling
day and night, for solution. humane
and consonant with the standard of
national honor. of the problems thus
submitted to them. AS a matter of
fact, no members are more sleek than
they. Some three months since this
subcommittee asked the state depart
ment for such Information as it pos
sessed regarding the insurrection in
Cuba, notably for the reports of our
conSuls there. Since then it has been
waiting for a reply, and should this
session prove as long as the leaders
wish 1t to be short, it probably at the
end will still be waiting. Imagine old
Thaddeus Stevens being content to sue
BOttled-Up Committee.
Mr. Heatwole says that the commit
tee is perfectly satisfied to leave the
matter in the hands Of the executive
department of the government, and he
cannot very we'll say anything else.
There is a comfy of expression exist
ing which for hollowness of pretence
can beat that delicious old humbug,
senatorial courtesy, under any kind of
a handicap. Had he used Anglo Saxon
instead Of rigmarole, he might have
said that the committee Is bottled up
and knows it. If the cork could be
drawn but little way, there would be
a mighty Kissing and bubbiing. Men,
presumably powerful, hate to be rem
dered lmpotent. There is strong
common feeling that the commit ee has
been beguiled ard lulled into a folding
of the hands in sleep, and hence that
disaster has come like strong nah.
Trust to the president" the aStute
Mr. Hit pleaded three months ago;
and today the legislative branch is.
urged with even greater insistence TO-
do noting and to continue to do Moth
ing, except 20 adjourn.
Added to this feeling of resentment
in the committee on foreign affairs
there is a conviction, growing stronger
each day. that if the committee ID
acted when the time came which . III
Cleveland and Mckinley had indicat-
ed, if it had reported and urged bel
ligerency resolutions. and if then the
country had interviewed in the interest
of peace, the furry would be over and
well over, with the Maine still riding
buoyantly on the waves and every man
Jack of her crew at his proper sta
ton. 1t is believed that Spain would
have yielded after a show of force, with
a wholesome respect for a people that
kept its words; but that now timidity
ard Eesitancy have wrought their fatal
work while the conclusion remains
just as inevita BILE. though infinitely
more difficult and dangerous of attain
ment Nor should it be imagined that
the policy which certain members of
the committee feel was mistakenly
thwarted, was a selfish one. There is
no plopag anda in favor of the annex
alton of Cuba either there or in con-
gress in general. 1t is the common be-
lief that the islam would be dear a
any price, difficult of management. a
source of expense. and an added peril.
No, the congressional sentiment has
been that the insurrection, with it's suf-
feringS ard SlaughterS, must cease.
Had a great nation said Let there be
Peace, peace would have reigned.
In all this under-current of recrimi-
nation. one can see how vicious is the
policy of the Repub lean leaders. Grant
cd that congress is unequal to the per-
Torrance of the duties for which it was
elected, still it is congress, a co-ordir at
branch of this government vested with
high and independent powers by the
constitution. There is no provision in
that somewhat obsolete document for
q centraliZa ton of all grave interests
igto the hands of the president"
Imagine that former congress adjourn
ing in the face Of the crisis Of 1861.
Ina CINE the committee on the conduct
of the war seeking for legitimate in
formation, and not getting it! Granted
that there were giants in those days
even as they are pygmies in these, are
the little folk all corralled within the
walls of the capitol?
There is another side a rather anus
ing one, to this grave situation. Many
congressman feel as if they had been
hoodwinked and hocussed. They paid
the piper, that Is they voted $50 100000
and then they expected the music to
begin. Instead Of that they have been
told to go home. Now 1t must be NOR
tifying to a bubble to be pricked.
1t cannot be said that Mr.. Heatwole
has been burdened by the responsible
ties which he is about to lay down. He
has worn his honors lightly, and as a
matter of course. And here, perhaps,
is fault common to the congressman
of the present day: The office is greater
than they. The country has developed
faster than has its servants, and hence
when great issues come they are met
with either indecision or passion. Men
who cannot appreciate when they are
making history, are unworthy of the
task. For events are working, however
sluggish their natural agents may
prove. Again the stars in their courses
are fighting against Sisera. 1t requires
not to be the son of prophet to see
the inevitable logic Of each successive
happening, each one heavier and more
direct than its predecessor.
In such crises, one feels impatient
towards those who have strutted COM
placently in the robes of a giant, for
sunshine is their element and they are
out of place in stress and storm. But
the remedy for this may be safely left
to the common people, who have the
ultimate choice in their hands. They
have always responded in periods of
emergency by choosing men equal to
them. Meanwhile, whether good bad,
or Indifferent, the place for congress-
men is in their seats. What their acts
may be the future alone can determine:
their power to act is from too high a
source to ever be belittled or nullified.
-Condit Crane
Use the Long Distance Telephone to Mime