The times., 1898-04-06
THE HOUSE AND THE MESSAGE.
The Presidents Plan NAV Meet With
Vigorous Opposition.

Vigorous Opposition.
There is deep. abiding vindic;iye oppo-
sition among the members of the House
to the President plan of settling the Gu
ban. question. It will be vigorously at
tackled on the floor and the President will
not escape criticism Trusted friends Of
the President have given out the princi-
pal points of his forthcoming message.
This has been done presumably. with
the approval of the President himself
he has permitted the version semi-au-
thoritatively made public to be accepted
as correct. In fact. it is said that this
foreshadowing of the chief features of
Mr.. McKinley's message was purposely
permitted with the view of ascertaining
as nearly as practicable how the instru-
ment itself would be received by Con
gress and the people.
According to the President friends he
will propose armed intervention in Cuba
without rendering any recognition of the
struggling Cubans. The policy of inter-
vention without recognition is denounced
by many members as a perversion of
noble and worthy cause
The Presidents plan is denounced as
involving annexation of Cuba to the
United States. contrary to the desires and
ambitions OF the Cubans, who have so
heroically struggled for the achievement
of their independence. The Democrats of
the House will antagonize the plan of
an Intervention that contemplates the vir-
tual subiugation of the Cubans.
There are Republicans of the House
who declare that they will unite with the
Democrats and vote with them TO pre-
vent the eonsummation of this scheme.
If politics be excluded from the determi-
nation of the question these Republicans
will probably vote with the Democrats;
but should party discipline be invoked
to sustain the President it may succeed
in ralIying the Republicans.
This feature of the forthcoming mes
sage was discussed with great deal of
interest by members last night at the
Capitol. 1t was a source of generally ex-
pressed disappointment that the Presi-
dent had permitted himself TO be influ-
enced 20 recommend a method of adjust
ing affairs in Cuba that proposes rank
injustice to the people who have made
so many sacrifices for liberty Among
other comments it was said that some of
the men who have been so actively urg-
ing peace at any price" on the Presi-
dent are interested in the process of COM
pelling payment of the Cuban claims.
The asiduous efforts Of these men to
avert war. for which they have been
claiming public commendatfon, means
another color in the light of their selfish.
money-making conspiracy.
Mr. Bailey said last night that the
friends of Cuban independence would in
sist upon guaranteeing to the patriots the
liberty they have earned.
The Republican members of the House
are to meet in conference in the hall of
the old Congressional Library at 1898
this morning. They expect 10 be in
possession Of all the material features of
the Presidents message by that hour and
to be able to discuss it intelligently
The indications are. however. that the
message of Consul-GeneraI Lee advising
the Government that he will not be able
10 remove all the Americans from Cuba
before the 10th instant may cause post
ponement of the consideration of the
Presidents message in Congress.
1t was said last night that the message
would be referred to the Foreign Affairs
Committee and left there in allegiance
until word shall come from Cuba that
American citizens have removed them
selves from dangerous proximity to the
Spaniards 1t was not thought that there
would be any serious objection 10 a post
ponemept of the discussion of the mes
sage provided that course would tend to
the safety of Americans in Cuba A
prominent Republican of the House re-
marked: We are willing to wait longer
if Gen. Lee deems it necessary" This
sentiment was quite generally expressed
There is no doubt whatever that when
the Republican caucus shall come To con-
slider the message the independence OF
Cuba will be championed by strong and
able men, The force employed by this
Government to drive the Spaniards from
Cuba Will, necessarily. be more than sur
ficient to overcome the insurgent army.
The fair-minded and honorable men in
Congress are not willing that the United
States shall prostitute movement for the
expulsion of misrule. brutality. and rob-
berry from Cuba 10 the virtual subjuga-
ton of the Cubans themselves.