Evening star., 1898-02-23
RUMORS IN CONGRESS
Reported Change in the Presidents Cuban
Policy.
Prepared TO End the Siruggle-Awaft
ing The Investigation of the
Maine Disaster.

Less excitement and more gravity Is
shown about Congress today in contemplat-
ing the Cuban situation. There appears to
be general feeling that crisis is soon to
be reached
1t is reported among members that the
President has reached the end of the policy
which he has heretofore followed, and that
termination of the struggle in Cuba will
be insisted upon.
The statement is made positively that be-
fore the disaster to the Maine the Pres-
dent was preparing a message to be sent TO
Congress in transmitting the information
respecting Cuba, which had been called for
by both houses, and that In this message
he would have announced his conclusion
that the so-called Spanish reforms in Cuba
had not been a success. and that ii would
be proper for this country to intervene to
put an end to the struggle.
According to this statement, the message
would have been sent TO Congress had not
the disaster to the Maine occurred, and that
now action has been suspended until the in
vestigation into that disaster has been con-
Guided. After that, it is said, steps will be
taken to end the Cuban war, no matter
what the cause of the destruction of the
Maine Is found to have been, though the ma
ture of the steps taken will depend upon
the disclosures Of the inquiry now in prog
resS.
The feeling is very general that there must
De speedy conclusion of the Cuban war
but the manner of its ending is a matter of
doubt. Early action by the administration
Is now expected by those who have not
heretofore believed that the President
would interfere. This change of opinion is
based on information which 1t seems is be-
Ing cautiously given out among men in Con-
gress.
The solemnity with which the address of
washington was read in the Senate yester-
day; the large attendance and the profound
attention given to the reading, and the en-
phasis with which the warning to prepare
1or war In time of peace was read and the
manner In which it was received, were sig
nlhcant of sentiment of the Senate and the
feeling OF gravity which prevails
A resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan i'm
mediateiy after the reading of the address,
directing the naval committee to consider
the question of constructing a mighty ba tile
ship to be named the George Washington.
was adopted without an opposing voice
Unanimous consent was at once given for
the consideration of Mr.. Hawley's measure
providing for an addition of two regiments
OF artillery, and the act of Mr.. Bate in af-
terWard protesting against any increase of
the army seemed to come as a shock en-
tirely discordant with the sentiment per-
vading the Senate.
Purchasing Their Freedom.
Two members OF the cabinet haze ex-
pressed to representative of The Star
| their belief that there is no truth in the
story that President Mckinley will pro-
pose to Spain to allow the Cubans to pur-
chase their freedom. Both of these men are
close enough to the chief executive to know
whether he has entertained such ideas
Iney know that he has never spoken of
this proposition either at cabinet meet
ing or to them personally. They do not be-
lieve that he has arrived at any sudden de-
termination Of this kind. They say that II
Is unlike him to jump hastily at an affair.
IN n Int ftnv xx-hi iat,
SUCH proposition opens there is only one
theory in official circles upon which II is
thought the President would likely proceed
In proposing this to Spain. That theory is
that the proposition is a peaceful one, in
line with the policy of the government SO
far. If refused by Spain, as IL would al
most certainly be, the President would have
one more reason to add to the string which
he has accumulated and will finally use to
force Spain to relinQuish her bloody course
| In the island. and to uphold this country in
that position.
To Follow an Old Maxim.
In many quarters the belief is gaining
ground that the President wishes to follow
the old maxim Of the law applied to cases
of men on charge for murder-that the de-
fendant must prove that he evaded a fight
as long as possible, and finally forcibly act
ed as a last resort. In his course since the
4th of last March the President has placed
Spain in position of refusing to follow
pathways suggested to her that might have
ended the war. He has given time for
Spain to demonstrate her ability to put a
stop to the conflict. He has done many
things, ii is argued, to prevent hostilities
between the two countries. After having
made last effort to bring about peace he
can then command peace, at the same time
pointing to the course of this country as
having been long opposed to forcing mat
ters. He will be in position to detail that
course. showing plainly to the people that
he fguratively retreated with honor until