The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-11

corps with their ladies eager TO see now
Congress would receive the situation as
left by diplomacy. The executive gal
also filled by ladies and gentlemen hold
ing tickets from the White House. The
scene was memorable as the eye swept the
banked galleries and the animated group
of members on the floor below, but there
was less hubbub and evidence of excite
ment than on Wednesday. In snbdued
phase of the situation. The general
public as manifested by the spirit in the
galleries seemed in favor of brushing
aside the latest offer of Spain, and this
feeling was reflected by some members
on the floor, but the Conservatives cir
culating here and there were counselling
calmness and patience.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal a contest arose between the Com
mittee on Elections and the Committee
on District of Columbia over the right of
way, and while the wrangle that followed
to the mystification of the eager specta-
tors in the galleries, was at its height
clerk, suddenly appeared in the main aisle
bearing the message. Instantly the whis-
pered word passed around the dense gall
leries, 1.-THE messagep' 1.-The message"
1t was like an electric shock. hush
| fell upon the vast assemblage. The legis-
lative gladiators who were fighting for the
right of way fell apart. The speaker arose
and Mr.. Pruden announced the message
| AS it was carried down the aisle the gall
leries leaned over with breathless interest,
the members settled in their chairs The
| Speaker himself and the message was
| handed to the clerk.
THE Chair submits the message Of the
| President of the United States" announc-
| ed the speaker in clear distinct tones.
| AS the reading began the ticking of the
clock could have been heard, so intense
| was the silence. Every ear was strain
/ ed Manv members leaned over on their
| desks, with their hands to their ears to
| better catch the momentous words which
| fell from the lips of the clerk.
The latter read in a loud, clear voice,
but in a monotonous tone, with no at
tempt at emphasis or defamation. But
the words needed no defamation to add
to their pregnant import.
The reading of the message was con-
cluded in the House at 1850 P. M. 1t was
greeted with scattering applause from the
! Republican side and some groans from the
Democratic side. The galleries made no
demonstrations.
The message was referred to the Com
/ mfttee on Foreign Affairs and without
| debate, and the House proceeded with
District business.
The Republican members of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs met in the
committee room at two o'clock to consid-
er informally the Presidents message.
The Republicans of the House who were
in the movement for aggressive action
are to meet this afternoon to decide upon
| plan of action.
About one-third of the message is
purely historical, the narrative being
clothed in a species of yellow rhetoric
! of a cheap penny dreadful kind. Then 9
! long section is devoted to a review of the
early history of Texas, and the course
pursued by Andrew jackson in respect te
it.
Finally, the President gets down to the
present situation. He says
1 said in my message of December last
ssIt is to be seriously considered whether
the Cuban insurrection possesses beyont
4 dispute the attributes of statehood which
alone can demand the recognition OF bel
ligerency in its favor.
The same requirement must certainly
be no less seriously considered when the
graver issue of recognizing independence
is in question, for no less positive test car
be applied to the greater act than to tht
lesser; while on the other hand the in
fiuences and consequences of the struggle
upon the internal policy of the recognz
ing state, which form important factors
when the recognition Of belligerency i
concerned, are secondary, if not right,
eliminable Factors when the real question
is whether the community claiming recog
milton is or is not Independent beyond
peradventure.
Nor from the standpoint OF experience
do I think it would be wise or pruden
for this government to recognize at tn
present time the independence of the so
called Cuban republic Such recognition
;s not necessary in order to enable tn
United States to intervene and pacify th
island. 10 commit the country now t
the recognition of any particular govern
ment in Cuba might subject US to EN-
barrassing conditions of international OBJ
legation towards the Organization so re
cognized. In case of intervention ou
conduct would be subject to the approva