Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
What VIII be theNext step in the Cuban
observation-disclosures In the senate
Keep ID Past Record.
WASHINGTON, d. Q. Feb. 2, '9S.


ing the course of the affairs Of the
country. Amom the most noteworthy
have been the sending of battleship
to Havana, the arrival OF the president
OF the HawaiianItepublic, the Cuban
discussion in tie House and the cur
rency discussionin the Senate.
1t is quite evi,ent that the attitude
OF the new administration upon our
| foreign relation is to be as vigorous,
clear-cut and satisfactory TO the Amer
lean people as that which it has already
assumed with reference to the tariff
and currency. rhe developments of
the past few da's, and indeed, the de-
velopments since President Mckinley
undertook the duties of his office, clear
ly indicate this The definite, vigor-
Gus policy upon which the administra-
tion entered with reference to Spain
and Cuba, when It began its duties, has
been followed step by step, with an
equally clear and equally vigorous line
a
of the new administration had passed
before every American citizen who hau
been confined in Cuban prisons was re-
leased, and, as soon as it was practical
Bile, the Spanish government was given
clearly to understand that the United
States could not sit silently by and
witness continuation OF the cruelties
and horrors which had marked the
course OF events in Cuba during the
years preceding the inauguration of
the new administration. Whether the
autonomy" which has been inaugu-
rated will prove successful can scarcely
be fully and accurately determined in
the few weeks since it was adopted,
but the general feeling here is that the
attempt of the House leaders OF the
Democracy to force the administration
to further action before the success or
failure of that proposition can be de-
termined is not justified and is not
meeting with the approval of the Amer
lean people. Word received here from
all parts Of the oonntry shows that the
course of these In attempting to force
action by the President upon this SUBJ
ject is not meeting with popular APP
proval. The announcement, however,
that United States war ship has
been sent to Cuba to protect American
interests is received with most earnest
commendation, both here and in all
parts OF the country, judging from the
expressions received here by Congress.
men apd others who are in constant
communication with the people of their
own states and districts. What will
be the next step in the Cuban question
1t is impossible to say, for it must de-
pend upon developments in the Island
and 10 Spain, but the general feeling
at Washington is that the administra-
tion, which has accomplished so much
in this line in so short time, can
safely be trusted in this matter,
President Doies arrival from Hawaii
Is leading to It good deal of discussion
and has greatly increased the interest
10 the Hawaiian annexation project
and its probable confirmation by the
Senate, 1t does not follow, however,
that the failure OF the Senate to con-
firm President McKinley'a treaty for
annexation Of the islands would mean
the failure OF the proposition. In such
an event simple act of Congress, for
which only majority vote would be
necessary, would be sufficient to incor-
porate Hawaii as par. of the United
States, and while it is now believed
that sufficient vote will be had in the
Senate TO confirm the treaty under the
two-thirds rule, no doubt whatever is
felt of some action, either by two
thirds vote OF the Senate or by the
ordinary legislative methods by which
a majority vote In Congress will com
plete the work begun by Republicans
In adding the Hawaiian Islands to the
territory Of the United States,
The presenting in the Senate of q
resolution expressing the opinion that
the bonds OF the United States are
payable In silver coin has been the sub
ject OF a good deal OF interest and dis
cussion. But nobody for q moment
assumes or supposes the possibility o
It's passage by the House OF Rcpresen
tatives. Those who presented this
remarkable proposition in the Senate
had two or three purposes. The friend
OF silver we're anxious TO once NOR,
put themselves on record and to open
way Of getting into the Congressional
Record vast quantities of campaign
literature which they can thus fore,
the government to carry free Of COS
for them during the coming Congress
slonal campaign. At the same tim
they felt that the adoption OF propo
sition OF this kind by the Senate woul
somewhat strengthen during the com
Ing campaign their cause among thei
former adhereuts. On the other hand