The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-11

Washington, April 10.-Upon the prs.
sumption that Spain's offer OF an ar
mistioe to the Cuban insurgents will
make no change In the plans Of the ad
minissration and that tbe President's
message will go to Congress tomorrow,
the House this week will make history.
In anticipation Of stirring ecenes and
molnentous action, every Congressman
has been besieged by hundreds Of friends
for tickets to the reserved galleries and
the general multitude which must take
it's chan oes In the public galleries on the
principle first come, first served, Is fpre-
pared to assault the capitol at dawn To-
morrow. 1t Is likely that hundreds VIII
camp out on the marble steps all 1ght,
40 intense is the desire to be present when
the message is read. The public general
ly regards the message as the prologue TO
drama which may end in war before the
curtain goes down. After the message ls
read tomorrow 1t will probably be referred
to the committee on foreign relations
without debate. Such Is the programme
to which both sides have practically as
sented with the tacit understanding that
that committee would report on Tuesday
the resolutions upon which the House
would be expected to act.s Any individ-
ual attempts to frustrate this part OF the
programme necessarily will prove aEor-
tive.
With the gravity Of the Situation con-
fronting them, members OF both sides
have, been sobered and seem impressed
with the idea that things should proceed
In regular and orderly way. u seems
almost certain now that there Will be a
conflict both in the committee and in the
House, as to the nature OF the resolutions 8
upon which the House will b, called
upon to act. Individual views vary great
" from those who desire direct de1oara.
tion of war based on the theory that the
blowing up of the Maine was hostile
act and few are opposed to any action
whatever. But the real contest of course,
will be between those who desire to follow
what is now generally accspted as the
Presidents Recommendation, armed in
tervention and those who desire the rec
ognition Of the Cuban republic. !, The
Democrats both in the committee and in
the House have taken an unequiyocal
position in favor OF the recognition of IN
dependence although there is diffsreucs
of opinion as to whether Intervention
should follow. A majority OF the Repub-
few days declared themselves for interven-
ton and Independence. Two Of them,
Messrs Ouigg of New York and Henry
of Indiana, while they do not favor rec
ognit;on OF the existing republic have
earnestly advocated declaration to the
effect chat Spains' dominion over the is.
land cease, leaving to the future the
question of the actual government of the
island. But in the desire of the Republi
cans of both houses to secure harmony of
action. some of the advocates of indepen-
dence have about come to the conclusion
that the differences between armed inter-
yention and recognition Ia more technical
than substantial. as unless the island
should be annexed, to which they are
opposed. a Republican form Of govern
ment for the island must follow. 1t seems
possible that existing differences may ct
least, to some extent, be adjusted, and
whether all the Republicans agree to a
resolution declaratlng for intervention
directly or not, such a resolution will be
presented. 1t seems equally certain that
a resolution for independence possibly
coupled with intervention, Will be pre-
sented by the minority. NO definite ar
rsngements have yet been made rs to the
debate, but there seems to be no demand
for prolonged time. Mr.. Bailey of the
minority thinks two days ought to suffice
and some of the Republicans think our
action would be strengthened ii there
were no debate at all Two days seem to
be the general opinion as to the longth OF
the debate. There probably will be con-
siderable pressure for time for brief
Many members desire to bury their
hatchets in the painted war post. But
there is solid ground for difference as to
the character of the resolutions and the
questions as to tho possible liability OF
the United States for the Spanish bonds
based on the Cuban revenues In the event
of Intervention without recognition will
he thoroughly discussed. Whatever time