Evening star., 1898-03-21
CUBA INDEPENDENT
The President Believed to Have De-
termined Upon Recognition.
STATEMENT OfVHlTE HOUSE CALLERS
Congress win Probably Indorse
His Action.
FEELING AT THE CAPITOL

The recognition of the independence of
the Cubans Is the prevailing impression of
the outcome, among republican statesmen
i at the White House today. The majority
of these callers did not care to have their
names used. but as there is unanimity of
sentiment, this fact is worth good deal
Representative Pierce of Missouri was
one Of the few men who talked openly. II
intend to vote to recognize the independ-
ence Of Cuba he said. '.and am going to
'stay-in Washington until get the chance
to do this" he continued.
Plan Generally Hinted At.
This plan of intervention was h.nted at
ali day by the President Visitors Oae of
the most distinguished Of these callers
would not discuss the question as prob
ability, but he Gid answer hypothetical
qresticns which ha knew meant a sr.at
! Geai. His answers to t.ese GU s..ons ilGi-
| casea tnat II NAY be tie tr-s d.nt III
| tentloi1 TO reco6n-.. indt peEoencs. anti nave
congress put c i.-cSer On h acton by
ao.ng the same thing. II IS ue..e, ed tn.at
the President has the power 10 lake this
| step aiohe, put ne ma natura.!y frefers to have
| the Endorsement OF Congress.
| The conference OF The President and Rep
| resentattve Hit today is believed by many
to have been along .h:s linc although Mr.
l AAite Woe-u iIOL ldih
Independent CT the Maine EsDsrt,
| The opinion vas expressed in The Star
| two weeks ago that the Pres:oe.t would
probably intervene In some shape Opinion
Is now crystalizing that the shape has
reached the recognition of indecerdeGce,
and that 1t will be granted, independent Of
| the Maihe disaster CT the report Of the
board.
The President is now rc.rssented by
close friends as having reached the point
where he. desires to speedily close the en-
] tire question. independence would, It is
SAID, be the quickest way Of doing it.
Feeling I'm Congress.
The prospect of having to wait several
days longer before the report of the board
| Of inquiry is trying on the patience of Con-
gress. The question How much longer?"
\ Is. asked with weariness. Apparently, how
ever, there is no disposition to let this inn
PATIENCE :fnd expression In action In adj
/ vance Of communication from the Presi-
dent. But the running of time does not
quiet the feeling. On the contrary. 1t seems
| 70 render more intense the desire that ac-
ton, when 1t does come, shall be OF the
| most positive character.
1t has become an almost universal convic-
ton in both houses of Congress that the
| Independence of Cuba is going to be recog-
nized by the President or its recognition
recommended by him to Congress. There
| Is no doubt that II a less decided course
| is adopted by the President 1t will cause
| both disappointment and discomfort The
opinion Is held by some Of the most con-
servative men in Congress that Congress
itself cannot be restrained from the rec
ognition of the independence of Cuba. 1t Is
! universally recognized that it is quite possi-
Bile that, while the court of inquiry will be
able to report positively that the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion from with
out, it may not have discovered any evil
dence showing who committed the crime.
In Congress 1t is realized that this sort of
report will be met by most persistent
effort on the part of Spain to make the
question of reparatfon the subject of pro-
longed consideration, and that Spain will
insist that this question should be settled
before anything is done with respect to the
general Cuban question. 49,
Put an End to the Cuban Question.
The sentiment in Congress is strongly in
favor of having an end put Immediately to
the Cuban question, Irrespective of the re-
pert as to the Maine disaster. The feeling
Is that there Is ample rea son for action in
that direction, no matter how the Maine
was destroyed. and that therefore If there
has to be any discussion over the latter
question, It shall not be made the excuse
for a delay which proiongs the agony in
Cuba The Proctor statement has had
profound ensct upon Congress, the i'm
pI Iession made by 1t growing in intensity
as 1t Is dwelt upon. A coincidence between
the report on the Maine disaster and the
general sentiment as to this whole Cuban
question is what Is expected, but IL 1t
should turn out otherwise, the demand for
action will, apparently, be no less. The
minds OF members of Congress are un-
doubtsdly set upon the recognition of the
tEoependence OF Cuba, and 1t does no. seem
| that anything short Of that can come out
OF the situation. The cry is that the atroct-
ties In Cuba must be cut snort and that in
reference must not. be of a character to in
kYnniY In Int. .sv.sv,