Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-06
Washington Lester.
From our Regular Correspondent

NAsHINGTCN, Apr / 1898 Not
WlthStandIng sens atfOraI IuhiiCa
tiOns to the contrary, President Nc.
klnIey ana congress are DOW, as they
have been from the beginning. of one
mind as TO the obiect sought in the
Spanish cOmplicatious-peace and in
dependence for Cuba and the extern
sion OF aid o mccoy CuhAns until thew
are III position to get along vii hout
1t, There was, and is, slight differ.
ence OF opinion as to how that object
can best be secured. Pr sident Me
Klnley prefers that 1t should he peace.
ably accomplished, and having re-
celved assurance which caused him to
believe that 1t could be. ne ked tha t
congress defer action until Spain has
definitely answet eel propositions -
practically an notwithstanding
to an immediate settlement, leaving
the report OF the blowing up Of the
Maine 10y a mine alone for he time.
Congress, OF a large majority Of it, is
suspicious OF Spain and its dipIomacy,
and was at first disposed to take act-
ION for immediate intervention and
the recognition of Cuban lnIepepd-
ence, but after the president had ac-
quaInted leading senator's ana repre-
sentatiVes with the nature Of the ne
gotlatlons now pending with Spain
and asked Them to defer action for
only short time, promising that if
SPANS answer was not prompt and
entirely satisfactory both to HIM and
TO congress be would allow congress
to say just what this government
would do, and would put the legisla-
tlon into effect at once, there WAS a
marked cessation Of excitement, AL
though there is plenty OF it yet, and
nothing but speedy straight back
down on the part of Spain can pre-
vent early action Oh the part OF con
gress, that will be equivalent 70
declaration OF war against Spain.
The president has been told that it
would wait until next week
The Democrats sought to take ad-
vantage OF the ditte ence OF opinion
between the president and congress
to at one stroke break up the party
harmony Of the Republicans in the
house, upset the presidents negotia-
lions, humiliate Speaker Reed, and
get the credit for the Democratic
party of taking he initiative in war
with Spain. This was the object
when Representative Bailey attempt
ed to offer a resolution declaring Cuba
a Tree republic AS privileged ques-
ton. The house was for a few
minutes IN a state of the wildeSt
excitement, but REPRESENTATIVE
Boutelle made a point of order
against the resolution, that it was
not privileged, and Speaker Reed
promptly sustained it. Mr.. Bailey
appealed from the decision of the
speak er, expecting that enough Re
pnbIicans would vote with the
Democrats to override the spea ker
and adopt the resolution, but after
strong appeals from Representatives
Hull and Hopkins, leaders of the
Republicans who favor a declaration
OF war by congress, to the Republicans
not to be carried off their feet and
not to accomplish against the rules
what can be at the proper time
accomplished under the rules, the
speaker was sustained by vote OF
179 to 139. Spea ker Reed took oc-
casiOn to say to the house after the
appeal from his decision that the
question which was sought to be
arrived at by the resolution would
be later secured in an honorable and
satisfactory manner, which was
merely a public reiteration Of his
promise privately given that the
house would not be hindered from
&C ing on the Cuban question
when the result Of the presidents
negotiations was known, which will
not be later than the first Of the
coming week.
The numerous + solutions for
open declaration of war or interven-
ton by force to drive Spain out of
Cuba which have been offered in both
house ard senate leave little doubt
that within a week, unless peace is
before then absolutely assured. we
shall be at war with Spain. But
this is a Republican administration,
and the house is Republican, ard
whatever is done on this question
will be originated by Republicans.
OF this there is not the shadow OF a
doubt. 1t has been definitely decided
by caucus of the Republicans Of
the house.