The Columbus journal., 1898-04-13
URGES PROMPT ACTION.

URGES PROMPT ACTION.
Quay Takes Strong Position
on Cuban Question.
BELIEVES DELAY Is DANGEROUS.
Declares That the Armistice II to Give
Spain Time 60 Strengthen Iss Naval
Eoress Near Caba-Busler O0ess . Res
elut,oa Dee,aring Dessractioa oG bat
tlsship Maine Was an Act u War.
WASHINGTON. April l..-The future
Of the relations Of the United States
with Spain and to Cuba now rests with
congress. the representative body OF
the American people. What course the
elected men composing it will pursue
cannot be foretold. The foreign com.
mittees Of both houses have the subject
in their control and after due delibera.
ton. will report to their respective
branches what they consider should be
the attitude of the United States on the
grave question presented. Early action
by the committee Is expected. but
exactly when it may Ss looked for IL
not now determinable.
The full responsibility Of the subject
placed upon congress when President
Mckinley transmitted to it q carefully
prepared and anxiously awaited mes
sage relating to our negotiations with
Spain a. to its warfare in Cuba and
drawing therefrOm his personal con.
clusions and recommendations. He
placed the trust with these words:
.sThe issue is now with congress. It
is q solemn responsibility. l have ex.
hausted every effort to relieve the in
tolerable condition Of affairs ,whiph il
at our doors. Prepared to execute every
obligation imposed ON me by the con.
stitution and the law I await your
action"
that of President Cleveland on Vene.
zuela nor President Harrison on Chile,
caused such widespread and intense in.
terest. No message was ever listened
TO with more close attention by both
galleries aud members at both ends OF
the capitol. That il did not create pro.
found enthusiasm may have been due
to the fact that its main features had
been accurately fOrecasted in the press
dispatches, or to \ disappointment to
those who wanted Cuban Independence
and immediate reprisal upon Spain for
the destruction of the Maine. For .
long time q large majority in both
houses have favored the recognition Of
the independence of Cuba. more than
two years ago. as voiced in resolutions
by congress, the recognition of bellig.
erency has been sought. Both Of these
propositions were antagOnized in the
message and consequently the message
did not accord with the majority senti-
ment. The message left congress very
much at sea because the disparagement
between it and the executive are OBJ.
stacles bard to surmOunt unless, as now
seems possible. congress sees its course
to lie in accord with the president 3
recommendation. 1t is generally be-
lieved that the president would have
been authorized to intervene with the
army and navy had it not been for the
concluding paragraphs of the document
which announced the latest phase of
diplomatic negotiations.
Working For Harmony.
The senate committee ON foreign
relations Immediately went into ses-
sion, but reached NO definite conclusion.
From the fact that the Republican
members held consultation after the
meeting adjourned and from what was
said regarding it the inference was
drawn that some strong measure was
necessary in order to carry any action
BY the committee through the sepate.
A declaration of war was talked of and
q declaration the people of Cuba SHOULD
be free, coupled with authorization to
the president to bring this about by
armed Intervention was suggested. 1t
is well known that any proposition ad.
yanced will be met in the senate with
an amendment declaring the independ-
ence Of the present Cuban government
and to 30 frame q resolution as to carry
q majority of the senate and at the
same. time meet the Recommendations
of the president is the result the foreign
relations committee is trying to secure.
The conservative senators also met in
the afternoon and determined to oppose
auy radical measure, if it should be nc.
ported by the senate committee ON for
eign relations. They will oppose by
debate Q recognition Of independence Of
the present government and declara.
ton of war, and will consent to action
only along the lines of the recOmmen.
datiOns of the president 'as to interven.
tion at his discretion.
The temper Of the house could not be
accurately determined, but there. as in
the senate, the proposition for Cuban
independence has to be met. Any re.
mort from the committee on foreign re-
lations that does not carry with it this
provision will be antagonized and the
prospects are that nearly all the Demo.
Gratis and many Of the Republicans
would favor it. Attention has been di.
rected all day toward action that will
secure the solid support Of the Republi'
can organization of the house.
The Spanish minister. SeDor Polo. NJ
mained at the legation during the day,
sending and receiving many dispatches
and conferring with his advisers. He
cabled the entire presidents message te
Madrid, excepting only the historical
reference to General Grants message
Texas, etc. The minister said he must
decline to make the slightest public a.
lusion to the presidents message, q
any remark from him would be incon
sistent with his position.
Lee GIVEN AN OVATION.
Journeying to National Capita