Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-29

peCtoo W ran Back upon a
Scheme Of Dilatory Delay That
| May Give Time for a Peaceful
Settlement of the Whole Cuban
Case-Some Hot Speeches May
Be Expected In Congress.
Special to the Register.
Washington, d. c., March 2S.-The
President bitterly disappointed Con-
gress and the public to-day in his Off
cial utterances regarding the Maine dis
aster and the announcement by his
friends that he means to fall back on
scheme of delay to settle the general
Cuban question.
his message on the Maine, which
the findings of the court of inquiry
and the testimony accompanying those
findings, show was destroyed by a
powerful mine which must have been
manipulated by persons expert in such
matters, was criticised as feble, color
less and non-committal to a degree that
nothing in the situation warranted or
excused.
The message was taken as evidence
that the President is altogether too
considerate OF Spanish feelings to be
capable OF dealing with the grave sit
uatlon which confronts the country,
with the force, spirit and aggressive
ness that the occasion imperatively
demands.
This feeling among Senators and
members Of Congress will, 1t is conf
IDENTIFY expected, be manifested in some
sensational speeches in both houses
tomorrow.
1t is believed the course OF the ad-
mlnistration will be bitterly assailed
by Republicans in both houses.
disappointment over the character of
the Presidents comments on the Maine
disaster was intensified by the an
nouncement to-day by confdants of
the administration that the President
contemplates doing nothing more for
Cuba than to secure for her
A MEASURE OF AUTONOMY
similar to that enjoyed by Canada. To
this there will be determined opposi-
ton among Republican Senators. Sem
ator Thurston. of Nebraska, hitherto
one of the Presidents strongest sup
porters. said tonight that he would
refuse to vote for the talked of appro-
priatfon for the relief of the Cubans
unless 1t was accompanied by declara-
ton for Intervention to end the war
and give Cuba her freedom. Other
Republicans talk privately in the same
strain, but administration Senators de-
clare that majority of the Republic
cans will support the Presidents auton-
omy programme
Democratic Senators are inclined to
think that if the administration and
majority of the Republicans are salts
f1ed with the autonomy programme
they should let them go ahead with it.
and see how the country will take it
at the fall elections.
SenatorsFaulkner said this after
noon: The Republicans are response
Bile for the conduct of the government
and they should be allowed to say what
attitude should be taken on an issue
that involves war or peace. If the
President induces Spain to allow us to
distribute supplies to all the destitute
in Cuba, wherever or whatever they
may be, and in addition Spain guaran-
tees to stop the policy of concentration,
to restore the reconcentrados to their
farms, to conduct her future military
operations according to the rules Of
civilized warfare, and to grant Cuba
complete f-government, including
the right of making her own tariff
laws, l think
DEMOCRATS CANNOT OBJECT.
We of the minority would hardly be
warranted in insisting that the admin
istration must go further and adopt
policy that might plunge the country
in war in order to secure for the Gu
bans the slight added advantage of alb
solute indepen6 The Republicans
are in control Of the government and
responsible to the country. Let them
take the responsibility of their Cuban
policy"
In the House OF Representatives the
message and report were referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
Spanish debate for the time being de-
verified.
In the Senate there was similar re-
ference to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and Mr.. Money, of Missis-
sippi, delivered a brief and energetic
speech, picturing the woes of Cuba.
With the report was submitted the
voluminous evidence taken at Havana
and Key West before the court of in
quiry.
Examined in detail, this evidence
proved to be much more interesting in
recital than the cold and dispassionate
review submitted by the court.
The special cabinet session was held
to go over the Presidents message
and more particularly to consider the
latest developments in the negotia-
lions now proceeding with Spain.
These had assumed wide field, en-
bracing not only the Maine question,
but the entire Cuban problem.
The answer of Spain to the note
sent through Minister Woodford last
week, stating the condition of Cuban
affairs had become so intolerable that
the United States could not much long
er remain inactive toward it. was in
hand. The general tone of the Span
ish answer
IMPRESSED THE PRESIDENT
and cabinet officers favorably, so much
so that after the meeting it was stated
by members that the outlook was far
more assuring and that Spain had
shown such a conciliatory tone that
it was believed she would make con-
4.