The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-04-01
CONGRESS IN CONFIDENCE
Will Give the President Time to
Hear from Spain.

uedI lIOHl OpdlB.
Review of the Stirring Events at Washing
the situation by the Chronicles" Cor
respondent Position of the Republican
Representatives - vlce-PreAident Hobart
on the UItimatum-Madrid Astir.
Special Correspondence of the CHRONICLE.
WASHINGTON. D. c., March 31:-By
this time next week we will either be in
war with Spain or the danger of a war
will have been permanently past. The
President has drawn back the curtain
sufficiently for Congress TO see that the
end will be reached by that time, Some
thing definite was all that was demand
ed by the impatient members of Congress
who had taken radical stand for early
action or for information which would
satisfy them that the Administration had
definite policy and was working to a
positive end. Ample assurances have
been given by the President that such
was the case, and the Republicans of
the House testified yesterday afternoon
to their confidence in the President by
resisting Leader Bailey's efforts to stam-
pede them.
~
Whatever policy may be determined
upon and whatever action taken, it can
now be said with safety, will be taken
by the Republican party. The Republi-
cans haye recovered from their tempo
rary spasm of Mysteries and are on all
fours again. They are masters of the
situation, or at least believe themselves
to be SO, and are moving like a well-dis-
ciplined army and acknowledging the
leadership and authority of the Presi-
dent. To arrive at this condition the
President found it necessary to take
Congress into his confidence to a far
greater extent than strict diplomatic GUS
tom usually permits. This has been for
the best from a Republican standpoint,
for it has quieted the agitation and al
layed irritation among great many stall
wart members of the organization. 1t
has brought the legislative and execu-
tive branches of the Government into
closer relations and gives assurance of
harmonious cooperation when the mo-
nent arrives for supreme action.
~
The adjourned conference Of the Re-
publican recalcitrants was attended by
115 representative, majority of the Re
publican membership of the House. The
situatip1r was explained to than, and
they were content to let matters take
their course for the present. They were
Z moi rN& 49,
desire to quarrel with the President or to
go outside of their party for allies to
compel prompt action. What they
wanted was to know that action would
be taken, when it would be taken and
when results could be expected. Light
was shed upon these points and they
were delighted to learn that their ends
would be secured without being COM
PEELED to resort to radical or rebellious
courses. 1t was deemed best however.
to maintain their organization, so
steering committee OF eleven members
was appointed, of which Mr.. Hopkins of
Illinois was made chairman. This COM
mittee was directed to call upon the
President to-day to get in closer touch
with him and incidentally to inform him
that while consenting to his request for
time there was decided indisposition to
grant an indefinite extension.
-
General Grosvenor, chairman of the
Republican House caucus, has indicated
his entire willingness to call the Repub-
lican members together whenever a
formal demand is made upon him.
Speaker Reed was informed during yes
terday afternoon that caucus might be
called. His reply was, $50 ahead and
call caucus. am perfectly willing. /
have no policy of my own to carry out
against the wishes of a majority Of the
Republicans of the House." The Speaker
has found out for himself the vast differ
ence between political recalcitrants and
military mutineers. The latter can be
summarily shot, while the former have
to be coaxed back into line.
Vice President HOBART was quoted last
night as follows: ssAn ultimatum has
been sent to the Spanish Government.
4 Originally it was for forty-eight hours.
That time will expire at ten o'clock a. M.
tomorrow, Thursday, March 81, Wash
ington time, which will be three or four
p. M, in Madrid This ultimatum calls
for a cessation of hostilities and the
withdrawal of the troops and flag of
Spain from Cuba This of course means
the independence of the island. After
the ultimatum had gone to Madrid a
dispatch was received from the Govern
ment there through Minister Woodford
inquiring whether the independence of
Cuba was an essential of the proposition.
The President answered that Cuban in
4 dependence was the essential point of
the ultimatum. The Spanish ministry
will meet tomorrow and reply to the
sultimatum is expected sometime during
the day"
*x*
The foregoing affords confirmation of
the reports which have been in circula-
tion to the effect that Madrid was being
spurred to a prompt decision by vigorous