The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-15

washington, April 1.-THE future of
the relations Of the United States with
Spain and Cuba now rests with con-
press. the representative body of the
American people. What course the
elected men composing it will pursue
cannot be foretoId tonight. The For
4ign committees of both houses now
have the subject in their control, and
after due delfberation, will report to
their respective branches what they
consider should be the attitude of the
Irnitd States on the grave question pre-
scented. Early action by the committees
is expected, but exactly when 1T may
he looked for is not now determlnaUle.
The full responsibility of the SUBJECT
Was placed upon ngr when PreSl-
DENT Mckinley today transmitted 10 IL
a carefully prepared and anXlouSly
awaited message relating to our nego-
stations with Spain as to it's warfare
i'm Cuba and drawing therefrom his per-
sOnal conclusions and recommenua-
tions.
No message in recent years, not even
that of President Cleveland on Vene-
ZueIa. nor President Harrison on chile
caused such widespread and intense IN
rterest. That it did not create profound
enthusiasm may have been due TO tne
fact that it's main features mad Deen
accurately fOreCaSted in the ASsoclat-
ed Press dispatches, or to a
ment among those who wanted Cuban
independence and immediate reprisal
anon Spain for the destruction of the
Maine. For a long time a large ma
pority in both houses have Favored
recognition of the independence OF
Cuba; for more than two years, as
voice in resolutions passed by con-
gress. the recognition of belligerency
has been sought. Both of these PROPOSE
fiOns were a~ntagOnized in the message,
amid consequently in this regard the
message did not accord with the ma
iOrity sentiment. TIN message left
congress very much at sea, because OF
the arrangement in views between 1t
and the executive, AN obstacle hard TO
surmount, unless, as now seems pos
Slble, congress sees it's course to lie
in accord with the presidents recon-
mendation. TT lis generally believed
that the president would have been au-
fthorized to intervene with the army
and navy, had it not been for the con-
Guiding paragraphs of the document
which announced the latest phase of
diplomatic negotiations.
IN THE SENATE.
THE senate committee ON foreign re-
1ationts Immediately went into session
but reached no definite conclusion.
From the fact that the republican
members held a consultation after the
meeting adjourned and from what was
said regarding it, the inference was
drawn that some strong measure was
necessary i'm order to carry n action
iby the committee Through the senate.
"a declaration of war was talked of
and a declaration that the people OF
Cuba should be free, coupled with au-
t~horization ito the president to bring
this about by armed intervention, was
suggested. 1t lis Well-knOWn that amy
proposition advanced will be met in
the senate with an endm declar-
ing the independence of the present
government, and to so frame a reSOlu-
tion tas to carry a majority of the SEN
ate and at the same time meet the
recommendations of the president, is
the result which the foreign relations
committee is trying to secure.
The conservative senators also met
in the afternoon and determined to OPP
pose any radical measure, if it should
be reported by the senate committee
on foreign relations.
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
THE temper of the house could not
be accurately determined, but there, as
in the senate, the proposition for Gu
ban independence has to be met. ANY
report from the committee ON foreign
affairs that does not carry with it this
feature will be a~ntagonized by AN
amendment and the prospects are that
nearly all the democrats n many re-
publicams would flavor it. Efforts have
been directed all day toward action
which will secure the solid support of
the republican organization and repub-
1ican majority of the house. To this
end the republican of the
house committee, to whom the message
was referred, were in conference during
the day and night.
Outside of the capitol the same in
tense interest was everywhere mani
tested in the presidents massage.
Even ait the White house there was
"a Iull in the excitement which haS cen
tered there for the last fortnight. The
president saw several of his cabinet
advisers early i'm the day, but there
was 10 cabinet meeting. The message
left THE White house shortly before
moon in order to reach ongres
promptly on it's assemblage. This
done, THE president Joined his family
at lunch with evident satisfaction at
having the tremendous strain and bur-
den of recent days, i'm a measure, re-
moved There was an aspect of holi-
odS SdIcly SuITOuIGulI1S uUc WHITE
house, as Easter Monday was observ-
ed as usual by the egg rolling gather
ing of thousands of children in the
grounds in the rear of the executive
mansion. The Marine band Furnished
music for the youngsters.
The Spanish minister, Senior Polo,
remained at the legation during the
day, sending and receiving many dis
patches and comforting with his advfs-
ers. He cabled the entire president
message to Madrid, except the histori-
cal references to General Grants mes
sable, Texas, etc. The minister said he
must decline to make the slightest pub
Tic taHusion to the presidents message
as n remark from him would be i'm
consistent with his position. lit is
KNOWN, however, that Senior Polo is
keenly sensitive to the Language of
the message. What it's effect will be
upon his services here is not known. for
no word has yet come as to the effect