The sun., 1898-01-23
FOR CUBA.
REiSONS Why THE PRESIDENT
STILL HOLDS CONGRESS B1CR.


Ready to Fight. but Unwilling to Seem the AE-
Errasnr-spnnish ENccsses In Eta avRun uiteIS
10 .I,cn uipiomntic Excuse Rt Amy Moment
-DinicuIt Position OF Consni-G oncrnl Lee.
WAsrINGToN. Jan. 22.-During every hour
Of tho past week the Cuban situation has been
critical in tho extreme. Tho speech OF Mr.. Hit
IN the House is accepted MS setting forth tho
Presidents position. To put any other
struction upon 1t would 10 equivalent to charg-
ing him with dccciving the House. or that he
IA incapable. But for tho assurances no gave.
in terms which could not admit of erroneous in.
terprctutions, 1t would have been impossible to
have much longer held tho Republicans to-
Retner against tho known desire OF largo
number to take radical action upon the Cuban
question.
II is perfectly understood that tho President
docs not want war II 1t can be avoided. 1t is rs
certain that no does not desire peace at the cost
ofneglccting any step which tho national in
terests or honor may demand. Above all, he
does not wish this country to be put before the
world rs tho aggrcssor. Ho wishes It to be-
come plain to all that the plan of selfgovern-
ment offered to the Cubans has failed: that
spain is unable to restore peace; that ordinary
sentiments OF humanity demand action on our
part and that the immense injury to American
interests cannot be longer tolerated.
Mr. Hits statement is interpreted to clearly
mean that the President has q definite plan
upon which he is acting. and that its develop
ment is rapidly progressing toward interven-
tion in some form, and in form where he will
need the support Of every patriotic citizen.
What the Presidents next step may be, which
Mr.. Hit announced in words which give
ground for general belief that 1t is at hand.
is a matter of conjecture. That it can be long
;,,, - tha In,
Cuba, no one believes.
Those members of the House who have in
quired have ascertained that our consular re-
ports from all portions OF tho island represent n
condition OF affairs as to general desolation,
suffcrings cruelty, starvation, and tho COM
plete failure of autonomy. even worse than the
press reports indicate. These things are rap.
Idly turning Republican Congressman who
have been averse to any steps which might in
volve us in into radical war men. The
change in this respect Is rapid and most de-
cided. Nothing but implicit confidence that the
Administration intends to act not only with dis
cretion, but with proinptness and the utmost de-
cison. now holds Congress to the support Of the
President.
While the exact course which the President
has marked out for himself is not known, there
are three plain points upon any one of which the
question of Intervention might properly turn.
l. The distribution Of relief supplies sent from
this country. after q full understanding with
Spain that they should be received and their
distribution allowed, has been interfered with
While pointed protests on the part of Gen. Lee
lifted the Custom House embargo in the hnrbor
of Havana. there was several days delay and
thousands underwent added suferings in conse-
Quence. Hero was II case where more i'm
pulsive man, with a battleship and cruiser
virtually at his personal call and only ninety
miles away. would have given the word to make
the harbor of Havana with the utmost despatch.
1t was perfectly understood here that. had he
done this. Intervention would have been neces.
such that tho mere appearance of one Of our war
ships would have proved tho spark to involve
the whole situation in flame.
.. The lives and property OF Americans and
even the safety Of our consua officers in havana
have been in peril during the entire week past;
While no violence or indgnity has been offered
Americans, despatch at any moment announc-
ing both open attack nd gross indignities would
have caused no surprise at the Department OF
g., The mails of our consulate have been with
held: Gen; Lee emphatic protest ana aemands dns
occurrence occurrence OF the kind might properly be at,
Cen Lees position is certainly very remark
able one II there ever was at any time full rea,
In any harbor Of the world for purposes OF OBJ
servation. for the protection OF our diplomatic
that pert and the t present. e is the time. And yet
go critical Is the situation and SO strong the de-
sire to make no move which shall give color to
the charge that we are the nggressors. that 1t
has been deemed best to await actual overt acts
against our citizens or our flag before despatch
ing ship from Key West. And so it has come
TO pass that Gen. Lee is left ut Havana without
independent means Of communicating with his
be sure that in a critical moment, when hours
would DO Of supreme Importance, his de.
spatches Will be sent or delivered. or his mails
remain inviolate.
His only means of written communication in
case OF emergency would be the sending of a Sc;
Inna And
yet. notwithstanding these unpleasant II not
humating conditions. the ordering Of a war
one Of the clements OF our policy, that one can
hardly be now despatched without Immediately
prccipitating armed intervention.
inc conditions which surround the relief
movement seem to be exceedingly difficult.
'. While the supplies which are arriving at Ha-
S%Gont hsa SSaa fsp
hc task are Which shd has
nndertaEsn overwhelming in its dimen.
s0n1 bo The report made by Eennsdeomnao6 no
persons OF al ages have already starved to
death, Is believed from later Trustworthy ad-
Double that number is now believed to be
t,ar tnearer the truth than the figures named. Even
II tho luliest facilities and cooperation were
extended by the Spanish authorities ut Havana
IN TINS relief work, 1t would be task as stupen-
aous as y Is sorrowful and hcartrending. With
eVeryHssistancc, only smal proportion OF those
IN the dircst want can be helped. The magni.
tnde OF the work of relief can best be measured
by the recollcctions Of the requirements for
FEEDING one OF our great armies
So our authorities lind 1t u dlscouraging
problem at best. But when added to the insep-
arabic difficulties. for which due allowances
must be made. there is found a disposition at
Havana to impede and delay this work of mercy,
the situation becomes cXasperating, and, in the
opinion OF many conservative men. affords am
pie ana iust grounds for intervention. Mon are
saying that nothing can parallel an attempt to
prevent relief from reaching the dying inhah!-
thhts OF Cuba except the hendish conduct OF the
sultan with respect to tho wholesale massacres
:, Meantime there is general disposition among
TIhSlGssmen t. accept the statement Of MIR.
INV that the President Is moving steadily to.
support and accept as both nccessary and justi.
liable. and that until he reaches tho point where
ne can net without subjectinR the country 10 II
WclItoundcd charge of aggression Congress
ehould not emharrass him. II. V. BoYSToN.