The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-14

YESTERDAY IN CONGRESS-
The resolution presented to the Senate
and the resolution adopted BY the House
BY Q majority 90 overwhelming as to
leave no room for exception or qualifi-
cation that it expresses the sentiment OF
the American people, whose views In the
hundreds Of district groups al over the
land can but be Intimately known TO the
members Of the lower trsnch Of the leais-
lstivs body. differ ONLY in respsct TO the
policy of recognition of Cuban independ-
ence. Both declare In practically sne
same terms that the waS in Cuba must
cease that II must cease at once and that
the President is authorized and directed
to put stop TO IL.
Ana the two simple but important
words cat once, mark the difference be-
tween both these resolutions and the
proposition OF the Presid mt In his mes
sage which asked OF Congress the author
ity which both resolutions propose to
grant him. While the President did not
ask for imperative directions as to the
time of the proposed Intervention 1t is far
from unlikely that ne is not perfectly
aaresabls to being SO directed.
Both the resolutions. too. are in har-
,.,o,w srsth A.. n-~stdort,s ,,aa~aca a.,
that they sst forth the general conditions
of the Cuban mess and the destruction
Of the battleship Maine as common
grounds for the action contemplated.
In resolving "that the people OF the
Island Of Cuba are and OF right ought to
be free and independent" the Senate
holds that such recognition is expe-
dent Is not absolutely necessary as pre-
liminary to Intervention to stop the war.
This 10 set forth In an elaborate report
from the foreign relations committee
which is altogether a highly informing
presentation and summing up Of the
Cuban question. including the specific
cause uf the Maius's destruction. The
object apparently is to make 1t clear that
Intervention by our government shall be
distinctly understood as undertaken not
for acquisition of tie territory involved
by the United States, but in behalf of
free and independent state already In ex.
istence whose sovereignty is not to be
placed In jeopardy by such act. The
report argues that II such recognition had
been offered year or more ago interven-
tion now would not be necessary to reach
the desired end. But today both inter-
vsntion and recognition must be assumed
by our government
In view * the vote In the House of
Representatives 1t would appear to be
likely that the demand for intervention
at once will prevail, the issue of recogni-
tion being set aside as unnecessary and
the President being directed to assume
tie task he suggested lat once" As to
omittins the recognition proposition the
President and the House are in agree
ment while the Senate STANDS alone In
maintaining its expediency. As to the
immediate execution OF the act of inter-
vention the House and Senate are in
agreement and, as suggested above, 1t
is not known that sucn instructions will
not To perfectly agreeable to the President
aside from the fact that whsther they
are not, he will carry them out in accord
ance with his duty In the prsmises and
the pledge cordially expressed In the mes
sage to adopt such course a. Congress
may direct.