The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-21
Spain VIII BE Given Ample Time to
Make Good Her Promise OF
Pacifying the Island.
AMERICANS WILL NOT SUFFER
GEN. LEE HAS POWER TO CALL FOR
WAR SHIPS If NECESSARY.
Position OF the President Upheld by
Henry U. JohnsOn-Spaniards Un-
easy-Cubans Surrendering.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 20.--The furry IN
the House has cleared away the fog that
has to some extent enveloped the Cuban
question and it leaves the country with a
better understanding of the situation and
particularly of the Presidents position and
of the loyal purpose of the Republicans in
Congress to stand by him. The statement
of Representative Hit yesterday was fol-
lowed to-day by a semi-official announce
ment of the policy of the administration as
to Cuba. This policy, according to q con-
gresham who knows the Presidents views,
is as follows: At the present moment it is
felt that the same material conditions pre-
vail that existed when the President sent
| his last message to Congress. AT that time
it was stated that the plan of autonomy
having been inaugurated, it was the pur-
pose of the executive branch to give proper
time for this plan to be tried. The admin-
| istration is said to entertain the same senti-
ments to-day. The autonomous plan was
inaugurated only three weeks ago to-day
namely, on Jan. 1-when the autonomous
Cabinet took office. so that it is felt that
there has not been adequate time up to the
present moment to form any fair judgment
as to the merits of the plan as a means of
/ ameliorating conditions on the island. The
recent occurrences in Havana are looked on
\ as affording evidence OF discomfort with
the plan, but whether this win be sufficient
| to overcome the plan itsef4A is not looked
| on as established with any degree of GER
| tainty or even approximateness.
! In the meantime while observing the
| progress of the autonomous plan, the adj
ministration has adopted every precaution
| to guard against any sudden emergency,
| such as an uprising that will threaten
American interests. This is not expected
| to occur, but if it should come it is said
| that the naval vessels of the United States
| are so disposed as to be in the harbor OF
| Havana within six hours of any crisis
which would imperil American interests. In
order that there may be no delay should
| the emergency arise, it is said that Consul
| General Lee has been empowered to make
| direct request to the commanders of the
| war ships, so that the vessels could start
| on receipt of word from him, without the
| delays incident to having his requests pass
| through the official routine at Washington.
| To a great extent the intelligent judgment
| of General Lee is relied on as to determine
| ing if any emergency requires the presence
| OF American vessels. This however, ap-
| plies solely to the question of tumult of a
4 cTlllCdl NATURE anu has IlO COHuCClAOu With
the general question of intervention for the
purpose of bringing the war to a close. Such
| a step is not under immediate considera-
ton. for, as already stated, it is predicated
| on the failure of the plan of autonomy.
which result, it is said. the administration
| does not regard as established by the evil
dence at hand up to the present time.
MIR. JOHNSON'S VIEWS.
! Nothing said by any member on either
side of the House during the two days de-
bate has been more timely, more to the
| point and better explanatory of the present
| situation than the speech delivered on the
subject by Mr.. Johnson, Of Indiana, this
afternoon, That portion of his remarks
which Is essentially forcible and pertinent
| is presented herewith. He said:
| 81 am perfectly willing to trust the chief
executive of this Nation in this troubles
some Cuban question. In my humble opin-
| ion, his whole management of this affair
| since he came into office has been charac-
| terized by the utmost good sense, sound
| Judgment and exalted patriotism. lie has
| managed everything so adfoitly as to steer
clear of those things which menace our
peace and at the same time to obtain Tor
| us from Spain everything that he had a
| right to expect Under his administration
of this affair American rights have been
preserved, the prison doors IN CUBA have have
| improperly restrained of their liberty, repa-
| ration has been made, and, largely in re-
| sponse to the sentiments which he has
| voiced, a complete change in the policy OF
| Spain in its efforts to subjugate Cuba has
| been inaugurated. The old Spanish admin
| istration has fallen. The military chieftain
| Who was waging war contrary to the known
usages of war has been recalled For the
| recent Ministry there has been substituted
more liberal Ministry-the Sagasta Minis
| try. In place of Weyler they have sent
general who is waging war according to
| the dictates of humanity and the code OF
civilized nations. And Spain is offering au-
tonomy. That autonomy may not be ac-
cordiug to our democratic ideas, but 1t is a
great deal for a government like Spain.
1t strikes me that under these circum-
stances there can be no wiser course for
this chamber, irrespective of party, than
to uphold the patriotic and sagacious course
of the President of the United States.
His past conduct, think, warrants US in
the belief that our future will be secure in
hear, that he is keeping q close eye on the
condition of affairs Ia Cuba and that In
this matter he Is being ably co-operated
with by the distinguished gentleman of op-
posite politics who is now our consul at
'It is all very nice for us to say that we
sympathize with Cuba in this struggle for
independence. It is all very nice that. as
individuals, we may heartily desire to see
the Cubans achieve their independence. It
may be highly proper for us TO covet their
island and desire that at some time IL should
those are but one-sided, narrow and super
fetal views of a great subject OF national
moment and Importance. w e must not fOf-
get that we are one of the family of nations,
that there are certain rules of international
law which are TO be observed. We must
not in our zeal to interfere In Cuban af-
airs set precedent which may come home
to damn us at some time in the future
VIXEN we are least prepared to meet its
force and avoid its effect.
There have been times in the past when.
with very great propriety, we might have
questioned the action of Spain. If so, | SUBJ
NIT to this chamber the logic of events has
removed very largely that ground of COM
plaint. The entire system of warfare there
has been reversed. From being barbarous 1t
has become civilized. The old administration
that waged different kind OF warfare has
been oyerthrown and new and liberal ad-
mnistration has taken its place. A man 10
now in command of the Spanish forces on
that island who Is doing all he can TO paclfy
the insurgents and who Is Offering them a
form OF autonomy which, coming from
Spain, is marvel, though II may not meet
our high standard from democratic point
of view
1T Is well enough for us to contribute
10 the relief OF the sufferings OF the Cubans
We can do that consistently with our inter-
national obligations but 1t is quite diff
ferent thing for us to exercise the high
prerogativeS which we possess as repre-
sentative American people and undertake.
in violation Of international law to isivade
by force the international affairs of that
Island and TO give such a just provocati0n
4 Spain as may lead TO consequences
which we may subsequently very profoundr