The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-04-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. D. O., April 1, 1898.

WAsHINGTONs ~. ", April l, 1898.
Notwithstanding sensational publica.
tions to the contrary, President McKin.
ley and Congress are now, as they have
been from the beginning. of one mind
as to the object sought in the Spanish
complications-peace and independence
for Cuba and the extension of aid to
needy Cubans until they are in q posi-
tion to get along without it. There was,
and is, slight difference of opinion as
to how that object can best bA secured.
President Nc Kinley prefers that it should
be peaceably accomplished, and having
received assurance which caused him to
believe that it could be, he asked that
Congress defer action until Spain has
definitely answered propositions-prac.
tically an ultimtum-looking to an
immediate settlement, leaving the report
of the blowing up Of the Maine by
mine alone tor the time. Congress,
or large majority of it, is suspicious of
Spain and it's diplomacy, and was at
first disposed to take action for immedi.
ate Intervention and the recognition of
of Cuban independence, but after the
President had acquainted leading Sena,
tors and Representatives with the nature
of the negotiations now pending with
Spain and asked them to defer action for
only short time, that # Spain's answer
was not prompt and entirely satisfactory
both to him and to Congress ne would
allow Congress to say just what this
government should do, and would put
the legislation into effect at once, there
was marked cessation of excitement,
although there is plenty of it yet, and
nothing but speedy straight backdown
%" the part of Spain can prevent early
action on the part of Congress, that will
TIE equivalent to declaration OF war
against Spain. The President has been
told that it would wait until next week.
The Democrats sought to take advan.
tage OF the difference Of opinion be-
tween the President and Congress to at
one stroke break up the party harmony
OF the Republicans in the House, upset
the Presidents negotiations, humiliate
Speaker Reed, and get the credit for the
Democratic party of taking the initiative
in war with Spain. This was the OBJ.
ject when Representative Bailey at.
tempted to offer resolution declaring
Cuba free republic as a privileged
question. The House was for a few
minutes in state of the widest excite.
ment, Dut Representative Boutelle made
point of order against the resolution,
that it was not privileged, and Speaker
Reed promptly sustained it. Mr.. Bailey
appealed from the decision of the Speak.
er, expecting that enough Republicans
would vote with the Democrats to over.
rule the Speaker and adopt the resolu.
ton, but after strong appeals from Rep.
resentatives Hull and Hopkins, leaders
of the Republicans who favor declara.
ton of war by Congress, to the Republi.
cans not to be carried off their feet and
not to accomplish against the rules what
can be at the proper time accomplished
under the rules, the Speaker was sus.
tanned by vote of 179 to 139 Speaker
Reed took occasion to say to the House
after the appeal from his decision that
the question which was sought to be
arrived at by the resolution would be
later secured in an honorable and salts.
factory manner, which was merely a
public reite:ation Of his promise pri.
vately given that the House would not
be hindered from acting on the Cuban
question when the result OF the Presi.
dents negotiation was known, which
will not be later than the first of the
coming week.
The numerous resolutions for open
declaration of war or Intervention by
force to drive Spain out of Cuba which
have been offered in both House and
Senate leave little doubt that within a
week, uless peace is before then alb
solutely assured, we shall be at war with
Spain. But this is Republican ad-
ministration, and the House is Republl.
can, and whatever is done on this ques.
ton will be originated by Republicans.
OF this there is not the shadow of q
doubt. 1t has been been definitely de-
cided by caucus of the Republicans of
the House.
Captain SiRsbee, of the Maine, who is
now at his home in Washington, had
won distinction before he commanded
the battleship Maine, the destruction of
which made him hero in the eyes of
the entire civilized world, because of the
manner in which he conducted himself
upon that awful occasion. While Chief
of the photographic Office, Captain
Sigsbee became widely known in the
scientific world, and his service on the
U. s. Board Of Geographic Names added