The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-14
REPUBLICANS CRINGE
BEFORE PRESIDENT
IAYF. nuRHAM.


publican IN congress. with the possible ex-
oeption of Mr.. Johnson, of Indiana, who
IS not thoroughly disguised with President
MeKinley's message. Disgust does not
express the idea 1t is worse than dis
gust If that be possible, They all concede
the fact now that the president did not
and seek to deceive members as to what
he was doing and what he had already
done, but deliberately lied to them. He
gave congress to understand that he had
issued to Spain an ultimatum, to the effect
that he had asked that not only the war
should stop, but Spain must get off the
island and take with 1t the Spanish flag.
If not, he then proposed to make armed in
PREVENTION.
He allowed his emfssaries upon the floor
of the house and senate to make repeated
statements that this had been done. His
message shows that he did nothing of the
kind All he asked was that Spain grant
an armistice to continue until next October,
and In the interim 1t was his idea that
peace could be made to prevail. He made
this request of Spain on the 28th of March.
Spain declined 1t, and in note to this gov
ernment that was more insolent than diplo-
matte. AS has previously been shown,
Spain granted the armistice at the sole re-
quest of the Pope of Rome.
In the opinion of a great many persons
in public life this was another insolent act
on the part of Spain, that IL should refuse
the good offices of the United States, to
accept them upon the request of the pope.
This has had a tendency to raise intense
Indignation among the American Protective
Association people, more commonly known
as the A. P. AS. AS is well known, the
A. P. As are an intensely hostile organza-
ton to the Catholic church. That element
is already threatening Mckinley and the
republican party, saying that it has sur
rendered itself and its principles to the
apostolic church. 1t Is almost an every
minute expression by nine out of ten re-
publicans to the effect that unless congress
redeems itself on the Cuban question, and
does not follow the advice of the president,
there will not be enough republicans in the
next house of representatives to fog bic
cycle.
It is no doubt curious to many people
to know that congressman individually may
be very hostile to the president and at the
same time give him all the support re-
quired. There were not more than three
members of the house who, after the COM
pletion of the reading of the message Mon
day but were before cursing the president
with a great deal of vigor.
Almost every one admits that the mes
sage was nothing more, nothing less, than
an act of cowardice; that 1t played to the
Spanish galleries more than to American
honor; that 1t was apolegetie from begin
ming to end; that it failed to grasp the sit
uation; that it was weak, vacillating and
brought extreme humiliation to the Ameri-
can people. There is no denying the fact
that President Mckinley is not completely
in the power of the Spanish bond-syndicate
Spain has issued four hundred million dol
lars worth of bonds guaranteed from the
revenues of the island of Cuba. These
bonds are held mostly by Rothschilds in
ara hnl in
Since the situation has become critical the
money power, headed by the Rothschilds
and their agents in this country, have had
no other purpose In view than to make
money out of the DEAL To recognize the
independence of Cuba will make the Span
ish bonds worthless, and that is the CHIEF
reason why the president opposes it.
The largest holders of Spanish bonds In
this country are represented in the senate
by Mark Hanna, Steve Elkins and Eugene
Hale and in the house by Speaker Thomas
B. Reed and Nelson A. Dingley. These are
the chief conspirators of the 'peace-at-any-
price, crowd in congress. They have their
lobbyists all through the capitol, as well
as throughout the city. Mckinley has had
but one idea in view, and that is to protect
the men that made him.
There Is every indication that the Cuban
affair Is going to develop into a great ma
the telegraphic dispatches, the "peace-at-
any-price" thieves have practically opened
their barrel. What they cannot secure by
persuasion they are prepared to purchase.
Mark Hanna has pulled the party whip
over more than one United States senator.
1t was but few days ago that Senator
Cushman K Davis of Minnesota, chairman
of the foreign relations committee OF the
senate was not only in favor of Immediate
armed Intervention, but was as enthusiastic
upon the subject of recognizing the fnde-
pendence of the Cuban republic. His idea
was not the policy of the president. Sen
ator Davis is candidate for reelection
before the next legislature. Mr.. Hanna de-
lfbarately said to Davis, or to DAVIS
friends, that unless he supported the presi-
dents policy, the national republican COM
mittee would send enough money into Min
nesota to defeat Senator Davis in re-elec-
ton. Davis yielded. He Is now the cham
pion of the presidents policy on the foreign
relations committee. Senator Lodge or
Massachusetts and Senator Clark of Wyo-
ming are in the same condition. The same
proposition was made to them. They yield
ed and are now Davis followers
These three senators have been tina
foremost of the committee in insisting that
independence should be granted. Senator
Daniels, strange as it may appear, demo-
crat from Virginia, has been swayed from
his course. Senator Daniels has made
more speeches in the theaters of this city,
abusing President Cleveland, as well as
President Mckinley, for not recognizing
the independence of the Cubans than any
thirty senator's He has made similar
speeches upon the floor of the senate What
persuasive power, if any, has been used
with Senator Daniels is not known. nor
can 1t be safely conjectured. 1t is said.
however, that he is jealous of General
Fitzhugh Lee, who has become the ono
hero out of the Cuban affair. This points
to another political career in Virginia by
General Lee. This, Senator Daniels fears.
will make him strong candidate for the
senate against Senator Martin two years
hence. Senator Daniels does not want Lee
in the senate. General LIE has all along been
in favor of this government recognizing the
independence of Cuba. Senator Daniels
may have yielded to the presidents side In
order to be on the opposite side from Gen
eral Lee.
While congressman may fuss and KICK at
the president on the outside and In the
cloak rooms, when they come out into
the open, into the arena under the full
4 --a-.