Evening star., 1898-03-07

Spain has purchased two or more ships
within the past ten days. but has now
found herself at the end of her resources.
Ii war should be declared the United
States would be prevented by the opera
ton of the neutrality laws from negotiat-
ing for vessels in foreign countries.
The fact of our having even entered up-
on the negotiations and secured an option
upon the ships would not avail" said a ma
val officer in discussing this phase of the
question. I'VE would have to have our
men aboard and the colors hoisted before
war was declared, else we would not be
permitted TO sail from port with the pur-
| chased vessel
1ne opinion is general among members
OF the House committee on foreign affairs
that the situation is rendered more acute
by the attitude of Spain toward the Shin
ment of the relief supplies. There is no
ia!teriRS ncte, however, in their indorse-
rnent of the Presidents position
View of Mr.. HeatwoIe
Representative Heatwole of Minnesota.
ore of the republican mcmbors of the
committee cn foreign affairs, in an inter-
view with Star reporter, said:
Inc President is entirely justified in
the course he has pursued. / think he is
to be commended for taking the position
in unmistakable firmness that he will not
even co! slider the recall of Gen. Lee The
suggestion is not to BE- thought of for a
moment.
L not OF ly indorse his attitude I'm the
matter of sending the relief supplies in the
warships, but will inderse him if he finds
Ii necessary to send other war vessels to
Cuba for the protection of American in
terests."
tors and representatives generally is one
Of enthusiastic arproval of the Presidents
course. Scarcely a dissenting voice is to
be heard Democrats and republicans alike
are outspoken in expressions Of admiration
for his stand in the affair
Mr.. COwherd Says Intervene.
'The President ought not to stop short
of intervention" said Representative Cow
herd of Missouri, one of the prominent
democrats from the west. The time has
come for the United States to step in and
put an emu to the atrocities in Cuba The
relief ships should be sent to Cuba imme-
diately and should have an escort that
would insure their safety in Cuban waters
Ii might be advisable to forget to recall
the escort after it gets there
This Is the best thing the President has
done, said Representative Gaines of Ten
nessee, when he read the announcement
that the President had refused to consider
the recall of Gen. Lee. 1T is a display of
firmness that the American people will
commend. The President has been as CON-
ciliatory toward the Spanish as it is DOS
sible to be and he will be backed up by the
country when he calls halt upon such
proposition IS this.
He is right, too, in insisting upon using
the war ships for sending the relief food
for the starving Cubans. 1 believe the
House Of Representatives will stand by
him to man.
The opinion was expressed by more than
one representative in Congress that IL Gen.
Lee is sent home by the Spanish govern
ment he will be given the greatest recep-
ton in this country that any public man
has received in years. His popularity with
all classes is such that his appearance nm
on American soil would be the occasion for
the commencement of an ovation which
would extend along his route and reach a
climax when he reached Washington.