Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-14

Washington, April 12.-The future
relations of the United States and
Spain now rest with congress. What
course il will pursue cannot be fore
told. The foreign affairs committees
of both houses now have the subject
IN control, anu, aILer elaboration, Will
report what ,uey CONSIDER shall be the
atltude oil tne united states. exactly
when action may be looked for Is not
now deternlnapie. The full RESPONSE
bllity of the subject is placed upon
congress when Mckinley transmitted
his carefully prepared message. N0
message in recent years has caused
such intense interest. That II did not
create profound enthusiasm may have
been due to the fact that its main fea-
lures had been accurately forecasted
Or TO disappointment among those
who wanted Cuban independence and
immediate reprisal upon Spain. For
a long time "A majority in both houses
has favored the recognition OF the in
dependence of Cuba. For two years
the recognition of the belligerents has
been sought Both these propositions
are antagonized in the message, con-.
Bequently in this regard the message
did not accord with the majority senti-
ment, The message left congress at
sea, because the disparagement in
the views between congress and the
executive are obstacles hard to sur
mount. 1t is generally believed than
the president would have been author
lied to intervene with the army and
navy If 1t were not for the concluding
paragraphs Of the document which an
nouneed the latest phase Of diplomatic
negotiations.
The senate committee on foreign re-
lations Immediately went in session
out reached no definite conclusion.
ne republicans members held a con-
sultation after the meeting. The in
ference is drawn that some strong
measure will be necessary to carry any
action by the committee through the
senate, 1t is well known that any
proposition advanced will be met In
the senate with an amendment declar-
Ing the independence OF the present
Cuban government. The foreign rea-
tons committee wishes to so frame
the resolution AS to carry majority
or the senate and at the same time
meet the recommendation OF the
president
The conservative senator's also met
and determined to oppose any radical
Measure. They will oppose recogni-
ton Of the independence OF the present
government and declaration OF war
and will consent to action only along
the lines OF the recommendations OF
the president as to Intervention at his
discretion.
In the house, as in the senate, the
proposition for Cuban Independence
has to be met. Any report that does
not carry with 1t this feature will be
antagonized by an amendment. The
prospects are that nearly all the DEM
ocrats and many republicans will IA
yor 1t. Efforts are being directed
toward action which will secure the
solid support of the republican organ
ization and the republican majority OF
the house.
Outside the capitol the same in
tense interest Is manifested In the
message. Hearty approval OF the mes
sage was reflected throughout admin
istratlon circles. The Spanish minis
ter cabled the entire message to Ma
drid He declined to make the slight
est public allusion to the message.
Senior Polo has received no instruc-
tions to withdraw. At the other en-
bassies the message aroused the great
est Interest IL was not received with
satisfaction. At one foreign establish
ment 1t was said that the great pow
ers of Europe will not agree with the
president as to his duty to stop the
war in Cuba In the name Of civiliza-
ton. No new diplomatic phase of the
question was developed at the state de-
rartment. Secretary Sherman said he
would not be surprised il the Madrid
cable report proved true that Wood
ford was about TO leave Madrid. The
state department was without advices
that this step had been actually taken.
Gen. Lee Is en- route here The war
and navy department continued active.