Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-20
Mr.. Hits Significant Words.

Chairman Hit was of course speaking
for the administration yesterday when he
addressed the House on the subject of
Cuba His plea for further time for the
maturing of the situation was in the high
est degree significant. He showed first that
President Mckinley has done much for
Cuba by forcing Spain to recognize the
right of this country to speak in the case
and by securing the release of American
prisoners. the removal of Weyler and the
abandonment of the concentration policy.
He contrasted the record of Mr. Nc
Kinley in this respect with that of his
predecessor and he urged that thus far
the President has done enough to entitle
him to the confidence of the House He
went on to speak of the proposition of the
SGgasta ministry to establish autonomy in
Cuba and bespoke for that effort a degree
Of confidence in its sincerity that has not
been wholly extended thus far But Mr.
Hit recognized the fact that there is in
opposition to autonomy a strong party of
conservatives in Cuba and he acknowl-
edged that these people are a dangerous
element today just as they were in 1862
when they mobbed the palace of the gov
ernor general and literally drove him from
the island.
Mr.. Hit then dwelt upon the question Of
the best method of extending that aid to
Cuba which this nation sincerely wishes to
Offer He deprecated the notion that the
recognition of belligerency would serve the
purpose, showing that this action would
give Spain advantage over the insur-
cents that would not be offset by any equal
advantage to the Cubans. He said that the
Cubans in Washington frankly declare that
it is their hope that belligerency will be
recognized that hostilities may resul.
between the United States and Spain
through the impetuous act of some steamer
captain or commander of Spanish cruiser
This would be tantamount to a declaration
of war, said Mr.. Hit. but it would not be
dtgnified or in keeping with the attitude
ard greatness of the United States 70 go at
the matter in this indirect manner.
There is mitch meaning in these remarks
by the chairman of the committee on for
eign affairs. conservative, we'll balanced
man, who enjoys the confidence of the ad-
ministration and the House, he is not an
alarmist, yet the inevitable meaning of his
speech yesterday is that the crisis in Ha-
vana is grave, and that Intervention by d.
rect methods by this government is an i'm
pending act. His plea for further faith in
the good intentions of the President; must
be taken to mean that the latter is con-
templating a step in accord with his mes
So ge- The logic of the situation cries aloud
for action. Mr.. Hit seemed to realize that
fact yesterday. His description of the peril
in which American interests in Havana
are today placed was in nowise overdrawn
and coming as it does from one who is I'M
questionably in close communication with
the President and the officials of the State
Department it indicates that the case of
the Americans at the Cuban capital is fully
understood by those officials. Under these
circumstances it is readily believed that the
President is awaiting with anxious vigil
ance the inevitable occasion to arrive when
the specific act of intervention, in whatever
fern, must be taken as. in the words of
Mr. Hit. "a step necessary for the vindica-
ton of the honor and protection of The in
terests of our country, step made neces-
sary by duty in view of the troubles, the
Commissions, the distractions and the hope
less condition of things in the island so
adjacent to our shores