The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-04-15
Comments on the Message,

Comments on the Message.
One of the most significant utterances
on the subject of the Presidents mes
sage was that of Senator Foraker, Re-
publican, from the Presidents own
State and a member of the Commit ee
on Foreign Relations. He said:
81 have no patience with the message,
and you can say So" He refused to go
into details.
Senator Mills (Dem) of the same COM
mittee, said: "Without referring to the
message specifically, you can say am
for the independence of Cuba and for
war on account of the Maine"
Senator Tillman (Dem) thought it
was illogical and that the Presidents
recommendation of means was made
quate to accomplish what he wants
to do.
Senator Pettigrew said: at is the
weakest yet. 1t sums up the situation
by saying we must recognize neither
belligerency nor independence, but in
tervene to stop the war. Spain has al
ready accomplished this result by
granting cessation of hOstilities, thus
leaving nothing for us to do but to CON
tinue to make appropriations to feed
the Cuban people"
Thomas M. Jett (Dem., M: "The
message of the President was a great
disappointment to all parties. 1t does
not demand as much as she has grant
ed in the last forty-eight hours"
Cooper (Dem., TeXas): "The Presi-
dent requests that Congress abdicate
its constitutional war-de claring func-
ton and turn the whole matter over to
the President. This should not be done
The plea for armed Intervention | do
not think sound or tenable. Our duty
is to recognize the independence of the
Cubans. AS peace measure, in the in
tert st of tradesmen and Spanish bond
holders, the message is par excellence.
Look for stocks to go up to- morrow"
Hartman ,Silver, Mont.): "The Presi-
dents message has repeated to Congress
much that we already knew and moth
ing that we did not know. 1t means
further delay and is in harmony with the
former acts and future purposes of the
Administration. Having succeeded by
"masterly inactivity" in doing nothing
to help the situation, but much to com
plicate, he now bravely surrenders the
whole question to Congress, with nc
recommended action"
Mr.. Richardson (Dem, Tenn.): "Th6
message is dispassionate statement o1
our case. His message will be disap
| pointing to the country and will MOI
take place in history like those of Jack
son, from whom he quotes so literally
Mr.. Cummings Dem, N. ": at in
vites the American eagle to leave the
country and give place tn the buzzard'
| Mr.. Joy (Rep., MOI: 81 shall be sat
isfed with nothing less than arm ed in
tervention looking to the independence
of the Cuban people and the expulsion
OF the Spanish flag from Cuban SOIL
Representative Dingley, of Maine
| chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, declined to discuss the messag,
further than to say that he considered
it an able presentation of the case.
Senator Turley-"The message is
disappointment, absolute and complete
1t contains no recommendation which
| Congress should comply with.
Senator Bate-"The message is ont
that is amenable to criticism in various
ways. While it asks for the power Il
relieve the situation in Cuba, that the
President might bring about peace anC
establish tranquil state of affairs, h,
does not definitely say whether tina
should be done by adopting SPAIN
mode of autonomy or by aiding anC
recognizing the rights of the insur
gents. 1t does not ask for anything
|
| to settle the war in his own way. T,
! me it seems an ominous fact that h.
| does not, in any part of his message
argue for the independence of Cuba"
Representative McMillin: "The mes
sage states with considerable force tn
condition existing in Cuba, but it falls
far short of the requirements of tn,
situation. The President says it would
not do to recognize the belligeren
rights of Cuba nor Cuban independ
ence. He thereby denies that they ar
entitled in their present state to indie
pendence. This do not believe is true
He asks Congress to place the Army an
Navy and ample funds at his com
mand and leave the whole matter to hi
discretion, without informing Us il
anything like specific terms what h
intends to do. five are to vote me
and money, we ought at least to knoV
how they are to be used"
Representave Carmack-"The mes
sage reminds me of Edward Burke
characterization of an opponent
speech: 1t came in with a roar an
went out with whine The Pres
dents premises, that is his statemen
of the condition prevailing in CubG
were strong enough to justify some
thing better than his lame and impC
tent conclusions. He seems to be Try
ing to give an imitation of the month 9
March, which comes in like a lion an
goes out like lamb. All this thunde
in the introduction became a I'll
whistle in the book"
Representative Cox said: al am SUI
prised at the message. l cannot Sc
anything that makes a conclusion an
end of the matter. The President
proposition is TO stop the war. SUI
pose Spain says 1 am willing TO st1
lighting, and the insurgents say I wi
not. Then does the President mean {
fight the insurgents? But suppose bot
parties say they will stop fighting, an
they cannot agree ON the gOvernmen
for the island, who decidesV