The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-12

these words: "The Issue is now with
Congress. 1t is solemn responsibility.
I have exhausted every eaort to relieve
the intolerable condition es affairs which
Is at our doors. Prepassa to execute
every obligation imposed upon me by the
constitution and the law, = await your
action"
No message in recent years, not even
that Of President Clevelan3 on Venezuela
nor of President Harrison Sn Chill caused
such widespread and intenss interest. No
message was ever listened to with more
close attention by both galleries and
members at both ends oi the capital.
That it did not create profound enthu-
siasm may have been due t0 the fact that
it's main features had hsen accurately
forecasted in the Associaisd Press de-
spatches or to disappointment among
those who wanted Cubas independence
and immediate reprisal uIDn Spain for
the destruction of the MaisS. For long
time, large majority il, both houses
have favored recognition ol! the independ.
ence of Cuba; for more thah two years,
as voiced in resolutions passed by Con-
grass the recognition Of bUsligerency has
been sought. Both of these propositions
were antagonized in the massage and con-
sequently in this regard tho message Gid
not accord with the majority sentim ent.
The message left CongresD very much at
sea because ofEths disagreement in view
between it and the executi1B, an obstacle
hard to surmount unless 40 now seems
possible, Congress sees its eDurse to az
cord with the Presidents recommended
tion. 1t is generally belietsd that the
President would have been authorized to
not been for the concluding paragraphs OF
the document, which aalAounced the
latest phase of diplomatic negotiations.
The Senate committee Sl foreign re-
lations Immediately went into session,
but reached no definite CONFUSION.
From the fact that three Republican
members held consultation after the
meeting adjourned and wh,b was said re.
garding it the inference was drawn that
some measure was necessary In order to
carry any action by tfe COMMITTEES
through the Senate. A declaration of war
was talked and declaration that the
people OF Cuba should be free, coupled
with the authorization to the President
to bring it about by armed Intervention
was suggested. le is we'll known that
any proposition advanced will be met in
the Senate with an amendment declaring
the Independence OF the pNrsent Cuban
government and TO SO franrs a resolution
as to carry a majority OF thu Senate and
at the same time meet the recoDmenda-
tions of the President is thu result which
the foreign relations committee is trying
to secure. The conservative senators also
met in the afternoon and determined to
oppose any radical measure If 1t should
be reported by the Senate committee on
foreign relations. They will oppose by
debate recognition Of Independence Of
the present government and declaration
of war and will consent to action only
along the lines of recommendations ofsthe
President as to intervention at his discre.
tion.
The temper of the Houss could not be
accurately determined, but there, as in
the Senate the proposition for Cuban in
dependence has to be met. Any report
from the committee on foreign affairs
that does not carry with 1t this feature
will be autagonised by amendments.
The prospects are that nearly all the
Democrats and many OF the Republlcan.
would favor it. Efforts have been directea
all day toward action which will secure
the solid support of the Republican or.
ganization and Republican majority OF
the House. To this end the Republican
members of the House committee to
which the message was reserred We're In
conference during the dap and night.
Outside of the capitol the same intense
interest was every where manifested In the
Presidents message. The embassies and
legations were practically emp5y by eleven
o clock the foreign representatives and
| their stats going to the capitol to hear
| the message The cabinet officers busted
| themselves with their departmental
affairs feeling that the message now
transferred the scene of action and Of re-
sponsibility to the capitol. Even at the
White House there was iull in the ex-
citement which has conferred there for the
last fortnight. The President saw several
| OF his cabinet advisers early in the day,
| but there was no cabinet meeting. The
message left the White House shortly be-
| fore noon in order to reach Congress
! promptly on its assembling and this done,
| the President joined his family at lunch
with evident satisfaction at having the
| tremendous strain and burden OF recent
| days in measure removed. There was
an aspect of holiday gaiety surrounding
| the White House, as Easter Monday was
observed as usual by the egg rolling
| gathering of thousands of children IN the
grounds in the rear of the Executive
mansion. The Marine band furnished
music for the youngsters.
The effect of the message down town
was on the whole quieting. Cablnes
officers of course expressed their colnplete
and most hearty approval OF the message.
This view was reflected throughout ad.
ministration circles.
The Spanish minister Senior Polo re-
y