The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-01

Washington March 30.--The repub-
lcans of the house who are aggres-
sively in favor of prompt and energetic
action in the Cuban matter and who
met last night in conference held an
other meeting after the house ap-
iourned tonight. AT last nights meet
ing forty-six members were present.
Tonight they were REINFORCED by
sixty-nine, making it total of 10.
This constitutes considerably more
than a majority of the republican mem
bership Of the house and the MEM
bers present tonight say that it by no
means represents the full strength OF
those who will be satisfied with moth
ing short Of the Complete independ-
ence of Cuba. Many of the radicals
favor armed intervention and few,
like Representative Marsh, of Illinois,
believe the blowing up of the Maine
is a casus belli. The speeches at to-
nights meeting, while vigorous and
yielding nothing, were nevertheless in
favor of giving the president an OppOr-
tunity to mature his policy and of com
pleting the negotiations in which he is
NOW engaged. Many of the leaders
OF tne movement, lIcIuuIlS MeSSIS.
Hopkins, of Illinois; Hull, of Iowa;
Tawney, of Minnesota; Bromwell, of
Ohio; Hepburn, of Iowa, and w. A.
Smith, of Michigan, saw the president
today and all he asked was a brief de-
lay. Action by congress before the
pending negotiations are completed, he
told them, would emIbarrass him and
might result in a complete rupture.
Messrs. Hull, BrBmWell and others ex
plained this situation to the conference.
They cOunseled acquieScence in the
presidents desires A rupture with
the administration was greatly to be
.deplored and should, they argued, only
occur as a last resort. They informed
the conference that the president had
said that the negotiations now in pro-
gress would either fail be success
full by the end of the week He be-
leVed they would be successful He
did not indicate their nature, they said,
and they pointed out that it would be
manifestly ruinous for the details to be
made public at this time. They said
further, that the president informed
them that he would, in the event of the
failure of the negotiations, place the
whole subject before congress and
share with it the responsibility for what
might follow. Mr.. Adams, of Pennsyl-
Vania, the ranking member OF the for
eign affairs committee of the house in
IIlC dbStuCe Oh 4hl. IIlll, " llo I'D ill CA
planned that the sentiment of the COM
mittee was strongly against further
delay although he was himself con-
.servative. But he said the committee
was willing to defer to the wishes of
the president and no action would be
taken at the meeting tomorrow. ON
Monday. however, if a satisfactory So
luton had not previously been reached
action would be had. All the MEM
'bers present professed ignorance of the
details of the presidents plans and ne
gOtiatiOns, although several said the
president assured them that if success
full, they would, he thought, he salts
fastOry.
While these different reports were
made to the conference they were un-
official and the conference decided as
last to appoint a committee of eleven
to wait upon the president tomorrow
and explain their views on the situa-
tion, the committee to report at a meet
ing to be held tomorrow night. The
committee appointed consisted of the
following members: MeSsrS. Hopkins
and Lorrimer of Illinois; Joy, of Mis-
SGuri; SullOway, of New Hampshire;
Cooper, of Wisconsin, Arnod, of Penn
SyiVania; Mercer of Nebraska Knox,
of Massachusetts: Paris, of Indiana;
Hager, Of Iowa, and Smith, of Michi-
gan.
Washington, March 30-The vital
point in the Cuban situation, wiz: In
dependence, has shifted itself from
Washington to Madrid where the Span
ish government is now giving grave
and earnest consideration to PROPOSE
tions presented 10y the government of
the United States On the answer TO
these propositions, probably, depends
the future course of the relations he
tween Spain and his cOunry. 1t is be-
lieVed that it is now but a question of
AN exceedingly short time before the
inevn able crisis must come. The Span
iSh ministry will hold a cabinet cOun-
Gil tomorrow after the propOSftiorrs
have been subnE tied to the queen re
gent and as a result of that conference
it is expected by the administration that
a definite answer to its proposals will
he received.
THE propositions submitted by this
country contemplate a complete and
immediate cessation of hOStilitieS In
Cuba, the return Of the rec01cen trados
TO their usual avocations, and the in
dependence of Cuba, this last feature
to Ibe secured probably on an indemnity
basis lby which the island would pay a
subs ar1tial sum for its freedom from
Spanish rule. These propositions take
a wide scope and there are many de-
tails ia the alternative propositions, the
purpose being to present every possible
plan promising a solution of the Cuban
DrOIblem so long as an end of the Gu
ban war and Cuban independence are
embodied in the ultimate result II has
H,een made perfectly clear to Spain
that nothing less than the close of the
war and the independence OF the is
1and will suffice as am adequate settle
ment.
1t Is now for Spain to accept or reject
these tenders. There is no disposition
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