Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-02
~ ApyrRr1snnHNrs should b handed
in by II o'clock, NJ, otherwise they may
not appear until the next day.
SPIRIT OF THK MORNING PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.
The IntsIligsnesr, this morning, gracefully
Acknowledges that the Union has the best of
1t in their controversy over the affair of tho
arrest of COnsular-Agent Thompson at ssgus
Ia Grande, though still taking occasion to
sheer at the official journal. By way of 60
counting for its I've take it for granted pro-
tsnded) ignorance as to the locality Of sagua
10 Grsnde, the editor says:
"In regard to the geographical fact Of the
existence of port called 'Ssgua Ia Grande,
the Union Is statistical and leaned. The
official pap.r is very positive that such place
exists in the Island Of Cuba, and gives an ex-
hibit Of the amount of sugar and ooffee OK
ported and the number Of vessels trading to Il
Ssgua Ia Grsnde must, therefore, have q real
ity Is vol as a name, and We are the moro
ready to yield to the Unpen's authority in
the matter for the reason that, while no such
place Is TO be found in the latest edition of
Dsrby's Gazetteer, or In Colcot's large Geo
graphical Dictionary and Gazetteer, Issued by
Putnam the year before last, the fllibustering
friends OF the Union are no doubt perfectly
well acquainted with every obscure harbor
where an expedition can land, and have
probably posted up the Government paper on
the subject In order that it may clearly com.
prehend the bulletins Of the next CELEBRATING
army"
The Intsiligeneer further says that Mr.
Thompson was liberated promptly on arriving
at Havana in custody. The editor, hsweyer,
refrains from telling the whole story of his
liberation, which is as follows, viz: On being
taken to Havana, he was instantly liberated,
with an apology, and an sffer Of pecuniary
repsrstion. Now these facts embrace q com
plete answer to our neighbours plea of Satur.
day in favor Of the justice and legal right OF
Concha to treat him as he did. With due
difference to the Intelligsneer, We have to
say that these facts place its act of making
haste to volunteer excuses for the acts of the
Spanish authorities in Cuba in any other than
an enviable light
The Union replies at length to the Intsli
cancers article of Saturday, explained above,
saying IN the course Of its remarks:
ain respect TO the consular agency at Sagua
Ia 6rande, We learn that as soon as the State
Department as,ertained from tie United States
Consul at Trinidad that the agency at Sagua,
which is a dependency at Trinidad, was held
by an allen, the Consul was informed tina
the continuance in Office of the agent could % Of
be sanctioned, and he was directed to close the
agency until he had an opportunity of ap-
pointing suitable person who was an Amer
can citizen.
"When these instructions were received bv
the Consul, he nominated for confirmation II,
April, 1894, Mr.. thompson, an American citi-
zen, whose appointment was Immediately con-
nrmed by the Department of State and who
has continued to discharge the duties af the
consular ofhce down to the moment of his AZ.
rest by the Cuban authorities We have al
ready stated, upon reliable authority, that
when Mr.. Thompson took the Office he found
the American arms tAere in the position thew
occupied under his predecessor, and that they
so renained without objection until his arrest
for refusing to tear them down
The lntelligercef asks, Has he any exe-
quatuf or other commission from our Govern
ment to fill an Office which is not to be found
In the oficisl list p
we rather think he has no ezequatur' al
any rate, In aemuch as neither our Govern
ment, nor any o.her with which We have ac.
quaintance, ever issues such document to ac
credit its OtcH officers An exeaustur, W,
would inform our venerable neighbor is 9
written ree0gnIttOn Of person in the eharsc
yer OF Consul or Commercial Agent, issued by
the Government, and suthori.ing him to exer
cise MS powers In tne country and, although
always given to the Consul of a foreign Gov
eminent accredited to this before he can ae
az sucn, Is never given by our Government Il
any other to afford power or eredenoe To IL
own consular agents abroad"
"As to Mr. Thompson personally, he ia rem
resented on all hands az an intelligent, high
toned, conservative American. We bav. b,
lore US private letter from a member of on,
OF me largest and most respectable mersau
tne houses IN New York, who is of the sam
Ponucai amalties as the ediAsrs the IntslLt
geneer, from which We make the following an
tract: VA
Vice Consul Thompson is sterling. thor
ougn going, heightened American, but not in
any sense one TO make trouble needIessIv for
our government, or 70 get into difficulty with
tns Island authorities for the sake of maxim o
ninseN conspicuous. He has lived LONG In
the island, understands its Institutions and
people we'll, Is always perfectly prudent in his
conformity to their laws; and no Amer;can
VINO knows him will doubt that any step be b "a
taEen vii! prove, on investigation, to be not
only Justlnable, but dignifed and proper.
pom ior himself and his dag I know there
are people Who would embrace any chance TO
lnsmseives martyrs ora paper, particu-
larry with reference to that island at the pre.
sent time. AIR. Thompson is not such a one.
den prudent, consistent, honorable Ameri
can gentleman in its brosdest sense"
We had intended to have noticed the arti.
ole In question at length to which the Union
thus replies. Its answer, however, il 30 com.
Piete as to make any further effort to the same
end useless.