The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-05-20

The Secretary of State at Washington
having received Information that the Span
ish Consul at Key West was threatened
with violence, sent the following dispatch
to the Governor:
"WAsHINGToN, ID. c., May Ii, 1884,
Ills Eresllency William d. BIorhdm, Governor:
Official intelligence received here, that Cubans at
hey West openly threaten Spanish Consul with mob
violence. Such occurrence must be prevented at all
hazards. Like outbreak at Key West and New Or
leans in 1851 subjected Federal Government to pay
spain over $oo,OOO indemnity, thus establishing ma
tional responsibility for protecting Foreign Consuls
In execution Of such national responsibility naval
and forces in Florida ordered to if necessary
@FSED. +. FRrL1SeHursEN."
The Governor Immediately repeated this
telegram to Lieut. Governor Bethel at
Key West, and added:
" In view of the above dispatch respectfully re-
quest that you use your we'll known influence with
the Cubans to preserve peace and to urge the civil
authorities to preserve peace at all hazards.
(SignedD w. d. BLOxHAN, Governor"
The Governor also telegraphed Mr.. Geo.
\. Demerritt, the Sheriff of Monroe
county, the following:
MAY IT, 1854
- Gro. 4. DemerrIt Sheriff, hey West, Fla:
See my dispatch to Governor Bethel Of this date.
shall expect You to preserve the peace at all haz
ards Report to me at once the situation.
w. ID. BLoxHAM, Governor.
On the 18th the following was received
from Washington
WASHINGTON, D, c., May II, 1884.
Z" HIS ErcelLency, Governor ROxhdn:
"Ifto preserve order at Key West and to protect
tin SyNo. n mill tarxy
upon Informing the President your desire will be
FREDERICK T. FREL1NGHUYsEN."
In reply the following was sent:
"MAY H. 1884.
" Hon. Fred T. Frelinghmysen, Department Of State,
Washington, d. e.:
Your telegram of yesterday received last
night and Immediately repeated to the Lieutenant
Governor, who resides in Key West. The civil au
thorites have been instructed to maintain peace at
all hazards and keep me posted as to the situation;
If receive information that troops are needed will
act upon your telegram Of the 18th at once.
NV. D. BLoxHAM"
And the Sheriff at Key West was tele-
graphed as follows:
MAY II, 1884"
" Mr. Geo. Dsnerritt, Sheriff, Hey West:
The President has rendered troops if you neet
them. Telegraph me the situation at once.
w. d. BLoxHAM."
The Sheriff at Kew West Immediately
replied as follows, in answer to the Gov
ernor's telegrams
key WEST, FLA, May II, 1884.
. His EIcCll0uy ". d. Borhdm:
No riot in the city or county; nothing ever
pointing to one. City and county as quiet as an,
in the State. Information received by Secretar
Frrlinghuysen rs to mob violence untrue. Every
thing will be done by me to protect the peace ant
order of city and county.
tSignedl "GEo. A. DEMERRITT"
KEY WEST, May II, 1884
| Ills Ercellrncy ". d. Borhdm:
| No troops needed No excitement whatever q
| any kind. Cuban American citizens have mas
meeting to night to denounce the report of mob vic
! lence on Spanish Consul
"(Sgned) GRO. A. DEMERITT, Sheriff"
This last was Immediately repeated t.
Secretary Frelinghuysen. And the Gov
ernor wrote to the Secretary, setting fortl
the improperly of having such man a
the Consul to represent Spain at Ike,
| West. The Governors information W
based upon charges and petitions from
the citizens Of Key West made man
months ago, and now on file with tn
| ''PNiliSH I-cSdIloIl ~ w dSuil1IOH. IL
also requested the Secretary of State t.
ask our government to secure his re
moval
! The following dispatch was also sent t
the Sheriff of Monroe county:
May II, 1884.
" NJ GEO. 4. Dt".erW Sheriff, Hey Vest:
\ccept my thanks for your prompt answers.
| believe that the State Department msled br
deemed il my duty to lay all the Information befor
the civil authorities of Monroe county
wv. D. BLoxHAM."
We may remark that the Spanish Cor
sui at Key West seems determined Away
to have unpleasant relations with our Gu
ban citizens. 1t would really appear tha
the SpanshGov keeps him on dut
because his presence is an annoyance t
the Cubans who have escaped its sway t
seek the shelter of the American flag.