The sun., 1895-05-10
Progressive Amcricanism in the Ad-
ministration.

The Globe Democrat prints circumstan-
tial account OF the genesis Of the despatch,
which was sent from Washington to Madrid
at the time OF the firing upon the Allanca.
This document rang with the true Amcri-
can spirit. 1t is generally regarded through
out the country as more cretitable and sat
isfactory than any other literary production
of the CLEVELAND Administration. There
has been much speculation as to its author
ship ever since THE Sun inquired, "Who Is
tie American ?"
When the news came that Spanish
cruiser had fired upon the American flag,
the President OF the United States was in
specting lighthouses and redhead ducks in
the interior waters of North Carolina. The
Secretary of State was in bed with the grip
The First Assistant Secretary of State, the
Hon. EDWIN f. CIIL of Michigan, was act
ing as Secretary in Mr.. GREsHAM's absence.
Such was the situation in the department
when this emergency occurred, requiring
prompt decision and action of a sort that in
volved the possibility of the gravest conse-
querces. Who was the American
Now we have something definite on the
subject, If the Washington correspondent of
WV o'""'-DS""tfut INV
According to his story, the Hon. ALVEY A.
ADEE, Second Assistant Secretary OF State,
took the initiative. Mr. ADEE, on his own
responsibility, prepared the despatch de-
manding of Spain an apology for the out
rage. He took the despatch to Mr.. UHL,
who read it and liked it's tone so we'll that
after makinEa few verbal changes he signed
his name to it rs Acting Secretary, and Or
dered that it be sent to Madrid. On second
thoughts, however. he decided to show it
frst to Mr.. GRESHAM. Mr. UHL found the
Secretary in bed at the Arlington Hotel
GRESHAM read ADEEs despatch several
times, made some further verbal changes,
scratched out UHL's name and substituted
his own, and in this form the spirited de-
spatch went to Madrid.
II this version of the affair is true, it Is for
tunate for the honor Of the country and the
prestige OF our diplomacy that the Pres!-
Cent was beyond the reach OF the telegraph
or the telephone. II the whereabouts of the
lighthouse tender had been known in Wash
ington, it might have occurred to Mr..
GRESHAM to carry the process of progress
sive examination one step further, by sub
mitting Mr.. ADEE's despatch to Mr. CLEvE-
that this would have been national mis-
fortune. In the first place, the substance
and phraseology of the document are en-
tirely inconsistent with the foreign policy of
this Administration in every case wherein
the President is known to have had hand
Secondly, after Mr.. CLEvELANDs return to
Washington there was significant change
In the general attitude of the Adminstra-
tion and its organs with respect to this
incident; more than that, there were not
incredible reports of magisterial behavior
on Mr.. CLEvELAND's part toward Mr.. GREslI-
AN concerning what had been done while
the President was off shooting
The probability that Mr.. ADEE was the
author of the splendid notification to Spain
that the American flag still flies. is increased
ny what we know OF that accomplished gen
tleman. Seven years as Secretary of Lega-
tion at Madrid had taught him how to deal
with the Spanish diplomats. Seventeen
yenrs in the department Mt Washington,
during thirteen of which he has served as
Assistant Secretary of State, have taught
him the proper way of doing things. His
long continuous service, his knowledge of
international law and his experience of dip
lomatic methods and the ingrained Amer
icnnism OF his heart and mind. had prepared
him for just such an occasion. When the
AllianCa incident occurred, he was up to the
mark. We do not remember whether Mr.. |
ADEE is Republican or II Democrat.
1t should he remarked, also, that nothing
snid Ia praise Of Mr.. Ar.:E's glory rs the
pioneer American OF the CLEVELAND Ad-
ministrat!on, detracts in any degree from
the credit d,ie tn his immediate official Sill
p"riors. Mr.. CllL krew q good thing when
hc saw it, and promptly made'it his own.
The snmc thing can be said of Mr.. GREsH-
M. Although down with the grip, the Ia
tent patriotism in his heart famed into fire
when he read ADEE's inspiring sentences,
as accepted AID adopted by Mr.. UHL. The
Secretary knew good thing when he saw
1t, ard made it his own; and, Mr. CLEvE-
LID hcing Mt safc distance, Mr.. GRESHAM
put the country on record, to the surprise
and delight of all patriots.
Homer, ;hcn, to ADEE, to UEL, and to
GRESHAM! and everlasting gratitude to the
rcdhead ducks.