Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-18
GRESHAM'S DISPATCH
His Friends Think It Has Served a
Valuable Purpose.
A WARNING TO SPANISH COMMANDERS
The Exigency Of the Case Admitted
of No Deay.
HIS ACTION WILL BE JUSTIFIED

Those public men who indorse Secretary
Gresham's course in the Alliance matter,
ana the number seems to be growing, are
very confident that no state of the case
can arise calculated to detract from the
real effectiveness of his first dispatch. The
> real object of that. as they contend, has
already been accomplished, and whether
the reply of Spain is prompt or not makes
little difference in considering the question
upon it's merits.
MIR. Greshnm's Point.
According to this view of the case, the
point of greatest consequence which Judge
Gresham had to consider was the bearing
of the episode upon the general question
OF the safety of American shipping in or
near Cuban waters. The Aliianca herself
was safe. She had easily out-footed the
. Spanish gunboat, and was riding at anchor
in New York harbor. Spain not for
moment to be expected to justify the out
rage. The act of the gunboat was
ported, in such fragrant violation Of all
law and comfy that 1t would only be neces-
sary to call Spain's attention to 1t to have
her make the proper amende But this
should be done at once and in the firmest
tones. To hold the matter up pending an
official investigation. With its slow pro-
cesses and trying delays, would be to leave
American shipping in Cuban latitudes very
greatly exposed. 1t might not be that
every vessel flying the American flag in
that quarter could show her heels to
Spanish gunbCat
If all such vessels were under suspicion,
and the affair of the Allianca has to be
taken as an example of what Spanish COM
manders patrolling the Cuban coast con-
ceived to be within their rights then the
necessity of a prompt statement of the
American case was not only important, but
imperative. And so the dispatch was writ
= ten. The proper warning was served. 1t
would not matter so much about the full
details of the episode answering as the
text The Spanish commander and Capt.
Crossman might differ as to the position of
the Alliance, and even as to the conduct of
the Allianca in the premises, but that
would be of small consequence in compari-
son with notifying Spain precisely what
the United States was expecting and would
demand for her shipping while passing
within sight of Cuba.
Eject ON the Spa nnish Comma nnders.
The Spanish commanders in Cuban wa
ters received this information as promptly
as the government at Madrid did. 1t did
not come to them officially, of course. but
1t must have had it's effect on them. The
dispatch, which appeared authoritatively
in print, needed no Interpretation. They
could see what this government would do
in given circumstances, and it was for
them from that moment to study well the
nature of the instructions they had receiv-
ed from home on the subject, so as to be
fully justified in their future course. That
they will proceed with more caution from
now on is firmly believed in State Depart
ment circles. There is no belief that Spain.
however much provoked secretly because
of certain sympathy felt in this country
with the Cuban revolutionists, desires to
offend the United States A scrap on sea
or land is not within the scope of her pres
ent calculations. She Is expected to make
this plain in her Instructions to her COM
manders in Cuban waters; but whether she
3does formally or not they are expected to
be governed by the clear purpose of this
ont mi fn
at sea not entirely consistent with national
dignity and within the plain letter of the
law.
1t Is conceded that a full reply to the
dispatch as 1t relates to the Alianca
proper cannot be made by Spain prior to
the receipt by her of some official infor-
nation on the subject. In the absence of
this she has nothing to go upon. She has
so far received only assertion, a conf
plaint, and a demand from this govern
ment. She could only reply at this time,
r therefore, that if the affair occurred as
reported she stands ready to give the
proper assurances of regret She doesn't
mander, even the name of his ship. and
both must be Sscertained. 1t may be de-
cided to make that sailor, with the very
guns he trained on the Alliance, salute the
flag he is charged with having SO in
excusably insulted.
What Greshnm's Friends Say.
A very interesting discussion has grown
out of this incident. which brings the
friends of Judge Gresham to the front.
They have long chafed under the criticism
sssociating his name with certain un-
American ventures of the administration.
The Hawaiian matter, in particular. has
always ranked in their bosoms. They
have never believed that his part in that
business was more than to assist his
chief in a policy which the chief
-himself had already conceived and de-
termined upon. The story representing Mr..
Cleveland as having come to Washington
in March, 1893, with plan for the restora-
tion of the monarchy complete has always
found acceptance with them. And now, as
they claim, 1t will no longer be possible
to attack Judge Gresham with the former
virulenCe This Allianca episode should,
they contend, serve fully to show both his
mettle and his Americanism. The action
taken was his own. The President was
not within reach. The case was pressing
1t called for both sand and sense and he
has met the emergency in way that
delights the men who have been standing
by him through thick and thin. They
scout the suggestion that the President
may not back his premier up in the mat
ter. They do not believe that the Presi-
dent, even II he desired to do so. could
weaken the force of Judge Gresham's con-
tention. or the popularity the dispatch has
brought to It's author. The great power
of the communication, as they appraise it,
Is in the thorough way in which this gov
ernment is committed by 1t. The matters
In interest were the dignity of the flag and
the safety of American shipping, and a
dispatch clearly standing up for them
Cannot be made subject of revision. The
official who would understate such case
would err far more grievously than the
one who would overstate 1t.
A Valuable Purpose Served.
All the possibilities have been canvassed.
For an instance, SO extreme ar inquiry has
-been propounded as that asking what
would be the result if an absolute denial
Of the Allanca matter should be entered by
the Spanish authorities. Even this is an
swered The dispatch, it is contended,
would still have served a valuable purpose.
The episode was reported to this govern
ment, and it presented question of the
highest importance to American shipping
interests The government could not af-
ford to put such a thing by. 1t had no
means OF knowing how long the revolt in
Cuba might be expected to last. American
shipping could not be left in any peril. Its
rights on the open sea must be defined,
and as this was a paramount duty 1t was
10 be executed with promptneSS and eX-