Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, March IS, 1895.

Gresham concerning the diplomatic
happenings of the past week would
unqEestionably make what the late
Esmighty interesting" reading, but as
neither of the principals in that inter
view are likely to tell what was said
the country will have to wag along
without the knowledge. 1t has leaked
out, however, that Mr.. Cleveland
thinks it would have been just as well
had Secretary Gresham, who is still
far from we'll, not been in such a hur
ry to prepare and send that demand
to the government of Spain, and that
he would have been better engaged in
trying to nurse back his strength.
Allowing that the facts are as they
have been stated by the captain and
other officers of the Alliance, the Ian
guage of Secretary Gresham's de-
mand for an apology from Spain and
for the issuing of such orders to the
commanders of Spanish warships as
will make it certain that no other yes
sci flying the U. S. flag and engaged
in legitimate business will be fired
upon, was all right although unneces-
sarily strong but there was no oc-
casion for such undue haste. Ameri-
cans with all their other faults are
credited by all the world with love
of fair play. 1t is therefore unfortu-
nate that an American Secretary of
TO 70 1oC hnnI1 Of thrn9
a weaker nation upon an eX parte
statement of a case, in the face, too,
of an assurance from the Spanish
minister that he would present
statement of the other side as soon as
the Spanish authorities in Cuba could
communicate with the gunboat which
is charged with having fired at the
Alliance and of the further assur-
ance from the Spanish minister that
his country would apologize if the fir
ing had taken place as charged unless
it could be justified in manner salts
factory to this government. While it
was thoroughly undiplomatic for the
Spanish minister to have publicly
criticised Secretary Gresham's action,
in ignoring his assurances and making
a direct demand, which really is an
ultimatum, upon Spain, it certainly is
not surprising. One does not cease
to be man upon becoming a diplo
mat, whether he be a Spaniard or an
American.
1t is not difficult to put ones finger
~ 5,
hasty action. His action is nothing |
more nor less than an attempt to re-
store to the present administration
the popularity which it has by its in
competence lost, by putting it in the
position of championing the American
flag. He knew there was no danger
in sending buncombe ultimatum to
Spain, which would necessarily sub
NIT to any humiliation to avoid war
with the United States. He acted has
thy because he feared that if he wait
ed a reasonable time the matter would
be explained and the opportunity to
tickle the jingoistic faculty (Which
notwithstanding their love of money
is Appointment national trait) of the
American people, would be forever
lost 1t is rather late for this admin
istration to try to pose as the protec-
tor of anything American, either
abroad or at home, after having turned
over much of our manufacturing to
foreigners and even allowed a syndi-
cate of foreign bankers to raid the Z.
S. Treasury. The people of this coun-
try know what real republican pro-
lection, at home and abroad is and
they cannot be taken in by any such
rank counterfeit as that now put for
ward by Secretary Gresham.
The Commissioner of Pensions has
met another defeat in court, and it is
the belief of lawyers that it furnishes
a precedent for the restoration of
every pension which has been reduc-
ed or stopped since Dec. II, 1898, until
after the pensioner has been serv-
ed with the legal thirty days no
tice containing ''full and true state
ment of any charges or allegations
upon which it was proposed to reduce,
modify or drop his pension"
The case in which the commissioner
was defeated was that of Gen. William
Shakespeare, of Mich, whose pension
was reduced from $72 to $50. The
commissioner acknowledged, in his
answer, that the contention of Gen.
Shakespeare's counsel as to the thirty
day notice was correct, and stated
that the pension had been restored.
The Board of Agriculture, through
it's chairman issues the following 1t
has been brought to the attention of