New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-21
uESS4GE FROM NAPLES.

Tho Hon William C. Whitney was III Naples
when the Allianca outrage was coiin''.'e"' D''
he responded promptly when asked TOT HIS op'n
ion of an unprovokcd assault upon an Aiiiei''""
,orcboptman The cable dispatch which ne
sent to The Ncw-York Times was as vigorous
4 bit Of writing a. we have seen FOR many "'!S
We have 10 criticism TO pass upon II, Out uesiic
TO express our hearty approval Of It's uhcoinpro-
missing tone: yet cannot refrain from "a
messing surprise that Mr.. Whitney should nave
broken a prolonged silence so unexpectedly
What he has TO say about the wilfu Insult 10
the American flag and people the most wah'oh
outrage offered "to any first-class Power III
fifty years and the general brutality ana
rufranism that holds Cuba Is well said; but
more significant that anything else is the fact
tbot he is taking the trouble 10 make his views
known
Mr. Whitney describes Spanish rule in Cuba
* 81 relic Of the Middle Ages" and declares
that "t makes his blood boil" What does n
,,cssoye of this kind mean? Coming as it
doos all the way from Naples and from a
statesman who has been in retirement since the
recollection Of Mr. Cleveland. ii is evidently more
inportant than the outspoken utteranccs of Sen
otor Moran or Senator Frye in similar VEN.
w
country understand that if he were to be elected
pro.idnnt he would be too good an American
to allow the flag to be- fired upon win I'M
punity. and also that he would favor aggressive
action against Spain in the West Indies. For
two wears there has been Democratic diplomacy
of fine most pIsillanimous kind. with the policy
Of infamy In Hawaii as the browning achieve
mcnt of incompetence and folly. Mr.. whitney
| Lois,
at home. for commenting upon this cxtraordl'
nary record But suddenly. when he is long
way off in the Mediterranean. he answers
cable call and lets the country know thar his
blood hoils over the Alliance affair and the CON
diion Of Cuba.
We NAV he wrong. for Mr. Whitney is deep
| and wary man. whose political designs are III
scrutobln: bur il seems 10 us that he has adopted
! an ingenious method Of intimaiing to the coun-
/ try that he has not been in sympathy with III"
| diplomacy If tn Cleveland ADMINISTRATION lie
! saws Ia be sure. at the close OF the dlSpatch
| that the President is generally safe person
| 70 follow: but that caa hardly be construed
| as an expression Of hearty approval The De
vout Cleveland worshippcr is expected to say
! that the President Is always infallibly rlght'
and that IS very different phrase from gen
/ CrIllY safe person Inc NHol' "H'' VI NV
d,>patch. the fiery energy u the style. the pas
/ siouo,c Indignation over m insult II the nag
| and the immodrratc dcnunciation OF Spanish
mis1lle. indicate a very serious purpose on the
! mart Of Mr. Whitney Between the lines, In our
| Judgment may be- read his desire To let Am"rl-
| cans know that he stands for Il markedly differ
emf order ~ diplomacy from that of the Cleve-
! land Administration. The Naples message may
| he, the first bulletin Of "A Presidential canvass.
For or own part. We have never ceased 10
| regard Mr.. Whitncys refusal 10 enter President
/ Clrvrland'S second Cabinet rs Il National mis-
! fortune II he had been in Secretary Gresham 5
! place there would have been no policy Of shame
! in Hawaii and American diplomacy would have
/ been directed with II firm hand In every quar-
/ ter If the earth His action In sending marines
! 10 the ISthmuS when h" had been In the Navy
! Department only Il few weeks disclosed the true
| instinct Of American feeling. We can well I'M
d,rStInd his patriotic Indignation over the Al
lianca affair: and we have no manner Of doubt
that his blood has been boiling nj every stage
~ Gresham Incompetence until a right stand
Unexpectedly taken in the Spanish negotiations
enabled him To break silence.