Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-03-21
FROM W ASHINGTON.
Secretary Gresham's Demand for an
Explanation from Spain.
From our regular correspondent

y '
conversation with Secretary Gresham
concerning the diplomatic happenings of
the past week, would unquestionably
make what the late Horace Greeley would
have called mighty interesting" reading,
but as neither OF the principals in that
interview 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
well, not been in such a hurry to prepare
and send hat 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 OF her
officers of the Alliance. the language
of Secretary Gresham's demand 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 vessel flying the United
States flag and engaged i'll legitimate
business will he fired upon was all right
although unnecessarily strong; but there
WAS no occasion for such undue haste
Americans, with all their other faults,
are credited by all the world with a love
/ of fair play. II is therefore unfortunate
/ that an American secr~ary of state has
been guilty of threatening weaker
nation upon an er parte statement of
case, in the face, too. of an assurance
from the Spanish minister that he would
present a statement of the other side as
soon as the Spanish authorities in Cuba
eould communicate with the gunboat
which is charged with having fired at the
"Allisnca. and of the further assurance
from the Spanish minister that his
country would apologize if the firing had
taken place as charged, unless it could
be justified in manner satisfactory to
this government.
While it was thoroughly undiplomatic
for the Spanish minister to have publicly
criticised Secretary Greshsm,s action in
ignoring his assurances and making A
direct demand. which really is an ultima
INN unou Snsin it-certsinlv is not sur-
nrisiog One does not cease to be a man
upop becoming a diplomat. whether ne
he Snanisrd or an American
II not ditfcult ia nut ONES finoer on
the reason for Secretary Gresham's ha.ty
action. Nor il that reason credifahle to
him from any point of view HI. act ION i
/ nothing more nor les. than an attemp. To
restore to n. nre.ant- administration the
popularity which il has ty il. incon-
pt.f,nce lost. Gy -puttinv il in tht.- l,ositiou
of cbamnionino the American tlag He
knew there wa. no dancer in ,endfngr y
buncombe ultimarn.u T., Susin. which
would ne. .,arlIy rl,,rI,it Ia amy hl,nilia-
ton to avoid war witbthe United State.
He acted hastily because he feared that if
he waited reasonable time the matter
,e.4t.la =l,. ,stlained and the. ,ppor1unitv
-fa tiekta. the ifn,tai.5 ic fapultv " hirt,
notwithstanding b.ir in,-. of money j. q
prominent national trait q. the Ameri-
can I,eoule. womb h. forever lost.
II i. rat her tate for I his administration
to try TO pose a, the protector Of any
thing American. either abroad or at
home. after having turned over much of
our manufacturing to FOREIGNERS and