New-York tribune., 1896-11-19
THE TROUBLES WITH SPAIN.
A GENIUS FROM NEw-YoRK wREsTLEs
WITH THE SUBJECT.
HE SEES SECRETARY oLNEY AND IMMEDIATELY
PROCEEDS TO CONTRADICT SENSATIONAL
REPORTS" WHICH NOBODY EVER clH-
cur.ArEp- PREPARATIONS FOR AN
EMERGENCY STILL CONTINUE
GENERAL MTLEss WORDS
OF WARNING


rsy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrDuNr1
Washington Nov. is-There Is in Washington
ono particularly busy little man-busy. because ne
,s inst now engaged I'D to his capacious ears in
attending 70 other peoples affars-who has Just
returned from Nev-York. where he has been hav-
ing interviews with "the urchins who scanper
around the corners. the gripmen on the streetcars'
the ticket-takers the elevated railway stations
the servant zirls on the basement steps and the
mechanics that are employed in erecting new
buildings" These have told him all about the
Horse Show and It's gores. apparently, and what
he did not himself they. no doubt, pictured 10
him in such gaudy colors as 10 set his thrifty i'm
agination ahame. He beheld women. famous and
notorious" he watched the tough hero OF the
Rovery'' gazing NJ 1.-THE beautiful women OF Fifth
ave-. he mingled with saints ard sinners" and
shook hands with Fatty Bates he exchanged
condolences with "a pretty woman with sign IN
her voice" and very near approaching
Cissy Fitzgerald. but was slared at by "a dragon
OF a duenna" He did everything. In fact. which
a real devilish little would do when his
mamma gives him 'he latch-key for the first time;
from, discussing "a young damsel" who did not
wear two bodces." but appeared 10 DO so. 10
examining critically the costumes OF several women
who ".eemed 20 be wearing purple throughout
includng-oh wicked little man.-stockings.
A genius thus saturated" as he himself con-
fesses 10 have been all last week. with the upper
tendon, 'of New-York and supremely happy among
tho Stunning toilets" which he describes with
such consumma;e art carnot be expected 70 Know
much OF what is going on In the vulgar outer word
in the mean time. He was much surprised, tnere-
fore upon returning Washington 70 hear that
the Administration was diligently preparing Itself
,o- foreign conplicatons by strengthening the
naval and military defences OF the country and
doing generally those things which no prudent
government omits doing in times OF threatened or
anticipated danger He FASTENED TO the STATE De-
partment and demanded TO know how the Govern
mon, dared 10 do these things while he was absent
xr,,,,p about rapid and sensational young ac-
,r.ss'' and other subjects Of National importance.
7. "a not known whether Secretary Oney apolo-
r,zed or not but those who know him oest declare
that he took the genius into his commence at once
and explained TO him In detail all about the CUBAN
,roubes and the difficulties with Spain Mr. olney
has a habit II Is well known. OF taking into MS
,orsde,c. ANYBODY that comes along. and Tor
.,f,,sas who have successful interviews with
urchins gripmen ticket-choppers ana serVan'-eFS
h bo has a weakness that Is positively ap-
Mailing He told the genius. therefore, tnat IL was
all "hosh' and rot and nonsense how couiu
ANYBODY believe these sensational reports preuic,-
INC immediate hostilties?" How Indeed. when
ohod, e,.ar nredicted such dire calamity
-b. Imagination OF Mr.. Oneys "conrdant,
a-,van ~ fever heat by whole weeks contem-
nla,on OF Horse Show frivolltes. now discovers IN
what he is pleased TO call bogus war news 4
deer-laid plot on the part or oificers or the ARMY
d Navy to bring about ar international difficulty
which shall secure to them much coveted promo
tion and increase in pay. The various me'hoos'
",arous and notorious" of chasing the fugacious
dollar form, n subject on which the "conndant Is
No do,,b, an authority: but he Is mistaken IN as
crih,ng 10 officers and gentlemen a motive so Dase
and unpatrtotic as that Of plunging their country
Into war for the simple sake Of rank and lucre. IL
"a a mistake into which one who has gazed Tor
uh hole week human kdleUioSCopc 10 aPN l"
The host possible evidence to be found or the ex-
istenre of a feeling OF apprehension on the part OF
the Government the present time ASIDE from tile
fact that fleet OF unprecedented size Is Deins Aep.
r. CON, ,ission in the Atlantic az this time or year.
ia m he found In the closing paragraphs OF General
Niles's report published yesterday Says that oi-
cIai It IL hoped that more liberal appropria-
tons will be made In order that we may sooner De
rsndv FOR an emergency that may arise at any
Furopean politics. II Is only common prudence lot
hts Nation to be It's guard. for should conhct
arise we are liable TO be embroled with Some
Power whose navy. In the present defenceless con-
dition of our coasts. might destroy or exact enor-
nous ransoms from chief cities.
"A war II IL come at all. Will come with no warn
ing and no time for preparation CHINA, with IN
dafended ports and an inadequate navy. was ce-
feated in few months In the last war e e.wssm
the great military Powers of Germany and France
the surrender at Sedan occurred only forty Gays
after the declaration OF war. The wars OF nations
occur In cycles OF varying length out seidon uoes
n generation pass without n great CONNECT Areaoy
more than thirty have elapsed since our ias
guide to the future. terminate one OF the longest
intervals OF peace have ever enjoyed -
II Is n pity that, unlike Mr. Olney, General Miles
did not take the genius into his confidence.