The record-union., 1896-03-26
sENoR DIE HOMES ERRoR.

When Senior De LONE rushed into
print through the American newspapers
to correct statements made by United
States Senators in debate of the Cuban
matter, did he violate the proprieties?
Senator Lodge took him sharply to task,
and alleged on the floor of the Senate
that this trained diplomat had over
stepped the bounds, and was guilty of
undiplomatic conduct, since the repre-
sentative of a foreign court has no right
to take any part, even Indirectly, in a
debate proceeding in Congress. even
though it concerns the nation he repre-
sents.
We think that Senator Lodge is right.
De Lome's interview" did not amount
to much it is true, but it was putting
in" where he should have remained ST.
lent. Even assume that the Senators
were wrong, had made misstatements,
and had labored under misapprehen-
sions, the Spanish Minister has no right
in diplomatic ethics to intervene in
such cases except by addressing him.
self to his country through it's State De-
partment
The Chicago "Inter-O Ocean" however,
thinks that it was a happy event that
the Minister entered the interview col
umn, because it is a confession by the
aristocratic representative of a mon
archy that it is worth while to address
democratic masses. The weakness of
that position is in its application. If
the Ministry of Spain addresses the
Spanish masses it may do good, but
the American masses are not likely to
receive the representations of Minis
ter from country with which our re-
lations are strained, but will be more
likely to look upon such expression as
impertinent.
Certainly such action as Senior De
LONE took was not calculated to make
the Senate feel kindly towards him and
his country. The Senator will stand an
appeal ito his constituency, though
against him, when made by one of his
own people. but he is certain to resent
the attempt of a foreigner to get be-
tween him and his constituents.
A New York paper points out that
Marquis Yurjo went post haste back
to Spain from his Ministerial quarters
in Washington in 1906 on the demand Of
Mr.. Madison, then Secretary of State,
because, as Wharton puts 1t, "of an
attempt on his part to bribe news
paper in Philadelphia to advocate the
Spanish view of the boundary question
then in controversy between Spain and
the United States. If we substitute 'ad-
vocating in newspaper for attempt
ing to bribe a newspaper to advocate,
and 'belligerency question for bound
ary question: the cases are, as the law
yers say, on all fours. That which has
made Yurjo's name stencil in our di-
plomacy is the fact that after dismiss
sal he hung around Washington while
the question was before Congress, and
published two insolent replies to Mr..
Madison's notifications to him to leave.
Congress was on the point of passing a
law providing for the deportation of a
foreign Minister under these peculiar
circumstances, which only the most
execrable taste on his part could Gre
ate."
That was, however, very properly
dropped. With this instance before him
it is surprising that Senior De LONE
should have committed similar though
less fragrant offense. This distinguished
diplomat must by this time have dis
covered that his action was error, how
ever commendable his motive, and we
are far from charging that to have
been improper. He has discovered that
the American press is hostile to any in
reference by foreign Ministers in any
debate on American affairs, even
though the discussion is intimately reA
lated to the country of the Minister.
The American people are more than
ever convinced, despite Senor De
Lome's reply and the denial that Wey-
Ter is a cruel, indeed an inhuman com
mander, that the Spanish are treating
the Cubans as savages treat their foes,
and not as a civilized people engage in
war.