New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-03
THE FRIEND OF BARBARISM.

r., Is bad taste to speak Ill Of the dead, hdel-
,tv 70 historic truth requires that the last words
regarding the foreign policy OF this Administra'
+,on should be spoken before it becomes derunct
IN Thursday The recent disclosures in Consul
General Lees dispatches to Secretary Olney, ana
the exposure of the secret barter with the span
,sb Government by which Sanguily was made to
confess himself guilty and to forfeit oil claims
against Spain for false imprisonment as DIS soie
means of getting life and pardon, finished the
record OF an administration which has Deeh
darker with dishonor than any other, at least TOT
many years Sangully was known to secretary
Olney to be an American citizen, not one OF those
RECENTLY naturalized for the purpose OF gaming
Immunity in Cuba. Not shadow OF evidence
that he was guilty Of any crime was before the
Secretary. and his imprisonment, SO far as inc
Administration had any knowledge, was wan
ton and barbarous outrage against an American
citizen. Yet by direct orders Of the Admnlstra-
t,on he was made 10 confess guilt and forfeit all
claims for redress
Consul Lee is the warm personal friend OF
President Cleveland. The locked doors OF the
State Department will soon open to Major NC
K,nlev the long suppressed reports or consul
lee about the state OF things in Cuba. His dis
matches plainly indicate that there Will be fas-
toned upon the Administration the gravest OF all
crimes against American citizenship, deliberate
refusal 70 protect IL when exposed to intolerable
barbarity. Public policy may have forbidden the
s,on which the Consul advised. But 1t did not
hinder emphatic and urgent demands which were
never made. About Spanish barbarity. the lresh
testimony of the correspondent OF a Madrid paper
III. rnnI Ion n
the prospect Of acceptance of reforms proposed
and having there seen both Weyler and Gomez
in their camps, this correspondent testihes that
Americans are right who call Weyier the
butcher" and that every Spaniard Is disgraced
nv the barbarism constantly practlsed under
Spanish authority.
Now this IA the one Government OF all others on
eartb which President Cleveland has labored
most TO befrend and to please. His duty 10 en-
force the neutrality laws must be fully recog
,ized In doing all that the law requires, he was
,nly performing that duty. Nor can level-headed
Americans find fault with his refusal to recog
,ize Cuban independence or belligerency. Ina'
Is question Of fact, and unless the doors or the
State Department hide matter not known 10 the
country he acted upon facts. But this Admins
,ration has gone much further. 1t has made itself
IN superseryiceabe excess OF zeal, the police OF
ecer of Span has kept armed vessels perpetn'
ally ON the watch where there was no PROOF Du'
only Spanish fears that neutrality laws might DC
,nfringed. has courted Spanish pride and sacri'
feed the rights Of American citizens for the sake
OF the most barbarous power now called civilized
When It is remembered that this same quaiity
u excessive and superservceable zeal In behalf
OF intolerable barbarism characterized the con
duct of this samt Administration regarding
Hawaii. and that twas not content to prevent