New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08
THE FRIEND OF BARBARISM.
SOME FACTS FROM THE RECORD OF THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION.

SOME FACTS FROM THE RECORD OF THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir In your terse editorial Of the Sd inst en-
titled "The Friend Of Barbarism.' you arraign the
most salient figure in the late ADMINISTRATION
fortunately now closed forever That arrangement
with its succession OF counts, is brief but hui
initiating compend OF traiiorous history And
this fact has to he recorded of the man elected
by the Of the United States 10 the chdr
once occupied and honored by Washington
Lincoln q Harrison-men whose very names are
anonymous with patriotism of the highest lone
and the most infexible devotion 10 the wehdre Vi
this great. broad, glorious land
This American citizen" whose policy and whose
acts YOUR searchlight falls upon took twice tho
same solemn oath that had been sworn by his
more or less illustrious predecessors. With the
facts before that must be rrevocably stamped
upon the pa gcs contemporary history. II is not
possible dcay that he violated that oath In Vari-
Gus instances To he sure he tried 10 conceal tnese
expoitaiions of his policy" behind the barrier OF
secrecy but men and circumstances became relent-
less and Numbered summons for them TO be
dragged forth to the light. And yet We have not
all the hidden details. il is said Secretary Olney
refused 10 produce" all that were in his posses
sion But enough were forced forward by impera-
tive demand to expose the secret barter with the
Spanish Government" You express it, and that
by direct orders of the Administration the i'm
prisoned American captive was made TO do sort
of recanting. and confess guilt and forfeit all
Claims for redress" when shadow of evidence
of any crime was before the secretary OF StaIe;
and so far as the Adninisr ton had knowledge
This victims detention by his brutal captors, VINO
had been brought up on bulring taciics, was
wanton and barbarous outrage against an Amer
May be excused for stating the animns OF this
procedure in the phrase OF your editoIiai; whlcn
and ienoble truth This Administration has made
itself . The police officer OF Spain has Kept
armed vessels on the watch where there was no
proof but only Spanish fears that neutrality laws
might be violated: has courted spanish pride ana
sacrificed the rights Of American citizens Tor the
sake of the most barbarous Power now caHed
Your trenchant editorial closes by saying:
"Where 1t Ohe ADMINISTRATOR acts by l'seil II
ranted favor the tyrants or Cuba ana hawah.
Now this is flight Of imagina,ion The state
ing facts and the whole black history has TO go
down the centuries in It's nakedness without posi-.
bility of apology exculpation The children ana
the grandchildren of the future VIII nave 10 read
in n in its badness and shame OF one or the men
raised TO the highest Office and honor in the gift or
the American Nation ..,, - . !,
IT'S face upon our land, with the sunshine and the
pageantry and the music of March !; we nave IN
augurated new Administration ana win ~ e, US
hope that a new political era has begun Mr. Me-
Kinley will be a target-but what OF that? lie has
before this faced shot and shell on battle-helds,
and perhaps he will not quaii-it is pretty certain
he will not retreat before whole quvers of arrows
that may come flying at him. Although ne Is only
human let us believe that he will support well the
vast responsibilities that have fallen upon MS
shoulders and show himself a very Atlas beneath
them bearing them up with unpresumptuous conf
dence and unnnching courage, guided by the wis
dom that cometh from above.
No ruler OF any people. no head of any Govern.
ment ever had about him for advisors Gordon OF
FOR their work or more dignifed than those TO
whom have been allotted the Cabinet port foos.
New-York. March 3. 1897. NJ j. H. H.