The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-10
Gossip at
the Capital
Washington. June

Washington, June ,.
Writing from this city to the Chicago
Times-Herald, a somi-official administIa-
ton organ, the well known Washington
correspondent, Walter Wellman, says:
That President Mckinley IL preparing to
make decisive move toward stopping the
war in Cuba is well known to readers OF
the Times-Herald, though certain New
York papers have only now discovered the
truth, of which they make their usual
sensational display. Three men are to
exert great Influence in determining
what we shall do-.the president himself,
Judge Day and Mr.. Calhoun. There are
the best of reasons fer believing that the
last named will give, If he has not already
given, the president such a description of
the condition of affairs in Cuba as to lead
to the adoption of direct intervention as
the only adequate means of dealing with
the difficulty. Private advices are to the
effect that Judge Calhoun returns from
his journey convinced that Cuba should be
free from the Spanish yoke, and that it
Is the duty of the United States to inter-
fere, even at the expense of war. At the
same time there are equally strong rea-
sons for belief that Judge Day has for
some time been of a similar opinion, save
that he believes the results desired may
be attained by diplomacy and without
the firing of gun.
Judge Day has been at work upon the
Cuban case ever since he became assist
ant secretary of state. He has had briefs
made of all our diplomatic correspondence
concerning Spain and Cuba, going back
many years. The historic policy of this
government as to Cuba, the vigorous dis
patches of Secretary Fish, prepared un-
der the administration of General Grant
during the former war, have all been
f,,1I. III Ii, 4.
all the correspondence between this gov
ernment and Madrid since the outbreak
of the present war; and all the reports
of our consuls as to injury to the prop
erty and persons of American citizens
and the general deplorable conditions in
Cuba. In other words, Judge Day has
taken UP the case of Cuba precisely as
he has been in the habit of taking up a
case at law. He has sought the precc-
dents, the principles, the evidence. He IS
preparing to write, under the direction
of the president a note to the Spanish
government which viii make history.
Fortunately for the cause of the Cubans,
perhaps, the queen regent of Spain has
decided to keep the Canovas ministry in
power This decision, coming as it does
upon the eve of the preparation of Wig
orouS Cuban movement on the part of
this government, Is fatuous. 1t is tempt
ing fate. Though 1t is well understood
here, and admitted by Minister de LONE
that General Weyler is to be recalled by
Canovas as a concession to the Liberals
and to public opinion in the United States,
the queen regent has missed a fine oppor-
tunity to avert the threatened interfer-
ence of the United States. If she had
called Sagasta to power, dismissed Wey-
Ter, sent Canovas in his place. revoked
the order requiring concentration of pa
ia l.
rule, she could have placed great diffi-
cu.ties in President McKinley's way. This
is what the insurgent leaders were afraid
She would do By retaining the govern
ment which is responsible for every
thing that now is in Cuba, Spain leaves
the United States free to act upon the
conditions as they are found. not upon
promises of better things in the future.
The decks are clearing for action, and
once the president has made a move he
will press on to the end Within thirty
or forty days Spain will hear from the
United States, and the ti1ings will not be
welcome The precise form of the pTesi-
dents note to Spain remains to be de-
termired, but this note will be framed on
vigorous lines. Whether 1t be CALLED
mediation or intervention will not mucn
matter The purpose that lies behind it
will be the end of Spanish rule in Cuba
upon terms honorable and satisfactory
to Spain, If Spain will treat the matter in
a rational way, but certainly upon some
terms. The first note may not go so far as
what is called Intervention in diplomatic
parlance, but mediation whi ch points
out the imperative need of a change of
conditions, a friendly bit of advice with
a stinger at the end of IT, is Intervention,
the announcement of purpose no matter
what it may be called.
This is the line the president is work.
ing upon. He wishes to give Spain every
proper opportunity to accept peaceful
terms. He will not throw any needless
obstacles in her way. He will not use
lessly prick her pride. Within a month
or six weeks Judge Day will have COM
peted his preparation of the case, under
the presidents direction. This note will
be his first important contribution to the
diplomatic history of his country, in which
he is destined to play so large a part dur
ing the next four years. Without doubt
it will be a state paper which will estab-
| lish his reputation, not only in this coun-
try but throughout the world. What the
Monroe doctrine dispatch did for the
fame of Richard Olney the Cuban dis
patch is likely to do for the fame of Judge
Day.
OF course there will be delay. Spanish
| diplonatists always play for time. With
in six weeks the president will have a new
American minister at Madrid, carry ing
with him full instructions as to what he
is to do. Frank Aldrich, who was the
presidents own choice for consul gen.
eral at Havana, without a suggestion
from anyone, will be at his post. But the
Madrid government will take its. own
sweet time to reply. Delay win be sought
on one pretext or another, and I'm this
art the statesmen of Madrid are adopts.
Several months may pass before Spain
answers our note, and the crisis may thus
| be deferred till autumn. Tho Spanish
may then attempt to save themselves by
| another grand military onslaught upon
the insurgents, or they may have by
that time cooked up new schemes OF "re-
| form" or "home rule" with which to avert
the imminent loss OF their colony. But
the news of today is that President Nc
| Kinley, supported by the people OF the
United States. is going ahead toward the
| freedom OF Cuba.
One other phase of our relations with
| Spain will demand the presidents alton
| ton almost Immediately. This is the Ruiz