The record-union., 1897-02-22
WANTS FULL EXPLANATION.
THE ADMINISTRATION r1UST HAVE
1T REGARDING RUIZ.
How Spanish Officials Cook Up Their
Reports in Similar
Cases.

NEW YORK, Feb. pa dispatch
to the Herald" from Washington
says:
The Administration is determined to
have a full investigation of all the
circumstances surrounding the death
of DR.. Ricardo Ruiz, the American den
tist, who was recently found dead in
a prison at Guanabacoa, Cuba. The
question of reparation, if the facts JUS
tify it, will follow Investigation.
Secretary Olney has sent a cable dis
patch to Minister Taylor in Madrid in
forming him that DR.. Ruiz died under
suspicious circumstances and directing
him to inform the Spanish Government
that the United States desires a full
inquiry into the affair. In the mean
time Consul General Lee Is prosecuting
his inquiry and just as soon as his
reply is at hand, it will be considered
with a view to defining the policy of
the Administration in the matter.
The only word received from Consul
General Lee is contained in two dis
patches, one informing the department
of DR.. Ruiz's arrest and the second
announcing his death in the Guiana
bacoa Jail under suspicious circum-
stances. The last dispatch called for
reply, in which the Consul Genral was
instructed to make a prompt and full
Investigation and the further instruc-
ton to Minister Taylor stated above.
The Ruiz incident has considerably
agitated public men here, and it is ex-
pected that a resolution will be intro
duced in both houses of Congress call
ing upon the State Department for all
facts in the case. The present Admin
istration can hardly do more during
the short time it has than to get the
investigation we'll under way. But
appreciating how sensitive the Amer
lean public is upon questions of out
RACES upon our citizens it will be the
purpose of Secretary Olney to see that
an absolutely fair and impartial report
is made by our representative in Cuba.
While the Ruiz affair might ultimate
ly form the basis for possible rup-
ture between the United States and
Spain, it is not likely to come during
the present Administration. If the new
Administration desires to depart from
diplomatic means for securing better
treatment of Americans, the present
Administration will leave at its dis
posal a fine fleet of warships near Ha-
vana to back up any demand that may
be made.
1t was further denied at the White
House that any request has come from
Consul General Lee for w'arships, or
that there was any intention of sending
warships to Havana.
The report of the Spanish investiga-
ton expected to be set ON foot as a
result of Mr.. Taylor's representation is
anticipated by State Department au-
thorfties 1t will be that Ruiz died from
natural causes and testimony to this
effect will be secured from numerous
witnesses that the authorities in Cuba
are able 70 procure, and which will be
sufficient to offset amy evidence that
may be obtained for the United States.
State Department officials say that
the case of Ruiz is very like that of S.
n. Lopez, an American citizen whom
Consul General Lee reported was vic
tim of Spanish brutality. His report
was laid before the Madrid officials.
In rebuttal the Spanish officers of
fered the report made by their repre-
sentative Consul General Lee could
make only bare statement of the facts
as he found them and could not quote
any person responsible for his infor-
ma tion, because of the fear that his in
fornnant would be subjected to impris-
onment, which in the Ruiz case was
preliminary to death.
On the other hand the Spanish case
is filled with sworn statements of those
who General Lee declares were respon-
sible for the death of Lopez and others
who the Spanish authorities claim have
no interest in the matter. Against this
mass of evidence Consul General Lees
word is naught.
Whatever may be the result of the
investigation in the Ruiz case, there is
pressing demand from Congress for
more complete details in this and other
cases of American prisoners in Cuba.