The record-union., 1897-11-16
GENERAL SICKLES' SHARP RE-
JOINDER.

General Daniel E. Sickles, who had a
long and interesting official experience
in Spain from 1869 to 1874, upholds ex-
Minister Hannis Taylor in his caustic
criticism of the Spanish Government
and the instability of the Spanish Cab
met
General Sickles was American Minis
ter to Spain for the period mentioned,
ties for studying the Spanish system. He
declares that Mr.. Taylor is justified in
his reflections upon Spanish methods,
and that there is no improperly in ex-
pressing himself freely to his country
men, now that he is no longer under the
restraint the POSITION of Minister i'm
poses.
Recently in reply to some expression
b. General Sickles Senior CASTELAR,, who
was President of the Spanish Republic
for portion of the time in which Gen
eral Sickles resided in Madrid, took the
American General to task, on the ground
that no Spanish Cabinet Minister ever
debated the Cuban question with the
representative of the United States in
Madrid.
General Sickles now responds with the
statement that the official archives in
Madrid and the published Red Books
Will show that CASTELAR, is in gross error.
AS a matter Of fact, says General Sick
les:
Not a week passed in my five years
residence in Madrid, in which / did not
have occasion to discuss with the Span
ish Minister of State questions growing
out of the previous Cuban insurrection.
These questions embraced the abolition
of slavery, notifications in the admin
istration of the island, revocation Of the
decree Of Ferdinand VII, giving the
Captain General power to govern the
island under martial law: the cruel
conduct of the war the shooting Of pris-
oners, the slaughter of n-combatants,
the killing of the sick and wounded in
hospitals, the arbitrary confiscation of
property, etc. In other words, no Span
dsh Cabinet-and there were many-in
office during that time objected to COM
municating with me most fairly upon
the internal condition of Cuba and the
best means to terminate the war and
promote tranquility in the island No
Spanish Minister ever refused to hear
me on these subjects, or TO receive writ
ten communications from me relating
to them. The files Of the State Depart
trent contain hundreds of these letters
pro and con-enough to fill volumes.
Senior Castelar's government of the
republic and the Cabinets holding office
under him and his republican predecess-
ors, are no exception to what am say
ing. I discussed the situation in Cuba
with each of these Presidents, including
Senior Castelar,. freely and fully, both
orally and in writing, as the record
shows, and yet Senior CASTELAR, ignores
all this and would have it believed here
and In Spain that no Spanish Minister
has ever tolerated the slightest inter-
ference on the part of a Minister of the
United States in Madrid with the ad-
ministratfon Of Cuban affairs.
This is about as fiat contradiction as
could possibly be made within the limits
of politeness. Indeed. General Sickles
is tempted to step over the bounds, for
he adds that he cannot reconcile Caste
lars present statements with his respect
for the high character Of the Spanish
statesman and scholar. his intelligence
and his accessibility TO the official rec
ords at Madrid.
The General then takes UP CASTELAR,
and proceeds to fay him, metaphorically
speaking He shows that he was Pres
ident of Spain during the former insur-
rection in Cuba and, according to his
own statement, was practically an alb
sclute monarch. yet In all that time
CASTELAR, did nothing TO pacify the re-
bellious island. He did not make Cuba
a state of Spain: he did not grant au-
tcnomy: nor aid he reform the admin
istration. nor abolish slavery; he did
not punish the butcher Burriel. who,
without warrant of law, shot the Cap
tain and many of the crew and passen-
gers of the Virginius. On the contrary,
while promising to punish he inhuman
commander. he actually promoted and
rewarded him.
And then General Sickles proceeds to