Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-10

wanted the correspondence between the
department and Consul General Lee.
President Cleveland replied that it would
not be compatible with public interest to
communicate the correspondence pending
the investigation about to be Instituted
So this Interesting chapter of diplomacy IS
vet unpublished.
President Cleveland gave a brief outline
of the case, which, he said, showed the
necessity of a thorough investiga ton. Ihe
conclusions of the official representatives
CT the two governments were radically con-
flicting
The Spanish Minister'S Declaration.
Mr. Depuy De Lone, the Spanish minis
ter at Washington, declared his govern
ment welcomed an investigation. The
charges made, he said, affected the ma
tional honor and good name of the Span
ish functionaries, and took the shape OF an
attack upon the nations humanitarian SEN
timents. W hich 1t was due to them to vim
dictate. He also stated that his govern
ment had ordered a judicial process, in
which all the circumstances should be
"scrupulously and actively ascertained."
President McKinley's Decision.
This was the situation when President
Mckinley came into office. He decided to
take the Spanish government at Its word
ard to make sure that the investigation
should be a thorough one. For this pur-
pose he selected Judge William r. Day Of
Canton to go TO Havana. Technically and
in the forms of diplomacy it was stated
that Judge Day would assist the consul
general of the United States. In observ-
ance of the usual diplomatic forms, the
consent of the Spanish government had to
be obtained. and the nature OF the special
representatives. instructions submitted to
it. While this was going on, the President
made up his mind that he wanted Judge
Day to remain in Washington and become
assistant secretary of state. This caused
further delay.
Mr.. CnlhOun's Selection.
After the change in plans that kept
Judge Day in Washington. the President
selected Mr.. William ]. Calhoun. a leading
lawyer of Illinois, for the mission. Mr.. Cal
houn and President Mckinley were boyhood
friends.
Mr. Calhoun has the Presidents confidence
in high degree. His selection following
that of Judge Day is an evidence of the i'm
portance which the administration attaches
to the case. Mr.. Calhoun arranged his pri-
vate affairs and spent several days In
Washington in conference with the Presi-
dent, Assistant Secretary Day and State
Department officials before starting on his
journey. While his instructions are not
made public, 1t is known that they are
comprehensive. He will remain in Havana
long enough to make an exhaustive in
quiry, SO that the results of his investtga-
ton may be accepted as conclusive.
1t is now nearly three months since the
death of DR. Ruiz. The unavoidable delays
which have occurred make the investiga-
ticn a difficult one. Whatever there may
have been to cover up, time has been at
forded for that purpose. 1t is presumed.
too, that persons who may have been
ready to testify three months ago are not
so ready now. The shadow of Gen. Wey-
Ter may have fallen over all Of them. How
far those who know the facts, especially
those within the walls Of the GuanabacOa
Jail, would dare go In declaring their
knowledge even under favorable circum-
stances may be open to doubt. Neverthe-
less it is the belief of the President that
all the circumstances may yet be un-
covered.
Admitted Facta,
Some matters relating to Dr. Ruiz are
beyond concealment. 1t was known that
when he was arrested and imprisoned in
the Jail he was in good health. 1t is also
known that he scratched message of
farewell to his wife and children on the
back of a chair. This chair later came in
to the possession of the consul general.
The message which 1t preserved charges
that the jail officials were killing him.
That he went insane there seems to be lit
tie doubt, and 1t is of moment to deter
mine what kind Of treatment is given
prisoners in Cuban jails II one of them
VINO enters strong in mind and body is
made maniac within fortnight.
Whether they are actually murdered is of
greater moment. To this inquiry Special
Envoy Calhoun will address himself. =
CHARLES PEPPER