The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-13
GOssi p ait
the Capital
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.

special correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, May l2.
Walter Wel,man telegraphs from this
city to the Chicago Times Herald, a paper
recognized here as almost a semi-ofticidI
organ of the administrations president
Mckinley is not unmindful of the clause
in the Republican national platform
adopted at St. Louis in favor of Cuban
independence. 1t may be said without
fear of contradiction that the president
has determined TO do nothing for the pres
ent except to protect American citizens
and American interests. But it is equally
well settled that during the summer the
president intends to pursue a careful and
thorough investigation of the Cuban sub
ject, with view to such action next win
ter as the facts and conditions may then
justify. Up to this time the president has
committed himself neither to the policy
of strict nonintervention nor TO that Of
interference with affairs in Cuba upon the
broad ground which the powers of Eu-
rope stand on in their attempts to regu-
late Turkey, Greece and other minor pow
ers of the old world. The president simply
says that at this time he is not ready to
act. In the end he may be forced by cir
cumstances to adopt policy which goes
beyond that of strict nonintervention and
leads up TO the more modern conception
of the duty of great nation Meanwhile
condition of affairs in Cuba, and is deter
mined to know It,
Mr. Calhoun, who sailed Monday from
Tampa for Havana, has a somewhat wild
er range of duty in Cuba than is generally
supposed. Officially he is simply the spe-
cial counsel employed by this government
to attend the investigation of the Ruiz
case. He will appear in court charged
with the duty of ascertaining how Ruiz
was treated, how he met his dreadful fate,
and to locate, if possible, the responsible
ity therefor. But unoiClally Mr.. Calhoun
is expected to gather a great deal of in
formation concerning the state of things
in Cuba. If he has time after the Ruiz
investigation is over he will travel about
to some extent. 1t has already been ar
ranged that he Is to have freedom to go
where he likes with an escort of Spanish
officers. Upon his return, a month or so
hence the president hopes Mr.. Calhoun
will have formed decided impressions as
to the actual condition of affairs in Cuba.
%
Moreover, President Mckinley is deter.
mined not to stop here. 1t Is within the
probabilities that during the summer a
more elaborate effort will be made to gain
information concerning the forces which
lie behind the rebellion in Cuba, the pros
poets for indefinite continuance of the in
SufTectlOn, ana the aDlllty OF spain 10
maintain order IL she once succeeds in
mastering the outbreak. All these and
many more things bear broadly upon the
future, and II is the broad future that
the president has in mind and will give
most serious thought TO when he comes
to determine definitely what the policy
of his administration is to be. II is one
thing, for instance, II this insurrection
is local, racial or ephemeral. IT is an
other II the state Of public mind through
out the population of Cuba, taken as a
whole, is such that even in case this re-
bellion be crushed Spain can maintain
herself thereafter only by the bayonet.
A special commission to visit Cuba early
next autumn Is in the mind Of the presi-
dent If one be sent II will be composed
of both civilians and army officers. The
president Is determined to have the facts
about Cuba before acting.
O.
At the present time the relations be-
tween this country and Spain are all that
could be desired The change that took
place IN Spain's attitude when the Ameri-
can people changed their administration
at Washington was most remarkable. Up
to March 4 Consul General Lee had the
greatest difficulty in getting any infor-
Cuba. For instance. he would write a
letter about a certain case, say on the
first day of the month In ten days or
two weeks he would receive an acknowl-
edgement OF his communication. Another
fortnight having elapsed and nothing hay
Ing been heard from the captain general