Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-22
In Case Spain Demands Suppression
ofFilibustering.
CHARGE OF NSINCERlrY RESENTED
Governments Efforts to Enforce
Neutrality Laws.
FORBEARANCE IS LIMITED

IT, as announced in the Madrid dis
patches. the answer of Spain to Minister
WoodfOrd's communication comes in the
form. of a demand that the United States
government put end to flibustering eX-
petitions to Cuba. it will provoke a sharp
rejoinder from Secretary Sherman. Scarce
ly Il more irritating reply could be made
by Spain than one which attempts to put
upon the United States the responsibility
for the prolongaton of the Cuban strug-
gle. II the face of clamorously express
ed public sentiment this government has re-
Trained from any recognition of OF active
sympathy with the Cuban insurgents. and
the power of the government has been
to prevent filibustering to an extent far be-
yond what Congress has regarded as war
ranted. even if our sympathies had been
with Spain. For Spain to demand still
more effective police service of this gov
ernment and to attempt to fix the
United States the responsibilities for the
strength and endurance of the rebellion
will lie irritating, even exaSperatinS, to the
administration.
Will BE Regarded ms an Insult.
Those who thoroughly understand the
Presidents attitude in this matter know
that he and his Secretary of State are
neither timid nor vascillating. nor are they
amiable beyond the demands of propriety.
If Sagasta shall make any such demand
the Madrid dispatches outline. Spanish
sersibilities will receive a shock in the
prompt reJoi1der which will be made. The
suggestion that this government has been
insincere in the efforts to prevent f1libus-
ter.ng, and that the administration IS con-
niving at violations of neutrality law. will
be regarded as an insult. not to be passed
without notice. Such an imputation will
be promptly resented and Spain will be re-
minded of the great forbearance of the
American government and people. who
have not only been Mortified by the deeds
of harbariJy on the Island of Cuba. but
have endured the insulting insinuatiOns
and hostile demonstrations of the Spanish,
the Imprisonment of American citizens in
Cuba and the utter disregard and even
malicious injury to American interests,
while American naval vessels and vessels
of the revenue marine have. at great ex-
perGiture of money and energy, been per-
forming police duty at the behest Of the
Spanish minister at Washington This
statement of facts will be coupled with a
very clear statement that there Is an END
to American liberation.
The Spanish Minister'S Activity.
The facts of the case make the insulting
suggestion of insincerity conveyed in Sa-
gesta's alleged reply peculiarly exasper-
ating Senior Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish
minister here has, during the entire period
of the Cuban rebellion, had spies located at
every port along the Atlantic coast from
which an expedition might be sent and in
many of the large cities of the country
where il was known that strong sympathy
with the Cuban insurgents existed. Upon
the least suspicion of a movement in be-
half of the insurgents he has called upon
the administration, both during Mr.. Cieve-
lands term and since the advent of the
new administration, to Use the strong arm
of this government to suppress the Cuban
sympstthiZers He has demanded the pros
ecution of American seamen and has en-
ployed the federal officials in police service,
ard has had vessels of the American navy
ana revenue cutter service sent on wild
goose chases up and down and round and
about the Atlantic coast following the
phantom of soTne imaginary filibustering
expedition.
Expense to the Government.
Frequently these vessels have been called
into service nothing more than vague
suspicion. suggested to Senor Dupuy de
LONE by some of his spies, anxious to give
Importance to their service by the con-
cCctiCn of stories The expense to this
government in its efforts to allay the fears
of the Spanish minister and to comply with
his demands, has been upward of 81 OOb 0G0
and has involved great hindrance and an
noyance. even hardship, upon American
citizens. besides offending public sentiment
in America
If Sagasta makes any such reply to Min
lister Woodford as is irdio ated from the
Madrid dispatches. these facts will be laid
before him in very plain language, the sug-
gesticn that we can DO more than we have
done in the interest of Spain will be in
dignantiy rapelled and the Spanish govern
ment will be given to understand that this
annoying condition of affairs cannot much
longer be tolerated