The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-02-25

From Our Correspondents
At present, the relations Of the United
Btates and Spain are the all-engrossing
topic in Washington. This is primarily
due. of course, to the war in Cuba.
Within the last week or two there have
been two additional occurrences which
have still further formed the issue and
nearly made it supreme in the history of
our recent realms of diplomacy.
First, came the surprise occasioned by
the publication of letter written by the
late Spanish minister, de LONE, in which
he reflected upon President Mckinley.
Hardly had the ink upon his own resis-
nation dried and he himself was en- route
to Spain in diplomatic disgrace, when
the horrible news came from Havana
that the United States steamship Maine,
which had gone there on a friendly visit,
but to protect American citizens, if need
be, had met with a horrible accident in
the shape of an explosion, which had
not only destroyed the ship, but over $50
American sailors and two brave officers,
the details of which have been thorough
ly rehearsed in the daily press.
The navy department is endeavoring
to ascertain the cause of the disaster,
whether it was occasioned from within
or without. OF course, if the latter is
demonstrated the Spaniards will be
held responsible, and the situation will
become very grave; but, until the official
examination is completed, public ex-
pressions ought to be held in allegiance.
There is no denying the fact however,
that the Cuban matter is a burning is
sue at this moment.
The situation itself remains I'M
changed. The de LONE incident affected
the main question very little. 1t may
bob up again, but it is distinctively a
separate question. 1t was, it is true, a
regretable feature at this particular
phase of the matter, but, after all, it is
personal subject between Spain and the
United States, and in no wise has much
bearing on the policy of either nation
towards Cuba.
The effect of the recent resolution in
the house, calling for information,
which was passed without division, will
also be purely spasmodic in it's charac-
ter. 1t will amount to practically moth
ing, as the information which it asks for
from the state department is already
known here by those who have been re-
Gently on the island.
The knowledge was also communica-
ted to both President Mckinley and
Judge Day as long ago as last month,
and others could have had it for the
asking.
In a nutshell, what the resolution
called for is information as to whether
or not the Spanish policy of concentra-
ton in Cuba is still in existence. That
is the budding together of thousands
of people in convenient places, where
they receive scarcely any food scant
protection and bad sanitary arrange
ments, causing wholesale deaths daily.
In his annual message, President Nc
Kinley said that this policy had been
discontinued. Such is not the fact, how
ever, with all due respect to him. He
now admits that the policy of concen-
tration is still in force.
The executive was doubtless misled in
to believing that it had been abandoned
by the crafty diplomacy of de LONE, the
Spanish minister, who has recently
made himself so obnoxious to this gov
eminent that he has severed his official
connection with it. Mr.. Mckinley now
knows, however, through the informa-
ton conveyed to him by persons of this
city who recently have been to Cuba,
that SPANS indefensible policy of con-
centration is still in force on the island
These interviews which both the presi-
dent and Judge Day have had with peo-
pie returning from Cuba have simply
astounded the executive and his assist
ant The story they are now hearing
every day is so widely at variance with
what de LONE had pretended were the
real facts in the matter, that they are
simply nonplused.
And so, within the last week, since de
LONE has been persona non grata, Nc
Kinley has been guided in the premises
not upon what de LONE has heretofore
poured into his ears, but from the facts
as stated by American citizens who are
daily returning from Cuba and are car
rying their vivid descriptions to the
White House themselves, where they
are eagerly listened to by the president
and Judge Day.
Despite all reports to the contrary. the
Spanish policy of concentration is still
in vogue in Cuba. The fact that it has
not been abandoned is we'll known in
inner circles in Washington, and a good
many people were, therefore, naturally
"A good deal surprised when they heard
that the house had passed a resolution
as it did on Monday, calling for infor-
nation which is publicly known here.
1t is generally understood, however,
that the resolution was passed for the
purpose of preventing the Democrats
from endeavoring to bring in the whole
Cuban subject and debate it in the house,
at the manifest detriment of the admin
istration and Republican party in the
coming congressional elections
In other words, despite the de LONE
incident and the adoption of the house
resolutions on Monday, the situation has
not changed. The resolution will serve
to keep ver-enthusiastic Cuban SYM
pathizers from breaking out in congress
in the near future. 1t will not alter any
policy which has been laid down by the
administration. The information called
for, although, as l say, generally known,
will now be officially transmitted to
congress. 1t is unofficially known now
by practically all the members, but an
official communication on the subject
will naturally please the ardent sympa-
thizers of the insurgents and temporari-
ly appease their appetite for Spanish
blood.
A belligerency resolution, If brought VI
in the house. would pass overwhelm-
ingly. A canvass of Republican mem