The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-02
DISCUSSED BY THE CABINET
Theories Considered but No Facts
Asccrtainablc.
ALL OFFICERS NoN-cONMUNICATlvF.
neither ieshee. Lee Nor The Court
TaiIs-->panish OfHciaI Participn-
ton Ii Entirely Eliminated.

Washington. March 1.-The meeting Of
the cabinet. at which all members were
present, disclosed the fact that tie govern
ment Is still without news regarding the
cause of the disaster TO the Maine. Up TO
this time the court OF inquiry has not
Indicated In any way the trend of the in
vestigation. The president and members of
the cabinet are as completely In the dark
as to what the evidence so far adduced dis
closes as they were on the day after thu
explosion. The truth of this statemnt is
vouched for by authority not to be ques-
toned 1t is thought under the peculiar cir
cumstances OF the case that Captain Sigs-
bee would not communicate his theories
or knowledge OF the facts to any one except
the court conducting of the inquiry, and
that Consul General Lee would b. guided
by the same considerations. In any event
neither OF these officers have communicated
to the government anything bearing on the
vital question at issue
The court itself has been equally non
communicative and nothing is expected
from this source till the inquiry Is com
pleted and the findings sent to the secre-
tary Of the navy. Nor has any intimation
been received as to the probable time which
the inquiry VIII consume. AT today's meet
ing the cabinet discussed a number Of
theories which have been advanced as TO
the cause OF the explosion, but nothing OF
defined conclusion was reached. :
Another matter which engaged the at
ttntion OF the cabinet was the brutal MUIR
der recently of the colored postmaster and
his infant child at Lake City, S. G., by
mob OF hundred or so white men. 1t was
remarked by member of the cabinet after
the close OF the meeting that this WIS u
heinous crime and should not be passed by
unnoticed, and that thoughtful men might
proi1tably give share of their attention to
inns great wrong committed by our people.
The two outrages on republican post
masters in the South discussed occurred at
Lake City. S c., and Ada, Ga. Freeman,
the postmaster at the latter place, was
assassinated before he entered on the dis
charge OF his duties as postmaster The
president, 1t Is said, is very much disturbed
by these acts though he views with salts
taciion the fact that the whole Southern
press expressed its Indignation The first
impulse OF the officials in cases like these
cited Is to abolish the office where the out
RACES occur. although it is believed that
such step would deprive large numbers
of citizens who have nothing to do with
the killing of their postal facilities The
president therefore finds 1t difficult TO lay
down any rigid rule that could be appliad
been abolished. but SO far nothing has been
done regarding the case ut Ada. The latter
place has some unusual features. Freeman
had been appointed postmaster but net
having assumed his duties was not an Off
Ger of the government. Unofficial reports
which have reached the department are not
clear as to the precise cause for his as
sassinatlon. One is that he was killed be-
cause he was appointed and another Is
death was the result of quarrel The de-
however, will make an inquiry
into the facts and be guided In its future
course BY what their inquiry develops.
Washington, March 1.-secretary Long
was seen shortly after the cabinet meeting
and stated that in his judgment any Off
cial participation by the Spanish govern !
ment In the blowing up of the Maine was |
practically eliminated, This statement was
made as an expression OF the sacretaty's |
opinion. II gained speedy circula-
ion, however, and was elaborated 10 the
point of being an official declaration that
he element OF Spanish responsibility for
he Maine disaster was no longer TO BE- con-
iidered. When Mr.. Long returned to the
lavy department he was asked as to the
&aet nature of this statement He said 1t
1ad been rather casual and passing al
usion, more In the line of a response to
ome curious question from the vigilant
representatives of the press. He said that
he had intended to say that there was an
abatement in the agitation and excitement
'yer the subject As TO Spanish RESPONSE
'iilty, he said that any Official participa-
Ion by the Spanish government in the
'lowing up OF the Maine was practically
Eliminated In my Judgment"
Mr.. Long desired 10 have IL clearly un-
lerstocd that this was an expression of his
Individual judgment and not anything Of
icial was 10 be construed. Later. as
means OF disposing of all doubt as to the
xact nature of the secretary's language,
10 Dictated the following:
The things We talked about in cabinet
we're the outrages on the postmaster. a
oiored man in South Carolina. In regard
o the Cuban situation l said thought that
hings were growing quieter every day
md as far rs my judgment Went | WINS in
lined to think that any official participa-
ion on the part of the Spanish government
n the disaster was now practically elm
mated"
WEYLERss DYNAMITE.
bought Six Tons In,,;. |