Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-03-04
SPAIN NOT TO BLAME.
SECRETARY LONG INCLINED TO
WHlTEWASH THE DONS.

No change has taken place in the
Maine matter since our last issue. The
yellow journals of New York and their
imitators in other cities have been in
dustriously engaged in manufacturing
news on the subject, and reputable
papers have spent the week in denying
the lies thus set afloat.
The most important piece of authentic
news was sent out from Washington
Tuesday. 1t is in the shape of a state
ment given out by Secretary Long and is
as follows
The main things we talked about in cabinet
Iheld Tuesday were the outrages on the post.
masters, one n colored man in South Caro-
Ina. In regard to the CubanRsituation said
4 thought things were growing quieter every
day, and as far as my judgment went / was
inclined to think that any idea of official
participation on the part of the Spanish
government in the disaster was now prac
tically eliminated"
The clearest statement we have seen
of the matter is sent to the Chicago
Record by its Washington correspondent,
William Il. Curtis, and sets at rest all the
wild statements of irresponsible writers.
1t is as follows:
asked Secretary Long and Judge
Day for an expression of their views on
the Cuban altuation. Said Judge Day
in reply:
"OccupyIng the position do, it would
be manifestly improper for me TO eX-
press an opinion on the Cuban situation,
but will take the liberty to say that
the official information received thus far
by the department of state does not con-
firm the sensational reports that appear
in the newspaper dispatches and does not
Justify the excitement and alarm that
appear to prevail throughout the
country. As to the cause of the destruc-
tion of the Maine, the department has no
further information than has been given
to the public through the dispatches
from Consul-General Lee and Capt. Sigs-
bee, and they do not furnish sufficient
ground for an opinion. We are patient
ly waiting the report of the board of in
quiry."
Secretary Long said
mo Information received by the navy
department offers cause for alarm and all
the war news | have comes from the
newspaper correspondents. | do not
think they have any better facilities for
obtaining the truth than |, and my ad-
vices are not sufficient to Justify any one
in forming an opinion as to the cause of
the disaster. No special preparations
are being made by the navy department
for hostilities, all reports to the contrary
Notwithstanding. 1t is true that | did
hold secret interview with the secretary
of war yesterday, as reported in the
newspapers, but it was very brief and
the only subject discussed was the salts
faction felt at the restored health of nv
colleague"
mot a fact from Havana has been
withheld from the public, said Secretary
Wilson. "There is not fact in the pos
session of the president or the cabinet up
on which an opinion can be based, and
while we are not anticipating trouble we
are not going to be caught unprepared
for it. The president will meet all emer-
gencies as they arise with craftsmanship,
dignity and determination. He will not
be diverted from the path of duty by the
fear of any foreign power, nor by public
clamor at home. He realizes his respon-
sibilities, and that this is a good time for
people to keep their wits about them.
and he is proud of the dignified behavior
of the American people. There is no
occasion to fear that he will not cOmpOrt
himself in such a way as to vindicate the
national honor, no matter what may
happen. But we all feel that we must
wait quietly for the verdict of the board
of inquiry, in which we have implicit
confidence. and when it comes there will
be no doubt of the ability of this govern
ment to take prompt measures TO meet
the emergency"
The president never expresses an
opinion for publication. He talks freely
with those in whom he has confidence,
but it is always with the understanding
that he shall not be quoted, as he was
yesterday by Gen. William II. Powell
of Belleville, Ill. lie will never again
trust himself to speak in the presence of
those who betray him. Those who were
present during his interview with Gen.
Powell do not remember TO have heard
any such expressions as were quoted and
did not hear the Cuban question alluded
TO. 1t may be said generally, however
that the president still adheres to the ac-
cident theory, and is waiting patiently
with the hope that it may be confirmed
by the board of inquiry. The chlel
reasons for his belief, as explained by
Secretary Alger, are that "if the Maine
mad been destroyed by the explosion of a
mine:
81. The vessel would have been lifted
with such violence as to have thrown the
persons who were standing upon its decl
from their feet, and would have produced
sucn SHOCK tnat III cOulu not nave Deel
forgotten, whereas none of the survivor,
describe any such movement or sensa
ton.
-. If there had been an explosion il
the water sufficient to have produced thu
existing condition of the Maine, ther,
would have been tremendous cOmmo
ton in the water, which would hav,
violently rocked every ship in the ba!
and washed over the low wharves like
tidal. wave, but men who were sitting
upon the decks of vessels in the bay re
port no such phenomena, and those VIII
we're sitting upon the low docks at tn
custom house noticed no unusual disturb
ance, and at first thought that the ex
pl0sion was in the fortress.
SO. The explosion of a mine or tor
pedO would have covered the surface O
the water with dead fish, whereas non
whatever we're observed.