The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-25

hHIs ,BuFcrnment IN tntS matter. tsrg
Senator Foraker was particularly
pleased TO hear the news. He, Raid he
wished tho Texas and the other vessels
Ok the squadron would be ordered to
follow the Maine. : \
Senator Cullom said II nm glad 10
hear II. 1 hope the Maine will DC fol.
lowed by other vessels"
Senator Teller said he would like to
see the harbor OF Havana filed with
American shlps. 3
II was evident that the decision to
send the Maine to Havana for q visit
wan not arrived at hastily from the
events that preceded the announcement
OF the decision. For some time past ad-
ministration officials have been OF opln-
lon that O mistake was committed. by
the preceding administration In tho
very beginning OF the Cuban lnsurrec-
lion. In deciding out of excessive cau-
ton, and an oyerweehlnE regard for
the senalbillties OF the Spanish public,
20 abandon the practice which had been
pursued by our navF department for
years past OF sending our warshipS at
Intervals on cruises through the West
indies that frequently included stops at
Havana. II was not regarded as con-
slstent with our national pride that
this practice, common to oil maritime
nations, should have been abandoned
or suspended, and Il was believed that
II II had been consistently adhered to
there never would have been any COM
plalat OF the movement OF our ships
from Spanish sources. Besides all ma
tons have exercised the right 10 MAIN
tain at least q small naval force nt
ports inhabited BY any considerable
number Of their citizens when there
were signs OF trouble that threatened
their safety or their property. There
for the administration some time ago
came to the conclusion that It would
take steps to restore the old order Of
things. and allow our war ships to
cruise freely and TO touch In Cuban
ports, as soon as the change could be
made without leading to miscoastruc-
ton and without being interpreted rs a
war measure, while as matter OF
fact nothing was further from the In
tenuons OF the President The first
movement In the direction Of the old
practice wns made last fall before the
assembling Of Congress when Secretary
Long announced through the Assocla-
ted Press his purpose to send the entire
North Atlantic squadron to the Tortu-
gas harbor for their winter evolutions.
which for several years past. or ever
since the beginning OF the Cuban In
had been performed with
difficulty and under all kinds Of dis
couraging conditions OF wind and wea-
ther of the Chesapeake capes.
This movement being received with
equanlmlty the next step followed when
some OF our. little gunboats were sen.
to cruise in the West Indies. the VIII
mIngton and the Annapolis being now
In those waters. It only remained to
send one OF our ships to Havana TO
completely restore the old practice. Nat
urally this was a more delicate step
than had been called for previously,
and It was not until the administration
had satisfied Itself that conditions In
Havana had quleted and resumed the
normal state that existed before the re-
cent military riot against the newspa-
pers, that It was deemed timely to make
the last move.
This decision was not reached without
consideration OF all the results that
might follow. The Spanish minister, Sc
nor Dupuy de LONE. was all early CALL
er at the state department. his pur-
pose being to advise with the officials
relative to the negotiation OF q recl-
procity treaty for Cuba under the terms
OF the present tariff act. This purpose
in Itself may be regarded as an evil
dence OF the confidence OF both parties
In the security OF the outlook. After
his visit Assistant Secretary Day re-
paired to the white house and there Ta5
q notable gathering around the Presl-
dent, Including Secretary Long, OF the
navy, Attorney General Mckenna, and
General Miles, the commanding general
OF the army. All callers were denied
access TO the Presidents room, much 10
their chagrin, this being the day OF the
week that Is most largely assigned to
the reception of congressional! callers.
Tho conference lasted for nearly an
hour and when 1t broke up II was With
every evidence OF serenity and conf
dence In the pecsetul outlook that the
members dispersed. Secretary Long
was entrusted with the duty OF making
public statement concerning the
Names orders and the reasons thereof.
Secretary OF the Navy Long was seen
this morning concerning the rumors
that were nfioat yesterday in regard
to the movements OF the ships and
said:
$50 far from there being any found
ntion for the rumors yesterday OF trou-
BILE at Havana, matters are now In
such condition that our ,vessels are 60
ing 10 resume their. friendly calls at Gu
ban ports and 60 In and out Just as the
vessels OF other natioDs do. The Maine
will 70 In day or Two on Just such u
visit. The department has issued or
ders for vessels TO attend the public
celebrations at Mobile and the MardI
gras at New Orleans and for the tor
pedo boat notllla. to visit Galveston
Texas"
y At the Spanish legation nothing was
known OF the order for the Ma!ne tc
proceed to Havana. Minister de Lomc
said that even In case 1t were true that
II portonded nothing serious. 1t was
perfectly In accord with usage 70;
warships OF two friendly powers to en-
ter and leave each others ports. the
warshIps OF Spain had visited Ameri.
can ports on complimentary; missions
three times In rs many years and Il
there had not been an American wac.
ship in Havana In the same lca9th o.
time 1, was merely because the United
States government had not seen at tc
order one there. AS TO the possible con,
sequence OF the Maine's appearing al
Havana at this time. tho minister eS-
pressed himself as not Mt all uneasy
There was no douot, he said. OF the con.
seryative behavior OF the loyal Spanish