The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-16
SPANISH DIPLOMACY.
Disgust In Washington Over
the De LONE Letter.
SAMPLES OF HIS CONTEMPT FOR Us

SSSohp0 eAoe1AS &8ek~ e.~ D@e"@.o~
o HE Policy One OF Blun and swsggsr,
: Why the Queen Took . Hand.
WASHINGTON. Feb iS.--[Special. Aft
or q whole winter Of Cuban talk the first
: bit OF real Cuban excitement we have had
| In the capital came over the letter written
by Dupuy dc LONE tina former Spanish
minister, which led to his departure from
this city discredited rs diplomat. In these
dispatches have already described some
of the characteristic methods Of the late
minister-his tendency to bluff his way
through. his adroitness. his cool nerve
The letter which led to his undoing was In
some respects surprise to public men who
had not closely watched the Spanish min
lister. They had supposed him to be man
Of sincerity, and that the governments be-
hind him was more or less sincere In it's
professions Of friendship for tho United
States and its desire to satisfy the people
of this country. The most serious aspect
OF the now famous letter, as many public
men here view the matter, Is the revelation
which 1t makes Of SPANS tricky policy as
to the United States.
A Game OF Hoodwink.
The whole play of Spanish diplomacy
| appears to have been directed toward hood
winkiDg the American government. To
this end they have bent every energy and
used all their Ingenuity. There was deep
disgust among public men in Washington
when they read In Dupuy do Lome's letter
Of the scurvy device to negotiate COM
mercial treaty with this country In order
to throw dust In the eyes of the people here
and afford the Spanish minister means of
carrying on new propaganda In SPANS
behalf.
There has never been any welcome for
the Spanish proposition to make now REQ
iprocity treaties. That proposition has
looked too much like scheme to bride us
with little better trade opening. 1t as
sumed at the outset that the Spanish view
OF US was correct-to wit, that we are
nation of shopkeepers, who care for nothing
except the almighty dollar and that as
long as our cupidity was catered to moth
ing In the line of humane or high minded
action need be feared The letter of the
Spanish minister, apart from its insult to
the president, and through him to the
whole American people, has done one good
thing In unmasking Spanish diplomacy.
De Lome's Cool Nerve.
have heard a story concerning the cool
nerve of Dupuy de LONE, a story so in
credible that could not believe 1t did il
not come to me on good authority. 1t Is
indicative of the contempt which that gen.
tleman had for all things American. One
day the Spanish minister made his appear
ance at an office in the navy department.
where maps and drawings are kept. There
was certain information which he wanted,
and he accostod the clerk in charge In q
CHEEKY, friendly manner. In telling of the
incident afterward the clerk said:
"Iwas much pleased with Mr. do LONE.
He seemed to be such nice man. He was
as democratic as any of us. He sat down
and chatted with me, handed me a good
cigar which he said had been brought in
from Cuba without paying any duty and
laughed and joked with me as nicely as
you please. When he told me what he |
wanted, just some Information for a mag
azine article he was writing, of course it
was pleasure to me to comply. l gave |
him the maps and drawings he asked for, |
and he went away very much pleased. We |
struck up quite friendship He is Just |
as plain and friendly as any common |
American -
WHAT Do you say that you gave him
the maps he asked for-maps of our coast |
and drawings of our fC- tifcations9"
"Why, certainly"
WELL you are bigger fool than l |
thought you were. The Spanish minister
was simply playing you. He wanted that
Information for his government, and he |
took you in. You ought to be dismissed |
from the service.
The young man who was involved In |
this story did come very near losing his
job on account of his excessive polteness
TO the Spanish minister. He was trans
ferred to another bureau and will never
again get a chance to give away Uncle
Sam secrets.
Methods of Buffer.
This story Is fairly illustrative of the
methods which the late Spanish minister
followed here He was all nerve and bluff
and boldness. If he had had his way, we
should have been kept half frightened all |
the time for fear Spanish cruiser was GO
Ing TO swoop down upon Washington some
day and blow up the capitol and the White
House.
IL the Canovas ministry had remained
In power, the chances are this method |
would have been pursued Canovas, like
De LONE, was q conservative, and q Span.
sh conservative Is one who never learns 1
anything, but follows forever the methods |
Of two centuries ago, which were BULLDOG
ing methods, intimidation, bluff and swag |
ger. DE LONE had carried his policy so far
that he had succeeded in convincing near.
ly every one in Washington that II this
government made the slightest move to-
ward helping Cuba we should have war on
our hands The relations between the two
had really become strained when |
Queen Christine, who is a sensible wom
an. thought things had been carried too
far and changed her ministers.
Contempt For Americans.
Since Sagasta came into power De LONE |
has not been quite so bloodthirsty He |
was no doubt Instructed TO pursue mild
er course. and az best he could he obeyed |
orders But all his instincts were toward |
the other policy toward frightening |
Americans with tales Of what was sure to
happen II SPANS proud toes were once
trod upon ever so lightly. Though in his |
official intercourse DE Lone was com
PEELED to follow the wishes Of his superior |
ut Madrid, in private conversation he Of |
ten let loose upon America and Americans.
DE LONE was an intense Spaniard. |