The times., 1898-01-26
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1898.
The Cuban Crisis.


Senior Dupuy de Lome-s Washington
organ printed yesterday most reas-
suring explanation of the circum-
stances which led the Government to
order the Maine to Havana harbor. 1t
was of a kind. calculated to restore
confidence and change the spirit of
American patriotism into one of un-
bridled hilarlty. Evidently inspired and
paid for by diplomacy, it was as truth
full as such things from the same sub
sidizing force always are, and, in short,
il was funny beyond description.
According to the account in question,
Senior Dupuy de Lone and Judge Day
were enjoying their matutfnal smoke
together in the State Department, and
discussing a reciprocity treaty between
the non-existent autonomous" gov
ernment Of Cuba and this country,
when Day dawned with the brilliant
and entirely novel suggestion that the
government at Madrid and the Spanish
people of Havana might feel aggrieved
because it was three years since an
American warship had anchored in the
harbor of Havana. Senor de LONE
Immediately took fire. THE very
thfng,' he said. "It is exactly what l
have been praying for these three
monthsi'' A few days ago he observed
that such a thing would be tanta-
mount to a declaration of war; but no
matter.
Having reached this merry conclu-
sion, the two fraternal exponents of
the Spanish alliance lost no time in
skipping over to Naval Secretary Long.
His delight was apparent, and he as
serted with tears in his eyes that if
Dupuy de LONE insisted upon a war
ship he should have one right off the
reel. Then all three of them went over
10 the White House, where they were
at once received by the President. to
whom they impaired their important
information The story continues:
To say that the President was over
joyed is to very mildly
describe his feelings" 1t is wrong to
describe such feelings or their express
sion mildly. 1t would be better to go
the complete animal. and to say that
Mr.. Mckinley embraced his Spanish
coadjutor and fell upon his breast,
scratching his executive nose upon the
exalted decoration of the Golden
Fleas." Let us draw the curtain over
such a pathetic domestic scene, and
painfully return to the realm of fact.
Bianco has left Havana in a panic.
His flight, happening on the eve of the
day upon which it has been said for
week that there would be an out
break against Americans, was suffi-
ciently omnious. 1t was not rendered
less so by serious Spanish defeats in
the field, almost within sight of the
city. But the plain fact is that, in
spite of these warnings. nothing
would have been done if Fitzhugh Lee
had not personally addressed three
cipher kilograms to Mr.. Mckinley on
Monday night, reminding him of his
previous promises and, as reported, de-
claring that he would close the con-
sulate and leave the island by Tues
days steamer for New York unless a
warship were instantly dispatched to
his assistance
Upon receipt of these messages, the
President and his Cabinet. who (all but
Secretary Alger) were at Judge Nc
Kenna's at dinner, resolved themselves
into committee of the whole dinner
party on the state of the Spanish alli-
ance. 1t was decided that Lees de-
nand must be conceded or he would
come home and tell tales, and worse
things might happen. Then Dupuy
de LONE was sent for. and met Judge
Day at the State Department. Per-
sons who were within earshot assert
that he pleaded. stormed and raved
against tie order for the Maine to
proceed to Havana. For once he was
unable to produce an impression. The
Administration was in water too hot
to allow him to raise the temperature.
1t was after this that he commune
Gated with his organ, personally con-
Quoted, as to its Cuban-Spanish news
and policy, and prepared the story to
which we have feelingly referred. and
which would do credit not only to de
LONE, but to Grimm, Hans Christian
Andersen or Mr. Hoyt, author of the
Texas Steer" Perhaps, owing to the
excitement Of the occasion and the
lateness of the hour, the text is not
up to the plane of the Spanish minis