The times., 1898-02-12
FEELING IN THIS COUNTRY.
More Than a Personal Affront To the
presid ent Seen in the Letter.

presid ent Seen in the Letter.
Now that the first excitement attend
ing the publicity given the De LONE
letter has passed away, public men and
statesmen are beginning to consider 1t
in the light of sober second thought and
calm judgment and reason. They see
more in that letter than the personal
affront to the President of the United
States. The letter is a remarkably
frank and candid admission of the fact
long suspected in this country-that
Spain was dealing with the United
States after the fashion peculiar to the
politics and diplomacy Of that govern
ment De Lone admits in this letter
that the government of Spain was pur-
suing a policy of dupllcity; that there
was nothing at all in their pretended
desire for reciprocity arrangements be-
tween Spain and the United States,
and that the whole thing was a scheme
and device intended only to consume
time and to give Spain a way to pre-
pare for the struggle which she be-
lieVed was inevitable.
This is by far the most serious part
of The whole letter. 1t goes beyond the
personal expression of the minister
from Spain. because it Is declaration
concerning the policy of his govern
menJ and that part of his letter must
either be disaVuWed by Spain or that
government must admit that il was a
party to De Lome's duplicitE. The
mere acceptance of the resignation of
the Spanish minister. statesmen say,
viii not be sufficient for this Govern
ment. III Spain continues to remain
silent she admits that De LONE told
the truth when he said in his letter he
had made dupe of the State Depart
ment and had wheedled it into couSid-
ering the subject of reciprocity between
the two governments. There is a wide
difference between the open-handed
and frank manner in which diplomat
ic affairs are handled by Americans
and the underhand and Snea king meth
DDS Of the diplomatic school from which
DE LONE seems TO have graduated.
When therefore the Spanish minister
represented to the American Govern
ment that Spain really desired to con-
slider the subject Of reciprocity. with
q view TO bringing the two governments
nearer together and mutually benefit
ing the commerce of the two nations.
the United States accepted this proffer
in the belief that it was honestly eX-
pressed, and that Spain was seeking
the new relations which reciprocity
would bring about
1t should be remembered that Just
about the time the Spanish minister
began to suggest a discussion of the
subject of reciprocity the Administra-
tion was seriously considering the ad-
visibility of taking active measures to
put stop to some Of the crueIties that
were being practiced by Spain in Cuba.
Every movement made by Spai, vas
carefully watched and she was y zen
fun credit for every step taken that |
looked to the amelioration of the dis |
rcsslng conditions in that island The |
bafbarities practiced upon the Cubans. /
upon innocent men and women. and the /
cruelties and indignities suffered bv the |
concentrates had almost, it is asserted |
aroused President Mckinley TO the |
point Of action.
Spanish Trickery.
Then it was in order to gain time to |
make ii appear that Spain WAS really \
seeking TO do something honorab bic that
The hypocritical suggestion for reci-
procity came from the fellow who is
about 10 shake the dust of the United |
States from his feet and return to his
vineyards in Spain, where he can pur-
sue his proper avocation away from the
society of decent men. Within the last
tWenty-four hours many public men of
Ai4iiNtlitt dl the W mite House nave Wis
lted the President and urged him to re-
luse TO ignore that part Of De Lome's
letter which admits hypocrisy and du-
picity and the cOnnivance of the
Spanish minister in the dirty work of
DE LONE. The President has Seen urs-
ed repeatedly to insist that Spain be re-
quired to respond TO a demand for an
explanation of this part of the letter.
lnasEuch as it has been shown that !
reciprocity was used by the Spanfards |
SIMPLY as cloak under which they |
were pursuing war preparations. the |
PRESIDENT has been most persistently |
urged to withdraw his note Offering |
friendly intervention to bring the war |
IN CUBA to close, and to give that
government notice that unless in thirty |
DAYS the war is ended and peace has |
been established the United States viii |
intervene, declare peace. and maintain
IL with Whatever force may be neces-
Sary.
There has been a great deal of ta1lk
along this line al the Capitol Senator's |
ana representatives who have warm |
spot i'm their hearts for Cuban patriots |
are hoping that this policy will be pur
sued. for they believe the time has |
come for this Government to act re-
Sardless of what Spain may do, and |