The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-03-05
A VERY o N o r

rotary the Meaning of Which was
Dislorted-A Private Opinion that Spain
was Not Officially Guilty o: the Destruc-
tion of the Maine.
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The main
interest yesterday in connection with
the Maine inquiry conferred in a state
ment by Secretary Long, following the
cabinet meeting, that, in his personal
opinion, any official participation by
the Spanish government in the blowing
up of the Maine was now practically
eliminated from the situation. This
statement was not of a formal or of
fetal character. and was made by Mr..
Long as he walked away from the
White House.
As usual the various cabinet officers
We're besieged with inquiries as to the
questions before the meeting. andinr re-
Spouse to these opportunities the Sec
rotary rather casually summed up the
situation in a few words. stating that
most of the time had been given to the
outragcs on colored postmasters in the
south.
Naturally. tie Cuban situation had
been gone over. he said, but there were
no actual developments, and he felt
that public excitement over the subject
had materially abated. Then headed
the statement. in the same passing
way. that any participation by the
Spanish government in the blowing up
of the Maiuc was practically eliminated
in his Judgment .
This last remark vas speedily given
wide circulation. apart from the quiet
ing references which had accompanied
it. 1t immediately started much COM
m1nt and discussion, and when Mr..
Long returned to the navy department.
after luncheon, he found that what he
had intended to convey was being
given the force of an official dcclara-
ton that Spain's responsibility for the
disaster had Deer eliminated. In order
to make clear his meaning. as Il per-
sOnal expression OF opinion, Mr.. Long
dictated the following statement:
The main thing we talked abOu in
cabinet We're the Outragcs on the post
masters. one a white nan in Georgia
and one Il colored maj in South Caro-
lima.
In regard to the Cuban situation. 1
said | thought things We're growing
quicter every day, and. as far as my
Judgment went, | wa inclined to think
that any official participation on the
part of the Spanish government in tho
disaster was now practically elm
mated"
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr..
Long desired to say on the subject,
and this much was given only to OFF
set enlarged versions of what he had
said. Persons occupying the closest
relations with the secretary said that
the opinion expressed was such as any
one might give with the facts now at
hand. 1t was not in any sense,
it was explained, a conclusion
drawn from new evidence not
made public. either from the court
of inquiry or any officer now
concerned in the inquiry. Neither
facts Or limitations have come from
such Sources. it is said at the depart
ment. as would serve as the basis for
an opinion. The official declaration Of
Senior Du Bose, the Spanish charge
d'affaireS, that no mines or submarine
defenScS exist in the harbor of Havana
had come to the attention of Secretary
Long. and this statement from the au-
thorizcd representative of the Spanish
government was felt to have been given
its due weight in the opinion expressed
by the secretary.
1t was pointed ont by persons bear
ing close relations with the secretary
that the language used was official
participation on the part of the Span
iSh government. This. it was said. had
no bearing OF the question OF SPANS
responsibility. The official participa-
ton of Spain was one thing. while the
responsibility OF Spain in ease the dis
astcr proved to be of external origin,
was quite another thing. The sccrc-
taryS statement was restricted. it was
explained. 10 cXculpating Spain from
direct official knowledge and participa-
ton in the affair. In case it was shown
that the act was due to some fanatic or
person not connected with the govern
ment. then the question of Spain's re-
SponSibility would be still open.