Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-02-19
WASHINGTONLETTER
THE DE LONE EPISODE
VIII ThOrp Be Seated7
The Hawaii Treaty Still the
Centre Of Attraction.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINoToN, Feb. IA, 1898


WAsHlNevoE, Feb. IA, 1898.
President Mckinley has never justi-
fed the confidence reposed in him by |
the American people to a more marked |
extent than Senior de LONE, late Span
ish Minister TO the United States. In
that letter Senior de Lome personally
insulted the President, as well as his
own government. When Washington |
was in 8 ferment Of excitement and |
men of prominence who are usually |
cool headed were advising all sorts of
hot-headed steps en- the part OF this |
government, President Mckinley new
or for moment lost the GOODNESS
which has always marked his acts at
critical periods, although there isn't
the slightest doubt that his blood fair
ly boiled at De Lome's insults. Like
the true patriot that he is, he sunk his
individuality and acted only as the
country's executive. He merely re-
Quested the Spanish government,
through the American Minister at Mad
rid, TO recall De .ome Senior de LONE
had anticipated that aud cabled
his resignation, and il was accepted
by his government before the request
dom of this moderation on the psrt o
the President is daily becoming more
apparent. There was another import
ant feature OF De Lome's letter, in
which he declared that autonomy for
Cuba and negotiations for reciprocity
treaty were only shAms.
THE RESULT
Had this letter been made public in
a legitimate manner. its contents
would have justified the most extreme
measures upon the part OF this govern
ment but it Was atO'en, and that wa
not mitigated in the least by the ac-
acknowledgements OF its authorship by
De LONE. The government OF Spain
by accepting De Lome's resignation
has relieved this government of the
disAgreabIe contingency OF taking Of
| fetal cognizance OF stolen letter.
and at the same time has placed itself
in position from which it cannot es-
cape without renouncing responsibility
| for the contents OF the letter and apOl-
ogizinR for its having written, without
losing the respect OF this and every
other civilized nation To fact, the
Spanish government has either got TO
call De LONE liar or acknowledge it
self to be both, liar and hypocrite.
Surely there is nothing in this situR-
L
feel otherwise than proud OF his Presi-
dent.
THE RFFECr STABLE.
No statement or apology from Spain
can remove the effect OF its ministers
assertions concerning autonomy and
reciprocity therefore Senior de Lome's
letter is likely TO be a factor in deter
mining the future relations OF this
government toward Cuba. There is
little doubt that President Mckinley
would have taken steps before now to
have brought the war in Cuba TO a
close, had iJ not been for SPANS au-
tonomy scheme. Although he did not
probably have more faith in the sue
cess OF autonomy than the average
man familiar with the situation in
Cuba, President Mckinley felt bound
to accept the claim of Spain that il
was honest in its offer OF autonomy
and to allow sufficient time to demon
trate its success or failure to elapse
before taking action. Regardless of
what Spain may do or not do, deLome's
letter has changed the whole situation.
and il is not now thought in Washing
ton that anything short of SPANS de-
veloping an unexpected ability 20
bring the war in Cuba TO an end her
self will prevent early action on the
part OF this government. Congress
deserves credit for having kept quie,
and allowed the President to manage
this affair.
a THoRP CONTEST.
The majority report of the Elections
. Committee of the House in favor OF
K seating Thorp, the republican contest
a ant from the 4th Virginia district, con
n tains a scathing arraignment of the
; election laws OF that state, and Of the
: methods employed in that particular
district, which was designably made
o overwhelmingly republican by jerry
= mnnder made by democratic legisla
II ture. There is no doubt about tn'
4 seating of Thorp.
NEW DEPARTMENT.
The House Committee on Interstat,
and Foreign Commerce will this weel
! give public hearings on the Hepburn
p bill for the establishment OF new exc
~ cutive department., TO be known as tn
a Department of Industry and Com
= merce, the head of which shall be
- member of the Cabinet, and upon tn
% National Quarantine bill.
-, THAT TREATY.
- In order to learn definitely whethe
ae the time now being devoted to tn
- discussion of the treaty for the annex
- alton of Hawaii is being thrown away
the Committee on Foreign Relation
will, this week ascertain the fu
:. strength OF the treaty in the Senate
- by bringing about a vote that WI
- serve as test. Should the vote shO
- that the treaty is short of the necei
= sary two thirds, it will at once
-. abandoned, and the efforts OF the con
mittee be devoted to pushing a joiI
resolution providing for annexation
a vote. Members of the COMMITTEE
y. have not the slightest doubt OF annex
- alton at this session OF Congress; on
~ they desire to be absolutely certai
he ena1 ~ cannoe Do Secu.eo ~ . n'a'.,,0
the other route.