The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-08


editorial, 10 which special significance is
attached on account az an extended talk
which Editor NOyes had with the Presi-
dent before IL was written. This leads
10 the belief that the editorial was in
spircd:
SPAIN AGAIN AT FAULT
"Tho President has again scored.
whether there IS need OF calculation and
delay or OF prompt decision and action,
he meets the occasion equally well The
destruction of the Maine tested his pow
ers in the one case, as this intimatOn
OF Spain with respect TO General Lee has
tested them in the other. He is not 10
be ratified by clamor either az home or
abroad. All honor and support 10 the
man who now holds the helm Of the ship
Of stated
The question OF the means TO be en-
ployed in sending supplies to the starving
people Of Cuba is not Of the first i'm
portauce to us. Spain. however, seems 70
be very sensitive on the subject. Willing
10 have her people fed By outside bounty.
she wishes 10 dictate the terms OF the
benefactiOn. She suggests that II viii be
Irritating if assistance is sent on war
shin instead of on a merchantmen. The
presence of "A gun on board would change
in hr eyes the whole nature of the Offer
ing. But our warships have perfect
right. even without being the bearers OF
relief. to vesit the friendly ports or
friendly Cuba. and there would be no
reasonable irritation If they came in the
capacity Of warships, instead OF bring
ing help for the starving ana or oner-
ing life instead Of death. one or our
warships, the one best adapted for the
purpose and most conveniently M nanG'
will convey the relief. and very clearly
Spain cannot afford 10 lay stress on her
objections in this respect.
''rhe important point Is that In intimat-
ing an objection to the presence OF Cen
eral Lee in Havana Spain brought an in
dictment against the government Of the
United States itself.
The COnsul-General a. Havana stands
fully indorsed by his superiors. lie has
carried himself at his post so as TO merit
and receive not only the approval but the
admiration Of his cOuntrymen In office ana
out Hampered as he was for so long by
tho Cleveland policy. he had difficulty In
pointing out the path OF duty. But az
last under the Mckinley administration
he succeeded At last the Weylerian pol
icy stood fully revealed. steps were
taken by the President TO feed the starry
ing thousands. the jails were opened 70
allow American citizens unjustly incar-
cerated 20 walk out free men again, ana
he stars and stripes stood for someN
thing I'm Cuba besides the mere CONNER
cial transactions of the different consult
ates.
For mis- share in this General Lee has
incurred the displeasure OF Spain. But IN
equal proportion he has endeared himself
TO his own home government and his own
home people. What Spain proposed
therefore, was, IN effect, severance OF
consular relations I'm Havana with tho
United States. General Lee fills his office
as the people OF this country demand that
IL shall be filled. and consequently he
could have no successor following lines
differing from those that he has pursued.
The acqulescence by Spain I'm the refusal
10 recall Lee removed for a time az least
what might easily have developed INTO
a fruitful cause of trouble.
"The case OF the United States-alwdys
strong-was never so strong as II IS at
this moment Spain-always 40 iault-
was never so conspicuously az fault as
she was al the moment when she suggest
ed the recall OF General Lee. and critics.
ed the terms Of a bounty for those Tor
whose hapless condition she herself
stands responsible For the present, now
ever. in the light or her latest commune
cation "alls we'll that ends we'll She
will not insist upon Lees recall, ana very
clearly she will not FIRE upon ship bear
ing relief 10 her starving subjects mere
" because that means Of conveyance pos
sesses an armament"