The record-union., 1898-03-08
LATEST COMPLICATIONS.

The first news concerning a new COM
piication with Spain was that the
Spanish Government had asked the
President to recall Consul General Lee.
1t is now stated that it was not a de-
mand but an intimation thrown out
as a "feeler." To this the President
gave such emphatic response in the
negative that Spain has acquiesced and
Withdrawn her suggestion. To have
complied would have been little less
than direct condemnation of General
Lee, who has proved a capable, cour-
ageous and discreet representative of
the United States. That last act of
his, the establishment Of a hospital in
Havana for sick and needy children Of
dead and Impoverished Cubans, was
the straw that broke the Spanish back.
II is one of the means Spain employs
to conquer Cuban insurgents, to reduce
their families to beggary, and then let
the dependents starve and rot, Tn
doubtedly, General Lee is man of
warm sympathies, and generous i'm
pulses, and that his heart has been
made to bleed over the sufferings of
the non -combatants in Cuba speaks for
his manhood and tenderness; that he
should have done all in his power to
relieve the suffering about him GER
tainly should not be cause Of offense
Possibly it is not, and that the real
trouble arises out of the belief that
General Lee holds to a theory concern
ing the destruction of the Maine that
is not consonant with Spanish ideas.
Or it may be that our Consul General
has not shown that regard for the aw-
ful station of high Spanish officials
which they think comports with their
dignity. Or, possibly, Spain is desrous
Of picking a. quarrel that will push the
Maine incident into the background
Or, still another cause may be the
moving force behind the demand
namely. that il is retaliation for the
practical dismissal of De LONE. But
whatever the reason, the President of
the United States has done the right
thing In promptly and without the least
hesitation refusing to comply with
Spanish desire
If now the news should come that
Spain has rendered General Lee his
passports no surprise should be mani
fest, nor viii the action be indicative
of provccation Of war. 1t is the right
OF nation to dismiss any Consul ac-
credited to it at any time. Over and
again nations have done this. and it
has never been considered causus bellL
So trained a diplomat as General
Sicl1les is quoted as saying that Spain
IS clearly within her rights if she asks
the recall Of General Lee. She can de-
clare any consular representative non
gratia, whether the reason for the ac-
ton IS sufficient or not. We hold and
exercise the same right The Lee in
TO bring us any nearer to the gates OF
war than We are already. But taken
IN connection with other events, and
the loss Of the Maine especially, Il
probably serves to increase the tense
condition of relations between the
United States and Spain.
So far as the protest Of Spain con-
cerning the transportation of supplies
for sufferers is involved in this latest
difficulty, 1t does not amount to a
great deal. Probably our Government
realizes that while there should be no
ofrense taken at the presence in Cuban
waters OF an American warship, yet
that even when on an errand of mercy
the coming of such ship might prove
moral encouragement TO the insurgents.
and that therefore the Spanish have
some ground for objecting TO the sup
plies coming IN a ship OF war. however
acknowledgement her mission. But while
this may be said, it VIII remain that
the very fact OF sending in supplies at
all viii tend to convince the insurgents
stll more OF the friendliness with
which We regard their cause.
It isvs.mply undeniable that the great
body Of the American people are in
sympathy with the Cuban revolution