The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-25
Who Desires to Take Every Possible
PrecautiOn for the Protection
of American Citizens.
BATTLE SHIP MAINE CHOSEN
WITH CAPTAIN SfGsBEE, A MAN OF
PLUCK AND NERVE, IN COMMAND.
Statements from Secretary Long and
Mr.. Day-NO Objection offered by
the Spanish Minister.


Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Jan. 24.-The sending of
the battle ship Maine TO Havana does not
mean that a crisis has been reached in our
Cuban relations. There is more to tho in
cident, however, than appears from the oti-
cial statements given odt in explanation.
it is true that the act of sending the Maine
into Cuban waters is not a hostile move
ment against Spain, or even an unfriendly
one, but there is no denying the fact that
the Spanish government would much pre-
fer that the vessel had been kept away, or.
rather that the circumstances which made
it necessary to order the war ship to IIa-
vana had not developed The true explana-
tion of the affair can be given in a few
words, and is as follows: The President
and the secretary of state have received
repeated warnings from a variety of
sources that plans were afoot TO attack the
American consulate in havana. These
warnings have been coming in ever since
the first signs of rioting and turbulence APP
peared in the Cuban capital. Nothing has
come of the conspiracies so far although
on at least one occasion the situation was
considered by General Blanco to be so
threatening that he had the American con-
sulate surrounded by Gordon of Spanish
SOiuleTS, IL move lHdJ WAS taken WITHOUT
the knowledge of Consul General Lee. The
fact that no violence had actually been at
tempted was not regarded by President
Mckinley and his advisers as a guarantee
that nothing would be attempted in that
direction, and it was held that if an at
tack should be made and injury to Amer
leans or damage to American interests re-
suit the charge might be lodged against
Isa iSfr
gent in its duty. having been repeatedly
warned of threatened danger. 1t was,
therefore, deemed best to dispatch a war
ship to Havana, and then, if an attack
should be made on the consulate or upon
Americans in Havana, it could not he said
that due precaution had not been taken for
the protection of our people and of their
interests. The battle ship was not sent to
Havana by the invitation of the Spanish
minister, as some have asserted, because an
invitation from this source would have been
a confession of the inability of the Spanish
government to handle a local riot, and,
worse still, a concession that the govern
ment itself was tottering. Minister De
LONE knew in advance that the war ship
was to be sent and his government at
Madrid was advised of the contemplated
move, and assured that it was in an en-
tirely friendly spirit, and intended as a pre-
cautionary measure.
There is no denying the fact, however,
that it is vastly different matter, the
dropping into Havana harbor of an Ameri-
can man-of-war, than would be the appear
aEce there of an English, German, or a
Japanese war ship, for Sagasta has charged
in a letter to President Mckinley that the
United States is the base of supplies for
the Cuban insurrecton and that the gov
err nient of the United States was negligent
in it's efforts to suppress filibustering. The
incident, therefore, may be, and on the sur
face it is harmless, and it may be attended
by nc unpleasant consequences, but 1T is
sufficiently fraught with grave possibilities
to entitle it to serious thought. The official
statements which describe the administra-
ton view of the incident do not suggest,
even remotely, the possibility of any un-
toward happening as result of the an
choring of an American war ship off Ha-
vana The Presidents close friends are
taking their cue from these officials and are
contributing to allay whatever disquiet may
have been occasioned.
Senator Fairbanks who may be said to
reflect very closely the Presidents views on
policies, and who is commonly supposed to
be well informed as to the administration
purposes, gave to your correspondent this
evening the following reassuring, yet
guarded, interview. He said: "The sending
of the Maine to Havana is by no means an
unfriendly act. Neither is it an unusual
thing to do. The presence of a war vessel
in Cuban waters will no doubt have reas-
suring effect respecting American interests.
The President can always be relied on to
do the necessary but conservative thing.
The mission of the Maine will not involve
serious consequences. Its going to Cuba is
but the resumption of practice which pre-
vailed until recent years"