Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24


do at once. and that is to send to Havana
the North Atlantic squadron to maintain
order. protect American ciilzens and prop
eTly aid the Cubans in achieving their
liberty. as France helped our revolutionary
fathers in 1176. A little nerve on the part
of TIE Navy Department would settle the
Cuban question in twenty-four hours
Not Significant, Says Mr.. Hale.
Senator Hale. chairman of the Senate
committee on naval affairs. placed no sig
nificance in the ordering of the Maine to
Havana He said that IL warshp had
been sent to Havana it was merely in CON-
sequence of the change of government and
nothing more.
Representative Meyer of Louisiana. one
of the naval committee. expressed salts
faction. When foreign warships come 10
New OrIears Mr. Meyer gays, 1t is regard
ed as A mark Of respect, and Spain cannot
possibly take umbrage On the presence OF
the Maine at Havana
Senator Turpie-'I am very glad OF IL.
II is good news
Senator DapieE.I am glad to hear it. it
ought to have been done two years ago.
should Have Been Done Before.
Representative Cummings of New YORK
said: The Maine ought to have been sent
to Havana two years ago 1t would nave
saved the life of many an American citi-
zen. put a stop to the butcheries of Weyler
and forced Spain to troop in the ranks OF
civilization. But better late than never.
The country has been awake for long
time. am glad that it's outcry has at last
started the administration from its legar-
thy"
Representative Grosvenor of Ohio said ne
construed this action to mean that there
was apprehension of another. outbreak at
Havana and that it would he directed
against. our people.
He said he could not think the sending
OF the Maine due strain be-
tween the United States and Spain. but
rather to meet the anticipated emergency
of an outbreak.
Representative J. Fl. Lewis of Washing
ton said his understanding was that the
Maine had gone to Havana at the request
of Consul General Lee. with a view to
protecting American interests, and that
General Lee was in effect to use his own
judgment to the use to be made of the
navy Mr. Lewis said he most heartily ap-
proved this course If single American
life or piece of property was in danger.
Not a Hnsty Decision.
1t WAS evident that the decision to send
the Maine 10 Havana for visit was not
arrived at hastily from the events that
preceded the announcement of the decision
For some time past the administration Off
Gals have been of the opinion that mis-
take was committed by the preceding ad-
ninistration in the very beginning of the
Cuban insurrection, in deciding out of
CeSsive caution and an overWeeninS re-
gard Tor the SenSloIEties of the Spanish
public to abandon the practice which had
been pursued by our Navy Department for
Years past of sending our warships at in
tervalS on cruises through the West Indies
THAI frequently included stops at Havana.
1t was not regarded as consistent with our
national pride that this practice, common
TO ali maritime nations. should have been
abandoned or suspended, and it was be-
heved that if il had been consistently ad-
hered to. there never would have been any
complaint of the movements of our ships
from Spanish sources. Besides all nations
have exercised the right to maintain az
least a small naval force at ports inhabited
by any considerable number of their citi-
Zens when there were signs Of trouble tina:
threatened their safety or their property.
The Old Order of Things.
Therefore the administration some time
ago came to the conclusion that il would
take steps 10 restore the old order of
things. and allow our warships to cruise
freely and to touch in Cuban ports, as
s0on as the change could be made without
leading to misconstrTction and without be-
ing Interpreted as a war measure, when,
il is said, nothing was further from the
intention CT the President
The first movement in the direction of
the old practice was made last fall before
the assembling of Congress, when Score
tary Long announced his purpose 10 send
the entire Ecrth Atlantic squadron to the
TortuSas harbor for their winter evolu-
lions, which. for several years past or
ever since the beginning of the Cuban in
surrection. had been performed with. diff
ficulty and under all kinds of dtscoura ging
conditions of wind and weather off the
Chesap eaks capes.
This movement being received with eq1a-
h!nity the next step followed, when some
of our little gunboats We're sent TO cruise
in the West indies. the Wilmington and
the ADpapolis. being now in those waters
IL remained only send ono ~ mr., ii hi,
TO Havana to completely restore the old
Prs.ctice- Naturally this was more deli
cate step than mad been called for previous
y. and it, was not until the administration
had satisfied itself that conditions in Ha-
yans' la auieted down and resumed the
normal state that existed before the recent
military riot against the newspapers that
II was deemed timely to make the last
move.
Description of the Maine.
The. Maine. which has been selected to
make the visit to Havana for the protec-
ton of American interests. is a battleship
of the. second class and is regarded as one
of the best ships in the new navy She
was built at the Brooklyn navy yard and
ISIS -feet long, % feet broad u 6 mean
orauSht and 6.6S2 tons displacement She
has Two lt'-inch vertical turrets and two
military masts, and her motive power is
furnished by twin screw vertical triple
expansion engines. having a maximum
horse power of 9.293.- capable of making
speed of 1I-15 knots. She carries four
lo-iffch and six 6-inch breech-loading guns
in her main battery and seven 6-pounder
and eight 1-pounder rapid-fire guns and
four Gatiings in her secondary battery
and four Whitehead torpedoes.
The Spanish Minister Calls.
This was not taken without consideration
of all the results that might follow The
Spanish minister. Senior Dupuy de LONE.
was an early caller at the State Depart
ment. his purpose being to advise with the
officials relative to the negotiation of
reciprocity treaty for Cuba under the terms
of the present tariff act. This purpose in
itself may be regarded as an evidence of
the confidence of both parties in the Sc
curity of the outlook After his visit AS
sistant Secretary Day repaired to the
White House. All callers were denied ac-
cess to the Presidents room, much to their
charsin, this being the day of the week
that is most largely assigned to the re-
ception of congressional callers. The con-
ference lasted for nearly an hour and
when IL broke UP ii was with every evil
dence of serenity and confidence in the
peaceful outlook that the members dis
perse.