Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-11
DE LOME'S RESIGNATION


Senior de Lome's predicament is un-
fortunate both for Spain and for the
United States, because his successor,
whoever he may be, cannot be expected
of the Cuban situation or the under
standing of tine American temper, SEN
timent or official usages that constituted
a part of De Lome's diplomatic equip
ment. For this reason, the chances of
misunderstanding, disagreement and
possibly rupture of diplomatic relations
may be increased. His prompt resigna-
ton and its prompt acceptance by the
Spanish cabinet relieve him from the
disgrace and loss of caste which are
the inevitable consequences of removal
by the home government.
1t does not speak well of the Spanish
appreciation of the courtesy, moderation
and fairness which our government has
shown in it's dealings with Spain, that
Minister de LONE should privately har-
Dor such sentiments as are expressed
in his letter. Whatever grievance he
may have against the jingoes or against
the American people, he has had no rea-
sonable ground for complaint against
the administration.
There is another aspect of the case
however, which should not be over
looked. The real offense of the Spanish
minister consists in being found out
Criticism of presidents and of the sec
retares Of state in private among for
eign representatives in Washington is
no new thing, according to the testi-
mony of the correspondents. Disparag-
ing remarks made in a club or at din
ner party are naturally respected as
condolences, and possibly the custom Of
free discussion may be too common to
make it safe for the pot to call the ket-
tie black. Hence actual danger of com
plications may be averted by the exer-
else of only ordinary discretion.
Moreover, the action of the Cuban
junta in accepting and publishing a..
stolen private lstter (such seems to be
the admitted method of procuring it,,
is not an achievement that would or
dinarily appeal to the American sense Of
honor or of decency. In America the
custom is to allow man even in office
the full right to his personal opinions,
and the confidential expression Of those
opinions is not necessarily deserving of
condemnation. If by chance or malice.
those opinions are made public, the use
fulness of the man who expresses them
may, Of course, be seriously impaired.
in the case of Senor de LONE, his use
fulness is utterly destroyed; and that, of
course, is precisely the object for which
the Cuban junta has been striving.
Their avowed attorney, presumably a
paid attorney, took the letter to Wash
ington to convince the president of it's
genuineness after publication. Nobody
would have had the courage directly to
take to the president a private letter
written by foreign ambassador, and
obtained, nobody knows how. 1t must
first be published in the newspapers, in
order to make such trouble that the ad-
ministration would have no recourse but
to show resentment to the Spanish rep
resentative, whatever the consequences
might be.
Senor de LONE has been much too sue
cessful for the purposes of the junta, in
preserving friendly relations between
his government and that Of the United
states, and, therefore his downfall was
plotted and effected. In this the junta
has only given fresh evidence Of it's pur-
pose to embroil the United States in war,
ties for her Considering the broad lib
erty allowed the Cuban agents in this
country, it is pertinent to inquire if they
have not abused the privileges of hos
pitality.