The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-10
DELOME IN HOT WATER
Alleged Letter Refecting Upon
President Mckinley.
CUBANS ADMIT TO STEALING 1T.

Serious Consequence Likely to Follow
Whether Criticism of the President of
the United States by the Spanish Minis
ter Is Found To he Forgery Not
Senate Galleries Crowded with People to
Hear Debate on Cuba.
Washington, Feb. 10.-Washington Is
agog over the publication of the letter
alleged to have been written by Senior
de LONE, the Spanish minister, in which
he criticised the president. 1t is the
sensation of the season. The letter,
which bears all the earmarks of genu-
ineness, contains severe and insult
ing attack on President Mckinley,
among other things saying, with reL ard
to the executives message:
1T shows once more that Mckinley is
weak and catering to the rabble, and
besides being low politician. who de-
sires TO leave a door open to me and
to stand well with the jingoes of his
party"
Horatio Reubens of the junta, who
made the letter public, says frankly
that ii was stolen. "All is fair in war;"
and the offense is not extraditable. The
theft was committed in Havana. Ca
nalejas recently went to the Cuban cap
ital to report the condition Of affairs
for his paper. the Madrid Heraldo. He
was closely watched by Cuban spies,
one of whom extracted the letter from
his mail.
Consequence That May Follow.
The publication is likely to be fol-
lowed by serious consequences whether
the authenticity of the letter is estab-
lshed or not. The minister would give
no interview on the subject, but lie has
said to friends that the letter is for
gerry.
1t is understood that the state de-
partment has already called the atten-
tion of the Spanish government to the
alleged letter The next step will be fer
the Spanish foreign office to demand
an explanation from Senor de Lone
| If he disclaims the authorship, the Sec
retary of state upon the receipt Of the
| disclaimer will allow the matter TO
drop. Such seems to be the opinion of
those in authority at the state depart
ment who are willing to discuss the in
cident. Whatever may be the private
| opinion of the president and state de-
partment officials concerning the au-
| thenticity of the letter they will not
pursue the matter in face of an official
disclaimer from Senor de LONE. If he
! fails to deny the authorship of the let
| ter his recall will follow without doubt.
Another Serious Feature.
There is another serious feature to
the affair that has escaped the atten-
ton Of many. State department officers
| called attention TO the federal statute
which makes it a criminal offense to
| libel the diplomatic representative OF
| foreign country accredited to the
| United States, and 1t is asserted that
Senior de LONE has good cause for ac-
ton against the authors Of tHa letter
/ should he establish that ii Wa a for
gerry and against every newspaper that
| published 1t.
II he invokes the law the minister
will be compelled to prove the letter to
| be a forgery, while mere disclairs
will be accepted as sufficient TO relieve
| him from the humiliation of recall.
! No other subject is discussed in Wash
! ington. Cabinet officers, representa-
( tives in congress and high government
officials were keenly interested in the
] episode. At the swagger clubs and In
/ diplomatic circles it was the subject OF
| speculation and grave inquiry.