The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-02-25
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

lrTOih Jul ISSuiuI ICoilcSpohuCh.l
WASHINGTON, d. G. Feb. 20, 1898
President Mckinley has never justi
fed the confidence reposed in him by
the American people to more marked
extent than since the publication of
the grossly insulting letter written by
Senior de LONE, late Spanish Minister
to the U. S. In that letter, Senior de
LONE personally insulted the Presi-
dent, as we'll as his own government.
When Washington was in ferment
of excitement and men of prominence
who are usually cool headed were ad
visiEg all sorts of hot-headed steps on
the part OF this government, President
Mckinley never for moment los: the
coplness which has always marked his
! acts at critical periods, although there
isn't the slightest doubt that his blood
fairly boiled at de Lome's insults.
Like the true patriot that he is, he
sunk his individuality and acted only
as the country's executive. He mere
ly requested the Spanish government,
through the American Minister at
! Madrid, to recall de LONE. SenOr de
LONE had anticipated that and tabled
his gnation, and it was accepted by
his government before the request for
his recall was presented. The wisdom
of this moderation on the part of the
President is daily becoming more ap-
parent There was another important
| feature of de Lome's letter, in which
he declared that autonomy for Cuba
and negotiations for q reciprocity
| treaty were only shams.,
No statement Or apology from Spain
can remove the effect OF its minister's
assertions concerning autonomy and
| reciprocity; therefore Senior de Lome's
letter is likely to be factor in de-
| termining the future relations of this
| government toward Cuba. There is
| little doubt that President Mckinley
would have taken steps before now to
have brought the war in Cuba to a
close, had it not been for Spain's
autonomy scheme. Although he did
not probably have more faith in the
success of autonomy than the average
man familiar with the situation in
Cuba, President Mckinley felt bound
to accept the claim OF Spain that it
was honest in it's offer of autonomy,
and to allow sufficient time to demon
strate it's success or failure to elapse
before taking action. Regardless of
whas Spain may do or not do, de
Lome's letter has changed the whole
situation, and it is not now thought
in Washington that anything short Of
Spain's developing an unexpected abil-
ity to bling tbe4war.in Cuba to an end
herself will prevent early action on the
part OF. this government. Congress de-
serves credit. for having kept quiet and
allowed the President to manage this
! affair.
The House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce will this week
give public hearings on the Hepburn
bill for the establishment of new
executive department, to be known as
the Department of Industry and Com
merce, the head of which shall be a
member of the Cabinet, and upon the
National Quarantine bill.
In order to learn definitely whether
the time now being devoted to the
discussion OF the treaty for the annex
alton of Hawaii is being thrown away,
the Committee on Foreign Relations
will, this week ascertain the full
strength of the treaty in the Senate,
! by bringing about a. vote that will
serve as test.
| Should the vote show that the trea-
ty is short of the necessary two-thirds,
| it will at once be abandoned, and the
efforts of the committee be devoted to
pushing a joint resolution providing
! for annexation to a vote. Members of
! the Committee have not the slightest
| doubt of annexation at this session of
| Congress; only they desire to be alb
| sOlutely certain that it cannot be Sc
cured by ratification of the treaty,
before starting upon the other route.
\