The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-02
LONG IS LONG HEADED,
The Secretary of the Navy
Solved a Difficult Problem.
SENDING THE MAINE TO HAVANA.
spain's Objections Were Overcome by
Diplomacy - The Administration Was
Greatly Worried Over the Situation.
The Inside History of the Incident.

WASHINGTON Feb. Especial. There
are some facts concerning tho motive OF
the administration i'm sending the battle
ship Maine to Havana and the manner In
which the order was issued without giving
offensc to Spain, which the public does not
yet understand. 1t is a story which shows
that the president has about him men who
are smart enough to cope with the best
diplomatists of the world. Credit for this
maneuver, which was a most skillful one,
belongs to the president himself, Secretary
of the Navy Long and Assistant Secretary
of State Day. 1t was Secretary Long who
brought matters to crisis and secured the
presidents approval of an order dispatch
ing the big battleship to the Cuban capital.
Correspondents and editors have puzzled
their brains and advanced all sorts OF
theories to account for the stationing OF
the ship at Havana. They have tried to
| explain the act upon the ground of some
Interior motive, perhaps something sensa
tional. But it was very simple matter
after all AS noted In these dispatches
year ago before the Inauguration of the
president. Mr. Mckinley believed this gov
eminent should keep warship constantly
| Mt Hnvnna 1t was his intention to send
one there within two weeks after ho took
the oath of Office as president of the Unit
| cd States.
Consulted spain's Wishes.
On coming TO Washington, however, he
found that Spain was exceedingly unwill-
ing to have an American naval vessel In
Havana harbor The Spanish minister,
Dupuy dc LONE, argued that II u ship
were sent there the people of Havana
would 10 very angry about 1t and trouhlc
might cnsue. some of the president $ adj
viscrs thought 50, too, and tho president
relrc.autiy atandon,d his intention, ten
rorarily Mt least Thus matters dri.tsd
along all last year. until abont three
weeks ago there wcro riots in, tho streets
of Havana.
That was most anxious timo for the
, president and his cabinos ministers When
J they came togs rher in cabinet council, this
question was asked:
! "Suppose there is moro rioting In Ha-
yana and Americans are attacked ana
killed or injured. We have no warship
there, no force to protect our citizens'
What will the people say of us? VIII they
not saw we have neglected our dutyP Will
they not hold US directly responsible Tor
failure to protect our people and their
, property"
The unanimous answer to this question
/, was that the responsibility was greater
one than tho administration cared to as
sumo. From that moment it was decided
to get warship into Havana as soon as II
could be done without danger of leading
I to riots
: Fortunately Consul General Lee had
: weeks before warned the president that
trouble might lie expected in Havana, and
as precautionary measure the nortn
Atlantic squadron had been ordered tc
9 cruise in southern waters. But there was
: n great difference between having ships al
: Key West and in having them at Havana
9 where marines could be landed In case o
!, trouble, and 1t was to Havana tho admin
= istration was decided ship could go.
r Worried Secretary Long.
: No ono felt tho responsibility of this sit
4 nation more l.eenly than Secretary Long
/ lie could scarce " sleep Of nights. II az
at tho heat ~ tho navy department, b
Il said to somo OF his friends, "and IL any
i thing happens to General Lee or otEe
|, Americans in Havana before weR get n war
n ship there for their protection l shall neve
It forgive myself, and probably shall nove
q be forgiven by the country"
4 So MIR. Long. who is good deal OF
= diplomat and may some day hnd himsoI
at the head Of the state department., set u
n work to exercise his wits to flrd way
Il getting the Maine over to Havana without
!. alarming either tho Spaniards or the PEG
!. ple of our own country. A good opportu
n nifty soon presented itself. The Spanis
,s minister called at the state department .
"a propose that tho United States enter int
m negotiations for reciprocity treaty as =
N Cuban trade. - sa,lre
le Everything is perfectly quiet In Ha
"a vanas" asked Secretary Long, who bal
pened to be- present
RI =" Perfectly, - replied the minister "Th
NJ Spanish government 10 fully able to pr
g serve order there. You need have no tea
- - xy,ak ecora -