Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-10

1t Is learned today that President Nc
Kinley did not become aware of the De
LONE letter through what he read IN the
morning papers yesterday. He was one
of the first in the country to come to the
conclusion that the letter was genuine. and
he reached this conclusion almost beyond
dpub: before midnight on Tuesday night.
A few minutes after IL o'clock Tuesday
nigi,t one of the Presidents closest friends
ma him aware of the fact that the let
ter was to be made public. Another close
friend had information direct from Mr..
De Lone about the letter. The Spanish
minister did not then deny that he had
written the letter. All that he would say
was that che didn't RENE mber.' This was
mmunicated TO the President and was
considered conclusive evidence that Mr.. De
LONE had at last been discovered in his
trickery. BY the time Judge Day reached
the White House yesterday morning there
vas then little doubt to the accuracy of
the letter.
Senator Gray. democrat of the foreign
relations committee of the Senate. was
one of the Presidents callers today. but
II he talked the absorbing subject of
the hour it was brief. Senator Gray was
asked whether he thought Senior De LONE
would be permitted to resign whether
his recall would be insisted upon. II do
not think there will be any issue between
Spain and this country on that point,
said Senator Gray to a Star reporter. Il
suppose MIR De Lone will be recalled, AMI
that his government Will make suitable
apology for his act. The Gentleness of
temper and anliability of President Nc
KinIey will prevent an International issue
being raised on the question of the manner
In which Mr.. De LONE shall leave this
country" Senator Gray then went on to
say that there would be some sympathy
for De LONE because of the difficulties he
has had to surmount here as the repre-
sentative of Spain and because of condi-
lions in his own country. The senator also
considered that the Spanish government
would be unable to replace De LONE with
n more brilliant man. although it might
secure one with more discretion.
Some OF the most noted republicans in
the country called upon the President dur
Ing the day and talked with him without
touching upon the Incident of the hour
They did not care to breach the subject
unless called up by the President. Several
Of them were wise and experienced sena-
tors. who have served their country for
years without being accused of jingoism,
and who are known to be conservative.
They privately eXpr esSed the hope to
Star reporter that severe measures would
be resorted to. that the Spanish govern
ment might be given tc understand that
this country would not permit the treach-
cry indicated in the letter of De LONE.
They were resentful and aroused, and ex-
pressed their feelings strongly.
Talk at the Capitol.
The De LONE incident was the principal
subject of comment in all circles at the
Capitol today and the uniform remark was
that the minister had, in resigning, pursued
the only course left open TO him after the
authenticity of his letter had been estab-
lished. In the Senate there were OCCASION
al expressions of surprise that a diplomat
of the experience of the Spanish minister
should have intrusted a letter of the char
acter of his letter to Senior Canalejas to
the mails. and one or two senators express
ed personal sympathy for Mr.. de LONE.
Following are some OF the expressions
heard on the floor of the Senate:
Senator AllisoH-Haying confessed,
CHI hat rhlra was moi hi NO laTr
Mr.. de LONE to do but to get out of the
country. and in my opinion the sooner he
goes the better.
Senator FiaIt of New York-The incident
is very unfortunate at this time. but now
that Mr.. de LONE is going away perhaps
I'll. less said the better.
Senator Jones of Arkansas-In view of
Mr.. dc BOmeS unjustifiable attack upon
the personal character of the President of
the United States. 1 should have given him
his passports at once. instead of asking
for his recall
Senator Davis chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign reiations-There was
Bothing left for lIT. de LONE but to resign
after dckno wledging the authorship of the
letter. He has taken that step. and | pre-
sumo the matter may be considered ended.
Senator Turpie, also of the committee on
foreign relations-Notwithsta ndng Mr.. de
Lome's resignation IT will still rest with the
President to say whether he shall still be
dismissed i should say that he should be
in case there is any great delay in his de-
parture from the country.
Senator Hdle-There was nothing left for
MIR. de LONE TO do but resign after ac-
knowledging the genuineness of the letter.
Still. the incident is a melancholy instance
of a mans injuriDg his fortunes and
possibly destroying a brilliant career by
one unfortunate mIssJep. With this excep-
ton MIR de Lome's career here as the rep
resentat!ve of his country at a critical time
has been entirely credJabIe, and he has
done much to maintain amicable relations
between the nations.
He has been wise. prudent and conserva-
tive. and has done much to preserve peace
Wien many less cautious man would
have been apt to commit offerse that
would have resulted in hostilities 1t was
Certainly indiscreet en- his part to write
sUch letter and commit it to the mails
ard he should have known better | have
lot conferred with Mr. de LONE since the
letter was made public but 1 feel confident
that the translation given out gives it
The harshest possible tone. and 1 believe
that proper translate would soften it
very much Personally. ! feel the de.DCst
sympathy in the meter. and am sorry that
Mr. de LONE is TO retire. but | do not
allow myself to think for a moment that
the incident Will be the cause of stralnins
the relations between this country and
Spain The liberal ministry will of course
send US as minister a man of It's own party
and l have no doubt shall secure an
acceptable and competent man as Mr. de
LCme's successor.
senior lie Lome.s Callers.
Senor de LONE received a number of call
ers yesterday and today nd to those sus-
tanning close relation to him he did not
deny the authenticity of the published let
ter. making it clear that he would scorn
the slbte-fuge of a denial To- purposes of
expediency. The only que stioa raised was
70 the accuracy of translation, for the pub
hShed trdnslatioEs gave a severity to some
OF the expressions on the President which
were regarded as designed to magnify the
actual statements Among the ministers
1rleDuS the act of stealing a confidential
letter and pIaking il public y as considered
as more reprehensible than the writing Of
the letter Itself. 1t was the general express
SION among the minister's associates of the
diplomatic corps thar while the publication
disclosed grave impropriety yet il was
one that might happen to any of them in
the course of those confidential communI-
cations in which the greatest freedom OF
expression is used in order to convey a fun
undefs landing of an interlationa ques-
ton
Mr. De LOme's Career
Enrique Dupuy de LONE has represented
the Spanish government at Washington
continuously since 1895 when he was an
pointed minis ter pleniDOtentfary and sn,,o,,