The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
THE DE LONE INCIDENT.

1t is not probable that the De LONE Incl
possible. The incident is startling by its
suddenness, but it is only dangerous on ac-
count of the circumstances. In ordinary
times the discovery Of such letter writ
ten by foreign minister would be admit
ted on all hands as sufficient cause for his
resignation or recall, and the declaration by
the United States government that he was
persona non grata, or no longer an accept
able official at the capital would be recog-
nized as quite the proper thing. Every gov
eminent has the right to make this declara-
ton for reasons satisfactory to itself, and
the exercise of the right, under proper cir
cumstances, is no cause of offense. There
fore, in ordinary times, while the incident
might have been unpleasant it would not
have been dangerous. But the strained re-
lations between the two countries and the
infiammable state of mind among both peo-
pies invest the occurrence with extraordi-
nary Importance. The American people are
not apt to lose their heads or Ego off half
cooked" but the Spanish people are, and
in their present excited state of mind, in
famed by prejudice and INSTRUMENTATION, it
is quite possible they may construe the min
listers resignation or enforced recall into
an insult to Spain which they will seek to
resent by some act of violence that will
make it almost impossible to avoid col
lision. This government has shown a great
deal of patience and forbearance in its
treatment of the Cuban war; and if the
Spanish government or people should choose
to make the De LONE incident cause of
insult to the flag the American peo-
pie would demand prompt reparation. In
short, there is great deal of loose powder
in both countries and the De LONE incident
may strike a spark that will set it off.
The affair has taken such. a peculiar
shape that the incident may not be closed
for several days, and each day may in
crease the tension. The minister having
practically admitted the authenticity of the
letter. which was written on official paper
to a confidential agent of the Spanish gov
eminent, our government is justified in
treating it as an official letter Therefore,
as the Spanish government is responsible
for the official acts of its minister, this gov
eminent had a right to demand that it
should dsavow the letter and recall the
minister Immediately. 1t is probable this
the purport of the dispatch to min
lister at Madrid. This would involve at
once the humiliation of Spain and the dis
grace of her minister. The latter seems to
have sought to avoid this contingency by
promptly rendering his resignation, but it is
questionable whether its acceptance by the
Spanish government without the infection
OF any disgrace would be satisfactory to
this government. If Spain should hesitate
to comply with this demand or begin to
fence for time, this government might cut
the matter short by sending the minister
his passports This while fully justified by
the circumstances. would doubtless be con-
strued by the Spanish government as fur
Their indignity and would increase the ten
sion of the situation. Meanwhile Spain is
without any representative at Washington,
and will remain so until this affair is set
tied which will be all the difficult be-
cause the negotiations will have to be car
ried on by cable.