Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-01-25

y
Departs, for Evolution Practic.
secretary Long Announces That
-ag Visit Of the Maine to Havana
IS Made Merely as an Evidence
That the Administration Has
Falth in the Quiet Conditions
Auered to Exist in That Part.
Washington January 24.-The
United States steamship Maine has
r4Da ordered to Havana. 1t is said at
-ba Navy Department that no disturb
liz news has been received from
there. but that the movement is rather
II tle line Of a resumption Of free in
rarluse of our naval vessels in Cuban
uatess the same as prevailed prior to
taeir withdrawal on account OF the
outbreak Of hostilities.
10 was evident that the decision to
send the Maine to Havana for a visit
Was not arrived at hastily from the
events that preceded the announcement
Of The decision. For some time past
administration officials have been OF
opinion that a mistake was committed
by the preceding administration in tie
very beginning of the Cuban insurcc-
ton in deciding, out of excessive eau
ton and an overweening regard for the
selsibiiities of the Spanish public, to
e1f b0 icA ioh
pursued by our Navy Department for
years past of sending our warships Ill
intervals on cruises through the West
Indies that frequently included stops d.
Havana. 1t was not
REGARDED AS CONSISTENT
with our national pride that this prac-
tice, common to all maritime nations,
should have been abandoned or sus-
pended, and it was believed that if
it had beenAconsistently adhered to
there never would have been any COM
paint of the movements of our ships
from Spanish sources. Besides all ga
tons have exercised the right to main
ports inhabited by any considerable
number of their citizens when there
we're signs of trouble that threatened
their safety or their property. There
fore the administration some time
ago came to the conclusion that it
would take steps to restore the old or
ger of things, and allow our war ships
10 cruise freely and to touch in Cuban
ports, as soon as the change could
be made without leading to miscon-
struction and without being interpre-
ted as war measure, when as a mat
ter OF fact, nothing was further from
the intentions Of the President. The
first movement in the direction of the
Old practice was made last fall before
the assembling of Congress, when Sec
rotary Long announced through the
Associated Press his purpose to send
the entire North Atlantic squadron
TO the Tortugas harbor for their win
Ter evolutiOns, which for several years
past or ever since the beginning of
the Cuban instruction, had been per-
formed with difficulty and under all
kinds Of
DISCCURAGING CONDITIONS
vi wind and weather off the Chesa-
2he capes. This movement being re-
earal with equanimity the next step
.loWed when some of our little gun
ats were sent to cruise in the West
indies the Wilmington and the An
Hapolis being new in those waters. It
only remained to send one of our
SHIPS to Havana to completely restore
The old practice Naturally this was a
more delicate step than had been call
Ell for previously, and it was not until
the administration had satisfied itself
That conditions in Havana had quiet
~ and resumed the normal state that
existed before the recent military riot
ggainst the newspapers, that 1t was
deemed timely to make the last move.
ms decision was net reached with
oUt consideration of all results that
might follow. The Spanish minister,
senior Dupuy de Lone, was an early
caiier at the State Department, his pur-
Pose being to advise with the officials
i've to the negotiation of reel
Iot.ty treaty for Cuba under the
tfIms Of the present tariff act. This
purpose in itself may be regarded as
an evidence of the confidence of both
parties in the security of the outlook.
1Jer his visit Assistant Secretary
~ repaired to the White House and
was a notable gathering around
President including Secretary
I-'ag Of the Navy, Attorney General
Achenna and General Miles, the com
~ahding general of the army.
ALL CALLERS WE'RE DENIED
access to the Presidents room, much
10 iheir chagrin, this being the day Of
'le week that is most largely assigned
'0 TEo reception Of Congressional cali
GS The conference lasted for nearly
~ tQur, and when it broke up it was
'"A every evidence of serenity ami
.A-'oence in the peaceful outlook that
members dispersed Secretary
-V.s was entrusted with the duty of
eng public statement concerning
Names orders and the reasons
therefor.
secretary Long this morning, in re-
10 the movements of the ships,
~ far from there being
ioundation for the rumors
trouble at Havana, matters
now in such condition
our vessels are going TO
their friendly calls at Cuban
and 80 in and out just as the
OF other nations do The
"p VIII go in a day or two on just
visit. The department has is
r orders or vessels to attend the
celebrations at Mobile and the
or n,.1a FL,