The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-15

which has been shown by the present adj
ministration throughout It's term OF
Office
Tho Statist says that "a man better
ouolIGcd 10 conduct the foreign affairs Of
The United States than Mr.. Sherman
would refuse to notice DeLome and every
ono participating In the ahair, AIDING
that government based upon popular
suffrage has to expect free criticism
II adds: 1T does not sec why President
Mckinley. who IS accustomed 10 the
rouehness. as well as the smooihness or
politics. shows susceptibility and refuses
10 allow such freedom OF expression by
foreigners"
II is TO be regretted that a usually self
possessed and dlgnlhed administration
has failed to take just that view OF the
matter. We believe the Spectator is right
IN saving Mr.. Lincoln would have done II.
His good. hard common sense and IN
herent spirit Of justice would have made
him revolt al once at the idea OF alter
ing DeI.ome's position here to his disad-
vantage. because OF what a stolen private
letter contained. But We feel as conf
dent as we could feel Of anything that
General Robert T.. Lee would never have
allowed one moments attention 10 be
given to st..
We are. Of course. referring in all We
have said before and now to the facts
OF the letter that criticised Mr.. Mchin-
lev. We do not include the passages that
intimate that Spain is playing fast and
loose in the matter Of Cuban autonomy
and reciprocity Those matters were not
brought up for discussion in the first
notices the incident received, and all Of
the first discussions turned upon the
parts Of the letter that were so offensive
to Mr.. Mckinley. Spain ought, Of course,
20 be narrowly watched in the other mat
tors now that her accredited minister hiss
so plainly intimated that she is not deal
ing with us sincerely in respect 10 them.
But can we properly base any action
towards her upon this stolen letter? If
General Woodford asks Senior sagasta to
explain what his minister said, sagasta
will at once ask him how ne knows the
minister said 1t, and Woodford will have
10 admit that we learned it from one OF
his private letters when he makes
this admission he must surely
stand in very Notifying posi-
ton before Sagasta and the world.
sagasta would probably reproach
him with basing any inquiry Of any sort
Of Spain upon such o foundation. ana
he would probably assume the disnifed
position and decline 10 answer it. lie
would probably say Spain did not author
lie her diplomatic representatives TO make
declarations that dishonored her and II
Minister DeLome had been at any time
foolish enough to say anything of that
sort in confidence to a personal friend. 1t
would have become the United states to
assume that he was gossiping simply
and not making declarations that he eX-
pected his friend to take seriously. II
General Woodford does put this inquiry
10 the Spanish Premier ne will probably
be roundly snubbed, and he will deserve
it.
We have no business. therefore, 10 base
any inquiry Of any sort TO Spain upon
this stolen private letter. That should
be Just as though we had never known
IT existed. Nevertheless, what we learned
from il jusuhes us in suspecting SPANS
sincerity in her present course towards
us. and it becomes our duty 20 watch
all Of her actions with the greatest care.
When we see anything in them that au-
thorizes an inquiry Of her, she should
be taken up on sharp turn and re-
quired TO make the fullest and most COM
plefe exclamation of it,