The herald., 1898-03-02
SPAIN is NOT TO BLAME
so FAR AS OFFICIAL ACTS ARE
CONCERNED
QUESTION OF HER LIABILITY
Still Remains if It Is Shown That the
Maine Was Destroyed by
Fanatic
Associated Press specla. Wire


WASHINGTON, March 1.-The chief in
terest of the day in connection with the
Maine inquiry centered in statement by
Secretary Long, following the cabinet
meeting, that in his personal opinion any
official participation by the Spanish gov
ernment In the blowing UP of the Maine
was now practically eliminated from the
situation. This statement was not of a
formal or official character, and was made
by Mr. Long as he walked away from the
White House. AS usual. the various cab
met officers were besieged with inquiries
as to the questions before the meeting,
and in response to these opportunities the
secretary rather casually summed up the
situation in few words, stating that most
of the time had been given to the out
RACES on colored postmasters in the south.
Naturally, the Cuban situation had been
gone over. he said, but there were no ac-
tual developments and he felt that public
excitement on the subject had materially
abated. Then he added the statement, in
the same passing way, that any participa-
tion by the Spanish government in the
blowing up of the Maine was practically
eliminated. in his judgment. This last re-
mark was speedily given wide circulation,
had accompanied it. 1t Immediately start
ed much comment and discussion, and
when Mr.. Long returned to the navy de-
partment after lunch he found that what
he had intended to convey was being given
the force of an official declaration that
Spain's responsibility for the disaster had
been eliminated.
In order to make clear his meaning, as
a personal expression of opinion, Mr.. Long
dictated the following statement:
1.-The main things we talked about in cab
met were the outrages on the postmasters
one a white man in Georgia and one a
colored man in South Carolina.
In regard to the Cuban situation, 1 said
thought things were growing quieter
every day, and as far as my judgment went
was inclined to think that any official
participation on the part of the Spanish
government in the disaster was now prac-
tically eliminated"
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr..
Long desired to say on the subject, and this
much was given only to Offset enlarged yer-
sions OF what he had said. Persons Occu-
pying the closest relations with the secre-
tary said that the opinion expressed was
such as anyone might give with the facts
now at hand. 1t was not in any sense, it
new evidence not made public, either from
the court of inquiry or any officer now con-
cerned in the inquiry.
Neither facts nor intimations have come
from such sources, 1t is said at the depart
ment, which would serve as the basis of
an opinion. The official declaration of
Senior du Bose, the Spanish charge daft
faires, that no mines nor submarine de-
fenses exist In the harbor of Havana, had
come to the attention of Secretary Long
and this statement, from the authorized
representative of the Spanish government,
was felt to have been given its due weight
in the opinion expressed by the secretary.
1t was pointed out by persons bearing
close relations with the secretary that the
language used was "official participation
on the part of the Spanish government.
This, 1t was said, had no bearing on the
question of Spain's responsibility, The
"official participation" of Spain was one
thing, while the responsibility of Spain
In case the disaster proved to be of exter-
nal origin, was quite another thing. The
secretary's statement was restricted, Z;
was explained. to exculpating Spain from
direct official knowledge and participation
in the affair. In case 1t was shown that
the act was due to some fanatic or person
not connected with the government, then
the question of Spain's responsibility would
be still open.
Mr.. Long was much surprised that SC
passing allusion.
Aside from this incident, the day brought
forth few developments of Importance re-
lating to the Maine. No dispatches of any
character from Key West, where the court
of inquiry is now sitting, were given out
during the day, and as the rule of publicity
is still in force, presumably nothing came
from that quarter. The vessel movements
announced during the day were devoid OF
significance.
The two outrages on Republican post
masters in the south discussed occurred at
Lake City. s. c., and Ada, Ga. Freeman
the postmaster at the latter place, was
assassinated before he entered upon the
discharge of his duties as postmaster. The
president, 1t is said. is very much dis
turbed by these acts, though he views with
satisfaction the fact that the whole south.
ern press has expressed its Indignation
The first impulse of the officials in cases
like those cited, It is said, is to abolish the
office where the outrage occurred, al
though it is realized that such a ster
would deprive of their postal facilities
large numbers of citizens who have moth
ing to do with the killing. The president
therefore, finds 1t difficult to lay down q
rigid rule that can be applied In all cases
The Office at Lake City has been abolished
but SO far nothing has been done regarding
the case at Ada
Orders went out from the navy depart
ment late this afternoon to put the iron
clads, Miantonomah and Katahdin, into
commission on the 10th inst. They are
now at the League Island navy yard
where they have been laid up for year OF
two past. 1t is said at the department
that the purpose Of putting them in COM
mission is to make berths for the survi-
vors Of the Maine now at Key West wait.
ing on the court Of inquiry, which. without
doubt, will have finished with them by the
10th inst.
The Miantonomah is a FORMIDABLE, double
turreted monitor, carrying four 1O-inch
guns. She is of 1890 tons displacement
and steams 10la knots an hour. In addi,
ton to her main battery she carries good
secondary battery of rapid-fire guns, and
her turrets are clad with 1lh-inch
armor, Her commander has not yet been
definitely selected. but the remainder OF
her officers will be as follows: Lieutenant
Commander Wilson, executive officer
Lieutenant Underwood, navigator; Lieu.
tenants Hoog and Gill ana Ensisn Colman,
watch officers; past aasistan4 surgeon,
Weaver; chief engineer, Parks.
Tho Katahdin, otherwise known as the
American, II . freak In naval architecture;
and although opinions are divided ~ ID
her qualities thera Il Nttle doubt that her
presence y ~ lalbe! yeuld mahs -