The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-02-16
SPANISH
DIPLOMACY.
Disgust in Washington Over
The De LONE
Letter.
SAMPLES OF HIS CONTEMPT FOR US.
How He Hoodwinked Navy Clerk
And Secured Valuable Flaps
And Drawings.
SAMPLES OF HIS CONTEMPT FOR US
WHY THE QUEEN TOOK A HAND.

WASHINGTON, Feb 1b.--[Special. Aft
or a whole winter of CUBAN talk the first
bit OF real Cuban excitement we have had
In the capital came over the letter written
by Dupuy dc LONE, the former Spanish
minister, which led to his departure from
this city discredited as diplomat. In these
dispatches have already described some
of tho characteristic methods Of the late
minister-his tendency to bluff his way
through, his adroitness, his cool nerve.
The letter which led to his undoing was In
some respects surprise to public men who
had not closely watched the Spanish min
lister. They had supposed him to DO a man
OF sincerity, and that the government be-
hind him was more or less sincere In its
professions of friendship for the United
States and its desire to satisfy the people
of this country. The most serious aspect
OF the now famous letter, as many public
men here view the matter, is the revelation
which 1t makes OF SPANS tricky policy as
to the United States.
Game of HOodwink.
The whole play of Spanish diplomacy
appears to have been directed toward hood
winking the American government. To
this end they have bent every energy and
used all their ingenuity. There was deep
disgust among public men In Washington
when they read In Dupuy de Lome's letter
of the scurvy device to negotiate COM
mercial treaty with this country in order
to throw dust In the eyes of the people here
and afford the Spanish minister means of
carrying on new propaganda In SPANS
behalf.
There has never been any welcome for
the Spanish proposition to make now REQ
iprooity treaties That proposition has
looked too much like scheme to bride us
with little better trade opening. 1t as
sumed at the outset that the Spanish view
of US was corvette wit, that we are
nation OF shopkeepers, who care for nothing
except the almighty dollar, and that as
long as our oupidity was catered to moth
ing In the line of humane or high minded
action need be feared. The letter OF the
Spanish minister, apart from its insult to
the president, and through him TO the
whole American people, has done one good
thing In unmasking Spanish diplomacy.
De LOms's Cool Nerve.
have hoard a story concerning tho cool
nerve Of Dupuy dc LONE, story so In
credible that could not believe IL did 10
not come to me on good authority. IL IL
indicative OF the contempt which that gen
tleman had for all things American. One
day the Spanish minister made his appear
ance at an Office In the navy department
where maps and drawings are kept. There
was certain Information which he wanted,
and he AooostOd the clerk In charge In p
CHEEKY, friendly manner. In telling Of the
incident afterward the clerk said;
81 was much pleased with Mr.. do LONE.
He seemed TO be such nice man. He was
as democratic as any OF us. Ho sat down
and chatted with me, handed me good
cigar which he said had been brought In
from Cuba without paying any duty and
laughed and ioked with mo a. nicely as
you please. Whom no told me what he
wanted, Just some information for mag
azIno article he was writing, Of course 10
was pleasure 10 mo TO comply. gave
him the maps and drawings he asked for,
and no went away very much pleased. We
struck up quite friendship, He Is just
as plain and friendly a. any common
American"
"whatf Do you say that yon gave him
The maps he asked for--maps Of our coasl
and drawings oi ouf ioFiIIieationsf'
NcIl son ~ 1lezu 'sol ,hAa j