The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-02
SPAIN IS ACQUITTED
Had No Official Participation
in the Explosion.
THIS IS ELIMINATED
SECRETARY LONG MAKES AN
UNOFFICIAL STATEMENT.
BUT SPANS LIABILITY is STILL OPEN
The Mantonomah and Katahdin Put Intc
Commission to Make Bertas for the Maine
Survivors, Cabinet Discusses the
Killing of Negro PostmaSters,

NN'iHsz VI i'SS9'o VSuH0oVS'S'
Washington. March 1.-The main 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 q
formal or official character and was
made by Mr.. Long as he walked away
from the White House. As usual the
various Cabinet officers were beseiged
with inquiries as TO the questions before
the meeting, and in response to these
OPPORTUNITIES the Secretary rather casr-
ally summed up the situation i'll few
words. stating that most of the time had
been given to the outrages Of colored
postmasters in the South. Naturally the
Cuban situation had been gone over, he
said. but there were no actual develop
ments and he felt that public excitement
over the subject had materially abated.
Then he added the statement, in the
same passing way. that any participation
by the Spanish government in the blow
ing up of the Maine as practically elimi-
mated. in his judgment. This last re-
mark was speedily given wide circulation
apart from the quoting references which
had accompanied it. 1t Immediately
started much comment and discussion,
and when Mr.. Long returned to the
Navy Department after lunch he found
that what he had intended to convey
was being given the force of an official
declaration that SPANS responsibility
for the disaster had been eliminated. In
order to make his meaning. as personal
expression of opinion. Mr.. Long dictated
the following statement:
1.-THE main things we talked about in
Cabinet were the outrages on the post
masters, one a white man IN Georgia
and one colored man in South Carolina.
in regard to the Cuban question /
said / thought things were growing
quieter every day. and as far as my
judgment went. | was inclined to think
any official participation on the part of
the Spanish government was now prac-
tically eliminated"
THINGS GROWING QUIETER.
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr..
Long desired to say on the subject. and
this much was given only to Offset en-
arged versions Of what he had said.
Persons occupying the closest relations
with the Secretary said that the opinion
expressed was such as any one might
give with the facts now ut hand. Ii
was not In any sense, it was explained,
a conclusion drawn from new evidence.
not made public, either from the Court
of Inquiry or any officer now concerned
in the inquiry. Neither facts nor init
nations have come from such sources,
il IL said at the Department. which
would serve as the basis for an opinion.
The official declaration Of Senior Du
Bose. the Spanish Charge D'Affairs. THAT
no mines or submarine defenses exist in
the harEJor Of Havana had come to the
attention Of Secretary Long and this
statement from the authorized represen-
tafive Of the Spanish government was
felt to have been given its due weight in
the opinion expressed by the Secretary
It WIS pointed out by persons bearing
clGsse relations TO the Secretary that
language used was official participation
on the part Of the Spanish government
This, il was said, had no bearing on the
question Of SPANS responsibility. The
official participation" Of Spain was one
thing, while the responsibility Of Spain
III cas-c the disaster proved to be of ex.
ternal origin, was quite another thing
The SecTefary's statement was restricted
IT was explained. to exculpating Spain
from direct official knowledge and par
ficipation in the affair. In case it was
shown that the act was due to some
fanatic or person uncOnnected with the
government, then the question Of SPANS
responsibility would he still open. Mr..
Long was much surprised that so much
attention had been given to his passing
allusion.
Aside from this incident the day
brought forth few developments
of Importance relating to the Maine.
No dispatches of any character from
Key West, where the Court of Inquiry
is 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 an
nounced during the day We're devoid of
significance.
Orders went out from the Navy De-
partment late this afternoon to put 2he
iron-cla(ls Miantonomah and Katahdin
into commission on the tenth instant.
They are now at the League Island
Navy yard, where they have been laid up
for year or two past. 1t is said at the
department that the purpose of putting
Them in commission is to make berths for
the survivors of the Maine now at Key
West, waiting on the Court of Inquiry
which without doubt will have finished
with them by the tenth. The Miantono-
NAH is formidable double tulreted
monitor carrying four ten inch guns.
Sine is of 1890 tons displacement and
steams 1912 knots per hour. In addition
TO her main battery she carries a good
secondary battery Of rapid fire guns and
der tIirrets are clad with 49, inch armor.
Her commander has mot yet been def
ntcly selected but the remainder of her
officers will be as follows
Lieutenant Commander Wilson, execu-
tive officer; Lieutenant Underwood. nav
ORATOR Lieutenant Hong. Gill and En-
sign Goldman, watch officers: Passed AS
sistant Surgeon Weaver and Chief En-
gineer Parks.
THE RAM KATAHDIN.
The Katahdin, otherwise known as the