The age-herald., 1898-01-28
DE LoME's SUBSIDIZED PRESS.
How a Washington "Organ" of Spain Lied
 For Cash.

From the Washington Times.
 Senor Dupuy de Lome's Washington or gan printed yesterday a most reassuring explanation of the circumstances which led the government to order the Madne to Havana harbor. It was of a kind calcu- lated to restore confidence and change the spirit of American patriotism into one of unbridled hilarity. Evidently inspired and paid for by diplomacy, 1t was as truthful as such things from the same subdizing force always are, and, in short, it was funny beyond description.
 According to the account in question, Senor Dupuy de Lome and Judge Day were enjoying their matutinal smoke to- gether in the state department, and dis cussing a recoprocity treaty between the Ton-eXistent "autonomous' government of Cuba and this country, when Day dawned with the brilliant and entirely novel sug- gestion that the government at Madrid and the Spanish people of Havana might feel aggreved because it was three years since an American warship had anchored in the harbor of Havana. Senor de Lome im- mediately took fire. "The very thing!' he said. Tt is exactly what l have been praying for these three months! A few days ago he observed that such thing would be tantamount to a declaration Of war; but no matter.
 Having reached this merry conclusion, the two fraternal opponents of the Span iSh alliance lost time dn skipping over to Naval Secretary Long. His delight was apparent, and he asserted with tears in his eyes that if Dupuy de Lome insisted upon a warship he should have one right off the reel. Then all three of them went over to the white house, "where they were at once received by the president, to whom they imparted their important information" The story continues: ITO say that the president was overjoyed is to very mildly describe his feelings" It is wrong to describe such feelings or their expres- sion mildly. It would be better to go the complete animal, and to say that MT Mckinley embraced hds Spanish coadjutor and fell upon his breast, scratching his executive nose upon the exalted decoration of the Golden Fleas." Let us draw the curtain over such pathetic domestic scene, and painfully return to the realm of fact.
 Blanco has left Havana in a panic. His flight happening on the eve of the day upon which it has been said for week that there would be outbreak against Americans, was sufficiently omnibus. It was not rendered less so by serious Span dsh defeats in the field, almost within sight of the city, But the plain fact is that, in spite of these warnings nothing would have been done if Ftzhugh Lee had not person. ally addressed three cipher telegrams to MT Mckinley on Monday night, reminding him of hds previous promises and. as re- ported, declaring that he would close the consulate and leave the island by Tues days steamer for New York unless a war ship were instantly dispatched to his as- sis'lande.
 Upon receipt of these messages, the president and his cabinet, who Gall but Secretary Alger) were at Judge McKen- mas at dinner, resolved themselves into a committee of the whole dinner party on the state of the Spanish alliance. It was decided that Lees demand must be con- ceded or he would come home and tell tales and worse things might happen. Then Dupuy de Lome was sent for, and met Judge Day at the state department. Persons who were within earshot assert that he pleaded, stormed and raved against the order for the Maine to pro- ceed to Havana. For once he was unable to produce an impression. The administra- tion was in water too hot to allow him to raise the temperature.
 It was after this that he communicated with his organ, personally conducted, as to it's Cuban-Spanish news and policy, and prepared the story to which we have feel ingly referred. and which would do credit. not only to dc I,ome, but to Grimm. Hans Christian Anderson or Mir. Hoyt, author Of