The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-02
NO BASIS FOR OPINION
Long Exculpates Spain From
Official Responsibility.
A QUESTION OF DAMAGES
1t Would Still Be Open if the Disaster
Was Proved to Be Caused by the
Act of Some Fanatic -Outrages
on Southern Postmasters

interest of the day in connection with
the Maine inquiry centered in state
ment by Secretary Long, following the
cabinet meeting, that in his personal
opinion any official participation by the
spanish government in the blowing up
OF the Maine was now practically elm
mated from the situation. This state
ment 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 cabinet
officers were besieged with inquiries as
to the questions before the meeting, and
in response to these opportunities the
| secretary replied, casually summing up
| the situation in few words, stating
that most of the time had been given
| to the outrages on colored postmasters
| in the South.
Naturally, the Cuban situation had
| been gone over, he said, but there were
no actual developments. and he felt
| that public excitement over the subject
had materially abated. Then he adde.i
| the statement in the same passing way,
| that any participation by the Spanish
| government in the blowing UP of the
| Maine was practically eliminated in his
| judgment. This last remark was speed
| lly given wide circulation, apart from
the references which had accompanied
ment and discussion and when Mr. Long
returned to the navy department after
lunch he found that what he had in
tended 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 personal ex-
preston of opinion, Mr.. Long dictated
the following statement:
THE main things we talked about in
cabinet were the outrages on the post
masters, one a white man in Georgia
and cne colored man in South Caro-
lima. In regard to the Cuban situation,
! 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
Iart or the Spanish government in the
disaster was now practically elm
mated
The foregoing conveyed all that Mr..
Long desired to say on the subject and
this much was given only to offset en-
larged 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 facts now at hand. 1t was
not In any sense, it was explained
conclusion drawn from new evidence
not made public, either from the court
OF inquiry or any officer now concerned
In the inquiry. Neither facts or int-
nations have come from such sources
II is said at the department, which
would serve as the basis of an opinion.
The official declaration of Senior Du
bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires. that
no mines nor submarine defenses exist
IN the harbor of Havana, had come to |
the attention of Secretary Long and |
this statement from the authorized rep
iesentatiye of the Spanish government |
was felt to have been given its due |
no mi
secretary 1t was pointed out by per-
sons bearing close relations with the |
secretary that the language used was |
offlclal participation" on the part of
the Spanish government. This, it was
said. had no bearing ON the question of
SPANS responsibility The .ofiicial
of Spain was one thing,
Whlie the responsibility of Spain in case
the disaster proved to be of external
origin, was quite another thing The
secretary's statement was restricted, It
explained. to exculpating Spain
from direct official knowledge and par
llcipatlon in the affair. In case it was
SHOWN that the act was due to some
FANATIC or some person not connected
with the government. then the question
of Spain's responsibility would be still
open Mr.. Long was much surprised
nat SO much attention had been given
o his passing allusion
Aside from this incident the day
brought forth few developments of i'm
porfance relating to the Maine No dis
patches OF any character from Key
W est, where the court of inquiry is sit-
ting, We're given out during the day.
and as the rule of publicity is still in
Iofee, presumably nothing came from
that quarter. The vessel movements
during the day were devoid
1f significance.
The two outrages on republican post
masters in the South discussed oc-
'urred at Lake City, S. c., and Ada. |
4. freeman, the postmaster at the lat
ef place, was assassinated before he
inferred upon the discharge of his du-
les as postmaster The president, it
5 said, is very much disturbed by these
lets, though he views with satisfaction {
he fact that the whole Southern press
las expressed its indignation. The first
impulse of the officials in cases like
nose cited. it is said, is to abolish the
NICE where the outrage occurs, al
hough it is realized that such stem s
you'd deprive of their postal facilities !
arge numbers of citizens who have {
othing TO do with the killing The {
resident. therefore, finds it difficult to |
ny down any rigid rule that could be
pp1ed IN any cases. The office at :
AXE city has been abolished, but so |
ar nothing has been done regarding |
he case at Ada
arders from the navy department to- z
ay were TO put the ironclads Mianto- !
oman and katahdin into commission
II the 10th instant. They are now at ]
he League Island navy yard. where q
aey nave been laid up for a year or !
40 past IL is said at the department. 2
nat the purpose of putting them in 9
0mmlssion is to make berths for the
lrVivors of the Maine now at Key >
vest. waiting on the court of inquiry I
-hich. without doubt. will have fin !
he'd with them by the 10th inst The l
is a formidable double
lrreted monitor. carrying four i0-inch :
uns. She is of 1890 tons displace- :
lent and steams i0i9 knots per hour. .
. addition To her main battery she
arries a good secondary battery ar !,
tpid-tire guns. and her turrets are
lad with ll52-inch armOr- Her COM y
.l--a. =