Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-02-17
DE LONE MUST GO.
His Criticism of Mr.. Mckinley
Can't be Tolerated.
spain's Minister at Washington Declines to
Deny that He Penned the Insulting
Letter and Only One Course Re-
mains for Our Government
to Take-His Recall
Demanded.

| Washington, Feb. 10.-The publica-
| ton in yesterdays newspapers of what
purported to be an autograph letter
written by Senior Dupuy De LONE, the
Spanish minister, to his friend Cana
lejas criticizing the president with the
| utmost freedom caused a sensation in
official circles at Washington and soon
will be followed by De Lome's depart
ure from the United States.
At the outset there was a disposition
to question the authenticity of the let
ter, but as bit by bit the circumstan-
| tial evidence accumulated until it was
| finally announced officially that the
minister declined to deny the author
| ship of the letter, ali doubt was dissi-
pated and the only question that re-
mained was as to the line of action to
| be pursued by our government toward
| the offending minister. The writing
of this letter is unqucStionably an Of
fense against the amenities of diplo-
matte relations, and such offenses al
most invariably have been regarded as
| sufficient ground for the termination
of the official status of the letter writer.
AS soon as the letter appeared in the
press the state department officials
began an effort to settle its authen-
| ITCHY, and when they learned all that
could be developed on this point and
had been told that the minister himself
did not deny writing it, the considera-
ton of the next step began. Assistant
Secretary Day was in consultation
with the president on the subject at
least four times during the day, and
then spent much time in framing a
message to United States Minister
Woodford at Madrid. The official state
ment of the sending of this message
was accompanied by declination to
indicate it's contents at this time, the
department merely giving to the press
the following statement:
Minister De LONE does not deny
writing the letter. This department
has communicated with Gen. Woodford
on the subject. Until that commu
nication reaches the Spanish govern
ment it would be improper to in any
manner state the contents of the mes
sage to Gen. Woodford."
While the department refused to add
anything to this meagre announce
ment, it can be stated without queS-
ton that Mr.. Woodford was directed
10 lay the facts developed before the
Spanish government, together with
the statement that in view of the
minister's refusal to deny the author
ship of the letter the Spanish govern
ment is looked to with confidence to
deal with the case properly. This
amounts to an invitation to recall the
minister, presuming that he himself
has not already taken steps to vacate
his position. No doubt is entertained
of a compliance with the implied sug-
gestion. but in case there should be
undue delay in acting, the state de-
partment would feel called upon to
move directly in the matter and give
the minister his passports, as was done
when Sir Julian Pauncefote's prede-
cessor Lord Sackville, wrote the cele-
brated Murchison letter.
The circumstances under which a
letter of this character could escape
the privacy of the two persons between
whom it passed eXcites much comment.
The general belief is that it was never
delivered to Senior Canalejas, but was
stolen while en- route. Canalcjas was
in Washington some months ago and
then went to Cuba for the purpose of
observing the condition of affairs
there. As a former minister in liberal
misunderstanding been minister of JUS
tice-and as the editor of Ell Heraldo
at Madrid he was accorded warm re-
ception by Minister De LONE, who gave
a banquet in his honor, which was at
tended by number of prominent pub
lie men, He then left for Cuba. and
his mission brought him into continued
correspondence with De LONE.
The mention of the approaching au-
tonomous cabinet, establishes that il
was before the Inauguration of the
cabinet, January /. This places the
letter as having been written about
the middle of December. At that time
Canaleias was at Havana, prosecuting
his mission. The handling of the mail
is done by the Spanish authorities, so
that in this case it is believed the loss
of a letter of this character could occur
only in one of two ways: Either through
treachery of an Official in the postal
service. or by being taken after it had
reached the hotel where Senor Canalc-
jas was stopping.
Senor De LONE received number of
callers during the day and to those sus-
tanning a close relation to him he did
not question the authenticity of the
published letter.