The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-02-17

washington, Feb. IA, 1898.

Washington, Feb. IA, 1898.
''All quiet long the Potomac 7" Sew
eral days ago it seemed likely that the
fool letter written by Senior de LONE. late
Spanish minister at Washington, in which
he insulted the president and said that
Cuban autonomy and the negotiations
with this government for reciprocity
treaty, were Spanish tricks, would make
an entirely different beginning necessary
for Washington letter dated St. Valen-
tines Day, but the blackguard minister
got his resignation accepted by his govern
ment before this government got In it's re-
quest for his recall, and now all depends
upon what Spain will say as to how the
has been like a keg Of powder, and had
the president desired, he could by 9 word
have furnished the spark that would have
brought about an explosion. He chose
the other plan, whether wisely or not
every man will judge for himself, and we
have had no explosion, except on the part
of individuals whose brains and tongues
work on the hair trigg. principle. What
ever else may be its effect, de Lome's
letter is expected to hasten Intervention
In Cuba by this government, regardless of
Spanish apologies. Whether that inter-
vention will result In war is a question
upon which different opinions are held by
men equally competent to judge.
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capital out of the attitude of the admin
istration towards the De LONE incident, las
many Of his party colleagues are doing,
Senator Gray, of Delaware, a prominent
member of the committee on foreign re-
lations, Is trying to allay public excite
ment by expressing such opinions as the
following at seems to me that the presi-
dent has acted with great dignity in pay
ing no attention to the opinion concern
Ing him which Is found in the letter. He
could not take cognizance Of 1t without
making himself party to theft, for, 1t
must be remembered, this letter Is a
stolen one. AS to the utterances Of the
minister, which indicates that Spain is
using autonomy and reciprocity as pre-
texts, should say that they must be re-
garded In the same light. We cannot
afford to base any complaints Of this
government on an incident which Is the
result Of some PERSONS perady, because.
If we do so, we countenance the crime
and make ourselves party to 1t. The o.
s. Is such q big and powerful body that
when it moves something has to give way.
Naturally, therefore, we should not move
unless there Is something at stake-some-
thing more important and serious than a
personal opinion expressed in a private
communication which came into public
notice by surIeptitiOus means. l am not
In favor Of hysterical legislation or hys-
terical diplomacy. We should pursue
our even course until the time comes
when there Is really occasion for uphold
ing our dignity and honor. When that
time comes, there will be no division of
opinion, and We, who take conservative
view, will be found fully as patriotic and
as courageous as those who now stand
tearing their shirts and blowing flsh horns
instead Of trumpets. Senator Foraker,
also member of the foreign committee,
who may be said to represent the other
extreme, said: "The incident should not
be allowed to end with the acceptance by
Spain of the minister's resignation. We
should have an apology. The offense OF,
Minister de LONE was q serious one. In
my Judgment the time has come for some-
thing affirmative, positive and conclusive
to be done by the United States. Christ
ianity, morality, humanity, patriotism
and the spirit Of liberty, all combine to
demand that we intervene to put an end
to an atrocious struggle. We must answer
for all the pillage, waste, rapine, butGhery
and starvation that may ensue from this
time, In Cuba"
One prominent Office seeker, Col. Mat
Q. anderson, of Arkansas-while dis
cussing his long walt in Washington and
his descent from terrspin and small
bottle to pork and beans, thus unburden-
ed his mind to sympathetic listener:
'If never get the OH 9, shalt not die
of grief. There Is plenty Of the solid
comforts of life down in old 'Rockensack',
and fellow Is always dead sure OF
living. I'd like to win a place just to
show the boys that didn't stay In Wash
ington year and five months for nothing,
but if fall down, all right. Happiness
In this life doesn't all hinge on getting
federal job"
The present week In the senate will de-
termine whether the treaty for the annex
alton of Hawaii shall be abandoned or
pushed to a vote, 1t having been de-
termined by the committee on foreign re-
lations to obtain test vote upon some
motion that will show just how many
notes.-the treaty can command. This ac-
ton on the part Of the committee is the
direct result of Senator Teller's assertion
In his strong speech In favor Of annex
alton, that not enough votes to secure the
that the best thing to do was to push
through joint resolution for annexation.
There are rumors that Speaker Reed will
attempt to block annexation, to which he
is opposed, should 1t be attempted by
means Of resolution or bill, but they are
probably only rumors.
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The Baptist church, South Woodstock,
has received present Of two memorial
windows. The present came from Col
| lOa H.