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Show A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY Ex-Secy. Herbet Deprecates Assuming Assum-ing of Role of General Pro tector by U. S. Washington, Mnrch 10. Hilary A. Herbert, secretary of the navy under Cleveland, made a statement hero 'nst night In which he deprecates tho opening of "a new chnpter In American Ameri-can history." He asks, It tho United States Is to undertake tho protection, not only of I Its own citizens, but of those of European Eu-ropean monarchies, whether It "Is not likely to provo a bigger Job than ontnngloment with Kuropcnn nations In their oHorts to keep tho balance of power against which our faluers so often wnrned us." Mr. Herbert recalls ono little known episode of tho period preceding American Am-erican Intervention In Cubn. Cleveland's Attitude. "President Cleveland was determined," deter-mined," ho said, "to resist the de-mnnd, de-mnnd, then loudly voiced In Congress, for Intervention In Cuba. Kxpedltlous In aid of the revolutionists were being fitted out along our coast Our navy was used to prevent theso violations of our neutrality laws. Further to i-e-vent any cnuso of trouble that might possibly arise from tho presence ol our men of war near tho scene of conflict, con-flict, It also was decided by Mr, Cleveland to suspend tho custom. which had prevailed In tlmo of peace, of sending naval vessels now and then to Cuban waters. "In 189G, I think It was, our consul-general consul-general at Havana, Gen. Fltzhugh Lee, mado an earnest appeal to me ns secretary sec-retary of tho navy, to station a ship In tho harbor of Havana, to enablo him moro efficiently to protoct American Am-erican citizens. I could not favor tho plan, bcllovlng that the preseneo of an American wnrshlp would bo a disturbing disturb-ing factor." Mr. Herbert said ho pointed out to Gen. Leo that tho lncnpffclty of the little Centrnl American states to pro tect American Interests Justified the sending of warships to those places, hut thnt to pursuo such a courso in regard to tho Spanish colony, "whon Spain, nn Importnnt stnto. was claim Ing thnt sho could and would put down tho rebellion and ptotect our Interests, would give offenso to thnt country and her oynl adherents." Mr. Herbert ndded thn' Mr Cleveland Cleve-land upheld him In this low nnd "kept tin penco with Spain." A Chanfle of Policy . j "When Mr. McKlnloy camo Into of-i of-i flee," Mr Horben goes on to say, "a cpnforenco took placo with tho Span- Ish minister here, Mr Do Lome Whn suggested the change, it Is not for mo to say, bul'tho result of thai conference con-ference wits that'jSpannsh and Amerl-enn Amerl-enn warships onco moro exchanged visits. Tho Vlscaya anchored for n tlmo in New York harbor, where, It Is understood, our authorities carefully care-fully guafdedthcr, local sentiment bo-lng bo-lng strongly'anU-Spanlsh. "Tho Maine .Vvent to Havana, and then followebCtho explosion of that ship, the resmiitjans of our Congress, and tho SpanlBh-Amerlcan war. "Certain It lSylbJit tho war followed swifty upon thh&Dhango of naval policy. pol-icy. Whether, lflfiie Maine had never been sent to Havana, Mr. McKlnloy could, as ho unilou'ljtedly was anxious to do, have avoided that war and so havo saved us ffofn that lasting calamity, cal-amity, tho acquisition ot the Philippines, Philip-pines, Is a matter of speculation." |