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Rh tainly exceeded his propriety, intercepted and opened the letter, and it was printed broadcast over the United States on the 9th of February.

Of course, nobody stopped to reflect that even an ambassador as ultra-polite and courteous as a Spaniard probably had an opinion of his own, and that it was not extraordinary that he should have considered the President impolite as well as outrageous in dictating to Spain as if he had been its nurse and vilifying Spanish soldiers with no reference to Cuban blackguards. The whole country flamed in fury from Hatteras to the Golden Gate.

The minister telegraphed Madrid at once, saying that his position would probably be untenable and notifying the Queen to decide upon her course without reference to him in any way. Promptly, on the next day, he received his recall from the Minister of State.

This was a link in the chain. And yet it is impossible to charge Spain with the incident in any degree. The recall is the fastest on