The+Delome+Letter

= THE DELOME LETTER =



"We dont need this rabble, and, besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party." (De Lome Letter).

During the later 19th centry, "__**Yellow Journalism**__" became popular amongst the American public. Extreme press news stories, whether accurate or false, would create a heavy emotional impact throughout America. One story that would produce outrage was the De Lome letter, written by the Spanish Minister, Dupuy de Lome. It was leaked through Hearst's New York //Journal//, which was one of the most popular newspapers established through Yellow Journalism. The De Lome letter was apparently stolen by a Cuban agent in Havana and turned to the American press. What was so offensive of the De Lome letter was that it was high critical of President McKinley. in that it was so condescending to him, describing him as a weak man and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd.

Dupoy De Lome

The Delome letter very obviously triggered the __**Spanish American War of 1898.**__ Some Americans speculated that the Sinking of Maine a few days later can be traced back to the Delome letter in that a Spaniard, Delome, insulted the integrity of America's president, its leader. It made it much easier for McKinley to declare war with Delome's personal attacks - McKinley had to flaunt his leadership and power to remove all doubt about the validity of Delome's letter. The American public as a whole was more agreeable and willing to wage war because of the nationalistic feelings brought on by the letter; De Lome had essentially united the Americans against a common enemy, Spain.

"**My Distinguished and Dear Friend: - You need not apologize for not having written to** **me; I also ought to have written to you, but have not done so on account of being** **weighed down with work and nous sommes quites.**
 * The situation here continues unchanged. Everything depends on the political and** **military success in Cuba. The prologue of this second method of warfare will end** **the day that the Colonial Cabinet shall be appointed, and it relieves us in the eyes of** **this country of a part of the responsibility for what happens there, and they must cast** **the responsibility upon the Cubans, whom they believe to be so immaculate.**
 * Until then we will not be able to see clearly, and I consider it to be a loss of time and** **an advance by the wrong road - the sending of emissaries to the rebel field, the negotiations with the Autonomists not yet declared to be legally constituted, and the** **discovery of the intentions and purpose of this government. The exiles will return oneby one, and when they return, will come walking into the sheepfold, and the chiefs will** **gradually return. Neither of these had the courage to leave en masse, and they will not** **have the couragethus to return.**
 * The message has undeceived the insurgents who expected something else, and has** **paralyzed the action of Congress, but I consider it bad.**
 * Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of Weyler, it shows once more what [|McKinley] is: weak and catering to the rabble, and, besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party.**
 * Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on ourselves whether he proves** **bad and adverse to us. I agree entirely with you; without a military success nothing will be accomplished there, and without military and political success, there is here always** **danger that the insurgents will be encouraged, if not by the government, at least bypart of the public opinion.**
 * I do not believe you pay enough attention to the role of England. Nearly all that** **newspaper canaille which swarms in your hotel are English, and at the same time are** **correspondents of the Journal, they are also correspondents of the best newspapers** **and reviews of England. Thus it has been since the beginning. To my mind the only object of England is that the Americans should occupy themselves with us and** **leave her in peace,and if there is a war, so much the better; that would further remove** **what is threatening her - although that will never happen.**
 * It would be most important that you should agitate the question of commercial relations,** **even though it would be only for effect, and that you should send here a man of** **importance in order that I might use him to make a propaganda among the senators** **and others in opposition to the Junta and win over exiles.**
 * There goes Amblard. I believe he comes deeply taken up with little political matters,** **and there must be something very great or we shall lose.**
 * Adela returns your salutations, and we wish you in the new year to be a messenger of** **peace and take this New Year's present to poor Spain.**
 * Always you attentive friend and servant, who kisses your hands."** (The DeLome Letter).

SOURCES:

http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Great_Republic_By_the_Master_Historians_Vol_IV/delomele_d.html www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=53 http://www.spanamwar.com/Delome.htm http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/DeLome_Letter/ http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=190