The Portland daily press., 1870-11-30
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Nov. q, 1870.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS AND THE NEXT


ASH1NGION, NOV Il, lOtU
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS AND THE NEXT
MESSAGE.
There are the usual crop of suggestive ru,
mors about the Presidents Message. But
they are only guesses, and unlike Hares
books, they are not even "Guesses at Truth"
let alone truth ITSELF 1t is said that the Pres.
ident has read the message to the Cabinet;
that it is quite short. that it will refer to the
Indian policy in detail. and other things in the
mass. All this is safe guessing. Grant never
writes long documents. He is terse, almost
sententious in style, so that a guess at short
ness is good. Probably it was read at the last
Cabinet meeting. Judging from the extra
precautions to keep newspaper correspondents
out OF the White House on that day, it is
probable that the Message was read. OF
course the Indian policy would be referred to
and in detail as the President has had to ex.
pend several millions and will be DESTROYS of
stating the manner.
Another guess however, has an uncertain
sound. 1t is that the Message will recon-
mend the repeal in part of our nav igation
laws, and allow the purchase and registration
of iron steamships. There is probability of
this, but so far as l can ascertain, no certain
ty. The German, and Williams and Guion
lines have recently been represented here. 1t
is intimated that there will be big lobby in
the interest of the foreign shipbuilders and
owners of European mai! steamers. Open
house will be kept, and the fight to be carried
on by every possible appliance. One thing is
certain, and that is, that American interests
need to be thoroughly organized. Mr.. Lynch
will soon be here and at work, somewhat
hopeful too, of efiecting good results.
GEN. BJrLER's WAR SPEECH.
The meanest things have their uses. The
basest may even bring good results. Dema-
goguism sometimes does better than it knows,
so we may extract comfort from the recent
exhibition Butler made Of his acrobatic pro-
pensities. Had he been able to appreciate
the universally of the underlying sentiment
found in a little anecdote told by Senator
Carpenter of Wisconsin, in college speech,
Butler would not have made his recent
effort. Carpenter said that standing in Mil
waukee, assisting ia the reception Of regi-
ment returning home from the war it was
near its close-he heard this little but sgnif-
cant conversation between two friends:
swell, John, home safe" said a citizen to one
just resuming that position; "Yes, Jim, and
glad of it." "You must have seen many
strange things, john" swell, jim, 1 would
MT lake hundred thousand dollars for what
l nave seen, nor see it again for Million"
Inc American people detest war. and are
sure 10 despise and contemn tue man, men or
parry VINO ADVISE or consent to it, except on
the dlrest necessity. Butler has. like tho
"heathen Chinee," ''ways that are pec,,;ar
and that same do declare" and in nono i -
exhibited as in the way he contrlves to make
some innocent people imagine he speaks for
the President. You have read the Boston
speech and know how adroitly he contrives TO
leave that impression. As will be remember
ed, he comes on here, is very close mouthed,
calls on he President, denies of course that
1t had anything to do with such matters, and
then hastens back to deliver his lecture.
Butler has curious habit, when denying
anything which it is possible he desires to be
believed of throwing back his head, and rolling
that strabismacal eye OF his at you, in way
which clearly says, 81 could tale unfold"
on that subject you'd like to hear, but then
won't, Tor reasons need not explain. "Of