New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.

WASHINGTON, ID. u, NlaTCn lo-i h"'O J"''
returned from the Senate, and from listening 10 the
maiden speech Of Hon. Hiram Reves thlhh IL was"
ratber disappointing affair the Democrats and to the
secesslopiss who "s live" and were ont today In
considerable force They had hoped the effort would DO
in more ambitious strain, would have something oHaTe
and bombas,ic about IT, would be seasoned with Meho
dist can't it wonld at least have some pquant sins
against those eminent syntactc and orthGpc authon'
ties Lindey Murray and Noah Webster, IL d. But no
such amiabe qualification accorded them. The
speech was not remarkable for brilliant eloquence or
powerful arguments but IL earnest, reasonable IN
excellent taste emnenty respectable in every way ana
read calm, selfpOssessed manner except, perhaps
IN the very and with good emphasis and
pronunciation The drab shade OF the venerable Quaker
grammarian above referred to. that sometimes fancy
lowering perubed manner about that Senate Cham
bcr would this OCCASION have worn TO splrit-seer
a benign and placid countenance.
The Senate galleries packed, especially those IN
which the colored spectators most do congregate'
while. the other side, fair representation OF the
beauty and fashion Of the Capital strange motley
incongruous assemblage taken altogether. But the
somber cynosure Of all eyes seemed singulary uncon'
scious and on the occasion of his swearing IN
showed himself every inch man. He was congratulated
in heartest by the Radical Senator'S headed
by Mr. Cameron, and showed in his own success very
| natural pleasure without elaton
| Among the topics which have somehow allowed to
Gen. Quesadi. with some officers of his staff week
ago today the rallyng cry passed round and the
members branch sprg OF the Juntd Fd0Hed de
CIanas called together ~ the house OF senator
Pomeroy. 1t the first meeting OF that important ana
dangerous organization for more than year-so, you
see don't do very heavy business in the consprng
line In fact, could hardly look each other in the
face together the OF our first parior
plotlngs, helmng our sense OF dereiieon
and do.nothingness. But there was some strong ana
effective talking done that night. M, A. j. Riddle made
the speech OF the OCCASION delivering himself OF
much "perilous stuff in the way Of fiery indiena'
ton against Spain and bitter, eXcOIiating scOrn
OF tho timId Letting I.dare tuponI would like
hepOorcati. the-adage "polcy OF our Government.
He spoke with good deal OF oldaslioned earnestness
and enthusiasm OF the Cuban and the Cubans,
and evidently spoke Of what he knew for he has been
there. The Hon. William d. Kelley gave us some very
interesting and amusing "Reminiscences Of Cuban hbus
tering the time OF President Pierce telling the story
in conversational manner singulary clear and easyhe
style OF well trained taker But, OF course. the inter.
Of the audience mainly centered III the Cuban visit
Ors. Gen. Quesoda, speaking little English was only
heard through OF his aids. gentleman OF remaka
BILE intelligence and culture, who also. In the course Of
the evening admirable paper, on the cause OF
Cuban independence, and the present position OF
affairs in the island. Another OF the officers gave
deal Of curious information concerning the Reyo-
utionss, the formation and administration OF their
Government, their way Of supporting the army and
meeting the expenses Of the civil service. There - IN
! Cuba he said direct taxation. The Government,
supplied with the sinews OF by voluntary cOnnbu
tons from wealthy and patriotic Cubans, and by cOnhs-
eating property of Sanards, all that IS paid
appoints officers all the rcyOlted territory 20 keep
system Of education and tosee that the poor and
pecay the families Of soldiers do not suffer from WyDt
Neither soldiers native officers receive regular pay.
They have he said postal service and esiab
| bad flqiY "A
| Every man, o. CIoswel! has the fIankmg privilege
IN the uchuato Cuban Republic. The paper currency OF
the Government, o, Boutwell,! is at par Under their
Constitution all citizens have the hight Of suffrage Col
orcd men, born slaves. vote with tuer late masters
There kuKluX there there are 10 carpet baggers
In answer question put by your irrepessble CORE
spondent to their possible granting OF suffrage TO
women future day, the gallant soldier some what
asonshed his audience by stating that, at recent cleo
tOn Of the heroic Cuban ladies, seeing there
nothing the Constitution TO forbid walked quietly
polls and deposited their ballots citizens and their
votes "hcld good" Long live the Queen Of the
Antilles. hope. however have not dvulged something
that VIII cause THE TRIBUNE 10 switch off the Cuban
track altogether.
Col. VarOna in answer to another question, gave
frankly and quietly Qucsadas explanation and
dcaton Of his retaliatory measures OF his putting to
death than COO Spanish prisoners. Honorable gen
temcn and hardened menoiwar then present. declared
gentle womanhood left in me, after Lyceum leciuing.
and WOmans Rights Conventions. and reporting Con
gIessonal dOiBgs for THE TRIBUNE betrayed me into
cOnyusive shudde at the cool ayOwa Of that dreadful
deed. am afraid must stu consider the act a crime
as well AS thing. blunder But do de
uounce the whole Cuban people for it, any than
would execrate the English for the slaughter
OF the sepoys the French for the atrocities Algers
or our great philanthrOpc, Chrhtan Republic, for
the Of the poor Iegans county that can
such brave and devoted women. OF the
Cubans have the honor OF knowing, must DC worth
saving
Gen. Qnesada is a tall. spare. soldierly man. with
dark melancholy face. looking unlike most dig
nihcd idea OF that grave and oourtly gentleman the
Knight OF la Mtncha. There seemed 10 something
more than the sadness that commented ON In his
"rueiu countenance" something OF stern almost suen
desperation. The younger officers seemed hopeful.
though scarcely less lnDcNhlc One, when asked how
long the Cubans would hold out replied "The present
generation cannot probably hold out more than fifteen
years but the next will take up the work and go
with It," They modest in their demands only ask
for the moral support and cOuntenance which the
recognition Of their 6eigereucy would give. But help
or no help sympathy sympathy. they deter.
mined to fight out 10 the end be that bitter sweet
cannot say that cOnspring Grating has had any
decided visible effect legislation thus far greatly
Influenced the powers tina. be, though there
that the House Committee Foreign Affairs have
agreed recommend the acknow edgment OF begerent
rights Mr.. Sumner s refuses to believe In that wild.
tropical dream OF freedom and nationality. Dir Fish
stll continues cold and shy. lie probably thinks the
gltterng Cuban bait mischief. and. naturally, he
docs Mt want get hot water with Spain far
him lies. viii maintain our policy OF mastery mac
tivty.
The excitement on the Plegan affair wakes hot and
hotter IN political and social circles here There are
Pieganes and anti Peganitos-yey few Of the latter.
however as philanthropy is just the fashion. The
hobby of hour Indian pony which Is made to
carry doube-a Democratic and a Radical rider. both