The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-01-12

gain within day or two, it being
announced upon what appears to be
rood authority that Secretary Fish
las addressed circular note to Euro [
Jean powers suggesting Intervention.
There is a general disposition here TO
credit the news, it being known that
The diplomatic representatives OF the
European governments recently ex-
messed an unanimous opinion that
their home authorities would approve
such a movement. The impression
is strengthened also by the evasive
answers and the mysterious manner
met with in official circles here.
Although the late correspondence
from Madrid has not been just what
our Government has wished, it has
been very friendly, and nothing has
occurred to prevent a peaceable un-
Outstanding being reached; but the
bringing about Of a cessation of hos
tilities in Cuba by diplomatic ap-
peals is, the President tells US, a
hopeless task, and only two alterna-
tives remain; mediation and inter-
vention, with the probability that
the latter will be resorted to. The
latest news leads to the belief that
General Grant has taken the tirst
steps toward such Intervention
Now let Congress ascertain what the
President is doing. And, let us ask,
would a war with Spain put a new
face upon the third-term prospects Z
Two principles are SO we'll establish
ed in our diplomacy as to have al
most the force of laws. One is to
avoid alliances with foreign powers
the other is to resist, so far as we
rightly can, any interference by Eu-
ropean nations in the affairs of the
new world. 1t can not be that On
i American President would deliber.
| atelv violate both these rules by pro
posing joint Intervention in Cuba
If he did the people would not sup
port him.
/ One of the measures of politica
significance now pending in the Sen
: ate is Senator Ingalls, bill providing
for the appointment of forty specia
agents of the Pension Bureau. Thi
is arequest Of the. commissioner 0
Pensions and is looked upon with
good deal Of suspicion. There ar
people who do not think it publ
: necessity but rather politica
scheme. These suspicious are base
upon past experience. During tn
!, Presidential campaign of 1872 on
conductor on a North Carolina raj
road said to a correspondent Of tn
New York Tribune that the passe
. of six different special agents of tn
Post Office Department had been pr
: sented to him in little over a wcel
} and the most of them were held b
men who were deyoting their who
= time to political business. Tue al
: pointments were given them in ord'
: that they might draw salaries fro
the Government and travel at publ
expense while they were ut work
:" behalf Of the Administration part
!, A similar practice has existed in tt
= Treasury Department during form
. campaigns. Men who did not kno
~ the difference between manifest a,
~ an invoice have been sent nominal
:, to investigate the business Of custo
y houses, but really on political mi
sions. With orders in their poke
- that they we're never expected
execute, they have travelled os
~ whole States at Government expen
- performing no official duties, b
transacting the business Of the A
ministration party. It may be tt
- there is important work for the fol
new special agents asked for by
. Commissioner Of Pensions; but p
:. sons most familiar with the busin,
- Of that Office say that there is no
: and it is likely that a Democra
House will hesitate to grant sucf
- request coming from Departm
= presided over by Mr.. Zach Chand
- and just on the eve Of a Presiden'
,na campaign. There will be a sniff
90 of danger that if appointed they
:, be employed next year oftener
~ performing the business Of the ps
ia under the direction Of Postma'
ia Edmunds than in searching for
nm sion frauds.
and A leading Democratic Membe
wn. Congress in conversation the o
nall day relative to the approaching T