Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-18
Our Washington Letter.
w AsHINGToN, July 10.

sist any crossing Of the Rio Grapde bv
our military forces in pursuit of the
Mexican marauders Will produce no
modification of the orders given Gen.
Ord, but that lie will be required to
firmly execute them. In the event,
then. of another raid, and unless Diaz
recedes from the position he is report
ed to occupy, an armed collision would
appear inevitable. w ould it lead to
war? The affirmative is generally
urged here, and the probability of such
an untoward event seems to be admitted
in the highest official quarters. Mr..
Blaine is censured by some and COM
mended by others for the matter of his
Woodstock speech, the latter holding
that our critical relations with Mexico
clearly justified him in calling the at
tentlon of the nation to them and to
the greater peril-that Of annexation
OF portion of the enemy's territory
as the only way in which we could en-
force an indemnity claim from a bank.
rupt government of revolutionary
people. Every utterance of the Presi-
dent and members of the Cabinet kncwn
to the public indicates their lack of
sympa thy with the annexationists; but
it is notorious that big lobby has been
operating here for months to precipi-
tate war. It is largely composed Of
broken down politicians, dead beats and
adventurers of all kinds who have
nothing to lose and everything to gain.
They are not unlike the fllibusters
who have appeared on the surface for a
brief time during the past thirty years
of our history, quickly sinking back
into obscurlty. But the present is the
most formidable of any that have pre-
ceded it, and is sufficiently heavy backed
to have assumed a quasi responsibility.
There is suspicion that they have in
stigated many of the raids in the past,
and it is also intimated that they would
not hesitate to get up raid to order,
for the purpose of provoking an armed
collision. This is the way the matter
stands at present and new developements
are awaited with intense interest.
The arrest Of Madison Wells and his
associates of the Returning Board has
created good deal of genuine excite.
ment and Indignation. The President
aud his trusted advisers in the Louisi-
ana compromise" are reported as
highly incensed at this fragrant viola
tion of the covenant entered into by
Nichols and his friends. 1t is urged
in behalf Of the latter that they are
not responsible, but that it was insti-
gated by the extreme fre-eaters of their
party, to force an issue and get rid of
all moderate men. Admitting this,
even, 1t proves to those who opposed
the abandonment of Packard, that
Nichols was guilty Of an absurd assump-
tion when he promised to control the
bull dozcrs of his party, and upon which
promise was based the withdrawal Of
the troops. But even this charitable
construction of making Nichols desirous
but unable to carry out his agreement,
is rejected by many, and the per6dious
precedent, established by his party in
the reputation of the Wheeler adjust
ment, after gaining their points, is sig
ni6cantly pointed to, in confirmation of
the faithless character of the Democrat.
ic participants in the compromise en-
gineerea by the Louisiana Com mission.
The enemies of the Administration
could hardly have suggested more
mischievous one, OF one more fruitful,
probably, of embarrassing complications.
Pitkin is in the city and emphatically
denies that he or Packard have had
ought to do with bringing about the
arrests as alleged by the reformers of
the Cincinnati Enquirer; but his
manner leads to the conclusion that be,
at least, will remorselessly avail himself
of every favorable circumstance TO vim,
dicate himself and the cause he repre-
sented, no matter who is hurt.
The proposed gathering of the
Democratic chiefs at the White
Sulphur Spring and the Presidents