The National tribune., 1883-06-21
SMALL TALK
About Men and Things.

companied by two or three native dignitaries
to the United States to see President Arthur.
Last March, fearing the French invasion, the
treaty between Madagascar and the United
States was hurried through, and such was the
haste about it that the Malagassy ENJOYS were
at the Capitol, with full power to make the
exchange, within a few days after the conven-
ton was ratified by the Senate. The exchange
took place and the President proclaimed IT.
The secret of all this hurry was great mys-
terry at the time. 1t has been cleared up since,
however. 1t appears that the Presbyterian and
Catholic churches were interested and it was
a case of ecclesiastical diplomacy, and so clev-
erly executed that, contrary to It's history, the
Catholic church came of second best in the
politics of the affair. The Presbyterians
had practically, through their missionaries,
obtained the ascendaney in Madagascar. 1t
became evident that their prestige was men,
aced by the inroads of Catholic France They
conceived the idea of obtaining treaty with
the United States which, among great many
other things, should contain a clause, the only
one they cared about, to the effect that the
Hovo dominions included the entire island of
Madagascar. With this recognition of what
was not strictly fact, the ENJOYS went back
happy, and the Presbyterian church felt as
sured. The French, however, took no notice
of the attitude of the United States, and open
ed their guns on the MalagasSy forts when they
were ready.
To go back to ths beginning it is reported
that the missionaries are coming to lay the
case before the heads of the church, with the
expectation that they can bring such infu-
ences to bear that this Government viii propose
Its friendly Offices with view to the settle
ment of the trouble
1t is believed that Mr. Frelinghuysen viii go
very slow in the matter, being especially de-
sirous of avoiding an imitation of Mr. Blaine's
South American complications. If the mis-
sionaries fail to accomplish something, ali the
finesse displayed in the art of treaty making
viii go fer very little.
The New Hampshire Senatorial contest fur
nishes the summer supply of political gossip
1t is thought that a long fight is IN prospect,
like the Minnesota and Michigan contests.
The fine hand of Secretary Chandler is not vet
apparent, but it is well known that he is not
oblivious to the situation. He is opposed TO
the election of both Senator's. There is ques-
ton about the meaning of the law which says
elected next preceding the vacancy. Mr.
Chandler holds that this means the election of
.. 5. Senator shall be made By the Legislature
which Is itself chosen at the election next pre-
cedlng the expiration of the Senator's term.
This would throw the contest for Mr. Blair's
place over till next time. As the Legislature
meets biennially Others hold that the law
should be construed to refer TO the session next
preceding the vacancy, IN which case both Mr..
Rollins and Mr.. Blair's successors should be
chosen HOW. The situation is complicated by
the fact that that there is an element In the
State which does not want both Mr. Rollins
and Mr.. Chandler, because they are from the
same section. 1lr. Rollins opponents supposed
that Ar. Chandler would help them defeat the
formers reelection, and declared themselves
staunch adherents Of the doctrine that only
one election should take place now, it being
well known that the Secretary was not can
didate for Mr.. Rollins place, but wanted to
step into Mr.. Blair's shoes, as his term ends at
the same time Mr.. Chandler retires from the
Cabinet March 4, 1885. To the disgust Of the
anti-Rollins men, however, they found that
the Secretary did not care TO mix in the con-
test aud fight his reelection. They have sud
denly concluded that they are not so deter
mined on the question of one or two elections
as they were.
This is the situation at present In the
meantime the Secretary is at the department,
apparently intent upon nothing except the
building OF the new steel cruisers.
Ex-senator Window is about to embark for
Europe. He is very busy and seems to have
lost sight OF politics entirely. To see him about
his office, engrossed IN plans for railroad build
ing. piats of future Mexican cities, tracts of
wild land. canals, tunnels and other gigantic
enterprises, one would never suppose he had
ever heard of caucus or knew the logical re-
~ NJ t.
stood that his trip to England has for its object
the procuring of capital to build the Topolo-
banpo Railroad in Mexico, and also TO sound
British investors on the subject OF an under
ground railroad in New York city.
The ever active John c. New, proprietor of
the Indianapolis J0aritag and Assistant Seere-
tary of the Treasury. is about to try his hand
at a mining scheme in North Carolina. 1t is
hoped by his friends that he viii have better
luck than has been the fate of most visitors 70
that locality. Still, General New is a lucky
man, never having taken hold of scheme. il
is said, which failed, and fortune may smile
| for him where shs frowned for others.
One of the projectors of the Mutual Union
Telegraph Company, which, after such fare
| of trumpets, like all the rest landed in jay
Gould's lap, was asked yesterday when they
were going to bring forward another scheme
lie is such a remarkably frank man, that he
said: never expect to have anything more
| to do with telegraph companies. After so
stoutly maintaining that thu Mutual
Union could never sell out to Gould, /
would not have the cheek to go again
| to capitalists On a similar pretext. The
| fact is, however, had John 0. Evans lived, the
result would have been otherwise. He was
the soul of the enterprise. When certain
things were to be accomplished, he not only
talked to others, but he put IN his own capital
| and credit to its utmost limit The result was
| that, in face of every obstacle, he carried his
point. He died and took the main-stay from
| under the fabric. To start another Mutual
| Union would require another John o. Evans.
| You see, therefore, the rest of us are not so
much TO blame as the public may think. We
had not the power to carry out the scheme
when the leading spirit and chief capitalist
was gone. There win be rival company
some day, however for this country Is too big
for any one monopoly to ruls."
ass
| Preparation ara being made for the arrival Of
| General Sheridan at the capital His beauti-
| fnl wife is well known here, where she lived
when girl, and will rival the hitherto match