The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondents.
NAsHINGTnN Dec 30 1854

NAsHINGToS, Dec. 20, 1884.
This last week in Congress has been
one of unusual interest. Early in the
week the Senate declared by majority
of ten in favor of the admission of Da-
kota; then Senator'S Beck and Sherman
debated the silver bill; the naval appro-
priation bill was discussed; secret ses-
sions were held Upon the Spanish treaty,
and Secretary McCulloch was confirmed
as Secretary of the Treasury in spite of
the opposition of Senator Riddleberger.
In the House of Representatives Rea-
gan's Interstate commerce bill has held
the floor through an interesting, and, at
times, exciting debate. 1t was on the
point of passage without impairing
amendment when the colored member
O'Hara from North Carolina moved to
amend the bin by the addition of pro-
viso that there should be no discrimina-
ton in accommodation on any train of
cars against color or race, but that those
paying frst-class rates should be permit
ted TO ride in any frst-class car. This
will perhaps kill the bill, by raising the
old sectional ghost.
A bill promoting the Bureau of Agri.
culture 10 the rank of q Government
Department has ar least been passed by
the House If It shall be able to run the
gauntlet of the Senate Mr. Cleveland
will have another Cabinet officer at his
council table, and the present Commits
sioner of Agriculture may perhaps en-
joy for q brief period the honors for
which he has so long striven.
The inauguration promises TO be sue
/ cessful, at least Is far rs numbers, en-
thusiam, and money can make it so.
| The number Of civic and military organ
CARNATIONS that HI; We sent representa-
/ tiyes here TO engage quarters for the
/ Inauguration is imp. ecedented. Among
| the featL res of tue inaugural procession
there will be military company from
each State of the Union marching in the
order of the admission of the States TO the
Union, the thirteen original States COM
ing first Virginia l believe is to take
the lead, and Dakota will not appear in
this procession.
A number of organizations from New
York, Philadelphia and other cities will
come in Pullman cars and will lodge in
the cars during their stay. Others have
engaged quarters at hotels, and boarding
( houses. A number of military orgsni
cations will be lodged in halls and ware
houses. Ii is to be hoped that the
weather will be better than was the last
Garfield's Inauguration day-it cannot
te worse.
There is considerable excitement and
interest in political and official circles
in relation to the Spanish treaty and the
Nicarauguan canal. The latter is con
sidered much the more important of the
Two, while the control of the canal BY
the United States may seem to be de
parture from our traditional policy.
1t must be conceded that the contro
of the Panama canal by warlike, ag
greSsive people with powerful navy
justities a departure, or rather necessi
tates it. We have heretofore been ablt
to live with small military and naval es
Establishments because our supremacy il
this half the world has not been menaced
But the moment our Pacific coast terri
tory becomes more accessible to the pow
erful navies of Europe than to ourselves
we must take defensive steps. The cana
may cost us hundred millions Of
money, but it will cost less than war
and it will completely neutralize the van
tage of France who, without IT, will so Il
be in a position to cause us great con
Germ. There will doubtless be much op
position to the Nicarauguan car al. Tht
ship railway scheme of Captain Fad,
across the Isthmus of Thauntopec, will
OF course oppose it. Mr.. Eads is a mos
unbushing of lobbyists and a man oi
great wealth and plausibility. He hal
, a plan 20 build a very broad gauge rail
way across the Isthmus and take shipi
overland from the Gulf of Mexico to thu
Pacific Ocean. He has built model a
the cost of $4,000, which he has on ex
hibition in one of the Senate committe,
rooms Mechanical and Naval engi
ueers differ in opinion as to the feasibility
of his project. Should he be able t,
carry it out, it will furnish a shorte
route by nearly POGO miles for the pas
sage of vessels than the one upon which
NJ DeLesseps is working. But whethe
the government builds railroad or dig
a canal it will have to be at the add
tional expense of maintaining an arm,
and navy to hold it. BY extending rail
roads from our Texas border through
: Mexico We can easily reach the proposed
Thauntapec ship railway and we voult
in this way occupy a stretegic pos 10.
with which no foreign country coult
cope 1t would not then be difcdlt 70
us to throw hundred thousand soldier
into southern Mexico. But to extent
} the railroad to Nicaragua or to Panami
, would be almost as great Il task as t,
! build a new line across the continent.
c. A. 5.