The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-22
Special Correspondence Of the Press.l

rising generation is even worse In many re-
spects that it was ten or twenty years ago. Be
fore the war the planters were rich, at least
well to do aud they educated their children,
sent them North and abroad, aud the whites Of
that section were, as a rule intelligent. Since
the war they are poor, and those who have
grown up to manhood since that time have
not had the educational advantages given the
generation which preceded them. he conse-
quence is think, that the South is worse off
now in that respect, at least than 1t was. L.
follows, too, that there Is less political freedom
for the denser the ignorance of the ruling
classes the more closely they draw the cord
with with which they bind their victims.
What do the people down there think about
the alleged violations OF the election laws?
Oh, he laughed, they admit it. They say
their present system is better than killing mig
gers. The way they used to do was, you know,
to prevent Republican msjorities BY means of
violence, and tia is the way they did in Copi-
ah county, and at Danville this year, but as
rule they adopt different methods now, which
they say they think is better than killing mig
gers as they used to do. This, you know, is
not my first experience on committees Of this
kind. / was at Charleston investigating the
tissue ballot system, and one day, after We had
finished our work, we walked down the street
with prominent Democrat there. Talking
with one of the party, he said: 81 suppose
you see, Senator, about how this thing was
DONE" The Senator replied that he did.
Swell" }" he said I'VE have thought this mat
ter over, and we have concluded that there are
better ways to prevent the negroes carrying
elections than by killing them. have been
opposed to this killing system for several years,
but was unable to control matters two years
ago; now, however, by this system, we avoid
that feature of our elections that has hereto
lore been 80 unpleasant"
And how do they do it farther west, in the
lower Mississippi valley, where you were this
time?
In most cases by making the count to suit
themselves. For Instance, before the election
takes place in Louisiana, the State Centra al
Committee meets aud determines upon the
majority that the State mus give for the ir
ticket; then they send out word to each county
or parish, AS they are called there, telling how
much OF Democratic majority that parish is
expected to furnish on election day, and It al
ways comes. In Mississippi they have very
remarkable method of reversing the msjori-
ties; for instance, il you ara a Republican and
l am a Democrat, aud you get thousand
votes and get hundred, they simply reverse
it and report you as getting 100 votes and my
self 600. III anybody compains, they get the
papers, and say there are LOO voters in this
parish, and there are the 100 votes, and that
settles it in most cases.
And whit is the remedy for this very serious
state of affairs, Senator?
All, he SAID, with shake OF his head, that
confess AN unable to answer
How did you fiDd the feeling there in regard
TO presidential nominations?
81 did not find any feeling" he said, except
that of entire apathy. Neither Republicans
nor Democrats take any interest in the matter.
1t is curious fact that Jhe Democrats of that
section seem to have no interest in tue election
OF Democratic President They saw they
are perfectly willing to let the Republicans
continue III charge Of national affairs, bat they
propose to govern themselves in their own
state according TO their own rules. The con-
sequ9nce Is thai they care nothing about the
uoniuation of either party. Among the r.
pu0licans there is little expression though
probably Arthur has as many friends as any of
the Candidates.
THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
The recent outbreak of the foot aud mouth
disease in Kansas. Missouri and other Western
States aud the danger of is spreading through
the sutirs country gives additional interest to
the statement received by the State Depart.
msnt regarding the ravages of this disease Ia
| England. Vice Consul Tanner OF Leige Ver-
vierewrtes regarding the spread OF the foot
aud mouth disease among the Eaglish herds.
II Ihipk no one can fad fault with me in
| placing the loss of the English farmer since
the year 1880 at $4,000 per aDnum in their
cattle and milk aud cheese, not taking into
account veterinary attendance.
distress has cried out that the disease was i'm
ported, some say from the United States, 9TH
ers from France, In the year $780, The truth
is that this assertion is entirely wrong. France
can look to her own case and defend herself or
not as she pleases, bat on behalf OF the United
States, will take it uEon myself to assert, and
Can prove the assertion, that the foot and
mouth disease that now RACES to such an extent
in England, existed there prior to the year 1875
This disease originated near L In1on, and has
| spread, to a greater or less extent, in thirty
| two English and five Welsh Counties, as well
| as into certain portions of Scotland and Ire
land, so that in one week the number Of farms
infected with fresh outbreaks, and the number
OF animals attacked, had more than doubled.
Nine per cent of the English failures he
says IN the past year has bsen those of farmers
though he adds that the condition OF the stock
resources of England has been considerably
ameiorated by the american crszet for Eng
lish cattle" paying enough money for one bull
to buy herd OF American cattle which would
be as fine ss the English cattle If the same care
was given them. The number Of animals at
tackled during the year 1888 has been accord
ing to his report considerably over 100000 or
nearly as many as in the entire four years pre-
ceding this. Regarding the cause and possi-
bility OF cure he takes quite an alarming
view, saying: I'm my opini n the diseases
arise from various causes beyond control and
will continue and increase to such an alarm
ing extent as to affect the entire European
supply. The climate of Europe is very bad,
and acts upon soil that has been under cal
tivatjon for so long time as to be exhausted
OF certain generating forces, aud hence the
forces required must be made mp by artificial
means huTtful to cattle and promotive of dis
ease. The American demand for booded Cat
tie has caused the Eng ish 10 force their cattle
too much, and this unnatural forcing has con-
trbuted towards forcing disease. 1t is my
opinion, however, that the manures that have
been used upon an impoverished soil are the
principal factor in generating and propsgst-
ing the various diseases with which the Euro
pean herds are affi cted."
HosPIrALIrIEs OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
On Wednesda evening, the President gave
another dinner at the White House. These
dinners have been very pleasant aud in many
respects interesting events in.the social'season
here this winter. They are by far the best
series of dinners given by the President since
he came to the White House, aud no other
| President has attempted go large q task as that
| of dining every member Of Congress and his
wife during single session. The task is at
this time a much greater one than it would
have been before because OF the increased size
| OF Congress. The House and Senate now con-
tain about four hundred members and TO dine
four hundred hungry Congressmen
and their wives. nearly eight hundred people,
and to adj to this about two hundred Diplo-
mats, cabinet officers and people OF that class,
| making a thousand for the season, is a task
even with such facilities as a President has
| local writer estimated the other day that
| the Presidents effort to make every member
OF Congress his guest during this session will
cost him not less than $1,000 This IS a very
| low estimate Of cost, though whether any con-
| siderable proportion of it will come oat of the
Presidents private purse is uncertain, the
| ngressiOnal allowances for the White House
expenses beiug as rule very generous. The
President will probably give another gem
er Al reception Immediately alter Lent. There
has been considerable com plaiut among people
of prominence outside OF Congress and otficial
life that they have uot been permitted to SOC
the inside of the White House as often as they
would like, and in sdeference to this feeling,
the President will probably give general re-
ceptiOn soon after the close Of the Lent5n sea-
| son.
Saturday afternoon Mrs. McElroy gives an
other reception at the White House. The
Presidents sister is developing reputation
quit in keeping with that OF her brother as
social diplomat. Her selections OF ladies 10
assisO her in receiving at those Saturday re-
ceptlons have been admirable aud show either