The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-03-06
Cleveland's Letter Red Rag to Democrats

Cleveland's Letter Red Rag to Democrats
| WASHINGTON, March Friends of sill
yer in the house, while at first inclined t.
make formal reply to the letter Of Presi
dent-elect Cleveland recently given to th'
public, decided at a conference held thi
evening to reply openly to parts of the let
ter with which they do not agree. They
say they did not invite controversy, but
on the contrary, were anxious to avoid it
They also say it was not until it had become
known that determined effort was being
made to induce the president-elect to com
nit himself and his administration in ad
vance to the gold side of the currency ques
tion that they decided merely to. ask him
not to commit himself until his cabinet
was formed, and both sides of the question
could be considered. They proposed at
first, to send delegate to present their
views to him, but after communicating with
him at his suggestion, they sent paper
signed by nearly 100 members of the pres.
ent congress, and members-elect to the
present congress. No reply was necessary,
they assert, and none was expected. They
further say that while regretting the step
the president-elect has taken in advance of
his Inauguration and 0f the formation of his
cabinet, they do not propose to have con-
troversy unless it is forced upon them.
They believe, however, in the independence
of the legislative branch of the government,
and assert that they will at all times main
tain it.
The Nicaraguan Treaty.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Friends of the
Nicarasuan treaty wonder what policy the
new administration will adopt regarding
that instrument, as well as commercial
treaties which are now pending. When
Senator Bayard led the opposition against
the Nicaraguan treaty in the senate, and
mustered with but few exceptions all the
members of his party against it, much
doubt was expressed as to whether he spoke
for the administration or not. The fact
that since the time Bayard's appointment
as secretary of state seems assured leads to
the conclusion that in the first instance he
was speaking by authority of Clevelond.
Bayard asked for postponement of consider
aAon Of the treaty until the new admins
trstion should come into power. In doing
this he might very properly have expressed
the wishes of the president-elect. Bayard,
all ha hot
the Clayton Bulwer treaty is in force aud
binding upon this government. 1t is diff
cult to understand, therefore, if Bayard
become secretary of state, how he can favor
the ratification of any treaty that proposes
to authorize the construction of a canal by
this government, without first abrogating
the Clayton -Bulwer treaty Republican
senators believe that the Nicaraguan treaty
will be recalled after the 4th OF March, and
that negotiations will be entered into by
the new administration for modification of
the treaty, and at the same time correspon-
dence will be begun with Great Britain for
formal abrogations of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty.
Retaliation Against G Germany Advised.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The house for
eign affairs committee to-day authorized
Eaton, Of Connecticut, to submit to the
house a favorable report upon LeFevre's
resolution calling for retaliatory action for
Germany's restrictions upon American pro-
ducts. Eaton takes the ground occupied
by LeFevre's resolution, that under our
treaties with Germany that country has
been favored above all others; that discrimi-
nation against American products was in
violation of the spirit of those treaties, and
that the situation warrants the action sug-
gested in the resolution.
The Nlcaraguan Canal Survey.
WASHINGTON, v Feb. 27.-Civil Engineer
Menocal, in charge of the expidition to sur
vey the route of the proposed Nicaraguan
canal, reports to the navy department.,
under date of ''San Jaun river, Jan. 81"
the arrival OF his camp there ON the 22nd of
January. A camp was being established
near the junction of the San Jaun and
Serariqui rivers. Some objection was Of
fered by officials of the Costa Rlcan govern
ment to his making any surveys within
Costa Rican territory, without further in
structions from the government, and spe-
cial messenger was sent to San Jose for in
structions. In the meantime survey was
begun on the left bank of the San Jaun
river nd carried to the other site. Memo
cal made careful examination of that river
and tributaries for several miles above the
mouth, which satisfied him of the impossi-
bllity of raising the waters of that river for
the canal by dam at that point. Surveys
are being prosecuted with encouraging
signs of success.
Garland will be Attorney General
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 27.-The Star says:
it is stated to-day, upon unquestioned
authority, that Senator Garland yesterday