Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-13

tate students who will ever look back
With pride to the schools, now foster
ID and cared for by the people.
LAFAYETTE BOY.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINaToN,D. c., March 8, 1886.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Ddring the week
three very plain spoken and aggressive
documents have been issued by the ad-
The first was the presi-
dents message on the right of the
senate to share his infor rmation upon
which changes in the civil service have
been made. The second was q message
from the president, in which he con-
demns in the most decided and explicit
terms the outrages committed on the
Chinese upon the Pacific coast, and
urges congress to reimburse the vic
Tins for their pecuniary losses. The
remaining document is decided letter
from Secretary Manning on the silver
policy of the administration, in which
he shows no disposition to compromise
with the silver element Of his party.
There was rumor current here
early in the week to the effect that the
Chinese minister had received instruc-
tions from his government to demand
from the United States the total disa-
vOwal of the recent outrages against
the Chinese residents Of the western
states, the punishment of the offenders,
and pecuniary indemnity to the
sufferers for their losses, and that If the
United States refused to comply with
the demand, the president was to be
informed that the Chinese government
would Immediately proceed to collect
the indemnity from American citizens
IN business in the Imperial Territory,
and withdraw its protection from them;
and it was further said that it was this
circumstance which led to the promul-
CATION of the presidents message to
congress upon the subject. In q recent
interview of the Chinese minister by an
associated press representative, the
minister SAID that while he had infor-
nation that China is greatly excited
over these outrages, and that retaliation
had in some instances been threatened
by the excited people, ne has no in
structions to make any formal demands
upon this government, nor had he any
information that such demands are con.
| templated.
The project of bringing the various
nations of the American continent into
closer commercial and political rela-
tiOns, has much to commend 1t to the
serious consideration which 1t is now
receiving from congress. Senator FRYE
has introduced q bill in the senate
authorizing and directing the presi-
dent to invite, on behalf of the govern.
ment and people Of the United States,
delegates from each of the republics of
| Central and South America, including
Mexico, San Domingo, and the Empire
| of Brazil, to assemble in Washington
on the 1st day Of October, 1886, to con-
slider and decide upon such questions
as shall be OF mutual interest, and for
common welfare of the American
people," There are many questions of
mutual interest which would be dis.
cussed by the congress, among the
most important of which would be the
extension of trade relations, and q
common silver coinage. "A friendly
conference of the nations of the conti-
nent would probably accomplish much
toward bringing about an understand
ing on these matters.
The first annual report of the Bureau
of Economic OrmthOlogy, about to be
issued, will contain much interesting
and valuable information relative to
the destruction to grain and other
crops occasioned by the ravages of
birds. 1t has been found that the
English sparrow, which has during the
past few years wonderfully increased
in numbers, until it is now found in
every state and territory in the union,
is by far the most destructive of aDv of
the feathered tribe, as there are few
crops, either of grain or fruit, which
wholly escape its attention. The dam
ages done by the rice bird in some
localities has been found to be so great
as to be almost incredible. The annual
loss occasioned by the ravages of this
bird alone is reported to exceed two
million of dollars. In some of the rice
producing sections of the south at
least twenty five per cent. of the crop
has been destroyed, and thousands of
dollars are annually expended in gun
powder and appliances of various kinds
for use in killing or driving away the
birds. In the city of Savannah three
thousand pounds of powder are sold
annually to planters to be used in des-
troying these birds.
The Fitz John Porter bill has been
favorably reported by the military
committee of the senate and has been
placed upon the calender. Gen. Logan
obtained permission to submit an ad-
verse minority report. The bill will
probably not be reached for several
weeks.
The appointment of Gen. Alfred 81.
Terry to be Major General in the place
of Gen. Hancock, seems to have given
general satisfaction.
The appointment Of MIR. Jas. e..
Mathews, a colored lawyer of Albany,
to succeed Fred Douglass as commits
sioner of deeds OF the District Of Col
umbia, is not we'll received by the res
idents of the district. While 1t is con-
ceded that MIR. Mathews is . lawer of
ability and competent to discharge the
duties of the Office, it is insisted that
the Office should have been given to q
resident of the district.
The educational bill which has occu-
pied the time of the senate for several
weeks, was passed by q vote of Sc to
IL on Friday evening.
The house committee upon naval
affairs has completed q report, In
which it points out the peculiar geo.
GRAPHICAL position of the country, and
The inadequate means available for de-
Tending its foreign or cOastwise COM
| mercc and the cities scattered along
the long line of sea-coast; it insists
that the future welfare and safety of
the country depends upon the action
which the cOnOress NAV take unOn the
question of recOnstructing the navy,
and urges the allowance Of liberal ap-
preparations. II.