Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-03-11
Correspondence Of the Beacon. }
VT. --,~.- 81


three very plain spoken and aggressive
documents have been issued by the
Administration. The first vas the
Presidents message on the right Of
the Senate to share his information
upon which changes in the civil! ser.
vice have been made. The second
was a message from the President.
IN which be condemns In the most
decided and explicit terms the out
RACES committed on the Chinese upon
the Pacific Coast, and urges Congress
to reimburse the victims for their
pecnniary Losses. The remaining doc.
nment is a decided letter from Secre.
tary Manning on the silver policy of
the Administration in which he shows
no disposition to compromise with the
silver element Of bis party.
There was a rumor current here
early in the week to the effect that
the Chinese Minister had received
instructions from his government to
demand from the United States the
total disavowal of the recent outrages
against the Chinese residents Of The
Western States, the punishment of
the offenders. and a pecuniary indsm-
nifty TO the sufferers for their losses,
and that If the United States refused
to comply with the demand, the
President was to lie informed that
the Chinese government would i'm
mediately proceed to collect the indem-
nifty from American citizens in bust.
ness in the Imperial Territory, and
withdraw its protection from them;
and it was further said that it was
this circumstance which led to the
PRONUNCIATION of the Presidents mes
sage 10 Congress npon the subject.
In a recent interview of the Chinese
Minister by an Associated Press re-
preventative, the Minister said that
while he had information that China
is greatly excited over these outrages,
and that retaliation had IN some
instances been threatened by the
excited people, he has received no
instructions to make any formal de-
mands upon this government, nor had
he any information that such demands
are contemplated.
The project OF bringing the various
nations of the American continent
into closer commercial and political
relations, has much to commend it to
the serious consideration which it is
now receiving from Congress. Sena-
tor Frye has introduced bill in the
Senate authorizing and directing
the President to invite, on behalf OF
the government and people Of the
United States. delegates from each Of
the republics OF Central and South
America, including Mexico. San Do
mingo, and the Empire Of Brazil, to
assemble in Washington on the lst
day OF October, 1886, to consider and
decide upon such questions as shall
he of mutual interest, and for the
common welfare Of the American
people" There are many questions
Of mutual interest which would be
discussed by the Congress, among the
most important Of which would be
the extension Of trade relations, and
4 common silver coinage. A friendly
conference of the nations Of the con
tinent would probably accomplish
much toward bringing about an un-
ierstanding on these matters.
The first annual report Of the
Bureau Of Economic Ornithology,
about to be issued, will contain much
interesting and valuable information
relative 10 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 NUMBER, until it is now
found in every State and Territory
in the Union, is by far the most des-
tructive Of any Of the featherei tribe,
as there are few crops, either OF grain
or fruit, which wholly escapes its
attention The damages done by the
rice bid IN some localities has been
found to he SO great as to be almost
Incredible. The annual loss occasion
ed by the ravages of this bird alone
is reported to exceed two million Of
dollars In some of the rice pIoduc-
ing sections of the South at least
twenty-five per cent. of the crop has
been destroyed, and thousands Of
dollars are annually expended in
gunpOwdsr and appliances of various
kinds for nse in killing or driving
away the birds. In the city Savan-
nah three thousand pounds Of powder
is sold annually 10 planters to be used
in destroying these birds.
The Fitz John Porter bill has been
favorably reported by the Military
Committee Of the Senate and has been
placed upon the calendar. Gen Logan
obtained permission to submit an
adverse minority report. The bill
will probably not be reached for
several weeks.
The appointment Of Gen. Alfred II.
Terry to be Major General in the
place Of Gen. Hancock, seems to have
given general satisfaction.
The appointment Of Mr.. Jas. G..
Mathews, a eoiored lawyer Of Albany,
to succeed Mr. Frederick Douglass as
Commissioner Of Deeds of the District
of Columbia, is not well received BY
the residents OF the District. While
it 10 conceded that Mr.. Ms..hsws Is o
lawyer Of ability and competent to
discharge the duties OF the Office, it is
insisted that the Office should have