Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-11-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGToN. Nov. z, 1SSS.

All day long on Tuesday throng of poll
ticians aud newspaper men crowded he cor
ridors in the vicinity of Secretary Bayard's
office. and when the secretary announced
that for causes hcrct ofore made known to
her majestys government Minister VESTS
continuance in his position was not accept
able to this government. the secretary had
to run away to keep off the interviewers.
The sensation was greater than that whicl,
arose when the Murchison letter was first
published. Mr. Bayard referred all report
ers to the official announcements given the
| newspapers. Comment seems only to have
| increased since Tuesday, and nothing else
is talked Of anywhere.
In the urly-burly it is impossible to hear
he voice OF the people. The politicians
y-lls drown all other cries. viii the sever
ing of diplomatic relatons in jure President
Cleveland? Many conservative people an
swsr ia the affirmative. Some even go So
far 10 to say that the president has allowed
his temper To override his Judgment. They
say that the recall could have hmen accom-
Dlished quietly, without blIster. and with
that dignity characteristic Of diplomatic
negotiations. II England had been asked
for new minister, compliance would have
been Immediate But Secretary Bayard
could not be calned, and fearful Of the
results of silence on the election went into
slasn,s. At least such il the feeling of indie
pendent people. Desperate diseases receive
heroic treat ment; hut in times of great pc
lii zeal struggles the adage may he too faith-
fully followed.
At half past three Tuesday afternoon II
br-athess state department messenger de-
livered at the British legation house the
news of the dismissal, and the passports
for ckvIle's return. The reporters next
RAJ ided the mansion and were turned back
10y the vigorous French door keeper. On
Tuesday night the few persons who SAW him,
said that Minister West took the matter
very good-naturedly. On Wednesday the
minister replied to the secretary in brief
note of acknowledgement, couched in formal
terms and without comment on the stua-
tion. lie evidently awaits Lord Salisbury's
permission to make his side of q he question
public. Minister West will rertainly utter
no word of apology ar excuse. He does
not even de,lore his conduct. He believes
he WAS right and is self Justified. As h- ha.
recently com. into AN immense fortune he
ran afford to le Indifferent To public cIamor.
The absurd portion ri Secretary Sayari's
report To the president consists in his refer
ence Ia the dire punishment that may he
visited un the deadl, Murchison. The
statute quoted 10y the secretary has, i'm the
opinion oi lrading attorneys here. No appli-
cation IT, the ease, aud the reward ri 50
uoo offered for Murchisons detection is
amusing. Murehison may go into dime
museum; he will never go int prison.
Ia such exciting times as these il il ways
pleasant To- witness the thrifty met ihods Of
enterprising business men. \ Philadelphia
watch factory sent delegation of women
here last week to present Mrs. Cleveland
with gold watch in the name of 500
female employees. The obvious result was
that the aforesaid factory received an
amount of gratuitous tising in the
newspapers that it would have ankrupted
the firm to pay for at advertising rates.
Political rumors, tangible and intangible
surround Washington like an at tmosphere.
Everywhere the talk is sofpoli,cal surprises
To lie made un Saturday or Monday. Pro
found mystery is observed rs to the precise
nature of the surprises. II was said ON
Wednesday that Mr.. Morton would be
attacked on the question of his loyalty and
would be shown To have shipped dry goods
To Nassau during the late war and had
them reshipprd 10 southern ports by block
AIDE runners. The story originated in Wash
ington. | understand that Mr. Morton
denies the truth of the statement.
An applicant was appointed AS Il stcnog-
raphcr and typewriter in the navy depart
ment at 5000 per annum. When notified
last month he declined. ON the ground that
the salary was too low. The appoint ment
clerk tainted, and when he recovered went
over the records for IA precedent. II. found
none. Another applicant was notified. and
declined on the same ground. Since then
six others have declined the posit ion. In
the mean Time il is to he hoped the
tary will learn that sirnosra pliers vii not
work for inrle sam for less than Tor pri-
vaie parties.