Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-08-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Minister Lewis on Portugal.

| The Hon. E. P. G. Lewis. United States min
lister to Portugal. this morning chatted pleas
antly and freely with Ne,rS reporter regarding
| that land of golden sunshine and ruby wines.
! He has sojourned among its people for three
years and during that time has closely observed
| their manners and customs, and the social and
material progress and prosperity of the country.
In the first place." said Mr.. Lewis. 81
think the United States. instead of having a
minister resident at the Bragsnzan Court.
should have minister plenipotentiary- The
Portuguese are very much impressed by rank.
Although am the fourth in order of seniority
among the diplomatic corps. upon all State oc-
casions, because OF my being merely a minister
resident, am always at the foot of the last,
| and representatives of petty little European
countries. whose area would not make au over
/ large county of Maryland, takes prccedenceof of
mo. Every government except Holland and
the United States has ministcr plcnipotentiary
there. Personally care nothing about Il. but
\ l feel Inundated that the great country rep
resent should have to give way to small and
unrnportaut principalities and my national
pride IS sorely hurt The President and Sec
rotary Baya:d both favor raising the rank of
the L. S. minister to Portugal but the bill can
not be got through Congress. il rather hurts
the pride of the Portuguese too, because they
send minister plcripotcntinry to Washington
and they think our representative at Lisbon
should be of equal rank az matter of inter
tuatio1al' courtesy.
There are three political parties in Pnrtu-
gal, continued Mr.. Lewis. the Conservatives,
the Progreszionists and the Republicans. Th.
two former support the throne When I first
arrived at Lisbon the Conservatives were in
and the Progressionsts succeeded. The latter
have done n great deal toward advancing the
material interests of the country. They have
I built Numerous railroad lines to open up the
country and have improved Lisbon harbor by
! splendid stone docks. The building of these
docks was bitterly opposed by the Lighteraye
| Company. which was an old and powerful mo
nopoly as strong. if not stronger. than the
Standard Oil Company is in the United States.
In every way the government is striving to
build up and advance the interests OF the king
dom. King Luiz 1. is an ex xcellent ruler, but
is in i'll health. The Crown Prince. Don Carlos.
who married n daughter of the Compte de
Paris. is an intelligent and agreeable young
man, but has had no opportunity rs yet of dis
playing his ability n statesman. There Is
little danger, however. of any serious internal
disorders in the Kingdom, for, although the
Republicans are strong. they cannot hone by
ANYTHING short of an accident or a now i'm
probable revolution to gain control of the
country. 4 standing ormx of 40 OOO mon is
maintained and $50 Ooo could l,c p,aced +, the
field if necessary.
The commerce of the country has imrroved
wonderfully of late. and large quantities Of
wines. iron ore and coffee are exported. The
! is hrOurbf orrOss from ros-
sessions in Africo and r.sbiDned largo
trade is carried on with the United states.
from which. next ,o Great Britain Por,ngaf
irnports mos, of the articles I. moods fror,
abroad Last vcor irnror,s from Great Rrf,afn
amounted to s2s COO 600 and from the limited
States e1s OO0 COO This is =, additional ,co-