The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-02-07
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, February LIST 1889.

WASHINGTON, February Isl, 1889.
Editor Herald:
VIM. b. Allison has for more than fif-
teen years been prominent member OF
| what has been called the most distin-
guished legislative body of the world, the
United States Senate, but never before
has his presence been as eagerly sought
by his republican colleagues as since his
return from Indianapolis this week.
That Senator Allison is fully in the con-
hdence OF Gen. Harrison is a fact well
| known, and that is why his company is
considered so very desirable by those
| who want to know who will go into the
cabinet. Mr.. Allison knows how to hold
his tongue in nineteen languages, so that
little information is gained by talking
9th him, except by inference. A man
whose relations with Senator Allison
verge closely on confidential, informs me
that he considers 1T certain that Allison
will be Secretary of the Treasury, al
though he has not yet fully accepted and
would personally much prefer to remain
in the senate. AS have already written
you Blaine is to be Secretary of State,
and it is generally believed here that
Wannamaker and Alger have been Sc
lected as members of the cabinet, al
though their positions have not been def
inately settled.
The congressional debate on the Sa-
moan question has cleared that subject
OF much of the mystery with which it has
been surrounded, and has brought out
the facts in a manner that the general
public can understand. No treaty has
been violated by Germany; no American
flag has been fired on Intentionally, nor
has the interest of any American citizen
on those islands been interfered with.
The only question to be decided by con-
gress is whether in using the good Of
fees in favor of the independence of the
the Samoan government, which the
United States promises in the treaty with
said government, we shall 60 to the ex-
tent to make demand on Germany that
might lead to war. The present admin
istration ssary to make the decision
and have referred it to congress. The
whole matter is tempest in a teapot
anyway. Other islands in the south Pa
ci6c of far more Importance than the Sa-
moan, or as they are properly known,
the Navigator islands, have been taken
possession of by European governments
without a protest from the United States.
This little group of islands is of so little
Importance that they are not mentioned
III scarcely any of the ALIASES of the
world, although they will bo found on
all authentic maps Of the South Pacific
| ocean.
The senate has decided by a vote OF
| twenty-six to twenty -four that the rep
resentative3 of the United States at Lon
! don, Paris, Berlin and St. Petersburg
shall be known as ambassadors. This is
is aping after royal governments, which
reflects no credit upon the United States
passing such a law the senate had far
better repeal the law creating the diplo-
matte corps, which he regards as use
less expense.
The Amen can Shipping League which
held its annual meeting here last week
was nos- notable gathering OF promi-
uurt business men from every state and
territory in the Union. Exery good citi-
zen can heartily wish God speed to the
object Of the gue--tke increase of Amer
lean shipping.
F!Orida's election certificate, which
should have been delivered to Mr.. In
gals on Or before Mordayl last by specia!
messenger, failed to arrive, and the Score
tarv OF State, in accordance with law,
dispatched a messenger 20 that state to
obtain the triplicate certificate deposited
witt; Judge of the state court. All the
other certificates arrived on time. Four
years ago special messenger had to be
sent 10 OREGON on the same errand.
If Allison still declines to become Secre-
taSy Of the Treasury, the impression is
that it will be rendered to Representative
McKiaiey, Gen, Harrison having, it is
said, fully made up his mind that no
eastern man shall be called upon 70 ill
this position.
Senator Chandler. who for several
years has been making study Of the
negro and his political status in the south
has create. considerable feeling among
the democrats o. ,se South by an inter-
view on the subject made pupl;e several
days ago. He predicts that Gen, Harri-
sons administration will insist ON strict
obedience to the constitution, and ad-
vises the Souti; to take heed lest they
that SOW the wind should reap the
whirlwind."