Rock Island daily Argus., 1891-12-30
THE DOGS OF WAR.
Not So Anxious for Gore as
They Were.
NO NEWS, AND NOT EVEN RUMORs.

A Suggestion That Congress May Refuse
to Supply the "Sinews''-British Inf1u.
ence with Chill Also sIooted as a Pa
cificator-Sir Julian Pauncefote Pays
Blaine a Significant VISTA War Vet
eran Thinks Fight Certain-Docu.
ments for Congress.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30-The changes in
the situation of the Chilian affair are ka-
leidoscopic and instantaneous in their
nature, and go from one extreme to the
other Nothing could be more radically
different from anything else than the SEN
timent about the state, war, and navy
buildings Monday from that of yesterday.
Then 1t was all hustle, and the feeling was
decidedly pugnacious. Yesterday the de-
partments were comparatively deserted,
and it was felt that the possibility of war
was very remote. Monday the corridors
and ante-rooms were filled with statesmen
and diplomats: yesterday there were not
enough around to prevent the place from
wearing an almost deserted look OF news
there was absolutely none, although some
thing was promised from the state depart
ment later in the day, while rumors were
almost as scarce.
War is Costly, and There's Holman.
Senator Allison, of the appropriations
committee; Representative Lodge. of the
house naval committee, and Representa-
tive Brewer, of North Carolina were Sec
retary Tracy's only visitors before the cab
met met, while Secretary Blaine had none
at all aside from the department officials.
1t is generally understood about the state
department that on cabinet DAYS the secre-
l1H-r
engagement, so that casual callers on those
days are infrequent. Around the navy de-
partment it was limited that the cause of
the sudden subsistence of the war talk was
due to the fact that congress could not be
depended on for supplying the necessary
FUNDS to carry on campaign against
Chill, that, in fact, it probably would not
give its consent to the declaration of hos
tilities against that country.
British Influence and Interests.
What authority existed for this opin-
ion was not stated; it seemed to
be in the air, but was. hardly
more substantial than mere wind
Sentiment in the state department cred
tied the peaceful condition of things to the
influence of English interests in Chill,
which in a business way are paramount.
1t was said that the Chilian authorities
"Oulu bt toiu pldIiliy bHdC EslSldilu "OuNl
not suffer them to ieopardize the property
of its subjects in Chill and the late CON
quered territory in Peru, as a conflict with
the United States certainly would do. and
therefore an amicable understanding must
be reached with this government.
Sir Julian Talks With Blaine.
In this connection the visit Of
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
minister, to Mr. Blaine, which imme-
diately preceded the lengthy confer
ence between the secretary and Minister
Montt Monday, is regarded as significant.
The cabinet meeting yesterday, at which
all members were present except Secretary
Elkins, was unusually large, and it is un-
rlerstood Chilian affairs formed the princi-
pal topic of discussion. If any change of
policy or view occurred in the light of lat
est information from Valparaiso, it has
not tranSpired.