Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-04-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. April 3. 1891


Secretary Blaine has just shown that he
is about the last man in the world to be
stamped by bluster, whether the blusterer
be loud-mouthed Democratic editor in
dulging in threats OF personal or political
exposures, or the king OF a bankrupt Euro
pean country who hopes by arousing the
national pride OF his subjects to make them
willingly submit to further taxation. Had
this fact been as well known to the king OF
Italy and his advisers several days ago as
it is now, it might have prevented the gov
ernment OF that country from making itself
the laughing stock of the civilized world, as
it has done by instructing it's minister to
the United States to ask for his passports,
because the United States government de-
elined to interfere with the state authori-
ties of Louisiana. now engaged in investi-
eating matters connected with the recent
lynching OF eleven members OF the infamous
Malta" society at New Orleans.
When Baron Fava, the late Italian min
ister called on Mr.. Blaine to present his
letter of recall, he, after processing the
greatest admiration and personal friend
ship for the secretary, began an audacious
and abusive harangue about the neglect OF
this government to take proper steps to
satisfy the demands OF Italy. He WAS
quickly interrupted by Mr.. Blaine and in
formed in polite but unmistakabl BILE la nguage
that he could not proceed further. He
then very quietly withdrew and is still in
Washington, though no longer minister.
The attitude OF the president and the
cabinet in dealing with this bit OF Italian
bulldozing is commended On all sides; they
have gone quietly about their duties just as
il nothing had occurred. 1t was decided as
soon as the matter was laid before the
cabinet that our minister to Italy should
not be recalled, unless there was something
more tangible to base such action upon
than the silly recall of the Italian minister
to this country.
Nobody thinks for a moment that Italy
wants to fight the United States - she
couldn't if she were ever so anxious, for the
best of reasons-she hasn't the money or
credit necessary to make her really power
ful navy effective on this side of the At
lantic. At first it believed that the
Italian government was only adopting this
sensational method of getting rid OF it's
minister here, and many well-informed
people are still OF that opinion, but Baron
Fava told personal friend. an American
lied Italian, that such was not the case,
and that his government was only desirous
of emphasizing it's dissa tisfaction with the
United States government because it would
not promise to pay an indemnity to the
families OF the Italians lynGhed and to
guarantee that the lynchers should be
properly punished - two impossibilities,
even il the evidence were ever SO plain that
any of the Iynched men were Italian sub
jects.
This childish action of the Italian gov
ernment will not change by hairs breadth
the status OF the question of the RESPONSE
bility of this government. Mr.. Blaine has
been investigating ever since the lynching
and he will continue, without regard to any
thing that Italy may see fit to do. until he
is in possession of all the facts. Then he
will decide. The Importance Of the ques-
tien is not overlooked. but there is no oc-
casien for any undue haste, and if any SER
ious complications were expected the presi-
dent certainly would not have announced
the date Of his departure on his Pacific
coast trip, as he has done since the recall
of the Italian minister.
The president and party, which it is not
thought will include any ladies, will leave
here Wednesday, April Is. 1t is not yet
certain how many of the cabinet will be in
the party, but Secretary Tracy will 60 as
he is anxious to inspect the Mare Island
navy yard, the Union Iron Works at San
Francisco, which is building several vessels
for the navy, and the new navy yard on
Puget Sound Secretary Rusk will also 60,
the rest are in doubt.
Secretary Foster has shown his good
sense by declining to be drawn into quar-
rel between members Of rival labor organi-
zations-the Knights OF Labor and the Fed
Grafton OF Labor-employed in the bureau
OF engraving and printing. He also de-
clined to order any investigation upon
charges that have already been investi-
gated without result by his predecessor.
Young j. Harry Martin, Senator Vance 8
step son who, while in drunken frenzy,
attempted to break into the windows oi
| the White House with the declared purpose
of doing" the president was, by consent oi
| the president, allowed to forfeit S25 collat-
eral in the police court on the charge OF as
sault upon the officer who arrested him, al
though it would have been easy to have
convicted him OF the charge that was first
entered against him-house- breaking.