The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

washington. ID. I. FEB. 10, 1901.
Mr.. Cleveland's letter against the
free and unlimited independent coin
age of silver did not create the excite
ment in Congress that the sensational
newspapers have said it did. In the
first place the views expressed by Mr.
Cleveland are precisely those held by
him and publicly expressed just before
his Inauguration as President in 1885,
so that reiteration of them was no
surprise to those acquainted with the
man. Of course there are differences
of opinion among democrats in Con-
gress as to the wisdom Of having taken
this time to reiterate them, but Mr..
Cleveland's friends point to the fact
that he did not do so until asked to
take part in the anti-silver meeting in
New York. They say that if he had
not given his opinion in answer to
that invitation he would have been
open to the charge of cowardice, and
everybody knows that there is nothing
approaching cowardice in Grover
Clevelands make up.
Many eminent democratic Senators
and Representatives in their disap-
po'ntment at seeing the last hope of
the passage OF the free coinage bill by
the House at this session vanish, as it
did with the publication of Mr.. Cleve-
lands letter, said, upon the spur of the
moment, things which upon cool
second thoughts they will probably re-
gret Mr.. Cleveland may or may not
be the nominee of the democratic
party next year, but it does not appear
probable to an unprejudiced mind
that his expressing personal opinion,
which he was well known to hold,
eighteen months before the meeting of
the national convention of the party
would absolutely eliminate him from the
presidential field. Successful politics
said democratic Senator to-diy 'are
always practical and if when the con-
vention meets its members shall be Of
the opinion that Mr.. Cleveland is the
strongest man he will receive the
nomination, otherwise not; and the
rank and file Of the party, who want
the man nominated that can win, not
any particular man, will ratify the
choice ofthe convention, whoever he
may be. A year and a half is a good
while. Let us all keep cool and meet
the issues when they confront us.
Nothing is to be gained, but much can
be lost, by being precipitate."
Washington " here both men had
many warm friends, was greatly shock
ed by the deaths of Admiral Porter
and Gen Sherman, one on Friday and
the other on Saturday. and many kind
and loving regrets have been EXPIRE ss-
e. by all classes. BY order of Mr.
Harrison all of the departments will
b closed tomonow,-the day of Ad-
mral Porter S funeral, and it is expect
ell that Congress will adjourn as
a mark of respect. He will be buried
wCl military honors at Arlington Gene
:ry IN spot selected by himself not
ioog ago, With the death of these
two men the last Of the great Union
commanders ofthe civil war have passed
away, and with both of them dies the
h 1est rank in theirrcspective branch
e Of the service-Admiral of the navy
AM General of the army.
he enemies Of civil sericc reform,
a. me IS run by the preset Commis-
SO ers, came very near succeeding in
a illnk movement in the House, the
OH ct Of which was to cut off the sup
p Of the commission by reducing
~ appropriation for the hire Of
cFts. The movement failed, but IT
ie ted in some plain talk about the
mannes in which the commission
works that could not have been pleas
ng 70 the commissioners.
There are certain indications Of the
near approach Of the junketing season