The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1891-05-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent. !
WASHINGTON, Nav 6. 1891.

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. May g, 1891.
Editor Advertiser:
Well, we'll ! can it be that after all
of Mr.. Blaine's jingoism as to our
rights in Berhing Sea that we are to
humbly back down? That's the talk
here now. According to my inform
alton, MIR. Blaine has discovered that
we have nothing to arbitrate and that
Russia never set up such claims as he
has done when she was the owner of
Alaska, and does not now recognize
that the United States has any such
rights. AS the story goes, as soon as
Mr.. Blaine knew that he had not the
slightest show under the proposed ar
bitration he began to search for hole
to crawl out of with as little loss of
dignity as possible. He began then to
lay wires for triple international
agreement between the United States,
Russia and England, for the preven-
tion of the indiscriminate killing of
seals in Behring Sea, and now, it is
said, that pending further negotiations
no seals are to be taken at all this sea-
son. Officials at the State and Treas
ury departments refuse to either con-
firm or deny this story.
A whole week has gone by without
a row and entirely different statement
from the preceding one of the condi-
tion of the Treasury having been Civ
en- out. Last week there were three
or four of them. Mum is the word
now, while the Secretary and his ex-
pert accountants are preparing the fig
ures for the prosto-veto-change state
ment, which if it meets with Mr.. Har-
rison's approval, and of that there's
little doubt, is to be given to the pub
lie on the first of June. The inten-
ton is to follow republican precedent
by manipulating the trust funds in
the monthly statement of the national
debt in such way as to show large
available surplus where practically
none exists.
The first mutterings of a storm in
the ranks of the Republican party are
being heard here. So far Mr.. Harri-
son has apparently had it his own way
in his march towards second nomin-
alton, and none of his party have seen
fit to attempt to make any organized
opposition to him, but squalls are
ahead for him. This week Represen-
tative Fsrquahar, of New York, has
openly stated here his belief that Har-
rison could not be elected, and an In
diana Republican of prominence has
said that Harrison could not carry
that State. These are straws showing
the drift of Republican sentiment.
The Blaine men can not be kept
down much longer; they hate Harri-
son, and every time that Russell Har-
rison's paper in its silly attempt to
make glory for Harrison casts a slur
upon Blaine that hatred is intensified.
These men would rather see a Demo-
crat elected than have to stand Har-
rison for another four years, and,
mark the prediction, in six months
they will be shouting that sentiment
from tn, house tops. Mr.. Blaine may
be perfectly willing that Mr.. Harrison
should be nominated, although l have
serious doubts of it, but his friends
are not. They hope, but they are de-
termined, as will be seen before long,
that in any event Harrison shall not
be the nominee, if they can prevent
it, and they think they can. There's
music ahead as sure as you are born,
and with good management the Dem
ocrats can march to victory keeping
time with it.
If the opinion Of leading members
of the party as expressed here lately
have any influence with the Demo
cratic caucus of the House Of Repre-
sentatives the next speaker of the
House will certainly be Southern
man. These gentlemen have argued
that the South is entitled either to the
Speakership or to place on the ma.
tienal ticket, and that it would be bet
ter politics to giveit the Speakership.
If aSouthern man is to be Speaker it
will probably be either Representative
Crisp, of Georgia; Representative
Mills, of Texas, or Representative Nc
Millin, of Tennessee. Either of them
would suit me, therefore | can speak
of their chances without prejudice. Mr.
Mills was largely in the lead a month
before the adjournment of Congress,
but it now looks as if Mr.. Crisp was
ahead, and were it not for the liquor
dealers national organization, which,
it is stated here, will bitterly fgh,
him, / should select him as the win
ner. Mr.. McMillin has surprised
good many people by developing more
strength than he had been credited
| with but his only hope of winning
IS in the event Of protracted strug
gle between the two first named can
didates, which many shrewd observers
,~o roxty nradictino a. certain to occur