The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-05-13
ASHIN GTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 8. i

WASHINGTON, ID. C., May 8. 1891.
Well. well! Can it be that after all of Mr.
Blaine's jipgoism as to our rights in Behrin 6
Sea that we are to humbly back down? That's
the talk here now. According TO my informa-
ton, Mr. Blaine has discovered that we have
nothing to aIbitrate and that Russia never set
up any such claims 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, soon as Mr. Blaine
| saw, that we had not the slightest show under
| the proposed arbitration he began to search for
hole to crawl out of with us little loss of dig
| nifty as possible. He began then 80 lay wires
for triple international agreement between
the United States Russia and Engl and, for the
prevention of the indiscriminate killing O: seals
in Behrin Sea, and now it is said that pendin g
further negoi iations, seals are to be taken at
all this season. Officials at the State and Treas
ury departments refuse to either confirm or
deny this story.
whole week has gene by without new and
entirely ffereGt statement from the preceding &
one OF the condition of the Treasury having been
given out. Last week there were three or four
OF them. Mum is the word Ecw, hile the Sec
rotary and his expert accountants proper.
ing the figures Tor the prcsto-ve;o change state
ment, which. if it meets with Mr.. Harrisoa a's
approval and OF that there's little doubt. is to be
given TO the public on the first of Juue. The in
tentIon is to follow republican precedent by
manipulating the trust funds in the monthly
statement of the national debt in such way as
to sho n a large available surplus where practi-
Cally none exists
The first mutterings of a storm in the ranks
of the republican party are being heard here.
So far MI. Harrison has apparently had it all
his own way in his march towards second
nomination, and none of his party have seen fit
to attempt to make any organized opposition to
him, bat squalls are ahead for him. This week
Representative EarQuhar, of New York, has
openly stated here mis- belief that Harrison
could not possibly be elected, and an Indiana
republican of prominence has said that Harri-
son could not carry that State. These are straws
showing the drift of republican sentiment
The Blaine mea can not be kept down much
longer; they hate Harrison, and every time
that Russell Iarrison's newspaper. in its silly
attempts to make gloly for Harrison, casts a
slur upon Blaine. that hatred is intensified.
These men would rather see democrat elected
than have 20 stand Harrison for another four
years. and mark The prediction, in six months
they will be shouting that sentiment from the
house tops. MIR. Blaine may be perfectly will
in, that sir. Harrison should be renominated,
although 1 have serious doubts of it. but his
friends are not They hope, of course. to NOM
mate Blaine. whether he consents or not, bu5
they are determined Will be seen before
long, that in any event Harrison shall not be
the nominee, il they preve,t it, and they
think they can. There's music ahead as re
as you are born, and with good maa cement
the democrats can march to victory keeping
time with il.
If the opinion OF leading members of the party
as expressed here Lately have any influence
with the democratic caucus OF thu House Of
Repres entatives, the next Speaker of the House
will certainly be Southern man. These gem
tlemen have argued that the South is entitled
either to the Speakership or TO place on the
national ticket. and that it wou'd be better pol