Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-04-23
Washington Letter.
(FTom oU- Regular Correspondent
Washington. ID. c., April II, 1891.


Secretary Blaine this week completed
and sent to Marquis Imperial. vino
doubtless Immediately cabled it to Ru-
dini. the reply of the United States to
the last dispatch of Rudini, the Italian
premier. Mr.. Blaine's anEwer is long
one and enters in detail into the killing
of the members of the "Mafian at New
Orleans and into the demands OF the
Italian government in relation thereto,
and it maintains the original position of
Mr.. Blaine. to wit: that the law viii
take its course aud cannot be hurried to
recognize the justice of the payment
of money indemnify to the families of
the Italian subjects lynched, if the proof
be full and satisfactory that there were
any, which he declines to concede at
this time. If any one supposed that
Mr.. Blaine's reply would be an attempt
to paclfy the excited Italians they will
be badly disappointed. 1t is flat foot
ed uDcompromising statement of tho
position of this government without re-
gard to what the Italians may desire or
think about it, and as such it is gener-
ally Commended here.
1t is significant that the correspon-
dence since the recall of Fava has been
through the Marquis Imperiali, and that
he signs himself charge d afaires,
which makes more that ever
apparent that the whole business
is but ruse of the present Italian min
istrY to gain popularity at home. 1t is
not now believed that il ever had the
remotest idea of seyeriDg diplomatic
relations with us.
Secretary Tracy has issued an order
carrying his idea of removing politics
from the employment of the working
force in tho navy yards of the country
into effect. He is not satisfied to have
this innovation take effect gradually as
vacancies may from time to time occur.
but has issued an order declaring all
positions of foremen and master ma
chanics in the New York navy yard va
cant after June l. and converting a
board of naval officers there to examine
May II all applicants for the vacan.-
cies. The examinations are to be strict
ly practical, referring exclusively to the
requisites of the positions to be filled.
The same order makes similar positions
in the Norfolk ravy yard vacant after
July l, and convenes an examining
board there June g.
There has been large and continu-
ally growing increase in the mail of the
War and Navy department ever since
the beginning of the Italian bluffing,
and the writers are about equally divi-
ded between patriots who wish to vol
unteer in case of war with Italy and
cranks who offer all sorts of the widest
suggestions as to how we might capture
or destroy the powerful Italian iron
clads should they make their appear
ance upon our coasts. 1t is evident that
in case of war, which is scarcely consid-
cred among the possibilities to say moth
ing of probabilities, the Government
would have many more volunteers than
it would care to enlist, from which it
would seem that good many Ameri-
leans are "spoiling for a fight with
somebody.
Secretaries Proctor and Tracy and
Attorney General Miller are holding the
fort for the administration during the
temporary absence of the President and
the rest of the cabinet. Secretary Proc
tor has to tell good many people that
he has no present intention of resigning.
and that while not candidate to sue
coed Senator Edmunds he would not
decline the Senatorship should it be
rendered to him by the governor of YER
mont, as about nine out of ten of his
callers ask him the questions, point
blank. 1t is regarded here as almost
certain that Secretary Proctor will be
appointed to serve out the unexpired
term of Senator Edmunds between the
first of November, when the resignation
takes effect, and the assembling of the
Fifty-second Congress.
Mr.. f. w. Halford, the Presidents
efficient and popular private Secretary.
has the sympathy of everybody in the
bereavment he has met with in the loss
of his wife, who died here Wednesday
morning. She had been a sufferer from
chronic bronchitis for some years. and
for the past five years had been an in
valid. Her death will sadly mar the
pleasure Of the President and Mrs. Har-
rison who were her loving friends, on