Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
written and compiled for the HERALD.


Written and compiled for the HERALD
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 25.-"The
President" said prominent Indiana Re-
publican whom / met coming out of the
White House, "smiled in peculiar man
ner as he assured me that the story of
Secretary Blaine's falling brain power
was cruel hoax, entirely without fo,n
dation; and didn't wonder at the pecu-
liar smile after j learned that at that
very moment there was lying upon the
Presidents desk an important and lengthy
state paper dictated within forty-eight
hours by Secretary Blaine and sent to
Washington, which demonstrated as moth
ing else could that our great Secretary Of
State, in many respects the greatest we
have ever had, still had his hand upon
the lever which has SO elevated the United
States in the estimation of the rest of the
world. To slightly paraphrase the Ian
guage of President Lincoln in speaking
of the charge of drinking made against
Gen. Grant: If Mr.. Blaine be suffering
from softening of the brain it would be
we'll if 1t were contagious and all our
prominent men could catch it,"
1t has been positively stated within the
last two or three days that the President
would and would not appoint the new u.
S. Circuit Judges before the assembling
of Congress, but as neither statement was
in any sense official the matter is Just
where it was before the President went
away, SO far as can be authoritively
learned; but l have good reasons for be
lieving that the appointments are to be
made very shortly. l know that the
matter has been discussed at conference
between the President and Attorney
General Miller, and it is generally be-
lieyed that the Attorney General favors
making the appointments at once. There
was a rumor several days ago that the
President had said to Virginia Con-
gressional delegation, headed by Senator
Barbour, that it was his intention to ap-
point several Democrats, but the rumor
is not credited by Republicans who can
see no good reason why Republican
President should give even one Democrat
a place upon the bench Of a United States
Court.
Ex-Rerresentative Owen, of Indiana,
who IS now here, is credited with being a
shrewd political observer, He says OF
the Presidents recent tour: "No public
man ever met with a more flatteriDg
reception or eyer made more friends than
he did through the line of bis travels
There was not a mistake made by him
and he grew in the estimation of the pub
lie wherever he went and through his
speeches became better known to the
country at large. He can no longer be
called small by any one. He has proven
that be is great enough for his position
and that he is possessed OF those social
qualities which are looked for in a man
in his position. Men who once had
doubts as to his future no longer hold
them. He is certain to be renOmnated.
Blaine will not oppose him and when the
convention meets it will be found prac-
tically unanimous for him. think the
Democrats will nominate Cleveland. 1t
will be the old fight-Harrison against
Cleveland. The third party movement,
if it be sanctioned by the Farmers Al
lance, will put an element of uncer-
tainty into the campaign for both parties,
bat Harrison has grown in strength
wonderfully.
Hon. John W. Foster, whose recent sue
cess in negotiating the reciprocity trade
agreement with Spain IS fresh in the
public mind, has, it is understood been
asked TO take charge of all of the reel
procity negotiations now pending before
the State department, in case Mr.. Blaine
shall decide to take long rest before re-
turning to the duties of his position, aud
it is probable that if he returns Mr.
Foster will assist him for time, in order
to tighten his labors, which for many
months have been entirely too hard for
one man.
Secretary Foster spiked good many
Democratic guns when he announced
that there would not be the slightest diff
fc1lty in meeting the quarterly pension
payments due in June. This is a sad
blow for the calamity walters who have
been predicting Treasury collapse. Not
only will the pension payments be prompt
" made, but the Treasury will besides
have money to spare for any exigency
that may arise. One has only to talk to
Secretary Foster five minutes to be con-
WINGED that the wonderful "defcit,'
which has been given so much space by
Democratic newspapers is only an imagi-
nary bugaboo that will meyer materialize
as long as Repu blicans control the finances
of the country.
If the Cincinnati third party has not
made any better impression anywhere
else than it has here it will amount
to very little. TIE party Is judged,
whether right or wrong l cannot say, By
some of the mems characters it has put
prominently forward as members OF Its
national committee, and for that reason
it is looked upon as being for sale to the
highest bidded. The Alliance leaders
will not, it is thought here, consort with
these men Of shady regulations.
The Baker-Gilm Case.
The Pulaski Ne,es says: Mrs. Gilmer,
who IS now at her girlhood home in Flu