Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-04-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Settlement of the Italian Claim for
Indemnity.
Supreme Court Vacancy--Our Gillian
Relations.

WASHINGTON, ID. u, April 10, W.
The removal of the feeling of resent
ment which was aroused in the minds
of the people of Italy by the lynching
of some of their countrymen at New
Orleans and the heconsequentre-establish
ment of diplomatic relations is matter
upon which the State Department is to
be congratulated. Italy is country
with which we have considerable COM
merce, and we have every reason to
desire to live on terms of perfect amity
with her government and people. The
estrangement which followed the New
Orleans affair was natural in the cir
cumstances, because the complex ma
ture of our constitutional system was
very imperfectly understood, and Ital-
ians were apt to think the Federal Gov
ernment intentionally or negligently
inactive when it was simply powerless.
1t is just to say that in the whole mat
ter the American people have had no
ill will toward the Italians. Whatever
provocation the New Orleans lynchers
may have supposed themselves to have
the people of this scountry reprobate and
condemn lyncbing. The Government
does not now propose to admit that it
has any direct responsibility for the
deplorable crime which was committed.
The sum it agrees to pay ($25,OOO) is
simply in the nature of indemnity CT
reparation to the families of the mur-
dered men whose American citizenship
was not quite clearly established. Con-
gress ought to have no difficulty in ap-
propriating the comparatively incon-
siderable sum agreed upon and thereby
giving practical effect to the negotia-
tiens which the State Department has
brought to fortunate conclusion.
The aspirants for the vacant seat on
the Supreme bench and the friends who
have been urging their claims upon the
President are generally disheartened
by the impression they get that the of
flee is to 60 to Attorney General Miller.
Mr.. Miller has long been anxious to go
on the Supreme bench and every time
a vacancy has occurred his name has
come up. The suggestion, however,
has always excited opposition in the
Senate and the President has been
threatened with failure of confrma-
tion if he made the appointment. He
has yielded to this each time, sacriiic-
ing his own desires and disappointing
Mr.. Miller. He has had more vacan-
cies on the Supreme Court bench to fill
than have fallen to the lot of other
Presidents and the odds are against his
having another vacancy during his
term. 1t is therefore probable that
this will be the last chance to honor
Mr.. Miller and it is said that the Presi-
dent is very determined in his purpose
to give him the appointment. The op
position in the Senate still exists, how
ever, and great deal of pressure will
be necessary to overcome it. 1t is un-
derstood that it has been very strongly
intimated to the President that fight
with Senators over this matter might
seriously affect his prospects for re-
nomination and that he has as strongly
intimated that his action would not be
influenced by such consideration.
In very unobtrusive manner our
diplomatic relations with Chill, it is
understood, are to be suspended indef-
initely, if not broken off altogether 1t
is not expected that minister will be
sent here by the Gillian government to
succeed Senor Montt, who has gone
home TO enter the Chilian Congress.
The expectation further is that the
leaves of absence granted Minister
Egan and Consul McCreary will be in.
definitely extended and that ultimately,
withou publicity being given to the
matter, they will cease to draw pay
from this Government. 1t is under
stood to be the purpose of this Govern
ment to cease diplomatic relations with
Chill, both countries participating in
the desire to keep out of each others
company" for awhile, but it is not
their purpose to bring about the sever
ance of relations suddenly, and there
fore the simple method of granting
leaves of absence is resorted to. 1t is
expected that there will be considerable
delay in the settlement of the claim
growing out of the assault upon the
sailors of the Baltimore, but this Gov
erment will probably make very
modest demand and that ultimately
the Chilian Government will make a
settlement.
The condemnation of the Treasury
vaults by a committee of experts ap-
pointed under resolutions of Congress
may seem strange, and it is strange.
That many millions of public money
and bullion should be left in vaults
that are unsafe and depend entirely
for their safety upon the trustworthi-
ness and activity of the Treasury Of
ficials and watchmen is almost incred-
ible. That fact is learned none too
soon. The building of new vaults and
the strengthening of weak ones, as pro-
posed in the report, should be proceed
ed with as early as possible.
Eightyt wo, and an active, honored
and influential Senator of the United
Statesl The public Thursday congrat-