The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-07
HARRIsON,s WAR MESSAGE.
1t Is Pronounced to Be a Political Campaign
Dodge.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S,-Mr. Harri-
sons friends are inclined to be jubi-
y liant over the Chilean situation. They
A We an idea that Mr.. Harrison's
special message to congress recommend
J ing that war be, declared against
Chile, which they say he will certain
ly send in as soon as congress re-as-
sembles, if the new president of Chile,
who assumed office Saturday, does not
before then send an answer to the de-
mands for the punishment of the
Chileans who attacked the United
States sailors at Valparaiso, and for
indemnity for the families of the sail
ors who were killed, which shall be
entirely satisfactory, will give him a
boom for the presidential nomination.
They are hoping for message of de-
fiance from Chile, as they wish war to
be declared, believing that war would
make make Mr.. Harrison's re-nomina-
ton certain and his reelection much
more probable than it would other
wise be.
The Democrats in the House and
Senate are interested spectators of the
drama which the administration is
preparing for the American people,
And although it has been stated that
Ehe leaders were prepared to vote in
- favor of declaration of war should
President Harrison recommend that
as the only honorable way TO end the
matter, l can say on the highest au-
thority that no such statement has
been authorized by any Democrat of
prominence in the party councils. The
most diligent search failed to find a
single Democratic senator or repre-
sentative willing to express an opin-
ion until all the correspondence be-
tween the two governments shall have
been sent to congress. Then, if it
shall appear that American honor de-
mands declaration of war, no Demo-
crat will be found opposing it; but
should it appear, on the other hand,
that an attempt was being made by
the administration to curry favor with
thoughtless people by making war
upon weaker nation, no Democrat
will be frightened by a fictitious pIb-
lie clamor into voting dollar for a
political war. That is about the stu
alton as it stands today.
Speaker Crisp has been i'll with the
grip ever since the Christmas adjourn
ment. He had to abandon his trip
home, and send for Mrs. Crisp to come
here to help nurse him. He suffers
4 I'M hi nj nj n
is in no danger. Mr. Mills has recov-
cred sufficiently to 90 to Fortress Mon
roe, where he has been ordered by his
physician to remain a few days.
Much of the disappointment which
followed the announcement of the
House committees has already passed
away, and by the time congress meets
there will be little of it left, except
:, among those who consider the failure
: Aof the speaker to tender the chairman
Nv shin of the ways and means committee
4 to Mr.. Mills in the light of personal
slight to that gentleman.
The two Democratic members of the
House committee or rules are spend
ing their holiday time at work upon
the rules which will govern the pro-
ceedings of the present House, and it
Speaker Crisp, who is chairman OF the
committee, gets well enough this week
70 attend to business, they hope to re-
port the rules Immediately after the
House re-assembles. They are not
disposed to talk about their work at
present.
There is no occasion for wonder that
some people should refer to the
United States senate as the "Mill!on-
aires Club" In soyAic respects the
name is fully desc III. 1t costs the.
taxpayers Of this 5attry more eoI than a n
six times LoIg:Cy ~, costs Great Britain.
4 1t has az corps of employees large
enough Co be in each others way, all
y fnem drawing larger salaries than
norid the same class of employees in
~ Nse, and yet it is coolly propos-
th> w id twenty-three additional
As at cost of $4,000 year.