Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1892-04-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Re- ular Correspo ndent
WASHINGTON, MARCH %, 90 :

w aChlNo oN, hAhIk 80, ~.
Secretary Blaine has resumed
active direction of State depart
ment affairs, although he has not
fully recovered from the attack of
the gtip from which he has been Il
sufferer for several weeks, and it
can be positively stated that the
President has DO mere ardent sup
porter in his controversy with
Lord Salisbury, concerning
Behrlug Sea matters, than Secre-
tary Blaine.
The situation continues critical,
owing to the failure of Lord Sails
bury to say definitely what his
government proposes to do, and
and while neither the president
nor any mem ber of his cabinet
anticipates war with Great
Britain they recognize that hostili-
ties may result from the orders
issued 10 the Commanders of the
Nav al vessels of the two powers
which will soon be in Behring sea-
1t is certain that the Commanders
of the United States vessels, which
will include some of our strongest
lighting ships, vii! be directed to
seize all vessels engaged in taking
seals illegally, no matter what flag
they fly, and it may be that the
British commanders of war ves-
sells, which according to the latest
information have already began
to gather in the vicinity of the
sealing waters, will be ordered to
protect sealing vessels flying the
British flag. Here lies the dang
er. If Great Britain will keep her
fingers out of the muddle there
will be no trouble, even If she per
sists in declining to renew the
modus viyendi. 1t is this uncer-
tainty that is causing this govern
ment to prepare for trouble, as
far as it may under the circum-
stances.
The Senate has informally
agreed to ratify the arbitration
treaty, but owing to the unusual
precautions to keep the proceed
ings of the Executive sessions on
the subject secret there is a doubt
as to whether the ratification will
be on condition that the modus
vivendi be renwed, or be without
conditions.
The House Census committee
has given considerable attention
to the proposition of establishing
a. permanent census bureau, and
has heard arguments Oh the SUBJ
ject from number of gentlemen
including Superintendent Porter,
and it has invited General Francis
A. Walker, who was Superintend-
ent of the Tenth Census, to give
the committee his ideas on the
subject at as an early day as may
suit his convenience.
A joint caucus of Republican
Senators and Representatives
will be held Tue sday night. The
only business that will be brought
before the caucus will be the Sc
lection of the mem Der of the Con-
gressional Campaign committee.
The Paddock Pure Food bill,
which was recently passed by the
Senate, will be favorably reported
to the House by the committee OH
Agric ulture. The President is
deeply interested in the success
of the G. A. R. encampment, which
Is to be held here this year, as his
special message to Congress in
favor of the bill appropriating
500 900, one-half to be paid from
the revenues of the district of
Columbia, shows.
A National organization to be
known as the Henry Clay club,
has been organized here. Its
motto is, The protection of Amer
lean markets and the eleyation of
Americans" and its purpose is to
unite those persons who are be-
levers in the fundamental prin-
ciples SO ably advocated by Henry
Clay, and to encourage the pro-
mitigation and adoption of those
truths which were the inspiration
of his life work. Literature is to
be distributed and branch clubs
organized in the mining and
manufacturing sections of the
South, and arrangements have al
ready been perfested for sending
the following eloquent gentlemen
to that section TO make speeches:
Hon. Chsuncy NJ. Depew, Ex-Sen-
ator Evarts, and Representatives
Reed and Burrows.
AIrouk,o.I T Ill.