The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-02-25
Letter from Washington, d. G.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: [
thank you for your denial of any partici-
patton by me, either directly or indirect
ly in the abuse of any Congressional can
didate Your statement so far is entirely
correct. But did not go to the length
of rejecting upon the Waterville Mail, for
you will remember l said l had seen no
abuse in the Mail, OF any other paper, OF
the complaining candidate.
Congress has adjourned until Wednes-
day. A large number of the members
have gone to Chicago to see what has al
ready been constructed of the Columbian
Exposition buildings, while many Others
have gone to Alabama in connection with
some land booming scheme. | had very
earnest invitation to both places, but re-
Numbering how my friends at home Jared
in their Fort Payne and Cardiff ventures,
with something like chill and shrug
Stunned the latter, and I found myself
too busy here to accept the former.
During last week we had hearings. for
two days, before the Committee on Mer
chant Marine and Fisheries, upon the
Lapham bill, which provides that in def
ance of the laws of Maine, any one may
enter our bays and rivers and take men
haden and mackerel with purse seines.
In one season 557, 900 barrels of menhaden
were taken between Casco Bay and the
eastern limit of Penobscot Bay. The re-
suit was that hardly menhaden was seen
on the Maine coast for ten years You
know how the mackerel were also driven
from our coast.
Now Mr.. Lapham proposes, by his bill,
that Congress shall enact laws which shall
repeal the law of Maine, made for the
protection of her fisheries, and allow an
other universal slaughter of her fish,
to be followed by another dearth of them.
This is an important matter to the State
of Maine in more ways than one, as l
think all Of our people clearly understand.
The amount of fish which is taken by our
own people along our coast for their own
consumption and sale is of no small I'M
portance. Then the State of Maine is be-
coming the great watering place of the
country. A vast sum of money is left in
it every summer by visitors to it's pict-
uresque coast and it's unrivalled lakes
Our fish and game constitute an impor-
tant inducement for these people to come
and spend their money among us. Maine
has therefore, by wise and salutary laws,
protected her fish and game, and l am
glad to know that her fish and game WAL
dens are actively doing their duty in see
ing that the laws are enforced and | seri-
ously doubt the right of the national gov
eminent to authorize any one to make a
general slaughter of our fish or game
against the will of the State. If it can
then there will no longer be protection to
our Holsters, OF the oyster beds in the
Chesapeake, OF anywhere else. All these
matters will be fully presented before the
committee. which will have another hear
ing next Wednesday, and perhaps many
hearings after that
The menhaden oil men appeared before
the committee with a very strong lobby
and are making desperate struggle to
obtain the privilege which they used to
have Of enrching themselves by the de
struction of our inshore fisheries No eff
fort will be spared on their part, and in
deed they have made some visible i'm
preston; but the other side will be fully
heard, and | predict that the menhaden
oil folks will be beaten both upon the law
and the facts. At any rate no pains will
be spared in combating them. | wish
before closing this subject to acknowledge
my obligation to our very efficient Fish
Commissioner, Dr.. Could of Searsport.
for the useful information he has furnish
ed me-
The Democrats are in stew on the
silver bill. Mr. Springer's prediction of
peace for his party upon that subject has
already proved a failure. Bland is bound
to push through bill for free silver, not
COullucu 10 lile silver pIoutltL ~ I4tlS toull-
try but to make this a dumping ground
for all the inferior coin on the globe.
Nothing less than that will satisfy him
and his followers. There is little doubt
that a Republican Senate can be relied
upon to stop SO vicious bill; but in the
President it will meet an unsuccumbing
foe
| saw Mr.. Blaine Thursday. He was
looking finely, wearing every appearance
of good health, and showing all his old
mental vigor. Thousands of people, both
his old friends and those who have not
been always his followers, are hoping and
most earnestly desiring that he may yet
be our national standard bearer in the
political contest of the year 1892. He
seems to be the one man of this genera
ton who cannot abate the zeal of his
friends by refusing their offering of the
greatest prize in their power to bestow
upon him. S. L. MLLIKEN.
Just think of the London Times that
great mouthpiece of English toryism, be-
ing printed on one of Hoes American
presses. Such, however, is said to be the
ctr If