Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-01-07
From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. 90, 1891.
Senior Montt, the Chlian minister, en-
tanned Secretary Blaine at dinner Saturday
evening, and to those who only look at the
surface of things the minister, who Is
relative of the man who was on Saturday
inaugurated President of Chill, appears
anxious to maintain peace between his
country and the United States. But in
diplomacy it is never the surface indica-
tions that count, and there are substantial
reasons for believing that the minister has
been, and is now, playing the game of de-
lay, so dear to the heart Of diplomatic, in
order that Chill may prepare herself for
lnduiging in the very dangerous pastime
of defying Uncle Sam and refusing the
very just and reasonable demands he has
made.
The President is not being hoodw linked.
He knows just as well as Minister Montt
does about the preparations that are being
made by Chill for war, and he has not
been idle. He fully realizes the great
strength Of this country, as compared with
Chilli, and on account of that realization
believes 1t only right to allow that country
reasonable time to answer our demands,
and the fact that temporary government
has been in control of Chill has also added
to the natural lenieEy of this govern
ment. But that country now has perma-
nent presidential least until the next rev.
olution; the investigation of the attack on
the American sailors has been completed,
and there Is no longer excuse for delay. L.
may be'setdOwn as certain that If salts
factory answer has not been received by
the time Congress comes together in Jan
uary the President will forward all the cor
respondence to Congress with special
message that will convince the Chilaus
that they must "cut bait or fish" al once.
Leading Democrats in both House and
Senate haye assured the President that they
would cordially support the administration
in its efforts to maintain American honor,
even to the extent of voting for declara-
ton Of war should it be necessary, and
while there are some Democrat in Con-
gress who would, if they toll Hed their
own minds, throw, or attempt ID thro.
Legislative obstacles in the way of the adj
minlstration, it is not probable that sin
gle one of them viii ds : to do so in the
face of pract ,ly III ir'Dus public SEN
timent.
There has been a ,vely feeling of
pulses among the men who supported
Mills in his fight for the Speaker.hip, TO
ascertain if they would vote together in
little scheme which is being evolved by
Mills friends, which has for its purpose
the defeat of the tariff policy of the Crisp
wing Of the Democratic party, which ia
against the formulation of a tariff bill
Whether it succeeds or not the scheme Is
bold one. 1t is to introduce a tariff bill
and to move that it be referred to the
committee on commerce, of which Mr..
Mills is chairman, instead of the WAYS and
Means committee. It's chances for sue
cess would have been better could it have
been kept secret until after the new rules
had been reported and adopted by the
House. Now it is possible and probshle
that the scheme will be made impossible
by the new rules.
Secretary Foster is slowly getting bet
ter. but owing to the damp weather he is
still kept in doors. His confinement is
lightened as much as possible by his num-
erous callers, among whom are all of the
prominent men in Washington.
Representative Bailey of Texas, is Young
to Congressional honors, but. if his solid
ability be on a par with his ingenuity In
expressing his dislike of Speaker Crisp's
arrangement of the House committees,
he will be heard from later on He says
The House committees should be select
ed as they are in the Senate, and shall
endeayor to convince the Democratic eau
Gus of that fact. There would then be no
uhseemly combinations for sake of place
and speakers of the House would be elect
ed on kheir merits alone. | have no speci-
tic criticisms 10 make. but Just suppose
that the new committees had been select
ed by a caucus committee, and imagine the
difference of their personnel" Please do
not forget that Mr. Bailey is Democrat.
Without expressing an opinion as to Mr.
Bailey's idea it may be said that its adop-
ton would simply be case of shutting
the stable door after the horses have been
stolen, as far as the Democrats are con-
cerned, as there is little probability that the
next House OF. Representatives will be con
trolled by that party.
Kansas people here think That Mr.. In
gals wall be appointed to serve out the
oneHpl;' IF of tn: late Senator Plumb