Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ogAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR }
Washin gton, Mar. 20, 1892.

one OF their NUMBER WlCnln GHo last
forty eight hours and it may prove
the first step towards a war between
the President and the Senate as bitter
and RELENTLESS as that which was a
administration. The most notable
thing about the secret conference was
the absence of such pronounced OPP
ponents Of the administration as
Senators Hal, Murphy and Pugh. AL
though absent these senators are in
sympathy with the objects of the con-
ference, and it is believed that they
kept away purposely, in order that
certain senators disposed to be con-
sentative might be induced to attend.
What was stated to have been the
Immediate cause of the calling of the
conference was the notice served upon
senators by Mr.. Cleveland that he re-
served the right to ''turn down" ap-
plicants for Office even when they
were Endorsed by both Senators and
the entire delegation in the House. In
other words, that congressional influ-
ence would not count unless the
bearer of it was otherwise satisfactory
to the appointing power. That was
the last straw. "This man intends to
humilitate US and to break down our
power at home," said indignant dem
ocratic senators to each other, "and
unless we intend to retire at the end
of our terms we must fight" Moth
ing definite was determined at the
conference, which was held for free
Interchange of opinion as to what
ought to be done, but a majority IA
vored sending Mr.. Cleveland word in
unmistakable language that unless he
would agree to allow the senators to
exercise their old time privilege of
controlling, when acting in concert
with the representative from their
states, the federal patronage of their
respective states, they proposed to
make war on him by rejecting his
nominations to office. Although no
formal resolution to that effect was
adopted by the conference the talk Of
those who took part-about twenty
senators-has been fully reported to
Mr.. Cleveland, and the few who are
in the secret are anXiously waiting to
see which side, if either, will first
show the white feather. If Mr.. Cleve-
land does it will be the first time he
has allowed himself to be whipped
without a fight.
Republican officials seem to enjoy
the confidence of this administration ,
to marked extent. For two days
last week the war and Navy Depart
ments were in charge of Assistant
Secretaries Grant and Solely, respec-
lively while Secretary Lamont and
Herbert were out of the city.
The administration is trying to be
very mysterious about it's policy
towards Hawaii, but it can be stated
on good authority that it had two
separate and distinct policies within
week. The first Of last week ex-Con-
gresham Blount, of Georgia, who
while he was chairman of the House
committee on foreign affairs was an
outspoken opponent of annexation,
was started for Hawaii with authority
and instructions to repudiate the pro-
tectorate established by Minister Stew
ems and to haul down the American
flag, in order to see whether the pro-
Visional government was strong
enough to stand alone while negotiat-
ing with this government. Later in
formation was received by the admin
iStration to the effect that Great
Britian's officials were prepared the
moment the protection of the United
States was officially withdrawn to re-
store the deposed Queen to the throne
under a British protectorate. A cabi-
net meeting was at once called and
it's members made the fact very plain
to the President that if he allowed
Great Britain to get peaceable control
of Hawaii his administration would be
denounced from the Atlantic to the
Pacific for such an un-American poll
cy. So an entire set of new instruc-
tions were prepared and sent by tele-
graph to entercept Mr.. Blount at San
Francisco. In these new instructions
he was told to recognize the existing
protectorate, while he scours Hawaii
for reasons against annexation. AS
he sails from San Francisco to-day or
tomorrow his instructions cannot
again be changed even if the admin
istration should take another somer-
sault.
Every train that goes out of Wash
ington is loaded with disappointed Of
flee seekers, but as every train which
arrives is also loaded with office seek