Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-11-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Capital Prosperous Admiral's
Error-New Tariff Bill-Demo-
cratic Divisions on Silver.

We have had some glorious October
days in Washington. While tumult has
reigned in Congress, and all kinds of po-
litical storms have threatened us, nature
has been very kind to US, and given us
her very best efforts to keep US in good
humor. The Capital City is beautiful at
all seasons of the year, and especially is
it so at the present time. There seems
to be no great trouble in business circles
here to annoy US. either Hard times
that are seemingly affecting the business
interests elsewhere affect us little here.
Whenever Congress is in session Wash
ingtOn seems to be prosperous, whatever
else may occur. Therefore, from this
standpoint, people do not seem much dis
ceuraged at the business outlook. There
seems to be a general feeling that things
elsewhere in the country will be better
soon. The travel toward Chicago from
Washington during October has been
immense. 1t seems as though the people
here had waited until the last month and
then had all determined to go. Although
we must admit that COngressmen-es-
pecially SenatorS-have been an excep-
tion to this rule. They have stuck to
their posts well. But the grand rush is
about over, and the great Fair is a
thing of the past. Chicago has certain
done herself credit, and we doubt if even
Washington, had she obtained the prize
she worked so hard for, could have done
so WELL
The Navy Department has been a
good deal excited during the last week
over the fact that Admiral Stanton,
of the South Atlantic Station, on the ar
rival of the flagship New York, in Rio
harbor, on Saturday, saluted the rebel
flag of the rebel Admiral Mello, of Brazil,
who holds the Rio harbor He then fired
a salute, which Mello answered, and then
he paid Mello an official visit, and re-
ceived a return visit from Mello. 1t was
virtually recognition of the Brazilian
rebels by the United States. As result
the United States is placed in very
awkward position, and Admiral Stanton
was promptly detached from his COM
mand, and ordered to return home. Sec
retary Gresham has informed Brazil that
our Government will apologize for the
offense, and that it deplores the action of
the Admiral, who had no authority to do
such an act. The Admiral is first-class
officer, and the only reason that can be
assigned for the rash act, is ignorance of
international law, subject upon which
he should be informed. His message to the
Navy Department says he saluted both
flags, which must be an acknowledgment
of ignorance, at least.
The House has been at work on the
Bankruptcy bill all the last week. 1t has
aroused a good deal of debate that has
not been in any sense partisan debate
Mr.. Kilgore, of Texas, who led the
fight against the bill in the last Congress,
and made record (such as it was) as a
filibuster against this bill, and private
pension bills, has got much hal der fight
on his hands than hs had then, as under
the present rules his tactics can be
brought to stand-still at any time by
report from the Committee on Rules.
He seems to realize this fact, and is not
near so lively in his efforts as then. The
announcement that the Democratic men,
bers of the Ways and Means Committee
have the rough draft of new Tariff bill
completed, and about ready to submit to
the consideration of the whole commit
tee has aroused considerable interest. 1t
is said that wool and iron ore are to be
admitted free; that the iron and steel
schedule is to be reduced, and that glass
is to be cut heavy. Coal is not to be |
touched. The tax on whisky and beer is
to be increased sugar is to remain as it is,
heritance.
The Senate has showed us another |
turn of the wheel, and has passed. the |
the repeal act at last A week ago it |
was an assured fact that compromise
would be adopted, and the President was
supposed to be in the deal for the COM
promise. But the result showed either
that he was never in favor of the CON-
promise, or if he had considered it all,
he certainly finally decided that he would
hold his position as heretofore. The re-
suit was that the Southern Democratic
silver Senators decided that they would
continue the fight no longer, but would
let the question come to vote. The
Western silver Senators seeing the use
lessness of struggle alone, and thinking
there would be change in the rules that
would finally defeat them any way, de-
cided to give up the fight and allow a
vote, if they were given few more days
to finish their elaborate arguments. Sen
ator Pugh took the occasion on Tuesday
to give the President his opinion of the
pending question, and was not slow to
give the administration to understand
that it would be responsible for the South
the standard of Democracy, as
it might as a result of this vote. Many
feel that the result will be division of
the Democratic party that will result in
its overthrow in the South 1t will be a
strange thing, indeed, if the South leaves
the party But we have been told .
the same thing before. Mr.. Peffer, Mfr.
Jones and Mr.. Stewart took con- ,
siderable time to finish their speeches.
They have been for the most part made ,
to empty houses, as but very few Sena- ,
tors seem to take any interest, and the !
galleries were very poorly represented for
the last few days. But these Senators are
not now talking for Washington audi
ences. They are talking for what they
say is the party of the future-the Popu-
list party-and they are certainly very
confident in their assertions and claims.