The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1893-02-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Feb. II, 1893.

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. II, 1893.
Editor Adrert,ser:
MIR. Harrison may nave had the
best of motives for the manner in
which he acted about the srnexatFn of
Hawaii, but there is something about
it which in another man would have
been called sharp practice. The i'm
preston was allowed to 60 out that If
annexation was recommended it would
be by act of Congress, which would
give the House as much say about it
as the Senate. But this week he sent
a treaty which the Secretary of State
had negotiated with the Hawaiian
Commissioners, providing for immed-
ixte annexation and leaving the legis-
lativs details to be arranged by the
next Congress, to the Senate, urging
in the special message which went
with it, that the treaty be promptly
ratified.
1t is argued in favor Of this rail-
roading business that it WAS too hate
in the session to get legislation on the
subject, and that it was necessary to
take such action. Democrats in the
House fail to see the point in such an
argument. Many of them are strongly
in favor of annexation. but they can
see no reason, 50 long as the matter
will have to be completed under
President Clevelands administration.
why it was not left for his admins
tration to begin it.
Granting that to do it by treaty
and not by an act of Congress was the
best way, there is no getting around
the fact that within two weeks the
Senate Of the Fifty-third Congress
will be in extra session for the pur-
pose of confirming Mr.. Cleveland's
nominations for the cabinet and other
important positions, and that there
would have been next to no delay in
allowing this treaty to go over and be
sent to the Senate by Mr.. Cleveland,
if it met with his approval. That
would have been just and proper; the
present arrangement is neither. 1t is
stated that Mr.. Harrison received
positive assurances before the treaty
was sent to the Senate that it would
be ratified, and he feels so easy about
it that he has gone duck shooting, te
remain until next week. It is of
course, possible for the Democratic
Senators to prevent action on the
treaty ut this session, but there are so
many of them who have committed
themselves in its favor that it is not
very pr"bable.
The ficial announcement of the
selection of four members Of MIR.
Cleveland's cabinet has been much
talked about since it was received.
Mr.. Carlisle's selection was known be-
fore and had been enthusiastically re-
ceived by Democrats in Congress.
Judge Gresham's ability is admitted
by all, but his Democracy isn't, and
for that reason his selection, rs Secre-
tary of State, was not received with
as much favor as was that of Carlisle.
Dan. Lamont needed no introduction
to the Democrats in Congress, all of
whom expect him to prove model
Secretary Of War and are glad that
he is to ''go up higher" Mr. Bi<sel is
not widely known among puplic men,
but those who do know him speak in
such high terms of both his ability
and his Democracy that his selection
to be Postmaster General meets with
much favor. The Republicans have
been and are still trying to use Judge
Gresham as lever to create dissen-
ton in. the ranks of the Democratic
party, hut they are meeting with poor
success. No good Democrat is fool
ish enough to expect that every man
selected as a member of the cabinet
will be his personal choice for the
place. Every student of history
knows that circumstances have quite
as much, and often more. to do with
the choice of members of the cabinet
than the personal inclinations OF the
President, to say nothing OF other
members of the party.
| The advantage Of having clear
HEADED business men in Congress was
lnever more eonspicuously brought out
than wheR Senator Brice in FIVE
minute task ss pssihed what would be
1.-The sta.ue Of Aas sock Issued by TIN