Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-02-23
From our regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. l3, 1898.

WASHINGTON, II. U, req. IL, 1898
Is the victorious democratic party on
the eve of disruption? Democrats of nat
ional prominence in Congress privately ex-
press the belief that it is, aud predict
that long before the end Of the admins
tration to begin next month the separation
between the wings will be open and final.
The principal cause of this belief Is the
wide gulf that exists between Mr.. Cleye-
land and the southern and western dem
ocrats on the Silver question, gulf which
the failure of Mr.. Cleveland to force the
repeal by Congress Of the present Silver
law has widened and made apparently i'm
passable. Notice has been publicly served
on Mr.. Cleveland by Representative Bland,
the leader of the Silver democrats in the
House, that further attempts along this
line would bring about withdrawal of the
Silver men from the party. The forceful
ness of MIR. Cleveland's character is SO
we'll known here that the general opinion
Is that he will continue his fight against
silver by calling an early extra session Of
the Fifty third Congress, unless convinced
that n bill for the repeal of the Silver law
would be voted down in either the House
or Senate, In that case he would post
pone calling an extra session until he had
converted" sufficient number to carry
his point.
The selection of Judge Walter q. Gres-
ham, as the head of the Cabinet, which is
accepted here as al accomplished fact,
Will also be a factor in bringing about a
split III the democratic party. As rule
the democrats in Congress decline to pub
lcly discuss this selection, but privately
they are showing their anger and dlsap
polntment. The feeling among them may
5e judged by the fact that Senator German
" no is ordinarily the most indifferent of
men to newspaper stories printed Of him,
took special pains to go round among the
Washington correspondents and contra
diet the published rumor that Gresham
had been selected on his advice. With the
natural ShrewdnesS Of the taCtful politi
cal wire pul.er German lost no time in DIS
ayowing his responsibility for Gresham (,
tie had seen and noted the effect of the an
nuuncemeut of his selection upon his party
associates in Congress.
Stnstor Hill has been quietly sounding
The democratic senators To ascertain how
many Of them are willing TO carry their
opposition to Gresham to the extent of
voting against his confirmation as mem
Der of the Cabinet If he can secure the
pledges OF sufficient number OF Senators
To defeat the confirmation he proposes to
do it,, although it would be something
never before attempted, as it has been con-
-Idertd one Of the unwritten laws OF the
Senate To confirm Cabinet nominations
without question.
Pressure IS being brought to bear to
have Sergeant at Arms IOder of the
House made Commissioner of Pensions, If
The scheme of transferring that bureau to
the War Department and surpending the
pensions OF all "ldows married since 1870;
~ all men having an Income in excess OF
$500 year, and, except for total InCapac-
Ivy, OF all allen non residents, fails, as
II VIII. The Commi> sicntrship is merely
to be used a. stepping stone To the dem
urratic nomination for Governor of
ONO. The claim Is made by foders
friends that his connection with the L. V.
u. VIII enable him ID get the votes of a
sufficient number OF Old soldiers, hereto
tore republicans, to anchor ohio perma-
nently in the democratic column.
The House committee on Ways and
Means is On Wild goose chase after
silly newspaper rumor alleging that Secre-
tary Foster had agreed TO sell $50, ,00O. 900
wor Of bonds 70 a syndicate Of New
York bankers Tor gold There il not
has made no agreement to sell bonds and
has no intention of making such an agree
ment, and he has no Idea that the financial
situation will be such during this admins
tratIon as to cause him to even take such
step into serious consideration. Besides
1t is we'll known To those who enjoy the
Presidents confidence that he would not
permit an issue of bonds.
The democrats in the House attempted
to railroad the proposed radical changes
in the pension laws through the House
without debate, but they were hauled up
short by the republicans, who told them
they would hHbuster until the end of the
session If the fullest debate were not al
lowed The debate will 90 on this week.
he President has fully made up his
miLd. and will it is thought this week,
send message to Congress favoring
Hawaiian annexation. A majority of
Congress favors annexation. but some OF
the democrats would prefer TO postpone it
until the next ADM Illustration, and it is
possible they may attempt To ~ so.
II Is really amusing TO hear the demo
crat- with their big majority In the House
plead thu baby Act and try 70 charge the
republicans with the responsibility for de-
featng Mr. Cleyeland's wishes.