The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-02-09
HasHiNGroN LETTER
Posts Regular Correspondent
WasnIscros, Feb. s, s93.

4
7 the Senate Committee on Foreign hela,
iltions, will grow into popular shibbolefi
in the near future, and the party thai
goes in for the most wholesale annexa-
ton is going to be the party that VA
control this country. Little Hawaii IS pu'
the entering wedge, and unless | am am; 9
false prophet, the time is almost ripe fol
| the annexation of Canada, Cuba, Mexico,
and even Hayti and San Domingo. ltis
one of the strongest traits of human ma
ture to wish to add to what one already
has. and the only wonder is that the
United States has not long before this
gone extensively into annexation"
The Hawaiian annexation idea is just
now in the diplomatic stage, and the at
tempt is being made to surround itwitli
the mystery and secrecy SO dear TO the
hearts of the hangers on of the Depart
ment of State. The commissioners from
the new government Of Hawaii have had
seyerel conferences with the Secretary of
State, who has given up the idea of re-
signing and going to Europe as .. 5.
Counsel before the Behring Sea Arbtra-
ton tribunal, in order to give his atten-
tion to this Hawaiian matter, but the
conferences have been secret and about
MI fine public knows about them Is that
the idea of a protectorate has had 10 be
abandoned, because the commission is
only authorized to negotiate for annexa-
ton. A protectorate might have been
established by treaty, which would only
have had to be agreed to by the Senate to
20 into effect, and could have been put
through in a week or ten days, if neces-
sary; but annexation is quite different
and will make legislation by both House
and Senate necessary before it can so in
TO effect, and before that could be secured
il is believed that much authentic iptor-
nation, now at hand, and not likely TO be
before this administration retires, would
he asked for. President Harrison may
recommend annexation legislation, but
the chances are that he will merely put
himself on record as favoring it and leave
the rest to his successor. He is now coll
sdering the matter.
According to those close to Mr Cleve-
n
land the question of an extra session OF
Congress will be determined by the sue
cess or failure of the negotiation now in
progress to agree upon some sort OF a
compromise bill relating to silver that
can pass both House and Senate. Among
the prominent gentlemen, outside of Con-
gress, who are taxing part III these neSo-
tiations are Col. Dan. Lamont and Hon.
Don Nj. Dickinson. The repeal of the
purchasing clause of the present Silver
law is the one thing demanded by Mr..
Cleveand's representatives, and they say
that an extra session is q certainty it it is
not secured. Strange as ii may appear to
some people, Senator Hill is making him
self conspicuous as champion OF Mr..
Cleveland in this matter, although he
voted last year for the Stewart Free Coin
age bill, which was passed by the Senate.
Congress has given no indication of be-
ing interested in carrying out the recon-
mendatious of President Harrison's mes
sage concerning tile Canadian Pacific
railway, although portions of the message
have been referred to the several Senate
committees having jurisdiction over the
matters treated of, and there are so many
other things in which the members are
more directly and personally concerned
that remain to DE acted upon in the short
time remaining Of the session that action
is not regarded as probable.
The nomination of Judge Howell b..
jackson, of Tennessee, for the Supreme
Court vacancy is not liked by some of the
Senators, but his manifest fitness for the
position will doubtless secure his con-
frmation, although the much talked about
"Senatorial courtesy" has already been
violated by sending his nomination to 4
committee, in which rumor says it is to
lie chung up" instead Of confirming it
when first sent in. The opposition to
Judge Jackson is not confined to either
party; some Republicans oppose him be-
cause he is Democrat, having been ap-
pointed to his present position by Prcsi-
dent Cleveland, and some Democrats
oppose him BECAUSE they had put them
selves on record as believing that the
vacancy should have been left for Mr.
Cleveland to fill. This nomination was n
precedent smasher, as no other President
ever nominated political opponent to
the Supreme Court bench. Judge Jack
son was in the Senate with President
Harrison, and that probably had some
thing to do with his getting this honor.
1t is also probable that Mr.. Harrisontook
this method Of getting even with the ten
or twelve Senators Of his own party who
let him know that they would not make a
fight for the Confirmation Of Republican.
The suggestion Of the chairmanof the
committee engaged in investigating the
payments Of the Panama Canal Go. insthis
country that the evidence be not publish
ed has not been we'll received, and if the
Investigation is conducted in secret the