The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-04-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, April II, 1893.

peculiarly sensitive about everything in
any way connected with their national
flag. This accounts for the news of the
lowering of the American flag raised
over Hawaii by the u S. Minister at the
request of the provisional government,
by ex-Congressman Blount now in Haw-
ali as the commissioner and personal
representative OF President Cleveland,
having become the principal topic of
conversation in Washington as soon az
it was received, and for its still retaining
prominence. Further than to let it be
known that Mr.. Blount had only obeyed
his instructions the administration has
maintained dignified silence as to its
reasons and intentions. Senators are as
rule reluctant to express an opinion on
the subject. When Senator Lodge Of
fered resolution calling upon the Sec
retary of State to inform the Senate by
whose authority the American flag was
hauled down, it was quickly proposed
by Senator Butler that it be amended by
adding the words "and also by whose
authority the same was hoisted." The
position of these two Senators may be
said to represent the POSITIONS of their
respective parties, although it is difficult
to understand what partisan politics can
have to do with the matter. There is no
question about its having required cour-
age of high order to direct that flag
taken down. 1t was taking risk OF
making the ADMINISTRATION unpopular that
few presidents would have willingly
taken, and the result will be in doubt
until the Hawaiian question is definate-
ly settled. Ifit be settled satisfactorily
the adagc "alls we'll that ends we'll" will
soon cause the lowering of the flag to be
forgotten, but should there be agravat
ing complications or an unsatisfactory
disposition of the question, the lowering
of that flag will be continually rising up
to plague the administration. / have
not talked with single Senator or man
of prominence who has any doubt of the
patriotism of President Cleveland, or if
his good intentions, but many of them
not few members of his own party, ex-
press apprehension Of the result of lower
ing the flag after it was once hoisted,
even if its BOOSTING were in sense both
illegal and irregular. These men know
the seEsitiveness of the people about
onr flag.
Your correspondent has been watch
ing and writing about Congress for
number OF years, but has never yet been
able to understand why it is that when
questions said to be purely constitutional
in their nature come up in either the
House or the Senate the division is in
variably upon partisan political lines.
The proposition to investigate Senator
Roach, at the extra session of the SEN
ate just closed, was a case in point.
The Democrats interpreted the constitu-
tion to mean that the Senate had no
right to investigate the antecedents OF
its members, while the Republicans
took the contrary view. The populists
kept out of the muddle. To man up
a tree it looks like it is majority, and
not the constitution, that settles con-
gressional disputes.
For the first time since the resumption
Of specie payment the Treasury has sus-
pended the issue oAgold certificates, and
it is generally believed that bonds will
be issued at once, in order to meet the
demand for gold for shipment
abroad. In suspending the issue of
gold certificates Sec. Carlisle anticipated
the law, which says they shall be sus-
pended when the gold falls below $780,
O00, 1000.
Considerable speculation has been in
dulged in as to the errand of the quart
cite of distinguished Canadians, ,-ex-
Premier Mercier,. Hons. p T.. Leblanc,
E. Farrer and j. G. Langelier-who
have been in Washington several days
They Gays their visit is merely for re-
but inasmuch as they have
bad private interviews with President
Cleveland and Secretary Gresham
have the impression that they are here
to further the growth of annexation
a =. IL II Al.