Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD. |

WASHINGTON, NOV. ~, 1873 1t may
sound little odd, bat ii is none the less
true that as great a sensation was caused
in Washington by the arrival of the news
Tat the provisional government Of
Hawaii was still in power and that
Minister Willis was in good standing
Herewith and had taken no o[en step
towards restoring the monarchy as by the
first announcement that the administra-
ton favored the Queens restoration and
had instructed Minister Willis to bring it
about Members of the administration |
are not saying word or giving any
indication as to whether they were sur
prised OF otherwise by the Hawaiian
news and the clerks in the Department of
State have all been put under oath not
to reveal a word concerning the CON-
municatlon received by Secretary Gresh-
am from Minister Willis. The Navy
Department received q long dispatch
from Admiral Irwin, but its nature can
only be surmised, as it has not been made
public, although it would make 'mighty
interesting" reading at this time.
Public opinion here is very much divi-
dei on the present statu. of this Hawaii
an business, some believing that the
news proves that 1t has ueyer
been the intention of the adminis-
tration TO use force IN restoring the
Green, AMI Others that Minister Willis
found upon his arrival a. Honolulu that
it would be impossible TO carry ont his
instructions for the restoration Of the
Queen without bloodshed, and so reported
to Secretary Gresham. Some believe
that the administration will at once make
public the report of Mr.. BlOunt and its
instructions to Minister Willis, and others
that nothing will be made pnblic until
Congress meets, Unless some important
change shall take place in Hawaii. Few
people now believe the restoration of the
monarchy probable, although many think
there may be some sort Of change in the
government of Hawaii,
The nature Of the tariff bill width will
it is generally expected, be made public
this week, or next at the outside, Is so
far largely matter of oDj1cture. Chair
man Wilson says it will probably sur
prise a great many people, but be does
not say whether it will be because 1t is
more radical, or more conservative than
those who are to be surprised expect 1t
to be. Your correspondent has excellent
reasons for believing that the bill will lie
both surprising and disappointing to the
extremists on all sides, That is to say,
it will surprise and disappoint the extreme
protectonists because il will not wipe
out protection as they have expected and
hoped it would do and thus give them
powerful argument for campaign news;
it will surprise and disappoint the free
traders because it will contain more pro-
lection than they either expected or,
wished ii to contain. Representative
Bryan, OF Nebraska. is generally recogni-
zed as being one of the leading outright
free-traders on the Ways and Means
committee, and when be was pressed to
give some idea of the general character
of the bill, he says in a Disguised sort
Of tone: "All I am at liberty to say is that
the bill Will be an approach to a tariff for
revenue Only" There is a volume of
meaning in that word approach
up to three or four days ago it was re-
garded ae certain that the new tariff bill
would impose an income tax, and even
now it is thought to be probable that it
will but the spirited opposition of Repre-
sentative Burke Cochran, who is raid to
represent strong democratic element in
the Z asst, has had some effect upon the |
committee and there is doubt as to how
some of them who have heretofore
favored the income tax idea will vote
when 1t comes to deciding whether the
bill shall impose one or not. Cochran
SAYS an income tax will make New York |
City as strongly republican as now dem
ocratic, bat Mr.. Cochran has made other
political predictions rota1'y or e at d e
Chicago convention last year, that were
a long ways from coming true. How
ever, there is no doubt OF his having
frightened some of his party colleagues
how badly very few days will show.
Will Ambassador Van Allen decline to
receive his commission In view of ali
that has goue before, that may appear to
be foolish question, bat inasmu;h as
his nomination was confirmed By the
Senate a mouth ago and that be has
neither appeared at the State Depart
ment to be sworn in and to receive his
instructions nor written to say when be
would come it may not he so foolish after
all. According to law and custom he
shoull be at bis post within sixty days
ffoG his confirmation, but perhaps Mr..
Van Allen, like others of his class, thinks
bis own will superior TO law and custom.
There has been considerable talk here
about a reorganization and recbristenlug
Of the populist party, dropping for the
time being all other questions except
that of money. 1t is too early TO predict
whether anything will come of it.
Superintendent fthe Peniten-