The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-12-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CFrom Our Regular Correspondent

From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. G., November 80, 1894.
Neither President Cleveland nor Secretary
Gresham has the slightest desire to create a
war scare by twisting the British lions tall
but upon representations made to Secretary
Gresham by DIR. Guzman, the Nicaraguan
minister to the United States, the U. S.
Cruiser Columbia was ordered to Bluefelds,
Nicaragua, to protect the interests of citizens
of the United States in that quarter, and
Ambassador Bayard has cabled instructions
to investigate, and if the statements made to
Secretary Gresham were found to be true to
demand an immediate and full explanation
from the British government. That is the
exact status of the case at this writing. That
England was influenced in its refusal to rec
ognize the right of Nicaragua to exclusive
control over the strip of land known as the
Mosquito coast by its desire to get its fingers
into the building or control of the Nicaragua
canal is merely plausible surmise. Moth
ing official or unofficial is known in Wash
ington upon which to base positive state
ment that such is the fact. No new question
is involved in the matter, it is only reopen
lug of an old question which was thought to
have been satisfactorily settled long time
ago. Not the slightest apprehension of any
serious trouble with England is felt by any
member of the administration. All state
ments to the contrary are merely sensational
fakes.
President Cleveland ate his Thanksgiving
turkey at his country residence, to which he
has been confined for ten days by very
painful attack of rheumatic gout, and as he
needed all the time at his disposal to put the
finishing touches upon his message to Con-
gress, the family had no company to dinner.
Secretary and Mrs. Carlisle entertained
large party at dinner. Among their guests
were Postmaster General and Mrs. Bissell,
Attorney General and Mrs. Olney and Pri-
yate Secretary and Mrs. Thurber.
Representative. Catchings, of Miss, one OF
the democratic leaders of the House, is in
town. He says: "I would like to see the.
popgun bills passed atthe short session. But
these will not mark the end of tariff agita-
ton. Neither will the republican victory,
despite the declaration of the leaders of that
party, to the contrary. If the leaders could
control matters and remain of the same
mind as now, perhaps all would be well in
that direction. But they are not calculating
on the immense pressure that will be brought
to bear upon them if they should regain
power, by the protected interests and their
constituents. They came here to the Fifty
first Congress with the firm intention of re.
vising the tariff on a reasonable basis. But
they found the pressure too strong, and went
to the extreme of the Mckinley bill. You
can be assured that tariff agitation will not
cease in this country until the whole ques-
ton is settled upon democratic lines"
Chairman Springer, of the House commit
tee on Banking and Currency, is not hopeful
of any financial legislation at the short ses-
sion, although he fully recognizes the urgent
need for speedy legislation on the sub
ject. He thinks it absolutely impossible for
either President Cleveland or any other man
to propose any scheme of currency reform
that will secure the support of the majority
of the members of the House, not to mention
the Senate, where there is also a numerous
assortment of disagreeing financial opinions.
Others think differently, however, and be-
lleve that some common financial basis can
be found upon wqich all good democrats can
stand, although they admit that it will be so
difficult as to make it improbable that an
agreement can be reached during the three
months that Congress will remain under
democratic control. The impression is that
President Cleveland's financial recommend
atlons will either add to the probability of
democratic agreement or will make agree
ment impossible.
Many democrats are pleased with rumor
that President Cleveland will include in his
financial recommendation to Congress the
repeal of the ten per cent tax on State bank
currency and proposition that will enlarge
the use of silver by making it a part of the
basis for the issue of bank note currency.
Your correspondent has been unable to
either verify or disprove the rumor.
The most gratifying thing about the Con-
gressional situation, from democratic point
of view, is the unanimity with which Dem
ocratic Senators and Representatives now in
Washington reply to queries as to what will
be the programme of the coming session.
They all say in substance: Wewill wait un-
til the Presidenthas made his recommenda-
tons; we desire that whatever is done be
done harmoniously, if possible. There is
little doubt that many democrats who have
opposed the President are ready to meet him
half way in any efforts that may be made for
the good of the party, and if the hot heads
can only be kept quiet there may be some
pleasant surprises for democrats.