Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, Sept. %

compensation between 81 900 and s., 500
| grades of the consular service with q
under date of September 20 placing all
under modified civil service which
provides for class but not competitive
examinations. This order will affect q
little more than one half fall those
engaged in the consular service of the
United States.
General Schofield, who retiers on
Sunday next, on which day he reaches
the age limit-sixty-four years-to-day
presided at the meeting of the Board Of
| Ordnance of which he is President.
This will be the last meeting of the
board which he will attend, the board
only meeting once a month.
Secretary Lamont to-day resumed
his duties as Secretary of War after a
few weeks spent with his family at
Sorrento, Maine. and few days with
the President at Gray Gables.
TIL President has appointed John T..
Baker, of Minnesota, Secretary of the
Legation at Managua, Nicaragua.
1t is stated at the Treasury Depart
ment that Secretary Carlisle is not ex-
pected to return to Washington before
Thursday next. he may conclude to
remain for week or more.
The British Ambassador, Sir Julian
Pauncefote, writes from Newport that
he will reach Washington next week.
MIR. ]. A. Sewers, of Cuba, Virgin
ian by birth, and many years resident
of the State, who has lately been ex-
lied by the Spanish authorities from
that Island is expected to return here
to-day from Warrrenton, Va, and to
lay before the Department of State the
circumstances of his Punishment. There
has been no formal presentation of his
case as yet and of course no official
recognition by the State Department
of any-efaim which he may have for
damages against the Spanish govern
ment. This case has the appearance
of being a serious one and may result
in something like an unpleasant con
tention between the two countries. One
exile doesn't often make war, but
too many banishments by Spain OF
American citizens at this excitable and
critical period may produce serious
diplomatic friction greatly beneficial
to the Cuban cause. The Sewers fam
lily in Virginia are eminently respecta.
BILE aud the one who has just been de-
ported from Cuba is responsible and
wealthy sugar planter who asserts most
earnestly his innocence of any compiled
ty with the instruction on that Island.
It is stated that he failed to file any
complaint of injury done him with the
Consul General in Cuba. If this be so
it was mistake on his part as the de-
partment here will frat make investi-
CATION into his claim through their &C.
credited consular representative. In
deed prompt interference by the Consul
General might have prevented the ban
ishment and other injuries complained
of. But whatever may the outcome be
to Mr.. Sewers there is undoubtedly
danger that some of the cases likely to
arise between now and the meeting OF
Congress will be of character to give
excuse, and probably justification for
an assault on the Spanish government
by members of one or both Houses, in
deed it is we'll understood here that
resolutions favoring immediate recog-
milton of Cuban belligerent rights, il
not of Cuban independence, will be in
troduced at an early day in the House
of Representatives and the State De-
partment prodded, if possible, into de-
cisive demands on Spain for wrongs
done to American citizens. But at
present that department is entirely cool
and will take little or no notice OF
small and dubious demands such as are
often trumped up by irresponsible
"ocean tramps" and rowing adventur-
ers, who, when war is abroad, will often
thrust themselves into dangerous and
forbidden territory with the very OBJ.
ject of forcing trouble between their
own and another government. Sew
eral such cases of small and suspicious
appearance have recently come here
from Cuba. Saturday last, on the same
day of the arrival of Mr.. Sewers, come
one Gustavo Richelieu. He is an sal
legged" citizen of the United States
with with grievance against
Spain and wants a soothing sy-
rup from the State Department.
It appears that Gustavo and his part
ner went down to Cuba in sloop bent
on "flibustering" expedition for the
capture of turtles. This turtle story,
however, had fshy flavor and the
authorities held him a while on sus-
picion of his coming there to aid the
insurgents. They confined him, which
means putting him in Jail. This might
have been expected as he was no guest
of honor entitled to hold accommoda-
lions. Now, the abused alleged citizen
wants to be paid for the sloop which
be lost, the turtles which he didn't
catch and the liberty which he was
deprived of by his adventure and the
Kingdom of Spain he thinks is clearly
in the 'soup" to him for something
like fifty or hundred thousand dol
lars. IfSpain should humbly ask the
State Department how many arrests
were made by the federal authorities
in the war time of 1861 and 1866 OF
suspected men and women citizens OF
foreign governments in many instances
vaguely charged with intending to aid
the ''insurgent" or Confederate ene-
my, the answer, if correctly given,
would be startling one. In speaking
of such cases a State Department at
tache said to-day that the Spanish au-
thorities in Cuba had been extremely
careful to avoid giving offence to the
United States. Inded to have done
otherwise he said would have been
simply suicidal and have lost them all