San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w AShlNGlNNS LOSs -oANt AO"C'-
Mr.. Cleveland, like many othel
over-smart men,did not know wheI
to let well enough alone. He made
the hit of his life when he sent
that message in favor OF the Mon
roe doctrine 10 congress. But he
mistook the applaus for the senti-
ments in the message for applause
for himelf and in his egOtism
thought that bE-.U-U congress
promptly adopted his recommends
tion for the appointment OF COM
mission to ascertain the real
boundary between British Guiana
AMI Venezuela that it was ready to
do anything else he wanted done.
So he joined the British who were
trying to punish the United States
for daring to stand up for the Mon
roe d Jctrine by forcing us into a
financial panic, and sent a special
message TO congress urging i'm
mediate financial legislation and
asking that no Christm as recess be
taken until some such legislation
as retiring the greenbacks or auth
orizing an issue of gold bonds
should have been put through.
In saying that it was Mr.. Cleve.
lands egotism that caused him to
write that financial message it is
putting a very charitable construc-
tion upon his act. Others do not
hesitate to say that he did it be-
cause he was ratified by the Brit
ish attacks upon our finances and
by call which was issued by the
New York chamber Of commerce
for a meeting to condemn the
Monroe doctrine message. He Is
said to have sent a member OF the
cabinet to New York to prevent
that meeting and his messenger is
reported to have made deal
whereby the meeting was declared
off and Mr.. Cleveland's hysterical
message was sent to congress.
So far as congress and the
American people, are concerned
the message will do neither good
nor harm-congress will provide
for the deficit with traiff legista-
ton it will unquestionably
do much harm to our interests in
England. 1t will cause the Brit.
ish to think that Mr.. Cleveland
has become frightened and already
regrets his belligerept message;
and it will also encourage them
to keep up their acheming to
throw us into a financial panic.
No possible good can be accom-
plished by congress remaining in
session during Christmas week,
because even If the house had al
ready passed the m asure which
will be reported from the ways
and means committee, the senate
would not be prepared to act on it
until it's reorganization has been
accomplished. The silver men in
the senate, who have an unques-
toned majority, say nothing can
pas, that doesn't provide in some
for a more extended use of silver.
Speaker Reeds committee as
signments contain some personal
disappointments, but that was
under the circumstances unavoid-
able; there were more leading re-
pablicaus than there were leading
places. But it is creditable to
those who were disappointed that
they have accepted the situation
philosophically. Representative
Payne, OF New York merely keeps
his old place on the ways and
means committee, the chairman
ship going 10 Representative Ding
ley, of Maine, but Mr.. Payne is
given in addition the chairman
ship of the committee on merchant
marine and fisheries, which is an
unusual honor, members OF the
was and means committee are
seldom given chairmanships. Cam
non, OF Ill, got the Craftsmanship
OF the committee on apprOpria-
lions, but Henderson, of Iowa, his
rival for that hon or, got a much
coveted place on the committee on
rules, as did DslzeIl, OF Pa, who
was at one time thought to be in
line for the head of the ways and
means committee. Walker, OF
Mass, got the banking and cur
rency craftsmanship, and Hit, OF
ILL.,, that Of foreign affairs, as il
had been understood all along he
would, but there were lots of sur.
prises anon G the minor chairman.
ships.
Admiral Meade, United States
Navy, in lecture on "The Carib
bean Sea" took occasion to say
that he considered the SUI
periority Of the individual vessels
of our navy an Offset for the exces.
OF vessels in the British Navy
which was sufficient to prevent