Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-05-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
GFrom Our Special Correspondent.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 1s, 90.


ton an unnoticed visit this week which
started nc end of stories about his hav.
ing been sent for in connection with
the calling of an extra session of Con.
gress and his candidacy for the Repub.
lican Presidential nomination. None
of these things had any connection
with Mr. Reeds visit. He was brought
to Washington by one of the most holy
ties which bind men together-friend.
ship. The condition of Represen tative
Hit, OF Illinois, who has been danger.
ously ill and who is not yet entirely
out OF danger was the magnet which
drew Mr.. Reed to Washington. They
have been for years the closest OF
friends, personal and political, and Mr..
Reed wanted to see if his presence
would not help his friend. That's the
whole story, but Washington news is
not over plentiful just now and the
correspondents are working this highly
praiseworthy visit of one friend to an.
other for all its worth, not bothering
about facts, but giving their agina.
ton free rein. Mr.. Reed only remained
in Washington few hours.
1t is given out by those connected
with the administration that the reason
the idea of court martialing Admiral
Meade for his recent criticism of the
un-American policy of the administra a.
tion was abandoned was that Admiral
Meade declined to answer questions az
to his responsibility for the newspaper
interview in which the criticism an.
peared and the absence of any law to
compel the newspaper man who inter.
viewed the Admiral to testify before a
naval court martial. But that was not
the reason at all it was merely pre-.
tence. The real reason was the fear
of public opinion, which was quick to
see that Admiral Meade was goaded
into making the remarks which con.
stituted technical violation of the
naval regulations, but reflected the
sentiments of seven tenths of the Amer
ican people, and would have been
equally as quick to resent any attempt
to punish him by the use of a packed
court martial. Admiral Meade has
given the country forty years of gallent
service, having record unsurpassed
by any living officer of our navy, and
the administration will do well to make
the reprimand which it proposes tc
give him as mild as possible.
There is little doubt that the Presi
dency of the Pullman car company
has been rendered to Secretary Gresh
am. A gentleman whose relation,
with several directors OF that company
are close expresses the opinion that il
Mr.. Gresham declines the position il
will be offered to ex-Secretary Robert
7. Lincoln.
An open rupture between Mr.
Cleveland and Vice President Steven
son is in the opinion of many, certain
to occur in the near future. All of thu
news received in Washington points tc
the probable capture of the Democratic
party of Illinois by the silver men, anC
it is no longer denied in any quarter
that the entire silver movement in tina
State has been from the first in the in
terest of Mr.. Stevenson's candidacy fol
the Democratic Presidential nomina
ton, and Mr.. Cleveland believes thai
Mr.. Stevenson was the moving spiri
in the whole business and does no
hesitate when talking with his friend
to call him "a traitor to the admistra
tion of which he is part" and other un
complimentary things. Should the two
men meet it is believed that quarre
is certain.
Some people seem determined to draI
silver into everything. A proposition
has been made to the Governor of Della
ware to appoint Democratic silve
man Senator to contest the seat t,
which Republicans claim Col. Dupon
was elected, and If the Governor agree
an attempt is to be made to get enougl
Populist voters to make when combine
with the solid vote of the Democrats
Senators majority of the Senate, ant
to seat the man appointed by the Gov
ernor, regardless of the report that will
be made by the Committee on Elections
not because they believe him entitle,
to the seat, but because the man cal
be counted uuon to vote for silver a
all times. 1t is difficult to believe tha
such a scheme as this can be put thro
and your correspondent is confiden
that should Gov. Watson give his con
sent it will be found that some bod,
has been trplng to dispose of what the,
did not control. The Senate is con
trolled by the silver men anyway, ant
J the shrewd silver Senators will be quicl
to see that such scheme would be Ger
tain to injure the cause of Silver will
the public at large, while the vote tha
would be gained in the Senate woul,
not be of the slightest assistance. Th
next Senator from Delaware will b
|, Col. Dupont, if he lives.
Legislative OratOry.