The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-04-12
Our Washington Letter.

From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON April SIT looks as though
the administration had won very creditable
diplomatic victory from Great Britain in that
little affair of Nicaragua, and that Great
Britain had greatly modified that blutf about
bonn harding Nicaragua's seaports. Nothing
official has been given out about the diplomatic
correspondence on this matter within the last
few days, but there are good reasons for Stat
ing that Ambassador Bayard has been most
positively assured by the British government
that nothing will be done i'll its dealings with
Nicaragua that can be properly construed into
a violation of the Monroe doctrine. This assur-
ance was naturally very gratifying to Presi-
dent Cleveland and the other members OF the
administration. 1t was saying in round
about way that Great Britain never really
meant to carry out that bombarding threat.
and it was also in way recognition OF the
Monroe doctrine. That this assurance from
Great Britain was the result of the courageous
position taken by the administration rs to the
maintenance of the Nonroc doctrine is certain.
And nothing was lost on the part OF Great
Britain, that the United States had sufficient
naval force in the South Atlantic to back up
the position assumed.
The arrival of the new Spanish minister is
anXiousy awaited in Washington, aus it is be-
lieved that he will have several important
communications to make to this government.
The Alliance incident is still open, and the be-
lief is growing that Spain is trying to play u
double game in connection Herewith, notwith-
standing its promise to make il satisfactory as
soon us it was in possession of the necessary in
formation. As the new Spanish minister Is to
spend week or ten days in Cuba before COM
ing TO Washington he will be expected to ac-
quire all the needed information, and if his
government then still delays making a salts
factory settlement he may find himself very
disagreeaby surprised soon after his arrival.
And his surprise is not likely to be displeasng
to the Cuban reVolutiOniStS.
Postmaster General Wilson dropped into his
new duties as naturally as though he had been
dealing with postal affairs all his life, and he is
the same ur6ane gentleman in dealing with
his numerous callers that he always was during
his extended Congressional career. He has
that insidiouS disease known to ordinary folk
as the big head" therefore no one Is surprised
to find him just as accessible now as when he
was member of Congress.
The projectors of the new Silver party pro-
fess to have encouraging reports from num-
Der of States, but their professions are largely
discounted by their claims as to the States OF
Pennsylvania and Connecticut. The only
claim these people make that is backed by
common sense and hard facts, is that Il large
majority of the voters of the country are bimet-
allists That claim is unnecessary because it
is known by everybody, but that doesn't mean
that all the bimetalllists are ready to drop
their party affiliations and unite in an assistant
Republican party, which is about all the new
Silver party is.
The decision of the Supreme Court in the in
come tax cases is Disappointing to rybody,
and probably to nobody more than to men,
beers of the court. The constitutiOnality of the
law stands, not by an affirmative decision, but
because the eight justices sitting were evenly
divided. Incomes from rents, municipal and
State bonds are exempted from the tax. But
what most disappointed the members of the
court was the stealing of Il copy of the decision
in advance of its being officially made. 1t was
sold to the correspondent of Chicago paper
and telegraphed to that city. The decision will
make lots of worry and litigation for the gov
eminent, but Secretary Carlisle is very posi-
tive that it will not make necessary the calling
of an extra session of Congress, although the
exceptions will probably reduce the receipts
from the income tax at least one half. But
| even if not nickel was received from that
source by the Treasury, Secretary Carlisle says
| there will be money enough and to spare to
carry the government until the regular SEES
| sion of Congress without any embarrassment.
A Chicago Democrat of the sort that cannot
be discouraged is Mr.. William P. Wood, ut
| present in Washington. He says: The Demo-
cratic party suffered IL bad defeat the other
| day, but we will pull ourselves together i'll
| time for the big battle next year. / have Tic
doubt whatever that Illinois will cast her cleo
| toral vote for the Democracy, providing, OF
| course that our candidate is made of the right
sort of stuff. Business is booming at Il great
pace. Everywhere have been in the last few
| weeks found trade improving. l look for a
| general revival of business this summer, and
| that is all the Democratic party needs. With
| good times next year Democratic success is as
| sured."