Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-09-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Aug. 10, 1897.

Nothing more contemplate is re-
corded in the annals of American
politics than the plot, for plot it I'M
doubtedly is, to attempt TO force the
retirement from the Cabinet of Secre-
tary Sherman by disappearing not
only his words and acts, but his men
tai condition. Secretary Sherman
was never stronger mentally than he
is today, but even if it were true that
his mental faculties were beginning
to feel the advance of age, his long
and honorable public service would
entitle him to sympathy, in place of
the sneers and inuendoes which have
been and are being meted out to him
in the columns of the democratic and
assistant democratic press. OF course,
everybody knows that the principal
object of these political ghouls is to
injure the republican party in Ohio at
the coming election, but, as the aver
age of Intelligence among Ohio voters
is as high as that Of the voters in any
staUe in the Union, this nasty plot will
be more likely to react upon its con-
coctors than to injure the republican
party or Secretary Sherman. The
Ohio voters are likely to have an OPP
portunity to judge for themselves
whether the mental faculties Of Mr..
Sherman are as strong as ever, as he
intends making some speeches in the
state during the campaign, if his
health continues as good as it is now.
No surprise was felt by those who
knew the animus of the charges made
against Constructor Bowles, who is in
charge of the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
when acting Secretary Roosevelt
made public his full approval Of the
report of Commander G. FL. Davis,
who made complete investigation of
all the charges against Mr.. BoWles.
Not only does Mr.. Roosevelt approve
Of the report generating Mr.. Bowles,
but he adds that it was because Mr..
Bowles was doing his duty SO faith
fully and conscienciously that attacks
were made upon him by those who
wished him to do otherwise.
Comment is heard on all sides on
the marked Discrimination of all the
prominent democrats to talk for free
silver. This has been especially no
ticable since silver commenced to
decline in price again. Among them
selves heretofore ardent democratic
press their admiration for the manner
in which Boss German hedged on the
silver question in the Maryland dem
ocratic platform, and there Is little
doubt that many Of the National dem
ocratic leaders regard free silver
played out as battle cry, and are en-
gagged in hunting a new phrase which
they can use to bamboozle the voters.
The death of the free silver craze is
also regarded as the end Of the candi-
dacy Of Bryan. Meanwhile the coun-
try grows daily more prosperous, and
the people know that they owe their
returning prosperity to the faithful
ness with which President Mckinley
AMI the republicans in Congress kept
the promises made in the last Nation
al republican platform, and knowing
it are not likely to pay any serious
attention TO any new experiment that
may be proposed by the beaten and
demoralized democratic party A
majority Of the voters in 1892 trusted
the democratic party to their ever
lasting sorrow and four years of dis
tress, but they won't do it again.
Before rendering the opinion that
Secretary Gage has requested as to
whether the 10 per cent discriminate
ing duty provided in the Dingley tar
if for goods imported from Canada
applied to goods from Japan or other
foreign countries invoiced to an
American port but received at that
port over a Canadian railroad, At
torney General McKenna, by request,
gave verbal hearings to Ex- Secretary
Carlisle, representing the Boston 6
Maine railroad; EX Assistant Secre
tary Hamlin, representing the Board
of Trade of Boston, and others, who
argued against the discriminating
duty being applicable to such goods.
Attorney General McKenna announc-
ed that he would give Messrs. Carlisle
and Hamlin until Wednesday to file
briefs, after which he would render
his opinion as early as possible. Secre
tary Gage will not make ruling on
the question until he gets the Attor-
ney Generals opinion.
On August Is, Justice Stephen
Johnson Field broke the record for
length of service as a member OF the
United States Supreme Court. Chief