The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-02-12
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in Sage
Manner of. Things in General
About Washington.
lCommunicated.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. s, 1897.

Senator Tillman has got out his
pitchfork again, and he is going to use
it if the Republicans try to throw out
the electoral vote of South Carolina on
the protest that is going to be made by
Murray, the negro member of the
House from that State, when the House
and Senate meet this week in Joint
session to count the electoral votes.
Senator Tillman said on the subject:
"lf Mckinley is going to he inaugu-
rated on the 4th of March, the joint
convention has got 10 count the vote
of South Carolina. If the Republican
party wants 10 make an attack on the
constitution of the State, it must make
1t on some other ground or in some
other manner than by underwriting to
prevent the counting of her vote.
wish to 80 farther and express nv
preference for seeing Mr.. Mckinley
President rather than to See the Presi-
dental function exercised toy Secretary
Olney, as it will be after the 4th of
March, if the effort is made to deny
South Caruliba the right to vote"
The following significant language was
achusetts, who is a Republican and
Chairman of the Election Committee,
which has charge OF the contested cleo
tl0n cases from South Carolina in this
Congress: III is true, apparently, that
the election laws aud constitution of
South Carolina disbar large proper
ton of the population from voting, but
it seems TO be the illiterate ones who
n fra rf,s Il
IN the minds of many intelligent men
whether this is no, a wise plan if con-
stltuti Inally enforced and carried out
according to law. A full generation has
passed since the colored men were en-
tranchised, and | do not know how
long they eau expect us 10 co idle them
and fight TO secure their electoral rights,
While they neglect t. learn to read and
write.''
Nobody was surprised when the Sem
ators wno have been pushing the Mic
aragua Canal Bill decided to give up
the fight. AT no time during the pres-
ent SESSION has the bill had the slight
est chance of getting through the
House even if passed by the Senate.
1t could have been passed by the SEN
ate notwithstan j g the protests of
Nicaragua, but it could only have been
done by protracted fight, which would
have resulted in preventing action by
the Senate upon other legislation.
Senator Daniel has made poiut
against the arbitraii, II treaty which
may result IN arraying the silver SEN
at1rs solidiy against its ratification.
The point is that if the United States
should adopt the free coiuage of silver
While that treaty was in force, Eng
land could put in claim for the differ
ence between the value of PRINCIPAL
and Interest of American debts held in
England, under the new system Of a
double standard and under the present
single gold standard, and if majority
OF the arbitrator happened to he gold
men, wonld probably get a decision in
favor of the claim.
A marked feature Of the contested
election cases decided last week bv the
! House was that the Democrats who
held the seats were upheld by the Re-
publican maj rny. The Democrats so
! IGNORED were Representatives Swan
500, of Virginia; Kendall, of Kentucky
ana Price and Boatner of Louisiana.
Tom Walson's contest has been decid-
ed by committee against him and in
| favor of Representative Black, and will
this week be decided the same way by
/ the House.
| Canada has sent two members of its
ministry to Washington to offer liberal
concessions in exchange for duties in
the new tariff bill that will not shut
out Canadian agricultural products,
but 1t looks as though they would lust
AS well have remained at home so far
as accomplishing anything goes. The
Republicans have already agreed to a
schedule of rates on agricultural pro-
ducts that raises the duties to such an
| extent that it will bar out Canadian
products.
The Washington "Post" has been
having fun with Secretary Horton.
Its latest hit is too good to be over
looked: 1.-THE POST" is under obliga-
tons to Hon. j. Sterling Morton for
his most valuable report on "Tape-
Worms of Poultry" BY the keen en-
ployment of that twin screw and
! double expansion logic for which the
head OF the Agricultural Department
is SO noted, the writer is aJle to show
that this pest, which is annoying to
farmers and adding to their mortgages,
is due directly to the constant agita-
ton of the financial question by ire
sponsible persons who do not agree
with the present administration"
The swearing in of Senator Kenney,
of Delaware, which the most radical OF
the Republicans had not the cheek to
object 10, after the Committee on Elec-
tiOns had refused to reopen the Du
p0nt claim, makes a full Senate of
ninety members. There will probably
be break in the ranks again after the
4th of March, either on account of no
successor being selected to Senator
Blackburn or because of deadlock in
one or more States which have not yet
elected Senators.