Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-10-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Oct. IS. 1897,

this week to make quite a batch of ap.
pointments, incl uding anumber which
had been hung up by factional fights
among Republicans, besides listening
TO a statement from both sides of the
Republican controversy in Virginia,
and hearing what some New York Re-
publicans had to say ia defense of their
opposing the regular Republican ticket.
II ever any member of the u. s. Su.
preme Court was entitled to retire with
honor, Justice Stephen J. Field is. He
has served longer than any other man
ever did, and has for eleven years past
been eligible to retirement by reason of
his having passed the age limit, seventy
years. While no official announce
ment has been made and none is looked
for before the nomination is made, the
impression is general among public
men that Attorney General McKenna
will succeed Justice Field.
If Lord Salisbury's skin len I az tough
as that of an elephant, Secretary Sher-
man 8 note concerning the change OF
mind on the part of the British govern
ment about taking part in the sealing
conference will give him a bad hour.
The note isn't quite as plain spoken as
the one sent several months ago, ac-
cusing Salisbury of having acted in
bad faith, but its meaning is quite as
plain.
Representatives of the Civil Service
League were heard by Attorney Gen.
eral McKenna today, on the legal
status of deputy marshals and colIec.
tors under the civil service law and
rules, their object being TO convince
the Attorney General that he should
not approve an opinion written by As
sistant Attorney General Boyd, taking
the ground that marshals and collec.
tors have the right to dismiss deputies
and fill their places without asking the
Civil Service Commission for an eligi
BILE list.
Attorney General Taylor, of Ken
lucky, now visiting Washington. thinks
Republican prospects in that StIte IRE
bright. OF the present situation he
said: "The Democrats are split into
two factions mutually embittered, and
each bent on downing the other. The
Populists who voted for Bryan to a
man last year have a ticket of their
own, and do not prose to give the free
silver Democratic nominee q vote,
claiming that in return for their alle-
glance to Bryan in 90 it is only fair
for the Democrats to support the Popu-
list candidate this year. Mr.. Bryan,
himself, who has been imported into
Kentucky to aid his party, is making
no inroads on the Populist vote. NY
belief is that the Republicans will car.
ry the State. Organism will be beaten
good and hard, but it will not put The
gold Democrats in a position to get
control of the State. They can never
win over the adherents of the Chicago
platform for these men rather than re.
turn under the domination of Carlisle,
Watterson and Buckuer will tumble
over each other In a rush 10 Populism.p
The nature of the reply made by the
new Spanish ministry to the suggestion
of President Mckinley that the war in
Cuba be brought to a speedy close
caused no surprise. 1t is just about
what it was expected to be-a polite,
diplomatic plea for this Government to
keep its hands off until the new min.
istry has had a chance to put its new
policy in effect in Cuba, and the ex.
preston of the belief that peace will
soon result. President Mckinley NAV
believe, as do many others, that the
answer is nothing more substantial
than an evasiye attempt to gain time,
but he will be compelled by the di-
plomatic usage of nations to accept the
answer for whati it purports to be, and
to give the new ministry a reasonable
amount of time to try Its policy, before
again pressing 1t On the subject of an
i'm Immediate peace in Cuba. But Presi-
dent McKinlay intends to keep himself
fully informed ds to what 10 done In
trying to carry out the new Spanish
policy. AS n of the various wayso of
doing that he has directed Consul Gen.
eral Lee to return to Cuba not later
than the Goth inst, and to closely OBJ
serve the conduct of the new Spanish
officers on the island. President Nc.
Kinley doesn't wish to take any step
that will look to the rest of the world
like bullying Spain, but he is none the
less fully determined that the interests
of the United States demand peace in
Cuba, and II Spain fails TO bring 1t
about, he will do it himself.
National Committeeman Dawes, of
Illinois, was in Washington this week
and had o talk with the President, Mr..
Dawes has been studying the Ohio
campaign, and says that while the
campaign is som ewhat quieter than
some he has known. he hasn't a doubt
OF the success OF the Republicans on
both the State ..and legislative tickets
and the return of Chairman Hanna to
the Senate. His opinion is In line with
all the advices received from Ohio by
the President and other Ohio Republi.