The times., 1897-04-18

There has been a demand for the best
bonds, and they are at good premiUmi
and this has made the demand for the
bonds OF other kinds more active OF late"
"Do you think business is going TO
pick up before the 1st. of january
The indications are that the mills will
begin to get ready this summer for the in
creased demands Of the fail trade. The
railroads, as 1 said, have noticed already
disposition on the part of small manufac-
turers. to begin business. The starting Of
the mills means greater demands on the
railroads, and that means business for the
-allroad supply houses: and the railroad
supply business is one of the greatest or
our interests"
THE outlook for foreign travel S better
this year than ever before, S il not9''
so / hear That is an important factor
in the prosperity Of our people: for every
year there are, I hsveno doubt, one hundred
millions of dollars spent by Americans
abroad. Fortunately, it is also true that
Americans do not go abroad 70 spend that
money unless they nave asurpius % spend
lis there any way TO offset TINS drain On
our gold?"
None has ever been suggested. People
from old countries will not visit new ones
as people of new countries visit the old
There is no way OF inducing much pleas
ure trav el from the other side. SO we must
make up for our losses in that direction IN
some other way"
Gen Porter said he was not planning
any literary work he has cut off Lis
connection with all business enterprises
here, aud he will devote himself during
the next four years exclusively to the
business OF being an ambassador. The
interesting "reminiscences which he has
been writing for the Century are complete
and in the hands OF the editor and ne mas
not made any other literary contracts. He
told me he would not write anything about
our commercial relations while he is
abroad What he may do when he returns
to the United States after his diplomatic
experience he does not know. He says
hecanuot write while he is in office because
anything he might say might be subject 70
criticism as an official utteraHce
The position OF an ambassador he
said. "is different from that of a minister.
The ambassadors Of monarchical coun-
tries you know, are the personal repre-
sentatives OF their sOvereigns; and rela-
lively the position OF amt assador of the
United States is tie same. Therefore,
he cannot tie too careful what he says or
writes -
Gen. Porter has not made arrangements
Tor his house in Paris. as Col John Hay has
in London The general eX poets TO sail
for France as soon as the dedication of the
Grant monument is over. That occurs
April 27. Gen Porter has a very lively
interest in the ceremony, not only because
of his intimate relations with Gen Grant,
whose military secretary he was for many
years. but because he Undertook to raise
the balance OF the money needed for the
monument when the original projectors
had concluded that the task was about
hopeless Gen. Porter succeeded in his
undertaking and he wants to see the
crowning of his work before be leaves
for his diplomatic post.
Though Gen. Porter cannot write on
commercial topics or about diplomatic
questions except under the seal Of Sc
crecy To the State Department, there is
nothing 10 prevent him expressing his
views in an occasional atter-GinEer speech
as Mr.. Ra yard has done in his Lot,dou eS-
peTience MI. Bayard was never known as
an after-dinner orator in Washington Gen
Porter has reputation as an after-din-
ner speaker in New YORK and many other
cities of the United S tates. a distinguished
Englishman who visited the United states
recently said that what he noticed par
ticularly while here was the superiority
OF Americans over EnSlishmen in the mat
ter Of after-diHner speaking. Gen. Porter
will give Paris nd perhaps London new
standard by which TO judge this art.
In one important particular Gen Porter
illustrates a principle which Mr. sherman
laid down as worthy 10 be followed be-
fore he took charge of the State Depart
ment Senator sherman said TO me then
that no man should be sent TO "a consular
or diplomatic post who did not speak the
language of the country to which he was
accredited, or at least, the French tongue,
which is the language of diplomacy. Gen
Porter is not only a French scholar, but
he also speaks several other European
languages He will not have TO conduct
the business of the United states with
France through an interpreter. His preGe-
cessur, Mr.. EuStis. hal thesane advantage.
GEORGE GRANTHAM NJ Balm
Copyright, 1897, by Bacheller syndicate