New-York tribune., 1897-01-10
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
SPANS CLEVER MINISTER AND HIS
DIFFICULT POSITION.

vIEws-rHE CHANGE IN THE CHINESE
MINIsTRY-coIONEL BLUE AND
LEE MANTLE.
WASHINGTON Jan. 9--If as was rumored last
year on this side of the water. there was dissat-
isfaction in Spain with her Representatives at
Washington, and distrust of his methods, that
has entirely blown over. and nothing Is hearo
but approval on every side concerning the course
of the Spanish Minister whose position as repre-
sentative Of an unpopular against a popular
cause is far from being an envable one.
But. however popular the Cuban cause may be
here at the seat of government the aDlilty OF
Senor Dupuy de LONE receives the admiration IL
merits and the fact that he is deep. clever ana
astute dplomatist is fully recognized He has
succeeded beyond the most sangulne hopes OF
Spanish sympathizers in all that he has under
taken. and his activity and vigilance are likely
to meet with still further reward. 1t is doubtful
r. in her whole diplomatic service, Spain has
found any one who has so faithfully and ably
looked after her interests or who would he more
acceptable to the United States Government He
is man OF fine judgment. Of nice discrimination,
and partisan Of a type sufficiently ardent 10
suit the hot-blooded people of Spain
1t Is said that last year the Spanish Legation
spent more money than all the rest of the lega-
tions at the Capital put together. and the amount
expended Is estimated to be from half TO three
quarters of a million Of dollars. But it must he
remembered that this is not used for the
maintenance Of the legation alone but to meet
the extraordinary and unusual expenses contln-
gent upon the for the salaries of special
agents to keep watch on and circumvent the NIL
busters for secret information ana IN many ana
various other ways
The Spanish Minister and his wife have estab-
lished themselves in an impregnable position So
Atn1x " xa1
and do more for society than even the English
Ambassador, who is supposed to lead the diplo-
matte corps in such matters. Senior Dupuy de
LONE is a scholar an author of some preten-
sons brilliant taker in several languages. and
has agreeable manners. He has. in fact. every
attribute that makes man acceptable to socie-
ty. His wife has. also a pleasing personality.
and in social affairs has shown a talent not IN
ferior to her husbands for diplomacy she
talks we'll and fuently on Spanish politics. and.
as she entertains assiduously. ii Is not To be
doubted that her intelligence and zeal have
made many friends for her beloved country.
local lawyer OF prominence. who
spends his summers at Cas'ine. on the coast of
Maine says he was much entertained by one Of
the shippers indigenous TO that town whom he
frequently hired to take him out fishing This
worthy possessed OF unusual intelligence a
pretty wit. and had a creditable knowledge OF
current politics. but he took pessmistic view
Of the state Of the country.
On the money question he had thought long
and deeply, and had developed a system Of his
own for carrying the financial affairs Of the
Nation. He had eccentric and original views Oh
the Civil Service. and in regard to foreign mat
ters he out -jingoed the jngoes. The ideas and
views Of this fisherman radically opposed
TO the ideas and views of the man who repre-
sents that region in the Senate that 1t was an
invariable surprise to the visiting lawyer when
he wound up his remarks. as he always did;
Wal. they amt sorter use in botherin my
head bout these things. fer ez long ez Gene hale
is in the Senate he'll the country from
gon ter the dogs" Which is evidence or the
fact that Mr.. Hale. contrary to the usual rule,
is a prophet with honor in his own country and
II is quite certain that, no matter what the rest
Of the United States may think of the stand he
has taken on the Cuban question. he VIII nave
the Endorsement of his constituents. whom he
has succeeded in persuading that whatever he
does is right
The rumor that Mr. Yang Yu. the Chinese Min
lister. would soon be recalled is confirmed, and
news has been received of the appointment of
his successor, Mr. WI Ting Fang. The present
Minister is not only Of the cleverest repre-
sentatives that has been sent here from the East
but both in official and social circles one of the
most popular sand his retirement is generally
regretted.
The new envoy from Cathay was educated in
England, where he lived for many years. While
in London he studied law. in which he was grad
He speaks English fluently and Will be the hrst
of the Ministers from China able to dlspenst
with the services OF an interpreter fut IL ~
doubtful if he coG.esses to the knowledge or
English he really possesses for ignorance or that
language has been a powerful weapon Wltn
Eastern diplomats. who Will not understand
when they do not wish TO. Even the interpre-
ters who are thoroughly versed III English
sometimes pretend not - comprehend some tech-
nical term TO gain thee and give their chiefs an
opportunity TO consider matter. Mr. WI Ting
Fang. like the present Minister is accredlted 10
Peru and Spain we'll as the United states.
Colonel Blue of Kansas. looks as II he be-
longed on the frcnt por'h of one of those great
Virginia manor houses, with lot of dogs lying
sbout him and negro retainers standing about
in picturesque attitudes to complete the scene.
He might have stepped out of a frame hanging
I'm one OF those old Southern homes, so Ike Is
ne in appearance to the cavalier OF the ancient
time, and by reference to THE Congressional
Directory it will be that this genial gen
tleman was "Virginia BORN, but he broke away
from the traditions OF his State and served in
the Union Army. which accounts for the fact
that although Virginia born, he IS an ardent
Colonel Blue is not only an ardent Republican
. hut n wise man. and has practical views on all
subjects Among other things. he thinks II bad
policy in the present distressed state or the
country TO make a great ado about the inaugural
ball OF course, all the money that Is spent
for this purpose will find It's way indirectly lnto
the pockets OF tnt SuutiiHS Po'i' '"t -
d,N,cu,t 10 demonstrate to these people why
and how this is So and they cannot be expected
10 entoy the sounds Of revelry when both their
stores and their stomachs are empty.
Two New-Engand Senators were talking the
other day of the recent campaign and their ex-
periences on the stump. No two men did more
effective work the speeches of one being espe-
cially effective in the South, and going long
way to bring Kentucky into the sound-money
ranks The other said;
"I regard the last three weeks Of the cam
paign a. most serious in the efforts OF the free-
silver men to array the masses against the