The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

President Mckinley and the
members of his Cabinet naturally
decline to discuss, for publication,
the letter written by Senior de LONE
the Spanish Minister to the U. S.,
in which the President is insulted,
autonomy for Cuba referred to as
merely trick, and the negOtia-
tions for reciprocity treaty only
an excuse to starve off Intervention
by the U. s. in Cuba. The Presi-
dent will act promptly, notwith-
standging the resignation of de
LONE, and If Spain will probably
be the dismissal in disgrace of the
Spanish minister. There Is also q
strong probability that il the Span
ish Minister be given his passports,
the action will be followed by in
Prevention by this government in
Cuba. The publication of the de
LONE letter has created mere of
sensation in Washington than any,
thing that has occurred in connec-
tion with the Cuban question. AS
usual the hot heads in Congress
wish to have Congress take hand
in the business, but the level-head-
men in Congress recognize the abil-
ity of President Mckinley to pro-
perty deal with the matter, and are
perfectly willing to leave it in his
hands. The matter could not have
occurred at worse time for the
interests of Spain, as the resolu-
tions and speeches in the Senate
by Senators Cannon, of Utah, and
Mason, OF Ill,and the proposed
amendment to the Diplomatic and
Consular bill, by Senator Allen, of
Nebr., all looking to immediate
action by this government either
by recognition of Cuban belliger-
ency or indepenence or by inter-
vention, had already brought
Cuban matters to critical point in
the Senate
1t was not surprising that the
Post Office department should have
abolished the absurd rule adopted
under the Cleveland administra-
tien, prohibiting postmasters who
owned newspapers from editing
them as soon as its attention was
called to it. There was no more
sense in saying that fourth-class
postmasters should not edit news
papers than there would
: have been in saying that they
should not keep stores or do any
thing else.
That it makes difference whose
OK is gored is shown by the frantic
protests against the confirmation
of the nomination of John III.
Deveaux, Georgia colored man,
to be Collector of Customs at
Savannah, that are keeping the
wires hot between Savannah and
Washington since President Nc
Kinley sent the nomination of
Deveaux to the Senate One Of
the best reasons for saying that the
nomination will be confirmed is
the fact that the white men Of
Savannah who are doing the pro-
testing have almost to man re-
commended Deveaux as proper
man to be collector at Brunswick,
Ga, and in writing, too II he was
all right for collector at Brunswick,
why isn't he all right for collector
at Savannah? The only objection
raised to Dexeaux is his color, and
= there is less prejudice against that
g in the U. s. Senate than there is in
= Savannah.
!. The House this week unseated
. Plowman, democrat, from Ala, and
4 gave the seat to Aldrich the popu-
list contestant, on account OF fraud
e in the election. The report of the
. majority of the election committee
o in favor of Aldrich contained q
is scorching arraignment of the
n Alabama election laws.
a Senator Chandler ably presented
n the views of himself and those who
lie agree with him in believing Hon
IT II. w. Corbett, of Oregon, entitled
to a seat in the Senate, in a speech
II of two hours, but as majority of
ir the Senate is on record, in Other
cases, against the contentious oil
er Mr.. Chandler, it Is generally be-
y lieved that the vote when taker
d. will be adverse to Mr.. Corbett.
ID