New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-28
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.


COAST DrFFNCES NOT NEEDED."I do not
,r,rL ,va need anv scacoast defences to protect
ourselves against SPAIN" remarked congressman
Lester of Georgia. who represents the oa'd""""
District ION the contrary, think we ought 20
encourage the Spanish Army to LAND somewhere
on tho Southern coast so that We could get al II
and wine It of the face OF the earth That Spanish
Ambassador who talks about an instruction
against the Government In the Southern States. in
case OF a war with Spain. is about thirty years
behind the times. he will discover II the pinch
comes Why, Georgia alone would furnish men
enough to whip Spain on land
Colonel Lester served IN the Confederate Army
from the beginning to the end Of the Civil War,
and Ike all the other ex-Confederates In Congress;
he was highly amused by the statements attributed
to the Spanish Ambassador at Vienna
\ THRIFTY PATRIOT-"A case has recently
been brought to my notice which shows that some
Arkansans, at least are thrifty said Congress-
man from that State. Il was asked 10 use my
influence in behalf OF q claimant for a pension who
lives in my State. | went to the Pension Bureau
and had the case called UP and investigated. and
the result was that the pension allowed the
applicant having been found entitled to the same
had the certificate sent In care OF the friend VINO
had called my attention to the case. That was
few DAYS before last Christmas. and received a
prompt acknowledgment. My friend wrote that he
should hold the certificate until Christmas Eve and
then send 1t 70 the beneficiary a Christmas eft
from the Government he had served so faithfully.
He remarked incidentally. that the man was an
inmate OF the Confederate Soldiers Home. Further
The benefits and shelter OF the Home by virtue OF
his Sc; wees In the Confederate Army II seems
he fought both sides and Is now enjoying the
benefits bestowed both BY the general Government
and the State"
A PHILADELPHIAN'S AWKWARD SLIP
Philadelphia is called SLOW" town by New
Workers and some others, but 1t is not often that
a Phadep hian will admit it or do otherwise than
resent the slur. And yet occasionally resident
OF the City Of Brotherly Love unconsciousy ad-
mits. by inference at least that the assertion Is
not altogether groundless. , -. -
What do you know asked friend OF Con-
II don't Know thing; have just come from
PHILADELPHIA" innocently replied the Congressman,
who quickly perceived that something was amiss
when the NewYorker began to chuckle.
VIRGINIAS PARTISAN ELECTION LAWS
When the present House assembled there were
three Republican contests for seats from Virginia
Two have been decided in favor Of the contestants.
and It IS believed that the third Will be. The
grounds OF complaint were the same in all three
cases-the partisan election laws OF the state and
their fraudulent execution by the Democracy In
November, 1896.
The proof brought forward to sustain the charges
has been overwhelming. Naturally. these decisions
have given the Virginia Republican, great pleas
ure Former Congressman Brady. of Petersburg.
now Collector Of Internal Revenue for that dis
trct. speaking about the matter TO a correspondent
OF The Tribune said: -, -
''1ne election laws OF Virginia were designed Tor
no other purpose than TO put Democrats in ONCE.
and as executed, they accomplished that purpose
perfectly The elections held In the state are
In the main farces The popular Will Is not per-
mted to be- registered or If registered Is defeated
IN the count. With an honest poll, Virginia would
he as reliably Republican as Massac husetts, ana
upon the same issues. The protection sentiment
among our people is widespread and very strong
But We are powerless in the grasp of a partisan
Election Board. and until we are able In some way
70 free ourselves from THAI control and get our
ballots into the boxes and have them counted
silver and free trade. through fraud. VIII
continue 10 dominate Virgnia's interests. The
Democrats try 10 excuse themselves on the score
of pretending be afraid OF negro domination
Never wos talk absurd than that. Why
they actually use the negro vote fraudulently 10
sustain themselves.
There are seyenty-six counties in the State In
which the whites have majority. Mckinley car
ricd .!xty-nine OF them even against fraud. and
Bryan only seven. There are twenty -four counties
I'm which the bla ks are In the majority. and Bryan
carried, rather the returns made him carry,
twcniy-one of them. So. you see. the 900 ma
FORTY returned for Bryan came out OF the fraudu-
lent count in the black belt The truth is that Nc
kinney carried the state by at least 5000"
rs no relief in sight, asked.
'Nono AZ present. We can only wait Fraud can
not always continue triumphant. al least we hope
not. The Republican organization OF the State is
In good shape and ready 20 improve any oppor-
tuniiy that may present itself for pronting by
Democratic divisions over spos obtained by me MS
which know are really repugnant TO the better
element of members Of that party"