The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-03-04
NAYI0NAL CAPITAL
An Interesting Letter From Our Regu-
lar Correspondent.
HERsEY PENS ENTERTAININGLY
Tells What Is Going On in the Way Of
Local Gossip - What Montana's
Representatives Are Doing.

warsl1ip Maine in Havana harbor last
week has of course been the absorbing
theme in all circles here since the un-
happy event occurred, but there has
been an absence of excitement, the pre-
vailng sentiment being rather one of
profound gloom and universal sorrow
rather than of anger; but should the
naval board. which has gone to the
scene to investigate the facts. find that
it was the result of Spanish treachery
in the remotest way nothing could
stay the tide of resentment that would
override congress and sweep the con-
ervatives off their feet. There is. how
ever, general disposition to await
events and the spirit shown is most
admirable one Swagger and bravado
are not the sign manual of valor, and
there is plenty of time to vindicate the
national honor should the necessity to
do so arise.
Billy Mason stirred the senate as it
has not been shaken up in years the
QUIET uuy WuCu ut u6IllduuCu IL NOluIl-
dent congressional investigation with
that to be made on behalf of the navy
and intimated that there is lack of
confidence on the part of the people in
that department. In reply, Wolcott
undertook 20 rebuke the Illinoisan, say
| ing that the senate floor is no place for
the expression of such suspic obs.
Mason retorted by recalling the Colo
RADIO senator's speech the other day
wherein he handled Secretary Gage
without gloves. Wolcott colored vio-
lently and was evidently annoyed.
The yellow journals of the big cities
have never had so fine an opportunity
to exploit their artistic taking as has
been presented by the Maine affair.
Unable to put their irresponsible crews
of divers at work on the wreck and
to otherwise pry into the matter, they
have resorted to the sending forth OF
the most sensational reports colored by
debauched imagination, and intended
to mislead and infame the public
mind. What do these bawdy and un-
licensed sheets care for the conse-
quences SO they gain the material or
the opportunity for pretended
"scoop' and the matter to make wild
aud unfounded stories? In case of ac-
tual warfare it would become one of
the first duties of the government to
suppress these mischievous and lying
prints and. much as war is to be de-
plored, sucl, a result would go far to
make it tolerable.
A logical result of the terrible catas-
trophe in Havana harbor will be to
greatly weaken the confidence of the
great naval powers in their defensive
| \, hv-c h lVy
ate somewhat to soothe the regnant
spirit of war which has recently pos.
sessed the Saxon people of all nations.
If single ship can be so suddenly
precipitated to the bottom in the calm
waters of peaceful offing in the
early watch hours of the night, it vii
be quite as easy to send whole flee
down. The truth is, the modern arm
ored battle-ship is a monstrosity, ;
helpless and cumbersome mass of meta
whose whole structure sets at naugh
: all the common rules of physics ant
defies the destructive forces of ma
ture. Senator Chandler, when secre
tary of the navy, opposed the theor.
. Of the steel battle ship of the first fight
ing class and believed them to be in
. effective in action. They have neve
been fairly tried, but the feeling j
growing that they will fail to NEE
expectation.
! The Blackfoot reservation matte
] seems now to be settled and the deci
sion of the commissioner not to opel
the reserve before April will meet wit
: general approval. Senators Carter an
Mantle. as I understand it, have al
, the time favored delaying the openin
until spring and the giving Of suffi
cienJ notice in advance. Less familia
with the customs Of mining country
perhaps, the commissioner, withou
| due thought, decided upon the plan G
making the opening colncident wit
| the filing Of the plats at Kalispel afte
4 approval here. which with ordinar
) promptitude would have meant tn
taking effect of the order in winte
= weather and might have caused muc
: suffering and loss Of life.
1t is interesting to note the com
X ments eastern correspondents on tn
- reasons governing the Montana az
pointments. Among the most remark
able Of these are some blind guesses a
= to the motives for Geo. Irvine's az
pointment as postmaster of Butte. Th
= sole cause for that action was due
: first to full recognition of Mr.. Il
4 vines fitness for the Office, and. sec
: ond, that Lee Mantle asked for th
7 place for his friend, and got it. It. {
Z course, goes without saying that Ser
= ator Garter heartily cOncurred with tn
= appointment. and there the matte
ends. Parties unfamiliar with on
= state politics should refrain frcm mal
L ing lid guesses at matters OF whic
= they know nothing.
Prof. Wylie is still here in the inter
Z est of his park enterprise, but the SCI
! retary Of the interior does not seem
! be friendly to continuing his permit
= His ATTORNEYS have submitted Ion
! briefs and are making hard figh
/! however.
Z Harry Cunningham has been ente'