The Press., 1899-06-15
Washington Letter.
Washington, June 1e, 1899.

It depends entirely upon Canada wheth- CT temporary agreement on the Alaskan boundary shall be reached, or whether the dispute shall remain open and con- stant source of danger. Diplomatic re- presentatives of the U. s. and Great Britain have agreed upon 8 temporary boundary, provided on the part of the English diplomats that the Canadian government consents. As Canada has from the first been the only obstacle to the reaching of permanent agreement, no one feels over confident that it will agree to the temporary arrangement, un- less compelled by pressure from the British government to do so. Officials are very positive in saving that this government has gone to the limit in making concessions in order to get this matter settled.
 The administration doubtless has good reasons for not making public some of the recent dispatches from the Philippines, but on general principles, the policy of secrecy is an unpopular one. In the pre- sent case 1t Is responsible for thousand and one rumors, which are aggravated by the press reports of more fighting over there. The public knows that the press reports are correct as far as they go, be- cause, otherwise they would not be allow ed to pass the military censor at Manila, and knowing that much, it accepts many wild and improbable stories All that can be had at the war department is that things are going satisfactory over there, but against that is the knowledge that every recruiting station in the U. s. has been instructed to enlist as many men for the regular army as possible, and as quick as possible. On the whole, it would be better policy for the administration to take the people into it's confidence.
 Much interest was exhibited in official and diplomatic circles in the cable news from London, dealing with Lord Charles Beresford's attack upon the British gov ernment, in speech to the house of con- mons, for its drifting Chinese policy, and his bold assertion that the only way to save China and the Chinese trade from Russia was the formation of an alliance by Great Britain, the U. s., Germany, and Japan, for the purpose of aiding China to main- tain it's place as an independent nation. The reply of the government, made by Hon. w. $. Frederick, parliamentary secretary for the foreign office, was as significant in its way as Lord Beresford's speech. It sounded the U. s., as we'll as Germany, by expressing the belief that Lord Beresford was over sanguine in his expectations that those nations were ready to follow the lead of Great Britain in China, and warned Russia by saying that British trade with China would be fully protected at all times. When Lord Beresford was in Washington, 8 few weeks ago, he expressed the same opinions contained in his speech, so nobody was surprised.
 While it would not be considered just the proper thing for the president to order government commission to investigate something, to complete its works in 8 given time, the president considers the importance of getting an early report from the new isthmian canal commission so great that he has caused it to be strong ly intimated to its members, that he ex- poets report to be ready by the first of December, so that it may go to congress with presidential recommendation. Notices of contests have been filed with 1 the clerk of the house, from eleven con- gressional districts, all in the south, one in Alabama, three in Kentucky, one in Mississippi, two in North Carolina, two in South Carolina, and two in Virginia. The contests were all filed by members oi one party, and they are all practically made on the same ground suppression of votes.
 Members of committee of prominent Cubans, who are in Washington for the purpose of trying to get revocation oi the order of the war department suspend. ing all legal proceedings in Cuba, on ac. count of debts incurred prior to December 31, 1898, have been doing some plain talking about the situation over there One of them said: "The chief drawback to the speedy improvement of conditions in Cuba is the want of recognition of the best element of Cuba, by the U. s. gov. ernment. Our ablest men have stayed iI the background and class..who are inex. perlenced and lacking in all the essentials of statesmanship has come to the front mainly through loud talk. Unfortunately this class has been accepted as standing for the highest interests of the people through lack of clear conception of the actual needs. When things are seen iI their true light and the local amateurs are made to give way to their superiors the relations between the U. s. and the Cubans will be far more satisfactory. The mass of our people are docile and easily managed, if only 8 little tact ie shown. They do not want any more fighting and only ask chance to make a living. The reports of disorder, brigand- age, and the like that are sent out to American papers, are greatly exaggerat. ed, and the greater part of the stories that appear undera Havana date line are made from the whole cloth" While it must not be forgotten that the speaker belongs to the unrecognized "best element, and is not clear of prejudice, much that he says agrees with opinions expressed by clear headed Americans who are familiar with Cuban affairs.