The National tribune., 1899-04-20
CHIT OF THE CORRIDORS

L
| There Is a persistent rumor that EN-
bassador Horace Porter is to be recalled
from Paris to succeed Alger as Secretary
OF War, and that Whitelaw Reid will suo-
| ceed Porter.
Secretary Aiger returned from his West
Indian tour last Friday. He says that he
inspected everything most thoroughly.
| and is surprised and gratified at all that
he saw. He had no idea of the immense
possibilities of Cuba and Porto Rico until
he saw those islands with his own eyes.
The progress that is being made every
where is most gratifying. Our officers
and soldiers are entering into the work OF
regenerating the countries with enthusi-
aSm and practical wisdom, and the good
results are plainly apparent for
example. it is a titanic Job to clean up
Habana, but it is being done, to the
immense benefit of the city and thus
country. Yellow fever has been virtually
exterminated, which will save this
country millions OF dollars every year.
The opportunities for investment in Cuoa
and Porto Rico are incalculable, and no
doubt large American population Will
soon be busily employed there. Our SOL
diers are magnificent. They are as fine
body Of troops as can be found in the
world, they are well-quartered, there IS
little sickness among them, and they ana
the people get along most amicably. Inc
most of the people of Porto Rico are
abiectly poor and live in so-called houses
that no American labOrer would look at.
They are already showing signs OF I'M
provement, however. The children are
being gathered into schools, taught the
English language, and to be real men and
women. Everywhere in the island is the
most exuberant loyalty. The spanish
laws are gradually being modified to mt
American ideas.
1t is said about Washington that the
real author of the discreditable letter
which Gov. Lee, of South Dakota, sent
the President is Senator II. F. Pettigrew,
upon whose vagarleS The National lrlo-
une has before commented.
Hon. John Sherman seems to be re-
covering daily. He takes long drives
every day, and is able to walk about the
house.
The funeral of the late Associate Justice
Field took place at Epiphany Church last
Thursday, and was attended by President
Mckinley and a very distinguished gather
ing. The remains were taken to Hock
Creek Cemetery.
That very select and exclusive set in
Washington which lives, breathes, and
has its being around the Diplomatic Corps
was hysterical last week over the report
that the Belgian Minister would protest
against the reception of Senior AsplIoz
as the ambassador from Mexico, and that
his protest would be supported by the
Austrian French and possibly the Italian
and some other Embassies. The reason
was that Senior Aspiroz was the Prose-
cutOr at the time the SO-called Emperor
Maximillian was condemned to be shot,
and the execution carried out. Inc
thought of such "a horrid man." who
actually participated in doing to death
brother OF a real Emperor should be re-
ceived into the perfumed diplomatic
Circle" was discussed with much shud-
dering over weak tea and cheap pastry In
the various drawing rooms frequented by
the "swell set" They all voted that such
sacrilege should be prevented. Fortu-
nately the high opinion OF the mOmentous
Importance OF this set is closely confined
TO its own members, and nobody outside
of it cares sous marquee what 1t thinks
or does. If any member OF the Diplomatic
Corps does not want to meet Senior AS
piroz, then he should apply to his own
Government to be recalled. Our State
Department has nothing to do with 1t.
Senior Aspiroz is an entirely reputable
man, and acceptable 70 our Government.
He is sent here by n sister Eepubllc, and
seems TO be an excellent representative of
his people. While there are some OF our
people that may wish that the Mexicans
could have gotten along without shooting
Macmillan, that was their own business,
in which we had no right to interfere.
There is no doubt that in strict Justice
Maximillian deserved his fate. He was
foreigner, who went to Mexico to impose
a monarchy on people who had thrown
it off, and reintroduce deSpotism upon
this continent. He shot down the Mexi-
cans and their leaders whenever he could
lay hands on them, and they simply gave
him dose of his own medicine when
they caught him. Senor Aspiroz was
merely the agent in carrying out even
handed Justice. In a few weeks from now
the same "swell set' will be dancing
attendance on him, and proud OF an
invitation to his receptions.
Comrade VIM. T. Horine, one of the best
known clerks in Washington, died April
~. He had been for the last nine years
in the Depreciation Division OF the Post
Office Department. He was born in
Indiana in 1870, enlisted in the goth Ind,
became Color Sergeant, and lost a leg at
Gettysburg.
There is an epidemic of cerebro-spinal
for the first time in 30 years. Since FEB. |
l, 40 deaths from it have occurred.
so
delegation from Pittsburg, consisting |
of Mayor Diehl, Gen. Chas. l.. FitZhugh, !
Capt. j. NJ. Ray, Maj. Chas. P. Howell,
Mai. w. ii. Davis, and Assistant Post
masterGen. Shallenberger, called on the
President last week to invite him to
attend the Reunion OF the Army of the |
to be held in that city, oct. 4
and 5. Phe President replied that he
would like TO attend, but could not say |
what his engagements would be so far
ahead.
The friends of Mai. John M. Tweedale, |
for many years Chief Clerk of the War
and recently promoted to
Assistant Chief of the Record and PEN |
sion Division, with the rank of Major, |
presented him last week with a hand
some sword at the Congregational Church.
The presentation was made by Gen. III. v.
=.
Last week the Board of Officers of the |
Loyal Legion held a meeting to consider
the question of court -martialing Gen.
Eagan, and expelling him from the Order.
Gen. Eagan was defended by Senator
and Justice John M. Harlan