The silver star., 1900-06-01
CONGRESSIONAL GRIST-
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

tnem from showing interest In the poll
TICS OF the country to which they were
accredited, as Sir Sackville West, who
was British minister during the flrut
cleveland administration. learned 10
MS e0yrpw; but there is nothing in our
Gems from the South African rennhjic.
seeking sympathy and aid against their
enemies or promoting the election or
defeat OF any particular candidate for
once.
The use OF the horseless carriage IN
becoming quite general In Washington.
especially among the pleasure-seekine
class. The Chinese minister was one
OF the first to adopt the automobile a.
a substitute for the carriage, and has
used nothing else all winter. The Aus
trian minister and his wife, the French
ambassador, Colonel Lee, the military
attache Of the British embassy. and
other members Of the diplomatic corpg
are to be seen every day on the streets
IN automobiles. although the German
ambassador still sticks to his horse and
LORD fauncefote to his tricycle.. Mdlle.
bassadOr, is the only women in the
diplomatic corps who handles her own
automobile. and she rides at a pace that
causes CONSERVATION among her
friends. She has n costume designed
especially for mobile riding. 1t has a
skirt Of cream-colOred cloth with a
white silk waist, and one Of the new
Ladysmlth hats.
A special to the Chicago Times-Her-
aid from this city says: During the q.
A. II. encampment In Chicago. Pregi-
dent Mckinley may have the pleasure
OF returning to the southern states the
400 or 500 Confederate battle flags now
In the War Department. Prominent
members Of the G. A. r. have in hand
plan to secure the authorization Of
Congress for the return Of these fiags
and 1t is hoped that both houses will
pass the necessary joint resolution be-
rore adjournment. During the coming
week 1t IL expected the military COM
mittees will take the necessary prelimi-
nary action. II the consent Of Con
gress can be obtained, the fiags viii be
turned over to the @. A. r., the repre-
sentatives Of Confederate military or
ganixati0ns will be invited to Chicago
and with beautiful ceremonies Presi-
dent Mckinley, assisted by the veter-
ans Of the blue and the gray will hand
the torn and blOOd-stained banners
back to the valiant hands which once
carried and defended them.
The committee on conference on the
disagreement Of the two houses ON the
amendments to the bill extending the
time for proof and payment on lands
q the Colorado Cooperative colony, In
southweetern Colorado, has reached an
agreement, which has been adopted By
both houses. The disagreement was
upon the form Of an amendment to the
bill proposed by Senator Pettigrew.
providing for second entries Of lands
under the homestead law. This amend
ment was rejected by the confersncs
committee. and the substance Of the
Mondell bill substituted. This pro-
vides that persons who have made
homestead entries and commuted the
same. shall be entitled to make q ooc-
ond homestead entry; also that persons
who have made homestead entries and
for any cause have lost or forfeited the
same. shall be entitled to make second
entries. This In perhaps the most i'm
portant public land legislation which
has been enacted at this session o(
Congress, and will enable many pee-
sons In all parts Of the West, who have
made homestead entries, and for va
rious reasons failed to complete them
to secure another opportunity.
From q political standpoint the visit
Of the Boer ENJOYS IL regarded - .
very serious matter, and presents the
most embarrassing problem the admin
istrati0n has had to meet since the op-
ening Of the war with Spain. II - con-
ceded that the people Of this country
have . profound sympathy with the
two little republics in South Africa,
which they would be glad to have ex-
pressed By the government In . prac-
tical manner. but the diplomatic situa-
tion ID directly opposed to the political
situation. and the administrator 10
poweriess to carry out the popular will
without involving the country In inter
national complications. The Boer en-
can powers. both for Intervention
(which means active) and mediation
(which means passive). Every Europ-
can power. even Holland. with which
they claim blood relationship, has de-
nied the appeals which they now make
to the United States: but they have
come here with confidence that ex-
cites curiosity, and expect before they
leave this country to secure interven.
ton In their behalf. Mr.. Fischer and
his associates have never concealed
their intention to appeal to the people
Of the United States ln the event oe the
Presidents declining to intervene In
behalf Of their fell0w-countrymen.
They have made this very clear since
their arrival In Washington. and, ~
one Of them expressed II: III the Pres
ident denies our request we shall ap.
peal unto Caesar" They are willing
to reiinquish everything else, to pay
any Indemnity Or accept almost any
conditions, provided the two South At.
rican republics can retain their lnde-
pendence. They require that the Unit
"a States shall compel Great Britain to
concede their Independence at The mo-
ment Of their submission. and demand
that We shall make war against Dng-
land u she refuses to do 70. n tie
event ce the nnal refusal Of tho Prssi-
dent 10 oct thep propose 10 make .
tour q The country. holding mestings
wherever and - often - they can for
tho purpose of exciting sympathy and
invoking public opinion IN support q
their mission. They expect In this way
to make . political Issue Of Boef in1e-
A.~ ~ A.. m.<A