Middletown transcript., 1901-09-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.

q ROUND the hotel lobbies the only no.
: Lltlcal topic that affords any interest
Genters around taking chances on what
democratic state conventions will repu-
alate Bryan anc the Kansas City platform.
30 tar there is quite unanimity in that
direction, with Just enough of differ
ehee OF opinion to make an inherent
weakness IN the Democratic ranks.
| Next to that, Washingtonians are
watching the constitutional convention
Oh lrglnla, now being held in Rich
mond. The Republican orators up to
the present time have had the right of
way and have numerically. scored the
democratic: party particularly on its adj
voc&cy OF no suffrage for negroes.
speeches have been made that have
never been egualed for their severity of
afraignmeQt, tie Democracy having been
accused OF political tyranny of the worst
| sort, and Of fraudulent election methods.
Ihe democratic party is now attempting
TO dlsiranchise the negro by a clause in
the constitution. and already propose to
! submit this new state constitution for a
vote OF adoption by the people, exclud-
| ing the colored men from voting on a
document that is aimed to deprieve
them OF the rights Of citizenship.
There is letaargc reaction and a gen
eraL feeling OF disgust arising from the
persistent efforts Of the yellow journals
to make politicai capital ont of the Schley
court OF inquiry Most persons who
have anything ~ all TO say on the matter
regret the wide spread advertisement
that the papers have given to the case,
and echo the sentiment OF Chauncev De-
pew vino has just returned from Europe.
lie regrets il 0u account Of the serious
reflection on Our navy. In Europe he
says it is hurting the reputation of the
American navy among circles which
formerly had great admiration for it.
The victories over Spain, the remarkable
run Of the Oregon from the Pacific to
Cuba, and perhaps more than all the
value set on the naval writings of Cap
tain Alfred T. Mahan have made all
Europe look on our navy with much re-
spect. But now these internal dissen-
sions are dividing opinion.
X
If there is one thing more than another
that is distinctive of Washington, and
especially>in tie summer, it is the great
freedom from restraints, ts,-imposed by
fear of molestation, that women have on
the streets They are treated with un-
falling courtesy and consideration at all
hours of the day and night. One of the
peculiarly beautiful sights of the city
comes from the number of pretty women
on the streets in the evening bareheaded
and in the daintiest of summer dresses
They go about unescorted. and as I'M
as if on their own lawns. But
this Washington chiyalry received rude
shock few nights ago when two Young
women were accasted by a couple of men
while they were on & street car returning
from one OF the city's most refined subur-
ban resorts The men made some slight
ing remarks, frightening the two women,
one Of whom was hurt in attempting 10
get OF the ear 10 escape from her tormen>
ters. Next morning the men were III the
police court, where a heavy fine was i'm
posed. In passing on the case the judge
Sid Washington stands pTe-eminent
among the cities of the United States as
1 place where ladies may go on the street
cars aud public highways without danger
ii being fusufted by tbttackguards, and the
court IS going 10 uphold the reputation
1f the city in this respect.
Much interest centers about the posi-
oilities in the case of Jose Abreu, the first
Filipino to hold a government office in
bis country. He is employed as clerk
Il the Bureau Of InsUlar Affairs of the
i ar Department. He has been an in
urgent, and as one OF Aguinaldo's Off
ers opposed the American forces in the
philippines. Now, however, he has the
ontidence Of tie Department to the full
st extent. Those who see him on the
treets of Washington as a small and
lender gentleman in American clothes,
ut with an un5eniable Oriental appear
nee, find it hard to reconcile his present
0oks and occupation with his former
nown ability as an intrepid leader and
ghter, His father was also an insurgent.
ut Is now leader Of the Federal party
1 the islands. 5ir. Abreu, the new clerk.
lingulst Of extraordinary ability and
close student OF law He will be of
reat assistance to the Department on
ccount of his familiar and intimate
OF the islands and their Gus
'ms. At present lie is working on
geographical Gazetteer of the Philip
ines and his acquaintance with the var
'Is provincial dialects is OF particular
alue.
Acting Surgeon General Forwood of
ne army has jest received a report of the
ledical department Of the Philippine
'rces. Johnny behind-the-gun" is ex-
eptionally healthy, as army health goes,
nd the number of sicknesses has de-
-eased rapidly under strict sanitary re-
llations Entsric and malarial feyers
re most to be feared, but the small per
9ntage Of ''non -effectiyes' to the entire
ghting strength is so low that it is plain
lese diseases are not making anv serious
wages among the troops A remarkable
ct brought out by the report is that heat
roke, generally so much feared in the
opics is practically unknown in the
hilippines. Men often drop out ON the
arch, temporarily overcome bv the
eat, but fatal stroke is very rare indeed.