The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

All appearances indicate that the peo-
pie OF the United States are in a very
an1iable mood and regard with equinam-
ity, mingled with certain amount of
curiosity, the word war of politicians now
being waged in the forum and the press,
regarding the prospects and intentions Of
possible Presidential candidates. The list
is too long for recapitulation. AS the
President says: "Mr. Hanna has right
to be candidate if he chooses" He is
now i'll with the grip, and will allow cir
cumstances 10 choose for him. The voice
of those who profess the republican faith
sings loud in the land for Roosevelt.
Bryan is very industriously making
speeches and pointing out what ought to
be. Senator German is quiet, watching
to see which way the senatorial cat will
jump in MafT!!and. He will have an op-
portunity to ;ndulge in "heart 10 heart"
talk when he addresses the legislature of
Kentucky. The wind continues to blow
variable" as the scientific phrase is,
about Panama and the troublesome treaty.
After ratification great calm will follow.
*x*
Notwithstanding early optimistic pre-
dictions about the present session of
Congress being devoted to economy,
there is much pressure being brought to
bear in the search, for the doors of the
public treasury. If all the proposed plans
for spending money materialize it will
flow like water, and the prosperity boom
will continue until after the election. The
Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fishes says the American people rush
lavishly into expenditure, even to pro-
noting air ships, and then they look
about to see how money can be spent on
other projects
Whether many of the employees of the
government in Washington are riding in
carriages at the expense Of the Govern
ment, and assuming plutocratic airs, is a
question Congress is investigating. Each
Cabinet Minister has been asked to fur
nish list of such employees and how
many horses, carriages and footmen he
keeps on public funds.
~
The National Board of Trade in session
in Washington the past week has made
numerous recommendations to Congress
1t desires to have silver dollars exchang-
ed for gold when presented to the Treas
ury; it suggests that no more silver dollars
be coined; it wants one cent postage and
a parcels post; it advocates the metric
system and provision for mercantile
marine.
~
The body of James Smithson, philos-
opher and philantropist, was due to ar
rive in Washington on Saturday, 23rd
inst, under escort of Alexander Graham
Bell, by vessel from Genoa. Smithson
was the illegitimate son of Sir Hugh,
fifth Duke of Northumberland. He was
an agnostic. He spent his life in scien-
tihc experiments and made valuable dis
coveries in chemistry and geology, for
which he was chosen vice-president of
the British Royal Society. He warmly
sympathized with the American colonies, |
and sent satirical letter to his cousin,
Hugh Percy, who, in command of a i
British regiment, fled from the farmers at
Lexington, and who sheathed his blood
less sword and ran away at the battle of
Bunker Hill. Smithson was ambitious
for fame and wrote in his diary, 1.-THE best
blood of England flows in my veins; on
my fathers side am Northumberland,
on my mothers am related to kings;
but il avails me not My name shall live
in the memory of men when the titles of
Northumberland and Percy are extinct
and forgotten" To this end he sagac-
iously bequeathed half a million dollars
to America, to found the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, ''for the in
crease and diffusion of knowledge among
men," Americans are better acquainted
with the appearance of the beautiful
Norman structure of red sandstone that
bears his name than any other building
in Washington except the Capitol.