Middletown transcript., 1905-04-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
THE inaugural ceremonies held ., .

+ THE inaugural ceremonies held on the
Fourth of March have claimed
another distinguished victim in Don.
Manuel de Azpiroz, the Mexican Ambas-
sador to this country. While ON the
East front of the Capitol during the In
auguration the Ambassador was takep
with severe chill and to-day he died
The Doctors in attendance from the first
held out no hope of recovery and his
government has been notified. Senator
Bates of Tennessee died few days after
the Inauguration as a result OF exposure
on that inclement day, and the prostra-
tion of Secretary of State Hay is attribnt.
ed to the same cause. A number of prom
inent men, among them Senator Foster
OF Louisiana experienced severe and con-
filming attacks of grippe after Inaugural.
tlon day and the number of less conspic-
nous victims of the exposure will never
he known. The sacrifice OF lives on this
occasion should at least have the benefit
of preventing another Inauguration as
early in the season as the Fourth of
March. In times of war men NAV die
gladly for their country but it is criminal
martyrs in times of peace and rejoicing.
Congress should be compelled by the
people at no matter what cost to its in
dolence, to change the date to April
[ thirtieth, the date upon which Washing
ton took the Office and which could
almost with certainty be counted upon
to produce weather which should offer
no menace to the health and lives of the
great crowds who are subject to exposure
that day.
| ~
Ambassador Azpiroz was the first Am
bassador from Mexico to serve as such,
| Until 1899 the country had been repre-
sented here by minister plenipotentiarv
but during that year Senior Romero, then
Minister from Mexico appealed to his
government to raise the rank of the legis-
| ton to that OF an embassy in order that
| he might properly look after the interests
of his country. At one time he had by
| virtue of seniority been dean of the
Diplomatic corps but gradually he was
displaced by Ambassador who by virtue
of higher rank took precedence over him.
For this reason he was frequently and
annoyingIy made to wait for interviews
at the State Department and at the
White House until whole line of men
of whom he had previously held preced,
ence had finished. Finally exasperated
he called upon his government for
change and when it was finally granted
he was on his death bed and Aspiroz sue
ceeded to the title and the honors. An
Ambassador is not only the representa-
tive of his country but he is also the
Representative OF his sovereign, and as it
were member of the royal family OF his
country. On account of this diplomatic
tictions a number of embarrassing Incl
dents have occurred in Washington touch
ing the relations of the Austrian and
Mexican Ambassadors. Senior Azpiroz is
held by the Austrian government as one
of those responsible for the execution of
Maximiian and the pathetic insanity of
poor Carlotta and is therefore not recog-
nized by the representative of the Aus
trian Sovereign, Ambassador Hengen-
muller. On various occasions this has
been overlooked in the entertainment of
the two Ambassadors and various MEM
bers of the two families have been as
signed to each other as partners or dinner
companions necessitating hurried re ad-
justment at the last moment and consid-
erable embarrassment to every one
concerned.
1t is said that the President feels the
embarrassment to the Administration by
the failure of the Senate to ratify the
treaty. While the situation in Venezu-
ella is not strained it is believed that the
postponement of action OH the Santo
Domingo treaty has influenced President
Castro to regard the United States
government as divided in its own
household and incompetent to meet any
situations which involve the Monroe
Doctrine. The President is said to have
that he feels his hands
would be tied if this Government were to
be called upon to take action in the affairs
of Venezuela. The disposition mani
tested by Castro at this time is to prefer
European creditors to American and the
is taking steps to settle those
debts to the exclusion of payments to
American creditors The President is of
The opinion that Castro and the Nenezu-
elan Government considers itself free to
DO so believing that by the failure of the
Senate to uphold the Administration this
government would be impotent to settle
conditions affecting the interest and
tights of Americans in the Caribbean sea
'egion.
~
Vice President Fairbanks it is said, has
oeen considerably perturbed by the ap-
continent of his fellow townsman to the
Vice Craftsmanship of the Republican
National Committee. He and Mr. New
re not the best of friends and Mr.. Fair
,anks thinks that the appointment is
,rejudicial to his presidential aspirations
Governor LaFolette of Wisconsin, on the
ther hand, is not at all agitated and
laims to believe that the appointment
f chairman at this time can have
othing to do with the nomination of
andldate three Years hence. He recalls
number Of cases in which the National
committee has been opposed to nomina-
on which were made over their heads,
nd he recites his own and Roosevelts ex-
erience as distinguished examples of
hat can be done even when the Ma
onal Committee is opposed.
fAsHINGToN, D. c., Mar. 25th 1905