The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
The State Department is faced with a
very delicate turn in the latest develop
ment of Venezuela's controversy with
France, and the matter is being watched
with some solicitude. The Department.
advices show that there is practical
rupture of relations between France and
Venezuela over the rights of the French
Cable Company, whose concession has
been declared forfeited by the Venezuelan
courts. There are two horns to the d.
lemma. This government is supposed to
stand for the Monroe Doctrine and any
| militant movement of European power
against South American state would be
an unfriendly act. 'Unfriendly" is al
most fighting word in diplomatic lam
guage At the same time it looks from
the dispatches as though the Venezuelan
courts for once were right and that the
French Company had technically failed
to fulfill its contract with the government
Still President Castro has been going
around with chip on his shoulders for
so long and insulting the representatives
of foreign powers in the belief that the
United States would protect him from
ultimate harm, till this government is
about of the opinion that he needs
sharp chastisement. The probabilities
are that the United States would not see
the chastisement administered by German
warships without protest, and probably
Great Britain would not be allowed to do
much in the way of correcting recall
citrant South American president. But
France might be permitted to take the
step with the distinct understanding that
it did not involve territorial aggrandize-
ment. France would be freer from sus-
picion in this direction than any other
first class European power. In fact it is
limited that if France wants to take the
trouble she will be allowed to make
naval demonstration in Venezuelan waters
without any remonstrance by this govern
ment. 1t is quite possible that she will
do so, and if she does there will be a
universal sigh of relief that the imam of
destiny" as President Castro likes to call
himself, has been called down good and
hard.
~
1t is stated on very good authority that
Attorney General Moody will resign next
cpr;pu oud that he mill he c,,ccaadad l.,
the Department of Justice by Secretary of
the Navy Bonaparte. IT was understood
that when Mr.. Bonaparte took the Navy
Portfolio that he would serve there not
longer than one year. 1t is known that
Attorney General Moody wants to get
back to the practice of law in Massachu-
setts, and it would be in line with the
ambition and inclination of the present
Secretary of the Navy to succeed him
One of the chief points of interest in this
gossip is that it would put man in the
Department of Justice who would have no
computations in carrying out the trust
prosecutions in the spirit they are known
to be conceived by the President. Secre-
tary Bonaparte is man of wealth and he
is not machine politician, so he has no
obligations that would prevent his carry
ing out the task thoroughly.
*x*
The other talk of cabinet reorganization
which would put Postmaster General
Cortelyou at the head of the Treasury
Department has good deal less founda-
ton. 1t is said that the President is per-
fectly satisfied with the work that Mr..
Cortelyou is doing and that when there is
a change in the Treasury, as there prob.
ably will be not very far hence, there will
be a new man taken into the cabinet. |
Who it will be has not yet been divulged.
~
A very interesting appointment that
will rob the government of a good man.
is that of H. Foster Balm of the Geolog
ical Survey. 10 be State Geologist of I'LL.
nois. Mr.. Balm is a very young man for
the post, being only thirty-three. He
will draw very much larger salary from