Year: 1878

w UASHlNUlCN LEI lEIls
From our Special Correspondent


WAsHINGToN.D c., Sept. %, 7S.


On general principles it may be
deemed unfortunate that the Treasury
Department has had to rescind a very
important order that was intended to
anticipate by some months the date
fixed by law for the practical resumption
of specie payments, because upon more
mature reflection it seemed to conflict
with the spirit of some of the financial
work Of Congress-at least was not abso-
lutely free from doubt in that respect
1t is chiefly to be regretted because of
such impairment of confidence as may
result from what viii be regarded as a
retrograde movement, in department
standing in the most vital relationship to
the financial welfare Of the whole
country. In other words annulling the
order was equivalent to a confession that
it had been prematurely made. But
beyond that mentioned, the promptness
of the Secretary in correcting the mis-
take when satisfied it was such, saves US
from anything more serious than some
Disappointment and little annoyance
and temporary business arrangement in
individual cases


A recent letter written to the State
Department by the American Consul at
Barcelona, Spain. in reply to numerous
letters of inquiry addressed to him, will
prove of especial interest to all directly
or indirectly engaged iE the production
of American coal for foreign markets.
He gives it as his opinion that coal may
be shipped to that great manufacturing
center with every assurance that our
shippers can successfully compete with
those of England, leaving fair profit
after paying the duty (50c per ton) and
the port charges (given at Csc per ton
on steamers.) The Consul states that
our anthracite is regarded as superior to
that from Cardiff which largely monop-
olizes the Spanish market The price at
the date of his communication was $685.
per ton. He also states that ordinary
vessels would be reasonably certain
during z months out of the II, of remu-
nerative return freights from Spanish
and American ports-producliens that
now largely find their way indirectly to
our markets via England. He also be-
lieves that such coal trade once fairly
established, would pave the way to a
market for many of ou- other staple
products throughout Southern Europe
now supplied from other sources. Lastly
he is of the opinion that the steamers
engaged in the coal trade, if filed with
accommodations, would soon find the
carrying of passengers who now reach
the United States in round about way,
source of profitable enterprise to all
concerned on this side of the Atlantic.


Since Republicans here have had time
to rally from a little natural dependency
over the Maine election, they have turned
their undiminished interest to the battle
ground in Massachusetts, where Butler
has taken the field under circumstances
and auspices that wildly remind readers
of John Milton, of the leader of the hosts
of a certain rebellion that has been rem
dered immortal by the genius of that
author. Democratsproverbial for going
off at half cock" and forgetting in the
first hours of exultation that the mongrel
victory in Maine had been purchased by
the complete disruption OF their party
organization, have since had their enthu
siasm much dampened by that after
consideration; and the older heads re
gard the coquetting between Butler and
a portion of Massachusetts, Democrats
with much trepidation, not to say Posi-
tive alarm. 1t seems admitted among
candid men of all parties that in so far
as Butler may be successful, it must be
at the expense of Democracy's future in
that State; and as Bntler is dreaded even
mere as an ally than as an open enemy,
the price to be demanded of Democracy
for an alliance of which Benjamin will
be about the only beneficiary, seems
really exorbitant Democracy has Pc
culiar reason for distrusting Buffers real
disposition towardsit. Its vocabulary of
abuse has been ransacked and exhausted
since 81 to find fitting terms with which
TO characterize him. No statement Of
his baseness however comprehensively
put, satisfied that malice prompting1the
leaders Of the old @copperhead' wing
that has generally dominated in the
councils Of New England Democracy,
towards General Butler; and none was
too ridiculously absurd to offend the
the credulity Of its rank and file. What
most troubles those among the former
knowing the Generals antecedents and
now watching the oalhance between
him and those controlling the destinies
fof Massachusetts, Democracy, is the fear
that he is not enough ofa philanthropist
to forget and forgive" and the remorse-
less manner of his punishment Of enc
mics in the past, when by cunning and
fnesse he has lured them, into his tolls,
seems to justify their worst apprehen-
sions. MAXWELL