OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 7876, 8 April 1889, Page 4

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Keokuk, lowa (U.S.A.), March 2. THE NEWS OF THE DAY. The absorbing copic of public interest here just now is the incoming Administration. "Who arc to bo on the Cabinet? General Harrison started from Indianopolis for Washington on the 25th ult. It is said that he took with him 10,000 letters applying for office that ho has not seen at all. They have been opened and filed by his secretary, and will in time be inferred to the departments. This will of itself show tho need of an improved Civil Service. If the President should dispose of fifty of these applications in a day it would require 200 days to get through with this batch of office-seeking correspondence alone, and no time would be left for other and weightier matters. About fifty years ago Mr Harrison's grandfather left Cincinnati on the same errand, but the environments of the two journeys are widely different. The grandfather made a part of the journey around the rivers on a steamer, and thenin agrcat lumberingstagc coach with fourteen days of rough riding. The telegraph and telephone were unknown. Not a bingle mile of railway track had been laid at that time. Ilio news of the President's illness did not reach his wife, who was left behind to arrange matters in tho old homestead, until after he had been dead some days. The President of ISSB makes the trip in a few hours, ridiDg in a palace car sumptuously adorned, and provided with all the appliances and comforts of bed and board to be found in the most luxurious home. At every stage of tho journey the people gathered to see, cheer, and congratulate him. He went to his duties with the universal respect of the nation. Since his nomination he has shown himself a prudent, conservative, well-poised man, lofty and severe in his moral tone, and possessing all the attributes of a Christian gentlemen; and I have no doubt that ho has a patriotic purpose to serve, that his administration will be characterised by all the elements that constitute national honor, prosperity, and that his aim will bo to achieve tlie highest good of the people. From every part of the country people are flocking to Washington, ostensibly to witness the inauguration. They arc going with brass bands, flambeaux, military companies, banners, flags, sky rockets, and cannon. General Harrison's friends are calling on him in battalions from daybreak until midnight. Every hour of the day, and nearly all night, the doorbell is ringing and cards arc going up to his rooms from individuals, contingents of twos and threes, and phalanxes of citizens who want to see him. Buxom damc3 wish to kiss him, and girls to be potted by him. The 4th of March will bo a gala day in Washington. The avenues will display more glory than has been seen sinco the grand armies of Grant and Sherman made their triumphant review in 1865. The Cabinet, as near as can bo guessed, will be composed of : Jamca CI. I'.laino, of Maine, Secretary of State. Wiliiam Windom, »f Minnesota, Secretary of the Trcisury. KcdlieM Proctor, of Vomon, Secretary of War. TV F. Tracy, of Now York, Secretary cf tho Navy. John W. Noble, of Midsouri, Secretary of tho Interior. . John W-wiamalccr, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of tho Post Otlice. W. 11. Miller, of Indiana, Attorney-Goncial. Palmer, of Michigan, Secretary of Agriculture. THE SAMOAN AFI'AJK. The disavowal by Prince Bismarck of the arbitrary acts of German officials in Samoa does littlo to lessen the gravity of the situation on the islands. It would appear that, following the defeat of tho German marines in December, tho German officials proclaimed martial law in Apia, and announced their purpose to search incoming vessels, and to confiscate property adjudged contraband of war. In exempting foreigners from tho operation of martial law, and foreign ships from tho right of search, Prince Bismarck has simply receded from an untenable position under cover of granting apparent concessions. Under existing treaties tho town of Apia is neutral territory, in which tho United States and Great Britain have equal rights with Germany ; and tho harbor i 3 neutral water, in which American and British ships are exempt from search. Moreover, it is an old trick of Prince Bi.iinarck's to disavow tho excesses of hia agents, and at tho same time appropriate the benefits which accrue from them. As a considerable interval must elapse bebetween the disavowal and its receipt at Apia, it will be interesting to know how much tho German position \vm been strengthened meantime. The German marines have been attacked and defiled. 'Mid the Chancellor b'.ui explicitly

notified the Germau Minister at Washington that reprisals will be exacted as soon as the fleet at Samoa can be reinforced. That ia to say, Mataafa and his forces are to be defeated ; a proceeding which, as the majority of tho islanders are said to now side with them, will involve the subjugation of the entire group by Germany. That this is the policy of Germany there is little doubt. A proposition has been cent to Washington for another conference over Samoan affairs a Berlin, the invitation being sent by ordinary mail, in order that the German officials on the islands may profit by the interval. While the German fleet is reducing the group to dependence, the German Chancellor proposes a conference on the basis of a situation long sinco passed away, meantime assuring Great Britain and America that their treaty rights will bo respected. It is an old device, but has worked successfully. The American Government have assented, though tho only basis for a conference compatible with national honor and dignity is tho neutrality and autonomy of Samoa. It was upon this basis that Germany and Great Britain accepted invitations to tho Conference of ISS7, though, immediately following its adjournment, the German fleet appeared at Samoa, and installed Tamaseso as king. Everything indicates that tho purpose of Germany is to acquire practical sovereignty over the group as a centro for German colonial enterprise in that ((uartcr of tho globo. Against this purpose conferences will be useless, unless on a basis precluding German control of the group, and backed by a determination to maintain treaty obligations at all hazards. The self-restraint of the American peoplo is taxed heavily just now. The prompt action of the Naval Department in sending reinforcements to Samoan waters, tho eontract made to supply tho coaling station at Apia, and the approaching inauguration of General Harrison as Pcsident, prevent a clamor for demanding a definite policy in regard to Samoa and its maintenance at all hazards. The fact that Mr Blaine is tho head of the new Cabinet gives assurance that in this as in other matters thero will be an American policy. Tho ultra-Democratic and nmgwomp Press have begun already to shriek in concert. THE TAKIKI? DILLS IN CONGRESS. The Lower House Committee on Ways and Means, in reporting the Senate Tariff Bill to the House, submitted a resolution setting forth that the entire schedule is unconstitutional. Its contention is based upon the clauso which reads as follows : "All Bills for raising revenue shall oriyinale in the Houso of but the Senate may nroposo or coneur with amendments, an on other Bills." This simply reserves the initiative for the Lower House. It is for that body to say whether there, shall be legislation for raising revenue. When it unlocks the gate the field is open to the Senate to propose amendments or offer substitutes as freely as in respect to any other legislation. It is simply a dog-in-the-manger "position to throw tho entire responsibility upon the next Congress, which will be Republican in both branches, and verifies what I have asserted before—that the tariff would not be changed this session, oun NKW NAVY. The House Committeo on naval affairs havo recommended an annual appropriation of L 1,200,000, an amount sufficient to build a navy as fast as prudence dictates. This opinion will be shared by thoso who havo watched tho progress of naval construction. The nation is practically a unit in demanding the creation of a navy which shall be worthy of the country and equal any other afloat. Recent evonts have intensified this demand, and both parties give active assistance to this policy. The present Administration have succeeded in domesticating the armor and gun making industries, and by awarding large contracts to them tho country is now released from dependence on foreign manufactures. At present all the great shipyards of the country are busily engaged upon Government work. The rapid progress made in naval architecture, and the successful experiments with dynamite ordnance, are making it unnecessary to borrow many foreign ideas. The now vessel* are models of beauty, speed, and efliciency.