American Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 12, 8 January 1892, Page 2

Americ an Notes.

The misunderstanding with Chili has for some time continued to furnish a prominent topic. That the matter arose from any mismanagement or misconduct of Minister Egan, as some people are anxious to prove, iB believed by no one who understands the situation. A feeling against the United States has prevailed in Chili ever since the war with Peru, when the American Government was supposed to interfere with Chilian interests. An outcome of this was tbe attack on American sailors in the streets of Valparaiso, and by Which two of them were killed and several others wounded. This forms at present the particular point on which the dispute turns. The feeling alludes! to, however, is said to have been fomented by British intrigues, arising from commercial jealousy and fear of the United States. British interests, nevertheless, would suffer were a war to take place, more especially as the export of nitrate of which a British syndicate, under a certain Colonel North, holds the monopoly, would be hindered. War between Chili and the United Btates might alßo lead to a more serious state of things, since any attempt of the British Government to interfere would mo9t probably be followed by an alliance of the States with Russia and France, and how far the results might extend it would be difficult to predict. All that England ia thought to desire, therefore, is such a misunderstanding as may form an impediment to the carrying out of Mr Blame's plan for reciprocity between the Northern Republic and those of the South, so far as Chili is concerned, The accusations brought against Mr Egan arise chiefly from enmity provoked against him by his Irish national antecedents and proclivities.

The victory of Major McKinle}- f^r Ohio is looked upon as confirming the policy of protection. A year's experience of the MoKinley tariff is claimed as proving its complete success, and figures apparently undeniable are qujted onfutiog every evil prediction made in connection with it. Insiead of raisin? prices hs it whs said it must, it is shown, in almost every case, tv have had a directly contrary effect. A clause for reciprocity introduced principally through the influence of Mr Blame is quoted especially as largely promotive of American trade. Thus the vexed question of the prohibition of American pork has been settled with Germany, whose beetroot sugar, in return, is admitted free of duty. AH this has made the Protectionists particularly happy.

The centenary of the opening, at Baltimore, by the Sulpician Fathers of St. Mary's Seminary has just been celebrated with great solemnity. The Bostoa Pilot refers to the celebration as follows :— " Among the eminent ecclesiastics whom the Baltimore Suipicians have given to the American Church from their own ranks, or from the ranks of their students, we may name Ambrose Marechal and Samuel Eccleston, third and fiftb Archbishops of Baltimore ; Bishops Flaget, David, Dubourg, Dubois, alai of our early Cnurcn history ," Cardinal Gibbons ; Bishop r"hel<tn, of Pittsburg, Pa. ; Bishop McMabou, of Hartford, Conn. ; the late Bishop Foley, of Chicago, and his brother, the present Bishop of Detroit ; Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield, Mass. ; Bishop Curtis, of Wilmington, DJ. ; Bishop Kain, of Wheeling, W. Va. ; Bishop O'Sullivan, of Mobile, Ala ; Bishop Chapelle, Coadjutor of Santa Fe. ; and Bishop Keane, Rector of the American Catholic University. The first ordination to the priesthood in the United States was that of Father Stephen Badin, the famous Kentucky missionary, at St, Mary's, in 1793 ; and Prince

Galitzin, after bis conversion, prepared bim3elf at St. Mary's for hit fruitful apoetolate in the Allegbanies . The historian Fredet was among the early professors at St. Mary's. The historian Vaibert is of the faculty of St. Charles', Ellicott City. Bt. Mary's Seminary hashad six presidents as follows : The founder, the Very Rev. Francis C. Nagot, 1791-1810 \ the Very Rev. M. J. Tessier, 1810-1829 ; the Very Rev. Louis B. Deluol, 1829-1849 ; the Very Rev. Francis L'Homme, 1850-1860 ; the Very Key. Joseph P. Dubreul, 1860-1878 ; the Very Rev. Alpnonee Magnien, 1878. Every one of these presidents has been a man of mark, and has rendered distinct and signal services to the Church. The magnificent celebration of their centenary was a befitting acknowledgement of the Church's debt to the Suipicians, whose seminary has stood for a hundred years in the American portion of Christ's vineyard as a veritable fountain of living water springing up into everlasting life.

Detective O'Mally, the officer who was accused of bribing the jury that acquitted the Italian prisoners, subsequently lynched, at New Orleans, has been discharged from custody, no case being found against him. This throws a more sinister li^ht on the manner in which tbe unfortunate prisoners were dealt with, as it proves the falsehood of the plea urged to excuse themselvet by the murderers. The justice of lynch law, however, hardly requires another illustration.

The Protectionist party is looking forward with hope to the spontaneous and unanimous nomination by the Republicans of Mr Blame for the Presidency. There is no expectation that Mr Blame will of his own accord seek election, but it is taken for granted that, if nominated in the manner alluded to, be will not refuse.

In consequence of a display made the other day at Atlanta, Georgia, during a public ceremony, of a Confederate flag, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army has issued an order forbidding the attendance of soldiers at any place where such a display is made. The order it regarded with favour, and even in quarters where the flag in question was formerly hoisted, it can hardly be looked upon as inappropriate.

The New York Tribune tells a pathetic tale relating to an old woman who, every day and in all weathers, visits, and forjmaoy years pist has visited, a certain pier on the East River :— " Her story is an interesting one, showing, as it does, the wonderful strength of a mother's love. She is known by everyone in the neighbourhood of Pier 28 as ' Mrs O'Brien.' It is said that she lives with h°r daughter in Madison street. Years ago Mrs O'Brien's only son, Jimmie fell in'o the East River from a Williamsburgh ferryboat and was drowned. From that dry to this Mrs O'Brien has visited the pier every day. She reaches the pier early in the morning, goes home to her meals, and returns to the pier, making three visits to the piei each day regardless of the weather. Mrs O'Brien never speaks to any of the people at the pier under any circumstances. She simply sits with her hands clasped, totally oblivious of everything around her. The watchman, who has known her for a long time, allows no one to disturb ber, and she goes and comes without the slightest molestation. On Sundays she brings her prayer-book with her and spends most of the day reading. Mrs O'Brien is undoubtedly demented. Occasionally her daughter, who is well-to-do and humours her in all her actions, accompanies ber to the pier. Sometimes she says : — ' Well, mother, did you see Jimmie to-day ?' The heart-broken mother almost invariably declares that she has seen her son and that be will eocn return to bis home. Recently when a reporter visited the rier and approached Mrs O Brien he was warned by the watchman not to speuk to her. Tbe respectful manner in which this poor, demented woman is treated by the long-shoremen and others about the pier is striking. These men, naturally rough in their ways, respect this old woman and her belief that ber son will come borne some day, and they will allow no tnflers to interfere with her."