THE HORNING" QRBGONMfNnMONDApT, -SEPTEMBER 17, -1900,
t
ifte rggomon
Sntered .t the Postolnce at Portland, Oregon,
as fiocond-closs matter.
TELEPHONES.
feflttorlciItooins....lOO J Business Oface....CGT
REVISED SUBSCRIPTION BATES.
Br Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance
pally, with Sunday, per month... ?0 S3
a3aUy. Sunday excepted, per year,.,....... o
Sally, with Sunday, per year..... - 1 oo
Bunday. per year .................... 2 OO
The "VVeokly, per year ............. 1 CO
Stio "Weekly, 3 months -.. -.
To City Subscribers
pally, per week, delivered, Sundays excepted.lSe
Oally, per weak, delivered, Sundays lncludcd-20c
POSTAGE RATES.
United States, Canada and Mexico:
10 to 10-page paper ............. ...-......-..-Ic
1C to 32-page paper ................-....2c
Foreign rates double.
News or dlncusslon Intended for publication In
The Oregonl&n should be addressed Invariably
"Editor The Oretronlan," not to the name ot
buy Individual. Letters relating to advertising,
(subscriptions or to any business matter should
be addressed .simply "The Oregonlan."
The Oregonlan does not buy poema oratorio
jCrom individuals, and cannot undertake to re
turn cny manuscripts sent to It without eoltalia
Xloa. No stamps should "be Inclosed for thb
Ipurposo.
Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson,
pfflce at 1111 Pacific avenue, Tacoma. Box 035,
Cacoma Postolllce
Eastern Business Office The Tribune build
ing, Ifew Tork City; "The Bookcry," Chicago;
fche S. C Beckwlth special agency, Kew Tork.
For sale In San Francisco by J. X- Cooper.
JMS Market street, near the Palace Hotel, and
lit Goldsmith Bros., 230 Sutter street
For sale In Chicago by the P. O. News Co.,
fel7Tearborn street.
TODAY'S "WEATHER Partly cloudy, with
Jprobably occasional showers; wanner; south-
Nvest to northwest winds.
-i
aPORTLAXD, MONDAY, SEPT. IT, 1900
THE CASE OP ABSALOM.
Between Mr. Bryan's alarm at the
lawful havoc wrought by the trusts
and his conclusion that he should be
elected President there Is somewhat of
ia logical hiatus. At St. Xouls he am
plifies a. premise with considerable skill,
'but he fails to point the exact connec
tion. Concerning the young man Absalom
(H Samuel, j:vM:29), Mr. Bryan in
quires: "Is he safe when foreign or domestic
financiers are allowed to determine the
Snonetary system under which he lives?"
"Well, now, that depends. Unfortu
nately, it is the universal practice of
"Civilization to put financial affairs in
'the hands of financiers. Perhaps the
thing should be left to blacksmiths and
dairymen and scavengers, but It Isn't.
5dr. Bryan's idea Is to suggest to the
toiling masses that the young man Ab
salom should be permitted in his igno
rance to select a financial system for
himself, and to alarm the unthinking
with the cry that financiers determine
our financial system. The fact is that
we are reasonably certain in our finan
cial affairs to consult persons who
know something about them. That is
why Mr. Bryan was overlooked in 1896.
Is the young man Absalom safe when
National banks control the volume of
money with which he does business?
In the first place, the National banks
don't control the volume of money, and
In the next place Absalom "would be
far better off if the credit currency
"were In charge of the banks than of
the Treasury or the Absaloms. In four
years our money has been increased
some $400,000,000 to $500,000,000 through
additions of gold, which the National
banks neither kept out nor brought in.
Despite all the abuse Bryan and his
colaborers in discontent and calamity
heap upon the bankers of the coun
try, they are the fittest and the proper
persons to gauge the currency require
ments of business, supply notes in time
of activity and retire them in time of
currency redundancy. This is a rec
ognized function of banking, and is ex
ercised by banks in other countries. It
is dangerous for government to experi
ment -and "monkey" with credit cur
rency. Every natiqn has had Its ex
perience with great financiers like Law
jand Peffer. who knew nothing about
finance. Civilization has learned the
wisdom to beware of them, but In this
country "We nominate them for Presi
dent, give them spectacular receptions
wherever they go, and then elect the
least objectionable.
Is the young man Absalom safe when
tthe bondholdlng class determines the
size of the National debt upon which
lie must help to pay interest? Here is
a. piece of artful and unscrupulous dem
agogy, startling enough to disgust
every men who pretends to honesty and
Intelligence. Bryan must know that
the bonds of the "United States Gov
ernment have been Issued In the Treas
ury's dire extremity. His charge is that
Edwin M. Stanton, John G. Carlisle and
Lyman J. Gage did not determine the
amount of their bond issues by the
aieeds of the Treasury, but by the de
eire of the bondholdlng class. It is
false. The war for the Union, the sal
vation of the Treasury and of the cur
rency, and the war with Spain neces
sitated these bonds and determined
their amounts.
Who constitute the bondholdlng
classes? Mr. Bryan is one of them.
tECe knows that he had no part in de
termining the amount of the National
-debt. The Insurance companies and
the savings banks and other banks
holding deposits of the people belong
to the bondholding class. The money
belongs to the masses. The masses
.own the deposits that are Invested in
toonds. The masses are the bondhold
lng class. They pay interest with one
hand (the Government is now refund
ing its debt at 2 per cent), but Into the
other hand thev receive interest from
bonds and insurance companies in
Twhich their savings are deposited.
Are the American people to be gulled
hy such transparent sophistry as this?
Does Mr. Bryan imagine that the sim
plest facts of monetary science are
.bove the reach of average American
Intelligence?
Reading the manifesto of President
Mitchell, of the United Mineworkers of
America, in which the grievances of the
-anthracite coal miners are set out in
detail, we can well conceive that the
cool workers have many and grievous
fwroags that In the light of justice and
humanity demand redress. The history
of strikes of the nature and magnitude
of the one threatened, however, forbids
Indulgence in the hope that a strike
will relieve these conditions. The rec
jord of such contention is one of suffer
ing, loss and -want, bitterly intensified
to the miners and their families, while
3jsasters outside of this personal view
of the matter are certain to be far
reaching. The gains made at times by
etrikers In the matter of wages, hours
cad other points, of difference between
employer -and employe have but poorly
-requited these losses, while turbulent
spirits among them have made the
pstriktt an excuse for violence that has
Ksrnea the tldj? of public sympathy, ui-
ways with the laborer at the outset,
against him. From -whatever view
point the matter is regarded, the men
ace of a miners' strike is a disquieting
one to all but political demagogues, who
delight in the opportunity that it will
furnish for blowing a coal between
capital and labor, and to industrial
meddlers, who are under pay in the
same vocation. It may still be hoped
that all means of peaceable adjustment
of the differences between operators
and miners have not been exhausted,
and that the threatened strike will, in
the Interest of all concerned, be
averted.
SEVERAL REASOKS "WHY.
The anti-Imperialist letter that ap
peared In yesterday's issue of The Ore
gonian contained this passage:
"We will always end every discussion of tho
subject -n 1th tho question which we never have
seen answered: "Why did not America prom
ise the Filipinos what It promised tho Cu
bans?" "Why Is "the promlso still withheld?"
If the question has never been an
swered. It is not because there Is no
answer to It, for the antis themselves
can answer it promptly by saying that
as regards Cuba we were a high-minded
deliverer, and as regards the Phil
ippines we were a bloodthirsty conquer
or. In the one case we had the pres
ence of mind to disguise our real char
acter, but in the other our true na
ture, in a moment of Inadvertence, be
trayed itself. Having mislaid the Dr.
Jekyll potion. Mr. Hyde stood out in
all his naked enormity. It is fortu
nate the antis are about, otherwise the
heinous and despicable nature of the
American people might have been over
looked in the general confusion Just
what has happened to this particular
poser of the antis, and, for aught we
know, to countless others.
But why didn't America promise the
Filipinos what it promised the Cubans?
The most obvious Is that when we
went" to war over Cuba nobody had the
Philippines in mind. But that is too
simple and pertinent. Let us go on.
Another reason is that the Cubans
had long been maintaining a formidable
war for their Independence. The Fili
pinos had not "When they were not
busy selling out their cause to Spain
they were burning settlements and tor
turing friars in hope of mitigating
Spanish oppression. But they were not
fighting for Independence. It is true
that the antis deny this fact, and the
reason Is not far to seek. It interferes
with their theories.
Another reason why we haven't prom
ised the Filipinos their independence is
that both the promise itself and the
thing contemplated are of very doubt
ful propriety. The President thinks,
the Cabinet thinks and Congress has
thought that independence cannot be
safely bestowed as yet upon the Phil
ippines, that It Is a matter of grave
doubt when It can be bestowed with
safety, and that so long as that Is the
case a promise of Independence would
be not only unwise, but harmful. Many
sacraclous and well-informed persons
are of the opinion that In our promise
to Cuba we Injudiciously sacrificed
sound policy to the desire of certain
Senators to pose as disinterested philan
thropists. Mr. Olney, for one, who now
welcomes Bryanism at home as an es
cape from "imperialism" abroad, is
highly Incensed that we made the
promise to the Cubans, and that, hav
ing made It, rwe are foolish enough to
keep it
Observe that our anti-Imperialist
friends "will always end every discus
sion of the subject" with their ques
tion about the promise. Truer word
was never spoken. Their minds are
made up. Answer their argument, dis
prove their evidence no difference.
What they say once they will stand
to. It must be so. They think so
that settles it Might they be wrong,
or see a light or be Impressed with
testimony, or affected by reason?
Not they. They ask questions, but
don't Imagine It Is because the an
swer has any concern for them. All
they have to do Is to ask the same
question over again. And for this pur
pose our columns are open.
FROM THE FARMER'S STANDPOINT.
An intelligent Missouri farmer, repre
senting a large class in the Middle
West where the pinch of hard times
was felt so cruelly during the last Dem
ocratic Administration, said recently to
the Kansas City 'Journal: "I shall not
vote to destroy the prosperity of the
country. Four years ago we were get
ting 60 cents a bushel for our wheat
Men were starving to death in the
cities, and we had an abundance of
wheat for them, but they had no work,
and consequently were without means
to purchase, "what "we had to sell. The
farmer who knows anything knows he
cannot be prosperous unless labor In
the cities Is employed, making a good
market for the products of the farm."
And when he added, "Anything' that
interferes with commerce and industry
is sure to bring hard times to the farm
er, and that is why the farmer should
vote to continue in power the party
which has brought prosperity to the
country," the whole case was succinct
ly stated from the viewpoint 'of the in
telligent farmer.
To the extent that intelligence of this
type prevails in Kansas, Nebraska and
other states -where Populism literally
ran wild a few years ago, the studied
efforts of Mr. Bryan to make farmers
feel poor and downtrodden and In need
of "change," and, above all. In need of
"help," will be barren of results. Farm
ers have experienced too recently and
too sharply the pinch of hard times
not to know that they have "had the
"change" they needed. They do not
seek to disguise from themselves and
their neighbors the fact that they have
become prosperous. Canceled mort
gages furnish record evidence of this
fact; savings-bank deposits supplement
the fact in irrefutable fashion; new
barns, gorgeous with red paint, and
farmhouses made attractive 'and cheer
ful in white, add their testimony to the
same effect; newly purchased pianos
voice it and smartly dressed women
and children further attest It
If the people of these states are not
enjoying a prosperous year of a pros
perous series, they are served so well
by the semblance of prosperity that
they are content to let well enough
alone. They have passed beyond the
stage where the political agitator can
make them respond "Amen" to his ca
lamity howl. These are not times with
which they are at odds. Mr. Bryan
tells them they have to pay higher
prices for manufactured articles that
they must buy. He might have' saved
his breath; they have plenty to pay
the bills, and something over, and they
do not care. Western farmers are not
niggards. When they get good prices
they have never dbjected to paying
good prices. They are not yearning for
cheapness, well knowing 'that th"is la
an element in trade that Ib felt all
along the line, when it is felt at all.
They know, having had experience,
that if the wage-earners of the coun
try are not "well paid, the crops will
not bring satisfactory v prices to pro
ducers. This is not a theory with
them, to be exploded by the political
stump-speaker, hut a demonstrable,
demonstrated fact The lesson was but
now learned, and the tuition was paid
In experience. It is not likely to be
forgotten, at least not this year. Hence
it will avail Mr. Bryan nothing to. go
among these prosperous farmers with
the gospel of cheapness for manufac
tures upon his lips. They donot want
a cheap industrial system to reflect
back upon the agricultural, system and
make its products cheap. What' they
want they now have, and to all ap
pearances enjoy good prices for their
surplus products, and the resultant abil
ity to pay good prices for the product
of the labor of others.
GOVERNOR LEARY'S WORK.
An Interesting document recently Is
sued from the Government printing of
fice by order of the War Department is
that of General Joseph Wheeler on the
Island of Guam. This Island, the larg
est of , the Mariana Archipelago, was lit
tle known, even in name, until on her
way to Manila in the Summer of 1898
ttie United -States cruiser Charleston
entered Agana Bay; and took possession
of it, pending the cessation of hostili
ties between this country and Spain, the
possessor of this island and group by
right of discovery In 1565. The Mariana
group was discovered forty-four years
before formal possession was taken of
them in the name of the Spanish crown
by that Intrepid navigator, Ferdinand
Magellan. They were valuable to Spain
chiefly as a stopping-place where her
ships en route from Acapulco to Manila
might procure- fresh water, provisions
and a relay of fuel.
Though General Wheeler could find
no records of a survey of the Island,
he estimates the area of Guam at about
150 square miles, one-half of which he
thinks susceptible to cultivation. In
quiry developed the fact that only
about 1 per cent is now cultivated, the
remainder being in a state of nature
run wild under tropical rains and sun.
Views taken by a photographer who
accompanied General Wheeler In his
tour of inspection present scenes of sur
passing beauty as tropical jungles go,
the growth of plant life being every
where rank, and much of it impene
trable without the aid of the ax vig
orously applied. Birds in great variety
of song and plumage find homes In the
island forests; woods of various kinds
suitable for building and manufactures
abound, the natives are peaceably and
hospitably inclined, and it appears al
together that Guam is an acquisition
that will be useful as a way station for
our commerce and as a coaling station
for our Navy in a vast waste of waters,
without giving us any trouble In the
way of holding or governing it.
There was, it is true, some discontent
engendered by what appears to have
been the needlessly aggressive orders
issued for the'government of the people
of the island by Governor Leary, the
first. Military Governor commissioned
to this post by the United States. Gen
eral Wheeler, with the discreetness
that is characteristic of the military
officer who understands the honors, the
dignity and the ethics of his profession,
does not criticise Governor Deary's ad
ministration in this official report He
merely submits a copy of the' Governor-General's
orders, leaving the pub
lic to draw its own inferences from
them. This, as Is well known, the pub
lic has done, In a manner not altogether
complimentary to Governor Leary's
judgment in various matters. His or
ders, for example, interfering with the
simple religious customs of the people,
to which they were strongly attached,
are held to savor of the meddlesome
upstart, desirous "Of making the most
of his brief authority. One of these
was a prohibition against ringing bells
for early mass, 8 o'clock being the ear
liest hour allowed for bell-ringing. An
other order limited the celebration of
religious feast days to the walls of the
church, chapel or private residence.
Another made public holidays corre
spond with those of the United States,
etc., the whole being both officious and
unnecessary, and more or less disquiet
ing to a people. who had accepted the
change of ownership and of govern
ment with evident good will and sat
isfaction. All of this, however, belongs to the
experimental stage of American colo
nial enterprise,, and If these measures
to bring the Inhabitants of Guam over
to the way of the thinking Indulged by
the first Military Governor of the island
under the new regime have not been
canceled by common sense, they 'no
doubt soon will be.
In the meantime the people of the
United States, or such of them as are
of inquiring mind, will read with in
terest the description, given with much
fidelity to detail, of this island in the far
Pacfic which so lately was practically
without a name among -us, and came
so unpremedltatedly into our possession
a lovely bit of verdure In, a lonely
sea, rioting in the humid air and in the
fervid sun of the tropics.
A CHINESE TALLEYRAND.
LI Hung Chang, who has started from
Shanghai for Pekin, in the interest of
negotiations for peace with the allies,
is the ablest and best-equipped man.
the most astute diplomat, in China.
The best compliment to the ability of
LI Hung Chang was that extorted from
Japan when in the Chino-Japanese War
Count Ito, the Minister of the Mikado,
replied to China's overtures for a set
tlement: "We will not negotiate with
your government except through Li
Hung Chang, and" his authority to act
must be complete."
Li Hung Chang is one of the most
remarkable men of modern times. He
does not know a European language.
He is a pure Chinese,' who neither loves
nor hates foreigners any. mofe than he
loves or hates his Manchu Empress
Dowager. He is 78 years of age, having
been born not far from Nankin. When
the Tai Ping -Rebellion broke out,. he
rose to command of a division of the
imperial army. His victories made him
commander of the Province of Kiang
Su in 1861. In that capacity he met
Gordon at Shanghai, and under Gordon
the Chinese troops soon crushed the Tai
Ping Rebellion.
LI is not a Manchu, and therefore
has been balked and. thwarted in all
his plans for the advancement of China.
The Tien Tsln massacre of 1870-71 made
him "Viceroy of the Pekin Province, and
it is now, the Pekin. crisis which brings
him back again from Canton to Pekin.
His strong -hand saved the Ching, dy
nasty in 1861-71, and it probably will
save-It again in conjunction with PrinCe
Ching. LHung Chang is 'beloved by
the people of" Canton, by the common
people, the middle classes and the no
bility. . He has done much for the prog
ress of China He has established millr
tary, naval, torpedo, telegraph, railway
and medical schoojs within the empire.
A hospital and dispensary on American
lines exist in Canton, made possible by
the generosity of Li Hung Chang and
his wife a woman of noble rank and
high culture, who died about five years
ago. When she was sick. Dr. Fergu
son, an American missionary attached
to a mission hospital, succeeded ih get
ting Li's TVife out of danger, but refused
a .fee of' $6000 offered by the grateful
husband. Thereupon the Viceroy and
his wife gave1 large sums, fitted up the
dispensary and provided for the train
ing of native youths under English in
structors to take" hold of the work and
carry it on.
Li Hung Chang is a kind Of Chinese
Talleyrand. Talleyrand boasted that
while he may have betrayed Napoleon,
he never betrayed France, and that he
betrayed Napoleon only when he be
lieved that it was the salvation of
France to be false to him. LI Hung
Chang has- always been true to China.
A painful discrepancy is apparent be
tween Republican and Democratic
views of the recent Maine election.
The re turns are now given as:
Hill, Republican 73,150
Lord, Democrat 30,011
Rogers, Prohibitionist 8,102
Loemond, Socialist .. 43
Republican plurality, 33,243.
We are able, therefore, to institute a
comparison for a term of years, thus:
Bop. vote. Dem. vole. Rep. plu.
18S4 78,012 59.031 10,831
1S86 70,398 01,350 18,048
1892 07.000 35,078 12,322
1896 82,704 34.337 -48,377
1000 73,130 30,011 83,245
While we are unable to Interpret
these figures t as proving either Mc
Kinley's or Bryan's election in No
vember, as some ardent partisans are,
we are convinced, after careful study
of them, that whoever gets the more
votes in November will be elected.
When charges for furnishing seamen
become so high that owners are "willing
to hold their loaded ships in the har
bor rather than accede to the demands,
it is time for the maritime community
to bestir itself. The matter is one
whose importance demands speedy at
tention and settlement. Doubtless this
will soon be done, inasmuch as it has
been done before. It is probable, also,
that it will, after the usual passionate
appeals for law and justice, be settled
by a compromise, and a working agree
ment drawn up by attorneys will leave
disinterested and sincere reformers -in
the air looking like 30 cents. There are
laws, state and Federal, by which this
trouble can be averted. The Oregonian
prihted the statute of 1889 yesterday.
It can be enforced if anybody is J,n
earnest about U.
Apparently the only new thought In
Governor Roosevelt's letter of accept
ance is his notice of the alleged alli
ance between the American forces and
the Tagals. He points out that the as
sistance .rendered us by them is anal
ogous to that rendered us at different
times hy various" Indian tribes, whom
we were not, .for. that reaBon, obliged
to give self-government in any larger
measure than was dictated by prudence.
Food for reflection is thus furnished
the antl-lmprlallsts that dwell with
such stress on the evidences of Agui
naldo's co-operation with our forces in
Luzon. The 'more we are Indebted to
the Filipinos, the "worse would be our
perfidy in leaving them to destruction.
The sensible end of settlement in
China would Include the elimination of
the guilty, ferocious Empress Dowager
from the Pekin Government for the fu
ture, but this is more easily talked
about than u executed. The Empress
cannot be left at Pekin, for she is cer
tain to become the substance of author
ity, and it is not'probable that the Chi
nese peace commissioners would con
sent to her exile from Pekin.
Our local anti-imperialists , seem to
have overlooked the letter of Judge
Pipes on "consent of the governed," in
their unremitting contemplation of
Senator Hoar's speech of last April. Wo
shall try to make (room for their an
swer to that interesting document.
The anthracite mlneowners do not
strengthen their case before the public
by quibbling over the hours of time per
mitted them to accept arbitration. They
can arbitrate now, if they want to. If
they don't wont to arbitrate, they
might- as well say so.
The fact that Li Hung Chang has
submitted to an interview with Joaquin
Miller shows that the China crisis Is
no longer .serious.
In view of the Bryan demonstration
In St. Louis, it must be admitted there
is grave clanger that the Democrats will
carry Missouri.
EMERSON AN EVOLUTIONIST.
Mr. Payn?H View ana a Critic's Diri-
aent Prom It,
Chicago Chronicle.
William Morton Payne, of Chicago, has
an excellent .article in the International
Monthly on "American Literary Criti
cism." Its 'Object Is to determine what
Influence the doctrino of evolution has
had ort American literary critics during
tho last half-century. For writing an es
say of this kind Mr. Payno is well fitted.
His scholarship' Is beyond question, and
the English language lends itself to his
thought' as a willing instrument to a
master hand. .
The time 'is short since the theory of
evolution.1 passed from a stage of conten
tion to that of acceptance. Consequently,
it has as yet modified the character of
American criticism but little. Accord
ing to Mr. Payne, it had no effect upon
tho thought of Lowell, our foremost
-American critic. It had a decided -ihflu-enco
upon Whitman, whose "attitude
toward the evolutionary philosophy was
frankly sympathetic and generous."
Stedman, born 14 years later than Low
ell and Whitman, has written from the
point of 'view of the evolutionist, and
his criticism bears the marks of the sci
entific method.
Mr. Payno touches "but lightly on Em
Orson In this connection, and, holding
rigidly to, his subject, Mr. Payno is right
in excluding from a list of "evolutionary
critics". tho name of Emerson, for Mr.
Emerson wrote comparatively little' lit
erary criticism, and the greater part of
this was written before tho theory of evo-'
lutlon had obtained a firm hold.
All tho same, Mr. Emerson deserves
more than the passing reference made to
him in tho essay. Tho nature of his
vision was to see things as a unit the
relation of the whole to the parts and
tho parts to tho whole.. He refused" to
accept any statement. al Jhs nnly.eiss.aB
sound "which does "not admit Its ascend
ing effort!' He delights totrace Iho pro
cess 'of Nature from the time when
Over the lifeless , ball
Huns Idle stars and suns,
until it continues its task
Tatlent through heaven'a enormous year.
To build In matter home for mind.
Ho speaks of "tho continuation of the
inflexible law of matter into tho subtle
kingdom of will ind of thought; that if
In sidereal ages gravity and projection
keep their craft, a secreter gravitation
rules not less tyranlcally in human his
tory." And again: " Tls a short sight
to limit our faith in laws to those of
gravity, of chemistry, of botany, and so
forth. Those laws do not stop when our
eyes lose them, but push the same geom
etry and chemistry up into tho invisible
plane of social and rational life."
This acceptanco of the doctrine of evo
lution by Emerson is so cordial, so thor
oughly consistent with his native bent of
mind, that his later writings are charged
with symbols taken from the vocabulary
of the evolutionist .And ho does this not
as if referring to a" myth or story for
some slmllo or metaphor; he uses the
points brought out by evolution as un
questionable truths, suro as the law of
gravitation.
Emerson writes as a poet and not as
a doctrinaire. Doubtless for this very
reason his evolutionary Ideas have made
their way and found acceptance where
those of a Darwin or a Spencer would
havo failed. It is a matter of fact that"
readers of Emerson easily become ad
herents of the pholosophy of evolution.
If Emerson 'does not belong in the cat
egory of "evolutionary literary critics"
ho certainly prepared the way for them.
As a John the Baptist of evolutionary
critics he deserves more thah passing
notice.
HEROISM IN POLITICS.
I U O. Lamar and. His Refusal -to
Vote for Silver.
Chicago Times-Herald.
Since the currency auestlon is still one
of the dominant Issues of American poli
tics, it will bo of interest to many of the
readers of the Times-Herald at the be
ginning of the Presidential campaign this
year to revert to one of the most 'im
pressive scenes ever enacted In the
United States Senate, when L. Q. C. La
mar, of Mississippi, in violation of the
instructions of his constituents, refused
to support the silver bill which was then
pending.
On November 5, 1877, "the House passed
by an overwhelming majority what was
known as the "Bland bill." This measure
contemplated the resumption of the coin
age of silver dollars of 412& grains, not
withstanding the fact that 412 grains
of silver were then valued In the world's
market at only 92 cents. On passing the
Honse the bill was Immediately trans
mitted to the Senate, where it provoked
an unusually bitter discussion, extending
through several weeks.
Senator Lamar was one of the number
who participated in the debate. He made
an argument against the measure which
attracted the attention of the country
from the Lakes to the Gulf, and he de
clared -with great earnestness that he
could not give his support to any meas
ure which was calculated to cheapen the
Nation's money and to sully tho Na
tion's sacred honor.
In making this speech against the
Bland bill Senator Lamar placed himself
in opposition to the wishes of many of
his constituents in Mississippi, and des
pite the fact that he-was recognized as
Mississippi's Idol ho was made the target
of many bitter shafts of criticism. Final
ly the Legislature of Mississippi, which
was then in session, took up the- matter
and passed resolutions instructing Sena
tor Lamar to support the Bland bill
when It was put upon its passage in the
Senate. Though he keenly felt the sting
of the Legislature's action, Senator La
mar was not the man to surrender his
convictions, even at the commarid of the
lawmakers of his state; and so he made
up his mind to stand his ground regard
less of consequences.
On receiving formal notice of the ac
tion of the Legislature of Mississippi,
Mr. Lamar wrote to his wife:
"The Legislature has instructed me to
vota for the Bland bill. I cannot do it
Rather than yield my convictions I would
prefer to quit politics forever. I am fully
resolved as to how I shall act."
Two days after receiving his instruc
tions from the Legislature of Mississippi
Senator Lamar was called upon to vote
on tho passage of the measure In re
sponse to the call of his name by the
clerk he arose from his seat, calmly and
deliberately, and, addressing the chair,
asked that the Instructions which he had
just received from the Legislature of
Mississippi be read from the clerk's desk.
This request was granted. When tho
clerk finished reading the Instructions
every eye was riveted upon Senator-Lamar,
ahd every ear was bent in his di
rection, eager to1 hear what explanation
ho would make of his vote. Wholly un
conscious of the interest which centered
about him at' this dramatic moment, Mr,.
Lamar proceeded with tremulous but
deeply eloquent and impressive accents
to state his position. Though he occu
pied barely more than two minutes of
tho time of tho Senate, his speech was
one -which elicited the admiration of his
colleagues, without regard to party lines,
and when he Bat down after thus briefly
setting forth his reasons for opposing
the Bland bill, friends and adversaries
both came over toi hlB side and -warmly
congratulated him upon the Spartan
courage which he had displayed In dar
ing to vote according to his - convictions
regardless of what the consequences
might be. In making his explanation
to his colleagues, Senator Lamar said:
Mr. President: Between tho resolutions Just
read and my convictions there Is a. great gulf.
I cannot pass It. Of my love for the State of
Mississippi I will not speak my life alone
can tell it. My rratltude for the honor her
people havo done mo no words can express. I
am provlnsr It today by doing what I think
their best Interests and their character re
quire me to do. Durlns my life In that state
It has been my privilege to assist In the ed
ucation of more than one generation of her
youth and to give Impulse to wave after wave
of tho young manhood that has passed out Into
tho troubled sea of her vocUl and political
life. Upon them I have always endeavored to
Impress the belief that truth was better than
falsehood, honesty better than policy, courage
better than cowardice. Today my lessons
confront me. 'Today I must be true or false,
honest or cunnlnc, faithful or unfaithful to
my people. Even In this hour of their legis
lative displeasure and disapprobation X cannot
rote as tho resolutions direct. I cannot and
will not shirk the responsibility which my
position imposes. My duty, as I see It, I will
do; and I will vote against this bill.
My reasons for my VQto shall be given to my
people. Then It will be for-them to determine
if adherence to my honest convictions has dis
qualified me from representing them; whother
a difference of opinion upon a difficult and
complicated subject to which I have given pa
tient and conscientious study, to which I have
brought entire honesty and Blngleness of pur
pose and upon -which I have spont whatever
ability God has given mo, Is now to separato
us. fiefore them I must stand or fall; but
bo their present decision what It .may. I know
that the time is not far distant -When they
will recosnlze hiy action today as wise- and
Just, and. armed with honest convictions of
my duty, I shall calmly await results, believ
ing In the utterance ot an American who
never trusted his country In vain, that truth
Is omnipotent and public Justice certain.
Such noble and courageous sentiments
could have come only from one who
was himself truly noble and courageous.
Senator Lamar's whole life, both in pub
lic and in private, was an exemplifica
tion of lofty ideals and an object-lesson
in true manliness of character. Un
failingly polite and decorous in his In
tercourse with men, whether friends or
foes; keenly sensitive to considerations
affecting his personal honor; generous,
warm-hearted. Impulsive and brave. Sen
ator Lamar embodied much of tho spirit
which characterized the nights of the
Golden Spur. Under like circumstances
most men would havo yielded to the
pressure brought to bear upon them, but
Benator Lamar was made of sterner
jnaieriakja&d xfltnar i&a cmrauiqjt. cfter;
rished. convictions ho preferred to en
counter the censure of his constituents,
knowing that truth and. Justice would
triumph at last What finer example
could be held up to the contemplation of
American youth today?
But Senator Lamar's unpopularity was
destined to bo of short duration. In fact
tho applause with which tho Senate
chamber rang in response to his brave
sentiments was only the forecast of the
enthusiasm which his speech awoke
throughout the country when it appeared
in the newspapers on the day following.
Telegrams and letters of approval were
received from men high In official posi
tion in every state in the Union, from
college professors, ministers of the gos
pel and private citizens of every calling
and pursuit, each commending him for
tho stand which he had taken and as
suring him that his manly example could
not be without Its wholesome Influence
upon American public life.
When Senator Lamar reached Missis
sippi he found his critics completely sub
dued by the wave of enthusiasm which
his speech in the Senate had called
forth, and instead of meeting with dis
plays of hostility and ill-will on tho
part of his constituents he was every
where received with demonstrations of
approval. Again ho was Mississippi's
idol, and on the expiration of his term
of service in the Senate of the Nation
ho was re-elected by an unprecedented
majority to the seat which his fame had
made illustrious.
Rational View of "Consent."
Rev. Lyman Abbott In the Outlook.
In .striking contrast to this is the
philosophy implied in (the parenthetic
statement In the Declaration of Inde
pendence that "government rests upon
tho consent of tho governed." Of the
philosophy embodied in this maxim Rous
seau is the ablest modern exponent. He
taught that man was originally In a state
of nature, which was a stale of absolute
freedom: that, in this freedom, men
were broupht Into continual conflict of
interests and consequent disadvantages;
that they therefore consented to sur
render some of this freedom for th'e ad
vantages which an orderly government
would bring with It; and that this Im
aginary agreement or "social contract,"
is the basis of all just government. If
the first theory is that which underlies
despotism, the second is that which un
derlies anarchy. Upon tho theory of the
"social contract" there is really no such
thing as authority. Law is simply a form
of consent, or, at least, derives all its
authority from a consent real or Im
plied. The maxim that "government
rests on tht consent of the governed
still continues popular; but tho philoso
phy of which It Is an expression has
long since been abandoned by all his
torical and philosophical students. There
never was such a state of nature as
Rousseau Imagines; there never was such
a social contract as he has conceived.
The earlier stages of life are not those
of liberty, but those of absolutism. As
Rousseau's theory has no basis in his
tory, so it has none In analogy. The
government of the father does not de
pend on the consent of tho children, nor
that of the teacher on the consent of the
pupil, nor that of God on the consent of
men. No more does tho government of
the state depend on tho consent of the
citizens. For America the notion that
government rests on the consent of tho
governed was forever demolished by tho
Civil War.
Onr Star in China.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
It Is doubtful If a nation's purpose on
tho eve of a momentous enterprise was
ever so clearly, so honestly, laid down
as were the intentions of this country
when our Interference with China be
camo an absolute necessity.
The powers were duly and unmistakably
notified that we proposed to act concur
rently with them:
First In opening up communication with
Pekin and rescuing the American officials, mis
sionaries and other Americans who are in dan
ger. Koponil In affordln all nosslble protection
everywhere lit China to American life and prop
erty.
Third In guarding and protecting all legiti
mate American Interests.
Poiirth In aldinsr to nrevent a spread of the
disorders to the other provinces ot tho empire
and a recurrence of Such disasters.
In view of so straightforward a decla
ration, it seems a simple matter to an
swer a question which is now being
asked, not wisely, perhaps, yet not un
naturally. How long should we stay in
China? Why, just as long as will be
necessary for the fulfilling of the pur
poses for which we went there; not a
minute longer, but not one second less.
MEN AND WOMEN.
Jonathan Thompson, who died recently In
Woburn, Mass.. devised a .large amount of
property for the erection of a public library
building In that town.
The Clarence Barker Memorial Free Hospital
at BUtmore. N. C, has been formnlly opened.
It Is tho rift of Mr. Barker, who has also
provided $20,000 for Its endowment.
Three wmen will lecture at Swiss universi
ties the comlnr "Winter: Miss Tumarkin, at
Berne, on "The History of Modem Aesthetics";
Miss Rodrlque at Geneva, on "Hlologla
Floralo," and Mrs. Zebrowski. at the Neuen
berg Academy, on "German literature."
The Danish royal family Is spending the pres
ent month at the castle of Frcdensborg. which
has not been occupied since tho visit of Em
peror Alexander III. in 1893. Among the vis
itors expected are Prince Maximilian ot Ba
varia, and tho Princess Marie of Cumberland.
The castlo has room for 300 persons.
Owing to the enormous windfall of $12,B0O.
000, It Is said, brought to the British ex
chequer as death dues on tho e3tate ot the
late Duke of Westminster, the present Duke
feels hlfr rsources cramped to such an extent
that all building operations on his "West End
estates In London have been stopped, and will
remain In abeyance for the next decade. Tho
payment of tho duties has been spread over
several years.
Senator James JC. Jones Is rated as one of
the 26 millionaires of Arkansas. Tills will be
news to many people who Imagine that their
acquaintance with th chnlrman of tho Demo
cratic Kational Committee Is quite Intimate.
It will also be a matter of Interesting Infor
mation to tho constituents of Senator Jones,
who have Inferred from his speeches that he
considered himself one of tho plain people.
Tho exiled Queen BanavalOna, of Madagas
car, has obtained permission from the French
Government to visit the exhibition. M. La
ferrlere. Governor of Algorla. has been In
structed to defray the expenses of tho Journey,
and to raise the Queen's annual pension from
25,000 francs to 30,000 francs. Ranavalona
has adopted Western customs, dresses In well
ohosen costumes, and has become a Roman
Catholic. Although suffering from occasional
fits of melancholy, she accepts her banish
ment with cheerful resignation.
An Unbeliever.
Chicago Times-Herald.
They say the world Is growing worso,
I don't believe it, though:
They say men worship but tho purse,
I don't believe It, though:
They say that greatness Is no more.
That all the wise havo gone before
And only trouble Is In store
I don't believe It though.
They say there are no saints today.
I don't believe It, though;
They say we tread a downward way,
I don't believe It. though;
They say thore'3 only gloom ahead,
Thoy say that all the knights oro dead.
They say men's sweetest Joys are fled
I don't believe It, though.
Men bad their troubles long ago,
And that's what I believe;
The Lord still loves U3 hero below.
And thafs what I believe;
Old Homer, of the sightless eyes.
And Caesar, He 'neath othor skies,
But greater men than they will rise,
And that'B what I believe.
The world trows fairer day by day.
And that'B what I believe;
The rood h,ve not all parsed away,
And that's what I believe:
Though many a ono we loved Is gone.
Fond hearts and true aro beating ont
The happiest days are still to dawn,
. And. flutf uflwfc I JelIr$J - .
NOfE AND COMMENT.
Remember the Maine election.
Again tho word "tardy" becomes
fraught with direful meaning.
Towns that have lost in population can(
expect to get only the Oma-ha-ha,
"Trado follows the flag," said tho auc
tioneer as he hung out his red banner.
The reason, Clorinda, that It la called v
the tide la because vessels are always
making knots in it
No wonder they cannot catch tho Em
press Dowager. She has been a. fast
woman from girlhood.
Tho school boy's troubles begin today,
but he ought to feel thankful when ho
thinks of tho teacher's.
School days aro here again, but Coin's
Financial Institute Is not in session, ow
ing to lack of attendance.
Chicago won't play the next 10 years
unless she can be allowed to count her-,
self at the end of that time.
Some of Speaker Reed's recent utter
ances lead to tho belief that he laid
by the gavel only to take up the hammer.
In. the event of Democratic- success,
there will be fewer strikes.) Workmen
cannot strike when they aro out of a
job.
A very large number of young women
will now change their names, acquiring
that of "teacher" as a substitute for the
old ono.
Several Chicago men have been ar
rested for stealing water. With the price
of coal on the rise, they mustihave fuel
of some kind.
Cleveland manages to hold his nose all
right, but it will take the lion-hearted
Richard Olney to show him how to per
form tho quick-swallowing act
The Pasteur Institute Is trying to dis
cover a new cure for snake bite, unmind
ful of the fact that our American distil
leries are turning them out right along.
A few days ago a man took out a li
cense to wed and went gaily away to
his doom. The "doomster," it appears,
was not ready for him. and the woman
In the case "renlgged," so It was "all
off." Later the young man, looking as If
he had drawn a blank In the matri
monial lottery, appeared at the office
of the County Clerk and returned the li
cense, saying that he had no use for
It The Clerk remarked that It was of
no use to him, and as it could not be
filed away for future use it was con
signed to that broad Umbo set aside as
a paradise for those who escape the mat
rimonial halter.
Oh, the breath of May Is balmy.
And there's perfume on tho air
Of a thousand starry flowers
Budding, blooming, everywhere.
There is music In the singing
Of the liquid volco of June,
"When a. thousand gleeful songsters
Mingle in ono Joyous tune;
And the fruitful, golden Summer,
With Its wavlnr fields of grain,
And Its rich and mellow sunshine
Falling on the hill and plain.
Brings the promise to fruitions
Spoken by tho early year,
"Wo are sure ot Nature's kindness
"When the Summcrtlmo is here.
But a day In glad September,
When the leases are turning red.
And the streams reflect In beauty
All the splendor overhead,
"When the skies have lent their azure.
To the wild, uneasy sea.
Such e. day Is always always
Plenty good enough for me.
All fruitgrowers understand pretty
thoroughly what Influence a very tiny
Insect can exert on their fortunes. Such
insects are usually pests, and the Influ
ence they exert Is an evil one. F. J.
Alex Mayer, who has lately returned
from Fresno, Cat, met there Professor
Emll Schwartr, the entomologist of the,
Smithsonian Institution, who told him
that a very tiny Insect had lately been
successfully Introduced there which would,
revolutionize the olive Industry of that
section. This insect Is necessary to tho
fertilization of the blossoms of the
Smyrna fig. and heretofore it has been
Impossible to grow the Smyrna fig in
this country because all attempts to in
troduce this tiny Insect had proved fail
ures. At last tho tiny bug has been in
troduced and has apparently come to
stay, and more orchards of Smyrna figs
will take the place of olive groves. It
pays no more to produce olive oil, as cotton-seed
oil has taken its place, oven to
being used as tho "pure olive oil," for
which people who do not like cotton
seed oil pay extravagant prices. So
down goes the olive and up comes the
fig, but what will take the place of tho
fig remains to be seen.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
Ono Little Girl In tho Slum Wot d'yer say
she died of? Tho Othor Little One Eatlnj
Ice cream on the top ot 'ot pudd'n. First
Mentioned Lor 1 "What a Jolly death!" Tlt
Blts. Kopt a Cool Head. She I heard that you
said I reminded you of the North Pole. Don't
try to deny it. He Of course, I did. You ara
bo, sought after, you know. Indlanapolla
Journal.
Hit Age. "Are you old enough to voto?"
asked the tourist In North Carolina. "X
dunno erzackly what my age Is, boss," re
plied the colored man. "But I kin tell you
dla: I alius was old enough to know better
dan to try to vote." Washington Star.
It Come Natural. Mrs. Johnslng Man
Landl Dat chile can't be mo' den fo mont'a
ol' an' walking eroun' Ilka er full-grown man!
How'd you' lam him? Mrs. Jackson Why,
Mosq begin wblstlln a cakowolk de odder day,
dat's de result. Puck.
Not for Their Health "Oh. myt Oh. my!"
exclaimed the clergyman, who had happened
upon a eroup of small boys playing "craps"
on the Sabbath day. "what are you playinu
that game on Sunday for?" "Fur keeps,
w'at d'yer s'pose?" replied ono of the boys.
Philadelphia Press.
Cheated. "Ah." said the groom, "hero It 1st
Here's your friend. Bardaley's -wedding pres
ent!" "Oh," exclaimed the bride, who was
busy in her boudoir, "what It Is?" "An orig
inal soem of-let mo see five stanzas, with
his book." "Well! It seems to me that after
what I gave him and his wife they might at
least havo sent us a salad dish or a plc3il
fork!" Chicago Times-Herald.
Armenian .Shepherd Sonar
Frederick E. "Weatherly.
One by one the stars arise -
In the meadows of tho skies;
Ono by one. all white and still.
Rest my sheep on yondor hill.
Now I lay my crook away.
Toll Is over with the day;
Kneeling at my frugal board.
Break the bread, and bless the Lor
Lord. look on me and on us all, .
And make us blest
And send us rent.
At this and every evenfall!
All the day. afar from roe, ,
They have wandered wild and free;
All the day I followed still.
Rock to rock and hill to hill.
Calling down tho gorges deep,
"Come ye back, my wandering sheon,',
Till at eve. I brought thorn homo.
Safe In fold, no more to room!
Lord, do thus much for mo and all.
And when we stray
From Thy rood way
Oh, fetch ua home at vnfalU
1