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THE MORNING OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 1, 1902.
Entered at the Postofflce at Portland. Oregon,
aa second-class matter.
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TODAY'S "WEATHER Cloudy and threaten
ing, variable wind
YESTERDAY'S WEATHER Maximum tom
ventture. 43, minimum temiternture. 2".; pre
.ittlon. 2 inrh.
POIITUM). SATUHI5AV. FEB. J. 1!K
nVO OR THREE I--ACT5.
Let uk have done with argument for
the nonce, and put the case flatly as
it is.
All the great protected trusts of the
iron and steel and allied lines, includ
Irg machinery, locomotives and imple
ments, are exporting largely. They sell
abroad cheaiver than at home. They
pay freight and insurance, tariffs into
France, Germany and Russia, and beat
the foreigner on hi own ground. Yet
at home they demand protection from
this same fni-eiguer. They can't abate
a jot of their exactions from the home
consumers.
Cuba has been taken .possession of.
We want her maikets for our iron and
steel, locomotives, implements and ma
chinery, yet she must pay full Dingley
rates on her sugar ad tobacco. Con
gress turns a deaf ear to Culm, and
makes no account of our own consum
ers. The protected trusts must have
concessions abroad, but they must not
be interfered with at home.
The Philippine Islands have been
taken possession of. We expect to con
trol their affairs, exp'oit their resources,
sell them Iron and steel, locomotives,
machinery and implements. But in
spite of our desire and need to allay
their discontent and earn their confi
dence, no concessions shall be made en
their sales to us. no facilities afforded
them to do business here that are ob
noxious to the protected trusts. "What
their labor earns or what our consumers
pay for their sugar and tobacco Con
gress cares nothing about. It will care
for the protected trusts.
The revenue need to be reduced; but
the war revenue taxes, which are not
burdensome, are r-clected for reduction,
though the customs revenues which
harass trade and tax the many for the
benefit of the few must not be touched.
Congress must care for the protected
Trusts.
These are the facts. They need no
amplification. They jwint their own
moral. How long are they to continue?
THIS ins ATI l PENALTY.
The death penalty is now inflicted in
New York and Ohio by electricity, and
.Massachusetts is likely to adopt it be
fcre many years. In New York electro
cution Is performed at the great tstate
penitentiaries of Auburn, Sing Sing and
Dnnnenvwv. When electrocution was
first adopted it was ignorantly objected
t-i by some sentimental humanitarians
upon the ground that it tortured the
criminal: but scientific observation and
testimony have dispersed this delusion
and electrocution is likely slowly but
surely to take the place of the rope. It
is a quicker mode qi sure dispatch. It
requires ro waffold. The condemned
is strapped upon a chair like a sur
geon's reclining couch; the electrodes
are fastened to the body, the proper
connections made, a powerful current
Is turnd on. and the man is dead. In
many ways electrocution is nrefernhlo
to the mne. Sheriff Frazier was able
4n m-An.i,. 1. 1- .. ..: .. ...i.l. . . '
.u i-.wuir jiia iniMHifi.', WUIIOUl aCCS-
dent, but sometimes very revolting
scenes have been witnessed at execu
tions. The r pe has broken, the con
demned has fallen to the ground and
has been obliged to wait until the rope
was renewed. Sometimes the neck has
not been broken and the condemned has
slowly strangled to death. Compared
with electrocution, hanging is a clumsy
mode of inflicting the death penalty.
The death penalty is inflicted by law
in all the states save Rhode Island,
Maine. Michigan and Wisconsin. It
was abolished in Iowa In 1S72 and re
stored In 1S7S. It was also abolished
by Colorado, but was restored in 3901.
In Kansas the signature of the Gov
ernor is necessary to an execution, and
the refusal of the Governor to do his
duty in this respect has left a number
of convicted murderers still unhung in
Kansas. In Great Britain capital pun
ishment is Inflicted within the prison
walls, with nobody pxesont in the room
save the governor of the prison, the
necessary legal officials and the proper
number of witnesses. Bofore public
hangings were abolished In England
executions were performed at Tyburn
In the presence often of more than 20.000
persons, who treated the occasion as a
holiday. Mothers held up their children
in their arms so they could see the con
demned swinging from, the scaffold;
liquor was passed from hand to hand;
fights were numerous, and the whole
affair was a brutal, drunken frolic
among the depraved persons of both
sexes.
Similar pcenes took place in this coun
try. When Archibald Bates was pub
Jlcy hanged at Bennington. Vt., in 1830,
for murder of his wife, mora than 20,000
person witnessed the execution. Many
of them came from a considerable dis
tance, traveling two days or more to see
the spectacle. The scenes at this public
execution were so odious that the Leg
islature at its next session passed a
law making all executions private in
the prison yard at Windsor. Public
executions not only made hanging less
shocking to the people, but made the
desperate murderer always disposed to
play "the grandstand act" at the last
moment. The deterrent force of the
punishment was weakened, .both for the
people and. the convict.
Italy does not inflict capital punish
ment for murder, but she does worse,
for she makes her cellular life impris
onment so inhuman that the assassin is
fairy tortured Into insanity, as was
BrescI, the assassin of King Humbert.
A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.
When our Oregon Democrats, in con
vention assembled, look out over the
troubled sea of politics, they heave a
sigh and shake their heads. We have
been wrong, they say; we must reverse
ourselves. We must stand for PRINCI
PLES! There has been too much dal
lying with fusion and other vain de
vices. Principles shall hereafter be our
motto!
It is one of the charming and alto
gether commendable things about your
true Democrat that he reveres his
party's principles. He believes In them
so thoroughly that he thinks all that is
needed Is for them to be presented to a
candid world. Then they will win out
in their own strength. He always
thinks his failure has been due to some
departure from principle and some wan
dering after false gods. He is like the
deeply religious woman who, when any
thing happens to her, thinks it is a
punishment for some sin of her own and
rejoices In being found worthy of chas
tening. But our Oregon Democrats do them
selves injustice. Their memory is short.
Now, the fact is that for some six years
principles have been their whole con
cern. The head of the party, one W. J.
Bryan, of Nebraska, has been a "prin
ciple" man without guile. He has been
for principle day and night, rain or
shine, in joy or sorrow, for better or for
worse. He has preferred suicide to sur
render, death to dishonor. And he has
got it. And the Oregon Democrats have
gone unwaveringly down the line.
The trouble wasn't lack of princi
ples. They had principles to bum. But
the principles were wrong. They can't
be any more loyal to piinciples than
they have been. But they need a new
outfit of principles, and Incidentally
some new principals.
The Democrats are for principles on
general principles, but every man is for
fusion in his own county. He applauds
principles In platform and peroration
to the echo; he urges them upon his
compatriots in every corner of the state.
But as for his awn 'county, hs wants
to win. He wants the offices. Hence
he favors fusion.
Let us not be hard upon the Demo
crat, with one hand swearing fidelity
to the principles of Jefferson and Jack
son and with the other reaching out
for votes. Nature has so constructed
our politics that the only way we can
achieve the vindication of eternal prin
ciples is by getting the boys out to the
polls and by getting our crowd Into the
offices. Even Republican statesmen
have been known who spent more time
looking after appointments than they
did in aid of the gold standard or the
sacred doctrine of protection. Few Ore
gon Senators have left for Washington
in hot haste to look after a more im
portant public matter than the menace
of an unwelcome applicant for the Ore
gon City Land Office
ALAIUIEI) II Y EXPOSURE.
The annual report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission by its revela
tions appears to have brought the of
fending railroads to their knees in an
attitude of at least transient submis
sion to the laws of the country. The
favored shippers are also willing "to be
good" for the future. It seems to be a
case of rogues who feared that Con
gress would make the halter draw in
order to enforce a better obedience to
the law. The railroad managers and
the favored shippers have not taken the
alarm a moment too soon, for the indict
ment of their audacious violation of the
law by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has already excited the indig
nation of the influential press of the
whole country. The report of the In
terstate Commerce Commission cites
specific instances in which the pub
lished traffic rates on meats are regu
larly cut, contrary to law. in the in
terests of four or five large packing
concerns. Published tariffs are violated
In the grain traffic, contrary to law.
To cover these criminal proceedings
vouchers are destroyed and records al
tered. The effect of these lawless acts
is to build up a monopoly of the meat
packing business in the hands of a few
concerns and crush out small competi
tors, and to turn the grain business
upon each railroad into the hands of
somejvtrticular buyer.
The wrong wrought is widespread In
its injurious influence. The farmer
loses, the consumer loses and the small
shipper is obliterated. Grain and grain
products move to the seaboard upon
secret rates, and the profit on this secret
rate is divided with the officers of the
line over which the shipments are made.
This is a crime, a penitentiary offense,
but under existing law it cannot be sup
pressed. A mere "agreed" rate lower
than the published tariff cannot be
punished unless the failure of some spe
cific shipper to get this rate is proved.
Individuals only can be indicted. They
escape. When the la.v fines corpora
tions, juries will convict. This, briefly
stated, is the argument of the indict
ment of the offending railway managers
by the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion, which desires the power to make
rates directly and to enforce them, and
the commission asks laws to punish the
crime that the "railway managers have
been committing, for they have violated
the law requiring an adherence to pub
lished tariffs; the law against secret
rebates and discriminations, and the law
against concerted traffic combinations,
and they have just confessed their guilt
by publicly announcing that their con
federacy of railway managers and fa
vored shippers will henceforth obey the
law.
The startling thing about all this
business is that the men who form this
guilty confederacy to defy and outwit
the law are railroad magnates on the
one hand and millionaire meat and
grain monopolists on the other, men of
the highest intelligence and ability, who
do not hesitate to break the law to swell
their ill-gotten wealth. The cardinal
objects of the Interstate commerce act
are "publicity of rates, uniformity of
rates and moderation of rates." That
these objects have never been enforced
upon the carriers Is now confessed by
the carriers themselves when they prom
ise henceforth to be on their good be
havior. The Supreme Court has de
clared that under the law all the com
mission can do when it finds rules and
regulations unreasonable is so to de
clare and to order the carrier to cease
and desist from charging such rates or
enforcing such regulations. The com
mission cannot fix rates or regulations
or enforce charges which would bring
them into conformity with the law. The
commission can enforce its 'rulings only
by application through the commission
or the person or company injured for a
writ of Injunction In a Federal Circuit
Court, which means the indefinite post
ponement of the enforcement of the rul
ings of the commission. The leading
papers of the country urge as a meas
ure of reform that the commission
should be given power to change rates
by Its own mandate, and that its de
cisions should become immediately ef
fective when rendered, to continue in
force until they have been overruled by
the courts upon appeal by the carriers.
This is the view of the New York Even
ing Post.
The Philadelphia Press says Congress
will not give the commission the power
to make rates directly and to enforce
them, and, even if Congress gave it, the
Federal courts in the future as in the
past will find some way to eliminate a
new judicial authority. The Springfield
Republican goes further, and. referring
to the duty of the Government to com
pel an operation of the roads as com
mon carriers rather than special car
riers for the power and profit of special
classes in the Industrial community,
says:
It pooling Is demanded by the roads as the
only remedy, let pooling be permitted, but on
the sole condition that tho Government fit at
the head of the council table of the pool and
exercise a strong regulative control on behclf
of the public. If this is not possible or agrte
nble to the roads, then we must consider Gov
ernment purchase and operation. At all events,
the use of the railroads to build up trust mo
nopoly and monopoly millionaires must cease.
A nil All AT HOME PIRACY ABROAD.
By way of explaining the slow move
ment of railway construction in this
country, It was shown in these columns
a few days back that the steel combine
holds the price of steel rails to its
American customers at a price practi
cally prohibitive of railroad construc
tion in new districts, while at the
same time it makes to its foreign cus
tomers a price less than the American
price by about one-third. Upon superfi
cial view there would seem no rational
motive in this most extraordinary dis
crimination, , for it is unquestionable
that If the whole product of the mills
were offered to American buyers at a
price that would in the aggregate equal
the sum now secured from all sources,
it Avould promptly be taken. Under
such policy the price would be some
what lower than the present Ameri
can price, and, therefore, it would stim
ulate railroad construction to a degree
that would more than take up that part
of the product which now goes to for
eign buyers. If the only motive of the
steelmakers was to sell their goods, and
if, as might reasonably be presumed.
It were a consideration with them to
conduct their business upon policies
helpful to- American interests, there
would seem no reason why they should
not do this thing.
But in truth the steel combine has
other purposes than to sell its goods;
and it is plain that it cares not at all
that its policies should establish con
ditions favorable to American inter
ests. The policy under which the com
bine Is putting its goods upon the for
eign market in violation of ordinary
motlves of business and in contempt
of American interests which are in
jured through Its policy, rests upon a
deep purpose nothing less than a pur
pose to do with the British steel indus
tries what has already been accom
plished in connection with the steel in
dustries of the United States. The com
bine Is after big game, and It is using its
command of the situation at home to
support its foreign scheme, careless of
the effect upon domestic interests and In
contempt of its obligations as a bene
ficiary under the American protective
system.
The price made to English buyers of
American steel rails is calculated with
less reference to immediate and direct
proflt than to the embarrassment and
injury of British manufacturers. And
there can be no doubt that to a very
considerable extent this purpose is being
carried loto effect. British manufactur
ers, to be sure, are not greatly troubled
by the volume of business done in their
country by the American steelmakers,
but they are troubled by the demorali
zation of business which the American
competition has brought about. The
intrusion of American steel into the
English market at a low price makes a
situation out of the normal and In Its
effects fatal to the health of British
steel Industries. The British manufac
turer con rives by selling on a low basis
of profit, or at no proflt at all. to hold
his trade, but he feels the pressure of
illegitimate competition most grievous
ly. In spite of repeated seasons of no
profit, he doggedly holds his domes
tic business, but under the hard condi
tions which press upon him on many
sidesjie is slowly letting go of the for
eign 'trade or which he has held the mo
nopoly until recently. The direct Amer
ican competition, while the last, is by
no means the whole of his difficulty.
The increased relative cost of coal, the
decreased price of iron products in the
commercial world, the competition of
Germany on the one hand and of the
United States on the other, the growing
demands of labor and its declining effi
ciency, and now this American inva
sion of his home field, with its demor
alization of home prices all this makes
a Ituaticn gloomy enough from the
British point of view.
Official statistics tell the story with a
brutal frankness. Ten years ago the
United Kingdom produced more steel
and pig iron than the United States.
In 1S95 the production of the two coun
tries was very nearly equal. Since that
year the steel and iron production of
this country has been growing by leapG
and bounds, until in 1000 the pig Iron
production reached 14.099.S70 metric tons
against 3.052.107 tens by the United
Kingdom, aui 10.3S2.059 metric tons of
steel, against an estimated production
of 4.S00.000 tons by the United Kingdom.
More significant still, as illustrating the
conditions of the British irc and steel
industry, are the figures published cur
rently in the English trade journals
relative to exports and imports. In
three years the exports of manufac
tured Iron have fallen by nearly $ln,
000,000, whili imports mounted from
525.000.000 in 1899 to S3C.500.000 In 1001,
an Increase cf almost 50 per cent.
It is in connection with conditions al
ready badly demoralized, as these fig
ures show, that the American steel com
bine Is siow operating in the English
market. It is enabled without loss to
Itself to make panic prices to English
buyers, bfecause in its command of -the
situation at home It has to recoup itself
only to turn on the screws in dealing
with American buyers. And again, it
finds in the illegitimate facilities and
profits guaranteed It by the American
tariff a tremendous backing for the dou
ble game of grab at home and of open
piracy abroad. t
The judicial record in the Wade-Dal-ton
murder case Is one of vigilance,
promptness and fidelity to the edict of
justice concerning capital crime. Two
months and ten days elapsed between
the killing of James B. Morrow on the
street near his home and the execution
of the men who set out to rob and
ended by murdering him. This is
prompt, but not hurried, work. Evi
dence came In the form of confession.
There was no rebuttal none was possi
ble. The jury heard the testimony and
rendered a verdict of guilty, the court
passed sentence, the Sheriff executed It
upon the date fixed. The prompt and
orderly workings of the civil law, as
shown In this case. Is the community's
best guarantee against mob law, as
well as its best Insurance against mur
der. Sophistry may seek to controvert
this statement, but all experience veri
fies It. The curtain was yesterday rung
down on the tragedy that has held the
legal boards in this city since the last
days of November. Three lives, one of
which was useful and full of promise
the others Instinct with mischief, the
basis of which was idleness, have been
lost in the rendition of a shuddering
tale. One was Innocent of crime, and
all were young. In taking the first the
others were forfeit. The story is a sad
one, yet after the opening chapter stern
justice appeared In the leading role and
maintained Its position unswervingly to
the end. All was done decently and in
order, and the community that has
awaited the final scene with dally In
creasing nerve tension Is glad that It Is
over.
The commonwealth of Pennsylvania is
still subject to an abhorrent and de
grading custom which Oregon has long
since outgrown. According to a dis
patch from Harrisburg, 10,000 strug
gling, jostling, noisy people witnessed
the execution in the jailyard of that
city last Monday of two murderers who
had been duly condemned to die for
their crime. As stated in the report, it
required the combined efforts of the
Sheriff and his deputies and the jail
police force to keep the crowd back. It
passes belief that in any "enlightened
state of the American Union the execu
tion of a criminal is thus made a spec
tacular show. Oregon has long since
outgrown this stage of barbaric curi
osity, the lav, providing for private exe
cutions being now more than a quarter
of a century old. While, of course, a
public execution here would be attended
by an eager, pushing throng, the law
Is one which is supported by public opin
ion, and, except in the issuance of
black-bordered invitations to more than
the necessary number of witnesses, It
Is literally observed. In contrasting the
scene that took place in Harrisburg
Monday and that which took place In
this city yesterday. It is plain that the
lawmakers of Pennsylvania of today
might learn a wholesome lesson upon
this subject from the lawmakers of Ore
gon of a past era.
Practical charity Is not a thing of
every day, and when met it is worthy
of commendation. A humble example
of its beneficence Is shown in the pur
chase, by raising a fund for that pur
pose, of a home suited to the needs of
Dorcas Whiting, a woman, a widow and
no longer young, who was practically
evicted from her scow dwelling several
weeks ago. In the determination to im
prove Belmont street to the river. With
out discussing the case upon Its merits,
It may be said that the plea of the old
woman to be permitted to retain her
home appealed to the sympathy of
kindly disposed people, and that many
thought that she had been unjustly, or
at least harshly, dealt with. This feel
ing crystallized Into a practical effort to
help her out of her dilemma a serious
one to an aged and homeless woman
and as a result Mrs. Whiting is happily
domiciled In a home of her own, firmly
secured to a foundation of logs on the
river bank, happy in the assurance that
none will hereafter molest or make her
afraid.
Under the influence of "evangelists"
who ministered to them In their last
hours, the murderers of James Morrow
developed an edifying religious senti
ment. No one would or should deny
them this last consolation. But there
remains grievous objection to the
method of the evangelists. The poor,
unhappy boys fell under the influence
of those who came to minister to them,
and they uttered during their last hours
only the poor parrotry that had been
taught them. But they had not one
word of contrition or repentance for
the act that had brought them to this
extremity, because from their teachers
they had received nothing of this kind.
What they ought to have been taught
was sorrow and repentance for their
crime. But this was overlooked by the
sentimentalists, who had substituted for
it a lot of sentimental gibberish which
the poor wretches repeated as parrots
but did not understand.
The German forces during the war
with France thirty years ago numbered
about 1.12-1,000 officers and men. Of
these, only 39,365 non-commissioned offi
cers and men are pensioned, and only
2760 commissioned officers are drawing
pensions. Our Civil War ended nearly
thirty-seven years ago, and our pension
list contains the names of almost one
million persons.
Vice-Admlral Rawson, of the British
Navy, who has been appointed Governor
of New South Wales, Is nbt the first
naval officer to be appointed to a colo
nial Governorship, for the famous Arc
tic navigator. Sir John Franklin, was a
Captain In the Navy when he was ap
pointed Governor of Van DIemen's
Land, In 183S.
Joslah L. Atkinson, whose death oc
curred Thursday night at his home In
this city, had been for many years one
of the substantial, generous, upright
citizens of Portland. He had grown old
among us, and as a familiar figure upon
our streets as well as In church associ
ations and business circles, he will be
missed.
.he weather Is In a melting mood.
The blessed Chinook comes in softly
from the far southwest. Reinforced by
raln, it will soon dispel the Winter of
our discontent and make us glad that
we are alive and that we live in Oregon.
Dalton delivered a long religious ex
hortation, and Wade said he wasn't
happy. Yet we cannot all agree as to
which utterance was the more pertinent
and manly.
LET THE PRESIDENT DECIDE-
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Here are the principal facts about the
Nicaragua and the Panama Canal routes,
taken from the Walker commission's re
ports and other official sources:
Commercial For ships going from, all
Atlantic and Gulf ports, American or
European, to our -Pacific ports and to
the Orient, and vice versa, the Nicaragua
Is from one to two days shorter than
the Panama. Only for ships between At
lantic and Gulf ports and the western
coast of South America is the Panama
shorter. The Nicaragua Canal can be
built In eight years; the Panama will
take not less than 10 years. In the light
of the facts .the shorter distance from
sea to sea at Panama may be safely dis
regarded. Strategic We could move warships
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or vice
versa, or send them from the Atlantic to
the Orient, much sooner by Nicaragua.
The voyage of the Oregon would have
been nearly two days shorter by Nica
ragua than by Panama.
Political The Nlcaraguan Government
Is friendly and anxious to facilitate the
construction of the canal. It has already
agreed to lease In perpetuity to the United
States a strip from bea to sea. It !a a
small country, and the canal would be Us
Industrial and commercial life center,
with which no revolution would dare to
meddle.
Under the- Panama company's conces
sion any canal there Is to revert to Co
lombia, without compensation, W years
after opening. Under our treaty of ISIS
with Colombia the canal must be neutral
In war. Colombia Is now In the throes ot
revolution, and any new concession or
treaty would be of doubtful validity, and
might be repudiated by the next party In
power. Colombia is a very large country,
and the canal would not be "the one vital
fact in her life with which revolution
would fear to meddle. It would be. as
the Panama railway now Is, the first and
constant point of revolutionary blackmail
and loot.
Engineering At Nicaragua all problems
have been solved. At Panama the control
of the Chagres River is unsolved. The
Walker commission does not assert tha
the Chagres can be controlled within its
cost estimate, but only suggests tnat it
may be so controlled. The so-called Cule
bra. cut at Panama, moreover, is an en
gineering proposition of absolutely ap
palling proportions.
Financial The estimated cost of the
Nicaragua Canal is J1S3.SG4.0G2. The esti
mated cast of the Panama Canal, plus
SW.COO.OOO to be paid to Frenchmen. Is
$lS',3a.?5S: difference In favor of Pan
ama. 53,630,704. It Is also estimated that
the Nicaragua Canal will cost $1,300,000
more annually to operate than the Pana
ma. But as no one suggests that the
Nicaragua Canal will not pay operating
expenses this difference may be disre
garded. To sum up the facts, the only advan
tages of the Panama route over the Nica
ragua are the shorter distance between
our Atlantic and western South American
ports and the J3.630.70l less Initial cost.
Our trade with the west coast of South
America Is not now and In the nature of
things cannot be one-tenth of the com
merce through an isthmian canal.
Tho situation in Congress, however, has
been so befogged by the opponents of any
canal that many Congressmen, with the
best intentions, are reluctant to vote for
the Nicaragua route for fear of the pos
sibility of a mistake. To save themselves
they are likely to consent to more delay-
to another investigation to more commis
sions, etc., and thus play Into the hands
of the transcontinental railways, by giv
ing them time to complete their plans for
a monopoly of both land and sea trans
portation. The American people are weary of de
lay, of Investigation, of commissions.
They want the aspirations of 50 years
gratified, and they want something posi
tive done speedily. Under these circum
stances the best solution of the problem
Is for Congress to pais a canal bill In
general terms and leave the selection of
the route to the President. The people
have confidence in his judgment. They
feel assured that he will select the better
route and speedily glvo them an American
canal.
Help of the Helpless.
Kansas City Star.
"When other helpers fall, and comforts
flee.
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me."
A strange moral phenomenon not new,
but ever interesting Is that of the poor
wretch In the County Jail, condemned to
die tomorrow on the scaffold, upheld and
comforted by the belief In the forgive
ness of his dark sins, and by the hope of
peace and happiness in the life to come.
To very many people this will mean
elmply the emotional uplift of an ignorant
mind. It will be looked upon rather a a
manifestation of Intense excitability than
a a testimony of the power of religious
faith to change the nature and renew the
heart.
But, conceding that this source of help
Is seized upon by that part of humanlty
whlch can scarcely appreciate its signifi
cance, and that it Is bought by these poor
creatures mainly In moments of supreme
need, and not as an aid for the regula
tion of their dally conduct, docs that de
stroy Its value? Does that make It any
less a merciful benefaction at a time
when every other prop falls and every
other support Is shattered?
Whatever may be the idea of philosoph
ical minds regarding these phenomena, it
is worth while to contemplate nuch cases
as that of the unfortunate negro, Albert
Garth, and to note the power which lifts
euch as he out of the tlouch of despair
and gives them courage to meet the ter
rible ordeal of violent and shameful death.
Can a mere delusion accomplish all of
this, and if it can, is it not a delusion to
be thankful for? Has reason or critical
philosophy anything to give In exchange
to the poor creatures who would be ren
dered destitute without this balm which
finds its way Into the rudest mind and
the most sinful heart?
What would his last Sunday on earth
have been to poor Garth had he been left
wholly to the contemplation of hl3 guilt
and the thought of the stern penalty
which awaits him, without any ot the
amelioration which he found In the hymns
and prayers and words of hope which
came from his religious counselors? It
may be held by. Inflexible casuists that In
his late repentance, sought only when the
gallows casts Its dreadful shadow over
Garth, there can be no regeneration of the
heart and no preparation for a better
existence, but this there Is about It that
cannot be denied it comes with a com
fort which la etiual to the most crucial
test, when there Is nothing else left to
lean upon, and that surely makes It well
worth having. ,
The One Issue This Year.
Pendleton Tribune.
Senator Simon seems to have gained
seme advantage In Portland in the ap
pointment of clerks and judges of pri
maries and election, and for so doing ho
is roundly scored. Whatever may be
the good or evil, right or wrong, trlckery
or honest Intention In the case, the polit
ical power of "Little Joe" Is again made
apparent. The fact that the Issue In
the Republican party of Oregon today is
Simon and anti-Simon Is more evidence
that he Is still considered a wary antago
nist, and despite the opposition that has
been aroused against him he still seems
to be putting up an interesting fight.
MnraterN Hnil n Hill.
PORTLAND, Jan. 31. (To the Editor.)
In yesterday's Issue, after saying that
"executions should be conducted at state
penitentiaries," etc., you ask. "Who wt!l
be the man to carry this reform Into law
In Oregon?" In this connection, it seems
but justice to state" that last Winter Sen
ator Marsters, of Roseburg, championed
a bill to amend our present law so as to
make this the rule in Oregon. The bill
passed the Senate with only one negative,
bat failed In the House. F. P. MAYS.
AMDSEMEXTS.
Murray and Mack, in their vaudeville
comedy, "Shooting the Chutes," came to
the Marquam last night with better sup
port than they have had heretofore, and
pleased a good house with their rapid
fire programme of songs and specialties.
Of course the two Irish comedians are the
stars of the show, and their rough-and-tumble
comedy created unlimited merri
ment. Their libretto might be Improved
possibly by the elimination of some of
the old landmarks of comedy such as the
come-around-to-the-dollar cars joke and
others of an equally early vintage, but
It must be admitted that the examples of
prehistoric wit aroused full as much mer
riment as the newer jokes, one or two of
which were really good.
Gus Plxley, In a double role, was next
to the stars In popular favor, and his
song in the third act was the hit of the
show. Kittle Beck was also among the
chief entertainers of the evening. There
are many other parts, all competently
filled, and a large chorus of pretty girls,
who could be used in more songs and
dances with advantage. The scenery of
the first and last acts Is very striking,
and the costumes are new and pretty.
The same bill will be given this afternoon
and evening.
?.lntlnec Today.
Murray and Mack in their Irish comedy,
"Shooting the Chutes." will give a per
formance at the Marquam this afternoon.
There Is plenty of bright music in the
play and a lively afternoon's entertain
ment Is assured.
At Cordray's the pretty colonial play,
"At Valley Forge." will be the attraction.
There has been a very heavy advance sale
and a crowded house will see the play,
which as a lesson In the speech, manners
and dress of Revolutionary times, is of
great value to school children.
At the Baker "The Queen of Haytl" will
be the bill. As it will be the last oppor
tunity of the season to enjoy a "coon
show." the youngsters will probably turn
out In force.
Rnx-ilnn Melodrama at Cortlrny's.
"For Her Sake," a melodrama of Rus
sian life, will be the attraction at Cor
dray's next, week, beginning tomorrow
night. The play Is said to give an accu
rate picture of the hard life led by the
Russian peasants, one cf whom, a serf
girl, has a love affair with a nobleman
which forms the theme of the play. Scen-
rery and costumes that are In keeping
with the time and place are promised and
the company Is said to be among the best
companies presenting melodrama on the
road this season.
Weston nnd Herbert at the Baker.
Manager Baker has secured for the
opening week's programme of his vaude
ville season Weston and Herbert, who
compose the best-known musical team In
vaudeville. They recently left the Or
pheum road show, and have been top
liners in the New York vaudeville houses.
They are said to be without equals in
their line. Sunday afternoon will begin
the vaudeville season at the Baker, and
an excellent bill Is promised.
II Iff Sale of Seats for Hofmann.
One of the largest advance sales for a
musical artist that has ever been record
ed at the box office of the Marquam Grand
Theater took place yesterday morning,
when the sale of seats for Josef Hof
mann, the celebrated pianist, who ap
pears at the theater, was opened. Mr.
Hofmann comes direct from San Fran
cisco, where he has given three recitals
this week. The press .of that city has
been liberal in sounding his praises.
FOUR POEMS BY AUBREY DE VKRE.
(Aubrey Thomas De Vere. born Currngh
Chase. Limerick. Ireland, 1314; died January
21, 1002.)
An EpIcnrenn'H Epitnpli.
When from my lips the last faint sigh Is blown
By Death, dark waver of Lethean plumes.
Oh! pres3 not then with monumental stone
This forehead smooth, nor weigh me down
with glooms
From green bowers, gray with dew.
Of rosemary and rue.
Choose for my bed some bath of sculptured
marble
"VVreathM with gay nymphs; and lay me
not alone
"Where sunbeams fall, flowers wave, and light
birds warble.
To those who lov'd me murmuring in soft
tone.
"Here lies our friend, from pain secure, and
cold;
And spreads his limbs In peace under the sun
warmed mold!"
7 Sorrow.
Count each nffllctlonj whether light or grave.
God's messenger sent down to thee; do thou
With courtesy receive him: rise and bow;
And. ere his shadow pass thy threshold, cravo
Permission first ills heavenly feet to lave;
Then lay before him all thou hast. Allow
Xo cloud of passion to usurp thy brow
Or mar thy hospitality: no wave
Of mortal tumult to obliterate
The soul's marmoreal calmness. Grief should
be
Like Joy. majestic, equable, ecdate,
Connrmlng. cleansing, raising, making free:
Strong to consume small troubles; to commend
Great thoughts, grave thought, thoughts last
ing to the end.
FlowerM Would I Jrlnjc
Flowers would I bring if flowers could make
thee fairer.
And music. If the muse were dear to thee:
(For loving these would make thee love the
bearer)
But sweetest songs forget their melody.
And loveliest flowers would but conceal tho
wearer
A rose I mark'd and might have pluck'd. but
she
Blush'd as she bent. Imploring me to spare her,
Nor spoil her beauty by such rivalry.
Alas! and with what gifts shall I pursue thee.
What offerings brings, what treasures lay be
fore thee:
When earth with all her floral train doth woo
thee.
And all old poets and old songs adore thee:
And love to thee Is naught: from passionate
mood
Secur'd by joy's complacent plenitude!
Cardinal Mnnninpr.
I learn'd hH greatness first at Lavlngton;
The moon had earl ysought her bed of brine.
But we dtscours'd till now each starry hign
Had sunk; our theme was one and one alone:
"Two minds supreme," he said, "our earth has
known:
One sang in science: one served God In song:
Aquinas Dante." Slowly In me grew strong
A thought: "These two great minds In him
are one;
Lord, what shall this man do?" Later at
Rome
Beside the dust of Peter and of Paul
KIght hundred mitred sires of Christendom
In council sat. I mark'd him 'mid them all;
I thought of that long night In years gone by
And cried, "At last my question meets reply!"
Put Oxnnril Out.
New York Times.
It Is too plain that Denmark cannot
make the Islands pay. The decline In price
since 1S67 scarcely represents the decline
In value. That decline has been, in the
case of the Danish as well as of all other
sugar Islands In the West Indies, the
change from an asset to a liability. We
can make them prosper, just as we have
begun to make Porto Jtico prosper, just
as we are about to begin to make Cuba
prosper, by opening our markets on fair
terms to their products, to the one product
that made them mines of wealth in their
high anti palmy days. The Secretary of
State has told Denmark, as he was obliged
to do. that he could not stipulate for free
trade with the Islands, and that that was
the business of Congress. But It Is Incon
ceivable that the Senate should enact the
treaty and at the same time put the in
habitants of Islands acquired by peaceful
purchase on a worse footing than the
Porto Ricans, who came to us a3 a prize
of war. It would be far more decent to
reject the treaty outright and take the
chances of what international complica
tions might follow. Of course, the amaz
ing Mr. Oxnard will again interfere and
will attempt to control the destiny of the
islanders to their detriment. But Mr. Ox
nard seems to be already very nearly neg
ligible. The American sense of justice and
decency will never consent to the Impov
erishment and davastatlon of an American
possession In order to pro-mote the sales of
an interconvertible cider press and sugar
beet crusher. Denmark cannot make her
Islands prosperous. We can. and if we
take them, we shall. Oxnard to the con
trary notwithstanding.
NOTE AND COMMENT.
Miss Stone but that Is the same old
story-
The Empress Dowager Is still the grand
old man of China.
If you didn't get in over your ankles
you were luckier than most of us.
The reception of Prince Henry promises
to be one grand, sweet saengerfest.
There has been a naval battle In Co
lumbia, but both ships escaped with
scratches.
Couldn't we use some of the deep water
around the Danish West Indies In the
Nicaragua Canal?
Funstcn will not be operated on a sec
ond time. Age seems to be curing some
of his old-time recklessness.
Porto Rico Is as contented and happy
ao the Filipinos will be as soon as they
i'top looking out of unseeing eyes.
After John L. Sullivan's performance
In Boston. Uncle Toms will be likely to
insist on at least a welter-weight villain.
It takes about as many folios of type
written manuscript to prepare for a South
American war as it does for a prize-fight.
Tho harp that once through Tara's halls,
the soul of music shed, now sings, "Go
In an hit 'em byes, an' do not miss wan
head."
William Allen White has now "written
up" Cleveland. Having been a candidate
three times for President, Cleveland is
used to It.
Mr. Bryan views with alarm the news
that the Postofflce Department Isn't con
ducted solely for the dissemination ot free
silver literature.
A special train with a clear right of
way to Milwaukee will be kept in waiting
for Prince Henry In case of a sudden
attack of homesickness.
Judging from the picture of Marconi's
wireless telegraph station at Cape Cod
In a late magazine, there are only about
300 miles of wires used In it.
A deserter from the French Army made
his getaway In an automobile. That man
ought to be brought back and put at tho
head of the strategy board.
The theory that the Condor was sunk
In a collision was Illustrated in three col
umns of a Seattle paper. This method
of illustrating theories ought to commend
itself to theologians.
The following communication bids fair
to make at least one prophet not without
honor, even In his own country:
PORTLAND, Jan. 31. (To the Editor.)
In every well-regulated weather ottlce
is kept a black cat. Cats as you know
are very sensitive to weather changes;
their hair becomes highly electrified be
fore the approach of a storm, and much
weather lore can be obtained from the
manner In which they curve their spine
when angry
It was noticed today that the cat at the
local weather office was listening Intently
while one of the employes was reading
aloud the beautiful poem which appeared
In your Issue this morning. Not much at
tention was paid to the cat afterwards,
as the weather conditions seemed to be
giving general satisfaction, but his ab
sence from his usual haunts was later
noted, and some anxiety regarding his
whefeabouts was felt. This was- relieved
about 2 P. M. by the cat's return. Hl3
actions excited attention at once, when
it was found that he had a crumpled
piece of paper In his mouth, which, upon
being- carefully smoothed out, "proved to
be the following:
PROLOGUE.
That the weather I3 a fickle maid
. The "weather man" admits.
And that the forecasts sometimes
Furnish food for "wags" and "wits.,,
But the public In a general way
In reading them all wrong.
Would stop and ponder, If thoy knew
To whom tho blame belongs.
SCENE 1.
The quiet, modest "weather man"
Sits gravely at his desk;
Looks over maps and telegrams
And thinks, "This Is no Jest";
A storm is coming In full forco,
So all things Indicate,
It may bo with us very soon,
Ferchance, It may be late;
It may get sidetracked on the way
Or take another course;
It may decide to stay away
Or come with double force."
He sits and ponders long and deep;
Looks out upon the sky.
Decides he'll "draw It very mild"
And risk It passing by.
SCENE 2.
A bright reporter enters here;
"Well, what's the tale today?
Hall or rain or thunder storms?
The paper waits to say."
The "weather man" onco more resume
His study of the chart.
"It surely Indicates a storm.
We'll ave It here. In part;
It looks like rain, but may be snow
If temperature goes down "
Off flics the brisk reporter
To tell It to the town.
SCENE 3.
Next morning's paper does unfold
A story: startling, strange.
In headlines big and black nnd bold.
Behold the wrondrous change:
"Cyclones and blizzards, hall and snow;
Look out for severe storms."
The publiesmlles, says "Off again;
He usually Is wrong."
They quite forget to read the rest.
In letters faint and small.
Above the "weather man's" full name,
They find, "No storm at all."
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
"Do the Smiths keep a servant?" "No.
They engage a good many, but they don't keep
them." Tlt-blts.
WIgg What a beautiful nose she has. Wagg
Yes. that's her sccnter ot attraction. Phila
delphia Record.
Why He Is Popular. ilabel Is he an enter
taining conversationalist? Beth Very. He lets
you do all the talking. Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin.
Crush. "There was a crush at the wedding.
I suppose?" "Crush? Why. the ushers had to
form a flying wedge In order to get the bridal
party up to the altar!" Life.
Idealized. Tess Miss Fassay says she paid
$12 a dozen for those photos of hers. Jess
But they don't look a bit like her. Toss Of
course. What do you suppose she paid $12
for? Philadelphia Press.
His Description. First Pugillst( reading so
ciety news) Say. BUI! Wofs a chaperon?
Second Pugilist W'y, It's a lady guy wofs
k.nd of half-way twix a trainer, a manager,
a bottle-holder and a referee. Puck.
Deep Respect. "You must always have the
greatest respect for your parents," said tha
benevolent stranger. "I have." answered the
boy with freckles. "Why, either one of them
can whip me with one hand." Washington
Star.
Singleton Your wife seems out of humor to
night. What's the trouble? Wcderly She met
with a great disappointment this morning.
She went down town to match a piece of rib
bon and found exactly what she wanted at the
first store on her list. Chicago Dally News.
Antidote for Tragedy. Winks Come along,
old boy. I've got two complimentary tickets
for a dramatic performance. Jinks Tragedy
or comedy? "Tragedy." "I don't like trag
edies, They appeal so strongly to one's sym
pathies that I always feel blue for a week,"
"This one won't. You'll come homo ay Jolly
as If you'd been to a circus. It's by an ama
teur company." New York Weekly.
U,,