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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1902)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1902. Entered at the Postofflco at Portland. Oregon, as Bccond-class matter. REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. By Mall (postare prepaid. In Advance) Sally, with Sunday, per month ? 85 Bally, Sunday excepted, per year 7 50 Dally, with Sunday, per year T ; Sunday, per year .......... - 00 The Weekly, per year 1 CO The "Weekly, 3 months 50 To City Subscribers Dally, per week, delivered, Sunday excepted.l5c Dally, per week, delivered. Sundays included.20c POSTAGE RATES. United StatCA.Xanada.and Mexico:. 10 to 14-page paper -o 14 to 28-pagc paper............ M Foreign rates double. Vws or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should bo addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Oregonlan." not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to adver tising, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonlan. Eastern Business Office. 43, 44. 45. 47. 48. 48 Tribune building. New Tork City: 510-11-12 Tribune building. Chicago: the S. C. Beckwitn -Special Agency, Eastern representative. For sale In San Francisco by L. E. LeePal ace Hotel news stand: Goldsmith Bros.. 236 Sutter street; F. W. Pitts. 100S Market '"ttt: J. K. Cooper Co.. 74G Market street, near tne Palace' Hotel; Foster & Orcar. Ferry Jews stand; Frank Scott. SO Ellis .street, and Wheatley. S13 Mission street. For sale In Los Angeles by B. Gardner. 250 South Spring street, and Oliver & liaines. SOS South Spring street. For sale In Kansas City, Mo., by RIcksecker Cigar Co.. Ninth arid "Walnut streets For sale In Chicago by the P. O. News Co.. 217 Dearborn street, and Charles MacDonald. 63 "Washington street. A Fcr sale In Omaha by Barkalow Bros.. JBi Farnam street: Mrgeath Stationery Co.. 1303 Farnam street. , For sale In Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co., 77 "West Second South street. For sale In Minneapolis by R. G. Hearsej,& Co.. 24 Third street South. For sale in "Washington. D. C, by the Ebbett House news stand. . For sale In Denver. Colo., by Haxnltto & Kcndrick. 000-912 Seventeenth street; Louthan & Jackson Book & Stationery Co.. lth ana Lawrence streets; A- Series. Sixteenth .and Curtis streets. f TODAY'S "WEATHER Increasing cloudi ness, with showers; cooler; southwesterly winds. YESTERDAY'S "WEATHER Maximum tem perature, SO; minimum temperature, 58: pre cipitation, none. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, AUGUST SI. SOT TO BE THOUGHT OF. If President Mdlen has any serious thought of constructing a new bridge across the Willamette River at the upper end of Swan Island or any other place below the four bridges already in operation, he may as well give it up. No bridge should be built there. No bridge can be built there except In di rect antagonism to the Interests of Portland, and this is not to be thought of. The most charitable construction pos sible of application to Mr. Mellen's pro posal is that it is a bluff, pure and simple, designed to wrest favorable terms from the O. R. & N, for use of the steel bridge. It is idle to suppose that access to Portland cannot be had over the O. R. & N.'s bridge, in view cf the amicable arrangements that have been announced for Northern Pacific trains to come down the O. R. & N. tracks from Wallula to Portland. The bridge can accommodate the traffic be tween Portland and Puget Sound In addition to all trains coming and going on the Columbia River line. Mr. Mellen may also relieve himself of any idea that $3,000,000 or any other sum spent to enter the city by way of a new bridge across the lower harbor will Incline the people of Portland in the Northern Pacific's favor. There are bridges enough already. Such as they are, there are too many. The harbor has been damaged incalculably by their multiplication, ' and property-owners have paid heavily for the free-bridge craze that swept over this community twelve years ago. Such injury to up river property and such damage to lower-river shipping as has been already sustained can be borne, but they must not be repeated or increased, and who ever proposes it is not making a wise move. It is of some concern to the welfare of the Northern Pacific Railway that Its desire to inflict still greater inca pacity upon Portland's harbor be dis owned as speedily as possible. "What ever the purpos?, the effect could only be bad. Nothing more disadvantageous to the harbor could be proposed. These facts are so plain that they almost jus tify a question as to the Intention be hind the proposal. Has that intention any connection with Mr. Hammond's theory bf advancing Portland by dry ing up theTJvor, or with the Northern Pacific's steadily pursued policy of strengthening Puget Sound's maritime position? SECRETARY SHAW'S POSITION. The strength of the tariff-reform sen tlment among Iowa Republicans is made manifest by the eagerness of Secretary Shaw to put himself In line with it in so far as his situation will permit, Shaw, with Secretary "Wilson and Speaker Henderson, is at political en mity with the Dolllver-Roberts faction, by which the tariff-reform movement has been Inaugurated. He was a mem "ber of the convention by which the reform resolutions were adopted, and while he did not. like his friend Speaker Henderson, lose his head and speak out in bitter and unreasoning opposition, his views in opposition were clearly understood. But Mr; Shaw is not will ing to go down with the wreck of disgruntled majority; he proposes to keep himself "In line" with the party at home; and so he takes the first oc casion, to say things which, while they bind him to nothing in his National re latione, will tend to maintain his home fences. He has been in politics long enough to know that there can be no greater tactical mistake for a public man than to get at outs with the domi nating sentiment of his own state. But it is questionable if Mr. Shaw's position, as outlined in his Vermont speech, is positive enough to suit the temper of the Iowa reformers. He is for changes "whenever Congress reaches the conclusion that the friends of protection are strong enough to con servatively modify certain schedules," etc ; he Is fearful of "paralyzing busi ness for a season"; he feels "some doubt about the wisdom" of going ahead in a way that will cause "protracted debate" with its business dangers; he defends the protective tariff against the charge of being the "mother of trusts," at the same time confessing that "it is the parent of conditions that make it profit able for capital to combine," etc; he is for nothing In the way of tariff reform which cannot be done "without a three months' acrimonious debate." All of which, when boiled down, means that Mr.: Shaw is not for tariff reform in the spirit and upon the terms of his Iowa fellow-citizena He belongs to that class of tariff-reformers whose senti ments are all right, but whose courage is not equal to the work. His policy Is like that of the cautious mother who insisted that her little boy should learn to swim before going in the "water. Hair-splitting; like this is not calculated to conciliate sentiment in a .region like Iowa, where political feeling Is still of the robust type, where they have unfail ingly the courage to match conviction, and whtrre- they despise a- dodger.- Mr. Shaw did Aot rise to a position of pom mandlng public respect by the meth ods of hair-splitting, and we suspect that If he is to retain his place In pub lic consideration he will have to put a little more positlveness in his views. The tariff-reformers of Iowa are not going to be content with an attitude which assures them of sympathy in one phrae-e, while in the next It is de clares that the changes they are- clam oring for are impossible. The "bugaboo of business disturbance will not restrain men who are as deeply in earnest as those who urged and voted for the tar iff resolves in the Iowa convention. . WHY THEY CAN'T WIN. But for one thing, the Democratic party would be the logical recipient of power at the hands of the American people in the coming November elec tions. That one thing Is the demon strated unsafe character of the domi nant Democrats Bryan and the Bryan wing. A successful and mainly satisfactory, party can'under favoring circumstances elect a comparatively unsafe man to the Presidency. Such an event came to pass In the first election of McKInley. But a discredited party cannot elect a man who is not felt to be safe. No man Is safe who accepted the Bryan doc trines of 1896, because they menaced in the direst way the foundations of all confidence, credit and prosperity. The agitation of the Democrats in 1896 was directed against the gold standard. It was held up as the source of financial ills and the obstacle to financial prosperity. Ingenious and persistent as are the attempts to mis interpret and confuse the matters con tended for In that campaign, the knowl edge that the battle was waged against the gold standard is deeply seated in all observant minds. The silver standard is the present bane of China's foreign relations, and information from Mexico is to the ef fect that owing to the depreciation of silver and the high gold premium, work on some large contracts Is being held back, and that sentiment in favor of the gold standard ha9 been powerfully stimulated. There is no permanent re lief for these ills but adoption of the gold standard, and the step is only a question of time In both China and Mexico. But this recent discredit Into which the silver standard has fallen contrib utes nothing to and detracts nothing from the folly embraced by the Bryan- ites in 1896. The evils of the silver standard and the necessity of the gold standard were abundantly established at that time. He who ran might read. Great Britain adopted the gold stand ard in 1816; Portugal in 1854; Germany in 1871; the United States in 1834 and 1873; Denmark. Norway and Sweden in 1873; Finland In 1877; Tunis in 1891; Austria-Hungary in 1892; India in 1893; Russia and Chile in . 1895; Costa Rica In 1896. The contention for the silver standard was set at naught by all ex perience; yet that experience was flouted from every stump in the Democratic campaign. It was a supreme error, and heavy will be its penalty. Tariff inequalities need correction, but they can more eas ily be borne than the dangers of control by a party with no more regard for truth and financial honor and stability than the Bryanized Democratic party showed in 1896. The country is meas urably aroused on the tariff; but not to anything like the extent to which it was aroused on the question of .the stand ards. That is why the Democrats can not win this year. That is why every body who is sincerely concerned for tariff reform directs his efforts at Re publican sources of influence and power. SAVAGES CANNOT EXPECT MEItCY. I The Oregonlan Is in receipt of a copy of the Manila Freedom of July 15, which publishes in full the remarkable speech made by Major Glenn, United States Army, In his own defense, and his sub sequent speech made In defense of Cap tain Ryan, United States Army, charged with administering the water cure. Major Glenn has made military and civil law a subject of study for fifteen years; he is the author of a text-book on the subject of international law; he has been an officer In the regular Army for thirty years, and his address in de fense of Captain Ryan was a masterly argument. A most interesting portion of his address Is his citation of histor ical proof that acta of exceptional bar barity on the part of a brutal enemy deprive that enemy of any right to the humanities of civilized warfare. Among other instances cited were the atrocities of Anderson's Confederate guerrillas, who in Missouri in September, 1864, murdered our men In cold blood, scalped the officers and mutilated their bodies most obscenely even before death. Under orders from General Clin ton B. Fisk, a man of distinction after the war for -his acts of philanthropy, these miscreants were pursued, and whenever captured were at once put to death without any form of trial. Secretary Stanton wrote General Will iam H. Seward, commanding at Mar tlnsburg, Va., regarding guerrillas, "to employ any means In your power to de stroy these robbers and murderers, and when persons guilty of such transac tions come within your power, you may deal with them as their crimes merit, without making any report on the sub ject." General Grant, in July, 1862, or-" dered the most stringent measures against guerrillas, and General G. M. Dodge wired him from Trenton, Tenn., July 29, 1S6P, as follows: "The man who guided the? rebels to the bridge burned was hung today. He had taken the oath. The houses of four others were burned to the ground." General Law ler, in Louisiana, ordered Colonel Davis that If he captured any of Quantrell's men and troubled the commissary for rations for them, "I shall certainly quarrel with you." Quantrell was the author of the massacre of Lawrence, Kan. a fellow who would capture a hospital train of Federal wounded and shoot them to death In cold blood. Gen eral Sherman wrote General Watklns, October 29. 1864, asking if he could not "burn ten or twelve houses of well- known secessionists in Fairmount and Adairsville, kill a few at random and let them know that It will be repeated every time a train Is fired upon." Gen eral Sherman defined a guerrilla as "a wild beast," who should be destroyed, not captured. Major Glenn quotes ample official evi dence from th? Civil "War records that our troops, with full'approval of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan ' and Secretary of War Stanton made short work of .mis creants who practiced savagery In war fare or treachery in shape of taking the oath only to, obtain residence and pro tection within our lines which was used to benefit the Confederates. Passing from our records to those of the Franco-German "War of 1870-71, Major Glenn recites the fact that the inhuman cruelties Inflicted upon the German wounded left in the houses dur ing the battle of Bazellles so enraged the Bavarians that -they burried down the whole village, stood the captured inhabitants against the house walls and shot them without form of trial. Sev eral women who tortured the German wounded by pouring coal oil over them and burning them to death were Indis criminately slaughtered by the German Army. The franc-tlreurs put- German soldiers to death with torture, and were always shot without trial on capture. In the draft riots in New York City in 1863, President Acton, of the Police Board, said to his Inspectors and cap tains: "Don't take any prisoners until the mob is put down kill, kill, kill!" And kill they did. Some 1500 persons were killed In the streets of New York by the policemen and the soldiers. They were ' tumbled from roofs of houses, pitched out of windows with the bayo nets, and served just as the maddened English soldiers did the Sepoy muti neers, whom they hunted from story to story of. a great government building until they'had killed 2000. A large por tion of the victims were boys under age, and many of them were women, but they were members of a murderous mob who had hanged Inoffensive ne groes from lamp-posts with the flesh cut into ribbons and all of their toes and Angers cut off. Major Glenn shows clearly that In all modern armies acts of shameful atrocity and gross treachery on part of an en emy forfeits their right to anything but the most terrible retaliation. IMPERIALISM IN PRACTICE. "Imperialism' may have Its draw backs, but it has, too. Its advantageous side to the "oppressed." Take, for ex ample, the case of Porto Rico. ShVwas taxed in the last year of Spanish rule to the extent of $2,852,425, of which 46 per cent was for Spain. Last year she was taxed $1,976,802, every penny of -which was applied to domestic purposes. In the last year of Spanish rule Porto Rico spent $1,300,000 for military pur poses; under American rule she spent not one dollar for military purposes. In the Spanish days Porto Rico spent $256,942 for police; under American rule she spent for the same purpose last year $204,360. Under Spanish rule Porto Rico spent but $84,543 annually upon charities and sanitation. Under Ameri can rule it Is spending $230,575. Spanish rule gave Porto Rico but $72,117 in 1897 98 for schools. American rule is spending nearly $600,000 a year on schools. Spain imposed on Porto Rico a tariff which oppressed insular Industry for the benefit of Spanish industry, and took nearly half the public Income. We have given Porto Rico free trade with the mainland and every cent of Income from every source. Spain taxed pov erty and let wealth escape. We have shifted the burden of taxation from poverty to wealth, and from the con sumers of codfish and pork to the con sumers of tobacco and rum. There are now 50,000 children in school in Porto Rico. The Insular treasury balance on July 1 last was $314,000, a gain of $239. 000 for the year. Exports for the fiscal year were $12,889,925, an Increase of more than 50 per cent. There were 13, 000 fewer deaths than the year before. . It Is admitted that the system of ex ternal . authority under which Porto Rico now lives Is not ideal, that It is not In accord with American notions, but It is far ahead of anything Porto Rlco ever knew before, and far ahead of anything she could have created or maintained for herself. Furthermore, it Is not final; for Is there an Amerlcaa who doubts that In the fullness of time and with the development of intelligence and the spirit- of self-dependence and self-government Porto Rico will reach a system In perfect harmony with American principles? If there be such a man, he will do well to study the his tory of his country, with special atten tion to its treatment of the Northwest Territory, of the region which came to us by the Louisiana Purchase, of Cali fornia, of Oregon, and even of Alaska. A VULGAR DEMAGOGUE. Ex-Police Superintendent Devery Is making a great noise in his campaign for election as Assemblyman in the Ninth district of New York City. Dev ery was a very corrupt member of the Tammany police force when Croker ruled New York City, and when ho was forced off the police force by the election of Mayor Low and District At torney Jerome, he retired with a large fortune which he had stolen by black mail under Tammany. Now he is be come a noisy, blatant demagogue of the most commonplace description. He gives picnics, free vaudeville shows, buys shoes for barefooted boys osten tatiously, pays the coal bills of poor widows and gets up. huge excursions for women arid children. This has always been the method of corruptlonlsts of the worst municipal type in this country. It was the method by which "Boss" Tweed retained power. He robbed the city treasury right and left, and then subscribed $50,000 to the fund for furnishing the poor with coal In the Winter. He is described In Cole ridge's lines on the devil, of whom the poet says, "He gave to the poor what he stole from the rich." The same method was practiced by "Doc" Ames in Minneapolis and, to go further back, it is the same method that was prac ticed in ancient Rome, when ambitious men treated the people to gladiatorial shows, to chariot races, and not seldom to large donations of corn, while th soldiers were given money. The free-lunch and free-beer politician Is the cheapest, the most commonplace and the most ancient type of corrup tionist. Considering the class that Dev ery appeals to, he may succeed, even as "Doc" Ames succeeded, but he is a commonplace, vulgar type of ruffian. Croker never stooped to such methods. He had a robust brain and captured the Influential men in the Tammany Democ racy by his energy and power of organ izatlon, out .Devery is notning out a foul-mouthed, burly ward politician, who tole himself rich by blackmailing vice under Tammany, and Is now trying to buy a seat In the New York Assembly by offering free beer and free lunch to the mob, by -ostentatious gifts to the poor, and kindred bribery, which is re sorted to by cheap, vulgar brutes with more stolen money in their pockets than decent brains in their heada Devery Is nothing but a big brute of a fellow, who was a municipal bandit when he was on the police force, and who now has a vain ambition- to become a political "boss" in the New York Democracy. . The delightful welcome given th& Boer Generals by King Edward has been attributed to the superior natural tact of King Edward, stimulated by his sagacious apprehension of national self interest. Dr. William Everett, In his fine speech before the allied British so cieties of Boston, says that when he wa3 a member of the University of Cam bridge in 186L among his fellow-students and personal acquaintances was the Prince of Wales, who had just en tered Trinity College. The Prince was not quite 20 years of age. and he was distinguished then for a truly gracious and friendly desire to accord their due to all people, "to understand them, to know them, and to act accordingly." Dr. Everett believes that there has never been a King of England since the mighty Edward I who has been more anxious and more determined that "the right word shall be said and the right thing done to every man." And this fine attribute he inherited from his able and accomplished father. Prince Albert. We have no doubt that Dr. Everett has correctly measured the character of King Edward. This fine trait explains Lthe steadily growing popularity that he has obtained among all classes of Intel ligent Englishmen. He Is not a hand scrnie man, like his father; he is not a man of superior powers of public speech; he does not pretend to brilliant versa tile culture In art or literature, but he is a man of democratic instincts, of genial temper, of social tact, and, above all, he is in full sympathy with the duty of strict justice to your fellow-men, Avhether they be friends or foes, .whether they belcng to the aristocracy or the commons. This sense of justice In all things and to all men has given dignity to the character of the Prince of Wales before his people, and this It was which prompted him to urge that an early peace on generous terms be made with the Boers. This It was that inspired him to award so cordial and captivating a greeting to the gallant Boer Generals when they were introduced to his pres ence. Advoaates of subsidies will be very much depressed at the news of the organization of a shipbuilding trust. The Morgan shipping combination was a good deal of a blow to them, and this one I3 like unto It. The Maritime Re view said of Mr. Morgan's operation: "It killed the shipping bill absolutely. so far as the present Congress is con cerned." A recent dispatch from Eliza beth, N. J., announced the organization there of a combination which takes in the Crescent shipyards and Moore's foundry, the Union Iron Works, of San Francisco; the Bath Iron Works and the Hyde Windlass Works, of Maine; the yard of Harlan & Holllngoworth and the Eastern Shipbuilding Company, of New London. Plenty of .concerns are left outside, apart from the Cramps and Newport News and Sparrows Point yards: there are the new ones at Qulncy, Mass.; Camden, N. J., and Nor folk, Va. But still it is a pretty for midable combination, and, as the New York Journal of Commerce suggests, the fact of Its existence will, not facili tate the appropriation of money to sup port the Infant industry of building ships in this country until such time as It shall be able to go alone. Representative Tawney, of Minnesota, has evidently learned something since he got home. In a letter to his constltu ents he says: " In respect to the tariff and Its revision by Congress, I will say to you that I am In hearty accord with the declaration of the Republicans of Minnesota as expressed In their recent plat form. I will go- farther and say that If elected to the Fifty-eighth Congress I shall not only work for a revision along the line of a reduc tlon of duties, Including a reduction of the duty on lumber, but will say to you that If the Re publicans control the Flfty-ejghth Congress there will be such a revision of the tariff. Minnesota is evidently abreast of Iowa. Mr. Tawney's course in conneo tlon with the "Insurgent" opposition to President Roosevelt's policy has result ed In opposition to his renomination He has found out, apparently, his weak spot, and seeks to strengthen It. The popularity of the protected trusts is not such that any intelligent member of either house of Congress should be de ceived by Impressions of Its greatness. Judge Shiras. of the United States Su preme Court, reached the age of 70 on January 26, 1902, and will be eligible for retirement October 10. 1902, at which time he will have completed ten years of service, and, being 70, can retire, If he choosea Chief Justice Fuller will be 70 February 11, 1903; Judge Harlan Will be 70 June 1, 1903. Judge Brewer Is 65, Judge Brown is 66, Judge Peckham is 64, Judge White 4s 57, and Judge Mc Kenna is 59. Judge Holmes will be nearly 62 before he can take his seat- older than any of his associates were at the time bf their appointment. The famous Judge Storey, when appointed to the supreme bench from Massachu setts, was only 32, and served thirty- four years. The Elba would stay hire and help abolish crimping, If it were not that the delay would cost her owners roundly But until some such sacrifices will be borne, crimping will go on. It Is folly for owners, agents or Consuls td as sert that this work must be done, and then to permit the chief sufferers by the practice and the main factors in its potential correction to go their way leaving the burden on others. Crimp ing will never be done away until the owners and exporters combine to do iL This Is the truth of the matter. Every thing else is idle and foolish. The apple-growers of half a dozen Western States, including Nebraska have formed a trust "to regulate the price of that fruit." Thus falls at one fell stroke one of the most moving ap peals of Bryan In the last campaign "The poor apple-grower" and his hard lot compared to the trust magnate or namented the fervid supplication of the Nebraskan for his own electipn. The "paramounts" are suffering from heavy mortality. Bishop Potter speaks out in favor of the miners and in reprobation of the operators, like the brave man he is. Unfortunately, little if any effect is to be looked for from his or any other ut terance. The operators are already in hopeless defiance of public opinion. The convict who In his peregrination about the penitentiaries of the country sslccts the one in Kentucky for a mur. derous escape deserves no sympathy for his Inevitable backset. Men of the Dark and Bloody C round know what guns are made for. PROPHECY AND SUPERSTITION. New York Times. It would be Interesting to know, If there were any way. of finding out, to what extent the recent coronation of King Edward has tended to emancipate from silly superstition the great multitude of people who. because of an alleged pro phecy by a gypsy charlatan or fake witch. to the effect that he would relsn but never be crowned, have regarded It as Impossible for him to experience what has Just happened to him. When his sud den and critical illness necessitated tne postponement of the coronation cere monies In June every one of this multi tude shook his or her head and oald to his or her neighbor: "See, it could not be otherwise because It was prophesied. He will never be crowned, because If he Is, the prophecy would be falsified, and that would be Impossible." But the prophecy. If ever made, nao been falsified. What will the hag-ridden victims of superstition say now? The pessimistic oracle shot her prophetic ar row Into the air, but It missed Its mark. Such arrows frequently do; but the fact that guesses of this character are occa sionally right and are remembered for generations when, through what is prob ably a purely accidental coincidence, they seem to be vindicated, tends to keep alive superstitions- which should have died a natural death when it was discovered that witchcraft was chiefly hysteria, and spells and charms, like curses and blessings, ex hausted themselves in their reflex action upon the persons primarily In Interest. A suggestion which the clever soothsayer or necromancer succeeded in implanting in the mind of one susreptlble to such in fluences through fear of the "super natural," usually developed Into a morbid Impulse, In consequence of which the person whose future was blighted by a curse or an adverse prophecy, frequent ly did all in his power unconsciously. perhaps to bring about the conditions which would seem to be a fulfillment of the prophecy of which he was the vic tim. In some circumstances propnecj was very easy, uiven a Knowieage oi. temperament, character and habits, and It W06 not difficult in a primitive state of society to tell with a close approxlma- tlon to accuracy what wculd sooner or later happen to a man. The fulfillment of prophecies could be recognized tnrougn a nrettv wide rantre of happenings, as they were usually vague enough to mean what ever might chance in the general line ot their accepted significance. How deep a hold superstition still has upon generally intelligent people is indi cated by the very general belief In Eng land concerning the gypsy prognosis above referred to. that there was "eomc- thlnc in it." Obviously there was nom ine in It. Will these same people go on cherishing the sayings of irresponsible old vagabonds and vagrants as sacrea oracles? Probably. Superstition dies hard, even in the 20th century. Mexico's Silver Menace. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. ThfrA is a chance that Mexico, too. will s6on give up the silver stanaara. The broad gap between silver and gold at the regular coinage ratio and the lluc- tuation in the. market price or. suver are giving Mexico a good deal of trbuble. These things would give any country trouble In which the silver, currency ba sis prevailed. Many Industries In Mexico are now held up by tne uncertainty- as to which direction silver prices win go in the near future. Silver's price nas a direct bearing on the cost of materials, labor and everything else entering Into industry, and the fluctuations now under way have blighted enterprise In Mexico for the time. The chances are that Mexico will not consent to tie Itself much longer to a system which haa been abandoned by all the other progressive countries in the world, and which Is clung to by no other great country of the present day except China. Mexico has many educated, alert and enterprising men. They are abreast of the world's thought in all fields. All of these, of- course, are in favor of the adoption of the gold standard, but new views make converts slowly In Mexico. That country has had the silver standard through practically all of Its great days, and a change to the gold basis would un settle many things for a time and cause much embarrassment. But the change will have to come sooner or later, and the sooner the better. It Is understood that the able Secretary of Finance. Don Jose Ives Limantour, Is a gold standard man. Nobody who knows that official's character and record will doubt this. He Is a modern man in the largest acceptlon of that term. When ever anybody points to the possibility of the death or retirement of President Diaz at an early day as an irremediable disas ter to Mexico, the name of Secretary Li mantour recurs to the mind. It has been said that the secretary Is the eholce of General Diaz for the higher office. The people of Mexico have been for several years past considering him as a probable successor to General Diaz. The secre tary will furnish an additional reason for Mexico's and the world's confidence in him It he succeeds in bringing his coun try to the gold basis, as rumor says he wants to do. Alaska' Development. 6t. Louis Globe-Democrat A bulletin issued by the Portland (Or.) Chamber of Commerce Is an instructive showing of the rapid growth of commerce In Alaska. The big territory purchases now annually merchandise valued at $15, 000,000, and its importations since becom ing a part of -the United States are placed at iuu.w,wq. since K5 Alaska has nro- duced furs, fish and gold worth J1&,OCO,000, equauy cuviaed between the three Items, American capital to the extent of J23.000.- 000 hao gone into the territory. Half the presentpopulatlon of 75.000 has been gained during the past five years. Alaska's sal mon pack last year was valued at $7, 000,000, and In quantity was eight times that of the Columbia River. Thirty com panies operate 55 canneries in Alaska, em ploying a capital of J22.000.0oo. Our big gest territory is spreading out in business In a way characteristically American. According to the writer connected with the United States Agricultural Depart ment. Alaska has resources to support a populaton of 3,000.000. The Government estimate is that Alaska contains 2,000.000 acres of land suitable for farming and pasturage. Finland, much the same geo graphically, supports a population of 2. 600.000 6n half the agricultural area of Alaska. Govesnor Brady recently enlarged on the agricultural attractions of the ter ritory. but added: "What's the use of inviting people to come to Alaska to settle when Congress neglects to pave the way? As matters stand It Is Impossible for a man to take up a homestead claim, for the simple reason that there are no sur veys, and the land office will not open the land for settlement until it is aur veyed." No doubt, if Congress should act in this matter many of the Amerl cans buying lands in Canada would chocse Alaska Instead as their" future home. JnMt So! Brooklyn Eagle.. "He who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before Is a public benefactor," according to universal authority. Mr. A. S. Ochs has made only one newspaper appear where two appeared before. In Philadelphia. The deduction de pends on the point of view. It probably signifies that Journalism should not muzzle the Ochs that treads out the corn which the able owner of the consolidated Public Ledger and Philadelphia Dally Times would be the first to acknowledge. The Ledge" needed Juvenatlon. The Times needed an Infusion of earnest purpose. The unified resultant shows that each got what it needed and lost what It could well do without Such 13 the harmonious con Junction of need with opportunity in West ern world journalism under ucnsiuentai initiative. A REPUBLICAN AGENT. Denver Republican. The best agent for the Republican party Is Mr. Bryan on his speaking tour In the East. He Js doing more than any other man in the country possibly could do to make the people of that section appreciate what the Democratic party as represented by hint really is, arid knowledge of the true character of Bryanism is the surest preventive against its poison. He appeals to the prejudice of the dis contented and the dissatisfied, and tries to array them against the enterprising and the prosperous. He preaches a doctrine of disorder closely akin to the anarchism which some of the discontented immi grants from Europe have brought to the United States. Whlle he proclaims that the governing power in this country is the people themselves, he makca an im proper use of that fundamental truth by trying to awaken a desire to tear down and destroy the work of those who have achieved material success. A man in his position might do much to induce people to Improve their condition by developing the resources of the coun try, laying broad and deep foundations of prosperity, and exerting themselves In every legitimate way to take advantage of the opportunities that lie before them. But in all his talk there is nothing that inspires to greater or better effort. He hao nothing but appeals to prejudice and hatred. He Is the foremost representa tive of pessimism, and whatever success he may achieve will be with men who are more envious of success in others than desirous of achieving it themselves. With such a spirit the mass of the peo ple are not in sympathy. Such doctrines find many listeners only in times of wide spread depression and business stagnation. The country is too prosperous to be led into the belief that the mass of the people are oppressed and that a small group of men In New York are robbing them of tnelr liberties. Conservative and unenterprising though the Democratic party usually is, it Is not destructive and anarchistic. The element in it to which Mr. Bryan appeals with most force is the Populistlc. The Demo cratic party has fallen heir to the isms. the vagaries and the anarchistic tenden cits of Populism, and the more Mr. .Bryan s influence Is exerted the more Popullstic will Democracy become. But it will become rather by driving out of us ranics tne men who have faith In their country than by making converts to his system of freak doctrines and political dreams. Democrats who wish to lmnrovp. their condition and that of the country will desert the Democracy rather than join Mr. Bryan In wandering away from tne pains or common sense. The outlook for the Republicans in the Congressional elections has been greatly lmproved as a result of Mr. Bryan's Eastern tour, and Renubllcan leaders could ask nothing better than that he should continue to proclaim his Ponullstlc doctrines through all the country east of tne .Mississippi. RARE PARSI MATVUSCRIPT. Columbia University Han Ilecclved n. Codex of the Zoroastrlan Ritnal. New York Mall and Express. About a year ago an announcement was made of a- rich gift to Columbia Univer sity of manuscripts of the Avesta. or Zoroastrlan Bible, presented to Colum bia by several Parsls of India, through their high priest. Dastur Kalkhosru Jamaspjl, of Bombay. The crowning gem of the collection has now arrived In the form or a sixth and most precious codex of the Zoroastrlan ritual, sent through the same distin guished high priest, for Professor A. V. Williams Jackson to present to the li brary of the university. This newest accession is a manuscript that Is remarkable in many ways. It Is nearly 500 years old and it contains the Yasna, or Liturgy, Including also Zoroas trlan hymns that are still chanted by the white-robed priests of the Indian Parsis, as they were more than 25 centuries ago in the tableland of ancient Iran. As de scribed in the monumental edition of the Avestan texts, by Professor Goldner, of Berlin, this manuscript is known by the signatures, and it was some time the property of the Magian priest, M. Pauri. Besides Its age and acknowledged merit it- Is especially valuable because It con tains in excellent form not only the orlgl. nal text of the liturgy In the sacred Zoroastrlan language, but It is accom panied also by an old Sanskrit version of each sentence to aid in interpreting the original. The great codex Itself now comprises 166 folios, but three leaves have disap peared at the beginning, and they must have been missing generations ago. The manuscript Is not bound, but consists lit erally of fugitive leaves, simply laid be tween sheets of thin paper, and oiten damaged or patched. But each of Us pages is precious because of the excel lence, accuracy and independence of the reading. PERSONS WORTH KXOWIXG ABOUT. " The Kins: ot Greece la expected "at Cowes this tfeek. on s brief visit to Klnc Edward. King George to going to Join Queen Olga, at St, Petersburg, for the marriage of their third son. Prince Nicholas, and the Grand Duch-ss Helena Vladlmlrovna. -which Is to take plaea on Friday, August 29. Henri d'Almeraa has written a book full of anecdotes about Frenchmen of genius, their failures and successes. One thins they have all had In common; a capacity for hard work. He Instances Bourget, who, as a young man, used to get up at 3 and work till 7. Then he gave lessons all day long, and In the evening he was at h'a de?k aealn, writing till late at night. Lord Brassey, who has an article on "Sub sidles to Shipping." in a current British pe riodical, and whose name has frequently ap peared recently in discussion of the Morgan ship combination. Is well qualified by prolonged study of this question to give an opinion. In 1871 he delivered the first of a series ot speeches on naval administration, advocating alliance between the naval and mercantile serv ices. The establishment of the second-class re serve,, which now numbers 10.000. was owing to the persistence of his advocacy In Parlia ment, and he also took & leading part In the founding of the Royal Naval Artillery Volun teers. In 1S8S he waa a member of the com mission on the defense of coallnx stations. The Duke of Devonshire, Lofu President ot the Council, has recently completed his 60th year. Two years after leaving Cambridge he was attached to Earl Granville's special mis sion to Russia in 1S5G. The next year North Lancashire returned him to Parliament, and he moved the vote of no confidence that result ed In the defeat of Lord Derby's government. He then became Under Secretary for War, soon afterwards Postmaster-General, and In 1S71 Chief Secretary for Ireland. In 1S7G Mr. Glad stone retired, and the Marquis of Hartlngton, as the Duke was then known, became leader of the Liberal party In the House of Commons. In 1SS0 be was asked by the Queen to form an administration, but declined, and went to the War Office under Mr. Gladstone. The Mother's Dream William Barnes. I'd a dream- tonight As I fell asleep. Oh! the touching sight Makes me still to weep; Of my Httlo" lad. Gone to leave me sad. Aye. the child I had. But was not to keep. As m heaven hlh. I my child did seek. There. In train. came by ' Children fair and meek. Each in Illy .white. With a lamp alight; Each was clear to sight. But they did not sneak. Then, a little sad. Came my child In turn, , But the lamp he had. Oh! It did not burn: He. to clear my doub Said, halt turn'd about, "Your tears put It out Mother, nsrer mourn," , NOTE AND COMMENT. Mr. McCusker may now pull down the circus posters. More light is thrown on the Chicago murder mystery and the police see the mystery quite plainly. Although nobody Is going to build the Coos Bay railroad, that seerce to be the reason why it's going to be built. The boy who would perloh If required to carry water for hl3 mother takes delight In carrying water for the circus elephant. We are said to be In strained relations with the Porte. How much money have we been trying to strain out of him this time? There conies a time at the end of vaca tion time when what the wild waves are saying sounds very much like board bills. Jim Hill advises the people to raise things. That's what they're trying to do. to raise a disturbance with the rail roads. It makes a difference to a man when you tell him the site will be next to his property, and in the next breath say you mean the oil tanks site. Since the Civic Improvement Associa tion is out after nuisances, let us suggest "the car platform hog and the man who refuses to pay his occupation tax. Notwithstanding the untissnllable proof that the new charter docs and does n"t need amendment, it remains that the charter does not and does need amend ment. Thousands of people will now read "Huckleberry Finn." Just to see where thy Immorality come in. The directors of the Denver Library must be old women. Schwab only needs a rest. He certainly does if he has been trying to earn his ealary. He finds it Is not worth about all It cost. Alger says. If elected Senator from Michigan, he will fill the office to the best of his ability. He wisely refrains from saying that he filled the office of Secre tary of War to the best of hla ability. A prehistoric skeleton has been dis covered In Kansas. The size of the cranium Is about equnl to that of the present inhabitants. How long do people have to live in Kansas, to btar out the higher evolution theory? The Kaiser refuses to let the Crown Prince marry an American girl. If the Hohenzollerns" would only admit some new blood Into their dynasty, perhaps they would lose some of their pig-head-edness and gain some brains. There are under United States Govern ment license 325 retail liquor dealers in Vermont, an average of 20 to a county. There are 2S2 licensed dealers In malt liquors and It wholesale dealers in malt liquors. Since 1S52 Vermont han been a Prohibition state. According to statistics furnished by real estate men from Kansas north to Winnipeg, land values have Increased nearly 50 per cent in the last two years. It Is estimated over 21.000 American farm ers have settled in the Canadian North west In the first seven months, o this, year, and that before the year Is over the number will be 50.0CO. American syn dicates and farmers liave purcl ased over 5.000.000 acres of land In the Canadian Northwest already this year. Of course. It sounds good In this dem ocratic day to Inflict the law upon all citizens alike,, without distinction as to race, color or previous condition. This is a popular theory, but It Is none the less fallacious. The respected, well-known citizen carries a probability of innocence with him, which the hobo does not. Mr. Burrell Is a respected citizen, and this fact should have weight In a court of justice. So are other men respected, but many of them are not generally known, and their wqrth, therefore, cannot carry general recognition. Valuable relics of the kings of the first Egyptian dynasty are on the way to the University of California. The pride of the ancient eovereigns no longer shields against the vulgar gaze, and all Is vanity. If the remains of any of the monarcha themselves are among the relics, fate after all la kind to them. "Imperial Caesar dead and turned to clay, might stop a hole to keep the wind away." And in another vein muses Sir Thomas Browne: "Mlzralm cures wounds, and Pharaoh is sold for balsam." Captain Lewis- basked In the Elyslan sunshine. "Clark," said he, "do you remember when you went up the Willam ette River?" "To be sure I do." "How far up did you go?" "Where Portland Is." "Where they're going to have the fair In our honor?" "No. where they're trying to find a site for the fair." ."Aren't there any?" "Plenty, when I was there." "Why didn't you pick one out?" "I knew there would be all kinds of kickers. It's like choosing a Queen for Elks' Carnival; they all ought to be chosen." And only the murmur of the zephyrs was heard as the Captains kept on bask ing. PLEASANTRIES OF PAIIAGRAPHERS A Sign of Wealth. "Their wealth must b prodigious." "It Is. They own two automo biles." Detroit Free Press. First English Lord Did you propose to MIsj Porkpacker? Second English Lord No. Tc her father. I hate to have any business deal ings with a woman. Life. Mrs. Style I want a hat. but it must be In the latest style. Shopman Kindly take a chair, madam, and wait a few minutes; the fashion Is Just changing. Tlt-BIts. Uncle George Harry. I -suppose you keep a cash account? Harry No. Uncle George. I haven't got so far as that: but I keep an ex pense account, Boston Transcript, Just Started. "Young man." said the evan gelist, "do you not wish to be saved?" Not yet," replied young Rakeley; "I'm only Just beginning to be lost," Philadelphia Press. All Is Vanity. Mrs. Dorcas Why is Mrs. Gadsby so glad she hasn't any children? Dor casIt gives her more time to attend those mothers' met tings. Judge. Christian. "My husband's health Is wretched." "Why don't you to Christian sci ence?" "Christian science?" "Yes; the kind they teach at a first-class cooking schooL" Puck. Calling the Turn. She (time, 11 P. M.) Are you aware ot the fact that I am a mind reader? He No, Indeed. But to put you to the test, tell me what I'm thinking of. She You are thinking of starting for" home Immediately. Chicago Dally News. Tourist (after unusually long stoppage at bor der station) I say, guard, why aren't we going on? Anything wrong? Guard (who Is peace fully taking his lunch) There's naethlng wrong, sir, but I canna whustle the noo; ma. mouth's fu o fclacults. Tlt-BIts. i