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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1900)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1900. he reflomcm Entered at the Postoffic at Portland, Oregon. &s aecond-class matter. TELEPHONES. Editorial Rooms.... ICQ I Business Office.... COT REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. Br Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Dally, with Sunday, -per month ....f0 85 Dally, Sunday excepted, per year.......... 7 GO Dally, with Sunday, per year 8 00 Sunday, per year ...... 2 00 The Weekly, per year. ............. 1 50 The "Weekly. 3 months. ...... 60 To City Subscriber Dally, per week, delivered. Sundays excepted.lSe Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday lncluded.20c The Oregcnlan does not buy poems or storlea from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to It without solicita tion. No stamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. Newaor discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should be addressed Invariably "Editor The Oregonlan," not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to advertising, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonlan." Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson, office at 1111 Pacific avenue. Tacoma. Box 853, Tacoma postofllee. Eastern Business Offlce The Tribune build ing. New York city: "The Rookery." Chicago; the S. C Jleckwlth special agency. New Tork. For sale In San Francisco by J. K. Cooper. 76 Market street, near the Palace hotel and at Goldsmith Bros., 230 Sutter street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Co., 21" Dearborn street. TODAY'S WEATHER. Rain, with southerly winds. PORTLAND, SATURDAY, MARCH 10. OVERTURES FOR PEACE. President Kruger, it is said, has ap pealed to the British Government for peace, indicating the terms he is will ing to accept. But the terms include nothing more than what the Transvaal Government offered, or demanded, in its ultimatum preceding the war. Of course, the British Government trill not now accede to propositions which it rejected then. What were the political relations of Great Britain and the Transvaal before war was declared by the latter? Cap tain Mahan, of the United States Navy, In an article in the North Amer ican Review, examines this question with some care. With clear Judgment lie says that the political relationship is indicated by the character of the conventions at Pretoria and London, and, in both, the document is in the nature of a grant from a superior to a dependent. That is, In both the suze rainty of Great Britain was claimed on one side and acknowledged on the other. The Transvaal has, however, within recent years, set up the assump tion, and clung to it. that in the sec ond convention the suzerainty was re nounced. Captain Mahan contends, however, that the words will not bear this construction; and it is certain that the British Government never has as sented to the contention of renuncia tion. That is, Great Britain holds that the Transvaal is not an independent Btate, though entitled to Internal self government. Captain Mahan writes: "The explicit reservation of the right to nullify any treaty or engagement entered into by the Transvaal with a foreign country necessarily reserved with it responsibility for its relations with the outside world; for when treat ies or engagements cannot be independ ently concluded, although dealings may be had and business carried on, it is impossible to guarantee satisfactory relations of any kind. The whole in cludes all its parts; final ratification conditions and embraces all the ante cedents." Last October the Transvaal peremp torily demanded that Great Britain should give assurance that "it would not Insist further on the assertion of suzerainty." But two days were al lowed for answer, under menace of war. The British Government refused to comply with this demand, and the Boers of the Transvaal, Joined by those of the Orange Free State, at once be gan hostilities. This was the position of the parties at the beginning of the war the Transvaal insisting that Great Britain should abandon Its claim of paramountcy; the latter refusing to renounce it. It is certain now, there fore, that Great Britain will allow no terms that do not place her entire sov ereignty over the Transvaal beyond dis pute; and as the Orange Free State has cast in its lot with the Transvaal, it also will be compelled to accept Brit ish sovereignty. Great Britain's interposition in the internal affairs of the Transvaal was based on two contentions, thus stated by Captain Mahan: "First, of general policy, in the necessity of remedying conditions in a neighboring state which threaten one's own tranquillity or wel fare as when we interfered in Cuba and in the Venezuela business; and sec ond, upon the specific right of suze- ' rainty, retained In the acts which con stituted the Transvaal into the South African Republic." In other words. that a large alien population in the Transvaal must be relieved from griev ous political and social wrongs Imposed by the government of that s'tate; and that Great. Britain, both by law of neighborhood and upon her claim of paramountcy, must do it. The answer to this was that Great Britain must abandon her claim of paramountcy and of right to interpose in the affairs of the South African Republic. Since this was the basis of the war, it is certain that Great Britain now not only ivill not accept less than she contended for in the first place, but will make peace only on the basis of extinguishment of even' claim of the Transvaal to inde pendence; and. furthermore, will take over tne urange uree state, upon, which she had made no claim before, but which, by becoming the ally of the Transvaal in war, will be required to accept the same conditions as the Transvaal in the settlement of peace. But beyond their extinction as inde pendent states, t'here will be no hard ships, no reprisals, no confiscations. Under British domination the people will have more enlightened government and better administration of Justice than they ever had before. President Kruger's request for peace is made, undoubtedly, for the purpose of moving the sympathy of the world. But it can do him little or no good; for the war cannot end till the causes that produced it shall be settled or re moved. This can happen only through abandonment of its contention by one party or the other: and Great Britain is not likely to yield now what she re fused to yield before she was chal lenged to war and made the great sac rifices that have put her on the road to victory. It is dangerous, says Aldrich, to lower duties on imports from France in com- I petition with our Protected Interests. lit is also dangerous, we are informed, to admit, duty free, goods from Puerto Rico that come Into competition with our Protected Interests. It Is danger ous to legislate against trusts, lest we offend the Protected Interests. It Is dangerous not to pass the subsidy bill, lest we offend the Protected Interests. These are dangers, doubtless, but there are others, and greater, we shall run into In trying to escape from these. Out of the frying-pan into the fire. AU REVOIR, BUT NOT GOOD-BY. It Is well, perhaps, that we should bestow a parting glance at the reci procity treaties, negotiated under the Dlngley bill, before the present Con gress fades Into history with all its unredeemed pledges and its capitula tions to the Protected Interests. The St. Louis platform declared: Protection and reciprocity are twin measures of Republican policy, and go hand in hand. Democratic rule has recklessly struck down both, and both must be re-established. This pledge was redeemed in the Dingley law. It levied a protective tariff, but it made full and adequate provision for reciprocity treaties with such nations a9 would give us recipro cal concessions. But now that the President has carried out the instruc tions of the Dlngley law and presents the results of his work to Congress, the work is resisted and expert opinion in clines to the view that the treaties will fail. The opposition, of course, comes from prptected Interests that fear re duction of the duties on such goods as they produce. The main issue is drawn over the treaty with France. The Argentine treaty has already lapsed, and we are not likely to see anything done with the treaties with the British "West In dies. The treaty with France seems to be admirable in conception and scope, though doubtless its imperfections are numerous enough to afford the advo cates of the protected Interests ample pretexts for their actions. In general the treaty commends itself through the enlarged opportunities it secures our producers for entrance into French markets. For many years France has maintained a tariff system which pro vides a general high tariff, called the "maximum tariff," against the exports of all nations which have not by recip rocal treaty obtained the lower rates known as the "minimum tariff." Dur ing these years all the nations of Eu rope, save one, have acquired for their exports the minimum rates. The United States alone among great commercial nations has been left under the frost of exclusion. France Imports annually (1897) $117,000,000 worth of manufac tured products, England alone supply ing $43,000,000 and Germany $31,000,000 under the minimum rates. The United States, overweighted with the maxi mum tariff, was only able out of this vast amount to introduce (and with little profit) less than $4,000,000 worth. Here, obviously, was basis for advan tageous negotiation, which was under taken. The result is that France has accepted our moderate concessions on the enumerated French exports, and gave us In exchange her minimum tariff on all our exports, save the few exceptions specifically named. This re duction of French duties ranges gener ally from 20 to 50 per cent, averaging over 30 per cent. The American indus tries particularly benefited will be those relating to meat, lard and pork products. The fruit Interests of Michi gan and California will be large bene ficiaries. The numerous producers of cottonseed oil throughout the South, and the 45,000 producers of mineral oils in the North, will be assured for five years of the minimum rates of duty. Oil is our fourth great staple ex port, and cuts a large figure in- the bal ance of trade. The reduction of duty in copper and nickel will add to the $7,000, 000 worth of these minerals we now send to France. Reductions ranging from 25 to 40 per cent have also been arranged on the woods and furniture of our Northwestern and Southern states. A liberal reduction has been made on American machinery of all kinds, and, as these exports are now nearly $2,000, 000, good results should come from this change. American carriages and wag ons, cycles and- railwav cars have been given the minimum rate! together with marble of all kinds, iron and steel, agricultural Implements, small hard ware, many chemicals, hemp, fibers, vegetables, building materials, India rubber goods, and a range of miscel laneous articles too numerous to men tion. The issue, then, is squarely drawn. Do we want to stay at home and con sume ourselves, or do we want to en courage business with the world? There is close correspondence between the antagonistic positions of progress and conservatism regarding the Puerto Rico affair, the neutralization of the Nicaragua canal, and these reciprocity treaties. On the one hand Is the broad, enterprising view, on the other the nar row and provincial. Apparently the forces of exclusion have triumphed, but it can be only for a season. The pres sure of the search for markets abroad will soon be so strong as to triumph over the old desire to control the home market. TESTIMONY THAT AVASNT W ANTED. The maritime patriots at "Washington have had a very trying experience for the past few weeks, patching up a sat isfactory shipping subsidy bill. It re quired delicate "finesse" to determine the greatest possible amount of graft that could be squeezed out for the mil lionaire shipowners and builders with out unduly alarming the producers who must ultimately pay for this plunder ing of the treasury. In their efforts to convince the people that shipbuilding and owning was a decaying Industry which nothing but subsidies could re store, the patriots lacked the presence and co-operation of the one American who, above all others, Is in a position to speak authoritatively on the subject. Arthur Sewall, of Bath, Me., the great est shipowner In America, was not at the capital explaining why he could not compete with the foreign shipowners without the aid of a subsidy. He was too busy competing with the foreign ers and growing rich, with nothing in his favor but a knowledge of his busi ness and the world for a field in which to trade. The splendid ships of the Sewall fleet are today carrying the American flag around the world, objects of pride for the people and of profit for their owner. "While the members of the grafting syn dicate were begging the Government to aid them in building and operating ships, Arthur Sewall was finishing the plans for two larger sailing ships than ever floated under the British flag. The experience of over thirty years In the business, through good times and bad tim.es, has demonstrated to his satis faction that the ocean carrying trade under the American flag is highly -prof- itable without the aid of a subsidy. The stock argument of this band of patriots, or pirates, bent on plunder. Is that the foreigners have the advantage over Americans in cost of building a ship and of operating her. This, of course, is nonsense, for Americans are shipping plates for ships to European builders. American workmen are more skillful than foreigners, and put in longer hours. As to operating, American, German. British and French vessels have cleared from Portland within the past sixty days, and the wages of their crews were exactly the same under each flag, and the same custom prevails the world over. Admitting, however, that the foreigners have the advantage claimed, and that we must meet them on their own grounds, why not go a step far ther? When the foreign shipowner wishes to make an addition to his fleet, he goes out Into the open market and buys the vessel. If we need more ships to help the producer in marketing his products, why not go into the world's markets and buy them? German ship owners have grown rich within the past few years by taking up the old sailing vessels which England discarded when steam was all the rage. Of what inter est is it to the millions of producers of the United States who carries their products to market, so long as the work Is done at a reasonable figure? In round numbers, 500 ships a year are required to carry the products of the Pacific Coast to foreign markets. Not to exceed 200 shipowners are rep resented by these 500 ships, as some owners have as many as a dozen ves sels in this trade. The freight which la carried by this fleet is produced by over 100,000 farmers, millers, lumbermen, fishermen, vlneyardlsts, etc. The ship ping subsidy is a tax on the many for the benefit of the few. A free-ship bill would bring many foreign-built vessels under the American flag, more probably than would be brought by a subsidy. On the Pacific Coast under the subsidy law 100,000 men will pay a tax levied for the benefit of 200 shipowners and a handful of builders. THREE THINGS ABOUT TRUSTS. The brief. synopsis sent by telegraph of the findings of the Industrial Com mission concerning trusts gave a very inadequate idea of the body of the re port. The commission's recommenda tions were given, but not Its findings of fact relative to the operations of the trusts themselves. These findings are rather discursive, so that some effort is needed to arrive at clear conception of the points desired to be made. A large number of witnesses has been ex amined, and their testimony, as was to be expected from the diverse na ture of their interests, leads in many cases to directly opposite conclusions. The report says upon this point: "The evidence, even on questions of fact, has often been contradictory, and in some Instances it has been impossible from the testimony so far taken to reach any positive conclusion." Thus, to take one instance out of many, there are no less than three different views as to the good or bad effects arising" from the. trust's practical control of prices. Trust advocates themselves say that prices are reduced by reason of the large capital controlled by the trust, Its ability to buy raw material in very large quantities and pay for it in cash, and the numberless other econ omies within reach of so large an ag gregation of skill and capital. Oppo nents of the trust, who are not en gaged in the same line of business, are inclined to believe that the prices of Its commodities are maintained at a permanently higher level than would be the case under free competition. Meanwhile, those opponents of the trust, who are at the same time its competitors in trade, complain chiefly that it uses Its large powers for the purpose of selling at ruinously low prices for limited periods and within limited areas for the purpose of de stroying competition and securing the whole market to Itself. After this end Is attained, they do not doubt that prices are fixed unduly high, but their main grievance is against the means by which this result is accomplished rather than against the result itself. From this mass of testimony, and more like and unlike it, the members of the commission draw three unani mous conclusions, and three only. On all other points they disagree, but on these three they conceive no doubt at all: 1. Trusts are aided by the tariff. 2. They are aided by railway discrimination. 3. Publicity will do much good. As to the effect of the tariff upon trusts, the committee reports that all of its witnesses "testify In favor of the tariff upon the industry represented, whether they be members of the com bination or its opponents." In the sec ond place, It is practically conceded by all of them that trusts have profited very largely, both before and since ,the enactment of the Interstate commerce law, from their ability to secure im portant and valuable discriminations) in their favor in the freight rates of com mon carriers. The third point of gen eral agreement among the witnesses has reference to the value of publicity. Upon this subject the commission says: "Many of the witnesses. Including even representatives of combinations, are of the opinion that a much greater pub licity regarding the affairs of such combinations than is now customary would tend to remove many of the evils. As regards the general public, the knowledge thus secured would avail to prevent the maintenance of ex tortionate prices as well as unfair methods and conditions of competition. Stockholders and Investors would also be protected against abuses by pro moters and officers of corporations." The recommendations of the commis sion as regards publicity of trust affairs have been already published in the dis patches. The suppressed portion, there fore, relates to the tariff and to rail way discrimination It is certainly an Impressive fact that while they differed as to almost everything else, the com missioners were agreed as to these two points; and the Impression Is a natural one that perhaps If these two abuses could be corrected, the evils of the trusts would disappear. Certainly it will be very hard to destroy railway discrimination against light shippers in favor of heavy shippers. A railroad will very naturally make cheaper rates on 10,000 carloads than on one carload. As to the tariff protection, there Is no such difficulty. All that is necessary Is to strike from the statutes the protect ive tariff on trust-controlled products. And as long as Congress Is determined to deny this plain and simple remedy. Is there really much pertinence In dis cussing other legislation? Representative Jones, of "Washington, has the temerity to go on record In favor of free ships. It is not incredible that he advisedly represents the grow-, ing restlveness of his state under the competition of British Columbia. A great deal of maritime business Is now done in British Columbia ports that would, under free ships, naturally gather in the American ports of Puget Sound. Local considerations of this sort may and very likely will ere long reverse the attitude of many Republi can Congressmen on the question of free ships. In the larger view, also, there is not the same Justification for protection of the shipyards that once prevailed when all sorts of shipbuilding materials were dearer here than abroad. Perhaps free ships will yet prove a corollary of our altered rela tions to the world of international trade. Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of the popular Governor of New York, is off for Cuba. The purpose of her visit Is to Inspect the homes, home life, opportunities and conditions of the people, with a view, presumably, to assist in plans for their improvement. Her visit will recall that of the wife of Senator Thurston, two years ago, which resulted In the death of the latter from heart failure, brought on by sympathy with the wretched, emaciated, starving reconcentrados of the "Weyler policy of subjugating the Insurgents. "While no doubt the condi tion of a vast number of Cubans Is not up to the poorest standard of home life in America, the year of American control in that island has improved matters so that a humane ami intelli gent woman can contemplate the situ ation without danger of nervous col lapse. The judgment of practical women in the adjustment of matters pertaining to the home life and social conditions of these people will be of in estimable value to the administrative forces that are engaged upon the wider problems of their national life. It may well be foreboded that the work will be clumsily and at best but partially done without the advice and assistance in these special lines of the practical home-making element of American life. Governor Roosevelt no doubt sees this, hence the dispatch of his wife as envoy extraordinary in (for the present) a strictly nonofficial capacity, to Inspect the homes and home life of the Cubans. General Thomas J. Morgan, who in his official report of the part taken by his division in the battle of Nashville, December 14 and 15, 1864, charged Adjutant-General Corbln, then Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fourteenth United States colored troops, with "lacking the courage necessary to command brave men," was the able Commissioner of Indian Affairs under Harrison's Admin istration. He is a man of the highest character, and his letter makes It clear that when he preferred charges against General Corbln for "cowardice so gross as to excite the ridicule of the officers and men of his regiment," he believed Corbln was guilty, and that, despite Corbin's acquittal by court-martial, General Morgan evidently believes to day that Corbln was guilty of cow ardice, but excuses him on the ground of his youth and Inexperience. General Morgan is altogether too charitable. The post of Major-General should be given to no man of the military quality of Corbln, who never was an able sol dier, but has always been so able an "Ohio politician" that General Sheri dan, when he heard that the strife in the Chicago convention in 1SS0 had ended in the choice of Garfield, ex claimed: '"It 1s not as bad as it might be; I was afraid they would nominate Corbln." Inevitable as the dominion of Great Britain In South Africa appears today, It is probably true historically that but for Kruger's obstinacy and bad faith the Republics might still have' retained their old status for an Indefinite period. In the progress of negotiations that led up to the treaty of 1881, occurred this colloquy: The President of tho British Commissioners (Question) "Before annexation, had British sub jects complete freedom of trade throughout the Transvaal? Were they on the eame footing as the citizens of the Transvaal?" Mr. Kruger Answer) "They were on the same footing- as the burghers; there was not the slightest difference, In accordance with the Sand River Convention." Presldentr "I presume you will not object to that continuing?" Mr. Kruger "No. There will be equal pro tection for everybody." Sir Evelyn Wood "And equal privileges?" Mr. Kruger "Wo make no difference bo far as burgher rights are concerned. There may perhaps be aome slight difference In the case of a young person who has Just come Into the country." The Kruger government has failed to live up to this promise. Grievous now Is Its expiation, and glad would be the escape. But it is too late. The wrongs of the "Ultlanders will have full redress. Practical tobacco men explain in our local columns the utter baselessness of the hue and cry about competition from Puerto Rico. The truth appears to be that the tobacco of the Island is too small In volume and- restricted In avail ability to become a serious menace. It Is of no more use to offer Puerto Rico tobacco to a man who wants bright "Virginia or North Carolina leaf for his pipe than to try to pacify a devotee of genuine Havana with a "Wheeling sto gie. The Connecticut tobacco-growers have been made a stalking-horse for the trusts that tremble when they think of the Philippines. Colonel Bryan says "the Republican party is not what It was in the days of Lincoln." Is the Democratic party what it was in the days of Jefferson or of Jackson? Parallel the statements of Jefferson and of Jackson with those of Bryan, on money and expansion, and see. It Is rank injustice to require Mason to discuss his alleged Ideas in execu tive session. These occasions presup pose dignity, deliberation and compre hension of confidence, conditions which must create for such a creature an at mosphere of torture. Republican Protest. Chicago Inter Ocean. President McKinley said in his New Tork speech last Saturday: "There can be no imperialism. No political outcry can abrogate our treaty of peace with Spain or absolve us from our solemn en gagements. It Is the people's question. We must choose between manly doing and base desertion." In view of the recent vote in the House on the Puerto Rico question the President could not have spoken more wisely or pertinently. The House Puerto Rico bill Is a substi tution of Imperialism for the expansion policy approved by the American people. It violates our pledges to the Puerto Rlcan people. It puts the island on a lower plane than other American terri tory, and it does this In the face of the national sentiment and the national con-science. I Such vapid pretexts as camo from tho House and come from the Senate on this great Issue show that neither Senators nor Congressmen understand how the people feel; that they do not realize the Indigna tion and wrath aroused by the conviction that Congress is trying to desert the na tional and republican policy of the day at the behest of the tobacco and sugar Inter ests of the East J i A RELATION TO MANKIND. Shall Puerto Rico Be Boomed for Our Perpetual Ireland? Keokuk Gate City. Tho case of a tariff against Puerto Rico rests upon morals and common sense. This country has taken on recently colonial re lations. It will be a supreme test of American capacity In government if we in the New "World can do for a colonial peo ple what Spain from the standpoint of the European and Old "World failed in. "Why did Spain fall? Because It applied Its own eclflsh conception and Interest to the government of another people whose Interest It should sacredly have cared for. "Why did England fail as to Ireland? Be cause it considered the Interests of Eng land Instead of the Interests of Ireland, and therefore by the law of Christ sacri ficed the Interests of .both. If America lets some short-sighted, calculating pro tectionists in their blindness and folly do for us In our relation to Puerto Rico what Spain did for It and-what the Eng land of Cromwell did for Ireland, our colonial policy will be a signal failure, and will deserve and receive the execra tion of the ages. "We would sooner that every tobacconist In America who grows tobacco should be forced to make a better living In a better way. "We would sooner that every calcu lating child of the mammon of unrighte ousness In America should loso everything that he has and go to the poorhouse and hell as he deserves than the great Republic of the United States, standing for human brotherhood, for human rights, and for human liberty, should hold out the word of liberty to the Puerto Rlcans and break It to their hopes. "We would sooner this, sooner enter an act of bankruptcy against every protected scoundrel In America, than through the long outlook of the ages take on another Ireland to England, an other Poland to Russia, another Greece to Russia, another Palestine to Rome, and above the stricken corpse of a people that deserve to be free, and that we promised should be free In entering upon the heri tage of American liberty, should, like another Cain, point to the stricken body of another Abel felled by our own blow and with the infamy of the first murderer say, "We are not our brother's keeper." "Wo are an expansionist of expansionists, but unless America is going to take all Its greatness and breadth of protection to all Its children gathered from all the oceans Into the ample folds of its equal protection, unless It Is going to be as big as the Republic and as the Declaration of Independence, unless it Is going to be as comprehensive as the religion of Jesus Christ, unless it is above the human de pravity of having chained slaves In Its possessions, It will perish and It ought to perish. No American statesman should rest this matter upon tuppenny Incidents. "Wo have taken on a great relation to man kind. At the start we must begin with mankind in a great relation unless we would load our national conscience with other Irelands and other Polands. , a "A HIGH-HANDED OUTRAGE." Another Leading: Indiana Republican Denounce the Puerto Rlcan Hill. Indianapolis. General Lew "Wallace Is outspoken In his denunciation of the Puerto Rlcan tariff bill. "The people of tho United States," he said, "cannot be hood winked Into believing that when the Nation acquires territory, the Constitu tion does not at once extend to It. I have viewed this Puerto Rlcan measure with profound astonishment and sorrow, and have no hesitancy In denouncing it as a high-handed outrage in the Interest of the trusts and against the Interest of the people of this country. "If this bill passes to enactment, It will cost the Republican party many thou sands of votes, and should the Democrats discard Bryan and nominate such a man as Olney on a good platform, they would sweep the country. The Puerto Rlcan bill Is neither law. Justice, nor common hu manity, and no good citizen will counte nance it." General "Wallace Is astonished that tho President should have withdrawn from his original stand for free trade with Puerto Rico. He states that while he can never bring himself to support the Demo cratic party, he will be greatly embar rassed In supporting President McKinley for re-election should the Puerto Rlcan bill become a law. e PUERTO RICAN VIEWS. "It Seems Almont Incredible" That c. Tariff "Will Be Imposed. Boletln Mercantll de Puerto Rico, Feb. 10. It seems almost Incredible that Congress will ratify the action of the majorities of these two committees. House and Senate (in deciding to impose a tariff upon Puerto Rico); but should Congress do so, we feel confident that the measure will be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. Boletln Mercantll de Puerto Rico, Feb. 21. As to Puerto Rico, Mr. Bryan's words have no uncertain sound: "A stable gov ernment and free trade." Mountains of Alanlcn. Professor Henry Gannett, of the Geologi cal Survey, has compiled some statistics regarding mountain heights In Alaska, which will soon be Issued In a bulletin. The names of the mountains In the bulle tin will be: Feet. Blackburn Mountain 12.50U Blade Mountain 1:2,500 Cook Mountain 13,750 Crlllon Mountain 15,000 Drum Mountain 13.300 Falrweather Mountain 15,202 Hayes Mountain 14.500 lliamma Peak 12,(360 Kimball Mountain 10.WW La. Perouoe Mountain , 10,740 Lltuya. Mountain 11.S32 Mount McKinley 20,100 St. Ella Mountain .-. 18.024 Sanford Mountain 14.000 Seattle Mountain 10,000 Tillman Mountain J2-32? Vancouver Mountain 1I5.C66 Wrangel Mountain , 17,500 A dispatch to the New York Sun cays the mountain which is now known by the name of McKinley was formerly known as Mount Allan. It Is visible from the coaet of Cook Inlet, about 200 miles away, and the Inhabitants of that region call It Bertsheya, which Is the corrupted Russian version of "The Big Mountain." The real native Indian for It is Tralega. Mr. Dick, a prospector, named this moun tain after President McKinley in the year 1S96, and It has been thu3 Inscribed on the new maps of Alaska issued by the Geographic Survey. It will "be seen that Mount McKinley exceeds in height Mount St. Ellas by 2440 feet, is one-third higher than Shasta or Rainier, and nearly twice the height of St. Helens. a Cowboy Blackmltlilne. Arizona Graphic "Up at my camp near the Four Peaks," told Jim Bark, the well-known cattleman, "the boys are all handy with a rifle. We've a lot of guns up there. The old fashioned black-powder Winchester has been discarded, and nothing but the best goes. Most of the new guns were bought during the Spanish War, when we would experiment all day with tree-trunks and rough trenches, learning the art of war at .homo. Wo found that a bullet from one of the new Winchesters, driven by smokeless powder, was good for four feet and more of pine timber, and for more than an Inch of iron. I thought the boys had done about everything in the shoot ing line that could be done long ago, but I was mistaken, I sent them up a wagon. In hauling down some firewood they broke the bolsters all to flinders. The bolsters hold up the wagon-bed, you know. "Well, the boys figured out all right the rebuilding of the wood parts, but came near being stumped on the Iron fixings. They got some old Iron wagon tires and cut them In proper lengths, but hadn't a way that they could see to punch the necessary bolt-holes. Flnallj the question was solved. One of the boy carefully marked the places for the bolts, stood the piece of tire against a tree and put a bullet 30 caliber through the tire at each place marked. It was a novel sort of blacksmlthlng, but It worked." m a MIcUlKnn People All One Way. Washington Special to Detroit Free Press. Michigan Republicans In Congress have been bombarded with telegrams and let ters from constituents asking for the kill ing of the Payne Puerto Rico tariff bill. Throughout the state there seems to be a widespread demand that the measure be sent back where It came. Among the let ters received by Congressman Henry c Smith, who has opposed the bill, 13 the following from ex-Governor Luce (Rep.;: "I have-attended a farmers' Institute this week at Concord. The Puerto Rico ques tion attracted widespread attention. Com pliments for you and the position you are said to have taken on the tariff issue were almost universally Indulged In. So far as I heard, there were no two opinions In relation to either tho Justice or policy of placing the people of Puerto Rico on the same footing with other American citi zens." o Fell Short of Her Ideal. New York Mall and Express. "When schoolgirls grow confidential with one another they sometimes, I am told, describe the sort of a man who corre sponds to what they call their "beau Ideal." Did you ever happen to hear what Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas was credited with saying on this topic? "When I was at school," she remarked, "I used to vow that there were three kinds of men I never could be Induced to marry. First, I never would marry a man who was younger than I. Second, I never would marry a man who was shorter than I. Third, I never would marry a politician. Well, I kept my vow, except that in marrylnfr Mr. Douglas I married a man who was not quite as old as I. who was not as tall as I, and who was one of tho most prominent politicians oi his day." a Disaster v. Suicide. Washington Special, February 27. to Indianapo lis Journal. The President himself tells the Republi cans who go to him about It that he Is In favor of the tariff measure, and would look upon Its defeat as disastrous. He said this to Representative Crumpacker (one of tho Republicans who stood out to the last against tho tariff scheme), who called at the "White House this morning. That gen tleman Is opposed to the bill, both on the ground that It Is Impolitic and unconsti tutional. When the President told him Its defeat would be disastrous, he replied that Its enactment would bo suicide for the Republican party. a The Congressman and tlie Editor. Correspondence Baltimore Sun. No small stress Is laid by individual members of the House on the almost unanimous opposition of the press to the Puerto Rlcan tariff bill. They admit the press reflects the sentiments of their con stituents. Efforts are made to prove to these members that the editors do not un drstand the matter and are acting in Ig norance. One member wired the editor of a paper In his district, and asked If It was true that ho opposed the bill be cause of Ignorance of the subject. Back came the answer: "Do you think I am a fool?" o m. More Double Lends. Chicago Times-Herald. If Congress and the President persist In their present course nothing can save the republican party from defeat next No vember. It will surely cost them the House of Representatives and It may cost them the presidency. Worse than any of these possibilities. It may Involve the election of Bryan, with all that that Implies. I a A Cowardly 3Iakeahlft. Chicago Record. The compromise Puerto Rlcan bill is a cowardly makeshift that Is no less objec-. tlonable to the believers In fair treatment for Puerto Rico than the measuro as re ported to the Houso by the ways and means committee. The compromise feat ure of the bill should be rejected and pro vision should be made for absolute free trade between the United States and Puerto Rico. - "Why Erastuii' Razor Wa Drawn. "I simply had to do It," said Mr. Eras tus PInkly In an apologetic tone. "I had to draw my razzer eo's to hold up my character." "Did he slander you behind your back?" "No, suh, 'Twere to my face. He axed me what business I was In, an' I says 'raising chickens.' Den he looked at me solemn an' says, 'You doesn't mean "rais in'." you means "liftin'." " a -Thl is Much to the Point. Indianapolis Journal. To Mr. Bryan, who makes free with the name of Abraham Lincoln, the Hart ford Courant says that the Bryans of Uncoln'9 time denounced him as a buf foon and a blood-soaked tyrant. Whon now the Bryans applaud him, the Courant Is reminded of the text: "Ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fath ers killed them." o Repudiation of the Tariff Scheme. Buffalo Commercial. Tho wretched Puerto Rlcans will begin their new life with a rooted and Justifiable grievance against us If we begin by refus ing them free markets. It is right and fair to give them what they want, and what beat-Informed observers declare they need -free American markets. It can be given without Injury to American interests. .Let hem have It. 0 The Republican Dlnentcr Right. Boston Advertiser. We believe Mr. McCall and his Republi can supporters took the course which was wisest and best from a constitutional point of view, for the Interests of all th3 people concerned, and that the future will prove that they took the course most con ducive to the success of the Republican party in the coming national campaign. Our Duty Is to Do Onr Tlaln Duty. Chicago Times-Herald. We need not fear that anything we du for Puerto Rico can be tortured Into a precedent to vex us in our dealing with the Philippine Islands. For the present our duty Is to do "our plain duty" by Puerto Rico, Irrespective of the sugar and tobacco lobbies and the bugaboo of Philip pines. t a Purblind and Blundering Leadership Hartford Courant. What the purblind and blundering lead ership In the House has done is grievous ly to disappoint the people of Puerto Rico, to chill and alienate them, and toput a new weapon. In tho hands of the Republi can party's enemies. & The Honor of the Nation at Stake. Rochester Union and Advertiser. Aside from the question of the con stitutionality of the bill and it Is plainly unconstitutional the honor of this Nation is Dledsred to the Puerto Ricans to extend to them all the rights and privileges of J American citizens. J NOTE AND COMMENT. If you have snake stories prepare to tell them next Saturday. The Puerto Rlcans have probably dis covered that there are two varieties of protection. Chicago keeps worrying about her drink- ing water. That Is what Milwaukee can not understand. Scats in the New York Stock Exchange cost only $40,000. The Council ought to buy ono for Judge Hennessy. If Rev. Mr. Sheldon's subscriptions keep Increasing he will be barred out of Heaven, on the ground that he is a millionaire. It is reported that Mr. Rockefeller is trying to trade the Standard Oil Com pany -for a half Interest in a Kansas City, hotel. If you're running for an offlce Tou will not get very far If you hope to buy a ballot "With a two-for-flve cigar. Now Harrison's friends are denying that he said what his friends said he said. He is another man who is probably yearning to be delivered from his friends. An admirable Instance of "cheery sto icism" is found In the letter "bf a private In the Coldstroams (now lying wounded at Wlhburg). describing his experiences in the battle at Modder River: "I happened to find a bit of looking-glass. It made 'a rare bit ot fun. As it was passed from comrade to comrade, they sold. 'Have a last look at yourself, my boy. and bid yourself goodbye.' The laugh went round. Then 'Advance I' and we were at It again." Certainly, as General Buller said, "the men are splendid." The lato Dr. Spark, tho Leeds Corpora tion organist, was often engaged for re citals and "openings" of organs in tho east riding, and his blower followed him about with a devotion which would haVe been pathetic If it had not been so amus ing. The blower would generally be first at tho church, so that he might be sure of displacing the ordinary man, and when Spark arrived he would remark with the greatest sangfroid: "It's all right. Doc tor, I'm here; and there's sure to be a jropd performance between us." In Belgium particularly, a Municipal . Art Society has Initiated competitions for beautiful signs. They give liberal prizes for tho best designs. Sculptors and skill ful workers in iron compete becauso of the value of prizes and because of their interest In the work, and tho merchants because of tho advertisement which It gives them. The result has been that all over Brussels you find pretty signs, and tho curious part is that tho beautiful ones pay better than tho ugly; for while the latter only receive a passing notice and then a feeling of disgust, the signs which are beautiful attract permanent attention. In the recent life of Sir George Grey there Is recorded a touching letter written to Queen Victoria by an old Kaffir woman. It runs as follows: "I am. very thankful to you, Queen Vic toria, that you have sent for me a good doctor, a clever man. I was 16 years blind. Mother and Queen, but now I see per fectly I see everything. I can see the stars and the moon and the sun. I used to be led before; but now. Mother and Queon! I am able to walk myself. Let God bless you as long as you live on earth! Let God bless Mother! Thou must not be tired to bear our Infirmities, O Queen Victoria!" , An English gentleman of tho old school said some years ago: ""When I waa young, two gentlemen meeting In the street took off their hats to each other; a few years later and the bow had ceased; then came a time when they merely touched the brims of their hats; and now a jerk of the chin and a little grunt H'm, h'm.' Is considered sufficient salu tation between two men of quality and. fashion." Tho habit of remaining uncov ered In tho presence of ladies died hard, but It Is a good many years since tho late Lord D was conspicuous as the oniy man who always stood bareheaded In tho crushroom of the opera. An antiquarian from one of the great Eastern colleges visited Portland last week, and taking advantage of the fine weather made several bicycle excursions Into the country round about the city. On ono of these trips he wa3 astonished to find an- apparatus for converting tho wind Into power, similar to one spoken of by Rameses II on some tablets recently exhumed near the seat of his capital. Tho machine was built like an ordinary water wheel, but was made to go by means oZ a box which shut off Its lower portion from the wind, which turned It very much as an overshot wheel is driven. Barneses on his tablets described one of these things, stating that It had been dug up In one of tho outlying-.povlnces of his realm, and was believed to have been built by a race then extinct. The antiquarian vis ited the house, behind which the relic was revoVving, and asked If the owner had its history, and where it was exhumed. To his surprise the latter became very angry and ordered him off tho premises, remark ing that It was a pity If a man couldn't get up an invention without having every idiot that saw it come In and guy him about It. The antiquarian left for his university a day or two later, but Intends to call again next summer, when tho ownor of the mill is not at home, hoping then to have a chance to examine It more closely and make a drawing of it forhla museum. 8 "The Lion's Whelp. Queensland (Australia) News. There is ecarlet on his forehead. There are scars across his face. 'Tls the bloody dew of battle dripping1 down, dripping- down. But the war heart of the Lion Turns to Iron In ltu place. When h halts to face disaster, when he turns to meet disgrace. Stung and keen and mettled with the llfeblood of his own. Let the huntero 'ware who flcuthlm "When he calls his whelps about him, When he seta the goal before him and he set tles to the pace. Tricked and wounded! Are we beaten. Though they hold our strength at bay? . We have faced these things aforetlmes, Ions ago, long ago. From sunlit Sydney harbor And ten thousand miles away. From the Canadian forests to the sounds of Mllford Bay. They have anwered, they have answered, and we know the answer now. From the Britons such as these. Strewn across the world-wide seas. Come the rally and the bugle note that make us one tcday. Beaten! Let them come against us, Wc can meet them one and all. We have faced the world aforetlmco, not In vain, not In vain. Twice ten thousand hearts be widowed. Twice ten thousand hearts may fall. But a million voices answer: "We are ready for the call. And the sword we draw for Justice shall not see lto sheath again. Nor our cannon cease to thunder Till we break their strength asunder And the Llon'a whelps are round him and tha i old naff over oh."