THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1900.
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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."