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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 26, 1900)
THE MOANING OBEQQKIAy, MONDAY, MAEOH 26, 1900. hs rjgomcm Entered tt the Postofflce tx Portland. Oregon, aa second-class matter. TELEPHONES. Editorial Hooma....lG6t Business Office.. GOT REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. By Mail (portage prepaid). In Advance Dally, with Sunday, per month... . ....$0 5 Dally, Sunday excepted, per year ...... 7 BO Daily, with Sunday, per year...... 9 00 Sunday, per year .... 2 00 The Weekly, per year .. ..... . 1 50 The Weekly. 3 months.... .... W To City Subscribers Dally, per week. delivered. Sundays exeepted.l3e Dally, per week, delivered. Sundays lncluded.20e The Oregcnlaa does not buy poems or stories from individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to it wittout solicita tion. No stamps should be lndocsd for this purpose. News or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should be addressed Invariably 'Editor The Oregonlan," not to the name ot 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 portofflce. Eastern Business Office The Tribune build ing. New York city; "The Rookery." Chicago; the S. C. Beckwlth special agency. New Torlc. For sale in San Francisco by J. K. Cooper. 746 Market street, near the Palace hotel, and at Goldsmith Bros.. 236 Sutter street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Co., 217 Dearborn street. TODAY'S WEATHER Occasional rain; clearing In afternoon; winds southwest to west. PORTLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 20 M'KIXLEY AND BRYAN. It Is a sound observation that "the first maxim of democratic government is the need of leadership." Democracy recognizes It instinctively, and always seeks leaders. It is only under leader ship that chaotic opinion can be crys tallized into anything like connected or rational action. Even then, if the leaders are not governed In some con siderable degree by moderation and wisdom, democracy becomes a "terror." Yet in selection of its leaders democ racy often selects badly, and seldom se lects the best, because those best qual ified to lead seldom flatter; moreover, they are aware of the difficulties and obstacles that lie in the way, and ap pear therefore to be disposed to ob struct the hopes and wishes of the peo ple. Democratic institutions awake and foster a passion for equality which they never can entirely satisfy. Mul titudes are agitated by the chance of success, yet irritated by its uncertain ty; and they pass from the enthusiasm of pursuit to the exhaustion of ill-success, and lastly to the acrimony of dis appointment. Here is a continual round, from one generation to another; and democracy therefore often assents. to the clamor of a mountebank, who knows the secret of stimulating its de sires, while its truest friends frequent ly fail In their exertions. Its unhappy tendency is to take mediocre or inferior men. It wants no man who will tell it the plain truth, devoid of illusion. Hence It Is that democracy, always In need of leadership, seldom or never gets the best. "What strong, sincere, can did and able man stands a chance of receiving the nomination for the Presi dency of the United States? "We all know that democracy is not only de ficient in that soundness of judgment which Is necessary to select men de serving of Its confidence, but It has neither the desire nor the Inclination "' to find them out. And yet democracy is the hope of mankind, for It has a principle of growth; and with all Its faults, and taking it merely as a choice of evils, the world is never going to exchange it for oligarchy or absolutism. But it seems a pity that it will not allow us to have better men for our candidates for the Presidency than Mc Kinley and Bryan. Early in the present century a great philosopher of politics (De Tocqueville) wrote: "The first duty which Is at this (time imposed upon those who direct our affairs is to educate the democracy; to warm its faith, If that be possible; to purify its morals; to direct its ener gies; to substitute a knowledge of busl ness for its inexperience, and an ac quaintance with its true Interests for its blind propensities; to adapt its gov ernment to time and place, and to mod ify it in compliance with the occur rences and actors of the age." This yet remains a great undertak ing, yet men must still work at it, and must work more and more; for democ racy Is with us, and we are to rule and to be ruled through it and by it But its habit of taking McKinleys and Bry ans does make its rule at times seem irksome. AMERICAN OUTLANDERS. The story told by Mr. C. "W. Thomp son in the local columns of The Ore gonlan Saturday about the oppressive measures imposed by Canadian officials upon American miners and "Outland ers" generally in the Atlin "district has been often told by veracious witnesses and never once disputed, not to say re futed. Briefly stated, Canadian Gov ernment officials simply, hold up Ameri cans who cross the border for every penny that can, possibly be extorted from them. "What with an average duty of 35 per cent on the prospector's outfit, the detention after payment of all claims that could by any stretch of greed be termed legitimate, and va rious grafts by official understrappers that would put an American politician to shame, a multitude of miners have been forced from the Atlin and Klon dike districts without being able to prospect for gold at all. This is a mat ter of common knowledge, and yet it is complained the Government at Washington has taken no notice what ever of the outrageous proceedings. Compare this, say the critics, with the stand that England .made for fair treat ment of her "Outlanders" in the South African mining districts, and the dif ference between a government that looks after the interests of her subjects and one that does not is striking. Re citing the story of official oppression and corruption from which 6000 Ameri cans in the Atlin district suffered, Mr. Thompson adds: "And yet not an offi cial was hanged nor a petition sent to "Washington relating to our griev ances." American miners may well take cred it to themselves, under the exasperat ing circumstances, that the first part of this boast is true. As to the last, however, it may be said that it is most un-American to submit to grievances without petition to the Government to abate them. If this matter has not been properly set forth at "Washington, those suffering the outrages detailed have been remiss in their duty to them selves, to those that will come after them and to their Government. The United States Government is prover bially and properly slow to anger. It takes nothing for granted. A case In volving complaint against another gov ernment must be duly set out in detail. This, it seems, has not been done, though thousands of American citizens seeking gold In British Canadian terri tory in the past four years have been subject to every annoyance and injus tice that petty officialism, with a grasp ing governmental policy behind it, could invent. Let the case be made out and carried to Congress, and see wheth er that body will or will not take meas ures to correct the abuses of which complaint is made. It Is not to the credit of American citizens If they have endured in silence or with impotent wrath indignities, in justice and oppression through Canadi an laws and officials when seeking to enter Canadian territory that British subjects could not and would not endure from theTransvaal authorities. England heard from her subjects In a bill of grievances that she could not Ignore. Let the United States Government have from her outraged citizens in the far North a specific and duly authenticated statement of grievances, and If the Government at Ottawa is not called down by the Government at "Washing ton American traditions will be vio lated and the American spirit be held to have become weak at the vaunted point of its fearlessness and Independ ence. Meanwhile, what is the matter with Cape Nome? BE2VEFIT FOR SILVER MEN. The gold standard is now discovered at its nefarious work In India. Capital, which shunned the Empire under free coinage, is now pouring in; confidence has succeeded to misgiving, and, while the bulk of currency, owing to the small denominations in which labor and mer chandise generally are paid for, must be in silver coins, increased demand for currency compels the government to resume silver coinage, and makes it again a patron of American silver mines. These are results which Injure no one, but benefit all, even the Ameri can mine-owner who has pinned his faith to 1C to 1. The purchases of India In the silver market have for some time, been sub ject of comment. It was urged against the gold standard scheme that the vast volume of silver in circulation could not be maintained at -the arbitrary ratio of Is 4d or 32 cents. But already, it appears, a shortage has developed In the supply of silver coins, and more must be minted. This Is the explana tion now afforded of the Indian pur chases. The amount to be minted at this time Is about $2,260,000 (666,000). which costs the Indian Government about 430,000. Doubtless more and more will be needed as time goes on, as a steady absorption of silver by the Empire's increasing business seems to be in progress. At the end of July last year the silver held in the Currency Department against the note circula tion was 157,000,000 rupees in amount; at the end of December it was 86,000,000 rupees, and now it does not exceed 65,000,000. The present new coinage will therefore add to the circulation only one-ninth of the amount that has been absorbed by the business of the country within less than six months. The London Statist says that all this Is due to flow of capital to India, ex cited by greater confidence In the sta bility of exchange created by adoption of the gold standard. Heavy remit tances from London, and gold deposited in London to India's credit, have been cashed in the form of rupees In India and put into the channels of circula tion. There Is, obviously, no limit to the amount of silver coinage that can be absorbed by the business of India, once a certain fixed value is given to the rupee, and maintained for It by the government. The gold standard will not interfere with large use of silver coin In India, any more than the gold standard in Canada interferes with the universal use of paper currency. The standard is a stable thing, avoiding the cost and dangers of vacillating ex changes; but the circulation can be whatever is best suited to the peculiar conditions of the community silver in India, gold in Oregon, bank notes in France, bank checks In New York, cop per cash In China. Silver men may conclude, also, that the best thing that can happen to them ia for governments everywhere to adopt gold as the standard with the largest possible use of silver. As long as India was prostrate with uncertainty, she had silver enough. But as soon as she gets the gold standard firmly and final ly established, she has to go as a pur chaser to the silver markets. In the general prosperity that follows upon establishment of the gold standard, sil ver men get their share. THE SOUTH AND THE NEGRO PROB LEM. A Southern conference for the study of the race problem In relation to the welfare of the South Is to meet annual ly In Montgomery, Ala. The Initial meeting will be held Mav S-10 inclusive This conference will consider the fran chise, education, religion and social or der. It will be conducted by Southern ers for Southerners, with Southern speakers. A conspicuous leader of this movement is the Be v. Edgar Gardner Murphy, of Montgomery. This move ment, together with the decrease in the number of negro lynchings at the South by one-half, Is a hopeful sign that the white people of the South begin to 'see that not only the negro but the white man needs redemption from barbarism. The intelligent leaders of public opin ion at the South have waited a very long time to begin a serious discussion of a reform that ought to have been and could have been undertaken twen ty years ago. Barbarism breeds bar barism; lawlessness breeds lawlessness. The present situation In Kentucky Is nothing but the result of years of un rebuked barbarism and unchecked law lessness. "When black men are ruth lessly lynched it gradually educates black men to lynch black men and white men to lynch white men. The assassination of Goebel was nothing but a natural birth In a state where black men have been lynched frequent ly .for many years, sometimes on clear proofs of guilt; and quite as often "on general principles," when there was not a particle of proof of guilt. Goebel was lynched by his political or personal en emies. He was shot to death with a rifle because he was an Influential white man. .Had he been a turbulent negro he would have been hanged by the mob or perhaps mutilated before he was' burned to death by a slow fire. The promoters of this Southern con ference have a difficult work before them, unless itt:an be brought home to the Southern people, ,who "employ la bor, that the QualityJof their black labor and Its security will in time be- come destructively Impaired in. indus trial value. If some energetic effort is not made to obtain some respect for law and order from the white barbari ans of the South, who have never hes itated to hunt down and murder an obnoxious negro, and are now begin ning to hunt down and murder their obnoxious white fellow-citizens, some times for political, sometimes for per sonal reasons. There is small hope of success for any purely philanthropic movement until it Is made plain to the ruling public opinion that It Is a matter of self-interest both In business and social life not only to enact Just and humane government but to enforce It impartially in behalf of hlack and white, rich and poor. Gentile and Jew. It is very doubtful If the conviction can soon be established that it does not pay to permit lawlessness to go un checked; that it does not diminish crime, but Increases it, to suffer Judge Lynch to be generally the Supreme Court of the state. If the conspicuous leaders of public opinion of both parties would unite in an effort to enforce respect for the ad ministration of the regular courts, there would be no more lynching at the South than, at the North. The trouble Is that the conspicuous leaders of both par ties in Kentucky are either totally in different to mob violence, so long as their particular scoundrel is not lynched, or they are not seldom them selves willing to lead a lynching party or commit an act of private assassina tion. If the South can be made to see that It is a matter of self-interest to dethrone Judge Lynch and respect the sanctity of the ballot-box, something of valuable social reform will come out of this proposed annual conference at the capital of Alabama, but the meet ing of a few ministers, teachers and professional men of exceptional hu manity and intelligence will not accom plish much unless the selfish interests of the business community can be gen erally enlisted. THE MENACE OF CORBINISM. The Army bill drawn up by Secretary Root Is In danger of defeat because it is unanimously opposed by the Army, in spite of the fact that It favors the provisions for the amalgamation of the line and staff corps, the consolidation of the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, as well as that of the Adjutant-General with the Inspector General. The Army opposes Mr. Root's bill because It provides for promotion by selection. The Army officers con cede that promotion by selection Is cor rect In principle, because if the selec tions are faithfully and conscientiously made It places comparatively young men of energy and ability in higher commands, and such a reward of merit Is a great incentive to good conduct and hard work. But under the Root bill these promotions by selection would Anally devolve on the President, who would have to select one name from a list of three furnished by an Army Ex amining Board. The Army officers with substantial unanimity say that a President of the United States cannot be trusted to make promotions of Army officers solely on merit. "While admit ting the defects of the present system of promotion by seniority, the Army officers say that under our American political practice the present system is better than that proposed by Mr. Root; indeed, the best that is attainable. Promotion by Presidential selection would open the door even wider than at present to personal and political fa voritism. To be assured of his promo tion, an officer would necessarily be come a politician. The real reform of the present sys tem would be an Increase in scope and severity of the examinations now re quired before promotion. France has tried selective promotion, and found that the Influence of a family naine or political considerations were sufficient to overcome all safeguards against fa voritism. The straight seniority system was found to be the fairest practicable system. Our own experience in the Civil "War in regard to Army appoint ments certainly does not warrant us in believing that the selective system of promotion will work any better here than In France. It Is the opinion of nine-tenths of the officers of the Army, as well as that of the leading military Journals, that It will be Impossible to exclude politics from having Its effect in determining these selections. Per sonal influence or favoritism cannot be entirely excluded. Under the selective feature of Mr. Root's Army bill the line will be thrown open to the same vicious Influences which have made the staff corps a bombproof and a souphouse for officers who were the poor relations or theproteges of Senators andRepresent atlves. Under the present system "Cor blnism" has been able to work consid erable demoralization of the Army, but under the selective system the Army would be fairly saturated with "Cor binlsm." An old officer writes the Army and Navy Journal: There la no use ot talking" about the ra'e guards of boards in these matters. When the President has the selection, chat selection must and will be made by him to satisfy the ctrong est political Influence. It always has been so and always must be so from the very nature of the situation. These Army critics admit that promo tion by seniority has Its defects, but submit that long and patient waiting for promotion by seniority is not so de structive to ambition and zeal as to see the sons of Senators Quay and Sewell Jumped over the heads of hundreds of older men or to see a very idle and worthless graduate of "West Point, like Fred Grant, given high rank after years of discreditable civil life over classmates that stayed In the Army. During the Presidency of McKlnley there have been many cases of gross favoritism. These abuses have not ceased entirely under Secretary Root, and they have been known to a greater or less extent under every Adminis tration since that of John Qulncy Ad ams. Not only are the existing polit ical conditions a strong argument against the selective system of promo tion, but Army officers fairly say that selections based on an officer's record ignore entirely-the question of oppor tunity; and point out that under such a system men like Sheridan, Grant and Longstreet would hardly have been rapidly advanced in time of peace. "Corblnism" was a curse to the Army In the Spanish war; "Corbinism" would be a double curse under Mr. Root's system of promotion by selection. Ex amining boards during the Spanish war were constrained by Corbln, speaking for the President, to allow physically and mentally disqualified officers to pass into the Army. Under Mr. Root's selective system promotion boards would be subject to the same duress. The latest exhibition of "Corbinism" is the recommendation of Corbln himself by Secretary Root for promotion to the Jrank of Major-General, Corbln self is the latest and most conspicuous beneficiary of his own system of secur ing military promotion through politi cal "pull." Secretary Boot Is likely to lose the passage of what Is In many 'respects a very valuable measure of Army reform through Its enlarged op portunity for the perpetuation of "Cor binism," which is an accurate definition of promotion by political "pull" rather than military service. Bishop Potter, at first opposed to ex pansion, made a Journey df observation to the Philippine Islands. He now says that the question as to what we should have done at the beginning has become obsolete or purely academic, and adds: I confess to eaying- that I have put it on the' shelf.. It Is perfectly idle iow to linger on that discussion. We must accept the Inevitable. The question now Is, What are you going to do now. that you have got It? We have got the Tesponfdblllty of governing the Philippines for better or worse. If it is for the worse, all the greater Is our responsibility. As to our duty in the premises, he says, further: On the whole I think I have considerably changed ray vieVs as to the right and duty of a superior nation to govern & weaker. Every where throughout the East the problem is the same to bring the people to see and recognize tho superiority of what we know as civiliza tion and give them the opportunity to adopt it. Here Is rational judgment. Though some of our people demand that na tional Independence be conceded to the Filipinos, the thing Is Impossible. Even if those who make this demand should get Into power, they couldn't do it. The flag of the United States wljl re main In the Philippine Islands. "The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Major-General, Governor of "Washing ton Territory, by His Son, Hazard Stevens, Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. Volunteers," will he published in May, in two volumes octavo, by Hough ton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. Upon this work, which is entitled to special at tention In our Pacific Northwest states. In whose pioneer history Governor Stevens bore a very prominent part, long and careful labor has been ex pended; and the people of these states which had especial benefit from his services, feel that they are especially entitled to a share in commemoration of his fame. An advertisement of the "Life" appears in The Oregonlan to day, together with a summary of a ca reer that belongs to the history of the country. Send subscriptions to General Hazard Stevens, 8 Bowdoin avenue, Dorchester (Boston). Mass. The Constitution of the United States, we are told, does not "run" in our new possessions. This is the basis of the argument for treatment of Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands as alien ter ritorythough the doctrine is not ap plied to Hawaii. It seems, then, that since the Constitution is of no effect in Puerto Rico and the Philippines, Con gress may disregard all constitutional limitations as to affairs in the islands. It may pass bills of attainder and cx post facto laws, as to them; It may grant titles of nobility to persons In the islands; it may pass laws to impair the obligation of contracts; may take away private property without com pensation, order people to be hanged without trial, and do everything else that the Constitution inhibits or for bids, In the states of the Union. Such is the absurdity into which that argu ment runs. Negotiations are in progress looking to the 'consolidation of the Evangelical Seminary of La Fayette. Yamhill Coun ty, and the La Creole Academy, of Dal las, Polk County. The latter institution Is older than the former, and seeks to 'draw the younger to it. "While, as a matter of local pride and interest, the citizens of La Fayette will doubtless object to the consolidation that means the removal of their school to Dallas, there is little doubt that the educa tional value of the two schools, merged Into one, will be promoted. The reason is apparent. There is efficiency In strength non-efficiency in weakness. The lesson involved in this is one of economy of resources, which education al institutions in the state have been generally slow to learn, and It may be added it is one that churches through out the land have persistently refused to learn. "Certain Democratic newspapers are already attempting to use against the Republican party its honorable and courageous action In passing the gold bill," says the Hartford Courant, add ing: "They say it removes the coun try from danger from Bryan's heresies on the money question, and so makes it possible for men to vote for him who would not do so if there was any doubt about the. currency. If this is not abominable politics what is It?" It is said that one of the reasons why "our plain duty!' to Puerto Rico was abandoned was a statement that free trade would injure the tobacco growers of Connecticut. Yet the Hart ford Courant, a leading Republican pa per, says the Puerto Rico tariff bill Is both unnecessary and impolitic. Ox nard and Myrick are about Its only promoters. The power of such men over Congress is a most unpleasant revelation to the country. In this country there Is need of an income tax. It is not merely for rev enue that such tax Is wanted. The main object is to ascertain how much money each and every man Is making, so that means may be devised through legislation to prevent him from mak ing any more. In a country where the Idea of equality Is uppermost nothing.Is so odious as the thought that anybody should be permitted to make money. It is undemocratic. Do you know any reason why the Government of the United States should take away your money, under the cover of bounty -payments, and give It to an other? And that other a man already rich? This Is the ship bounty scheme. Going further, do you know any reason why Government should take away your money, under cover of "protec tion," In any form, and give It to an other? Not much over one-half the vote of the state Is yet registered. You would better look to it, if you want to vote. Goebel Methods in Missouri. Chicago Tribune. The Nesbit election law, which has been sustained by the Supreme" Court of M13 sourl, seems to be as bad in most respects as the notorious Goebel law of Kentucky. The two laws were en acted for the same purpose that of preventing the Republicans from receiving fair treatment at the polls. bJm-jMissourt has been Democratic for years, but gradually the Republican vote has In creased. The stronghold of the Republican party In the state is St. Louis. For 10 years the average Republican plurality in the city has been 9000. It was 15,000 in the last Presidential election, and over 10. 000 at the municipal election last Spring. The Neshit law was designed to overcome this plurality. It places the election ma chinery In charge of a board of three men appointed by the Governor, .two being Democrats and the other nominally a Re publican, chosen, according to the Globe Democrat, because the Governor believes he can rely upon him, and not as a repre sentative of the party he is supposed to represent The registration Is in control of this board, which may. strike off the list whom It chooses. The election offi cials in each precinct will be appointed "by this board, the judges and clerks be ing Democrats and alleged Republicans chosen by the Democrats. The Republi can party as an organization has nothing to do with the elections, all the judges and clerks being named by the Democratic officials. After the polls close the Re publicans have no safeguards as to the count of the ballots. The law has even rearranged the precincts to prevent com parison with previous returns. The first election under the Nesbit law Is yet to be held. The St. Louis Republicans seem to believe the Democrats will succeed In winning by much the same methods em ployed by the Goebllites in Kentucky. 9 BRYAN'S FORTIETH BIRTHDAY. Comment Tjy an Independent Demo cratic Newspaper on the Man and the Event. Brooklyn Eagle, Ind. Dem. This is Mr. Bryan's 40th birthday. No man so young as he was In 1895 was ever nominated by a great party for Pres ident before. George B. McClellan was 3S, not 26, In 1S64. No man was ever nom inated before on the carrying power pf o single speech. No man of 40 ever before faced tho practical certainty of a renomi nation. No Democratic; candidate for President, elected or beaten, ever before received so many votes or was defeated "by so large a popular majority against him. No man was ever before the apparent favorite ot every Democrat, In regular relations with the party, who wants tq elect him, and of every one. In like relations with It, who wants to beat him. No man ever nominated made so many speeches or one speech so many times. No man ever said more or did less unless saying Is doing as a basis of one can didacy obtained and of another in sight. No nominee ever before so united on himself all who are detached from logic and untaught by events or set against him all who have a stake of Interest, rea son and responsibility in affairs. No man ever before uttered so many predictions which came to naught. No man ever be fore found a surety of renomination in the fact that all the disasters he fore saw failed to materialize and all the ben efits he denied came to pass. Results never before wrought havoc of all statements of any man. No man ever before Increased his popularity by the unanimous refutation of all his Ideas by facts. No candidate ever before put so many able men out of line with his party or so many Inefficient men into the high places of command. No man ever before aroused more enthu siasm or more apprehension by a viola tion of all the conditions of sane politics. The enthusiasm is no less, but the appre hension is. Nomination threatened his success. Renomination is recognized by those whom he scared or overrode before to insure his defeat yet to be the only way to cure the craze for him. And, we may say. toward no man do op ponents feel less animosity. His friends regard him as an oracle. His opponents consider him to be a comedian. He appar ently takes himself seriously and his party lightly. His prominency Is important. Its overthrow is a little price to insure his primacy. He has convictions, but his strongest one Is his right to be at the head. To him a party is a force made fot his use and handling:. A nomination to hlra Is a role, not a trust or a responsibility. He has had an extraordinary career. Hapnlly for his country, it has Involved no Identification with executive responsi bilities. The rag-haer which is his mind and the motlev which Is his follnwinsr what a circus thev would hav made with wlmt tpv could never understand! The Enjrle wishes for Mr. Bryan many venrs of health and happiness and for the DmorratIf nartv a happy deliverance out of all its afflictions. GENERAL HUDSON'S COM3IENT. Editor of the Capital Says the Shel don Experiment Was a Failure. Topeka, Kan. In an editorial in the Cap ital, General J. K. Hudson, editor, says that the Sheldon experiment was a fall uie. Among other things he says: "The estimate placed upon Mr. Sheldon's ex periment will generally be that it was a failure as a newspaper, and not above the average as a religious paper. The legiti mate work of a newspaper is, above all else, to give tho news. It may have a rich miscellany, a broad and Intelligent editorial survey of the topics and issues of interest, but if it fails to give the gen eral neis from all parts of, the world, as well as local and state news, without emasculation and censorship. It fails pri marily in giving the people what they want, and have a right to have. The re ligious weeklies and monthlies of the coun try are edited by able men, and they offer in good form religious news and discus sions of subjects appropriate for their col umns that fully satisfy the general de mand for special religious reading. On the other hand, the secular daily press In the large cities employs the ablest writers and best-trained men for every depart ment. The secular dally is a paper, wheth er partisan or Independent, not made for a class or a sect or a part of the people, but for all the people, and as such must offer Its readers a paper free from sec tarian religious bias. "Whether a dally paper is Republican, Democratic or Populist in politics, it is made for all religious denominations, the Jew as well as the Methodist, the Catholic as well as the Presbyterian, and for the man who has no belief. That it should stand for nil that builds a community, for all that makes good citizens, for clean mu nicipal government, for honest political methods, for schools and churches and libraries, for the good name of the city, the state and the Nation, requires no argu ment. The press of the country today is on the side of law and order: it is against crime: It Is for fairness and justice, and ever ready to champion the weak against the strong." Referring to the Rev. Mr. Sheldon per sonally. General Hudson said: "No matter how widely one may differ from him re garding the experiment he has tried, all who know him recognize his Intense earn estness, his unsullied Integrity, his mod esty and lack of all pretense." " Democracy nnd Leadership. London Saturday Review. The first maxim of democratic govern ment is the need of leadership. Without leadership, there Is no democracy, for there Is no people; there Is merely, to use the familiar phrase, a "fortuitous con course of atoms." There is always "pub lic opinion," we shall bo told. But what Is public opinion? People talk as If it were something fixed and final, some thing that grow of itself, already there to guide and direct the perplexed and baf fled politician. Not at all! It is the pol itician's own creation, his Frankenstein often enough. It's something you make, not something you find; and It Is always In process of re-maklhg always demand ing to be re-made. On the old questions, It Is true, for a time it may appear to be stereotyped and fixed; the man In the Street has fallen Into this or that groove; at the "breakfast table he placidly purrs over the -platitudes of his favorite organ so delicately, so neatly are they adjusted to the habits he calls convictions. But let a crisis intervene, a new and vital is sue, and the barriers fall, the tracks are J obliterated. All the transitory configura- tions, parties, sects and sub-sects, melt and flow together, change their shapes and disappear. Public opinion has broken its molds and lies all liquid and chaotic, a molten chafing stream, expectant of the creative word. That word is the flat ot the statesman. But how, if tho states man sits brooding, not like a dove, but like an owl, waiting for chaos to organize It self? "What is it you want? There you lie. I perceive, all chaotic. I can't see that you want anything in particular. Perhaps, on the whole, you had better go on as you were. Tumble back Into the old forms and then we shall know where we are!" a THIS IS PLAIN AXD FORCIBLE. Senator Pettns, of Alabama, In New York: Independent. All admit that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, and the inhabitants (with certain exceptions) are citizens of the United States. They are not citizens of any state in the Union, but they are citizens of the United States, residing in the territory of Puerto Rico, and they have all the personal and property rights conferred by the Constitution of the United States on Its citizens. . . . The favorite maxim, invented by the authors of this wicked measure (the tariff scheme) to cripple commerce between parts of the United States. Is that the Constitution does not proprio vlgore extend to the terri tories of the United States. There never was a greater fallacy uttered by man, in the sense In which this maxim is used. You will notice that the Constitution of the United States itself orders that every officer of the United States, and every officer of every state, legislative, execu tive or judicial, shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. So that wherever the Army or Navy may be hent, every one of its offi cers takes along with him the Constitu tion of the United States, and his sworn duty to obey It. The Constitution may not be literally an automobile, but It moves with great force wherever you send a patriotic citizen as an officer of the United States. a 0 s South African "Republicanism." In the Blbllotheque Unlverselle de Lau sanne, Mr. Guyot writes thus of "South African Republlcansm" : The constitution of the Transvaal declares that there cannot be equality, either In the Estate or In the church, between the whites and those "who have among- their ancestors up to the fourth generation a man who was not of the white race." On August 2C, 1S0S, the Volksraad rejected a motion which was de signed to free native ministers and teachers from the obligation of wearing the metal arm lets which blacks living- in towns are bound to wear in order to show that they are In the service of whites as safeguards against arrest and Imprisonment on the charge of being vaga bonds. The black man has no rights before the law. The magistrate may either hear or reject his complaint. Just as he .pleases. During last June, while a law in regard to the deprivation of civic rights was being discussed, the Pro-cureur-General expresd himself as follows In regard to the murder of a black: "All the sentences In cases of murder are not Ignomini ous. A man who kills his black servant by beating him will perhaps be sentenced to six months' Imprisonment. It Is very clear that he will not on that account be deprived of his rights as a voter." When a tribe, pushed to extremities, refuses to pay taxes, an attack Is made on It, Its -villages are burned, its crops and cattle are taken away, and the men are handed ocr to those who have taken part In the attack, and they must serve them for five years without any pay. If they make any attempt to escape they may be killed with Impunity. "An oc currence of this kind took place In 1894, in the district south of Zoutpansberg. and in 189S in the northern part of the same district." M. VUlarals continues: "Such Is the legislation and such has been the practice of the Boers up to this hour. To a regime of this kind one name can be given, namely, feudality. The owners of farms are tho lords; the blacks ate the serf3, who are attached to the soil, who are not allowed to own property, and who can be taxed and forced to work, at the pleasure of their masters; the Commleslonern represent bailiffs, who grind down in the name of their sovereign' all thcae who are under their Jurisdiction." 31. VUlarals shows the results of this sjs- tem. The blades keep on multiplying, haplesj as their condition la; being debarred from pos sessing property, they contract only Ices, and at the same time they nourish a fierce hatred toward their masters. The political attitude of the Boers toward the natHes 13 oppression;' that of the English Is education. Badly Mixed Up. "Prisoner," said a Maryland justice, "you have been found guilty of stealing a pig belonging to Colonel Chllders. Have you anything to say before I pass sen tence?" "I has, sah," answered the prisoner, ns he ross up. "It's all a mistake. Jedge all a mistake. I didn't dun reckon to steal no pig from Kurnel Chllders. What 1 was arter was ?. hawg belongln' to Majah Dawson, an' how dem two animals got mixed up and de Cons:able" found de meat in my cabin am gwine to bodder me till I come opt o' Jail an' lick de ole woman fur not keepln' better watch at de doahl" 8 r Hotter in New Yorlc. New York Tribune. It might have been predicted that Chi cago would become the storm center In labor troubles this year. More Anarchists and enemies of all social order have found harbor there than in any other city of the United States. New York Democracy is much too bu3y In robbing the city to permit destruction of tho sources of its Income by revolutionary outbreaks. But where Altgeld Is possible no regular in dustry can count upon peace, not even that of corruptionists. An Invaluable Aid. Philadelphia North American. Boney Unable to increase Hawley's sal ary, and not desiring to lose his services, the Sharpes have taken him Into the firm. Sklnnie That's great! Boney But then the firm is losing money daily. o Ronner.s. Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Is it true that they are preaching ser mons by telephone out In Indiana?" "Yes. They don't call 'em telephones on Sunday." "What do they call 'em?" "Insomnia cure apparatus." A Real Mascot. Indianapolis Journal. "What is an exit. Pa?" "Exit, Freddy? Well, It Is a Latin pla card hung around on the walls In thea ters and opera-houses to keep people from thinking they smell fire." o . Girlish Confidences. Chicago Tribune. Pertie Sweetun I wouldn't marry the best man alive. Would you? Meena Zewer Yes, dear, I would, and I'm going to in about six weeks. 9 Ailcen. Mary Devcreux In Boston Transcript. I know a winsome little girl Whose dancing feet are light As thistle-down that breezes whirl To float in sunshine bright; A little glfj with witching eyes That smile like sunny Summer skies Upon whose blue no clouds arise, And in them mischief lies. A happy heart that singing goes To mate with dancing feet; A guileless heart that only knows "Whate'er of life that's sweet: A dainty blossom, pink and white. Capricious as a fairy sprite. That could not Ue without sunlight. And careless love would blight. Tis sad to think that years may fleet And bring a woman's dower To still those happy, dancing feet "With sorrow's heavy power; But love, that watched the blossom rare, Will erurely keep the ripe fruit fair. And teach the woman's heart to bear Whate'er may come of caret NOTE AND COMMENT. Speaking of Presidential teams, whatfa the matter with Beverldge and Potter? McKinley made his reputation on a tariff measure, and he bids fair to lose It tho same way. They will have to put Bryan In some thing besides a silver capsule If they ex pect the country to swallow him this year. It is about time for Sampson and Schley to engage attorneys and press agents to push their claims for seats in the Hall of Fame. Perhaps the New York police "pulled" Sapho because they thought It would shock the modesty of their blushing friends in tho Tenderloin. It doesn't seem, when you think of it; such an awful pity to "die poor." But to live poor, "Hie labor, hoc opus," as Virgil remarks. Let us hope that the ochre tinge has faded from the Topeka Capital, and that the one time in Its career when it changed color Is a closed Incident. A Puerto RIcan Patrick Henry will arlsa ono of these days, and say: "Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Cromwell, and McKlnley gentlemen, you can draw your own Inferences." It Is proposed to change the name of March to Peace, in honor of The Hagua conference. In view of the stormy times the conference kicked up, It might be a better plan to change its name to March. A citizen who often visits the City Park: suggests that for the benefit of strangers a sort of guide board be put up at tho point where the best view of the Cascades and snow peaks is had. On this should be given the names of the different moun tains and an indicator pointing to each, also the height and distance of each. Ho says strangers are constantly Inquiring which Is Mount Hood and which Is Mount St. Helens, and one does not like to tell them as the exhibitor of wax works did when a woman asked him, "Which is the Duke of Wellington.and which Is Napoleon Bonaparte?" "You pays your money and you takes your choice." It Is also sug gested that on this board should be stated the distance from Portland to the sea, tho height of tho city above sea level, the population and other Information of in terest to strangers. The Idea Is not a bad one, and perhaps some park committea some day may act upon it. It must have been about this time of year in some such season as the present that Solomon In his song of songs, wrote: "For lo the Winter Is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on th earth, the time of the singing of birds haa come, and the voice of the turtle Ls heard In the land." Of course, had Solomon been in Oregon he would have omitted tho statement that the rain was over and gone, but the flowers are appearing, and the birds are singing all right enough, and the voice of the turtle is heard in tho land. In mild expostulation at being dragged from his lair and his hopes of domestic bliss being destroyed, by being sold to be butchered, not exactly to make a Roman holiday, but to make terrapin stew, to tickle the palates of epicures. Hundreds of these hard-shell reptiles aro now being received at the markets here, and And a ready sale. Even the frogs aro afraid to peep, for fear of being caught and sent to market. City auctioneers report that better bids rule on all sorts of goods offered for sale now than three years ago. Second-hand furniture sells now like hot cakes, whero in 1S97 bidders were few and very careful about offering. A leading auctioneer said yesterday: "We can get as much for a second-hand bureau now as we could for an entire three-piece bedroom set a few years ago, while in many cases peoplo bid as much for an article now as a new one could bo bought for." The reason given for this improvement In the auc tioneer's business Is the steady growth of the city's population and general Inclina tion on the part of those here to remain where they are. The rigorous Winters and torrid Summers of the East and the con tinued absence of rain In California com bine to induce Portlanders, and In fact, all Oregonians, to stay where they are and let well enough alcne. Of course, the gen eral betterment of the condition of the people of the entire country tends to mako money more plentiful and easier to earn than It has been, and when people hava money they buy. A woman who signs herself "A Regu lar Theater-Goer," writes to The Orego nlan to say that at the concert on last Thursday evening several women neglect ed to remove their hats. Her attention was called to this fact from one sitting in front of her with a hat on, to her great discomfort. She expresses the hope that tho manager of the Marquam will not al low the rule requiring hats to be removed during performances to fall into disuse, for the women generally are as much In favor of it as the men. She also wishes to complain of men who come in late, to occupy seats In the middle of a row, and, besides disturbing the audience greatly an noy woman who have taken off their hats, and who are obliged to stand up and fold their chairs to allow theso men to get to their seats. This Is, however, some times unavoidable, as ls admitted by tho writer, but when these men find it neces sary to go out between acts, every time, they make nuisances of themselves. The manager of the Marquam will doubtless see that tho rule In regard to removing hats is not allowed to fall Into disuse, and men whose thirsty natures require them to go out constantly between acts should endeavor to secure seats at the end of a row. Taking forethought In regard to the rights and privileges of others is what principally marks the difference between the gentleman and the other fellow. w O ' The Second Love. Chicago Times-Herald. "Some day. when I am gone," sne used to say, "Tou'U bring another here to take my place And vow you never loved me. anyway; And she'll be young, and have a pretty face And all that I. alas! hae helped you cave, Will only be for her enjoyment then; And you will be her foolish, willing slave. The unsuspecting Jest of other men!" He heard her doleful plaint and labored onl She used to kls their little one and sigh: "What griefs will come to you when I anj gone Ah, hut for you I would not fear to die I Poor little one, how can I leave you hero To be abused when I am gone above To hear your father call another 'dear,' And see him give another all his love'." A little mound Is green upon the hill. And thrice the winter's" snoWs have drif ted there Above one who is lying cold and still. Dumb to the petty griefs that people share. Another has the key that opes his door. All that he earned another shares today; The child he worshiped misses him no more, J And there Is much the gossips have to ear.