Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, April 10, 1900, Page 6, Image 6

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THE MQRNING OKEGONIAlf, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1900.
mlxs (Dsegomott
y
Btered at the Postofflee at Portland. Oregon.
as second-class xnattar.
TELEPHONES.
Idltorlal Rootns....lGa I Business Office...
,eer
REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Br Mall (postan prepaid), la Advance
Dally, with Sunday, per menta. ....... ....0 83
IDallr, Sunday excepted, per year...-.... 7 SO
Sally, with Sunday, per year 00
Sunday, per year ..... ........ w
be weekly, per year..... ...- ... 1 so
be weekly, 3 months. ........ ....-.... M
To City Subscribers
Dally, per week.dellered. Sunday exeepted.l5o
pally, per week, delivered. Sunday! lncludedoa
Tbe Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories
from Individual, and cannot undertake to re-
f turn any manuscripts sent to It without sollelta-
, tton. No stampa sbould be Inclosed lor tela
I'urpoM.
Purct Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson.
lace at 1111 Pacific avenue. Tacoms, Box 933.
facoma pastofflee.
I Eastern Business OBee The Tribune build-
pt. New York city: 'The Rookery." Chicago:
he S. C. Beckwlth special agency. New Tork.
I For sale In San Franclaco br J. K. Cooper,
48 Market street, sear the Palaoe bote!, and
It Goldsmith Bros., 236 Sutter street.
.For sale In Chlcaro by the P. O. Newi Co
ll" Dearborn street.
I TODAY'S WEATHER. Increasing cloudiness.
I lth variable winds.
iPORTLAXD, TUESDAY, APRIL 10,
ICPUllLICAN COUNTY AAD CITY CON
VENTION.
'All the candidates named by the
ounty and City Republican Conven
on yesterdav arc well-known men.
hey need no introduction to the peo-
le, no encomium from the press. They
re men of character and reputation.
he ticket will have the support of The
regonlan; both because better men
111 not be nominated by any party.
nd because The Oregonlan, though It
lticlses the Republican party on
lolnts of policy, believes its continued
Iscendancy necessary to the 'wel-
re of the country. Either the Repub-
Ican party or the Democratic -party
hust have the ascendant. The Demo
nic party is the Chicago platform.
low to be "reaffirmed," as Bryan says.
lln letter and spirit." The country re
larded that platform in 1S96 as ex-
remely dangerous, and so recorded its
lerdict. It is as dangerous now.
In purely local affairs one set of offl-
uals may be as good as another, and it
night be thought not worth while to
I raw the party line. But local affairs
nd general politics are so commingled
. our elections that separation of them
not practicable, to any extent: and
111 political parties act on this basis.
Besides, it is the year of the Presiden
ts! and Congressional elections, and
ich party will do its utmost to en-
lance Us prestige and to gain support
or its policy. As men, the local concil
iates of every party are very much the
ime. The leading question, then, is.
bat are the main objects, the greater
Ibjects, for which the parties respect-
rely stand?
I A leading reason why The Oregonlan
ipports the Republican party is be
ause It is afraid of the purposes and
endencles of the Democratic party.
Inder its present Inspiration and lead-
ship. Its platform is an invitation
anarchy; Its essential spirit is hos-
lllty to conditions necessary to the se-
urity of business, to the protection of
Iroperty, to the preservation of order.
the enforcement of law. The corol-
Lrles of such a platform are the mobs
Coeur d'AIene, Sacramento and Chl-
igo, with torch and dynamite, bucn
llatform is not merely economic error.
Is more than that. It is an lnflam-
latory appeal to the passions that run
kto violence, and Into anarchy itself.
the country cannot have rest or pros-
lerity under such menace; and till the
Democratic party shall abandon this
losltion and adopt a safe and rational
llatform many even of its own adher-
Ints will dread to see for it any pros-
lect of success.
On the other hand, the errors of the
Republican party, though they call for
itlcism, are not fundamental or dan-
lerous; moreover, are not Incorrigible.
fhe country is safe in its hands; order
elgns; finance is sound; there is gen
ii prosperity. In choosing between
tie parties, men will mark these con-
sts. As to men, no better will be
lomlnated than those on this Republl-
lan county and city ticket. The test.
hen, is on" the question what each
arty stands for, anU on the choice
letween these objects.
THERE IS STATE POWER.
In his speeches, elaborate as they are.
Ilr. Bryan makes but few definite prop
ositions. But In talking of the trusts
Ind monopolies and proposing meas-
Ires for their suppression, he has this
say:
tLet Congress declare that before any corpora
on organized in any state does business out
llde of the state It shall take out a llcecsi
. the Federal Government. Let that license
based upon conditions that make a motvro-
lly Impossible. First, let tbe water be squeezed
lut of the stock. Squeeze the water out of the
Itock; there will be a flood (or a while, but
ou will destroy more than halt of the trusts
hat are In existence today. The amount ft
Later In the stock of these corporations is so
real, and the fact that the stock Is watered
well known, that somebody has defined a
larporatlon to be a body of men entirely sur-
nded by water.
I Then pro lde that before this license Is grant-
the corporation shall show that it has not
Ittempted In the past, and Is not attempting
ow, to monopolize any branch of business ot
lbs production of any article of merchandise.
nd provide tor the forfeiture of the license If
he conditions are violated, and I believe )OU
. destroy even: trust In existence. Pass tbe
appoint your board of honest men to exe
cute it, and then the trust will come down
nd ask for a license, and the evidence will
Ihcw that It is a monopoly and cannot set tbe
hoenee. and cannot go outside ot the state,
forty-four states will be taken from It; it must
broken up. and then there will be competition
etween different firms. Let the sugar trust
lorae and ask for a license; tbe evidence will
I how that it produces OS per cent of the sugar:
It cannot get the license, and then the trust Is
Iroken up and the separate factories enter into
ompetltlon again.
It is not necessary at all to go to the
"ederal Government for this leglsla
Lon. Each state already has full power
. Its own hands. Each and every state
jay declare by law that before any
lorporation organized under the laws nf
Inother state shall do business within
own borders, such corporation shall
omply with certain specific require
ments; and the state in which the
Iforelgn" corporation may seek to do
luslness may make these conditions as
lorough and drastic as it pleases.
ch state has for itself every power
bat could be exerted or desired. Jt
aay make and enforce all the condi
tions and restrictions for which Mr.
tryan would look to Congressional leg
slatlon; and there would be no ques-
ion of the constitutionality of the pro-
eeding. On the other hand, the method
roposed by Mr. Bryan would be con-
ested, for the power of Congress in
le premises is uncertain and obscure.
las. at most but an implied existence,
and would trench upon a line of legit
latlon and Jurisprudence which hitherto
has been recognized as belonging ex
clusively to the' several states.
It Oregon is not satisfied with tbe
dealings of the sugar monopoly or wire
trust within her borders, her Legisla
ture may prescribe conditions under
which such corporations may do busi
ness here, and not otherwise. The State
of Texas already has gone far In this
direction, and the Supreme Court of the
United- States has upheld the legisla
tion of Texas against one of the most
gigantic of these monopolies, the Stand
ard OH Company. The states need not
look to Congress for doubtful powens
when they have full powers, each for
itself. In their own hands.
AS EXCOIITAGIXO OUTLOOK.
The coming year gives promise of
great prosperity to the Pacific Coast
and Oregon in particular. This is the
time to take our bearings, for now is
the true New Tear. "When Nature is
bestirring herself for her annual cycle
of activity is the natural time to begin
the year. The ancient world saw this
clearly, and both the old Hebrew year
and the Roman year began in the
Spring.
The prospect has two sides, domestic
and foreign. Nothing is quite so Im
portant as local activity, for in it lies
the basis of any profitable foreign
trade; and in the local field almost
everything Is encouraging. The crops
promise to be heavy and at remunerat
ive prices. The savings of our people
have increased enormously the past
three or four years, and in the past
year large amounts of these savings
have been lent out for productive en
terprises. Building operations now go
ing on and projected are many and
important. New manufacturing enter
prises are starting up, which will em
ploy In the aggregate a great deal of
labor and disburse large sums In wages.
The farming sections are filling up with
desirable settlers from the Middle "West,
the mining regions are scenes of great
activity, with new arrivals of men and
money for development, large tracts ol
timber land are being brought in th
way of lumbering operations, the sal
mon fisheries are assured of a pros
perous season, livestock, meat and wool
are at high prices, and the Industrial
outlook generally is of great promise.
The people of the Pacific Coast have
not as yet begun to realize the possibil
ities of our new Asiatic markets. The
Philippines alone are nearly three times
as large in extent as the State of New
Tork, and are regarded as' capable of
supporting as many people as the pop
ulation of Japan; that is, over 42.000,
000. "When peace is once restored there,
their consumption of American prod
ucts may easily reach figures which will
surpass the hopes of the most sanguine.
Under any kind of liberal trade facili
ties and customs regulations, we ought
to be able to do the bulk of the for
eign trade of the Philippines. This
trade in 1S91 amounted to $24,000,000 In
Imports Into the islands, and JJ3.000.000
in exports from the Islands. Our share
In this was then, and still continues to
be, inconsiderable; but we have ground
to expect great increase. In the year
1893 the United States sold In the Phil
ippines only $400,000 worth of products.
If this could be Increased to $25,000,000
or $30,000,000 worth, the effect upon our
Pacific States would- be Incalculably
beneficial. The recuperative power ol
the people there may be seen In the
fact that this $400,000 worth of sales In
1S99 is more than four times as large as
the total of two years previous. In 1897
we sold the Philippines $95,000 worth of
products, and In 1S9S the total was $128,-
ooe.
Once the islands are thoroughly paci
fied and business can go on uninter
ruptedly, Manila ought to become the
center of a tremendous trans-Pacific
trade. Our annual sales to Asia have
grown since 1895 from $17,000,000 to $48,
000,000, and to all Oceanlca from $13,
000,000 to $30,000,000. "With the open
door at Manila and a libera! policy for
trade between Manila and our ports,
our sales to Asia may be depended upon
to Increase by leaps and bounds.
It is an auspicious time for embarka
tion in new enterprises and for renew
ing confidence In the future of Oregon.
It is a most inauspicious time for a
Bryanite raid on financial stability and
for advocacy of abandonment of the
Philippines.
A BOOTLESS STRUGGLE EXDED.
There are doubtless those In the com
munity who have sympathized with the
persistent efforts of certain ministers
and members of the Methodist Church
to establish an educational institution
of their denomination In the city, who
will note with regret the final aban
donment of the attempt through the
consolidation of the Portland Univer
sity with the old Willamette at Salem.
Others with a broader view, however,
will see the relinquishment of this pur
pose to be for the best Interests of all
concerned first because it Is a union
of educational effort which means
strength, and again, because it marks
the cessation of strife, always unseem
ly, and particularly so In conjunction
with religious and educational effort.
The purpose of the attempt to estab
lish a strong denominational university
in Portland, though doubtless sincere,
was ill advised, since the church al
ready had at Salem a school with the
title of "University," which needed and
Indeed was compelled to have all the
support that the limits of the Oregon
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church could supply. In order to make
It worthy of the name. This school had
a basis In the early traditions per
haps we should say the early history
of the state; it was a pioneer institu
tion, and around it many hallowed
memories centered. It had, moreover,
a firm hold upon the affections of a con
siderable number of people through the
large number of graduates whom, in
its prosperous years, it had sent out,
well equipped for life's duties. It was
Inevitable that a strong fight sbould be
made by and for Willamette University
for Its existence. It was plain also that
the church and its contributory influ
ences could not support two universities
worthy of the name In the state. The
effort, therefore,, meant aggression on
the one hand and stubborn resistance
on the other. In other words, it meant
a contest at once un-Christian and un
churchly, and, as such, in a greater or
less degree, it has been carried on for
some years, ending at last, happily, in
a consolidation of the two schools, or
practically and becomingly the merg
ence of the younger Into the older and
better-equipped body. Not only are our
Methodist brethren to be congratulated
upon this amicable adjustment of a
vexatious and profitless struggle, but
the community at large may congrat
ulate Itself, since It will be a -gainer
thereby, both In an educational and a
financial sense.
A good deal that is uncomplimentary,
If not distinctly discreditable, to the
promoters of the scheme has from time
to time been said of the methods em
ployed In the attempt to establish Port
land University. The Oregonlan has
only to say in this connection that
"All's well that ends well," adding that
it Is sincerely glad that the end of this
bootless struggle in the name of educa
tion has been happily and satisfactor
ily reached. .
THE ELOQCEXCE OF Tim ELEPHAXT
A correspondent In yesterday's issue
of The Oregonlan used the name of
Bryan as a text for a homily on the
influence of the gift of "eloquence,"
which he seems to consider that the
"Boy Orator of the Platitudes pos
sesses In the same sense that it was
possessed by Patrick Henry. Cromwell,
Bonaparte, Talmage, Spurgeon and
Parkhurst, a curious Jumble of men
who were really eloquent either In the
spoken or written word, and men who
are not possessed of the gift of elo
quence either In thought or utterance,
who are simply platform sensational
ists, who have only the eloquence of the
elephant, who exercises superior draw
ing power upon the first and second
childhood of society. And this is the
eloquence of Bryan; the eloquence of
the elephant who uses his flexible trunk
as a trumpet and as a gtstlculator.
The drawing power of the elephant is
very great; he is incapable of articu
late speech, and yet the elephant always
has an audience that far surpasses in
numbers that of the most eloquent
and thoughtful Incumbent of the pul
pit. Bryan is tfie Democratic "ele
phant." The curious of all parties of
course go to see the Democratic ele
phant once. It is Trinculo, in "The
Tempest," who. describes the average
man who goes "to see the elephant" as
fellows who, "when they will not give
a dolt to relieve a lame beggar, will
lay out ten to see a dead Indian."
Now the crowds do not go to see
Bryan because he is an "eloquent"
man, for we all know by this time, that
he is not an eloquent man at all, either
in matter or manner, in thought or
expression. The crowds rush to see
him as the next "dead Indian" of tne
Democratic party. Bryan is no more
an eloquent man than a street faker
who can pack Sixth street with people
on a summer evening Is an "eloquent
man." He Is a political mountebank:
not an orator or a thinker, for his ora
tory is voice and nothing else beside.
A robust voice is Bryan's sole claim to
be considered as an "eloquent man."
We know Patrick Henry was an elo
quent man at the bar, In the forum and
at tho hustings, because we read his
speeches today and find them full of
fine eloquence ot expression. We know
that Cromwell and Napoleon were ca
pable of eloquent expression, although
they were not tramp political whoopers
by day and hooters by night, because
we read the words ot Cromwell and feel
their weight and fervor; we read the
words of Napoleon and feel the poetic
fire and force of his ardent imagination.
So with all men of historical reputation
for eloquent thought; their printed
speech still passes current for the genu
ine coin of eloquence. So long as lit
erature endures, which Includes the
record of their speech, American
statesmen, who have really been gifted
with the Pentecostal flame of eloquence
still hold their place "among the dead
but sceptered sovereigns that still rule
us from their urns."
There is no dispute about Otis, Fishef
Ames, Webster, Clay, Corwln, Everett,
Phillips and Lincoln being eloquent
men, for we have the printed record
of their simple yet powerful speech.
Their eloquence was the eloquence of a
rich and highly gifted man, while the
so-called "eloquence" of Bryan Is the
vocal endurance and volume of the po
litical "elephant" using his trunk as
speaking trumpet and a gestlculator;
the magnetism of the political tramr
faker, the blending of the ceaseless
chant of a fluent charlatan with the
Imperturbable assurance of a shyster
lawyer. There is not an earmark of an
Intellectual man about Bryan; there is
absolutely no gift of eloquence about
him, except a robust voice, which Is no
more assurance of the gift of elo
quence than possession of and practice
upon a megaphone Is proof of elo.
quence.
Eloquence of thought or expression
cannot be found In any of Bryan's
speeches, for the man is utterly desti
tute of poetic Imagination. Eloquence
of simple, severe beauty of logical
statement cannot be found In them.
His speeches are utterly without elo
quence in the art of their form or the
Imagery and illustration of his speech.
In the superficial excellence of elo
quence, which lies in fine elocution,
such as enabled Henry Clay to make
his audience thrill with sympathy J
through his high-keyed vibrant tones
and noble manner, Bryan has no dis
tinction. Of the personal grace, noble
presence and beautiful, versatile volcf
of Wendell Phillips, Bryan has noth
ing. He has the same kind of powerful
voice that used to make the late Gov
ernor Harrlman, of New Hampshire,
In demand as an outdoor orator; he
had voice and nothing else. Bryan is
for the passing moment the prince of
political quacks; the eloquent elephant,
the Impending "dead Indian" of the
Democratic party for 1900, whose only
equipment for the Presidency Is a
throat of 'brass and adamantine lungs.
The misfortune that has befallen the
planters of Texas and the City of Aus
tin through floods will again awaken
interest in the reservoir scheme of Irri
gation, which contemplates the storage
of these wasteful and wasted waters
and their proper distribution over the
land through the dry season of the
year. It Is held to be an arraignment
of human Intelligence, or at least of
human forethought and Ingenuity that
during one part of the year certain sec
tions of the country are devastated by
floods and at another parched by
drought. Methods to equalize the dis
tribution of moisture so that these ex
tremes will not occur have been care
fully formulated, awaiting, it is assert
ed, only the Indorsement of capital or
the Indorsement of the Government to
demonstrate their usefulness. The
demonstration will no doubt be made
in time. Every overflow of lands on
the lower levels, and only in a less de
gree every season of drought on the
table-lands, revives discussion of these
proposed methods of relief. While the
present flood in the Colorado River and
Its tributaries Is a small matter com
pared with the Mississippi floods In
many former years, the loss has al
ready run up Into the millions and the
end is not yet. If preventive meas
ures can be applied to these wasteful
floods. It is clearly a penny-wise and
pound-foolish policy that withholds
them from year to year on account ol
present cost. And in this connection It
may be well to say that self-help Is the
most speedy and reliable means for the
accomplishment of the object sought.
"Waiting on the General Government
to move in such a matter is a tedious
and uncertain process.
Mr. Bryan often gets large audiences.
He had a large one In Portland. So in
New York, In 189S, he had the largest
audience ever gathered In that city.
Tet New Tork, Democratic by 75,000 to
100,000 majority, threw 20,000 majority
against him. That Mr. Bryan had a
large audience at Portland, and that
The Oregonlan deemed his speech of
sufficient importance to print it In full.
to the extent of fourteen columns.
greatly delighted his supporters here.
But It was curiosity, not approval, that
drew the larger part of the audience;
and The Oregonlan gave an extended
account of the meeting and printed the
speech in full, because it is a news
paper. Mr. Bryan Is a ready speaker;
he has a good voice; his flow of lan
guage is uninterrupted. Bui he speaks
commonplaces; he has no depth of
thought; his sentences do not bend un
der the. weight of ideas, as do those of
orators who are also thinkers; he con
tributes little to knowledge or to use
ful counsel, but Is heard by many with
interest and satisfaction, because he
gives expression in some sort to things
they have- vaguely in mind. What he
says, moreover, never calls for close
thinking; which Is too hard work for
such as want merely to be entertained,
or who are content, perhaps delighted,
to hear a voice that translates their
feelings or longings Into speech. But
orations of that description are not the
orations that live and rule the world.
A no more pathetic talc than that of
the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Hor
ton, of Eugene, has come down from
Alaska since that region became the
Mecca of the goldhunter. True, the
event was not the accompaniment of
an awful calamity like the deaths that
resulted from the great avalanche in
the Chllkat Pass two years ago, but
for the reason that it was in the nature
of a thunderbolt from a clear sky It
was the more pathetic These young
people had gone out together In the
great world but a few months before.
seeking their fortune. Ambitious in a
humble way, energetic and faithful,
they had met a degree of success and
strayed away by themselves for & few
days of rest and recreation. Their
murder by Indians appears to have
been not only wholly unprovoked, but
without object to Justify It, even to the
savage mind. It Is gratifying to know
that the cowardly, bloodthirsty perpe
trators of the deed are in custody In
Skagway, and will probably pay to civ
ilization such penalty for their barbar
ous crime as it can expect through the
execution of its laws.
The anniversary of Appomattox finds
few of Its representatives on either side
among the living. Of the eminent Con
federate Generals of the Army of
Northern Virginia, all are dead save
General Longstreet, who Is 81. Of the
Army of the Potomac, none of its corps
commanders under Grant survive save
Generals O. B. Willcox and John G.
Parke. Of Its famous division com
manders, the only survivors are Gen
eral George W. Getty, of the Second
Division,. Sixth Corp3, who was gradu
ated from West Point in 1840, two
years before Longstreet; Generals Miles
and Brooke, of the Second Corps, and
General Men-It t, who commanded a di
vision of cavalry under Sheridan. The
lapse of thirty-five years has made
ghosts of nearly all the notable officers
of the Army of the Potomac at Appo
mattox. Mrs. Dewey Is reported to have ap
plied the quality of afterthought which
followed the famous transfer of the
Washington house to her church rela
tions, it being said that she has with
drawn from the Catholic and become a
member of the Episcopal Church. This
Is probably not true, as even a woman
blinded by ambition to become the
"first lady of the land" could certainly
see that such a step at this time would
cover her with ridicule without in the
least advancing her political and social
aspirations. As a rumor, the report is
stupid: as a reality. It would be as
farcical and absurd as the consecration
ceremony which the Admiral went
through at her desire, in order that
they might be married in a Catholic
sanctuary and with the full consent and
blessing of the church.
The first number ot "The Quarterly
of the Oregon Historical Society" has
appeared, under the editorship of Pro
fessor F. G. Toung, of the University
of Oregon, secretary of the society.
The principal articles are "The Genesis
of Political Authority and olt a Com
monwealth In Oregon," by James Root
Robertson: "The Process of Selection In
Oregon Pioneer Settlement." by Thomas
Condon, and Reminiscences of F. X.
Matthleu." by H. S. Lyman. There are
also shorter articles and various docu
ments. The object of the Quarterly Is
to collect for preservation the sources
of Oregon's history. The present num
ber makes a good beginning.
The citadel of the anti-Puerto Rico
forces appears to be the doctrine that
free trade with the Island is a proposal
of folly and Iniquity. It Is strange,
then, that Representative Tongue, for
example, steadily refuses to point out
the obvious "bearing ot this doctrine
upon the President's assertion that free
trade for Puerto Rico Is "our plain
duty."
Chairman Moran. of the Washington
pro-Boer meeting, showed a correct
sense of the proprieties in putting the
resolutions Including an attack on
Great Britain to vote -and declaring
them carried. What would a pro-Boet
declaration amount to, to be sure, it
you cut Anglophobia out of It?
A matter of deep interest to the peo
ple of Portland is the selection of
proper men for the office of Mayor and
for the Common Council. The Repub
lican nominations for these positions
are good enough to be worthy of special
notice and commendation.
The nomination of William Showers
for County Commissioner Is an espe
cially good one.
The Mistaken American People.
Chicago Inter Ocean, Rep.
Herbert ilyrlck. Henry T. Oxnard, and
15 other "farmers of America," whose edl-tlon-de-luxe
petition hypnotized the ways
and means committee, look upon Puerto
Rico as quite alien to the United States.
Their petition asks "that all sugar, to
bacco, 'cigars, wool, fruits, vegetables and
other merchandise continue to pay the full
rata of duties. Irrespective of whether
such merchandise and produce come from
Puerto Rico, Argentina, or other parts of
the world." Puerto Rico Is thus classed
with foreign countries. The American
people were under the impression that
Puerto Rico belonged to the United States.
They- had an Idea that tbe acquisition of
Puerto Rico was one of the things they
fought a war for.
n
TAXIXG rVERTO RICO.
The Duty That Is" Sot "Plain" and
That We Reject (or Ourselves.
Chicago News.
By the passage of the Puerto Rlcan tar
iff bill In the Senate by the slender major,
lty of nine, that body has done what it
could, in the. language of ex-President
Harrison, to make a "most serious de
parture from right principles." This de
parture means, first, that Puerto Klco
Is not part of the United States proper,
but a territory that may be taxed with
out representation and legislated for with
out precedent. It means, as ex-Speaker
Reed has said, that In tho opinion of the
United States Senate Puerto RIcans are
"three-quarter citizens" of the United
States, and that the quarter not citizen
shall pay its tribute to the tobacco and
sugar Interests of the four-quarter citi
zens. It means, also, that the United
States Senate, after the interval ot nearly
two years, has resolved to repudiate Gen
eral Miles' 'proclamation to the people of
that island. In consequence of which the
people laid down their weapons and wel
comed him and his Army with out
stretched arms.
In explanation of this unprecedented
legislation, varying self-contradictory ex
planations and apologies have been made
by its supporters. Senators Foraker and
Spooner have asserted that free trade with
Puerto Rico would benefit nobody but the
trusts. When Senator Spooner repeated
that this was the case. Senator Turley,
of Tennessee, promptly asked: "Then why
do you propose to give Puerto Rico free
trade In two years?" As answer to this,
according to the Washington correspon
dent of the Record, "Mr. Spooner gasped
and lay down." It was the only thing he
could do, for the question was a knock-out
blow.
As to whether freo trade or a tariff
would be best for the people of Puerto
Rico a. question no one has raised out
side of Congress the Puerto Rlcan dele
gates. In their letter of February 21. In
opposition to the 25 per cent tariff then
proposed by the House of Representatives,
plainly stated their reasons why they
preferred free commerce for tho Island.
"No tariff at all," they declared, would
Indicate to the people of that Island that
they were an Integral part of the United
States; it "would restore to use some of
our best markets, of which the United
States has arbitrarily and, as we. think,
unjustly, deprived us"; and. finally, free
commerce would mean "a large Increase
of shipping" cent to the island, and car
riage for Its exports would be available
at reasonable rates, Instead of freight
rates which "are now prohibitive."
Instead of this, the modified Senate bill.
which now goes to the House, kindly al
lows the Ulnted States to send its chief
products grain and foodstuffs and agri
cultural Implements to Puerto Rico free
of duty. As to Puerto Rico's reciprocity
by sending Its chief products sugar and
tobacco to the United States, "that Is an
other story." with a 15 per cent duty (cus
toms, not "plain duty") attached.
Southern Democrats on Bryan.
"A National platform on the line of
the Nebraska platform would cause the
Democratic ticket a loss of thousands of
votes In every ono of the states," pre
dicts the Savannah News, Dem.
J'Mr. Bryan is a most lovable man, and
a man whom we admire," says the Nash
ville American, Dem., "but the Demo
cratic party has fallen upon evil times If
It has to conform to his views and mako
Its platforms to suit him, and not for what
It conceives to be the best Interests ot the
country and the party."
Noting Indications In tho Democratic
press of an intention to follow the ex
ample set 4S years ago of supporting the
candidate while "spitting" on the plat
forms, the Galveston News, Dem., sug
gests that "before the Nebraska creed
Is adopted as the party doctrine. It might
be well to remember that General Scott
was ono of tho worst defeated candidates
ever run for the Presidency. It would
uncmestlonably bo wiser," the News con
cludes, "to present both a platform and
a candidate upon which Democrats may
come together In a hearty effort to win
tho election."
"Tho ultimate abandonment of a position
which has been mado untenable by the
logic of events Is Inevitable, and It would
bo wise to drop the free-silver demand
at once," says the Nashville Banner, Dem.,
"But while many of the party leaders are
seeing the need of withdrawing from a
position that has been proved Impracti
cable, a mass ot voters that have been
misled by these same politicians Into an
honest and intense bellet in the free-coinage
fallacy are slow to see the error, and
as these politicians shape their public
uttenances by the apparent popular senti
ment, they hesitate to adocate a change
in the platform for fear of losing votes."
i
"What" AH DeweyT
Chicago Evening Journal.
The atmosphere ot Washington Is known
to be extremely debilitating. Certainly It
has had an extraordinary effect on the
mind of Admiral Dewey.
In fact, there Is no Admiral Dewey to
day. The Admiral, the patient, far-seeing.
silent Admiral, has mysteriously disap
peared. We begin to wonder whether
there ever was such a man. There's a
Candidate Dewey, but who cares about
candidates? What state's he. from? "Ver
mont! Eight delegates to the convention.
Fellow from Vermont hasn't much chance.
Has he any of the gang with him? How
does he stand with Lou Payn and Martin
of Philadelphia, and George Cox of Cin
cinnati, and Billy Lorlmer ot Chicago?
Or has he with him Dick Croker and Dry
Dollar Sullivan and Johnny Powers? Can
he handle the nigger vote? Has he a
bunch of coin to put up? Will the trusts
dig for his campaign?
No, Candidate Dewey Is not a very large
pebble. Admiral Dewey was a class by
hlmselO but Candidate Dewey must take
his place In that long line In .which he Is
considerably less distinguished than Matt
Quay, Chauncey Depew, or Arthur Gor
man. He imagines, the simple sailor man, that
tho politicians will receive the announce
ment ot his candidacy with shouts of
"What's the matter with Dewey?" But
they'll not. It Is the clean and sane peo
ple of this-country who will ask that ques
tion In stern shame and sorrow. The
real friends of George Dewey, who ad
mired and loved him. not for his fighting
at Manila, but for the calmness and self
restraint that marked his conduct for a
year after the battle, will ask the ques
tion. What's the matter with Dewey? What
IS the matter with him? He would rather
bo President than he right, and he will be
neither.
Dewey Lost III" Opportunity.
New York Evening Post.
There seems to be no doubt that Ad
miral Dewey wants to be President. The
fact Is greatly to be regretted. His train
ing has not qualified him for the responsi
bilities of the office, even if he were In
the prime of life and 'the best physical
condition, while his age and his health
combine to render him unable to bear the
terrible strain. The Admiral's willingness
over-wllllngness, it will seem to eome
to be a candidate, will not cause the sen
sation now that such an announcement
would havo produced a year ago. His
reputation for good sense and good taste
then stood so high, his prestige was so
great, and the popular faith in his in.
vlnclblllty was so widespread that both
McKlnley and Bryan might well have
deaded him as a competitor tor the Prest-
dentlal nomination. But the Admiral
was a much greater figure on the Olympla
in the harbor of Manila than he Is as a
resident In a Washington house, and
neither the politicians nor the people now
attach anything like the Importance to
bis opinions or wishes that they com
manded before he came home.
SEW YORK'S BIG TUJfXEL.
And-Tammany Tunnels to the Pock
ets ol the Taxpayers.
The biggest enterprise ever undertaken
by an American city is the new system
of underground rapid transit In New
Tork, ground for which was recently
broken; and incidentally It will be a tre
mendous political lever for Tammany Hall.
The contractor Is a Tammany man, and
the work will be done under a Tammany
Hall administration. The length of the
section now inaugurated Is nearly 27 miles,'
and the contract Dricei Is $33,000,000. Tho
contractor Is to excavate 1,700,223 cublci
yards of earth and 92L1S2 of rock. He is
to tunnel 368.C0G yards of rock and lay
4S3.122 cubic yards ot concrete. 9733 cubic
yards ot brick, 778 of enameled brick. 1001
of facing: brick, S2S3 of stone pedestals
and 2303 of cut stone. He is to put In
a.723 tons ot steel beams, 20.147 tons ot
riveted steel and 23.16S tons of cast Iron.
Of waterproofing ho la to place 7S.785
square yards, restore 270,646 square yards
ot street surface and 33,699 of park sur
face. He is to lay 245.514 linear feet of
underground track. 59,766 of elevated track
and Is to complete and deliver the entira
work inside of four and a half years.
A recent Incident shows how this Im
mense enterprise will bo used by the
Tammany chiefs for political purposes.
One of the Tammany district leaders hav
ing Incurred the enmity of his chieftains,
they distributed a circular in his district
conveying the information that "the tun
nel work will be conducted by a Tammany
Hall contractor, and each of the 35 ais
trlct leaders will get SOO appointments for
his district. Three hundred laborers at
J2 a day will mean $600 a day to the money
circulation of each district." The circular
goes on to Intimate that If the leader who
has displeased the Tammany Hall admin
istration is not turned down, the district
will not get Its share of the patronage.
There Is not the slightest doubt that this
warning will be heeded. That tunnel 13
going to be a big thing especially for
New Tork's political bosses.
DEWBf AS A DEMOCRAT.
He Would Certainly Look Funny on
an Anti-Expansion Platform.
Chicago Tribune.
The Admiral may be looked on oa the
original expansionist. What could ba
more mortifying, cruel and humiliating for
Bryan than for his party to put In his
place a man who Is the outward and vis
ible exponent of what Bryan has been de
nouncing for more than a year? Dem
ocratic leaders and Democratic conven
tions have been making anti-expansion
speeches-and adopting antl-expanaon res
olutions. How can that party stultify
Itself by nominating the man who is the
great representative of expansion and
whose exploits In that line are responsible
for the acquisition of the Philippines,
which present expansion In its most trou
blesome aspect?
But the Democratic party is skilled In
the art of reversing Itself, especially of
late years. It la guided by expediency
rather than convictions. Its object Is to
get Into power, and that Is why it has
made many curious nominations, like that
of Hancock, since It Indorsed Greeley In
1S72. Were It to make Admiral Dewey Its
candidate it would do so because ho won
a great battle, and outside of that has no
record or a colorless record.
To secure a candidate so desirable from
the point of view of expediency the Demo
crats would have to abandon all the doc
trines they advocated In 1S96. "Free sil
ver" would have to be Ignored, for Dewey
has no faith In It. The socialistic features
of the Chicago platform would not appeal
to the Admiral. He believes In discipline
and obedience. He would not tolerate
rioting. Instead of objecting to "govern
ment by injunction" he would favor put
ting at tho service of courts what force
they needed to secure obedience to their
orders. As for expansion, Dewey repre
sents that idea better than any other man
In tho United States except President Me
Klnley. Bad Work on a Chinese Line.
Odessa Correspondence London Standard.
The construction of the Chinese East
ern Railway (the Russo-Manchurian line)
would appear to be proceeding under
many and seriously retarding difficulties.
The Czar himself Is said to be much dis
pleased by Its laggard progress. The
chief engineer. M. Yugovltch, has Dean
summarily dismissed by Imperial order
and replaced by the well-known railway
engineer expert, M. Ignatius. The con
servative administration has, for the sake
of short-sighted economy and not Im
probably with a less worthy purpose
elected to employ Chinese In preference
to Russian labor. The dally pay demand,
ed by the Chinamen Is from 30 to 40 ko
pecks, or from sevenpence-halfpenny to
tenpence, while the Russian workman
declines to accept anything less than a
ruble and 50 kopecks, or 3s 3d per diem.
The Chinamen make up for their scant
remuneration by a wholesale and well
organized system of petty larceny, and.
what Is more serious, by a disgraceful
scamping of their work. Long stretches
of embankments have been so imper
fectly built that, quite 'unnecessarily,
they will occupy more than six months'
extra labor before the sleepers and rails
can be permanently laid. The Russian
official supervisors are, of course, equally
culpable In this matter, pn the Charbln
Oronsk section the rails are not yet laid,
and between the former place and the
frontier station it Is only as yet possible,
and that with difficulty, to run light bal
last trains carrying workmen and ma
terial. The supply of wagons. locomo
tives and other mechanical appliances Is
alike belated and dislocated. The tele
graphists at 20 consecutive" stations re
cently abandoned their posts and struck
for higher salaries; they were previously
receiving only 40 rubles per mensem.
By special Imperial command, all these
drawbacks are to be remedied forthwith,
and it Is hoped that the new line will b&
completed by the end of 1901. but tho re
maining bridges to be erected will con
sume at least another 12 months. The
Russo-Chlnese Eastern Railway will not,
therefore, be opened for through trade
before 1902, or about 13 months later than
the time originally reckoned upon for the
completion of the Manchurlan system, to
which Russia attaches so much political,
strategical .and commercial Importance.
J .
Substitute for Indla-Ruuher.
At a meeting of the Society of Chemi
cal Industry, Mr. Re!d described a substi
tute for India-rubber, under the name of
velvril, which makes good machine belt
ing In conjunction with canvas, and Is also
a good water-proofing agent, and will make
serviceable varnish. For such employ
ments. It compares favorably with india
rubber, but for golf balls or submarine
cables It does not offer the flexibility re
quired. If It is found to be adaptable for
wheel tires Its cheapness of production
will, of course, enable it to meet with
wide application.
i i
Ills Physician. '
Somervllle (Mass.) Journal.
Sometimes you hear a man say, "My
physician," with such an air of proprietor
ship that you would never dream that he
owes the doctor J30, which the medical
gentleman never expcctB to get.
First Xecesslty.
Chicago Tribune.
"How would you define a "crying-need'?"
asked the teacher ot the rhetoric class.
"A handkerchief." replied the solemn
young man with the wicked eye.
in
"Wrecks.
Tonkers Statesman.
He In the Baltic Sea, there are mor
wrecks than in any other place in the
world.
She How about Monte Carlo?
NOTE AND COMMENT.
Everybody couldn't be nominated.
They put Hennessy off a long way, this
side of Buffalo. '
, i -.
Dewey's motto should have been "Never
give up the ship.""
Sometimes .a. Presidential bee
Will fold his whirring- wine
And quit his buxrlnr and begia
To settle down to sting.
As was expected, the opening session of
the Prohibition convention was rather dry.
The Independent candidate
Now proudly condescends1
To run for office just to pleas
Bis many thousand friends.
A sailor's wife a sailor's star shall.be
maybe, but he ought not to let her ba,
nis leauui tuuy.
Xow will the anxious candidate
Begin to wonder why
Such small and lowly offices
Can come so mighty hlgt.
Captain Osthelm, of the First United
States Artillery, whose death by suicide
is announced, was graduated from JVest
Point Military Academy in 1SS3, ranking
No. 19 in a class of 52 members. Ha was
a native ot Pennsylvania.
If so much peace and harmony
Keeps Ooatlng In the air.
The next convention that they hold
They'll open It with prayer.
A drive through "the country between
the city and Mount Tabor, where orchards
abound. Is very pleRsant Just now. The
meadow larks are singing In the orchirds,
white with bloom, and the air Is loaded
with perfume. Cherry trees are shedding
their blossoms, and the ground under them
any time last Winter with snow.
It's hard to suffer a defeat
And try to wear the while
A look of resignation and
A bright and genial smile.
A notable literary work Is completed
with the publication ot the last volume ot
the catalogue of the Nineveh tablets in
the British museum. When Sir Henry
Layard explored the ruins of Nineveh,
more than half a century ago, he dis
covered the royal library of the Assyrian
Kings, comprising over 20,000 of these clay
tablets, and the work of cataloging them.
now finished, has been long and arduous.
The barbers having succeeded In getting
a commission appointed to examine and
license members of their profession, aro
now looking hopefully forward to securing
legislation to regulate the practice ot
wearing beards. Something In the nature
ot the old compulsory pilotage bill la
about what they want, to compel men who
wear full beards to pay for at least ono
shave per week. They hold that any
man who wishes to make himself look
like a Populist should pay for the privi
lege. Thirty-one persons are on trial at Elber
feld. In Germany, for fraudulent evasion ot
military service. The chief culprit wa3
a cigar drummer who died In detention
before the trial, and seems to have had a
"pull" with the examiners. His trade was
among well-to-do people, as he charged
several thousand marks for exemption.
This was brought about by drugging tho
young men before the medical examina
tion. 60 that they showed symptoms oi
heart or of liver troubles. He had worked
with Impunity for a dozen years In the
towns along the Rhine.
George Fuller, United States Local In
spector of Steam Boilers, lost a small
cocker spaniel answering to the name or
"Rags." An advertisement calling atten
tion to this fact, and offering a reward,
resulted la the recovery of the lost dog.
It had other results. Soon after dayllgnt
on the morning of the appearance of the
ad. In the paper, the doorbell at the
Fuller residence began ringing, and by
tho time the Inspector was ready to leave
the house for his dally toll In the service
of his Uncle, no less than IS dogs, attend
ed br their owners, had called for the re
ward. By noon the number of lost dogs
which had registered In at the Fuller resi
dence had Increased to something over 60,
and among tho number was the missing
Rags."
Apparently the ad. had not been read
closely, for among the canines wnicn
called for Inspection (not official) were bull
dogs, white, black, brown and speckled,
Irish" setters, Scotch collies, greyhounda
and even mastiffs. There were whlto
shepherd dogs and pinto Newfoundlands,
and a number that were just dog. Mr.
Fuller does not feel unkindly toward tho
well-meaning men, who made his front
yard and grounds look like a dog pound
when the tax was delinquent, but he ven
tures a semlofilclal opinion that the Ignor
ance of some people regarding the general
appearance of a cocker spaniel Is lament
able. I B
Klpllue's Linen on Jouliert.
The next Issue of Harper's Weekly will
contain a poem by Rudyard Kipling on
General Joubert, which was sent by cabla
from South Africa. Two of the three
stanzas follow:
(Copyright. 10, by Harper Bros., N T.)
With those that bred, with those that loosed.
He had no part, whose hands were clean of
gain. . ...
But subtle, strorg and stubborn, gave his lire
To a lost cause, and knew the gift was vain.
Later shall rise a people sane and great.
Forged in strong flres. by equal war made
one,
Telllnc old battles oer without hate.
Noblest his name shall pass from sire to eon.
a i
What In the Meanine-f
Louisville Courier-Journal. Dem.
What Is the meaning of the sweeping
Republican gains In Nebraska, including
the exceptional Increase of the Republican
majority In Mr. Bryan's own town? Mr.
Bryan's views on silver and other .Issues
of the Chicago platform have been passed
upon more than once In Nebraska; his
views on expansion constitute the only
new issue that has come up since. Judg
ing by the returns, anti-expansion Is a
very poor Issue in Nebraska.
s
A Father to Be Appreciated.
Boston Courier.
Teacher I called to see you. sir, about
your Od's schooling, and am sorry to say
that he Is behind In his studies.
Parent That's all right: if ,he wasn't be
hind, how could be pursue them?
i i a '
Family Trees,
Leslie's Weekly.
First chicken My father came from
Shanghai. -
Second chicken Huh! Thafs nothing.
My mother was an oil stove from Paris.
i i
The Little Ills.
S. B. KlserJn-CUicagxrTImes-Herald.
He used to chide his wtfe because
She .grieved o'er sroall.affalrs;
'lly dear." he'd eay, "keep back your tears
For more important cares.
"Pass o'er the petty llto thai serve
To vex the foolish who.
When great. Ills come, have not the strength
They need to bear them through!
1 never fret o'er little things
But brush them all away.
Remembering- past pleasures through
The trifles or today!"
But yesterday he filled the.air
With horrid sounds of woe.
Because a throbbing little spot .
X Was on his little toe.
r .