h
Jr
TTTR . MOANING OTIEGONIAN,' PBIDAY. AFRITi 13, 1900.
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OMITTED, AXD rXPORTTJJIATEKY.
Nothing in the Republican state plat-
torm Is more Important than one plank
.-that isn't there. This is the demand
for Justice lor Puerto Rico and free
trade with the Philippines. The omis
sion Is not only refusal to indorse the
brave stand made by Senator Simon In
Congress, but it is a misrepresentation
of the almost unanimous conviction of
the Republicans of Oregon.
The only declaration on this subject,
near or remote, made by the platform
Is this sentence:
We hare confidence that the American peo
ple, without departing from their traditions,
will give security to personal and propcrtr
Tights, Justice, Ubertr and equality before the
law to all who live beneath lti flag-.
It Is an utterance that ill comports
with what has Just been done by the
Republican majority in Congress to
Puerto Rico. Ingenuity could hardly
have devised a more ironical arraign
ment of the Puerto Rico bill. "What is
the use of talking about "equality be
fore the law to all who live beneath its
flag" when the Puerto Rlcans, beneath
the flag which they welcomed Joyfully
as a release from oppression, are sub
ject to a tax on their products com
ing into the United States? This is
not equality, but far from it. The con
vention has missed a great opportunity
and has by its silence discredited the
only man in the Oregon delegation who
had the courage to stand for the de
sires and convictions of the people of
Oregon.
TOD PRESIDENT TJXDCR Tlffi
SEARCHLIGHT.
At the recent session of the "Wil
mington (Del.) Methodist Episcopal
Conference, a resolution censuring
President McKlnley for his very mod
erate use of wine at banquets and at
dinner was defeated by a vote of 67
to 43. The resolution denounced the
President as "tippling before the young
.and old of the Nation," and described
"him as a backslider. A President of
the United States' ought to be secure
ct E7 Years of ace from this kind of lm-
f pertinent suggestion, advice and pro
test, on the subject of serving wine or
partaking of It at state dinners, at the
hands of every petty reformer who
thinks the solution of the American ex
periment depends upon the observance
by our Chief Magistrate of the social
code of the Puritan theocracy In the
matter of dancing and the social code
of the Prohibition party In the matter
of using wine as a beverage. President
McKlnley Is suffering from the kind of
sanctified boorishness that was Imposed
upon President Harrison when an as
sembly of clergymen solemnly informed
him that they did not approve of danc
ing or serving wine at state dinners.
President Harrison, despite the fact
that he was a strict Presbyterian,
treated the clerical denunciation of the
Inauguration ball with silent contempt.
He attended the ball with his wife, al
though neither of -them ever danced,
and served wine at his state dinners,
and suffered nothing In the Judgment
of his countrymen because of It.
On the subject of wine at Eta to din
ners or his private table, and attend
ance upon a public ball. President
Cleveland was left unmolested, for he
was known to be a man who would
sternly resent this kind of Intrusion.
There is nothing more intolerable
than the presence of Paul Pry, masked
as a reformer, struggling to get an
audience with the President of the
United States., Let every man mind his
own business to the extent of not giv
ing the President of the United States
a Caudle lecture on the subject of his
social habits and personal example.
Thla was the view of the members of
the Wilmington (Del.) Methodist Con
ference, who vigorously opposed the
passage of the resolutions denouncing
the President. These resolutions were
based on the testimony of one. Samuel
Dickie, who told the committee report
ing them that he had "watched the
President at a public dinner in St. Louis
and saw him taste four different kinds
of wine," and on that of Rev. Ralph
Coursey, who asserted that on June 9,
1893, Mr. McKlnley drank wine at Chi
cago. The opposition to the resolutions
fairly said that it was an unwarranted
assumption for the conference to In
quire Into the Methodism or personal
habits of the President of the United
States, even if It were satisfied of the
alleged truthfulness of the person who
confessed ho had played the part of a
spy at a dinner where the President
Was a guest. In short, the opposition
held that tho conference could not af
ford to treat tho dictates of ordinary
manhood and courtesy with contempt
in dealing with tho President, even If
there appeared to be some ground for
tho surmise that President McKinley's
peBt-prandlol doxology was not "Oh,
the total abstainer is, happy at home,"
nor his ves?or hymn "Water, bright
water for me."
This application of temperance reform
searchlights to tho Interior of the Pres
ident's dining-room on stato or private
Occasions 1b quite as contemptible as
the methods of "yellow kid" journal
ism that tho clerical critics of the Pres
ident's life aro never weary of visiting
with scornful roproach.
The shipping subsidy bill, according
to telegraphic advices, is to be rushed
through at the present session of Con
gress, Tho promoters of this colossal
graft certainly havo cause for alarm
(it any delay in forcing the measure
through. Fortunes are being made in
the ehlpownlng and shipbuilding busi
ness! ovory yard in the country is
teowfied to Its utmost capacity, for
months ahead, and the profits returned
by ships already built are greater than
ever before. These facts are gradually
becoming so apparent to the American
people that it will be difficult to hood
wink them much longer with the false
pretenses which for so long have been
used to bolster tip the measure. The
shipping industry at the present time
stands in need of a, subsidy nearly as
much as does the Standard Oil Com
pany or the steel trust business.
A FORXOIUf HOPE.
Those who have fondly Imagined that
Olney or "Whitney or Dewey could be
elected President If nominated by the
Kansas City convention may as well
revise their Judgment. Such a con
summation is impossible. A safe man
nominated at Kansas City would win
many Republican votes that Bryan
cannot get; but he would lose far more
votes of Democrats who want Bryan or
a man like him. This Is the plain and
startling fact concerning the Demo
cratic party in the United States. It
Is given over to Socialism, to Populism.
It would as soon vote for McKlnley or
Reed as for Cleveland or Olney, or any
other man that stand3 for honest
finance and the rights of property.
Demagogues like Bryan have played
upon the socialistic Instincts of the
masses, sedulously and successfully,
and they have been assisted by Repub
lican subservience to corporate Inter
ests and by Democratic betrayal of
tariff reform. The brainy but unscru
pulous men of both parties, who have
played fast and loose with money, tariff
and riot questions, have lent color to
the accusations of demagogues against
the Money Power, "Wall street, the
bloated bondholder, the trusts, and the
whole gorgeous paraphernalia of Bry
anism. Between these two classes of
political malefactors, the Frankenstein
of Bryanism has been raised up. "What
can be done with It, heaven only knows.
The Democratic City Convention, held
In Portland "Wednesday, affords a hint
of the feeling of the party throughout
the country. It was a Kansas City
convention In perfect embryo. Tho
Gold Democrats were there, and the re
union was apparently complete. But If
they had been able to nominate one of
their number for Mayor, the true Bry
anttes would have bolted. They were
ready to walk out. They knew they
were the party, they did not propose to
be overridden, and, politically speaking,
they were right.
If you could get men enough In the
Kansas City convention to substitute
a man like Olney or "Whitney for
Bryan, they would defeat the Bryan
Ites there, but they could not hold them
afterward. The Bryanlte Democracy of
the United States, this year at least,
will not vote for any man who, if not
Bryan himself, docs not typify Bryan
ism. The thing Populism Is abroad In
the land. It is largely In the Demo
cratic party today, because there It Is
welcomed. Tum It out of that retreat
and It will lose no time In seeking the
camp of avowed Populism.
In 1900, as In 1836, the hope of the
country against Populism lies In appeal
to Democrats. Bryanism is more dia
metrically opposed to historic Democ
racy than it is to historic Republican
ism. Bryanism has more In common
with historic Republicanism than It has
with historic Democracy. The appeal
of Bryanism is not to the principle of
honest money, low tariff and the least
possible Federal interference; but foi
debased money, and especially for Gov
ernment interference with business, la
bor and. finance, amounting to extreme
paternalism. Before the campaign ol
1900 is over, the socialistic basis of Bry
anism will stand out so clear that no
discerning voter need be deceived into
thinking that In supporting it he is fur
therlng the cause of good government.
Bryanism Is populism. The masses
of the Democratic party are socialists
In sentiment. They stay there because
there Is the most attractive home of
Populism. Make the party once more
truly Democratic, and they will get out.
If they can't have their Populism In It,
they will take themselves and their
Populism out of it. Dewey or Olney
can get the votes of the Gold Demo
crats, but not the votes of the Bryan
Democrats. The tall will not be per
mitted to wag the dog.
XOT A "KIXG" rRESIDEJiT.
George Iceland Hunter Is wrong in
naming Grant as a striking illustra
tion of what he terms "King Presi
dents" in contrast with "Congressional
Presidents." Jackson, Johnson and
Cleveland may be perhaps correctly
termed "King Presidents," but Grant,
measured by his temper or his actions,
was no more of a "King President"
than "Washington. The number of ve
toes Is a very superficial test of the
Imperious quality of a President. Lin
coln had few vetoes because his was a
war administration, during which there
would naturally be no Important differ
ences between the Executive and Con
gress. The number of Cleveland's ve
toes Is deceptive, for the great majority
of them were vetoing special bills for
the payment of pensions to soldiers
whose claims had been rejected by the
Pension Bureau. The number of
Grant's vetoes In his eight years was
not remarkable, when we remember the
vast number of most Important ques
tions that formed subjects for legisla
tion and executive approval. If Lin
coln bad been President during eight
years of peace following our great Civil
"War, he might not have exercised the
veto power as often as Grant, but. this
would not have been due to the fact
that he was of less masterful temper,
but because he had been trained all his
life in law and politics, and by shrewd
criticism and pressure indirectly ex
erted upon the leaders In Congress
would, often have shaped a measure be
fore Its enactment so that it would se
cure approval. In Grant's only serious
fight with the Senate, that of the Santo
Domingo treaty, he did not exhibit as
much of the imperious temper of a
"King President" as did Washington
In the flght over the Jay treaty. Grant
in his next message after the defeat of
the Santo Domingo treaty calmly said
that he should never urge It again upon
Congress; that he "had no policy to
assert beyond the will of the people."
The truth Is that Grant as a President
was utterly without the temper of an
imperious soldier, like Jackson, or an
imperious civilian, like Johnson ot
Cleveland. He was a man of military
talents, but not of military tem
per. He hated war save as neces
sary to save the Union. He hated mili
tary methods of government, and felt a
most conservative reverence and re
spect for civil lnw and a conscien
tious desire to make military methods
subordinate to civic statesmanship
Grant was entirely free from the nat
ural egotism and Imperious military
temper conspicuous In both. General
Sherman and1 General Hancock, who in
the executive office would have been as
arbitrary and obstinate as Jackson or
Johnson or Cleveland, but that was not
the temper, of Grant, who was a fat
wiser and more conservative man In
his temper than any of the great sol
diers of the Union.
Grant was as conservative In his re
spect for the supremacy ot the civil
law, in his reluctance to resort to milt
tary methods, even when sanctioned
by Congress, as Washington or Lin
coln. His parting advice to President
Hayes was to abandon military govern
ment at the South; that Is, Grant per.
suaded Hayes to enforce, not the plat
form of the Republican party, but the
avowed policy of Tllden. This conserv
ative temper of Grant was shown in
his non-aggressive foreign policy. In a
certain quality of natural statesman
ship, which made it impossible for him
to have made such a blunder as Sher
man committed in his military egotism
In the matter of the terms of John
ston's surrender. Grant was the re
verse of a "King President," both in
temper and action, and Mr. Hunter Is
superficial In his Judgment when he
names Grant as a "King President" in
the same list with Jackson, Johnson
and Cleveland, who all had a personal
policy which they strove with equal
obstinacy and varying success to Im
pose upon the country. Grant Js no
more open to -this charge than "Wash
ington or Lincoln.
INEFFICIENT MILITARY ADMINIS
TRATION. If It bo true that the armies of Gen
erals Roberts and Buller have not yet
received proper winter clothing, and
that In consequence pneumonia is prev
alent among the soldiers. It is a severe
indictment of the British War Office.
The War Office has had ample time
since November last to purchase and
send forward to Cape Town the cloth
ing which it knew would be necessary
for the Winter campaign. It Is the old
scandal of inefficiency in the home ad
ministration of the quartermaster and
commissariat department of the British
Army repeated. In the Crimean War
the British soldiers suffered so fearfully
in the Winter of lS5t-55 for the lack of
proper clothing that the public clamor
upset the Aberdeen Ministry, which
was succeeded by that of Palmerston.
In the current number of the National
Review Arnold Forster, M. P., charges
the War Office with the grossest lneffl
fclency. When it was decided last Sum
mer to send 10,000 men to Natal, not
2000 were sent, although the country
had 106,000 men on Its active list at
home. From India 5000 men were
taken, and the remainder were taken
from Egypt, Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus
and Crete. The soldiers sent from Eng
land did not exceed a battalion and a
half of infantry and a brigade of artil
lery. Between October 9, when the
Boer ultimatum was Issued, and Octo
ber 20, the total reinforcements sent to
Africa were a balloon section of the
Royal Engineers and a troop of New
South Wales Cavalry. Out of 186,000
regular troops on the rolls, active army
and first-class reserve, In August, 1S99,
the total amount available for service
in Africa was 92,000. The other troops
sent to South Africa were made up of
reservists, not flrst-class; of militia,
yeomanry, volunteers and colonial con
tingents. After tho war broke out, the artillery
was so Inadequate that forty-three bat
teries of guns had to be made or bought
and their projectiles hastily manufaq
tured. There were only three howitzer
batteries ready for use, and three oth
ers capable of being equipped after a
time. Mr. Arnold Forster says of the
howitzer guns that two types are con
structed at Woolwich arsenal; one for
India, having a caliber of 5 inches,
and the other for home service and the
colonies, having a caliber of B inches.
If England were at war with Russia,
not one ot the howitzers in service in
South Africa could be sent to India
without a supply of Its own ammuni
tion, and none of the Indian 56-lnch
batteries would be of any service In
South Africa without carrying Its own
peculiar ammunition. This Is like tht
folly of our ordnance officers of our own
Army and Navy, who, when our war
broke out, had rifles of different cali
bers, so that the Army and Navy could
not use the same ammunition on emer
gency. Mr. Forster clearly thinks that,
with the exception of Lord Roberts,
no British officer has shown any re
spectable knowledge of strategy or tac
tics. It all these statements are true,
there is small need for surprise that
Lord Roberts has been obliged to hold
his army, waiting for remounts and for
Winter clothing necessary for advance.
The state conventions yesterday
brought to this city bodies of men un
excelled in the political gatherings of
the state. Representatives of farming,
professional and business Interests pre
dominated, but there were many work
lngmen among the delegates. The Re
publican convention. In particular, was
dignified and harmonious to a degree
almost unprecedented. The strife that
has for years torn the party seems to
have been allayed by the lapse of time
and the establishment of the gold
standard through Congressional enact
ment. With the disappearance of free
silver as a bone of contention, the party
gets together, and apparently there is
no longer to be inharmony over an
economic Issue. The cheap-money
devil has been driven out, to find its
abiding-place in the ranks of Bryanism
alone. One party, at least, is to be no
longer rent and torn by contention over
an issue that has been settled through
acceptance of the basic facts of mone
tary science. The declaration at As
toria two years ago is now the settled
policy of the party. It is good for the
people and well for tho state that the
dominant party is known to stand
unitedly and unquestionably for sane
finance.
Nomination of W. J. Furnish by the
State Republican Convention, as a
Presidential Elector, is a proper recog
nition of the Democrats who came to
the Republican party in 1896. It was
the high patriotism of men like Mr.
Furnish that saved the country from
a great calamity at a critical time In
Its history. Upon the issues of 1S96
there was a radical change In the con
stitution of the political parties of the
country. Men who hitherto had been
Republicans went In large numbers
over to Bryanism, and In return the
Republican party received a greater
number of the class of Democrats of
sounder economic and political views.
In Oregon the Republican party got not
less than 5000 Democrats of this sort,
and they saved the state from the
slump to Bryanism. No one of these
Democrats did more than Mr. Furnish,
land his nomination as Presidential
Elector is only a Just recognition of
what these Democrats, now Republi
cans, did at one of the most critical
occasions In the country's history.
The Latin-American countries are in
a state of unrest. If not absolute revolt,
which demonstrates, apparently, the
utter inability of their people to provide
stable governments for themselves. In
Venezuela and Colombia revolutions
continue; In Brazil a plot was lately
discovered for the overthrow of the
government, the object of the conspira
tors being to enrich themselves from
the treasury; affairs In Chile are In
their usual uncertain state, which is
represented by the fact that In three
years the cabinet has changed thirteen
times, and the Congress of the Repub
lic has been composed of petty and
quarreling factions; the Inhabitants of
Paraguay aro suffering from plague,
despotism and war, and the finances of
the country are In the worst possible
state, without prospect of Improve
ment. In Central America the tension
between Nicaragua and Costa Rica
continues, and the treasuries of both
states are drained to support the con
stant expectancy of war. Taken alto
gether, the efforts made by these peo
ple to govern themselves, extending
over a period of many years, do not in
their results encourage the Idea that
the Filipinos should be given .the chance
and encouraged to set up their own
government. In point of fact, the art
of government Is one which these peo
ple seem incapable of learning, and the
probability ot the ultimate absorption
of these countries by the governing
races seems every year to become
stronger.
Charles U. Wolverton, renominated
by acclamation yesterday for Justice
of the Supreme Court, by tho Republi
can State Convention, has served six
years on the bench, with marked credit
to himself and benefit to the state. He
brings to his work a Judicial mind, ripe
knowledge of the law, and a style that
makes his opinions perspicuous. His
high character and personal dignity,
added to his exceptional acquirements,
make him almost an Ideal man for the
high .place which he Is named to fill.
The many tributes to his fitness, offered
in the convention by attorneys from all
parts of the state, attest the esteem In
which he Is held by the legal profession,
and the generous applause of delegates
and spectators made It plain that the
mass of voters recognize his worth as a
citizen and Judge. His re-election Is
not to be doubted, and the people of
Oregon are to be congratulated on the
sure prospect that he is to remain on
the bench of the state's highest court.
The Republican member of Congress
who talked about the "subsidized" Re
publican press that has opposed the
Puerto Rico bill, and then changed the
expression to the "misguided" Republi
can press, has not mended matters, but
only has shown himself a cumulative
simpleton or fool. The Republican
press of the country that opposed the
Puerto "Rico bill is not only independent
and incorruptible, but possesses Infi
nitely more intelligence, and therefore
Is less likely to be "misguided," than
all the pretentious nobodies assembled
under the dome of the Capitol. This
pretension to superior knowledge by
the cheap lot of fellows who sit In Con
gress, and who strive for those places
because they are incapable of anything
that requires more ability, is tiresome
enough.
The words of "The Dying Soldier,"
set to a mournful melody, were sung
at patriotic and memorial gatherings
very frequently during and Immediately
subsequent to the War of the Rebel
lion. The song began with the third
stanza, and, as voiced to the music of
the parlor organ, then found In thou
sands of homes, the tender and pa
thetic words drew tears to many eyes.
We have no knowledge of "Lou Ver
non's" age, but he must have been
born several years subsequent to the
Civil War period, or else he presumed
unwarrantably upon the shortness of
memory of the many survivors of that
troubled era in our history.
If there is any truth In the reported
movement to take Ohio out of the
Bryan column at Kansas City, It will
probably have no more serious effect
than to compel the redoubtable Colonel
to visit the Buckeye State sooner than
he intended, and invigorate the ranks
of his supporters. Then McLean's
scalp will Join those of Croker and Car
ter Harrison at the belt of the Boy
Orator.
Hon. A. S. Dresser, of Oregon City,
nominated yesterday by the Republi
cans for 'Joint Senator of Clackamas
and Multnomah Counties, Is a man of
good character and much acquaint
ance with legislative work. He will
undoubtedly make an efficient member
of the Senate, and beyond question
will receive a heavy vote in Portland
and Multnomah County.
Vermont Democrats will Ignore
Dewey's candidacy before the Kansas
City Convention. The nine votes of the
state will be cast for Bryan, doubtless
with as little ado as possible, out of
consideration for the feelings of the Ad
miral, who is still Vermont's favorite
eon In his proper sphere.
Democrats of Multnomah the Old
Guard have been outnumbered, out
classed and sent to back seats by the
new recruits from the Populist and Silver-Republican
ranks. It is another
step in the degradation of a party.
Mr. Sheridan, In the Democratic con
vention, "indicts" several persons. Mr.
Sheridan himself, with far more pro
priety and truth, may be indicted as an
Irresponsible liar and calumniator.
REDUNDANT TAXES.
War Revenue Should Re Reduced a
Soon na Possible.
United States Investor.
It was inevitable that the redundant
revenue of the United States should lead
to a demand for a reduction In taxes.
The taxes Imposed two years or more ago
for the purpose of providing means to car
ry on tho Spanish War have proved ef
fective beyond all expectation. The in
crease In the Internal revenue has been
of a most astonishing character, amount
ing practically to 1100,000,000 during the
first year of the new taxes, the receipts,
furthermore, being still on the gain. The
redundancy of the Treasury appears in
th fact that for the 1S59 fiscal year the
receipts of tho Government aggregated
tao.9S2.004. against appropriations by the
last session of Congress amounting to
$fi2.KO,750. The law of 1S9S was passed
before the great revival of business was
fully Under way; tho measure was large
ly a tentative one. its effect being to a
considerable extent a matter of conjec
ture. But besides the unexpected In
crease In the revenue, we have to take
into account that tho extraordinary ex
penditures of the Government, growing
out of tho Spanish War, are no longer a
factor. Though the need which the law
was designed to meet has passed away,
the revenue by reason ot the law has
reached a point which bids fair to lock
money up in the Treasury In amount
that' can 111 be spared from the channels
of circulation.
The law of 1S98 is not at this particular
moment viewed as a hardship. The coun
try is so prosperous that the taxpayers
are not disposed to growl at the present
arrangement. Were it not for tho fact
that the money Is not now needed by
the Government, and that, not being
needed, it Is a menace to public Interests
to have it He Idle In the Treasury vaults,
the law of lSDS'wouId occasion no discus
sion. Were It possible to keep the law
In operation for a few years longer or
say until times become hard again and
use the redundant revenue to pay off the
National debt, the country would be a
gainer. But, owing to the recent refund
ing measure, it now seems hardly possl
blo to accomplish this end. That being
the case, the revenue should most cer
tainly be reduced. Our Impression is
that It will not be possible to effect this
end during the present session of Con
gress, for the reason that In a Presiden
tial election year the party In power will
hardly take such a step. While on the
fnco It might soem that a reduction of
the taxes would be highly popular. It
must bo remembered that powerful fac
tions would be quite likely to feel that
their particular Interests had not received
their full share of benefit In tho repealing
law.
Taxes are an evil at the best, and no
tax should be allowed to remain In oper
ation ono moment after tho need for it
has passed. The money now going to
swell the Treasury's holdings of Idle
funds can be more advantageously used
In developing the resources of the country
than In swelling a hoard which Is bound
to oxclte the cupidity of Congress -and to
plunge tho Nation Into a new career ot
extravagance. Redundant revenues In
this country are always pretty certain
to occasion scandals of one sort or an
other; their Influence on all classes of the
community Is demoralizing.
in
OCR NAVAL UNDERTAKINGS.
An ObJeet of National Expenditure
Generally Approved.
New Tork Times.
It has been a common remark ever
since the Spanish War that the Navy
could have anything from Congress It
wanted. Apparently Secretary Long and
the department officials have undertaken
to verify the saying. They are qulto
within thelr rights, and they have pre
vailed upon 'the naval committee of the
House to agree with them. The result
Is a bill, approved by the committee,
appropriating J61.219.Slt, to be expended
upon the Navy within the next year.
Such a sum would have been utterly
beyond the dreams ot any Secretary be
fore the new Navy had demonstrated Its
efficiency. Fancy Secretary Robeson hav
ing had such a sum at his disposition
In the bad old days when it used to be
said at the department that a United
States man-of-war was regarded solely
as a "basis for repairs"! We observe that
ex-Secretary and present Senator Chandler
Is seml-omclally enumerated among the
"founders of the new Navy." What he is
doing In that particular galley we do not
pretend to know. But what would he. in
his old tarry and salty days, have made
of an appropriation ot $60,000,0001
Robert Louis Stevenson says, wjth a
high degree of plausibility, that It was
the Samoan complication, with Its cul
mination In the hurricane that wrecked
three of what then passed for American
men-of-war, that "founded the modern
Navy of the United States." Undoubtedly
those events made all Americans feel that
It was Intolerable we should not have some
more formidable and efficient method of
showing our flag than was supplied by
the hulks and relics by which It was at
that time carried. And the hurricane In
Apia harbor occurred In March, 1SS9.
That made everybody admit the neces
sity of a modern Navy, the construction
of which was forthwith begun, but the
appropriations for the reconstruction
were small Indeed, compared with what
a grateful Nation willingly gives now,
when we havo "proved" our new weap
ons of war and found them not wanting.
A list showing the progressive although
fluctuating advance for a decade ought to
be of Interest:
1S91 S23.130.033
1SS2 S1.U1.04
1833 23.543.SC7
1SU4 22.104.061
ItHfc 25, JUO.oJI
131MJ , 29,41', 077
1BUT ) JX,w,'J'Jl
1B38 33.003.231
1109 60.008.7(3
lllOO 43,030.0(21
1801 (proposed) 61.210,01(1
It will thus be seen that the proposed
appropriation for the Navy In this year
ot peace Is nearly J3.000.000 greater than
we found necessary to put our Navy
In condition for the Spanish War, which
Involved the hasty purchase and conver
sion ot a number of merchantmen. It Is
possible, that some Items of the bill may
be necessary to the efficiency of the Navy.
Our newest battle-ships. It seems, show
the Improvement upon their predecessors
which they ought to show. The Kear
sarge Is already hailed as a striking suc
cess. And this matter of building navies
Is, It must bo borne In mind, a measure
ment of purses. It Is not to be expected
that tho news of this appropriation will
bo received with ecstasy In Berlin. Ger
many has already Imposed upon hor the
necessity of being able to make head with
her army against on enemy on each fron
tier at once. If she Is also to Impose
upon herself the taEk of rivaling mari
time nations In her navy, the framers ot
her budgets will have their .troubles in
creased. Large as tho bill Is. It seems that there
Is one Item which ought to be added to
It. That Is an appropriation for putting
the older retired officers who served dur
ing the Civil War on the pome footing
with their Juniors whose retirement was
delayed until special statutory provision
had been made for their coses. We have
already explained the merits of this case.
It Is an act of Justice which Congress is
asked to perform. The cost of doing It
will be moderate even at first, and In
the course of nature will annually dimin
ish. Nothing could be better calculated
to maintain the morale of the service
than such a proof that the Republic Is
not ungrateful.
i
Suppose the House Elect.
Boston Herald.
In the event that Dewey attains suffi
cient Importance as a candidate to pro
vent an election of a President by the peo
ple. It may be Interstlng to know how
the present House of Representatives of
Congress Is likely to vote. There can be
no doubt that It would easllr choose Mc
Klnley. The vote would be by states.
There are 45 states of the Union. Of
these, as represented In the House, the
Republicans have a majority In 2C. the
Democrats and Populists In 19. This enu
meration gives Nevada to the Democrats.
It Is represented by a Silver Republican,
but he generally votes with the Demo,
crats.
Accounted For.
Indianapolis Journal.
"Henry, I dreamed of planting sweet
peas last night."
"Oh. yes, and of course you dreamed
you made me dig up the ground for you,
and that's the way I got this awful cold."
Tie Bex.
Chicago Times-Herald.
"Oh. I feel 1000 years old." she sighed.
Well." he said, 'you look at least 40."
Then she angrily declared that she would
never speak to him again.
a
Cleverest of Them All.
Chicago News.
Ida Is she a clever glrlT
May Very clever. She can take all the
artistic valentines she receives and turn
them into Easter cards, . .
AN UNACCOUNTABLE ERROR.
The Associated Press dispatches in yes
terday's Issue of The Oregonlon contained
one grave and unaccountable error. In
the report of Congressional proceedings
occurred this paragrapn:
A tee till originally passed the Rouse. It
was a simple bill. Imposing; IS per cent ot the
Dlnsley rate on roods rotEg- Into Puerto Rico
from the United Stater and coming from
Puerto Rico Into the United State. As amend
ed by the Senate and today screed to by the
House, all restrictions on goods coming Into
the United States from Puerto Rico are elim
inated, and certain foodstuffs and other arti
cle which heretofore have rone into Puerto
Rico free by executive order are excluded from
the operation of the 15 per cent duty Imposed
on rood entering; the Island from the United
States.
Tho statement Is Incorrect. The amend
ed bill as changed In the Senate and
agreed to by the House levies a tariff on
Puerto Rico foods coming Into the United
States; provides that while other articles
on the free list and hitherto admitted free
by tho Secretary of War shall be on the
frco list, as In the Dlngley bill, this con
cession shall not apply to coffee, the
Puerto Rico staple. The law also applies
Internal revenue taxes to Puerto
Rlcan goods withdrawn from custom
houses for consumption and sale. The
full text of the tariff section of the law Is
as follows:
"Section 2. That on and after the pas
sage ot this act the same tariffs, customs
and duties shall be levied, collected and
paid upon all articles Imported Into Puerto
Rico from ports other than those of the
United States which aro required by law
to bo collected upon articles Imported
into the United States from foreign coun
tries: provided, that on all coffee In the
bean or ground lmiiorted Into Puerto Rico
there shall be levied and collected a duty
of S cents per pound, any law or part of
law to the contrary notwithstanding; and,
provided further, that all Spanish scien
tific, literary and artistic works, not sub
versive of public order In Puerto Rico,
shall be admitted free of duty into Puerto
Rico for a period of 10 years, reckoning
from the ltlh day of April, 1S99, as pro
vided In said treaty of peace between the
United States and Spain; and, provided
further, that all books and pamphlets
printed In the English language shall bs
admitted Into Puerto Rico free of duty
when Imported from the United States.
"Sec 3. That on and after the passage
of this act all merchandise coming Into
tho United States from Puerto Rico, and
coming Into Puerto Rico from the United
States shall cb entered at tho several
ports of entry upon payment of IS per
centum of the duties which are required
to bo levied, collected and paid upon like
articles of merchandise Imported from
foreign countries: and In addition thereto
upon articles of merchandise cf Puerto
Rlcan manufacture coming Into the Unit
ed States and withdrawn for consumption
or sale upon payment of a tax equal to
tho Internal revenue tax Imposed In the
United States upon the like articles o!
mcrchandiso of domestic manufacture;
such tax to be paid by internal revenue
stamp or stamps, to be purchased and pro
vided by tho Commissioner of Interna.'
Revenue, and to be procured from the Col
lector of Internal Revenue at or most
convenient to the port of entry of fa'd
merchandise In the United States, and to
be affixed under such regulations as th
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with
the approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury, shall prescribe; and on all ar
ticles, of merchandise of United States
manufacture coming Into Puerto Rico In
addition to the duty above provided upon
payment of a tax equal In rate and
amount to the Internal revenue tax Im
posed in Puerto Rico upon the like articles
of Puerto Rlcan manufacture; provided
that on and after the date when this act
shall take effect, all merchandise and ar
ticles, except coffee, not dutiable under
the tariff laws of the United States, and
all merchandise and articles entered im
Puerto Rico free of duty, under orders
heretofore made by the Secretary of War.
shall be admitted Into the several ports
thereof, when Imported .from the United
States, free of duty, all laws or parts ot
laws to the contrary notwithstanding; and
whenever the Legislative Assembly of
Puerto Rico shall have enacted and put
Into operation a system of local taxation
to meet the necesalttes of the government
of Puerto Rico, by this act established,
and shall by. resolution duly passed so
notify the President, he shall make proc
lamation thereof, and thereupon all tariff
duties on merchandise and articles going
Into Puerto Rico from tho United States
or coming Into the United States from
Puerfb Rico shall cease, rind from and
after such date all such merchandise and
articles shall be entered at the several
ports of entry free of duty: and in no
event shall any duties be collected after
the 1st day of March. 1902. on merchandise
and articles going Into Puerto Rico from
the United States or coming Into tho
United States from Puerto Rico."
i
Spanish War Relic.
Washington Post.
The recent war with Spain Is furnish
ing a rich field for collection for the Na
tional Museum, and the material on hand
Is already very extensive and full of Interest-
Campaigns by land and water. In
Cuba, the Philippines and Puerto Rico
have all contributed to the education of
posterity In the ways of warfare of the
present day.
The collections now at the museum em
brace every Imaginable thing that per
tains to war, from huge death-dealing
guns and submarine mines to the buttons
worn upon the uniform of private sol
diers. Hardly a day goes by that does
not see added some things of Interest, the
latest being four large brass cannon,
taken from antique fortifications, which
have been mounted upon the front steps
of the museum.
Tho Caprnn loan collection occupies a
case by Itself, and tells a pathetic story
of the horrors of war. This collection
embraces the uniforms, swords and other
relics of father and son. who were both
called upon to sacrifice their lives in the
defense of their country. There Is the yellow-plumed
cavalry helmet of Captain
Allyn K. Capron. who was killed at the
battle of Las Guaslmas, together with tho
saber he wore when struck down by a
Spanish bullet, and the sweat-stained
gauntlets that were upon his hands.
8
OOlce of the Trusts.
United States Investor.
They say that the main purpose of the
modern trust Is to reduce prices. There
seems to be some error hero. Judrlng
from tho following Associated Press dis
patch, dated New York. April 3: 'The Ico
Trust and tho Hygela Ice Company have
combined to raise the price of Ice from
35 to CO cents a hundred pounds to fami
lies and small consumers. Saloon-keerx-ra
and restaurants will continue to get their
ice at Z5 cents per 100 pounds." This will
certainly Impart a chill to all who have
been looking for a cheapened cost of liv
ing, as a result of the Industrial trust
movement.
Quite True.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"Single tells me be had two horses killed
under him In ono of the battles of the
Civil War."
"That's right.. A railway car he was
riding In backed Into them."
a
The Sprlnjc I Here.
Louise Chandler Moulton.
I feel the kindness of the lenethenlnr days
I warm me at the strong- Bre of the sun
I know the year's glad course Is well begun
Ah, what awaits me In Its devious ways?
'What strange, new bliss shall thrill me with
amaze T
What prise shall I rejoice that I have won?
I feel the kindness ot the lengthening days
Z warm me at the strong Are of the sun.
Tet I behold tbe phantom that dismays
The face of Grief that spares not any one
Rewards come not until the task Is done.
And there are minor chords In all earth's
lays;
Nay! Trust the kindness ot tbe lengthening
daire
ril warm no at tbe strong Cres ot the sua.
NOTE AND COMMENT.
What wonderful things Paderewskl
could do with ragtime If he tried.
It Is In Dewey's favor that he never
voted for Cleveland, even if ho wanted
to once.
The Pops always have a hot time In
convention. They will only fuse at a high
temperature.
A Texas weather prophet has predicted
a frost in July. But he falls to say which
party will feel It.
- Nicholas will have to bo to his friend
Agulnaldo for a Job. The Democrats
won't stand for him.
The only Qualification neccssarv to cet
a Democratic nomination Is the manifest
Inability to poll any votes.
Dewey says It's easy enough to be Pres
ident. He may be right about that, but ho
will find that It's no snap to get to be.
Perhaps if the public had been content
to lot Mrs. Dewey keep that house, she
would not now be wanting to move into
the McKlnley residence.
The proud and peerless eagle bird
Has winged his mighty Sight.
Almost a week, and he'll be glad
To go to roost tonight.
The Democrats point with pride to the!
own ticket, but when that of the Re
publicans heaves in sight they begin to
view with alarm.
Next fall a new commercial course will
be Instituted at Michigan University. In
struction will be given which will train
students for diplomatic and consular du
ties, for newspaper work, for higher com
mercial pursuits, for pastoral and phil
anthropic work, such as social settle
ments, and for public administration.
There will be courses In commercial geog
raphy and statistics.
It Is said to have been agreed that
United States Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge shall be permanent chairman ot
the Republican National Convention at
Philadelphia. No announcement of this
fact will be made, because such a course
would refute the theory that delegates
run conventions. It Is also understood
that Senator Depew will deliver the prin
cipal nominating address.
The keeper of the pay-roll on a large es
tate In the southern part of Cuba says:
"The average payment per man per
month for February was $14 01. Spanish,
gold, and this month it will average from
Jl CO to tt 73 higher. Besides the pay
ment In coin, the men are housed and fed
at the expense of tho estate. The food
for each man costs the estate S3. Spanish
gold. Do you know of any country where
tho pcoplo ? ho work In the fields are bet
ter paid?"
Professor Forbes, the Stato Entomolo
gist of Illinois, estimates that without
the assistance of birds the State of Illi
nois would be carpeted with Insects one to
each square Inch of ground, at the end
of 12 years. Professor Deal, of the United
States Department of Agriculture, calcu
lates that one species of sparrow the tree
sparrow destroys ST3 tons of noxiou3
weed seeds in s&ven months in Iowa alone,
and the Investigations of the Department
.of Agriculture have proved beyond ques
tion the great value of hawks and owls
as the natural enemies of the small ro
dents so harmful to agriculture. Farm
ers are beginning to realize the great
-practical value of birds, but women con
tinue to demand their slaughter at the
dictate ot fashion.
Congressman John Humphrey Small. o
North Carolina, has received a box con
taining an egg with the Initials W. J. B.
It was accompanied by the following let
ter of explanation:
"Dear Sir I am sending you a hen's
egg that was laid on Redding Standi
Woolard's farm, nine miles west of Wash
ington. N. C. Mr. Woolard requests mo
to send It to you. The egg has W. J.
Bryan's Initials In plain letters on It.
This egg was found while warm in his
henhouse, with these Initials on It. Tho
people In the neighborhood think this Is
a sure sign that Mr. Bryan will be tho
next President, and are all going to voto
for him. Mr. Woo'ard wishes you to send
this egg to Mr. Bryan, and asks that
he acknowledge receipt of It to him at
MIneola. Beaufort County. N. C. Tours
truly, D. M. CARTER."
The committee appointed by the Ameri
can Bar Association has Issued a circular
In regard to the proposed National cele
bration of "John Marshall Day." to take
place on February . lWL being the flrst
centennial of the Installation of Chief
Justice Marshall. "It Is proposed." says
the circular, "that commemoration serv
ices be held at the National capital, un
der the direction of the Supremo Court of
tho United States, with the aid and sup
port of the co-ordinate branches of tho
Government, it Is also expected that the
day will be properly observed on the part
of all state and National courts by the
cessation of Judicial business, and that
all state, city and county bar associations
participate In proper exercises In such
manner as to them shall seem most ap
propriate. Similar ceremonies are recom
mended to bo held In all American col
leges, law schools and public schools, to
the end that tho youth of our country
may bo made fully acquainted with Mar
shall's noble life and distinguished serv
ices." t a
De LsnTd Gwine to Frow Vo' Down.
Denver Post.
O chillun treadin' on de rath ob rln.
De spirit an de bride say come.
De gate wide open: ef yo' don' go la
To' gwlne fo' to lose yo' home!
When de trumpet calls on de sleepln" clay.
An" yo' rise at de wakcnln' soun'.
On de golden ha'p yo' will nevah play
De Lawd serine to frow yo' down!
When yo' close yo' ea's to de gospel word.
An' yo' eyes am blln' to de light.
To' mus' run wlf de goats In de poo' los' herd
In de Ian ba flah shines bright.
To' can nevah drink ob de watehs sweet
Pat flows froo de golden town.
Fo' yo' fln" when yo' set on de Judgment seat
De Lawd gwlne to frow yo' down!
O! ol' bellevah when yo' sigh en' groan.
An" say all de worl" am lle.
When yo" think dat de poun"-cake tas' Uk
pone.
An" yo" don" nevah dar" to smile.
Ef yo" ma'ch up yondeh wlf yo" lce-col" eyes.
An" yo" stan" at de ba" wlf a frown.
To" done gwlne rassle wit a big su'rrlse
De Lawd gwlne to frow yo" down!
Ef yo" go to chu'eh on de Sabbah "Say
An" do throne ob de Mastah seek.
Den put all yo' Sunday gya'ments away
An' sla froo de res" ob de week.
To' bcttab. keep dat ol" hat yo" wah.
Fo yo" nevah won't git no crown
When de big book's opened In de cou't up dah
De Lawd gwlne to frow yo' down!
Do lamp yet bu'nln" but de oil run low.
An' da" aln" no mo" In de can:
When de light go oat It b lit no mo".
An" yo" caln't An" de Promls Lan't "
Den" cas" detu gya'ments ob sin away
An" a-felt on de righteous gown.
Or yo see big trubble on de las great Cay
Do Lawd gwine to frow yo' down!
-. .-.-i r.-i
t-AAjfcaftf'fjfca Ytr.'-fve
. ti t. t .n
". -A."