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tttv, MOttXTNG OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, APRIL' 17, 1900.
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Entered at the Postcfflcs at Portland. Oregon,
aa second-clan matter.
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TODAY'S WEATHER.
ncss; variable winds.
Increasing cloudl-
POIITI.AM1, TUESDAY, APIllIi 17.
the noon that needs opemxc.
The commercial Interests of the coun
try have been trying to Bet a commis
sion appointed to study trade condi
tions In China and Japan. In hope that
the result of Its Investigations might
be of service to our merchants and
manufacturers. The scheme has pro
Brersed as far as the Introduction and
advocacy of a bill In Congress for the
appointment of the commission: but
now its promoters have discovered that
political considerations are likely to de
termine selections for these new places
If they are made. Members of Con
gress will gladly support the bill If
they are assured of a chance to place
one or more of their friends, and when
the time of trial came the President
would hardly have the hardihood to
refuse requests of Senators and Rep
resentatives whose active support is de
Sired in the coming campaign. It Is
not surprising, therefore, to come
across evidence of faintheartedness In
pursuit of the commission's project.
The New York Journal of Commerce,
for example, remarks:
Thla simply llluUratfs, for the hundredth
time, the fact that tho best rervlee which the
Government can render to commerce U to let
It alone. The shortsighted advocates of a De
partment ot Commerce and Industrie rslght
well take warning; from the apparent impo
tence of the executive branch of the Govern
ment to prevent the commercial commission to
China end Japan being mado a mere Instru
ment for the payment of ieronaI or party
debts. A similar remark applies to the people
who thick that the Interest of commerce can
be promoted by appropriations of public money
for the b-neflt of commercial museums.
In this brief paragraph three pet
projects of the commercial world are
peremptorily set aside government
trade commissions, government support
of commercial museums, and the pro
posed Department of Commerce and
Industries. It Is only a question of
time and keener vision when our busi
ness world will reach the Journal's la
conic conclusion that "the best sen-Ice
the Government can render to com
merce Is to let It alone." Qur mer
chants and manufacturers want Gov
ernment aid now, because they fancy
it will be beneficial: but once let them
see that governmental interference in
these matters does more harm than
good, and their voice will be for free
dom and economy.
Our commercial organizations are
js. great power, but their energies are
wasted In advocacy of impossible
dreams. What they think they want
of Government Is a bottle and a wet
nurse, but what they really want Is a
chance to do something for themselves.
The only thing that stands in the way
of our trans-Pacific trade is repressive
legislation. Tariffs .on Imports hither
prevent profitable charters for ships,
tariffs on Imports at Manila keep us
out of the Philippines. If Government
will do Its best to give us cheap ships
and unhampered trade, our merchants
and manufacturers and farmers will do
the rest They have the resources, the
enterprise, the skill and ingenuity. "We
hear much about the open door in
China. What we want Is the open door
at Portland and San Francisco.
EGLECTED DEVELOI'JIEVT.
The difficulties under which the peo
ple of the Coast counties of Oregon, and
especially of Tillamook County, labor in
regard to transportation facilities have
been from time to time for many years
brought to the public attention, and
plans as old as the beginning of the
railroad era of the state have been
formed whereby relief from these disa
bilities might be secured. The same
story relating to the abundant re
sources and stinted commerce of the
Coos Bay country that was told a
quarter of a century ago is told today.
Tillamook County, teeming with the
bounty of nature, makes painful shift
to get a few schooner-loads of .butter,
lumber and shingles to market each
year in partial return for the merchan
dise carried in on the return trips of
these little tubs of commerce in re
sponse to the most urgent needs of a
growing, chafing population.
The people of Tillamook County have
a good deal to sell, and with such' en
terprise as exists among them, and
such energy as they are ready to em
ploy, they would have active develop
ment along industrial and commercial
lines, were they put in regular and
sufficient touch with active Coast mar
kets. As shown in a letter cf William
Held, published yesterday, the question
of providing railroad facilities for Til
lamook's trade was years ago "thought
out," but, as the public knows, it still
lacks practical solution. In lieu of
trains passing by either of two or three
long-ago-surveyed routes between Port
land and Tillamook City, tapping rich
sections of the country, there is a stage
line across the mountains in the Sum
mer taking such business as it aan ac
commodate from Yamhill and Wash
ington Counties, and one or two
cramped,-stuffy, scarcely seaworthy
vessels plying at irregular intervals be
tween the two ports, taking in Astoria's
business on the way. And for all that
has been said and published about the
desirability of securing Coos County's
trade, the same old cry for a line bf
steamers capable of doing the actual
business of that section and building up
a trade'wlth Portland still goes up, fall
ing, apparently, upon unheeding ears.
This thing of being without a market,
cr without .facilities Xor pfcooslus .be
tween markets. Is one that Is exceed
ingly trying to an energetic people.
Tillamook suffers from the first and
Coos County from the second of these
conditions. Isolation was bad enough
In the Willamette Valley in the pioneer
era, though relatively little complaint
was made at that time, as it was the
expected condition. It Is well remem
bered how, twenty or twenty-five years
ago, a similar condition Irked the
people of Eastern Oregon. Yet in the
case of both of these sections there
was at the time good reason in the vast
distances to be covered for the Isola
tion that cramped endeavor and acted
as a persistent drawback upon their
development.
In the case of our Coast counties, cut
off from the main body of the state,
there is no such excuse. Both could be
placed In touch with other sections ot
the commonwealth and their interests
greatly facilitated by railroad exten
sion of a little more than 100 miles.
Auxiliary to this, a small but stanch
fleet of freight steamers with regular
sailing dates would perform valuable
service, at both ends of the line, -between
Empire City and Portland, as
well as at the intermediate ports on
the route. There Is nothing that savors
of the boom In this statement. There
is no gold mine, so far as known, to
be reached or worked by it. It is a
simple business proposition of the sub
stantial and growing type, and as such
the man or company that works it out
intelligently will find It a paying prop
osition. The case Is not one of arrest
ed, but of neglected, development, as
unnecessary as it is short-sighted.
THE ISSUES OUTLINED.
In the declaration of principles that
the Fusion party of Oregon puts before
the people for support, the salient feat
ures are two money and the Philip
pines. These are, in fact, the issues al
ready made up for the campaign.
Everything else is negligible these
mark the line of cleavage. Everybody
agrees as to the Puerto Rico mistake,
everybody Is in favor of the Nicaragua
canal, everybody wants the trusts re
stricted, both parties In this state op
pose leasing public lands, favor the In
dian war pensions, popular election of
United States Senators, and point with
pride to the xecord of the Oregon volun
teers. But on two points there Is radical di
vergence. These are money and the
Philippines. ' The Fusion party declares
for free coinage and the Republicans
for the gold standard. The Fusion
party favors independence for the Phil
ippines, the Republicans favor the re
tention of the Islands as American ter
ritory. In the Fusionist proposals is to be
found neither sense nor reason. Ta
adopt free coinage is to send us to the
silver basis, with Mexico and China,
and to part company with the great
commercial nations, that know the best
standard and are able to maintain it
Dishonor of our obligations, debasement
of our currency, commercial and Indus
trial paralysis all these are bound up
In free silver. It Is a cause with far
less to commend It than it had In 1SS6.
The gold standard has served this
country well, and each nation that
leaves the silver basis forthe gold
basis makes still more Impossible the
idea that we should deliberately put
ourselves back Into the backward
financial state from which so many na
tions are gradually emerging. To ad
vocate free coinage in the present pros
perous condition of the country Is
about as sensible as it would be to tear
up the railroad tracks and go back to
stage coaches.
The Fusion proposals as to the Philip
pines are equally untenable. They pro
fess great things, but they will not
bear examination. To retain the Phil-"
ipplnes, it Is argued, will make us an
empire; to renounce them will keep us
a republic. Now the extent of Its pos
sessions does not determine whether a
country is a republic or an empire. It
was under the democracy that Athens
extended its dominions widest, and un
der the republic that Rome became
mistress of the ancient world. As to
treatment of outlying portions of the
imperial democracy or the imperial re
public, this varied with circumstances.
Just as It varied with circumstances
under "tyrants" or emperors. The
United States, as a matter of fact, has
always had dependencies and terri
tories enjoying different degrees of gov
ernmental privileges. We are enacting
one law for Puerto Rico, another for
Hawaii, another for Alaska. When wa
get to It, we shall enact another for
the Philippines. When the South re
belled we took up a "war of conquest"
and asserted our authority over It,
without the "consent of the governed."
The main point Is that our laws should
be Just and wise, giving these various
portions of our territory the highest
privileges of citizenship they are capa
ble of exercising for their own good.
We must not be captivated by mere
words or enslaved by fine-sounding
phrases. We shall keep the Philippines
and deal'Justly with them. Just as we
have done with Texas, New Mexico,
Alaska and Hawaii, without either "en-
1 dangering our civilization" or "endan
gering our form of government." We
are no nearer a monarchy today than
when the thirteen states united, and
perhaps not so near.
The latest clap-trap of "anti-Imperialism,"
used .with gusto by the Oregon
Fuslonlsts, Is that we should treat the
Philippines Just as we do the South
American republics let them enjoy
independence, but protect them from
outside Interference. There are three
reasons why this Is Impossible. In the
first place, we do not protect the South
American republics as a matter of phil
anthropy, but purely from self-interest
Wo do not protect them from each
other, but merely keep off European
powers, lest they obtain a foothold
there that may menace our National
existence. , The cases, then, are not
parallel. No such obligation of self
preservation rests upon us in connec
tion with the Philippines. If we re
nounce them, we are done with them.
They are no more to us than Greece Is
today or Hungary was years ago. In
tho second place, wo cannot stand
against the world's Interference with
what we have no power to regulate or
control. No man will assume responsi
bility for a work unless he has au
thority to direct It. Suppose Aguin
aldo should make war on tho island of
Hong Kong and commit depredations
there whlcK would Justify England in.
making reprisals on Luzon. According'
to die Fusion plan, we should have to
resist England's attack on Luzon, but
we should have no .authority, to pre
vent the Tagals from pursuing other
depredations at their pleasure.
But the third and main reason why
we cannot give the Tagals lndepend-
i cac. jmi protection,, such as. South
American republics enjoy, is that in the
one case we are responsible for good
government and in the others we are
not. Spain has relinquished the sover
eignty of the islands to us. They are
the seat of civilization and commerce.
If we were to withdraw our forces from
the islands, the Tagal hordes would at
once Inaugurate a reign of terror. We
know from their actions hitherto Just
what to expect. They would lay waste
productive districts, torture the -friars,
burn the cities, loot the business and
industries cf tho islands everywhere,
and make such an exhibition of bar
baric rapine and blood as would stamp
the American name with Infamy for
ever. To promise Independence to the
Islands when they are ready for it
would be a work of supererogation and
of danger. Promises of this kind are
sometimes awkward, as we have found
in the case of Cuba. For anything we
know the Philippines may always pre
fer connection with us to complete ln
dependence. Just as Hawaii does.
Opposition to the Government's
course in the Philippines is Just like
opposition to the gold standard; that
is. It is mere captlousncss. Something
has been done, and it Is thought neces
sary to find fault in some way or other.
The failure of the critics Is shown in
tho fact that they are able to make no
acceptable alternatives.
POLITICAL COimUPTIOX.
That there Is a deal of money used
corruptly In politics in some of the
states of the East, like Rhode Island,
New Jersey and Michigan, and in some
of the Rocky Mountain States and the
Pacific Coast, cannot be truthfully de
nied. The case of Rhode Island Is an
exception to the rest of New England,
because Rhode Island Is, like Nevada
and Delaware, a kind of pocket bor
ough, which two or three rich men seem
to consider a valuable bit of political
property that Is as fairly open to them
for purchase and sale as the stock of
a business corporation. The melan
choly thing about this matter of such
open and gross bribery as was revealed
by the testimony In the famous Clark
case Is that probably the shameful
record would never have been brought
to light If two equally rich, if not
equally vulgar, rascals had not wanted
to buy the same state at the same time.
Tho lavish expenditure by these two
political scoundrels of their wealth In
order to buy a seat In the United States
Senate has fairly honeycombed Mon-'
tana with corruption; has so utterly
debauched its public moral sense that
Clark would havo escaped exposure If
the Influence and money of his corrupt
rival had not been vindictively exerted
to disgrace him. There is not the
slightest probability that any Influen
tial portion of the citizens of Montana
would have protested against Clark's
occupying the seat he had bought In
almost open market If his defeated
rival had not organized the attack and
secured the ablest lawyers In the coun
try to press It home upon tho commit
tee on privileges' and elections. That is,
there does' not seem to be any public
opinion in Montana that feels humili
ated or Insulted by the successful effort
of a very rich man to buy the state
Legislature Just as he would a bunch
of cattle.
There Is a disposition among several
of Clark's friends among the Rocky
Mountain Senators to defend him and
voto down, if possible, the unanimous
report of the committee. The probabil
ity Is that public sentiment in Montana
was neither astonished nor offended by
the purchase of the Senatorshlp; the
surprise would have been very great if
It had not been bought by either Clark
cr Daly. The language and demeanor
of these seat-buying politicians, wheth
er they are found at the extreme East
or on the Pacific Coast, Indicates
clearly that they do not consider It a
moral wrong to buy a Senatorshlp. It
would be easy to grow pessimistic over
a state of public opinion where a rich
man can buy a Senatorshlp without
any sensible loss of public influence or
respect, but we are not any worse but
rather better than we were in the days
of our fathers, or even our great-grandfathers.
The England of Sir Robert
Walpole in the reign of George II was
politically so corrupt that Walpole
boasted that every man In Parliament
had his price. The England of Victoria
Is disfigured by comparatively little
corruption, and the United States as
a whole, allowing for the difference of
population, is not so politically corrupt
today as it was in the days of Burr and
Hamilton.
This may seem a strong statement,
but anybody who will read the record
of those days, as set forth In the news
papers and private political correspond
ence, will become satisfied that, while
in spots. In certain states, there Is a
deal of political corruption today, the
great states are not as much disfigured
by It as they were fifty years ago or
even one hundred years ago. You
could not buy a seat In the United
States Senate in Kansas today, as Al
exander Caldwell did, elected from
Kansas for the term ending in 1S77, ac
cording to the Judgment of the Senate
committee of Investigation, which re
ported in favor of his expulsion because
he had secured his seat by bribery. In
the early years of Kansas there was a
deal of the smell of corruption about
her political garments. "Subsidy"
Pomeroy, James II. Lane and other
men of corrupt practices were once
among the political leaders of Kansas,
but such men are not tolerated today.
Political corruption still obtains in New
Jersey, because public opinion has been
demoralized by the great railroad cor
porations, who elect the Legislature and
own it, as they once did that of New
York State; but public opinion has re
deemed New York from this stigma,
and there is hope for New Jersey's
future redemption. A year ago the
great State of Indiana elected a young
man to the United States Senate with
out any money; Illinois has never
known the sale of a seat, nor has Iowa,
and the late ex-Senator Sawyer, of
Wisconsin, owed his scat in the Senate
solely to his honesty, uprightness and
deserved popularity among the people
from whom ho sprung.
John Calvin and John Knox are Im
mortals; but no end of Presbyterians
are coming to the confessional with the
statement that those eminent men
didn't know It all. Dr. Parkhurst. of
New York; Dr. Grey, of Chicago, and
many more. Join with pr. McGiffcrt and
Dr. HUUs In the opinion that the West
minster Confession, derived from Ge
neva and Edinburgh, has served Us
time and ought to "go." Dr. Gregg, of
Brooklyn, who hitherto has always been
counted among the conservatives of
the church, says: "The confession, of
faith on which the Presbyterian Church
stands Is dead. Two-thirds of the min
ister of the Presbyterian Church don't
accegttua jConXefialQB. of F&UhThe
other third has forgotten Its dogmas.
snow me a pastor of a Presbyterian
Church who will dispassionately assert
that his little child may possibly be
one. of the foreordained doomed to ever
lasting brimstone and hell! The Pres
byterian Church needs a new and sim
ple creed." The Presbytery of Utica,
N. Y., has adopted a resolution rec
ommending that the General Assembly
be asked to consider whether the time
has not come for instituting a move
ment "to effect in part a revision of the
doctrinal standards or the adoption of
a simple form of confession." The dis
cussion over the debate was stormy,
and the Rev. Ralph W. Brokaw, of
Utica, declared the Westminster Con
fession "a back number" which "should
be put in a glass case for preservation."
The signs are strong for a revision of
the Presbyterian creed, in the direction
of Independent, rational or "Unitarian"
religion.
It has been objected to the nomina
tion of Captain Charles E. McDonell for
the office of Assessor that he has had
no special experience In that line of
work. Perhaps he has not; and yet he
has a quick Intelligence and can learn
It as well as any one else." Besides,
there Is always a corps of expert assist
ants at hand. Official duties have to bo
learned. In every public position. That
Is one of the consequences of demo
cratic government. Democracy has to
teach the men it brings forward, from
Presidents, Governors and senators
down to' those named for the humblest
positions. Then, as soon as they learn,
It discards them and takes up new
men. This is inseparable from the na
ture of Democracy, and it is right if
Democracy is right. The remedy Is
oligarchy, with its settled bureaucracy.
Captain McDonell is as fit for the office
of Assessor as the average man Is for
any office. He has spirit and patriot
ism, too, as well as Intelligence. Here
was a man who responded to the first
call of the country two years ago, and
his merit was sufficient to entitle him
to lead a company of the Second Ore
gon through the Philippine campaign.
Such men as 'he were in request then.
Captain Charles E. McDonell will not
be forgotten by the voters on election
day.
From one point of view it Is unfortu
nate that In Portland and Multnomah
County there never are offices enough
to go round. Hence, after every Re
publican convention a lot of "seekers"
are left over. With these unfortunate
gentlemen, who so deeply pity them
selves, the Democratic and Populist
managers are now In conference, for
nomination of a local ticket. It will
stand for "reform,',' of course. That is
the last refuge of men who feel that
they have not been taken at their own
valuation; and they always want to
"fuse" with some political minority,
which, because it hasn't votes enough
to win on its own account. Is sup
posed to be willing to furnish the bulk
ot the votes for the enterprise, while
the "reformers" furnish the greater
part of the candidates. We have all
witnessed these "reform" campaigns,
and perhaps now shall witness another.
A cabload of disappointed and dis
gruntled "reformers" or "good govern
ment" men, want EOOO Democrats to get
In and ride with them, while they steer
the machine.
The strength of the Boer cause lies
In Us nearness to the family life of the
burghers. This is exemplified In the
statement of good, phlegmatic, fecund
Frau Kruger that she has in the field
four sons, six sons-in-law and thirty
three grandsons. This, the world is
assured. Is not an exceptional, but on
the contrary a very ordinary, case. In
plain words, the Boers as a nation
have not outgrown the primitive stage
of human development, in which
woman's first duty is to bear as many
sons as possible for the common de
fense along lines of brutal force, and
man's first duty is to fight.
The Northern Pacific Railroad's new
pamphlet, entitled "Wonderland," Is a
beautiful publication. It is a descrip
tive account of the region tributary to
the Northern Pacific Railroad, together
with a condensed history of the. Lewis
and Clark expedition of 1S04-6. In the
matter of printing and illustration it is
superb. The story of Lewis and Clark,
as presented In Its pages, with maps
and illustrations, Is sufficiently full to
Interest the general reader; and we
suppose that story never yet has had
so wide circulation as this publication
will give it.
Admiral Dewey Is now reported as
saying that he Is a Democrat. That's all
right; but when he came home he said,
with a real enthusiasm, that he hoped
McKlnley would be re-elected. He evi
dently felt very kindly toward the Pres
ident .who had named him Admiral.
But the woman had not yet come into
the case. It's an old story, as you may
find by reading about
"That uxorious King, whose heart, though
large.
Beguiled," etc
It Is possible that the agitation for a
new Presbyterian creed will succeed
some day, though not probable-that It
can muster prevailing strength at the
General Assembly of this year. And
really it makes little difference. The
old Westminster Confession is dead,
and whether its demise be officially re
corded or not is a matter of trifling
detail.
Admiral Dewey says he is not going
to withdraw. He has not been nomi
nated yet, and there is nothing to with
draw .from. But Mrs. Dewey's state
ment on this subject is yet to come.
Two investigations have completely
fizzled out that of ex-Consul Macrum
and that of Coeur d'Alene.
Two Presidents Compared.
Now York Evening Post.
Mr. Cleveland's Princeton lectures on
the independence of trie American Chief
Executive have the excellent grace of com
ing from a preacher who, at any rate,
lived up to his own doctrine. His own
victory over Senatorial usurpers has been
frittered away by his successor In office;
bo that the fight will have to be made
over again when we once more get a firm
and fearless President. It is not neces
sary to suspect an ulterior Intention in
Mr. Cleveland's choice) of such a thrme
Just at this time. He could not doclre
a moro perfect foil than has been fur
nished by McKlnley. People might have
thought Mr. Cleveland too vlrllo and
unbending for a kucccsstul President, had
they not so swiftly had the illustration of
what happens when Congress becomes u
prome, and gets Into the habit of rushing
to tho White Houso with a stop-watch
to give the President Just so many min
utes In which to go on his knees. If
"tact" asd uaity.-md a-iiappy knack
if t
at conciliation, and especial skill In wprd
awallowlng 'seemed for a timer to protnlte
to win a President more honor than down
right sincerity and a will Uko steel, -In
the long run we see the popular Judgment
righting Itself. Mr. MeKinloy ou!d never
arouse the bitter hatred of which Mr.
Cleveland was the object; but, on th;
other hand, Mr. Cleveland never could
have been spoken of, even by bis most
malignant enemies, with the quiet con
tempt with which even his friends refer
to Mr. McKlnley. Ferocious lnvectlvo
was the favorite form of attack on Mr.
Cleveland. It was a tribute to his strength
His successor's amiable weakness admits
only of tho milder flageKation of satire,
s
DEMOCRATIC IXCAPACrTT.
Folly of the Present Cry (or Reduc
tion of War TniM.
New York Times.
Mr. Payne, chairman of the ways and
means committee of tho House, and lead
er of the Republican majority, has got his
answer from the Secretary of tho Treas
ury as to the yield of the various taxes
and the probable surplus for the current
year' and the next, ending June 30. 1S0L
What Mr. Payne has In his mind la an
open secret. He and h's protectionist fol
lowers desire to cut off as soon as pos
sible enough of the Internal revenue taxes
to prevent any chance of repealing or re
ducing Mho tariff taxes. The form of his
resolution of Inquiry showed this. He
was particular to know the itemized re
turns from the various sorts of Internal
taxes, but he asked only In a general way
about the receipts from customs duties.
Tho figures given by Mr. Gago are strik
ing. He reports an estimated surplus at
the end of next June ot $70,000,000. and
one at the end of the following year of
JS2.003.000. This Is In spite of an estimat
ed Increase In expenditure of J5.000.COO. We
glvo below a table showing the receipts
from tho three sources of Income for the
fiscal year ending June 30 last year, for
the current year, and for the following
year:
Customs. Int. Rev. Mlscel.
1S2) M,O0n.COO J273.COO00O J37.000.000
HOJ 133,000,000 I9..0O 33,tO000
1801 1 210.000.t00 300.00J.OO) 37,000,000
From year to year since the passage of
the war revenue bill, tho total Income of
the Government has advanced from 1516,-
000.CO0 In 1899, to Jo00.000.0C0 In MOD. to J377.
CO0.000 (estimated) In 1001. As to the esti
mates. It is proper to remark that those
of the Secretary have been very conserva
tive and always below the mark, when
we recall 'that the actual excess ot ex
penditures In (he last fiscal year was JS9.
000,000, the way In which the business
of the country has responded to the de
mands made upon It Is very remarkable.
That deficit In the revenue has been
changed Into a surplus of $70,000,000. a dif
ference of J153.COO.0CO. No one can read
such figures nnd doubt the tremendous
resources of the country.
What shall be done with this surplus is
another question. Into thla the Secretary
of the Treasury was not required to en
ter. Ho has given out unofficial state
ments to the effect that If the refunding
operations authorized by the recent finan
cial law shall be as successful as was ex
pected, the premiums which will have to
be paid will absorb all the surplus for the
current year- It Is not yet certain how
far this will prove to be the case, but
there Is no probability of any action at
this "session. All that Is possible Is that
some action will be proposed as a basis
of platform utterances In the coming cam
paign. Por this we shall watch with
acute interest. Tire Democratic leaders
In the House have been guilty of the In
credible folly- of starting a demand for
the reduction of tho war taxes. They
have invited the repetition of the trick
of the protectionists after the Civil War,
when all the reductions were made In the
Internal taxes and the tariff, which in that
day was largely Imposed as compensation
for the Internal taxes, was left untouched,
at a far higher level than tho most auda
cious protectionists would have dared to
put it.
The trick will be played again. The
Republicans will be only too glad to play
It. They have seen with growing un
easiness tho indifference of some and the
hostility of other manufacturers to the
present high tariff rates. They have fell
that the time was coming whn the need
of the business of the country for an out
let would lead to a demand for the re
moval of the fetters on trade. They know
that when that time comes the most
fruitful source of their campaign funds
would tend to dry up. They have felt
also that the new Issues and the new
cries would find them unprepared, and
they have determined to resist all change
as far as possible. It Is a great pity
that they have been aided by the error of
the Democratic leaders, and that It will
be very hard to organize a sound political
opposition to the policy of the party, In
power. Nevertheless, we are convinced
that the real Interest of the commerce ot
the country demands the reduction of the
tariff, and not of tho Internal taxes. In
the long run this demand will moke Itself
heard.
p
1'ettlBrerr and Wlnslow.
Now York Comemrclal Advertiser.
So Pettlgrew Is likely to be a martyr!
Do you hear that. Erring Wlnslow? His
colleague In the Senate, Mr. Kyle, tait
that he will not bo re-elected, "because the
people of South Dakota are In favor ot
expansion, and do not sustain him in his
pronounced stand against it." That hews
should stir tho entire Antl-Imperlailst
League as with the sound of a trumpet
It comes In the very nick of time. All
hope of escape, from a choice between
McKlnley and Bryan, through the setting
asldo of Bryan, has been destroyed by
the Dewey episode The entire league
has been prostrato and speechless for
some time through "fho sickening pangs
ot hope deferred," but this news from
South Dakota should mako It Git up and
give tongue as never before, for in Pettl
grew It has a foreordained candidate.
When he mado his spetch In the Senate
against expansion the league sent It
broadcast as one of its documents. There
Is a platform ready made for the cam
paign. Clap Erring Wlnslow on the ticket
ns Vice-President, and the business U
done.
i
A Klrst-Clnss Retraction.
New York Times.
The story printed in the New York
Times yesterday to the effect that Mayor
Van Wyck had gone to Philadelphia on
Friday as an emissary from Tammany
Hall to confer with Admiral Dewey on
tho subject of tho tatter's candidacy for
the Presidency was without foundation.
The Times received the Information In
question atter midnight on Friday, from
Its correspondent, in Philadelphia a man
who has long been connected with this
newspaper and the lateness of the hour
precluded Its confirmation In this city.
As a matter of fact, the Mayor was' busy
In his office during the hours In which
he was said to have been In Philadelphia,
and in that time he was engaged in hear
ings on a number of city bills.
One effect of the publication was to
cause the Mayor to violate, for the first
time since his Inauguration, the rule
which he made at that time, never to per
mit himself to be Interviewed for a news
paper. The Mayor was asked yesterday
morning If he had enjoyed his visit to
Admiral Dewey in Philadelphia, and he
replied:
"I havo not seen Admiral Dewey slnco
tho day he called on me at City HalL"
i i
Vox MUltontU.
B. Paul Neuman In the Spectator.
On the irlde veldt, beneath the vaster sky.
The graxes ot battling Boer and Drlton He.
Br day the sunlight watches o'er their sleep,
Br night the stars their solemn vigil keep.
Cold, calm, and brilliant, from that awful
height
They ask: "were ye so weary ot the Hehtt
Ours the slow aeons, yours the flying day.
Why reckless fling Its noon and eve awajrr
And lo, the answer: "Nay. but Ufo'was sweet.
Death a grim horror that we loathed to meet.
But Duty spurred ua to the foremost place.
And Honor beckoned with a shlatns; face."
GOSSIP OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
WASHINGTON. April IX. A number of
youns: men resldlnr In the Pacific North-
Uwe0t are very anxious to Join the topo
graphic and geologic field parties that arc
to be sent put by Director Wolcott, of the
Geological Survey, during the Summer
season. Positions of this kind are coveted
by young men who are students and who
desire to have practical experience In the
field, and also enjoy th benefits of a
Summer outing among congenial compan
ions. Director Wolcott states that the young
mon employed oh such surveying parties
would be given temporary work during
the Summer and Fail, and would be divid
ed Into two classes thoso who are em
ployed in the capacity of teamsters, cooks,
axmen and rodsmen and those who are
qualified for scientific field aids. In the
former capacity men are usually engaged
who havo had special experience in the
care of animals and camp work. Only
thoso who have special engineering or ge
ologic training and who propose to pur
sue professional careers are utilized as
scientific aide). The number of scientific
aids Is very limited.
R. U. Goode Is in charge of the topo
graphic surveys of the Pacific Coast,
while Bailey Willis na cnargo oi me ge
ologic surveys In the Pacific Northwest.
While It la not probable that a very largo
number, of young men can be utilized, mill
an application may be directed to either
Professor Goode or Professor Willis and
will, put them In communication with the
men in charge of this work.
Stnr Itonte -Illds.
It cannot be told yet what effect Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General Shallen
bergor's order, limiting the consideration
of b'da for carrying tho malls on star
routes to those living on or near the routes
on which service i to be performed, will
havo on the service, as it has not been
in operation long enough. No awards can
be made under this order until after March
1. It has been the Impression that thcoa
contracts had been let out by states and
counties and that In this way speculators
had gotten on undue advantage of legit
imate bidders and many contractors had
refrained from bidding on that account. It
Is thought that thla order will do away
with this. This order has not affected
the rates to any material extent, as they
are no higher than they have been for
similar service during the past c'ght
months. For 5773 mall routes there was
paid by the department over J142.O00 for
.professional contract service over that of
sub-contract. It Is now thought by the
department that, after the new order Is
In operation It will be Increased somewhat,
so as to secure better equipment and
better carriers.
Since March 1 awards of contracts have
been made'for quite a number of routes,
under the order "referred to, satisfactory
bids having been received. As an Instance)
of what Is being accomplished, the con
tract for a route In Kentucky; three and
one-half miles long, was awarded to a
speculative bidder, under the laet letting,
at J79 per annum, who accepted a local
subcontractor who would do the service
for H9 HX Under the recent award, this
same subcontractor submitted the bid and
was awarded the contract at J6S. thus pay
ing the man who performs tho service
J19 50 additional and saving the til to the
Government that was before paid to the
general contractor.
Eastern Fish for Western Streams.
A number of requests have been made
for stocking Pacific Coast streams with
pickerel, pike, crapple, perch and eunflsh.
Commissioner Bowers, of the United
States Commission of Fish and Fisheries.
!s opposed to placing varieties of this kind
In the streams of the Coast. He believes
that some of these varieties, at least, are
very Injurious to other fish ot greater
commercial value. He Is particularly In
favor of lake trout, and has recommend
ed them for various streams In the State
of Washington. In compliance with re
quests made upon him by the Congres
sional delegation from that elate last
Fall, he had a supply of black-spotted
trout placed In American and Gravelly
Lakes; In Pierce County, and at the re
quest of Congressman Cushman a quantity
of brook trout was deposited in Lake
Steilacoom. At the request of Senator
Foster, several of the streams of East
ern Washington will be stocked with
trout, and lake trout will also probably be
placed In the streams and lakes In and
about Tacoma and In various other sec
tions of Western Washington.
Dnnirerons Adnlterants of 3111k.
St. Paul Pioneer Press. April 12.
As the result of ah Investigation con
ducted very quietly by tho State Food
and Dairy Commission. It Is expected that
a number of local milk dealers will be ar
rested within the next few days. These
dealers. It Is charged, have made use of
the most injurious of adulterants of mUk
and cream, a solution of formaldehyde
gas In water, which acts as a preservative
by preventing fermentation. Such an
adulterant, the state chemist says. Is
most dangerous, as any substance that
prevents fermentation also prevents dl
grstlon upon -entering the stomach, di
gestion. Itself being a process of fermenta
tion. By the continued use of milk poi
soned with formaldehyde the stomach
may ultimately be throwri entirely out of
order. The danger Is especially great In
the caso of Infants and of sick people,
the very ones most apt to consume large
quantities of milk.
Stato Chemist Hummel says that ho has
heard of agents who have been selling the
adulterant to small milk dealers under the
name of "preeervallne" and "milk sweet."
The agents. It Is thought, bought the gas
from drug stores. At any rate, no sales
havo been openly made, and difficulty In
finding the guiltiest ones is anticipated.
The milk daeiers, however, can easily be
brought to terms. By simple chemical
test the formaldehyde gas Is detected, and
within the last two days five adulterated
samples, all from St. Paul, have been
found among the batches sent In by the
Dairy Inspectors. Other Investigations are
being conducted as quietly as possible.
This Is the first time that any milk
containing the dangerous formaldehyde
has been discovered In St. PauL There
were several cases In Minneapolis last
year, and others out In the state and the
prosecutions undertaken at the time. It
was thought, had put a stop to the prac
tice. Besides the milk samples containing
formaldehyde others adulterated in the
more common ways have been found.
Vigorous prosecution of all the offenders
is promised.
Too Realistic by Far.
Detroit Free Press.
"This story won't do at all," sold the
publisher to the ambitious writer. "The
detective chases a man all over the world
and nover catches him."
"Well, you see. It's a realistic story,"
explained the writer. But the explanation
was unsatisfactory.
s
i
A Mother' of the War.
L.A.X. '
Curllnic smoke, and & whistling note.
The train swept proudly In,
A warrior's steed, with Its precious freight.
Far from the battle's din.
The loneliest spot on tba country-side,
A victor's prize to win!
Agony writ on a mother's face;
Eyes streaming, nnd wringing hand.
She received her dead from the fighting place
The torrid, far-off land.
"All I had left! My boy!" sho cries
Men bareheaded stand.
The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, straight they
bring.
iJiy reverent on the bier;
Bring from the school, where he had learnt
to sing;
"My country, country dear!"
Her tears were dried dried from their fount.
Bald she. with holy cheer:
"Ilia country owns her soldier-fad my boy.
The. son. who died for hert"
Portland, April 18, "" "- v
NOTE AND COMMENT.
There was no hold-up yesterday
It you don't want to vote, don't regis
ter. Napoleon Davis seems to have gono
Into Involuntary political bankruptcy.
The Independence of the Independent
candidal toim If he happens to be elected.
Overworked politicians who are In need
of arrest should fo to Kentucky awhile.
Bryan's place In the hall of fame will
be held down, In all probability, by a
phonograph.
The supply of pure water in the Chicago
drainage canal has already reduced tho
price of milk.
An antl-fuslon Populist orator exclaims:
"To h 1 with the Democrats!" Now don't
be premature.
Pennoyers guns were so effectually
spiked two years ago that he can't even
shoot off a Vice-Presidential boom.
Now do the local Democrat
. Ail well-known names reject.
For fear they'll nominate some one
They, maybe, will elect.
If Dewey gets that strategy board to
work on the political situation. Sampson.
Schley and Hobson will have to do some
tall cable-cutting If they expect to stand
any chance.
O r-ntle April shower.
Whose murmuring refrain
Should tinkle every hour
Upon the window pane.
You're playing truant lately.
And since you've, been a. shirk
The dews Inadequately
Have dona your rightful work.
. You'll have a long vacation.
Beginning In July;
Till then your occupation
Tour duty 'tis to ply.
You do not need, however.
To do the best you can.
Jmt limit your endeavor
To the Installment plan.
Tho Belgin hare boom has struck Port
land: a buck which scored 93 out ot a
passible ICO points, has already been lm
ixrrted, and soon the excitement on the
hare question will be as great hero as In
Los Angeles. In that flourishing city,
where people live principally on climate,
restaurants provide ordinary meals for
15 cents: but if hare is ordered the chorgti
Is 73 cents. All tho epicures there are
eating them, and by and by there will be
some epicures here who will live on hare.
Then the young woman who lately ex
hibited a curiosity as to the results of a
diet of fine-cut hair may bo able to satis
fy her curiosity.
On this Puerto r.lcj question we've opinions of
our own.
But It's not at all unlikely that they'll all ba
overthrown:
What we've sali about expansion we are will
ing to retract.
For our vlws may all be altered by a little
ready tact.
And we'll probably be wiser to keep silence,
like the Sphinx.
Until Mr. Dewey tells us what her husband
really thinks.
We may think a larger navy would be better
for us all.
We may hold that klnns and deuces would not
Justify a. call.
It may seem to us that Cronje was a fighter
from 'way back.
That the Shamrock might have triumphed If
she'd kept the starboard tack.
But we know It will not pay us to get many
mental kinks
Till we're told by Mr. Dewey wBat her hon
ored hu5band thinks.
On a Mar day. wo remember. Just about two
years ago.
An old sailor namM Montojo struck hti Bag
and went below;
He'd been fighting like the mischief, but ha
Judged It best to quit.
For his fleet had been so battered ther-
nothing left cf It.
In those days, when Dewey didn't do i-.
talking, but Just fought.
Mrs. Dewey wasn't telling what her valiant
husband thought.
Vegetation has been progressing by leapa
nnd bounds of late, and a there Is plenty
of moisture In the ground and no lack ot
svarmth. all kinds of trees will soon bo
In full foliage. Mort kinds have their
foliage halt grown or more, and even the
laggard locusts are putting out their
leaves. Their cousins, the laburnums, arc.
already gay with the long strings of
bright yellow flowers, and the wisteria
vines are loaded with clusters of purplo
bloKroms. Out in the country everything
Is "a-growlng and a-bloomlng." The Ore
gon grape Is In bloom, the dogwood is at
Its best, in places the ground Is yellow
with buttercups, the flame-tinged petals
of the painted cups glow amid the emer
ald grass, and the trailing vines of tho
klnnlkenlck, with their glopsy leaves, are
loaded with pretty waxen flowers. Wher
ever one goes flowers adapted to the lo
cality are found In profusion, and all
Nature Is gay and flourishing.
i s
To Her Tnste.
Chicago News.
Mr. Wabash (at flunmustcale) Are you
fond of Chopin. Mis OlivcT
Miss Olive (of St Louis) Tcs, I Just
love to go shoppln': but I always steer
clear of bargain sales because ot the hor
rid crowds.
I o
The PrnfcMor Knew.
Philadelphia Press.
"Professor," the seeker after knowledge
inquired of the great toxicologist. "If a
tarantula were to bite you. what would be
the first thing you'd dor'
. "Yell!" replied the scientist promptly.
a
Couldn't Understand It.
Philadelphia Record.
New Customer Hpw do you measure
gas?
Gas Clerk By the foot. sr.
New Customer But our gas
turned up over three Inches.
n Q.
Is never
Ilrnhmn.
San Francisco Argonaut.
(Translated from DJelaleddln Rural, by Bitter )
I am the mote In the sunbeam, and I am tho
burning sun;
"Host here!" I whirper the atom: I call to tha
orb: "Roll on!"
I am the blush of the morning and I am tha
evening breeie;
I am the leafs low murmuT. the swell of tho
terrible seas;
I am the net, the fowler, the bird and IU
frightened cry.
The mirror, the form reflected, the sound an I
lta echo I;
The lover's passionate pleading, the maiden's
whispered fear.
The warrior, the blade that smlte3 him, hla
mother's heart-wrung fear;
I am Intoxication, grapes, wine-press, and must
and wine.
The gust. the host, the tavern, the goblet of
crystal fine;
I am the breath of the flute, I am the wind of
man.
Gold's glitter, the light of the diamond, and
the sea-pearls luster wan;
T
The rose, her roet nightingale, the songs from
his throat that rise.
Flint sparks, the taper, the moth that about It
flies.
I am both Good and Evil; the deed and ths
deed's intent,
Temptation, victim, sinner, crime, pardon,
punishment.
I am what was. Is. wilt be: creation's ascent
and fall:
The link, the chain of exlitenct; beginning- sod
end of all.
v
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