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Mayor or the next Legislature. The
house is on fire, human souls are per
ishing, therefore we must act. When
she sees young men going down to ruin
and women's hearts breaking, Bhe
prays only for strength to fight th6
liquor traffic with any implement laid
to her hand, and' if so be she is impris
oned or destroyed, she will glory in the
martyrdom, because she has done her
duty. The world is full of such re
formers, in every sphere. Of Justice in
the conventional sense they have no
conception; yet if we try to put our
selves in their place, with Paul at
Ephesus. with the Covenanters under
Charles, with John Brown at Harper's
Ferry, we can in Imagination sympa
thize with thelf high resolves and fancy,
if we like, that the justice they aimed
at Is of a finer texture than that hand
ed down from the bench. Happy is the
man whose conscience and whose coun
try's laws are in harmony. Por the
rest, it is fortunate there are yet no
X-rays to disclose the exercise of pri
vate Interpretation.
independence, who is likely to make an
admirable executive. He is not an ef
fusive talker, but he is -a man of prac
tical experience in the work of legisla
tion fond ot having his own way,and
is not likely .to "be the tool or fool of any
less man than himself. The independ
ent press of New York and New Eng
land have strong confidence that he
will make an excellent Governor. Gov
ernor Rooseyelt has managed in the
closing days of his Administration to be
guilty of executive -acts that are de
nounced by the press of- all. parties -as
without warrant in either law or public
policy.
GIVE CHINA A CHANCE FOR LIFE.
morally, mentally and geographically,
"tha man on horseback" might be with
us today.
TODAY'S WEATHER, Rain: warmer: brisk
to high squally south to west winds.
PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, .TAN. 3
Between Arnold's sonnets and Mr.
Markham's putative blank verse,
the literature of the twentieth cen
tury is ushered in most lnauspiclously.
The Englishman's effort to serve as
mouthpiece for American sentiment is
one every Englishman is certain to fall
at, though we should hope some might
spare us the ignominy of Sir Edwin's
nlmbose anti-climax. Doubtless It
would be quite as impossible for an
American to frame an acceptable poem
with John Bull loquens. As for Mr.
Markham's sequel to "The Man With
the Hoe," it seems to. amount to little
more than a "peccavl" from that
unique philosopher and an attempt to
set himself right. He started out in
life with the idea that man was orig
inally created in the glory and the
dream, but somebody slanted back his
brow. Now he wants us to understand
that he has heard, not only of geology
and astronomy, but of social evolution
as well. He knows, now. of the "Great
Xiaw," seen In the secrets published by
the Btones, and the movements of the
constellations and the progress of man
kind itself. His socialism, also, has
been touched by the wand of optimism,
for he concludes that the men of greed,
'without the dream," are "laying the
foundations of the dream." This Is cer
tainly a noteworthy advance from the
indictment of masters, lords and rulers
in all lands because the poor are not
all rich, or the wooden-headed ones all
learned. If Mr. Markham knew more
about the ranks of Privilege, as he calls
it, he would doubtless find that they
have their share of burdens. The Man
With the Hoe will average happier than
the throned monarch or the cardinal.
Do not look for happiness. Mr. Poet, In
princes palaces or on Fifth avenue.
However, let us not expect too much at
one lesson. Before the twenty-first
century comes In Mr. Markham's phil
osophy may be practically harmless.
Portland's real estate transfera for
1900 show a slight falling off from
those of 1899, in spite of the increased
movement of business and the gain of
our people In wealth. It is easier to
explain the causes than to suggest a
remedy. Money that used to be spent
In buying real estate here is now In
vested otherwise. Some of it is in
stocks and bonds, some in bank vaults
(our individual deposits are nearly $12,
000,000), some in mines and wheat mar
gins. The shrinkage in real estate val
ues during 1893-4-5, and apparently un
recoverable even yet, in spite of reduc
tion in assessment valuations, has ef
fectually discouraged this form of in
vestment. The non-partisan and un-
sectarlan fact that less money has gone
Into Portland property in 1900 than in
1S99 is sufficient answer to the asser
tion that real estate is escaping its just
share of taxation. Whenever it is taxed
so lightly that money can be made in
buying it, sales will mount up inevita
'bly. The taxation aspect of the matter
l's very obscure and annoying. It is
mischievous to tax real estate heavily,
because it discourages Investment,
drives people from home-making into
rent and boarding-houses, and injures
the building trades. But It Is also mis
chievous to tax business heavily. It
discourages trade, keeps out capital,
curtails employment. There is no op
portunity now for Portland to decide
whether it will tax both real estate and
business heavily or fairly. That ques
tion was 'decided some years ago, and
we are now merely carrying out the
programme formulated then. Many
persons seem to have neen guneiess
enough to think that the city could do
any number of desirable things without
any one's having to pay for them. The
error has been sufficiently demon
strated. We look for the coming leg
islature to fasten the stable door with
a very heavy padlock.
Every one will understand, of course,
that if the recent anti-Imperialist ar
gument before the United States Su
preme Court prevails, the painstaking
labors of the Philippine Commission to
arrange the least burdensome possible
taxation schemes for the islands fall
at once to the ground. If all "duties,
imposts and excises" must be uniform
throughout not only the United States,
but in "all places subject to their jur
isdiction," then the tariff and revenue
laws applicable in Oregon are of neces
sity applicable at Manila. The Ding-
ley tariff will prevail there, not only on
European manufactures, but on silks
and salt from China. Tea must pay
the same duty It pays here, and Hong
Cong, with free trade, will have little
Ito fear from Manila with its closed
loor. But if the customs are light, the
internal revenue may be depended upon
to make business sufficiently circum-
Ispect, Such war taxes as are not re-
I pealed must be levied, just as with us,
and upon the tobacco and liquor pro-
luctlon of the Islands the tax-gatherers
rill light with crushing effect In the
:ase of Porto Rico, we forbore the In
ternal revenue, but if the self-extension
Ithecry of the taxation prevails, there
fill be no choice. It may occur to the
thoughtful reader that It might be best
fcr practical statesmanship to inquire
rhat taxation is best suited to the
lablts and peculiar needs of 'the Fill-
ilno. But that would not be antl-lm-
leriallsm. It is too hard. The easier
md robustious way is to declare with
Ine unction that what is good for us is
lone too good for the Filipino. Why
should we be at the pains of adjusting
ces to the ability to bear them, when
With a sweep of the hand we can ex-
terd the Constitution and consign all
le doubters to the limbo of Imperial
ists and destroyers of liberty?
X,et no one condemn the Wichita
roman who '.s in jail for smashing
saloon fixtures, until he has made sure
bf the ground of his own creed. This
reformer, observe, does not hold mass
icetlngs or pass resolutions in aid
I'slmply of enforcement of the law," for
he law, presumably; Is against her
dea of temperance. If the law is on
ur side, we contend for its sacred maj-
sty If it is on the other side, we will
t our right hand be cut off before we
rill obey it If the canteen wereabol-
shed by law, its opponents would con
template with horror the law's dls-
nor, but when it is sustained by the
iw, no contumely Is too grievous for
Its administrators. Mrs. Nation is
.thing if not logical. She says that
laloon-keeplng is an Infamous business.
iw or no law, she views its ravages
Ii lives ana nomes, ana sne says tne
lorrect thing is not to wait for the bal-
it, but to take your consecrated
latchets and brickbats and get to work.
Fhere isn't time enough to call on the.
PORTLAND AND THE NEHALEM.
No matter what may come of prasent
efforts In the direction of harmony of
Interests and community of ownership
in transcontinental railways, Portland
should have a railroad that will drain
the rich resources of the Nehalem coun
try this way. If It be left for timber
speculators or coal land owners or
townslte boomers to build the road, It
Is not to be expected that the com
merclal welfare of the City of Portland
will receive much consideration. The
timber speculators will aim for the
nearest boomage. The coal land own
ers will take a short cut to water, and
use barges or any old means of getting
their product to market cheaply. The
townslte boomers will build where they
may profit most from advance In real
estate, whether to towns already estab
lished or to others yet unborn. None of
these interests will care for Portland's
welfare. Portland must look out for
herself.
It Is not, of course, to be argued that
Portland must embark on the policy of
forcing trade unnaturally through Its
gates for the selfish purpose of gather
ing tribute from it. Portland does not
need to resort to this expedient, which
could not yield permanent good. But
Portland is the great market which the
products of the Nehalem country must,
at any cost, reach. Portland is the
commercial center which must handle
the business of the Nehalem Valley.
Connection between Portland' and the
Nehalem country will be direct or Indi
rect. Indirection In these matters
means expense, and every particle of
needless expense that Is put upon com
merce retards development and trade.
For this reason it Is important that
Portland have a railroad to Nehalem
over the most direct route practicable
Important to Portland and to the Ne
halem Valley and the Tillamook coast.
Portland should take up this project
and build the railroad. This does not
mean that all the money for the en
terprise must be provided here. It Is
enough that responsible men take an
Interest In it, organize the project and
evince their good faith in It. There Is
plenty of capital available for legiti
mate investment, for opening up new
country. A railroad between Portland
and Nehalem Bay, a perfectly legiti
mate development agency and one of
undoubted economic merit, would com
mand almost any amonnt of support in
financial centers If properly organized
here. This Is the work which Portland
is called upon to do for herself, and
which should be done without waste of
time. If she shall wait for others to
do this, her interests may be poorly
served.
It is probable that the Nehalem coun
try will not remain long without a rail
road, even If Portland should treat the
matter with indifference. The system
atic development qf natural resources
that seems to be a part of the now
transcontinental railroad policy will not
leave so rich a field without transpor
tation facilities. But the manipulations
of. railroad managers, the divisions
of territory or the declaration of truces
may erect barriers between Portland
and the Nehalem. A' railroad to that
country may be thrown in as a mere
makeweight In the larger transactions
of the transcontinental, and it might
then be directed against Portland. At
any rate, Portland can view these
things with comparative indifference
when her own .independent line to the
Nehalem and the coast shall be as
sured, and when she shall handle the
coal, the timber, the honey, the dairy
products and general trade of that rich
est, undeveloped region In the North
west today This matter will not admit
of delay. '
It Is high time -for the powers to "let
up" in China. The Emperor has ex
pressed entire willingness to comply
with the conditions recited in the final
note of the powers, although he fairly
a"sks for the modification of the condi
tions requiring the destruction of the
fortifications at Taku, and for a reduc
tion in the proposed greatly increased
number of legation guards at Pekln.
The agreement, to which China is re
ported to have acceded, pledges the
Chinese Government to payment of in
demnities, to full reparation for all In
juries, to the punishment of the guilty
and to solid guarantees for the future
against repetition of the Pekln out
break. The Emperor is willing to pun
ish all the persons proscribed by the
powers to the extent of banishment.
The. powers have already Inflicted the
punishment of death upon a number of
the minor offenders. The suppression
of the civil service examinations for
five years In all districts in which anti
foreign outbreaks took place brings
home to the smallest villages the ex
tent of the punishment and collapse of
the central power. The suppression of
the importation of arms and the guard
ing of the railway from Pekin to Tien
Tsln by the troops of the powers are
also included in the conditions. Now
let the powers "let up" on China, and
suffer the wheels of government to
move.
A dreadful famine has broken out In
Shan SI Province, due to the paralysis
of production caused by the Boxer war
fare, and famine is likely to prevail in
other provinces of North China before
the Winter Is over. China has suffered
terribly for her fault, and it may not be
truthfully denied that the vicious pol
icy of some of the powers in the past
Is largely responsible for the outbreak
in the Pekln Province. Some of the
missionaries who have suffered the
most plead 'for justice to the Chinese.
Missionary Dr. Dogan testifies that
many of the fleeing missionaries owe
their lives to the Governor of Shan SI,
who "protected them In face of the im
perial edict to slay. His clemency cost
him his position, and perhaps his life.
Heathen Chinese mothers In different
places along the way nursed and kept
alive the babe of a fugitive mother who
could no longer nurse it. The mission
aries who did escape owe their lives to
the aid given them by heathen Chinese.
These people have suffered enough for
the fault of their Empress and her fellow-conspirators,
and now let the pow
ers cease making It difficult or impos
sible for the Pekln Government to re
turn and start again the slow andjsum-
brous machinery of their grotesque
government.
The powers should at once fish or cut
bait. They sho'uld' either" allow the
statesmen of China to resume control,
or else assume absolute control them
selves, which they are In no condition
to do. China has statesmen competent
to restore order, enforce peace and
achieve governmental reform. Chang
Chlh Tung, the great Viceroy of Hupeh
and Hunan, who Is one ot the Chinese
peace commissioners, maintained per
fect order in his vast province: he Is
absolutely loyal to the Empress and
Emperor, and yet he Insists that China
must quickly acquire an intimate
knowledge of Western science and
methods if she is to retain territorial
Integrity and national independence.
He believes that China must consent to
the same innovations and reforms
whose enactment has made Japan the
peer in military courage, conduct,
arms, Intelligence and skill of the best
soldiers of Europe. A inan like that
ought to be trusted.
A noteworthy and valuable produc
tion Is the annual number of the Crook
County Journal, published at Prlnevllle
by A. C. Palmer. The edition is Issued
in pamphlet form, 12x14 inches; con
tains 34 pages between the covers; is
printed on good paper, and is profusely
illustrated. It is the first Edition of the
kind ever issued in Crook County, and
is a very creditable one. The resources
of Eastern Oregon are rapidly being
brought to the notice of the world, and
the Journal has done good work for its
section, one, of the most resourceful In
that part of the state. Stockraislng,
woolgrowing, farming, dairying,, fruit
raising and mining are especially cov
ered lh this annual number, and no
small amount Is devoted to the irriga
tion plans and natural scenery of the
county. The names of 77 taxpayers are
given who pay taxes on property rang
ing in value from $5000 to $306,866, and
many of them pay taxes on more than
$10,000 worth of property. A description
of the public lands, timber belts and
mining interests are special features of
the edition. The Journal says that
there Is room in Crook County for all'
who may come and mean business; that
there- is not a hobo or tramp In the
county, or failure of any kind; and that
a welcome hand is extended fo men of
all trades, callings and professions.
Truly, Eastern Oregon today offers su
perior inducements to the honest home
seeker, and Crook County is one of the
best sections of that wide and rich empire.
to the NIcaraguan route. But Mr. Davis
also answers the question, "Irrespective
of cost, which would be the mqre desir
able canal if constructed?" TJhe answer
Is that Nicaragua would save $15,600,000
as compared with Panama. The latter
would have the advantage of being
shorter and stralghter, making navigation
through it easier to the extent of the In
terest on $23,000,000, but Nicaragua would
have the advantage or being nearer to
the customary routes of commerce, which
alone Is worth the interest on $35,000".COO.
The items of healthfulness and of local
commerce, add $8,000,000 to the NIcaraguan
account, which Is not offset by Panama's
advantage of 53.000.000 on the score of
maintenance, operation and winds.
Mr. Davis conclusion is that If the
United States can buy out the Panama
Canal for less than $30,000,000, I should do
so. If that canal cannot be had for less
than 540.0ai.OO0, the NIcaraguan route
should be given the preference. It must
be understood that in discussing this ques
tion Mr. Davis does so from a purely
commercial point of view. Whetiher one
route is to be preferred to the other for
the military considerations which Induce
so many Americans to favor the construc
tion of an isthmian canal, is a matter ho
does not ro into.
THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.
Secretary Wilson, of the Department
of Agriculture,' commenting on "a letter
from a Missouri farmer complaining
that prosperity had not yet reached
him, gives a world of advice in the fol
lowing paragraph:
I must confess that I do not favor the rais
ing of grain to sell. The prosperous farmer Is
he who raises erain as a raw material and
feeds It to domestic animals. They make their
farm a factory by -adding skill to raw material
and putting It into a finished form before of
fering It for sale. Fine horses are -wanted;
fine cattle and sheep. Hog products are In
great demand, and so Is poultry. The farmer
should turn raw material on the farm into
high-selling products. The man who Is de
pending on the ground, selling the grain that
he grows, may as well moke up his mind that
the longer he does It the smaller will be his
returns, because he Is continually selling tho
plant food of his farm. The man who grows
grain to sell to somebody else need not expect
the same prosperity as If he turned the grain
Into high-price products. He must arrange to
sell his education, his labor, his skill and his
tact, and not Insist upon robbing, tho soli.
Here lies the great secret of success
for the vocation of agriculture. Raw
materials and crude methods will not
yield the return due to refined produc
tions, skill 'and intelligent observation.
The man who mlxe3 most brains with
his work succeeds best
The Belgian hare craze, which swept
the Pacific Coast from Los Angeles to
Seattle and extended to some extent
Into the vast Interior as far East as
Minnesota, has to a considerable de
gree subsided. It has been succeeded,
however, by the business of raising
these toothsome creatures for the mar
ket, which is said to be growing in re
sponse to a taste that has been assidu
ously cultivated for hare meat. Many
persons are still prejudiced against the
meat, but many others have overcome
this feeling and regard roast hare, or
hare frlcass'eea's a luxury worth paying
a reasonable price to enjoy. To this
basis the hare industry must come,
eventually throughout the wide area,
but ribw Invaded by the Belgian hare
speculative boom. Governed by the law
of supply and demand, It will be profit
able In a small way, and, since noth
ing s'tands still, will continue to grow
from year to year. With this its pro
moters should be satisfied, as it was all
that they had a right to expect and no
doubt all that they did expect.
DISTINGUISHED DEAD OF YEAR.
Only One Royal Personage Died, and
He "Was Assassinated.
Chicao Tribune.
The record ot the deaths of men distin
guished In the various departments of the
world's work during the closing year ot
the century has not been more conspicu
ous than those of the last few years, yet
many havo passed away who have large
ly been concerned with public affairs. Lit
erature, music and art have been the
principal sufferers. The literary world na
lost Dlmltrl Grigorowlch, a novelist, not
much known out of Russia, but a writer
of great ability; James Martlneau, whose
religious and philosophical writings have
attracted wide attention; Richard D.
Blackmore, whose "Lorna Doono" has be
come a standard work; Friedrlch Max
Muller, the distinguished Orientalist;
Friedrlch Wllhelm Nltzsche, the brilliant
but erratic German philosopher; Michael
G. Mulhall, the statistician, whose work
is the world's reference book; Stephen
Crane, the young American story writer,
who died full of promise; and Charles
Dudley Warner, the delightful essayist.
Music has lost some eminent represen
tatives, among them Karl Mlllocker, the
composer of light operas; Helnrlch Vogl,
the tenor, who achieved fame as a Wag
nerian singer; Giuseppe del Puente, the
favorite operatic baritone; Sir George
Grove, the musical author, who has done
the world great service by his discoveries
of works by Schubert and Schumann and
the publication of his "Dictionary of
Music"; Sims Reeves, the emnent con
cert singer; Marie Piccolomlnl, a prima
donna who was the rage a quarter of a
century ago; and 81r Arthur Sullivan, who
was an accomplished composer of the
higher music and made his reputation by
his comic operettas of the "Pinafore"
school.
Art has lost many great workers, includ
ing John Ruskin, the eminent critic; Jean
Falguiere, the best of contemporary
French sculptors with the possible excep
tion of Rodin; Paul Jean Clays, the Bel
gian marine painter; Michael Munkaczy,
the great Hungarian historical painter;
and three American art'sts of the old
school, William H. Beard, Frederick
Church, and Jasper F. Cropsey. Science
has lost but one eminent representative,
St. George Mivart, the evolutionist, whose
last hours were embittered by the severe
dlsciplino of the church to which he be
longed. Prominently identified with the active
affairs of the world there have passed
away John Sherman, the eminent Ameri
can statesman; ex-Senator John J. Ingails,
Senator Cushman K. Davis, Edward J-
Phelps, ex-Minister of Great Britain;
Count Mouravieff, the brilliant Russian
Minister for Foreign Affairs; Dr. William
lilebknecht, the able leader of German
socialism; Dr. Leslie Keeley, discoverer
of the gold cure; Leander J. McCormlck,
captain of industry, and Collls P. Hunting
ton, captain of finance; General Joubert,
of the Boer Army, General Osman Pasha
of the Turkish Army, and Rear-Admirals
Philip, Stempel, McNalr and Slcard, of tho
American Navy. The sole representative
of royalty in the list Is Humbert, King
of Italy, slain by an assassin.
KISSES AS INTOXICANT.
Our catch-phrase Democrats who de
clare that the United States should
build the Nicaragua Canal without aid
or consent of any nation on earth,
doubtless will be put to stress by the
news that Nicaragua Is going, to ham
per construction and to" 'demand part
control of the waterway. Will more
imperialism have to absolve a Demo
cratic idea?
Benjamin B. Odell, who yesterday
was inaugurated Governor of New
York, is a very able, hard-headed man
of business; a man of will, force and
WILL NOT COME TRUE.
Macaulay In 1857 wrote to Randall,
the author of a "Life of Jefferson":
Your republic will be pllaged and ravaged in
the 20th century, just as the Roman Empire
was by tho barbarians of the 5th century.
with the difference that the devastators of
the Roman Empire, the Huns and Vandals,
came from abroad, while your barbarians will
be the natives of your own country, and the
product of jour own institutions.
This prophecy of- forty-seven years
ago Is more likely to be fulfilled In
Great Britain 4than in America, because
socialism has taken little root In this
country compared with Great Britain,
where it has Intruded itself Into legis
lation more than in America. In Eng
land no less man than Mr. Chamber
lain has proposed pensions for the aged,
free breakfasts for poor children, which
would be an opening wedge for the
Idle to quarter themselves upon indus
try by legislative appropriations, the
opportunity for demagogues to exercise
the art of purchasing votes by largesses
of confiscation, the most dangerous of
all methods of corruption. America in
the main has repelled socialism. The
genuine worklngman Is on the prop
erty-owner's side because he is actually
or prospectively a property-holder him
self. The genuine American working
man as a rule wants nothing but a fair
start under equal law, for he knows
that -great fortunes have been made In
Amerjca by men who have risen from
the ranks. , Industrial promotion is far
easier here than in England, and the
social line between employer and em
ployed is not so sharply drawn. Great
fortunes will grow fewer In the twen
tieth century. The capitalist will not
be so well off, but the workman will be
better off. There will be a more gen
eral distribution of property. The pros
pect, therefore, is that the twentieth
century will not see that day of wrath
prefigured by Macaulay when he said:
A day will come In the State of New York,
when the multitude between halt a breakfast
and the hope of half a dinner will elect jour
legislators. Is It possible to have any doubt as
to the kind ot legislators that will be elected?
You will be obliged to do these things which
render prosperity impossible. Then some
Caesar or some Napoleon will take the reins
of government in hand.
"The man on horseback" will not
come in the twentieth century, because
our working classes, whose' votes con
trol our elections- and make our laws,
are neither savages of 'civilization
through suffering nor. ignorant vision
aries saturated with socialism. Ma
caulay made a very shrewd guess, and
but for our Civil War, which gave us
an enormous Impulse toward expansion
Of course. Miles mustay he has not
read Alger's whole article, eVen if the
statement is-- too passing strange for
credence. Much condescension would
confer upon the article what would not
comport with Miles' exalted dignity.
Dr. Jordan says war has worked de
generation of many peoples. Undoubt
edly., So has climate, so has soil, so
has the torrid sun. But climate, soil
and the sun have elevated peoples, else
there could be no degeneration.
The Supreme Court has decided that
a woman may convey her property
without aBsent of her husband. Her
right; was not so Inalienable that it
needed the ballot.
If Eastern Oregon would extend ap
plication of the scalp bounty from coy
otes to thugs and hobos, Portland and
Western Oregon would be grateful for
the favor.
China should, know better than to ask
pertinent questions amid the incoher
ence of diplomacy. Equivocation Is the
first axiom of international politics.
Kitchener cannot keep up with the
speed of Roberts' ship. Roberts will
have to slacken up if he wants a tri
umphal homegoing.
The" very latest is to divide Tillamook
County. Really, if we had more towns
we would not know what to do with
them.
' With $35,000,000 of gold to $15,000,000
of silver output, Colorado seems in a
fair way to redemption from Bryanism.
Tivo Canal Routes Compared.
Arthur P. Davis, chief toydrographer of
the Isthmian Canal Commission, contrib
utes .to the January Forum an Interesting
comparison between the Panama and
NIcaraguan Canals on the basis of cost.
Adopting the most reliable -estimates from
all sources he reduces every element of
the problem in both cases to! a basis of
dollars invested. Assuming that in either
case the annual tonnage passing through
the canal will be 10,000,ooo tons, and bal
ancing the advantages of one canal
against those ot Uhe otner, he estimates
tnat the Panama route would be the
cheaper by $31409,000.
It la tae original cost of construction
that makes this sort of comparison unfa
vorable to the NIcaraguan route. Mr.
Davis puts the cost of constructing the
Nicaragua Canal at $134,500,000 and that of
completing the Panama Canal at $31,100,000.
This leaves a balance of $43,700,000 adverse J hope for,
Nonpartlclpants Arraign Ancient,
Honorable Custom.
Chicago Journal.
There Is everything new under the sun.
The Demorest branch of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, In New
York, has discovered that kisses are In
toxicating, and, of course, all the kissers
In Christendom will swear off. In common
decency they must feel that Intemperance
should be discouraged.
The custom of kissing was voted irreg
ular at the meeting at the home of one
of the Demorest unlonltes, Mrs. Shirley,
in West Twenty-third street. The mat
ter was broached In the course of a dis
cussion on the anti-vice crusade, when
Dr. Anna Hatfield, who disbelieves in
kissing, either as a pastime or an art,
enunciated her theories. The doctor did
not pocket her Indignation, though she
may have pursed her lips. "I think kiss
ing is the worst thing a young woman
can do," said she, "and the amount of
hugging and kissing that some girls of
our best families, too submit to ls liter
ally a menace to our morality. I know a
young man well who declares that he rare
ly leaves a girl without kissing her good
night. He says that they not only eager
ly accede to his request, but that sev
eral have Insisted upon belngklssed. 1
have carefully inquired Into tne matter,
and I find many young women Imagine
this is the way to get husbands. It is
reprehensible. These are supposedly well-brought-up
daughters of rich parents. The
girls must be taught that It Is wrong,
not only to kiss a stranger, but to kiss
the men they are engaged to. Too great
caro can not be taken." Dr. Hatfield con
cluded her remarks with the statement
that kissing was more fruitful of Intoxi
cation than any alcoholic beverage ever
distilled.
Now all this is serious business. Dr.
Hatfield has made an Important discov
ery, becausa If kissing Is really, truly in
toxicating. Its practice ought to be regu
lated by law. Until this good lady arose
to instruct us, we had viewed the custom
of kissing timidly, as a beautiful and mys
terious architectural structure, garnished
with poetry and stuccoed with alimony.
Dr. Hatfield's horrible discovery throws a
new light on It. Meanwhile kissing will
be continued by those who like It, and
the severest protests against it will come
from the ladles who do not get any.
Tne American Patrolman.
Chicago Journal.
Occasionally one of the queer Ideas of
the effete monarchies of the Old World
bumps Into the customs of the land of the
free and the home Of the brave. When
it does, the idea is dead certain to come
out of the affair considerably frayed, as
was the case of Senor Juan Galta y Gor-
dia's idea that policemen should be civil.
Senor Gordia arrived In New York from
Spain, and went strolling with 000 pesetas
In his pocket. Growing weary ot walk
ing he asked a policeman to call him a
cab. Instead of complying and calling
Senor Gordia a cab. the policeman called
him several other things, and 'told him to
go to a stable; whereupon the Spaniard
aid his Individual best to retrieve Che
glory lost at Santiago by punching the
policeman's head. Before the magistrate
fixed his bail at $500, Senor Gordia ex"
plalned that "in Spain policemen call
cabs for gentlemen, or, at least, answer
questions politely." Which shpws again
how far we have advanced beyond the
rest of the world. In America the police
man Is not expected to call cabs or be
polite. If-he refrains from clubbing gen
tlemen for amusement that ir all wo
New York Jdumal of Commerce.
Before the Presidential vote of 1300, ot
which, the official figures are now com
plete, passes into history there are come
polnta in regard to it which may be worth
noting. Perhaps the most remarkable fact
is that the total is only 44,000 more than
that of 1S9S. It was confidently expected
that over 15,000.000 votes would be cast
for Presidential Electors this year. This
conclusion was arrived at by adding 10
per cent to the vote of 1S06, and this per
centage was justly regarded as being a
moderate one, for the following reasons:
The Presidential vote ot 18S4 was 10 0M.
85; that of 18SS was U,3SO,860-an in
crease of over IS per cent. In 1S92 the
vote was 12,059,351 showing an increase
of 6 per cent, while in 1895 the vote at
tained a total ot 13,923,102, or an increase
of over 15 per cent. According to the
most careful compilation ot the results,
the total vote ot 1S00 is only 13,967,808.
It Is a question of some interest why at
least 1.350.000 voters should have ab
stained from1 casting a ballot for Presi
dential Electors last November. For tha
two chief candidates the total vote is
actually less than it wae in 1S36, though
I the vote cast for the McKinley electors is
112.S93 more than it was In tnat year, ifui
Bryan's vote fell oft 145,072, making an
Increase la McKlnley's plurality of 257,
S70, and giving a total plurality to the
successful candidate of 850,834, against
601,854 hi 18S6. When it is remembered
that McKlnley's plurality of 1S96 was the
first the Republican party had secured in
12 years the popular vote for Harrison
in 1SSS being leas than that for Cleveland,
though the latter failed to secure a ma
jority of the Electoral College and was
the largest plurality given to any Presi
dential candidate since 1S72, the result Is
sufficiently remarkable. It is perhaps all
the more fo because the confidence of tha
Bryanltes was based on the hope that
their candidate would hold all the votes
he had In 1896 and secure the support ot
most of the new voters besides. It was
Mr. Richard Croker's estimate that 360,
000 new voters had been naturalized since
1S96, and that over a million more had
come of age. He thought, therefore, that
the right sort of an appeal to those new
voters was all-Important, and he did Ma
best to show how it should be framed.
If the vote of New York State were to
be taken as a guide, it might be fairly as
sumed that the appeal did not fall on deaf
ears. Here the..Bryan vote was Increased
from 551,369 In 1896 to 678, 3S6 in 1SO0, and
McKlnley's plurality was reduced from
2(53,496 to 143,576. In other words, Bryan
gained 127,000 vote3 In New York, white
McKinley gained only' 2000. Still more
notable was the gain scored by Bryan In
Massachusetts, where the Democratc vote
of 105,711 In 1SS6 was Increased to 167,016
In 1900, while the McKinley vote declined
from 278,978 to 239,147. In a greater or
less degree the same process is visible
throughout all the returns from New Eng
land. Connecticut cave Bryan 74.014 votes,
against 56,740 In 18S6; Rhode Island. 19,812
votes, against 14,459 in 1896; New Hamp
shire, 35,489, against -21,650; Vermont, 12,
849, against 10,367, and Maine 3,S23, against
34.688 In 1896. In every case tills gain in
the Bryan vote is accompanied by a fall
ing oft In the vote for McKinley, varying
from 7 to 20 per cent. The reverse of this
Is the rule In the West. It is true that
Bryan gained and McKinley lost votes In
Illinois; but in Indiana Bryan's gain was
very slight, while that of McKinley was
considerable. In Ohio the change In the
figures la all In favor of McKinley, as It
Is in Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas,
and even in Nebraska. In the Dakotas,
Bryan Is both relatively and absolutely
weaker than he was In 1896, and In Utah
there Is the striking change from a Bryan
plurality of 61.033 in 1896 to a McKinley
plurality of 2140 In 1900. Even Missouri
gives Bryan 12,000 votes less than It did in
1896, and McKinley 10,000 votes more. In
the Southern States, where the Repub
lican vote is a negligible quality, Demo
cratic voters showed a"n evident disincli
nation to vote for Bryan. Mississippi
turned out only 51,706 Bryan voters,
against 63,859 four years ago; South Caro
lina, 47,283, against 58,798; Alabama, 96,368.
against 120,307; Louisiana, 53,671, against
77,175, and Arkansas, 81,142. against 110.103.
Broadly speaking, therefore, Bryantom
Is weaker than It was four years ago in
the communities from whom it derived its
chief strength, and stronger In parts of
the country where there is no likelihood
of Its being able to command a single
electoral vote. It would be Interesting to
know what feature of Mr. Bryan's some
what elastic body of political doctrine
commended itself so strongly to the
votera of New York and New England.
It certainly was not the free coinage of
silver, though It may have been his op
position to the trust system, or the pro
test which he voiced to tne policy oi ex
pansion. It Is as certain that Mr. McKln
ley's responsibility for that policy cost
him many votes in New England, as it is
that It gained him many votes in the
West, and would have gained him many
more in the South, did people In that part
of the country feel free to vote accordng
to their personal preferences or In har
mony with their Industrial interests. It Is
quite probable that a feeling or security
about the result kept as many Republican
voters away 'from the polls as did opposi
tion to the policy with which Mr. McKin
ley stands identified. It is certain that
the sheer force of party discipline was
largely responsible for the increase ot the
Bryan vote In this state. But, after jnaK
Ing all such allowances, there are these
somewhat serious reflections to be made
on the story told by the figures of the
Presidential vote: First, that 45 per
cent of the total vote recorded on Novem
ber 6 was cast for a candidate repre
sentng theories alike destructive of Na
tional honor and business prosperity;
and, second, that it was among com
munities supposed to represent the high
est grade of intelligence In the country
that this candidate found the only en
couragement for thrusting himself nce
more on the party whloh he has twice
led to defeat. It must be confessed that
a dangerously large proportion of the
voters of the United tSates accept as a
rule of political action "the party tight or
wronir." but it whould also be conceded
that a good many men whose boast It has
been to cast their ballots In harmony
wth the dictates of their conscience may
be convicted of a display of party spirit
quite as harmful as that of the hide
bound partisan. "'" anti-expansionists
certainly exhibited a lamentably false
sense of proportion in being ready to
bring about the triumph of Bryan'sra for
the sake of marking their disapproval of
the employment of &t United States Army
in the Philippines.
NOTE AND COMMESf:
Nice day!
The British War Officcls up against It
harder at London than In Africa.
It would appear that there is nothing in
football as played on Multnomah field.
China is no satisfied with a Joint nota
even from the powers, without security.
Although there is a good deal of money
in kidnaping, it must be remembered that
it is still an infant Industry.
If this is the kind of New Year's reso
lution the weather man has made, ho
should be encouraged to break it.
It looks as If J. Plavras
(The wretch) was in cahoots
With that bland Individual
Who deals In rubber boots.
The men who swore oft swearing had
abundant reason to regret it when they
went down town yesterday morning.
With courage like a warrior bold
Our hearts may proudly beat.
But most of us before tonight
Will suffer from cold feet.
Thirty men were killed in Kentucky oa
Christmas day. All of them are now con
tributing their share toward "Peace on
earth."
Wilcox, the Hawaii Representative, got
$1000 or more mileage, and yet even in the
face of this fact some people are down on
expansion.
It is understood that Grover Clevelanl'iJ
commission as grand reorganlzer of tha
Democratic party has been delayed in
transmission.
How many of the youths who wallowed
in the slushy football field yesterday
would not have been insulted by a re
quest to shovel snow from their moth
er's kitchen step3?
The question, "What shall be done witti
our ex-PresidentsT' does not seem to be)
suffering for an answer as long as fish
are biting and South American republics
are in need of lawyers.
In a recent sermon Bishop Potter, ot
New York, warned young men against
tawdriness in Jewelry, which he said was
a- special mark of decadence. He then
told how a party of men were once in
the office of Boss Tweed, when some ono
espied on the floor a piece of diamond
Jewelry which none of them claimed as
his. Finally Mr. Tweed hitched up his
vest, and after looking at the upper edgo
of his trousers, exclaimed: "Why, It's
one of my suspender buttonB."
A marble statue of Frances E. Wlllard
Is soon to be placed in Statuary Hall In
the Capitol at Washington. It will be tho
only statue of a woman ever allowed in
the historic chamber. It is donated by
the State of Illinois, each commonwealth
of the Union being allowed to honor two
persons in this manner. The statne will
be given one of the most prominent posi
tions possible. The unveiling will be at
tended by elaborate ceremony, in which
members of the Woman's Christian Tem
perance Union, representing every sec
tion, will be present. No ono will see the
work until the drapery Is officially drawn
aside.
John Drew tells a good story on hlxriself
In connection with Mr. Furness variorum
edition of Shakespeare. In this edition
Mr. Furness comments upon a certain
production of "The Merchant of "Venice"
In which Mr. Drew took the part of Tu
bal, who, as our readers, will remember,, is ,. .
one of the minor Jewish characters in
the play. Mr. Furness particularly praises
Mr. Drew's make-up on this occasion
the hair, the beard, and, above all. the
nose, which, as he says, was a marvel of
art, being large and noticeably Jewish, yet
so deftly made up as to deceive even
those who were experts In dramatic dis
guises. "This Is all very flattering," says
Mr. Drew in telling the story, "but un
fortunately the nose in question was tha
nose I always wear!"
"There Is a man in our company,"
says a Philadelphia stage manager, "who
hasn't drunk a drop of water In 27 years.
He boasts of It. He Is always the first
man into the theater for a performance,
and Is as regular as clockwork at re
hearsals. No, he Isn't a "rummy In
fact, liquor Is most repugnant to him.
But for 27 years he has drunk nothing
but tea, and he will probably continue in
his present course until he dies. He car
ries his little portable gas arrangement
about with him, and between the acts ho
makes strong tea the strongest you ever
tasted In his dressing-room, attaching
his little heater to the gas fixture with
a rubber tube. When this Is impossible
he carries a bottle of cold tea in his
pocket, and when on a long run on tho
train the other members of the company
are yearning for a drink the old man '
Just pulls out his bottle ot cold tea and
is happy."
Compressed Air for Canal ioclcs.
Youth's Companion.
On the Erie Canal at Lockport, N. Y., a
pneumatic balance lock is being substitut
ed tor a flight of old-fashioned stone
locks. The new lock consists of two
steel Chambers, one for ascending and tha
other for descending boats. Each cham
ber is divided Into two pars, an upper
one containing water to receive the boats
and a lower one containing compressed
air on which the upper chamber floats.
When a boat has been run into tho upper
chamber It Is either lowered or raised, as
may be desired, by filling or exhausting
the air chamber beneath it.
Tne letter He Did Not Mall.
George Blrdseye In Boston Globe.
As he left the house In the morning.
Said his wife! "Here's a letter to mall;
And see that you don't forget It!"
So he told her, of course, he'd not fall.
As he placed It Into his pocket
The address on the latter he saw.
And the name of it was somewhat familiar
It was that of his mother-in-law.
And then a grim fact he remembered.
That his wife had threatened to send
And invite her to make a long visit
What else could this letter portend?
A look of profound resolution
Did over his features prevail:
For a week It reposed In his pocket
The letter he did not mall.
Then one evening, when home returning.
He met his dear wife at the. door.
Who asked if he'd mailed that letter
She gave blm the week before.
He told her, of course he had mailed It;
"Then it's very peculiar," said she,
"For I'd written before to mother
To ask her to visit me.
"And that letter was to Inforni her
I'd rather she'd wait till next Fall;
But here she arrived this morning
She never received It at allL"
Until be was alone he waited.
Then kicked himself like a flaTi;
And tore into uttermost atoms
The letter he did not man.
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS
Professor What -kind of Iron business is your
father In. Mr. Freshman? Freshman Why
er, I think it's metallic iron, sir. Philadelphia
Record.
Essentially a Feminine Reason. "If he was
not ypur Ideal.- why did you marry him?"
"Because so many of the girls seemed to want
him." Chicago Evening Post
Easy. "Jinks has no faculty for keeping
moneyl" "Lots It go to whoever asks him for
it, I believer "Why. I'm told that even his
wife can get money, from him, if he has ltt"
Detroit Journal.
Angellnay-That was a lovely engagement
ring you gave me last night, dear; but what
do these initials "E. C" mean on tha inside?
Edwin Why r that is don't you know?
That's the new way ot stamping eighteen
Icarats!-Tlt-Blt3.
As an Accommodation. "Are you going to
hanr up your stocking on Christmas ever
asked the boy's uncle, patronizingly. "I sup
pose so," answered the modern child, still more
patronizingly. "Father and mother seem to
expect that sort of thlnff. and It would be a
pity to disappoint them." Washington Star.
The Craze. "Er you remember that county
fair permlum list I got out when we were not
living sd well as we are now?" asked the suc
cessful author "Yes, dear." answered his
wife. "What of it?" "I want to know if you
have & copy of it among your keepsake3. I
have just received -an offer, with a good bit
of money In It, for the dramatlo rights."
Indianapolis Press.
Fooled Again. "I can't understand. It at all,'
soliloquized the bank president, after the
trusted cashier had departed for parts un
known. "He was a good fellow, smoked,
.ould take a drink when necessary, and never
attended church except when forced to by his
wife. Who would have suspected such a man
was leading a double life and was superintend
ent of a Sunday school la Brooklyn? Nobody,
i xsay; rue.