Morning Oregonian., January 29, 1901, Page 6, Image 6

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THE MORNING OREGONIAN; TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1901.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
Half of the offenses charged against
railroads are really due to unscrupulous
shippers. Secret rebates are forced out
of freight agents by merchants under
threats of loss of business. The report
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
Indicates another fruitful source of
wrong-doing. In New York testimony
was secured by the commission to the
effect that every month there are de
tected from 15,000 to 20,000 cases of mis
representation in the description of
freight with a view to securing re
duced rates. The trunk lines suffer
heavy losses all the time from the de
vices of shippers who represent goods
as belonging to classes to which they
do not really belong. Seldom or never,
It appears, is the fallacious description
put in by the shipper such as to cause
an Increase of freight rates over the
proper rates. An Inspector testlfled
that from 4 to 4U per cent of the ship
ments from New York were fraudu
lently described. The Railway Age af
firms that "of course New York mer
chants are no more immoral in this
respect than those of other cities," and
suggests that like cheating Is going on
everywhere an affirmation which
many will question. The Age quotes
the late G. R. Blanchara" as having
said. In view of similar evidence se
cured last Winter, that "if the railway
companies had attempted the same
number of frauds upon the shippers or
receivers at the same cities during the
same period, and possessed like proof,
public Indignation would have de
manded the repeal of the charters of
the offending roads." Of course, the
railroads have their own sins to answer
far, but two wrongs do not make a
rfght As a general rule, it can be laid
down that the roads would do busi
ness fairly If only the mercantile com
munity would let them. The overtures
for secret violations of laws and rate
sheets oftenest come from the unscru
pulous shipper.
It is a common complaint that the
Porto Rico act, unjust in itself and ob
noxious to American public opinion,
was forced upon Congress by powerful
protected Interests, which had primar
ily In view the menace of ultimate free
trade with the Philippines. Now, It Is
humiliating to contemplate the undue
influence of great corporations upon
legislation, but it Is important, also, to
recognize the exact extent of the men
ace Involved to the industries these cor
porations represent. Free trade with
the Philippines would certainly Intro
duce a disturbing element Into many In
dustries, notably tobacco, sugar, rice,
hemp, fruits, etc. It 1b evident that
summary abolishment of all duties on
these products might temporarily work
a hardship on our home producers. It
has been pointed out, in opposition to
the Porto Rico claimants before the
Supreme Court, that other nations have
the right, and exercise it, to impose du
ties on colonial products, generally giv
ing the- latter, however, an advantage,
over foreign products from other na
tions. Nor do they allow colonial prod
ucts to enter "free," especially If they
compete with products of the parent
country. If Congress does not possess
this power it might become exceedingly
dimoult fr us to maintain the pro
tective policy, as against the treaty
making power, and encourage or even
maintain existing home Industries. In
this cas those products happen more
especially to be tobacco, sugar, hemp,
fruits and rice. The depletion In our
revenue might necessitate the levying
of heavS Internal revenue taxes to All
the vacuum produced by the colonial
"free trade" contention. Every great
nation in the world is expending large
sums of money annually, in the effort
to produce Its own supply of sugar"
one of the home products that would
bo seriously affscted, if not ruined,
eventually, if the self-extension doc
trine prevails. Germany, Russia,
France, Austria-Hungary, Belgium.
Holland, and lastly Sweden, Italy and
Spain, have deemed It wise to securs
their own sugar from their own soil
and not jeopard that policy by the in
corporation of tropical territory. Even
Great Britain, which is unable to grow
the raw material for sugar In the
kingdom, allows India to countervail
the sugar bounties laid by other (rival)
governments This argument does not
prove, we think, that free trade may
not be extended by Congress to the
Jependencles, but It certainly Indicates
grave reason for doubt as to the wis
dom at peremptory extension of all
revenue and other laws without Con
gressional inquiry and careful adjudi
cation. Between the fear that Siberia will
some day be paralyzing our agriculture
with cheap wheat and Qpur and the
cocksure affirmation that no wheat can
be grown In that "Ice-bound" country,
there is a golden mean of sense and
reason. Agriculture is certain to have
a considerable future in Siberia, but
its crops -may never more than keep
pace with Its advancing power of con
sumption. The belt now being opened
for settlement Is In the latitude of the
British Isles and of British. Columbia,
Manitoba, and the bulk of the western
part of the Dominion. The trans-Siberian
Railroad lies icarcely further
north than the Canadian Pacific Rail
way. The country resembles In great
part the plains of the Dakotas, Mani
toba and the Saskatchewan and Peace
River Valleys. There Is such a strip
350 miles wide and between 2000 and
3000 miles long of virgin soil and of gen
ial climate. The great railroad Is open
ing this country to settlement and cul
tivation. Mr. A. R. Colquhoun, in his
interesting and authoritative article in
the current Monthly Review tells us
that In the seven years 1893-99 nearly
19,000,000 acres of public land were
transformed into farms, of which flve
sevenths are now actually occupied.
Since 1887 more than 1,000,000 Immi
grants have settled in Siberia. There
were only 61,435 of them in 1893; there
were 233,981 in 1899, and last year's
number was greatly larger. For three
months in 1895 the railroad carried 211,
000 passengers and 64,080 tons of freight
For three months in 1899 it carried
1,075,000 passengers and 733,617 tons. An
increase in four years on a still unfin
ished road of 410 per cent In passengers
and 1045 per cent in goods suggests a
wondering inquiry as to what the in
crease may be in another four years,
when the road is completed. This
rapid development means production,
doubtless; but It also means multiplied
demands for American wares. Those
who fear Asiatic development are in
the same case with those in Europe
who dreaded settlement of America 200
years ago. The answer to their fears is
found in the enormous purchases we
make in Europe and in the field we
offer for European investment. Asia
will be Just such a fruitful field for us.
THE ERROR OF THE SOUTH.
Mr. Hoke Smith, of Georgia, a noted
lawyer, who was President Cleveland's
Secretary of the Interior, and long-time
editor of the Atlanta Journal, takes oc
casion to say that the South never did
believe In free coinage of silver, and
that the advocacy of that fallacy was
without authority from the Southern
people. The Oregonlan fully believes
this statement. It accords with that of
every other representative Southern
man; many of whom have, however,
acquiesced In this mischievous fallacy
purely for party reasons. The fear of
black supremacy In the South has so
warped the judgment of the people as
to render them Insensible to all other
things. The black nightmare has ob
scured their reason.
It was only through the Democratic
party, indeed, that they were able to
contend against black supremacy, in
,many states. This has caused them to
make a fetich of the Democratic party.
But the ascendancy of that party could
have been maintained in the South
quite as well, even better, by resistance
to Bryan's demand for free coinage of
sliver and for the socialistic features
of recent Democratic platforms.
On these Issues, moreover, there was
no chance whatever to carry any im
portant Northern state. The business
states of the North will not have free
silver, debased money, mob law and
riot doctrines, nor the designs and pur
poses of socialism.
The South was powerful enough In
the Democratic councils to have saved
the party from these declarations and
their consequences. It would have
done so had not its intellect been para
lyzed by the now unnecessary fear of
negro domination. The doctrines to
which the Bryanites have committed
the Democratic party are the doctrines
of populistlc socialism. Yet In every
Southern state the Democratic party
had already beaten the Populists out
of the field.
It was not necessary for maintenance
of the supremacy of the Democratic
party in the South that these doctrines
should be adhered to by the party
there, and forced, moreover, Into the
National platform. But the Southern
Democrats did these things, neverthe
less; and by so doing they so loaded
down the party platform as to make it
impossible for the party to carry any
Important Northern state.
THE FUTURE OF GREAT BRITAIN.
The Great Britain over which Ed
ward VII has commenced to reign Is
not relatively so great a power, com
pared with other nations, as It was
when Victoria came to- the throne, in
1837, when the British Empire was the
greatest material and political force in
the world. In labor-saving machinery,
In railroads, in steam navigation, Great
Britain then led the world. On the sea
her navy was supreme. This primacy
of Great Britain saw the beginning of
Its end in the victorious conclusion of
the American Civil War in 1S65, fol
lowed In 1871 by the unification of Ger
many into an empire. The subsequent
severe competition of the United States
and Germany In Industrial and com
mercial supremacy has greatly reduced
the stature of British predominance In
the business of the world. The terri
torial growth of Russia, the creation of
modern Continental armies and the
large Increase of naval strength on the
part of France, Russia, Germany and
Italy have Impaired the former prestige
of Great Britain in war and diplomacy.
The last thirty years of Victoria's
reign really witnessed a steady decline
In the international Importance of Great
Britain as an industrial and. financial
power of supreme magnitude.
This decline is likely to continue. Ag
riculture Is extinct in England to the
extent that the United Kingdom Is de
pendent upon foreign producers for Its
food supply. Nothing but her present
naval supremacy stands between Great
, Britain and conquest. In manufac
tures Germany and the United States
are pressing Great Britain hard. Amer
ica has taken away from Britain her
old-time supremacy In the iron and
steel trade, and in labor-saving ma
chinery, while the Germans lead In sev
eral Important Industries, and the day
Is not far distant when both the United
States and Germany will make Britain
feel their competition for an Increased
share of the shipping of the world. The
United States has the whip hand on
Great Britain for the future in our Im
mense superiority in coal supply and
agricultural productiveness. In the fu
ture contest for the control of foreign
markets. Great Britain is sure to be dis
tanced by America and Germany.
The relative decline of Great Britain
will depend Upon economic, social and
political forces that are utterly beyond
the influence or control of the mere
personality of the sovereign. "Whether
he is a popular and able; sovereign or
the reverse cannot affect the operation
of fundamental forces. Great Britain
is not likely to regain the Industrial
and commercial supremacy she has
lost, for when Russia has developed the
enormous resources of her Asiatic Em
pire she will surely make herself se
verely felt as a keen competitor for the
trade of the world. As a great world
power, Great Britain has probably seen
its best days. The moment that there
should be a stronger navy In Europe
than that of Great Britain, her conse
quence would depart with her control
of the sea. Great Britain for her "future
safety must trust to the loyalty of her
great colonies and the warm sympathy
of the great English civilization of the
United States.
NATIONAL ARMY REFORM.
Colonel Philip Reade, U. S. A., an
Army officer of nearly thirty-five years'
service, In his reports to the Adjutant
General of the Army has some excellent
Ideas as to Army reform. He holds
that the regulars, volunteers and mili
tia should be homogeneous, and that
the latter should conform to "regular"
methods. It is a matter for public re
gret that the entire militia will not ac
cept the small-arms system of the
United States Army. In 1899 effort was
made by Wisconsin and Minnesota, at
a meeting of the Adjutant-Generals of
the several states, to have all adopt
the Army small-arms system, but the
representatives of New York and Penn
sylvania successfully opposed the meas
ure, so that uniformity in target In
struction and practice methods does not
exist. It needs no argument to per
suade a veteran soldier that Colonel
Reade Is right in his view that it is
of the highest Importance that the mili
tia should be required to use the same
text-books, arms, ammunition, equip
ment, as are used by the Army. The
only great nations of the earth that rely
for defense on the volunteer system are
Great Britain and the United States.
Our volunteer system, tested by the ex
perience of the Spanish-American War,
really broke down, and so did the Brit
ish system In South Africa. It is true,
of course, that the United States was
victorious in Cuba, and the British
finally were victorious in South Africa,
but this was due to the weakness of the
adversary, not to the strength of the
American and British volunteer sys
tems. In both Great Bi ltaln and the United
States It is clear that In event of a
serious war with a first-class military
power It would be impossible to rely
with safety upon a volunteer army.
Army reform In Great Britain Is per
haps not likely to proceed so far as to
force the passage of a national con
scription act, and yet this reform would
be precipitated tomorrow If Great Brit
ain were In danger of a formidable
French Invasion, such as threatened
her In 1805. In the United States the
danger of war with a first-class mili
tary power is so slight and the futility
of Invasion so apparent, that the Euro
pean system of conscription Is not
likely to be resorted to except In event
of another great civil war. Neverthe
less, radical changes in organization
and methods will have to be made If we
hope in the future to hold our own
against even a third-rate military
power like Spain placed again on Its
military legs in a lit state of prepara
tion. In event of a war with Great
Britain, we would make a poor military
figure without unifying National Guard
methods with those of the United States
Army. To render the National Guard
an effective force, Its system should
conform to that of the regular Army In
organization, equipment, armament, in
struction, discipline; should be taught
to subsist In camp exactly as regulars
subsist The argument of Colonel Reade
Is that It takes time to transform re
cruits Into a fighting force, because sol
diers cannot be made with a rush any
more than eggs can be hatched quickly
by intensifying the heat to which they
are subjected. Attempts to hasten In
cubation only cook the egg.
Shooting to hit is the objective of the
military art; the untrained rifleman Is
an incumbrance on the battle-fleld.
Target practice and plenty of It Is the
first essential to convert a recruit Into a
formidable soldier. The use of intrench
ing tools should form a part of the In
struction and practice of troops. These
criticisms and recommendations of
Colonel Reade are all excellent and
they doubtless will be acted upon to an
extent sufficient to make and keep our
regular Army equal to Its present and
prospective work In the Philippines; to
reform our militia so that it will be
equal to its ordinary duties when called
upon by the governments of the various
states. Beyond this It Is useless to ex
pect that our National Guard will ever
find In the militia service any effective
training for war; any adequate prep
aration for field work. The American
people are too busy, too non-military in
their tastes, to give the time and atten
tion to military training In time of
peace to create a soldiery that would
be of any substantial value in time of
war. The Seventh New York Regiment
before the Civil War was composed
largely of men of wealth and leisure,
who gave a great deal of time to mili
tary drill. It formed a good military
school, for some 700 men who had been
members of the Seventh New York
Regiment became officers In the Union
Army.
With this exception, the militia regi
ments of the country were compara
tively worthless to the Union Army.
Few of their trained members went to
the front. The regiments were filled up
with raw recruits as Tapldly as possi
ble, and were no better for practical
purposes than a regiment 'of United
States volunteers composed of "green"
soldiers from the ground up. This has
always been the experience of our coun
try in every war that demanded sud
den expansion of our Army, and per
haps it Is the strongest reason for al
ways keeping a standing Army of at
least 100,000 men thoroughly drilled and
disciplined on foot With such an
Army as a nucleus, the vast military
resources of the country could be rap
Idly organized and fertilized Into a
state of productiveness! Theoretically,
It sounds well to consider the National
Guard as part of the National system
of defense In event of a great foreign
or domestic war. It has always proved
extravagant and Incompetent, and al
ways will, because, while we are a
brave people, we are not a military
people. In event pf a great war tomor
row, our country would, If invaded by
a formidable army of trained soldiers,
have to defend itself ery much as the
Boers did, by rifles and spades, behind
ditches, hedges and bouses. We should
need men who could shoot true and ride
well, with regulars enough for the ar
tillery and the work of military engi
neering. ,
Minister Wu Is something of a ser
monlzer as well as a most intelligent
and tactful diplomat Christian minis
ters who would dismiss Confucianism
with a wave of the hand and frown It
out of existence may learn a lesson in
open-mindedness and courtesy ele
ments that are essential to the Chris
tian and seemingly to the Confucian
character from this disciple of Confu
cius who pays, tribute to the noble and
sublime teachings of the religion of
Christ while retaining his racial loyalty
to Confucius and his teachings. Minis
ter Wu is a master of words and a man
thoroughly versed not only In the tra
ditions but the history of his people.
Having dwelt for many years at vari
ous times in Christian lands, he has
hadopportunltles for wide observation
of other peoples, which he has evidently
employed to some purpose. A ready
talker, he is in danger, perhaps, of talk
ing too much, but thus far his publto
utterances have testified to the fact
that he had something to say. Cer
tainly, up to this time, he appears to
have the best of the argument with
Christian clergymen, who have, as he
says, since his address on Confucius
was delivered, "condemned Confucian
ism right and left, applying to It such
terms as 'effete, 'vague,' 'unworthy of
attention,' 'rotten to the core,' and the
like." To this he replies: "I do not
quarrel with those who apply these op
probrious epithets to our creed," add
ing: "I1 believe that all religions teach
men to be good. If every man would
act up to the doctrines enjoined by his
religion, the world would be far better.
It would be well if priests and clergy
men of every faith and creed would do
their best to promote this desirable end,
that the words of Confucius, 'Let us all
live In peace as brothers,' might be
fulfilled."
The barbers who ask the Legislature
to decree that there shall be no shaving
on Sunday want the day, they say, for
picnic recreations, and all that sort of
thing. But of course they want the
street-car men to. work on Sunday, to
carry them where they may wish to go.
They don't want the restaurant people
to have a Sunday, either, for they want
food and drink. Besides, a law against
shaving on Sunday will not stop It At
every hotel there will be a private place
where shaving will be done; and no
doubt not a few persons will be driven
to shave themselves. Then, having got
ten their hand in, many such will shave
themselves regularly. If there be per
sons who don't want to do any work on
Sunday, It's all right, of course. But
it is not from any motive of benevo
lence, in this case, that they want to
forbid others. It Is a movement of pure
selfishness. It doesn.'t, however, try to
cloak Itself with religion. It says noth
ing against "Sabbath breaking," be
cause Its purpose is "Sabbath break
ing," in another form. To the close of
all barber shops on Sunday The Ore
gonlan has no objection. Whoever
wants to close, or to decline to -shave on
that day, let him". But why make a law
to annoy or constrain others?
It Is Said that the sons of former
Presidents are to be Invited to serve as
aids on the staff of General Greene, the
grand marshal of the parade at the
coming Inaugural ceremonies in Wash
ington. Sons of Lincoln, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur and Harrison are men
tioned in this connection, one of each
name being available, president Ty
ler's son, the scholarly president of
William and Mary College, of Virginia,
has apparently been overlooked In this
purpose to honor former Presidents by
remembering their sons. Professor
Lyon G. Tyler Is unknown to politics,
and Is no doubt quite content with his
more quiet life and vocation. Perhaps
the fadt that the managers of the In
auguration exercises have overlooked
him will not greatly disturb him.
In a social chat the other day Prince
Chlng told Conger he had no objection
to missionaries In China, and consid
ered many of them good men. How
ever, he did not divulge that he consid
ered them crazy. He did not say that
their singing of the same hymns over
and over again and their other ridicu
lous mummeries and ceremonies were
certain evidences of their Insanity.
Chinese music sounds like bedlam, and
Chinese funerals are the most oxtrava
gant of orgies, but they are so only
outside of China. In point of polite
ness, therefore, the honors seem to be
with Chlng;
The value of vaccination is shown by
the fact that most medical authorities
place the mortality of smallpox among
the unvacclnated at something over 35
per cent, and among those who have
been vaccinated at 8 per cent or under.
Marson, from a great number of cases,
obtains this percentage of mortality:
Unvacclnated persons S5 DO per cent
One cicatrix 7.50percent
Two cicatrices 4.10 percent
Three cicatrices 1.75 per cent
Four or more cicatrices 75 per cent
The railroad to Nehalem, which will
be built by Portland capital, will make
Astoria tune up its dolorous common
point again. What? shall be the great
ness of that city when It lets another
steal Its opportunities? The greatness
of Astoria was prospective development
of Tillamook and Nehalem trade. It
could have had Jhat territory for the
energy.
The contest between Linn and Lane
Counties over territory, as might be
'expected, is being fought by Albany
and Eugene. Linn County Is working
for annexation of the Blue River mines.
The disputants will now appreciate the
causes of he Boer War.
What living man has done so much
for Oregon as Henry W. Corbett? Many
have done much, but none so much as
he. Is achievement any test of ability
and worth? If not, what Is? Certainly,
as we siippoSe, not non-achievement or
failure.
Why doesn't Holland, which sympa
thizes so deeply with Oom Paul Kru
ger, and thinks South Africa ought to
"be "'free,'' take Its own hand off Su
matra and Java and give the natives
there a chance for self-government?
If conditions do not now justify build
ing of a drydock, shall we have those
conditions any sooner than a drydock?
Legislators will doubtless permit the
lobby to "treat" even If they should
pass an "anti-treat" law.
REVIVAl" OF CHARLES DICKENS
Kansas City Star.
The cheering report comes from Eng
land of a revival of Dickens. Once more
the Incidents In Mr. Pickwick's trial for
breach of promise are followed with In
terest Sam Weller, Mr. Winkle, Tracy
Tupman and Sam Snodgrass journey
about the island with renewed vigor. Mr.
Wackford Squeers of Dotheboys hall
again practices the practical mode of
teaching: "C-1-e-a-n, clean, verb active;
to mike bright, to scour, W-i-n, win,
d-e-r, winder, a casement. When the
boy knows this out of a book he goes and
does It It's Just the same principle as
the use of globes." Oliver Twist comes
forth and holds out his spoon while he
timidly asks for more.
Literary fads may come and go. but
people will always read Dickens. Real
Ism miy be succeeded by the religious
novel, which may yield In turn to the
romantic and It to historical fiction.
But meanwhile men do not lose their af
fection for Sydney Carton and Dick Swiv
eller, David Copperfield and the brothers
Cheryble. An astute critic frequently
comes forward, demolishes all of the
characters of Dickens as "caricatures,"
his style as "Insufferably prolix" and his
plots as "absurd," and bows himself out;
but after he Is gone his audience returns
to "David Copperfield." A few years ago
it was true of Dickens as of Macauliy,
that the sale of his books fluctuated with
the price of coal, and today he does not
lack admirers.
It may be admitted that the great
novels Dickens left the world hive many
artistic faults, but they have the saving
grace or keen observation, of quick sym
pathy, of humor and pathos, and above
all, of sincerity. Even the extremes of
sentimentality are redeemed by the true
feeling of the writer. Take, for Instance,
the deith of Jo In squalid Tom-All-Alone's:
"It's turned- very dark, sir. Is
there any light a-comln'?' 'It is
coming fast, Jo.' Fast The cart Is
shaken all to pieces and the rugged road
Is very near its end. The light has come
upon the dark benighted way. Dead!
Dead, Your Majesty. Dead, my lords and
gentlemen. Dead, right reverends and
wrong reverends of every order. Dead,
men and women born with heavenly com
passion In your hearts. And dying thus
around us every day." Few authors could
manage such a scene in the same fashion
without growing nauseatlngly affected,
But Dickens' sincerity saves the pas
sage, as Indeed it does the account of
the tragic death of Sydney Carton on the
guillotine.
Mr. Brander Matthews rerers to the
"Immoral self sacrifice" at the core of
the "Tale of Two Cities." Yet few men
can read unmoved of the final saving act
of the fine but weak profligate, who,
If he could have expressed his feelings,
would have said: "It Is a far, far better
thing that I do than I have ever done.
It it a far, far better rest that I so to
than I have ever known." So, too, the
account of the death of Paul Dombey
and Little Nell, while on tho verge of
over-sentimentality, they are preserved
from the fate of false pathos.
The humor of Dlclcens Is extravagant,
to be sure, but It is done with wonderful
spirit "What's the odds," asked Mr.
Swlveller, apropos of nothing, "so long
as the fire of the soul is kindled at the
taper of conwivlalltv and the wing of
friendship never moults a feather?" The
Wellers, Captain Cuttle, Mark Tapley,
Mr. Jingle, will remain the reader's
friends when the companions of hi3
youth are sone.
A revival of Dickens means the arous
ing of a wholesome spirit In those who
read. To the emotion of most people his
characters make a strong and healthful
appeal. He presents no subtle study In
psychology. Uriah Heep and Mr. Peck
sniff are eternally hypocrites and there
are no redeeming traits about Squeers
and Qullp. His pood people usually find
their reward in this life and his villains
are comfortably buried at the cross
roads with a stake through their hearts.
But hatred of sham and belief in good
ness and virtue are at the bottom of
all Dickens' books. Their sound mor
ality cannot be questioned. Even the
severest critic must confess a sneaking
liking for an occasional tale of this sort.
And the common people hear them
gladly.
A TIMELY PROTEST.
Dependence on the State Is the Ruin
of Men.
Lewiston (Idaho) Tribune.
Why does public employment unfit ono
for private endeavor ever afterward? Is a
query that Is asked In a way to leave no
doubt that the conclusion is regarded as
true. It may be said In reply that It does
not always do so. Here and there are
conspicuous cases of men who have
achieved great success In private busi
ness who have had brief experiences in
office-holding, but had gotten over It
without being noticeably harmed. It is
the rule, however, that people who have
been accustomed to looking to the city,
county, state or Nation for their welfare
can scarcely be depended upon to build
up afterward any successful private In
dustry. It seems to the Tribune there are
two solemn lessons taught by this condi
tion. The flret is that every time a new
position is created at the upbllc expense
it becomes the. means of demoralizing and
unfitting good men as long as It remains
In existence. The second Is that the pub
lic business should be brought down moro
nearly to the level of private business, if
for no other reason than to serve as a
check on the growing propensity for
office-seeking. The evil works In two di
rections. Not only does it tempt dozens of
people who are disappointed to every one
who succeeds away from tho safe and
wholesome walks of Independent life, but
to the one who gains the office It leaves
him all too often in the end unable to
stand on his own footing. It may seem
kind to the man who drops Into a snug
office to add to his feed and his pay In
various little extra "allowances If this for
tunate fellow is the only one to be con
sidered, but, really, there are others. The
office-holder is being mlseducated every
day in the idea that he Is entitled to
something more and better than the
law says he shall be paid, and It Is
while trying to get the best of the peo
ple who trusted him with the office that
all of trouble has come, and more is go
ing to come. This craze to get an easy
living off the public finds Its logical de
velopment In a memorial now pending In
the Idaho Legislature to pension all sur
vivors of Indian wars on the North Pa
cific Coast, to eay nothing of 1,000,000
claims for pensions now pending before
the department at Washington.
Her Reign a. Great Epoch.
Providence Journal.
It would be Impossible to sum up the
results of Queen Victoria's long reign In
a few words. Whatever defects after gen
erations may discover, whatever deduc
tions they may make from the praises
we are wont to shower upon ourselves,
It Is plain that the Victorian age has
been one of the great epochs of tho
world's hlBtory. Even if that literary
activity which has brought it into com
parison with the age of Elizabeth and
the age of Anne be left out of the ac
count, or disparaged as Intensely as the
severest critic would disparage It, there
remains the marvelous development of
science and invention.
Give the Old Man a Quitclaim.
Boston Herald.
Well, why doesn't Mary Ellen Lease
take her divorce and be done with-it? Mr.
Lease is still enthusiastically seconding
the motion. Give the old man a quitclaim.
WORDS OF REASON ON THE CANAL
New York Tribune.
ondon dispatches quote utterances of
the English press about the canal treaty
In marked and agreeable contrast to those
the other day. It Is evident that a large
and influential element at the British cap
ital has- not been misled by the pessim
istic and alarmist reports of some cor
respondents, but sees the situation as it
really Is, and favors dealing with it on
practical rather than on imaginative
grounds. The Daily Telegraph Is, we are
certain, exactly right In saying there Is
no reason to believe the Senato Intended,
In amending tho treaty, to affront the
British government. There was no such
intention, and there would have arisen
no thought of any had It not been for
the Injudicious utterances on both sides
of tho Atlantic which the Dally Telegraph
properly condemns. That journal does
well, also, In pointing out that despite
the talk of irresponsible speakers and
writers, the responsible governments of
the two countries have but very slight
ground It might have said no real ground
for complaint the one cf the other. It
is encouraging to observe the tone in
which the Dally Telegraph discusses ab
rogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
It protests against the doing of it by the
mero stroke of the pen, and rejoices to seo
that sentiment against so doing Is gaining
ground in America. es; it is not only
frnlnlnfr orminrl hut It has all alonsr occu
pied dominant ground. The United States
does not cancel International obligations
without either ample cause or a quid pro
quo. We do not concede that there would
be any need of a quid pro quo for the
abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
but, as the Daily Telegraph says, tnai is
a matter for negotiation, not for recrimi
nation. And it will be- observed that It
concedes it to be possible that this coun
try may advance arguments to Justify
England's agreeing to the amendments of
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty wlinout com
pensation. A similarly reasonable view of the case
Is taken by the Spectator. That Influen
tial Journal emphasizes the facts, upon
wiudi ve ourselves have hitherto Insist
ed, that It is to the interest of the Brit
ish Empire that the canal shall be con
structed, that the work must be done un
der Government patronage, and that the
United fetates Is the Nation which must
do the work and should control It after
It Is done. All that Great Britain needs
to ask is that the canal shall be used on
equal terms by all ships. The Spectator
declares plainly In favor of military con
trol and fortification of the canal by the
United States, on the ground that only
thus can neutrality be assured In time of
xenr Tt nnlnts out that when Spain in
1S98 sought to violate the neutrality of the
Suez Canal, to our harm, sne was re
strained from doing so, and the neutrality
of the canal was maintained, not by any
international compact, but by the fact
that there was a sufficient British mili
tary force on the ground to compel com
pliance with the law. So In Nicaragua.
"If America," It well observes, "were on
the pot In force there would be no tam
pering with the canal." To only a single
expression of the Spectator's Is excep
tion to be taken, and then only in im
plication. The matter. It says, Is ono
of business and not of manners. That Is
literally true. But we cannot concede the
possible Implication that there has been
any breach of international manners.
Whatever may be thought of the wisdom
or unwisdom of the Senate's amendments
to the treaty. It Is unquestionable that
the Senate had at least as far as Eng
land Is concerned as perfect a right to
make them as the British Government has
to consider their acceptance or rejection,
and there was no more breach of manners
In the one case than in the other, which
means there was none at all. The Spec
tator's article was written. It is true, be
fore the meeting of the Senatorial caucus
and while some Injudicious and Irresponsi
ble talk was being heard about going on
with the canal without waiting for Brit
ish action on the treaty. It Is now evi
dent that no such cavalier and precipi
tous action Is Intended, but that the Sen
ate, having made Its move In amending
the treaty, will courteously await the
countermove of Great Britain before pro
ceeding further In the matter.
As "a matter of business and not of
manners," however, or of manners as
well as of business, the case is one to be
considered and to be settled by a few
responsible statesmen and diplomats in
friendly negotiation rather than by notor
iety seeking politicians "speaking for
Buncombe" upon the stump and by ex
citable and Imaginative newspapers
shrilly proclaiming the discovery of por
tentous mares' nests.
i
To Attack the Fountain of Evil.
New York Press.
Of course, Mrs. Nation, of Kansas, hav
ing once learned the delights of smashing
things, Is at It again. Her escapades form
a fascinating subject for the imaginative.
One dispatch stated that on the evening
she was released from Jail In Wichita she
attended a performance of the "Devil's
Auction." While the ballet was on she
rose In her seat with her apron full of
rocks, and before she could be stopped
had broken the legs of seven of the girls.
According to jealous papers In the West,
the lady Is planning a descent upon New
York to attack the impure fountain at its
source. There are many things to throw
at here, and Mrs. Nation, who Is believed
to be the only female In the world who
hits what she throws at, could scarcely
fall to achieve wide notice.
Queen Victoria's Descendants.
New York World.
Queen Victoria has had 83 children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of
whom 71 are living and 12 are dead She
has been not only a great Queen, but a
great mother of Kings, Queens and Em
perors. No other royal family of modern
times has ever held within the circle of
Its membership so many crowns and scep
ters. The descendants of Victoria already
have assured to them the thrones of the
two great empires of Great Britain and
Germany, and it Is more than probable
that within 20 years the crowns of the
three great empires of Britain, Germany
and Russia will all be worn at the same
time by her grandchildren.
As to "Decrepitude."
Baker Republican.
The Eugene Register would make itself
more consistent If, at once, it would en
lighten the public that Its candidate for
United States Senator, McBrlde, is as
helpless, physically, as a child. It Is fool
ish for McBrlde's Journals to carp about
the age of Senator 'Corbett when their
own candidate is a sitting skeleton of dis
ease, unable to attend to any business or
do any public service. Such matters have
no place In Journalism, and belittling a
man's age or infirmities is resorted to
only by young men suffering with decrep
itude of Intellect.
a
Victoria's Influence on Society.
Philadelphia Record.
The moral purity and simplicity of her
life have had a powerful effect In shaping
the Ideals of the large middle class ele
ment The very qualities which made the
glare of London repugnant to her have
endeared her to the British masses. Her
homekeeplng and motherly characteristics
have been an example held up for emula
tion by British wives and mothers, and
have acted as a counterpoise to the in
fluence, otherwise unchecked, of the
spendthrift ways of the most prominent
(because more flashy section of the aris
tocracy. The Queen's Greatest Distinction.
Baltimore Sun.
It Is the greatest of her distinctions
that she will leave her country better for
having ruled over It and the world better
for having lived In It.
An Unfortunate Man.
Indianapolis News.
Alfred Austin, poet-laureate, deserves a
great deal of sympathy. Everybody Is
disposed to revert to Tennyson.
J
Now Mrs, Nation Is talking. Her gos
pel seems to be a blow and a word.
Those Snake Indians appeal? to, bo as
harmless as an English army In tho
Transvaal. '
Roosevelt has a record of 30 ions. but
that is nothing compared to tae lyltt'
record of his press agent
The Preston bill In the Washington
Legislature looks very much like a short
cut to state ownership a railroads. '
Recent investigations prove that New
York Is the worst city m the !XJnlteu
States, with the exception of evtry other
city.
SIgnor Verdi might have dled.rlcher if
he had written rag-time, but rfhe .fact
that he abstained "was a proof; of his
greatness. l'"- '
John Wanamaker says ..that Philadel
phia Is infinitely more rotten thin New
York. "Knocking," like charity, begins
at home.
Agulnaldo, Kruger Is preparing ' o pull
off a few deaths for tho benefit of tho
yellow journals.
Earl LI Hung Chang and Agulnaldo are;
both talking again. It is astonishing how
live It makes a man to be killed!, by a
newspaper correspondent.
A Wisconsin physician, to prove that
smallpox was not contagious, deliberately
gave It to a whole community. v T.Thls
man's brains should bo vacolnated.
The people who write magazine arti
cles on how they live on a dollar a,wek,
unconsciously Inform the public -as to
about what they must receive for tae
articles.
Sir John Tennlel, who has Just retired
from Punch, after E0 years connection
with the paper. Is now In his Slstysar.
Tennlel's early ambition was to becorae a
painter In oils, and, although his art was
self-taught, he exhibited, while he ? was
yet a boy. a painting at the Gallery of
British Artists, and succeeded In selling
It. al 25 he was a successful candidate
In a cartoon competition in Westminster.
txall, anu painted a fresco In Westminster
Palace. His flrstt work to attraot atten
tion was an illustrated edition of j-jop'a
Fables," published In 184S, and three years
thereafter ho began, his famous contribu
tions to Punch.
The rector of a parish In one of tho
larger New Jersey cities was making a
pastoral call at the home of ono of the
vestrymen recently, and the 10-year-old
daughter of the host listened Intently to
tae conversation, which turned soori to tho
news of the day, and the happening's of
that particular day chanced to Include
the arraignment of the defendant In the
Howard bigamy case. The little girl, was
all attention. "Isnt It terrible for a man
to have two wives?" she volunteered,' Tho
rector was surprised and pursued tho sub
ject He Inquired of the child why it was
so terrible. "Why, the Bible says that
no man oai serve two masters," was the
qulc answer. It had been the text of the
rector's talk to the children at Sunday
school a few days beiore.
Tho legislator's agent Is now abroad Ik
the land, and judging from his reports
he Is doing a rushing business. One of,
the craft approached a State Senator la
Portland yesterday and asked him if he
knew there were "barrels" of money to
bo made in Salem. The Senator replied
that If he did he would probably be
there, as he was forced occasionally to
make a visit to Portland during the ses
sion, in order that he might not over
look the few kegs of money to be made
here. "Well," said the agent, "there's
barrels of It to be made there, and I
can put you next to it I'm already
agent for six members, and have room
on my list for one more. You're next
The remarks of the Senator led him to
depart without acquiring a seventh
agency.
Let little Bobs watch well the fame for which
he fought so hard,
Let Kitchener brush up his bays, anil stool
upon his guard.
Let all the English Generals prepare to be out
classed. And sea their greatest feats of arms full easily
surpassed;
No more the Boer may hope to nob tho British
In his traps, -.
When Marshal William Hohenzollern doni hla
shoulder-straps. '
King Edward Is a worthy King, and very !well
ha knows
The man who'll make old England's arms a
terror to her foes. '
Across the seas, from pole to pole, around the
world and back, '
Wherever march the regiments that bear tho
Union Jack,
Old Albion shall triumph o'er the water, and
the land,
When Marshal William Hohenaollern takasu-
preme command.
At home he's naught to do but wear "a badly
fitting crown.
But In his uncle's army he will quickly win;
renown, v
And so we may te euro that he will lay thej
scepter by, 1
And, buckling on his trusty sword.. go- forth to
do or die; '
Thourh heretofore he's always earned als- liv
ing as a King.
He'll have no trouble In the field, for he,knowa
everything.
Ah, well behind his kopje high the skulking
Boer may shrink.
And well with consternation wild may wall the
plg-talled Chink, ,
For now a leader strenuous commands old
England's men.
And Tommy Atkins hopes to do heroics deeds
again. .
Though Bobs is great and Kitchener la pretty
good himself, "JJ,
Field Marshal William Hohenzollern has ttem
on a shelf. '
. ?
A Great City's Needs.
Salt Lake Tribune.
The Oregonlan says that Portland is la
the position to tighten Its belt and .take
a fresh grasp on destiny, or else to 11
down and let other places walk over ltt
and it insists that Portland should pro
ceed at once to make aure'of:
1. The Oregon and Oriental centennial
of 1305. v
2. A smelter.
3. A sugar refinery.
4. A railroad to the Nehalem (coal
fields). ""
p. A drydock.
Portland ought to give a great celebra
tion of the 100th anniversary of the Win
ter which Lewis and Clark spent near tho
site of that city. That journey of those
two devoted and gifted men made an
epoch almost In the history "of our coun
try. It secured really Oregon to the Un
ion, and caused men's eyes to begin to
be lifted to the possibility of thH Nation
compassing all the continent between tho
seas. Whether a smelter will do Portland
any good or not we do not knoy; it will
depend very much on how It la trun. A
railroad to the coal fields certainly would
be good, and the Government oiifght to
supply the drydock, for really Portfland Is
a great city. Her commerce Is lhcneaalng
every year, and ships entering thait port
after long voyages ought to find res Isr
the cradle of a drydock.
NOTE4ANDV,COMM&0