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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1901)
THE MOTiXING OREGON! AN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY. 19, 1901, h rgomcoi Entered at the Postofllce at Portland. Oregon, as .second-class matter. TELEPHONES. Editorial Rooms 100 Business 0.11ce...CC7 REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. T$y Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Dally, with Sunday, per month .....$ 85 Daily, Sunday excepted, per year 7 50 Daily, with Sunday, per year 9 00 Sunday, per year 2 (0 The "Weekly, per year 1 50 The Weekly. 3 month. 50 To City Subscribers Daily, per week, delivered. Sundays excopted.ISc Dally, per -week, delivered, Sundas included.20c POSTAGE RATES. United States, Canada and Mexico: 10 to 10-page paper lc 10 to 32-page paper 2c Foreign rates double. News or discuhslon intonded for publication in The Oregonlan should be addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Oregonlan." not to the name of any individual. Letters relating to advertis ing, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy ioems or stories from individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to it without solici tation No stamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson, office at 1111 Pacific avenue, Taooma. Box 003, Tacoma PoMoillce. Eastern Business Office 17, -48, 49 and 59 Tribune building. New York City: 4C9 "The Rookery," Chicago; the S. C. Beckwlth special agency. Eastern representative. For sale in San Francisco by J. K. Cooper, 74C Market street, near the Palace Hotel; Gold smith Bros., 23B Sutter street; F. AV. Pitts, 1O0S Market street; Foster & Orear, Ferry newsstand. For sale in Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner, 259 So Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 100 So. Spring street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Co., 217 Dearborn street For sole in Omaha by IL C. Shears. 103 N. Sixteenth street, and Barkalow Bros., 1012 Farnam street. For sale in Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co., 77 " Second South street. For sale in Now Orleans by Ernest & Co., 115 "Royal street. On file In Washington, D. C with A. "W. Dunn, 500 14th N. W. For sale in Denver. Colo., by Hamilton & Kendrick. 90C-912 Seventh street. TODAY'S WEATHER. Generally fair, with northerly w lndp. PORTLAND, TUESDAY, FEB. II). The proposed charter of Portland omits the power to license, tax and regulate business callings, trades and employments; and it is under this power that Portland raises a very con siderable portion of its revenues. No substitute power is provided. This will cause a heavy deficit in the funds of the city. No matter; the nest Legisla ture will want an excuse to enact an other charter for Portland, and then this omission will be useful. If "our delegation" wishes to authorize the City of Portland to tax "telephones, street cars, street railways and all fran chises," they will have to amend sec tion 32, subdivision 28, of the proposed charter. As now printed, It seeks to au thorize double or treble taxation of th( actual property In telephones, street cars, street railways and franchises. This Is not within the power of the Legislature. The Legislature can law fully authorize the City of Portland to tax for the purpose of revenue the use within the city of telephones, street cars, steam railways and all franchises. It has long been known that scanty food and poor cookery were main causes of the appetite for strong drink. More than a century ago English, writers called attention to this fact in their own country. Jacob Riis, of New York, whose study ef social problems in cities has raised him to the rank of an authority on the subject, in a recent speech before a woman's club of that city remarked that much of the evil of drunkenness would be abated If the art of good cooking were more gener ally understood and practiced. He in sisted that the general adoption of means for promotion of good cooking would do more to abate the saloon evil than any other one of the methods now proposed or employed, or all of them together. That the appetite for strong drink is due largely to poor and meager food is a physiological fact of the first importance. It is the cause of the ex cessive consumption of liquors in the poorest districts of all cities, and it is often witnessed in village and country, where the art of preparing food is neglected or unknown. Stimulation of alcoholic liquors is taken as a substi tute, by those who feel the necessity of it to keep them going. It is destructive, of course; but this fact is not realized, and if it were, it would have little re straining effect, since most persons think only of supplying a present want. ''The Philippine Information Society" of Boston continues to send out pamphlets written or compiled for the purpose of encouraging the insurgents in the Islands. One of these pamphlets now before us Is devoted to the Inquiry, "Whether the Filipinos, are capable of self-government" The conclusion is, of course, that they are. But this Is only one of the moods of the antis. When the officers of our Army propose to en list native troops in the islands against the Insurgents, then there is an outcry against the use of savage allies in war. But in point of fact, judged from our own history, what difference could it make whether the Filipinos are capable of self-government or not? "We refused to the people of the Confederate States, among the fittest in the. world, the right of national independence and self-government, and crushed their claim with military power. Since then it does not appear that there could be anything much in the claim of the riglit of a weaker people to self-government, when such claim runs counter to the pur poses of a great nation. In our South ern States, at least, the Philippine ques tion is viewed almost wholly from this standpoint. All observers at Washington agree that the President shows disposition to move with extreme caution in dealing with the efforts of the Cubans to form a government. The Chicago Tribune's representative reports that he realizes fully that the opposition party is watching every step with the one pur pose of getting material for criticism to be used in the elections of 1902 and thereaft-r. The President's position is that Cuba is particularly the charge of the United States, and that we are re sponsible for continuance of peace and prosperity in the island. He desires that our pledge be adhered to. and wishes to place no limitations upon the new government, further than are abso lutely necessary for the prevention of foreign entaglements. But how it can be compatible with the sovereignty of Cuba that the United States should maintain an overlordship in its foreign affairs is not apparent. Cuba, the Pres ident thinks, should give assurance that she will make no engagements with foreign nations that would endanger our interests or put the Monroe Doc trine in Jeopardy. He believes, further, that Cubans should be moved by a decent sense of gratitude to make some compensation to this country for the great outlay of money and men In gaining for them their freedom. But Congress Is the power to decide what guarantees we shall have from Cuba, and the President Is said to be resolved that Congress shall not shirk the responsibility. SOURCES OF THE DANGER. Dr. Andrew C. Smith Is a man of Independent convictions and of honest civic purposes. It is unfortunate, there fore, that he has so conspicuously mis construed the meaning of last June's election in Multnomah County, which sent him to the State Senate and de feated all but one of the regular Re publican candidates. The simple fact is that that election recorded a protest, not against the Water Committee or the Port of Portland Commission, as Dr. Smith supposes, but against Joseph Si mon. The primary explanation of the election was a combination between a minority faction of Republicans and the Democrats and Populists. The second ary explanation is that this combina tion was enabled to succeed because it played upon an aversion of independent and some Republican voters to Senator Simon. The combination ticket did not represent the taxpayers and did not represent the people. It was more "ringy," if possible, than the Simon crowd It aimed to dislodge. Against the Water Committee there was no clamor in responsible circles, for its workings and undertakings have al ways "been made public Again: the Port of Portland Commission there was some clamor, though it was chiefly the product of agitators who had griev ances against Mr. Simon, Mr. Mackay and Mr. Williams. It cut little figure in the campaign, aside from the inci dent of Mr. Simon's connection with the commission and the desire to get a whack at him. When Dr. Smith imag ines, therefore, that the election of the ticket on which he ran was a mandate to play hob with the Port of Portland Commission, he is far astray. The week will be an anxious time for the business interests of Portland, for they are largely at the mercy of haste, inexperience and revenge, Inhab iting for the nonce the Multnomah del egation at Salem. Yet in tracing the sources of these dangerous feelings, a word of caution must be drawn, which may be useful as a warning against similar errors In the future. Some times we are apt to -forget that we are living under popular government, and that sooner or later disregard of the masses will reap a terrible harvest The extremity in which the Port of Port land Commission and incidentally the all-important river channel to the sea find themselves is an outgrowth of two things the close-corporation methods of the Simon machine and the Inde pendent course of the commission Itself. Resentment against Mr. Simon's rule has been growing, so as to make It cer tain that once his power here was ovei thrown, all the public enterprises which his machine has measurably controlled would be taken from It and passed over to others. The determination of the commission that it would run the port's affairs without regard to the clamor of the rabble on the street a determina tion sound in Itself has only added fuel to the flame. Street talk has long been busy with the operations of the dredger before the North Pacific mill, and this talk the commission has defied. The price of this defiance and of the failure to "avoid all appearance of evil" is ap parently to be paid now, not so much by the commissioners, who can move to Puget Sound when the river Is closed up, but by the port, which is unfortu nately defined within geographical lines. If a man has a theory of gov-, ernment that disregards and despises the views of Mr. Third and Washing ton and Mr. Sidewalk Statesman, he is certain to be undeceived. All these worthies have votes as well as cavern ous mouths and itching palms. The tremendous pressure of business at Salem this week, with all Its dan gers of vicious legislation, grows partly out of the Inexperience of the Multno mah delegation. Our local Interests have seldom if ever been in such a jumble. Men like Simon, Paxton, Northup, McGinn, Mackay, have been up there so much that they know the ropes and their very experience is a safeguard against confusion, whatever may have been their individual pur poses. But the present situation is dif ferent This is an inconvenience, but It is an inevitable one. In the United States one man is as good as another, that Is, for purposes of government, and the more experience a man has the deeper is opposition to him apt to be come. Our theory is that the offices ought to be passed around. While the Incumbent Is gaining fitness he is losing eligibility. If he Is obtrusively useful and industrious, he unwittingly incul cates the Idea that he has had the office long enough. A prime qualification in a candidate for the Legislature, there fore, is that he has never been there. As the ideal juryman Is a man not only without knowledge, but without opin ions, so the man to make laws, if we can get him, Is one who never saw a Legislature in session, and who doesn't know a joint memorial from a question of privilege. Every palladium of our liberties, therefore, has a seamy side to its carpets and skeletons in its clos ets. These we are not accustomed to uncover. In order that all things be done decently and in order and with out disturbing the meeting or exposing the tricks of the civic stage. Besides, this arrangement has great merit, which might be glowingly set out if one had the necessary time and resolution to pursue It MARK TWAIN ON "MEDICAL" LEG ISLATION. In all or nearly all the states physi cians of the "regular" school are try ing nowadays to take a hand in legis lation, in order to rule out all doctors and all medicines they disapprove. A bill relating to the practice of the heal ing art and restriction of its exercise in certain directions having been pro posed in the New York Legislature, Mark Twain was asked the other day to appear before the committee and speak on the subject He modestly de clined to do so, on the ground that he could have no influence there, but gave his views sensibly on the general prin ciples relating to the subject These paragraphs from his statement are as keen as a scimitar: How is it that there are a thousand ways constitution, laws and everything permitting In which I may damn my soul: hut when it comes to a trivial little matter like tem- pcrary III health, the Legislature must pre scribe how I shall do it? One of these bills prescribes that if your mother falls in a faint you may not help her. Certain physicians are set aside who may give you permission to help her: but you may not do anything without their prescription. You may rmoke. If you choose, but the number of clears must be determined by a physician you may not ray how many yourself. This bill Is so absurd and ridiculous that I wish somebody might appear in Albany Just to make fun of It. There Is now a bill pending in the Legislature of Oregon which proposes to extend the jurisdiction of the State Food Commissioner, by empowering him to decide whether medicines offered for sale are "wholesome" or not and directing him, moreover, to Include this investigation In the line of his duties. Is the Food Commissioner, an author ity doubtless on butter and cheese, th man to have this power to decide as to medicines and to seize such as he might suspect of being "unwholesome"? This bill we think has passed the Senate. Members annear to have been Inatten tive to it Willnot members of the- House take a loo"k at It? ' THE MISERABLE FATE OF CHINA. The announcement that Field Mar shal Count von Waldersee Is organiz ing a new expedition to clear the Pekln Province entirely of Chinese soldiers will Increase the sympathy of Ameri cans for China. The Germans will be aided by the French and probably by the English troops, but it is doubtful whether our American contingent will form part of this new movement The Americans are heartily disgusted with the methods of warfare pursued by some of the allies on the march from Tien Tsin to Pekln, some of whose atrocities are recited In detail In Dr. Dillon's article, "The Chinese Wolf and the European Lamb," in the January number of the Contemporary Review. Dr. Dillon, who accompanied the allied troops from the mouth of the Pel Ho to Pekln, was an unimpeachable wit ness of frightful orgies of bloodshed, cruelty and lust The soldiers of the English-speaking countries and the Japanese were com paratively free from the guilt of mur dering In cold blood aged men, women and children, and of the wholesale vio lation of Chinese females between the ages of G to GO, but in the looting all nationalities participated. This is tht kind of warfare that was practiced not only on the road to Pekln, but after Its capture. Dr. Dillon saw a number of women who had been murdered by the soldiers, and says there Is a lady mis sionary in Pekln who, with a female colleague, busied herself for months in shielding Chinese women and girls from being raped by European soldiers. We may expect a repetition of this kind of warfare from Waldersee's expe dition to purge the Province of Chi LI with fire and sword. It is to be hoped that our American troops will have no part In it. There will be no glory In It; nothing but shame, for the people are helpless, incapable of resistance. The people, however, will be sure to have a long memory for such horrors, and at the first opportunity, near or remote, will be sure to wreak vengeance on the foreigner. It has been predicted that the Chi nese would be found "still rebellious In the Spring," and the prediction will probably come true. What else could be expected? The commission has wrangled all Winter long, with the Pe kln Government over terms of peace, and thus far with no solid result Tran quillity is not restored; the Emperor has not returned, the Empress is re ported defiant, trade is at a standstill; two provinces of China, Shan Si and Shen Si, are suffering from a dreadful famine; the government has no funds or machinery to put relief measures in force, and the Impending fate of China is frightful to contemplate. It would not be a surprising thing if there should be a general uprising against the for eigner in the whole of Southern China, but, even if there is no insurrection, China Is likely to be lost to European trade for at least ten years. The superior moderation and human ity of the Americans and Japanese, and the profound policy of the Russians, may serve to restore harmonious com mercial relations In certain parts of China, but both English and German trade Interests with China have suf fered a shock from which they will not soon recover. So far from obtaining In creased trade and influence in China, it looks very much as If they had throt tled the Chinese goose that laid the golden egg. The powers have shown no sense or discretion since reaching Pekin. They have captured an ele phant which they have not the patience to tame, which they cannot afford to feed, and which they are afraid to kill. Count von Waldersee may be as hardy and fearless a soldier as Pizarro, but this is the twentieth century and China is not ancient Peru. The English royal family puts on a brave face in regard to the delicate health of the heir apparent, the King's only son. His absence from the mag nificent function of the opening of Par liament In person by the sovereign, the gorgeousness of which has not been equaled in his lifetime, was even a more conspicuous evidence of his ill health than was his absence from the funeral pageant of the late Queen. His mother, having burled two of her three sons, carries In her face her terrible anxiety in regard to the health of the only one remaining to her, while the court jour nals make light of his Illness. The prominence given upon state occasions to the King's grandson, little Edward of York, Is indicative of the feeling that he may soon stand next to Edward VII In succession, and is In Itself a pathetic feature of the pomp and magnificence with which the new reign has been in augurated. "Only a cold," say the court circulars in explaining the heir appar ent's absence from the state ceremoni als of Thursday, yet It Is announced that a long sea voyage is to be under taken as early as possible for the ben efit of his falling health. . Of course, the stories of Colonel Roosevelt's wonderful prowess as a slayer of mighty game were gross ex aggerations where they were not out right inventions. Nobody except an un sophisticated "Society for the Preven tion of Cruelty to Animals" away down East believed that he killed Innumer able mountain lions by first ramming the butt of his rifle down their throats and then slicing them to pieces with his hunting-knife; or that he was "treed" by a pack of gaunt gray wolves, hav ing first slain eight of their number in half a dozen shots from his revolver. His denial of these and similar stories J was unnecessary, except perhaps to re- lieve the feelings of the innocent few who consider mountain lions, tiger cats and timber wolves "poor creatures" whose helplessness In their native haunts should appeal for protection to the man with a gun. Out this way, where killing wolves and other preda tory animals is a state industry, Inter est in such tales, If true, would turn upon the question as to whether or not the scalps of the slain were taken and filed away for future reference. The well-laid plans of the shipping subsidy grafters have gone wrong, and every good citizen will rejoice ac cordingly. The danger, of course, 13 not over, but it has been postponed, and every day of the present unparalleled prosperity that deep-water shipping Is now enjoying lessens the probability of the iniquitous subsidy bill becoming a law, even though a special session was called to force it through. The pro tective tariff which has permitted the organization of the most colossal trust that the world ever saw will prove quite a load for the party In power to carry. It is doubtful whether It could stand up under the added burden of the subsidy bill, whose sole object was to perfect and amalgamate the Interests of a clique of millionaire shipowners into a trust that would not only absorb all of the subsidy, but would drive small shipowners to the wall and throttle competition. The Republican party has had a narrow escape, but it has only scotched the subsidy snake. It may yet be compelled to kill It, or it will cause serious trouble when it re vives. Again an Oregon Legislature has done Itself credit by refusing to make insanity a cause for divorce In this state. It will he a sad and disgraceful day for Oregon when the marriage cov enant is made to read: "Until death or personal misfortune doth us part" That the Insanity of husband or wife Is a grave calamity to the more fortu nate partner to the matrimonial con tract Is true; but that the loyal, con scientious man or woman would scorn to take advantage of this crowning mis fortune In order to procure a divorce from the innocent sufferer cannot be doubted. All such effort, therefore, may justly be construed to be in the Interest of the unscrupulous. The bill was de feated on Its third reading In the House, there being only eight votes In the affirmative. Yesterday morning thirty-two mem bers of the Legislature, Republicans, who have been voting for Mr. Corbett, met together and resolved to stand by him to the end. They are a majority of the Republicans of the two houses, including all such as were elected as Independents, yet still claim to be Re publicans. Yet the supporters of Mr. Corbett still say to his opponents that the caucus Is open, and that if all enter the caucus and Mr. Ccrbett Is not the choice of the majority, they will sup port the man who may be the choice of the majority. But, if this is still declined, Mr. Corbett's supporters have nothing to do but hold out to the end. The story Is told though It Is not new that the Democrats are to be given Control of the police and fire de partments of Portland, In return for votes- for Mr. Mitchell. Perhaps; yet there may not be enough, and any shortage' would be fatal. Again, per haps there are Republicans who would fly the track. On one side are Demo crats who will not be sold out for the patronage of Portland; on the other. Republicans who would not like to take the chances of the result of such a deal on the next election, The deal may possibly be made, but the chances seem to us mightily against It Hundreds of homeseekers are coming into this state via the several transcon tinental railway lines. The policy of the railroads in inducing Immigration by making special rates to homeseek ers Is a most liberal one. It remains for our people to give cordial welcome and such Information as is needed' in regard to location, climate, crops, etc, and for the Legislature to withhold Its hand from meddlesome, expensive and unnecessary lawgiving, to make these people glad they came and in time prosperous and contented citizens of our commonwealth. The fine hand of an ex-prlnclpal and long dictator of the Portland public schools is said to be In and manipulat ing the attempt to create a High School at Burns, upon, a bill that "carries an appropriation" with It Legislators should be extremely careful lest, under the specious plea of a public educa tional measure, they further the private Interests of an individual who Is an educational "boss," and nothing more. One of the police automobile regula tions in Amsterdam Is that the "veloc ity of the vehicle shall not be greater than that of a horse going at a moder ate gait" This is about as definite as the size of the quack's pill, which, ac cording to directions, was to be as "big as a lump of chalk." There Is nothing like being specific in matters In which life is at stake. In Kansas they have passed a pro hibition law which does not prohibit. It does not prohibit because it does not destroy the demand for liquor. Some day a genius may invent a way of al tering human nature, but that will be long after the dust of Mrs. Nation has passed Into the component silicates of demijohns and saloon mirrors. The effects of abolishing the canteen are already noted at Fort Sam Houston, Tex., in the opening of a number of saloons near that Army post Army officers who sounded the unheeded warning are not surprised, and have just grounds to fear a demoralizing ef fect upon the men. A farmer enters a vigorous protest against the extravagance of the Ore gon Legislature. Evidently he has not learned that politics Is cheap, even at the highest price, just so we have the luxury of voting. The wonder of the years was that Spain wanted to hold on to turbulent Cuba. And still, though her hold has been broken, the wonder grows. The legislators at Salem who want a law against kidnaping must fear they may not return to their constit uents. Somebody says Mrs. Nation deserves to be crowned. What with a fool's 1 cap? THE J1EXACE OF CINCH. M. L. Rayne In Chicago Times-Herald. Do not take me seriously. I believe the cinch epidemic Is perfectly harmless, and is 'overspreading the country in a sanitary guise under the auspices of sweet charity. This Innocent form of gambling is for women a thing apart and does not Include their whole existence. It is healthy, since It is an athletic course with recreation, and In the mad rush for the first prize at an afternoon cinch party the physical power and mental abilities are alike de veloped. It Inculcates lessons of self-restraint, patience and amiability, under circumstances which would try the cour age of a martyr. A woman who can smile and smile again when she cuts for that coveted prize with another woman la much greater than the traditionary "villain." Women love to gamble in a mild, ortho dox way. but they want always to win and never to lose. The feminine gambling spirit enters into their bargain-day rush es, their club entertainments, their church lotteries and their dear, delightful after noon cinch parties. Young things of the feminine sex make wild bets of a box of candy, or a pair of gloves not with eacn other, they are much too wise for that, but with members of the opposite sex. who feel constrained to pay, whether they lose or win. They begin in pinafores with the assertion "I'll bet!" and I have knowl edge of a bright miss of 6 years who was waiting Impatiently while her pastor and her father discussed the prudence of putting up an umbrella as It was begin ning to rain. Tired of waiting, the small person said glibly: "Oh, do hurry, and put up or shut up!" "There isn't a bit of fun In playing a game of cards If there Isn't something to win." declared a staid young matron, whose house Is decorated with the scalps of successive seasons In the shape of first prizes. Thes trophies take the form of pictures, cut-glass dishes, silver table ware, mantel ornaments, wall bags, unique souvenirs and books. She Is not supposed to have purchased a single bit of bric-a-brac, but when a caller saw a minature of the most distinguished ancestor of the family in ancient painting on Ivory and asked her If It was a first prize It needed all the fascinations of cinch to reassure her. A charity cinch party, the proceeds of which go to some worthy object, is a de light of the present season. Its cause takes oft that small sting which lies at the root of the pleasure, the working of conscience. The first prize represents a virtue; It will be a souvenir of a noble aim, and to go In andwln Is the duty of every woman present! The complacent expression of that fortunate player who carries off the sofa pillow or wall pocket which constitutes the first prize is worth studying. At that moment she would for give her worst enemy. An amusing and frequent episode of those charity cinch parties Is the appear ance of some unknown guest unknown at least to the hostess who plays a winning game and walks off with the prize. The hostess supposed that her guest had brought her. the guests presumed her to be a friend of the hostess, but on com paring notes no one present knew her. It was the ability to buy a card of invita tion or pay a fee of entrance for charity that gave some woman with the Instincts of a gambler the opportunity to gratlfy them. There is an unwritten law that the hostess of a cinch party should not play, or at least should not piny to win, but gracefully concede the prize to hor guests. Or if by any chance she should win to give her guests the privilege of playing a game without her and winning it over again. But the woman has not been dis covered who ever did this. It would be asking too much. Indeed, I have recently heard of three ladles who gave an after noon cinch party who had provided a beautiful lamp for first prize. It was won by a guest and each of the three women cried herself sick over the loss. Then the husbands came to the rescue and bought consolation lamps for the fair gamesters. In the interest of charity I recently en countered a charming young woman who was selling" "chances" for a church fair to the motorman and conductor of an electric car. The motorman dare not leave his post, so he delegated to the conductor the privilege of selecting a num ber and paying the money. It was a "real" lace handkerchief, and the conduc tor took a chance also. She approached me. but often experience had made me wise, and I gently but firmly declined, for I saw in Imagination a van filled with chances I had paid for but never drawn. Then I discovered that the conduc tor had taken me two blocks beyond the crossing where I had told him to leave me. and I assumed a wrath I did not feel. "You were neglecting your business or you would not have forgotten," I said severely. "I was that," he answered with dis arming humility, "and I'll lose my Job if you report me, but It Is a kind of relig ious scheme and she spotted me for a quarter." A peculiar form of the cinch delirium is thnt the novice Is just as likely to win the prize at the first game as the seasoned player who knows every move and just how to "set" his opponents. This fatal faculty Is called "cinch luck," and means a permanent hoodoo as the result of the unusual favor. At worst It is a brief madness, be ginning in midwinter and ending with Lent, but It gives an outlet to that sub tle and elusive spirit of gambling which delights in getting something for nothing, and finds in a harmless game of cinch all the feverish Interest of a lottery. Is that why marriage Is called a lottery? Richard le Gnlllenne nt the Hamil ton Trial. Chicago Times-Herald. Minneapolis. Richard le Galllenne, poet, author, philosopher, had his first Intro duction to an American court Monday. At the same time he was present at the first murder trial he has ever seen. He spent the day In Judge Brooks' court, where Frank Hamilton Is being tried on a charge of stabbing Leonard Day to death. "What Impressed me the most," said the poet, "was the Informality of the af fair. There was no pomp, no wigs, no robes. I could not refrain from thinking of 'The Lady and the Cowboy,' which I saw when Nat Goodwin was In London. I expected at any moment to see the judge take out a cigar and place hl3 feet on the rail. "With us there Is more solemnity, and I. think more dignity. The Judge and the barristers are something apart from the crowd In attendance. The prisoner Is by himself In the cage. "It struck me there was not the solem nity due to a man being tried for his life. i 9 An Example for Culm. New York Times. Belgium has four times the population and many times the wealth of Cuba: she Is Independent and sovereign, but her neutrality, Integrity and protection are guaranteed by Great Britain under a treaty signed by that great power at the time Belgium was set free from Holland. Does Cuba aspire to the political status of Russia and ruin therewith, or will she leave to others the pomp of war, and un der our guarantee devote her energies and her capital to the development of her resources and the rebuilding of her pros trate Industries? StrnnKe Case of Delaware. New York Tribune. On one side the situation in Delaware is "Addicks or nobody," and on the other "Nobody rather than Addicks!" A com mon ground of agreement between the two does not conspicuously obtrude it- self upon the public vision. A PARALLEL IN CUBA. Chicago Inter Ocean. Abraham Lincoln, In his first Inaugural address, on March 4, 1SG1, used these words: "I have no purpose, directly or Indirectly, to Interfere with the Institution of slavery In the states where It now ex ists. I believe I have no legal right to do so, and I have no intention to do so." Here was as positive a pledge as could be given. Yet within less than three years Abraham Lincoln did what he had said he would not do. He Issued his proclama tion abolishing slavery and used the whole power of the Nation to make that aboli tion effective and complete. Does the judgment of mankind con demn Abraham Lincoln as faithless to his pledge? The whole world applauds him for breaking It All peoples justlfy his annulment of It on the ground that It was given under mistake as to the essen tial facts. They hall his repudiation or it as a triumph of righteousness. The Congress of the United States, on April 20, 1S9S, resolved "that the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, ju risdiction, or control over" Cuba. Like Lincoln's in 1S61, that pledge was given under mistake as to essential facts. Yet there are Americans who would brand this Nation as faithless If it should complete the annulment of that pledge. For the mistake was speedily discovered and the reversal of the pledge begun. Having driven Spain from Cuba, we found that we either must exercise sov ereignty or deliver the island to anarchy. By the treaty of Paris we took sovereign ty over Cuba. The civilized world ap plauds us for so doing. Now we are con fronted with the alternative of either keeping our mistaken pledge and handing over Cuba to the foes of her peace, or of confessing our mistake, as Lincoln con fessed his, and doing Justice and right eousness, as Lincoln did. To abandon Cuba now would be neither justice nor good morals. It is both un just and Immoral, to ourselves and to the Cubans, to permit ourselves to be bound by our mistake. "There Is no principle of law more generally admitted," said Jus tice Story 65 years ago, "than that a mis take of fact, going to the essence of a contract, avoids It "Those who err do not consent' is the maxim of the civil law, and it Is a maxim of universal justice." We erred as to the essential facts when we attempted to disclaim sovereignty over Cuba, just as Lincoln erred when he promised not to Interfere with slavery. The universal judgment of mankind de clares that Lincoln's pledge to the slave holders was void. So it will declare that our pledge to Cuba is void. Are those who now speak glibly about "National dishonor" in Cuba prepared to accuse Abraham Lincoln of faithlessness? Do they regard the emancipation procla mation as a blot upon his character? We doubt It Yet, until they are willing to do that until they are willing to brand as a crime the chief glory of. Lincoln's life they cannot accuse the United States of bad faith If the Washington Govern ment retain sovereignty over Cuba. BRYAN IN 1004. Another Paramount Insne In Train ing for the PerleHM Leader. Chicago Times-Herald. It appears that certain gentlemen with in the Democratic party have decided to nominate Mr. Bryan for the presidency again. The plan is said to have been formulated at the banquet of the Joffer-son-Jackson-Llncoln League at Colum bus, and Its preliminary details are out lined In dispatches from that city and New York. Senator Jones Is to Introduce a radical anti-trust bill in Congress, at which he and other Bryanltes will pound away for the next three years, well knowing that It cannot pass, and then when the next National convention comes round the Colonel Is to step forth upon an anti-trust platform. That is the Congressional share in the business. Outside there is to be organ ized a National Jefferson-Jackson-Lincoln League, which will hold a convention of Its own next August at Buffalo. There It will ratify a constitution which Is to be prepared by a committee consisting of Willis J. Abbot, Charles A, Towne. A. J. Ellas, John P. Altgeld and John J. Lentz. The first comment that suggests Itself on this programme is that the nominat ing of Mr. Bryan must have become an Incurable habit with some people. Possi bly it is a pleasant diversion also, but In that case the faithful must derive pleas ure where others derive pain. Persons who can Invite additional Joys like the two record-breaking defeats of the last five years are certainly peculiar In tem perament and In stomach. A second feature of the scheme which arrests the attention Is the personnel of the management In the Senate there Is the same old crowd, Jones, Daniel, un man. The committee on ways and means for the Buffalo convention consists of: Norman E. Mack. Buffalo; W. J. Bryan, Nebraska: J. S. Cash, Minnesota; Adolph Nlederpruem, Michigan; John F. Sho frath. Colorado: William H. King, Utah; John E. Osborne, Wyoming; Alexander E. Troup, Connecticut; R. E. Horner, West Virginia; David De Armond. Mis souri; Naber Gotlleb, Illinois; Samuel Wetherell, New Jersey; John J. Lentz, Ohio; Tom L. Johnson, Ohio. A few of these men have a National reputation which they were better with out, others have no National reputation at all. The names of the entire manage ment. Including that of our Altgeld, are symbolic above everything else for party wrecklng. Finally as to the platform. It was tried last year and was a lugubrious failure. Nobody believes that the trust question is to be settled by politicians. They are not big enough for the Job. It will work Itself out solely through the play of In dustrial forces, wholly regardless of the pow-wows and the declamation of cam paign orators. t 3Ir. Nation's Hunband. Boston Herald. We raised the question some days since as to whether Mrs. Nation was a sane woman. The testimony of her husband, which the Herald printed yesterday, seems to confirm the opinion we then ex pressed on that subject. It appears that this husband has from the first opposed her doings. The effect of his remonstruncc In the beginning was. he said, that "she gave me a piece of her mind, and I got even with her." He did not get much more, however, for she continued to go on the rampage. Tiite old man of 70 was powerless to control her. She Insult ed him by saying that she feared he would die of drink or she would have been open to this reproach had she been re sponsible. The mania was thus demon strated to be on her. Nor this alone. "She will fast for days," he says, "until I havo to make her eat or let her die." The old man's position Is pathetic, and there Is pathos In his saying. "I think er head Is being turned by all this notori ety." I have been following her around." he odds, "and her rampages have cost me close on to J200." The manner In which Kansas tolerates this raving wom an Is simply unaccountable at the East. Her husband Is right In thinking that she will not be tolerated In this section of the country; but our belief Is that the madhouse rather than the prison Is the appropriate place for her. . McKinlcy and Jefferson. Cincinnati Commercial Tribune. President McKinlsy Is quite as safe a depositary of governmental and admln Intratlve authority as was Jefferson or Monroe. If It then was no Imperialism, no absolutism In investing those Presi dents with supreme military, civil and Judicial control of Louisiana and Flor ida, there can be none In giving liko powers to President McKlnley, who Is, In every way, as cautious, conserva tive. Judicious and far-seeing as Mr. Jefferson or Mr. Monroe. NOTE AND COMMENT Kansas would be glad to go back to the days of drouth and cyclones. That prize fight wouldn't have attracted much attention anyway now. Kansas has the floor. The chances are that Lieutenant-General Miles will be snubbed as was tho Major General of that name. We report with regret We have Just met DeWet. Kitchener. Of course Mrs. Nation can not be ex pected to do anything really great till James Creelman arrives on the scene. Perhaps when Cuba gets her Independ ence Ruhlln and Jeffries can arrange to hold their friendly glov contsts In Havana. Lord Kitchener has been given a finan cial adviser. Why doesn't it occur to Congress to do as much for Colonel Bryan? St. Louis will probably take that $5, 000,000 appropriated for her fair and go Into court and get Chicago's drainage canal enjoined. The life and death of Colic P. Hunting ton teaches us how thankful we should be that we do not have to pay a 5700,000 Inheritance tax. As Uncle Sam is going to select a new site for a legation In Pekln, it might ba worth while to suggest that he locato It In Hong Kong. The following letter, written by John G. Whlttier, to his friend. Elizur Wright, from New York City, shows that the poet was a man of considerable humor: 3d Story. Sth 2d Mo.. 1S37. Friend Wrisht I thank thee for thy favor, and would cheerfully grant thy request, but I am at present engaged In certain scientific ex periments, and trylngr to solve certain difficult problem!, as for example the following: 1. What amount of coal, without fire, wilt warm a room 12 by 13 feet? 2. If ideas are things, as Bishop Berkeley supposes, what Is the reason that the Idea or a fire will not be a good substitute for the reality? Thine, etc. J. Q. "W. In view of the great public service, tho broad patriotism, and the beautiful traits of character which adorned the life of the late William L. Wilson, his friends throughout the Union have determined to erect to his memory a memorial worthy of his life and character. When Mr. Wil son was elected president of Washington and Lee University, In the year 1S37, ho found that there was no chair of econo mics in the University, and upon ex amination found that there was no such distinct chair In any Southern university. His public life had shown him the Im portance of Inculcating In the minds of the young men of the country sound finan cial and economical views. So impressed was he with this thought that out of his own meager salary he established and largely supported a chair of economics, the funds of the university not permitting of such expenditure. His friends have therefore concluded that no more fitting and enduring monument can be erected to his memory than the endowment of tho chair of economics which he himself es tablished, and for several years main tained. In the university, to be known as the William L. Wilson Chair of Econo mics; and that the memory may be wor thy of the man In whose honor It is erected, and that the services of the highest scholarship may be secured In carrying out this purpose, they have been impressed with the propriety and Impor tance of raising at least $100,000 for this purpose. A committee has been selected to take charge of and prosecute the work consisting of the following named per sons: Grover Cleveland, chairman, Abram S. Hewitt, George Foster Peabody, Isldor Straus, Robert Fulton Cutting. John G. Carlisle, James C. Carter. Oswald Gar son Vlllard. Horace White, Herbert Welsh. Between $15,000 and $20,000 has already been subscribed to this fund. Those Interested In the project or who may desire further Information concern ing It are Invited to correspond with Her bert Welsh, secretary and treasurer, 1305 Arch street, Philadelphia. PLEASANTRIES OF PAIUGIUPHERS Discouraging He I think I shall write a book on "Society as I have Found It." She How is that? "Not at home?" Indianapolis Pfess. An Awful Condition. Mrs. Goodfriend Ara you hungry? Frozen Stiff Hungry! Heavens, mum! I'm so hungry dat I could eat health food! Puck. A Good Cook. "Is your wife a good cook, Christie?" "You bet. So good that she never Insists on my eating what she has cooked." I-i.lladelphia Evening Bulletin. Her Reply. "Don't you often wish you wem a man. Miss Bellefield?" asked youner Mr. Fltzgoslln. "Why. no," of course not. Mr. Fitsgoslln." replied the girl. "Do you7" Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. Her Preference. "If I ever get married. It will be to some struggling young- fellow whom I can help to make a fortune." "Give me soma struggling millionaire, whom I can help to spend one." Brooklyn Life. Fogg It Is evident that MIsa Slnjleton is very anxious to get married. Bass Any par ticular reason to think so? Fogg I heard her remark, the other evening, that ehc wouldn't have the best man that ever lived. Boston Transcript. A local band was one day playing at Dun fermline, when an old weaver came up and asked the bandmaster what that was they were playing. "That is 'The Death of Nel son.' " solemnly replied, the bandmaster. "Ay, man." remarked the weaver, "ye has glen him an awfu death." Tlt-Blts. Wanted A Law Bargain-Counter. "First you must frame a constitution and by-laws," advised the matron, who had been asked how to start the Young Ladle i' Progressive Shakes peare Club. "Oh, yes," chirruped the commit tee, "we have a nice frime for the constitu tion, but where shall we buy laws?" Newark Dally Advertiser. She Congratulated Herself. Mrs Cliff I sea that a fashionable woman's club in the East has created some excitement by blackballing; a prominent lady who was proposed as a member. Mrs. Crags "What was the objection to her? Mrs. Cliff It i3 said that sha was handsome and disagreeably popular with tbe sterner sex. Mrs. Cragg Dear me, how glad I am that I came Into our club as a charter member! Cleveland Plain Dealer. Old Times and Xevr. Frank L. Stanton in Atlanta. Constitution. "No times like the old times!" we sing- It night an' day; But the new times by the grace o God are happy on the way! There's still the same bright sunshine tha stars are bright above. And all the world Is blossoming with lilies white of Love! "No times like the old times." that's Jest tha way we sing! But don't we reap in harvest fields the prom ise of the Spring? Are not the rivers rippling the same glad way to sea. While the winds that wave the branches blow blossoms far and free? "No times like the old times!" but theso aro still the times When Love weaves all earth's rosea In tha music of glad rhymes! And all the birds are singing in the splendor of the light; And all the bells are ringing, and all tbe world is brightl