" -j, rTfJsJ? i fTT" -5 v -rff?vv- --5, am; MQgyrgo oeegosias, mrrfiSDAY. February 20, 1902. Its rjegoxttcm 1 Entered at the Postofflce at Portland, Oregon, as second-class matter. REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. Br Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Dally. v.-)th Sunday, per month $ 53 liallv, Sunday excepted, per year......... 7 60 Datlr. nrlth Sunday, per year. 9 O0 Sunday. per year 2 00 The Wcekljs per year 1 W The IVeeklj. C months &' To Clt Sub-crlbers Dally. pr week, delivered. Sundays excepted.l5c Dally, per eek. delivered. Sunda) s lncluded.20c POSTAGE RATES. United States. Canada and Mexico: 10 to K-page paper ...lc I to 2S-page paper 2c Foreign rates double. News or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should b addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Oregonlan," not to the name of any Individual. Letters relating to adver tising, subscriptions or to any business matter thould be addreescd simply "The Oregonlan." The Oregonlan does not buy poems 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. Eastern Burfness Offlee. 43. 41. 45. 47. 4S. 40 Tribune building. New Tork City: 4C3 "Tho Rookery." Chicago; the S. C Beckwlth special agency. Eastern representative. Tor kale In San Francisco by L. E. Lee, Pal ace Hotel netva stand: Coldsmlth Bros.. 230 Sutter street: F. V. Pitts. 100S Market street: J. K. Cooper Co.. 740 Market street, near the -Palace Hotel: Foster & Orear. Ferry news ttand. For sale In Los Angeles by 3. F. Gardner. 29 So. Spring street, and Oliver Sz Haines. 305 Bo Spring street. For sale In Sacramento by Sacramento" News Co.. 420 K street. Sacramento, Cal. For sale In Chicago by the P. O. News Co.. 217 Dearborn street, and Chas. MacDonald, 53 Wash.ngton street. Tor sale in Omaha by Barkalow Bros., 1012 Farnarn -trct. Forjalc In Salt Lake by the Salt Laks News Co. . AV. Second South street. For sale In Now Orleans by A. C Phelps, COO Commercial .Alley. For salo In Ogden by TV. C. Kind. 201 Twen-ty-arih street, and C. H. Myers. On file at Charleston, S. C. In the Oregon ex hibit at the expedition. For sale In Washington. D. C, by the Ebbett Houe news stand. For rale In Denver. Colo, by Hamilton & Kendrlck. 90G-912 Seventeenth street; Louthan A Jackson Rook & Stationer- Co.. 15th and Lawrence street; A. Series, 1C57 Champa ctrt-ct. TODAY'S "WEATHER-Raln; brisk to high, equally southerly wind-. YESTERDAY'S WEATHER-Maxlmum tcm Ierature. 57. minimum temperature, 47; pre cipitation, none. PORTLAND. THURSDAY, FEB. 20. NO CHINESE AVAXTCD. The demand that no Chinese shall be permitted to come into the United States Is a reasonable one. It Is a de mand more loudly asserted In our Pa cific States than elsewhere, because these states are nearest the source of the yellow flood. But the protest would be as loud in other states, when the stream had passed on, over their own borders. The masses of our people are keenly apprehensive of evil from any proposal to let in Chinese under the designation of merchants or traders or clerks or students; for the character of such might easily be disguised, and it is felt therefore that It cannot be safe to admit any. except the few who come in accredited diplomatic character. It Is not denied, however, that there are fields of labor in our country in -which Chinese could render service. There Is much work to be done in lines which white persons are unwilling to undertake for the wages which employ ers can afford to pay as In clearing land and other ruder employments. But the advantages thus gained would be no compensation for evils of a positive kind, which would result from advent of Chinese among u.. Our working people would feel Injured. With some of them the difficulties of existence would be Increased. Discontent would follow. Agitation against the Chinese would be resumed. There would be dis turbance all along the line political, social and industrial. The country cannot afford it. While there Is some loss from lack of labor that would be useful, in certain directions, the balance on the whole would stand heavily against the profit and desirability of admitting Chinese, even in limited numbers. Contentment among our own people, through prevention of a condi tion which they would deem a real grievance, is a result to which the coun try cannot afford to be Indifferent. We do not want renewal of the agitation against Chinese; and the only way to prevent it Is to keep Chinese out of the country. The Oregonlan speaks with feeling on this subject Long time it was the cen ter of a storm which it is extremely unwilling to see renewed. It never was In favor of Immigration of Chinese, but tinder old treaty conditions a great many had come, and The Oregonlan, as a journal of law and order, could not do otherwise than oppose every agi tation Intended to maltreat or expel them. As the agitation in this direction grew In intensity. The Oregonlan. in pursuance of its duty as a law-abiding journal, pointed out with all the force of expression at Its command that such proceedings could not be permitted; that the Chinese, though we didn't want them, were here under treaty, rights and would have the protection of the United States; that any extreme meas ures on the part of our people against the Chinese would be met by the Na tional military power, and that, if the state refused protection to these people, or was unable to enforce It. the Gen eral Government would do it, over the head of the government of the state. It was perfectly clear that this would be the result, and The Oregonian was un willing to witness a collision which could have but one consequence the appearance of the military power of the United States for protection of the Chinese. Now let The Oregonlan say frankly, let It say with words as earnest as it can frame into ?peech. that it does not want any renewal of this agitation, but would deplore it; that therefore it must protest against even a partial reopen ing of the door, and that It Is on the side of those who would make the ex clusion so rigorous that there could be no danger of the domicilatlon of any more Chinese in the United States. Some advantages in Chinese trade we may lose, but not many; yet we would better lose many than to have our work ing classes restive under a sense of wjrmg. Many times we have come per ilously near to violent outbreak through this cause. Wise men, when they fore se an evli or danger, do not run Into it. "The surest way to prevent seditions and troubles." as Lord Bacon saith. "is to take away the matter of them. If there be fuel prepared, beware of the spark that shall set It on fire." Again: "The rebellions of the belly are the worst." It Is not In human nature when "re bellions of the belly" have the further incentive of race antagonisms and hatreds, to yield to the argument that prevails with economists, traders and chambers of commerce. Suppose the Congress of the United States should refuse to renew the exclusion act then what should we look forward to?' When Chinese should begin to appear again, the uproar against them would be redoubled loud enough for its echoes to be heard through the vast and bound less deep. Violence would reappear; The Oregonian, compelled by Its duty to do all it could for preservation of order, would preach peace and pa tience in vain. Not quite in vain, either; for it would call down upon Its own head bursts of indignation and wrath. Popular fury would be directed against it, for in a time of general up roar there Is little discrimination in men. But our esteemed fellow-citizens, the few of them not averse to the pres ence of Chinese, who think some profit might accrue to themselves or to trade, and who don't like "agitators," any waywhere would they be? Not at the forefront, not in the heat and strife, not In the dust and grime, of this strug gle: in which, indeed, they would take but a languid Interest, If any at all. Some of them would be traveling In Europe; other some withdrawn to the pursuits of dilettnnteism In Boston or New York, living for the.tlme amid the luxuries and splendors of the Savoy or the Holland House; still others, in Southern California or Florida, amid flowerj' delights; and the remaining squad or two Intent on the social card tables at Portland or the fascinating golf links. Withdrawn from this vul gar contention, violence, riot, malice, nothing could touch them; but others would be in the thick of it The Ore gonian perforce with them. Let us beg to be excused; for all this may be avoid ed, by avoidance of the causes that would produce it. The Oregonian has had enough of this row, if others have not. If Chinese are allowed to come here, of course they must be protected; but let us not permit them to come. In any guise or character. Only total exclusion will satisfy our people, and the masses of the people have a right to enforce their wishes in this matter as well as in any other that relates to the policy of the country. A GHAXfiEVILLE IXXOCEXT. To Mr. A. F. Parker, conveyancer, etc., of Grangeville, Idaho, we are In debted for the appended effusion: I note thai The Oregonlan persistently quotes Senator .Money, of Mississippi, as stating upon the floor of the Senate chamber, in referring to the Filipinos: "Let them go to the devil." I have read and re-read Senator Money's speech In the Congressional Record, and Unci no such expression used by the Senator, and his re marks were not withheld for revision, either. Careful comparison of the Associated Press reports w Ith the Congressional Record show a multitude of Just such misrepresentations of the speeches of Democratic Senators and the Democratic policy upon this vexed question of what we are to do with the Filipino. What 1 the Republican policy, anyhow? Are wc to repeat with the Filipinos the an cient story of the Israelites under Egyptian bondage, which brought down upon the hosts of Pharaoh the wrath of Almighty God, or shall we "Let them go to the devil," or. In other words, let them work out their own sal vation in their own way? What Is the Republican policy, anyway? Mr. Parker was doubtless born yes terday, in view of his apparent belief that the euphemisms of the Congres sional Record represent the actual words uttered by members In the heat of debate. If his honest soul can only find such changes In the remarks of Democratic speakers, he would do well to file complaint with Hon. J. K. Jones. Senator from Arkansas and National Democratic chairman, who, as member of the Senate printing committee, should be able to do something, or at any rate to make his voice heard. Or if he thinks the Associated Press is at fault, he might take the matter up with its president, Mr. Charles W. Knapp, of the Democratic St. Louis Re public, who is doubtless unaware of the discrimination practiced upon him. Mr. Knapp and his Democratic colleagues on the executive board of the Associ ated Press would certainly be grateful to Mr. Parker for pointing out to them the nefarious manner in which they are manipulating their news association to injure their party. The Republican policy, as we under stand it, is to enforce American sover eignty In the Philippines, where it rightfully is, and where it is wrongly assailed by cruel and barbarous war fare an enforcement which is extreme ly distasteful to patriots of the Parker type. , It Is vain for the antls to seek In the Associated Press or the obliging edi tors of the Congressional Recorfl for the faults and failings that are to be found only in themselves, or for the causes of the resentment public opin ion shows at their hostility to their country's cause. CASUALTY AXD CARELESSNESS. As appears from the casualty record of the first six weeks of the year 1902, human prudence and watchfulness In handling the forces that human in genuity have harnessed to human needs do not keep pace with the requirements of the service. The tremendous losses by fire, and by explosions caused by fire, attended with heavy cost in hu man life, that have attended the open ing weeks of the year, fully attest this. The terribly destructive fires at Water bury, Paterson and St. Louis within a few days of each other have had few parallels In recent years, while two ex plosions, one each in New York and Chicago, were due to the careless han dling of fire. A spark overloooked in material stored In a hotel caused the Waterbury conflagration; Paterson's fire started In a street-car stove; St. Louis lost seven firemen in an old busi ness building that was at best a fire trap, and a few nights later eleven guests in a lodging-house, with but one narrow stairway as means of egress, perished in fire and smoke before relief could reach them. Last year's fire loss In this country reached the enormous total of $160,000. 000. A drain of wealth so tremendous is appalling. Large as these figures are, they do not represent the Incidental loss due to Interrupted business and labor and the Irreparable catastrophe due to loss of life. Comparison shows that fires in American cities are more frequent and destructive than In Euro pean cities. This is the more astonish ing when we take into consideration that the American fireman is unexcelled in bravery and intelligence, and that his equipment In mechanical appliances for fighting fire Is far superior to those with which firemen in the cities of the Old World are furnished. Is It true, as often charged, that Americans have an ineradicable habit of leaving a weak point somewhere in construction in what appears to the eye and imagina tion as perfect? The simple lesson of these late catas trophes, following each other In swift succession. Is that more care must be observed in the little details from which great files grow; that better safeguards for egress from buildings of the more inflammable character be provided, and fireproof construction be generally adopted. There are, as Is well known, firetraps in our own city. In the very heart of its business center, in which men sleep not unconscious of danger, but reck less of it. One of the most welcome signs of progress in building for the present year thus far foreshadowed is found in the statement that the dilapi dated, long since outdated buildings on at least one sightly business corner in the center of the city are to be replaced by a modern fireproof structure that will give security to surrounding prop erty. Too long has this like other places In the city remained an eyesore to progressive citizens, a possible pub lic plague spot and a menace of fire. As a business proposition affecting the values of surrounding property and giv ing assurance of reasonable returns upon the investment, old rattle-trap fire-boxes in the city's business district owned by men of means should give place to firepioof buildings. Reinforced by civic pride, of which at present much is being said, demolition of these build ings and excavation of their sites, reek lpff with the filth of a generation, should be begun early in the building season of 1902. The Rose Society may plant roses; the Civic Improvement Society may paint electric wire poles, be Instrumental in planting trees, building boulevards and otherwise carrying out advanced ideas of beauty, comfort and utility In the city's behalf. The equipment of the fire department may be practically perfect and the firemen themselves ready, com petent and courageous, but as long as unsightly shacks, reeking with filth and inviting combustion, occupy prominent corners in the heart of the city,1 cas ualty by fire will be Invited, civic pride offended and . beauty in adornment checked. Casualty and carelessness are bedfellows by night, and by day they are close companions. To dissolve their ignoble partnership is a duty that can not be fully met without the co-operation of men of means, who Invite the first by entertaining the last in idle un concern, happy if thereby their prop erty makes not too prosperous a show ing upon the tax list. COLU3IBIA IMPROVEMENT PROB. LEMS. Singular ignorance regarding Colum bia River Improvements and Portland's relation thereto is displayed in the fol lowing from the New York Evening Post: Against the effort to find Government aid for the Improvement of the upper reaches of the Columbia River, representatives of Oregon hnvo nlready been noted In Washington dispatches as among the chief opponents. .A, deal of comment has been provoked in the State of Washington by this action, which seems on the face of it to be somewhat unfriendly to the development of the Northwest. If the crit ics on the ground arc to be 'believed, the hostility to what Is commonly known as tho Lake Washington Canal, mention of which ap peared in this column a few weeks "ago. springs from the rivalry between two of the Paciflc Coast ports. Portland and Seattle. Portland, according to the tale that Is told. Is now the port of trans-shipment from rail to vessels for most of the products of tho Colum bia River Valley. It has the advantage of the so-called terminal rates, and by reason of these rates Is able to exact a considerable tribute from the trade which passes through the town. If navigation were unimpeded along the Columbia River for a greater distance than It is now, Portland would not necessarily b the point of trans-shipment. Goods might as easily be carried in river craft to Astoria, or some other point nearer the sea. and Portland might lose the prestige it now enjoys. There Is no hostility in Portland toward what is known as the Lake Washington Canal, so long as that scheme for the enlargement of the Pa cific Ocean takes its turn along with other projects which will benefit the States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho as well as the City of Seattle. The City of Portland needed a deeper channel from her wharves to the sea, and, despite the fact that the tonnage of Washington products carried by that channel was fully as great as that of Oregon, no help could be secured from either the State of Washington or the General Government. Portland then taxed herself, and has spent about $1,000,000 In building this channel as far as Astoria. Now the ships which go without delay from Portland to Astoria, carrying the products of three states, are held up tor long periods because of the bad condition at the mouth of the river. Portland is desirous of securing all of the money possible from the Gov ernment for the Improvement of this gateway to an empire. Seattle Is asking many millions for the Lake Washington Canal, which, viewed in the broadest possible light, can never be anything "but a strictly local enterprise. Seattle has a fine har bor, one of the finest in the world. In fact, we are told on occasions not infre quent, that It Is "matchless." "un equaled," "unsurpassed," and all that. It is a good harbor, and when the prod ucts of the Inland Empire reach the wharves at Seattle the delays in their journey to the world's markets are practically over. Figuratively speak ing, and also in the language of the Seattleites. that harbor Is pure gold, and Portland and all the rest of the Pacific Northwest objects to taking money needed elsewhere and using It for the purpose of gilding pure gold. In spite of her matchless harbor, Se-. attle Is under the ban of a trade han dicap. Lofty mountain ranges He be tween her and the coveted trade of the Columbia Basin, and form a barrier which can never be removed. Realiz ing the impossibility of ever securing this trade so long as the water-level route down the Columbia can be util ized, Seattle's great purpose In life now is to prevent the utilization of that water-level route. The most feasible plan now presented to the Seattle ob structionists is to break up the appro priation which may be secured for Im proving the Columbia and divert It from the point where It Is most needed. By scattering this appropriation, which at the best will be Insufficient for imme diate needs, the entrance at the Colum bia River v.ill remain In such shape that ships will be driven to Puget Sound. There is now lying in Astoria harbor outward bound a fleet of ten ships carrying 1,000,000 bushels of wheat from Oregon, Washington and Idaho. This fleet has been there from five days to six weeks. These are humiliating facts which may as well be presented In order that the Evening Post and others misinformed may understand why there is nothing to be gained by shifting the "point of trans-shipment" to Astoria or to any other point on the river. A forty-foot channel at the mouth of the river will give Portland harbor entrance equal to that of Seattle. This, with the water-level grade and an open river to Lewiston, will make the posl- tion of this port impregnable. Seattle has the harbor, but she can never hope to have the easy route to the Columbia Basin that leads from Portland through the Columbia gorge by a water-level grade. The Seattle plea for immediate Improvement of the upper reaches of the Columbia and neglect of the mouth is insincere. It is made, not for the purpose of facilitating transportation of products of the Columbia Basin, but for the purpose of retarding Improvement at a point where it is needed the most. Portland favors an open river from the sea to Lewiston, but we are desirous of removing the worst obstructions first, and those obstiuctions which cause the greatest concern at the pres ent time lie right at the mouth of the river. The City of Portland Is main taining a good channel along eighty miles of Washington shore line, and Is floating Washington, Idaho and Oregon products In that channel at no expense to the taxpayers of those states, outside of the City of Portland. Mr. Mohler's presentation of the O. R. & N. side of the tugboat controversy In his letter to tile Chamber of Com merce is an interesting contribution to a subject of much importance to this port. The facts sat forth will come nearer carrying conviction as to the e-'neerity of the O. R. & N. in Its efforts to provide a good service than any thing that has yot appeared. It Is ap parent from the facts submitted by Mr. Mohler that the negligence of the Gov ernment in not Improving the bar and providing proper beacons, buoys and lights has caused more trouble at the mouth of the river than was caused by a scarcity of tugs. Beyond question the O. R. & N. Co. has given Portland the best towing and pilotage service we have ever had on the river between Portland and Astoria, and there Is a strong probability that it would give equally as good a service on the bar were the conditions equally favorable. As the bar .service has undoubtedly been conducted at a loss In ofder to pro tect the rail Interests of the company by equalizing ocean freights, Mr. Moh ler's allusion to this feature of the work did not strengthen his reply. If the statements made In his letter are cor rect, as they undoubtedly are, the ser vice could not be improved by incur ring further loss with a larger fleet of tugs. Every ship that is diverted to Puget Sound, through lack of good tug facilities, more expensive port charges or for any other reason, entails a greater loss on the O. R. &. N. Co. than on any other individual or corporation. For this xeason the sincerity of Mr. Mohler's statements as a whole will not be questioned. We are now back to the original trouble the bar and the ne cessity of immediate action on the part of the Government was never greater than at the present time. The amendment to the sundry civil bill offered by Senator Foster, -of Wash ington, appropriating $15,000 for the cre ation of additional buildings, wharf, prison wall and repairs to the McNeil's Island Penitentiary. Is more than time ly; It was long overdue. The ,,recent escape of eleven prisoners from that in secure structure, their capture after an exciting chase, and the inhuman pun ishment that was inflicted upon them "because the insecurity of the prison made it necsssary to make an example of them," are matters of recent date. This Institution should be put In first class order, as a Government prison, since In Its present condition, as shown by recent events. It Is a disgrace to the Federal Government and a blot upon the State of Washington, within the limits of which it is located. Senator Foster's amendment providing means to this end can scarcely fail to be allowed If backed by proofs of Its necessity, which it will be easy at this time to produce, and which might well be urged both in the interest of public safety and of com mon humanity. The trying exactions of a certain class of Government service upon the eyesight is shown In the request pre sented in a message from the President to the United States Senate request ing the transfer of Naval Constructor R. P. Hobson to the retired list, on ac count of failure of his eyesight, incurred in the pursuit of his occupation. The request Is a humane and reasonable one, since It Is made clear that Hobson cannot, in justice to himself, continue In active service. The plea for favor on account of his gallant service in sinking the Merrlmac at the entrance of Santiago harbor during the war with Spain is only strong because of the bravery of that deed, since a more use less and ill-advised piece of work was never conceived nor executed. The little tugboat Fortuna Is soon to start from Charlestown navy-yard on a tour round Cape Horn to Puget Sound. This Is notable because It Is the long est trip ever attempted by a vessel of her class. The boat is small, but pow erful. She Is 75 feet long and about 35 feet beam. Her engines register 250 horsepower, and she has a single pro peller. While her record shows that she has done much Important service, she has never engaged in a trip so adventurous as the one for which she is now scheduled. The people of the Pa cific Coast will await with interest the appearance in their ports or off shore of this grimy little servitor of the Gov ernment. The effort to bring the Pacific States Company's telephone wires under ground has, after long delay, reached conclusion on a basis which seems fair to all concerned, and In the ordinance passed at yesterday's Council meeting the salutary precedent Is set of reve nue to the city In return for corporate enjoyment of franchises. The settle ment is a subject for congratulation all round, including the public which has been a sufferer by the long procrastina tion of active work in needed improve ments. Precocious children may be entertain ing, but there are numerous people of the old-fashioned sort who take small pleasure In entertainments given by Ht tjc tots, who, according to all rules of hygiene and humanity, should be In bed by 8 o'clock and soon thereafter sound asleep. Parents of show children may, perhaps, be congratulated on this pos session on a monetary basis, but the In fants themselves are objects of just commiseration. Do you want any part in the direc tion of public affairs? Then you would better register, and register now be fore the primaries and so you can vote at the primaries; for the primaries, now to be conducted under direction of law, will control the whole business. HISTORY DEPENDS LARGELY "TSE GERM.VX LEGEND." New York Evening Post. The "German legend" we must hence forth call the story that Lord Paunce fote. April 14. 1E3S, drew up a note in terms that would have been offensive to the United States an inconsiderate and dangerous action, which was only thwarted by wiser heads mor.e partic ularly those in charge of the German Forc-isn Office. This story, which on Its promulgation we characterized as "ab surd" and "incredible," was most con clusively denied by Lord Cranbourne, yes terday, before the Commons. It must be remembered that, in the nature of the case, the Under Secretary could -produce no documents to prove the negative prop osition that his office did not receive an alleged communication. Lord Cranbourne said: Her late Majesty's government never pro posed, through Her Majesty's Ambassador, or otherwise, any declaration ndverse to the ac tion of the United States in Cuba. On the contrary, her late Majesty's government de clined to assent to any such proposal. So explicit a denial could never have been made if there were in any Euro pean chancellery a single document to substantiate the German story. Very opportunely, on the evening when Lord Cranbourne was puncturing the German legend, the Washington cor respondent of the London Times was conducting an inquest to discover how the myth arose. Some Irresponsible per son, clearly enough, put upon the Ger man Foreign Office confused and possibly garbled accounts of a conference which was held at the British Embassy In Washington. April 14. 1S9S. Lord Paunce fote was not the initiator of the confer ence, but called the meeting, by request, as dean of the diplomatic corps. In tho same capacity he received the represen tatives of the powers at the embassy. It was -proposed, not by Lord Paunce fote. that a joint note expressing the opinion that "Intervention in Cuba would be unjustifiable" should be sent to the home governments, and the note was ac tually drafted by the French Ambassa dor. No one proposed that a note con taining this passibly dangerous comment should be sent to the United States, and apparently no action was taken at the conference which in any construction was likely to prove offensive to our Gov ernment. We are now in a position to see how the "German legend" grew. It leaked out somewhat that a note certain por tions of which were impliedly unfavor able to the United States, had been dis cussed at the British embassy. The im portance of this note was exaggerated, and the responsibility for it calmly put upon Lord Pauncefote. What is surpris ing about th whole matter Is that the German Foreign Office for a moment let Itself be taken in by a bit of bad and reckless journalism. Dr. von Holleben can be In no way connected with the blunder, for, says the Times correspon dent, he "was present at the meeting and knew what happened." It Is a pity that he could not have kept his home office out of this exceptionally deep mare's nest. It may well turn out, when the diplo matic correspondence of the Spring of 1S9S Is fully published, that other nations besides England declined to make the Spanish-American imbroglio worse by meddling with It. While seeing clearly that nothing which can be disclosed will alter the facts of England's firm grasp of the sUuationand efficient friendliness to us, 6ne may sincerely hope that this will prove to be the case. Meanwhile the Paris story, the Berlin story and the rest, so long as they are unsupported by official documents, must be regarded as so much gabble "for the marines." Cqlm as a State;. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. If the United States held Cuba by the same tenure as that by which it gained Porto Rico, as it would have done but for Teller's pernicious activity, immigration and capital would have flowed Into the island and in broad streams just as soon as the Spanish troops evacuated it at the end of lSS. The population of Cuba would be tens of thousands greater than it is now, and its wealth would be higher by tens of millions of dollars. There would be no appeal now for reciprocity with the United States, for by this time Cuba would probably have been ready for admission to statehood, when It would have absolute free trade with us. It would undoubtedly have a material re duction of duties even In Its territorial status. Cuba as the 46th state of the Union would be in a vastly better situation than a Cuban republic could be in under any sort of a President who could be named by her people. As a state of the Union it would have good government. Its re sources would be Immediately developed, and It would, for many years, be one of the most attractive points in all the United States for immigration and capital from the entire world. There would be no doubt In that case as to its future, immediate or ultimate. The hesitation of capitalists and would-be settlers which is exhibited now would be lacking. All this talk of approaching ruin to the Island If reciprocity is not granted by the United States would be absent, for the island would be part of this country. Common sense dictates that the Cubans repudiate the Teller folly by Immediately asking for annexation to the United States. British Supremacy In Shipbuilding. New York Herald. British shipyards turned out la.jt year tho largest tonnage and the greatest num ber of hulls that have ever been recorded in the annual returns of Lloyd's Register. Including 41 warships built at government and private establishments, the totals set down are 6S0 vessels-, aggregating more than 1.750,000 tons. This unprecedented and enormous output Is composed almost en tirely of steel steamers, of which 77 per cent are to fiy the home flag. As might be expected from the changing conditions of oversea trade, the tendency to construct types of a very large tonnaco Is maintained. One steamer of above 20. 00" tons, and seven others exceeding JLLOOrt represent the year's contribution to an economic theory that Is based mainly on the competition in the transatlantic trad. The increasing neglect of sailing craft Is equally marked, though, logically enough, the launching of three ships of 3000 tens shows the potency of the heavy tonnao idea pven in this class. , Among the other shipbuilding nations the United States is easily first, with dou ble the output of Germany and nearlv three times that of France. If S2 war craft and a few laTge ocean-going steam ers be excluded, it will bo found that this production Is almost equally divided be tween moderate-sized steamers and unim portant sailing vessels, and that the 931 vessels, of 1.347.S00 tons, belong to ratings inferior in average jIze and In probable utility to the constructions launched on the Clyde, Tyne, Wear and Tees and at Belfast and Barrow. Irreparable Lowh at Monnt Athos. Pall Mall Gazette. Nothing less than an archaeological calamity has happened on Mount Athos, where 11 centu ries of Hyzantlne art. architecture and tradition have perished utterly in the Harries. Fire broke out a few days ago In the Monaster- of fjt. Paul, and the entire building, with all Its con tents, were destroyed. The monastery dates back 11 centuries. Its library was rich In man uscript documents of the Bjzantinc Emperors, and the Interior was a treasure-house of Byzan tine art. The reliquary was full of objects of the highest legendary Interest. Among other objects It contained what a tradition of tho Greek church holds to be the Identical gifts presented In homage by the three wise men of the East at 'Betiltbora. All have- perished. OX THE POINT OF VIEW. "THE BRITISH -MYTH." Chicago Inter-Ocean. The Berlin Relchsanzeiger Is the offi cial organ of the German Government. Upon the veracity of Its utterances is staked not only the credit of the im perial government, but, by implication, the reputation of the throne and of the Emperor himself. Its statements, there fore, may be taken as the exact trutn, at least as far as the exact truth Is known to the German Government, On Wednesday the Relchsanzeiger published some very illuminating docu ments regarding the attempt in April. 18C-S. to force European pressure upon the United States. The diplomatic po sition at that time was as follows: On April 7 the six European powers had presented to the President a col lective note deprecating war and offer ing their friendly services to adjust our differences with Spain. This offer the President politely but firmly declined. On April 10 the Spanish Minister Issued a note making a number of vague prom ises, but ignoring the real Issue the destruction of the Maine. The President, in his message to Con gress, had spoken of our armed Inter vention In Cuba as commanding "the approval and support of the civilized world." This phrase and the Spanish note of April 10 were seized upon as the basis of an attempt to Induce the Eu ropean powers to put a coercive pres sure upon the United States. For three years the two questions have been: 1. Who Inaugurated this at tempt at coercion? 2. Which European power defeated the attempt? To these questions the corespondence just pub lished by the Relchsanzeiger appenrs to give a definite answer. On April 14 Ambassador von Holleben telegraphed to Berlin that Lord Paunce fote "today took the initiative In a very remarkable manner" In suggesting that the great powers "might direct the at tention of the American Government to the Spanish note of April 10" as ap pearing "to remove all legitimate cause for war," and "might declare that In tervention did not seem to them to be justified." It. was alo suggested that this declaration should take the form, of a collective identical note, which "it would be advisable to publish immedi ately, in order that the civilized world may be absolved from reproach In ap proving this attack" of the United States upon Spain. Count von Bulow, in sending Holle ben's telegram to the Emperor, added this note: "Personally. I regard this demonstration somewhat coldly.' The Emperor appended this comment: "I regard It as completly futile and pur poseless, and therefore prejudicial. I am against this step." Thereupon Holleben was Informed that Germany refused to take part in any attempt to coerce the United States. The attitude of Russia and of Ger many was diplomatically correct. With an eye single to their own interests they decllned to meddle in what was none of their business. Austria, of course, was eager to aid Spain. France and Italy were willing to do the same. If some other power would lead the way. " This England was willing to do. If first assured that all the other powers would support her. From Russia and Germany we received that correct neutrality which is based on an accurate perception of their own Interests, and which was all we had anj reason to expect. From Austria. France and Italy we received a hostility more or less open. From England we received a hostility veiled vnder pretenses of friend ship. The British myth with which wo have been regaled for the last three years that England was then our only friend In Europe is thus exploded. To com ment upon this fact would be superfluous. The lesson Is too old to require repeti tion here. There Are Others. Philadelphia Times. The visit to Washington of leading rep resentatives of the city's mercantile and financial Interests was not Ineffective. The House committee on rivers and har bors has agreed to give us for the Dela ware channel an appropriation of 5600,000, which is to be immediately available, and a continuous appropriation of $2,400,000. This is a generous sum and It should suf fice, according to the engineers' estimates. to deepen our shipway to 30 feet for a width of 600 feet, thus again making our harbor the peer of those ports with which we are brought into rivalry. It Is possible, of course, that these fig ures will be cut'at later stages of the bill's progress through Congress. We may. In deed, be treated as we were In the last Congress, and the situation calls for tho watchfulness of our Representatives and benators, or trade bodies, arms ana indi vidual citizens, lest by negligence'we shall again be robbed of the share to which the commercial position of the city and the condition of the port justly entitle us In a distribution of Federal moneys. The wealth of the United States at the pres ent time is ample to justify this appropri ation. The traditional policy of the coun try in reference to rivers and harbors and the present state of the channel serve to make our plea just. The future of the city and the community for which it Is the Inlet and outlet In the shipping trade Is at stake, and "if Congress falls U3 In this emergency it will be at a frightful ex penses to the industries of this common wealth. The .House committee is to be heartily commended for the step It has taken, and we will now look to each member to ad vocate the appropriation with vote and voice on the floor of Congress. In both Houses as the bill makes its way up to the President. Philadelphia, like England, 'expects every man to do his duty," and save the city from the disgrace which at tends the weekly stranding of ships on their way to and from this ancient port. "Personal Intelligence." Baltimore News. Senator Mitchell of Oregon stood at the lunch counter In the Senate restau rant yesterday and meditatively sucked two raw eggs from the shells. Then he ate a piece of custard pie. Senator Mitchell has more whiskers than anybody else at the Capitol, except Senator Stewart, and his performance with the eggs was watched with much Interest by the'row of eaters at the coun ter. Nothing happened. Blind. Marlon "Warner "Wlldman, In Harper's. This much I know. Before the sky grew dark. When died the sunlight like a candle blown And left my soul to strain and grope and hark, A captive, locked In some black tower alone; Before the curtain fell that shut me out From all I had been all I hoped to be There was a glad green world, a Joyous shout Of strong winds blowing o'er a laughing sea; And there were green-gold fields of heading wheat. That ran and rippled In th- passing breeze; And there were frail pink ross, wild and sweet: And there were mist-blue hills and tossing trees; And over all. a brooding heaven blue. Where martens circled In the sunset light. And where the crying kllldecrs flashed and flew And great stars shot their glory through the night. All this I know. And for the power divine To -dream cuch pictures on the midnight walls Of this unwlndowcd prison-tomb of mine. I bless the Hand from which the blessing falls. I am content. O God. content to know The sky still uhlnes above my sightless eyes; That though my feet down darkened pathways K0. Unseen, the Brightness round me lies. NOTE AND COMMENT. Did ypu say you had registered? Miss Stone but then you wouldn't be lieve it. February seems to be stealing March's climate. Are the vagrants registered before or -after they are locked up? Yes, it looks like it, but don't soak your overcoat for a while yet. Dcwet's forces have been dispersed with heavy loss to the dispersers. The fleet under Evans command is now prepared to welcome Prince Henry. The President ought to have appointed tabascoitis fmmunes on tho West Point board of Inspection. The 'Standard Oil Company has been buying hoop Iron, presumably to 'hoop up the petroleum market. Now Is a chance for some rising poet to achieve fame by making a sonnet on Portland's lady bartenders. Captain Hobson is to retire, but he will probably line all his friends of the fair sex up for a good night kiss. Kipling hasn't given the War Office any advice for several days, and yet that Institution is still issuing orders. The Daughters of the Revolution aro again In session in Washington, and Con gress is getting pointers on the strenuous life. Ernest Hogan. the negro comedian, has challenged a Hawaiian Prince to light a duel. There is a very dark look to this affair. Now that the Indians all have their hair cut the paragraphers are patiently waiting for Commissioner Jones to make another move. The Capitol at Washington Is full of germs. They probably are lobbying for the restoration of General Egan and another chance to colonize in the Army rations. President Roosevelt appoints a white gold Democrat, William Fleming, Post master at Athens, Ga., to succeed a ne gro. "Pink" Morton. The people began to hold mass meetings against Morton as soon as the question of his reappointment arose, and so the President concluded to try another color. The cremation of the body of-the late Dr. Robert Grimes, of Cheyenne, has re vealed the bullet received by him at the Meeker massacre, where he distinguished himself, as in many other Indian engage ments as "Fighting Bob. the doctor." Then it was thought the wound would bo fatal, but Dr. Grimes recovered and for 20 years carried the missile which the surgeons were unable to locate. The lead button weighed more than the ashes of. the deceased. United States Senator Piatt, of Connec ticut, decided to yield to the pressure of the home tobacco interest in relation to the Cuban tariff, and is thus quoted: "I think that the cause of protection Is now In far more danger of being wounded in the house of its friends than it ever was in danger of being Injured by its enemies." And he Is further represented as saying that If the Republican party .does not deal fairly with Cuba the result will be an up rising against the whole principle of pro tection, and the party' will suffer. After a determined effort lasting over a period of months Sarah Bernhardt has given up trying to learn English. All her brilliant talent was not sufficient to givo her mastery over or even fair proficiency In the composite language. Mme. Bern hardt at first attempted the task without aid. but soon found It was more difficult than she had Imagined. Then she secured as tutor an American actress. The latter worked long and faithfully with the tra gedienne, whom, to her amazement, sho found a stupid pupil. Bernhardt tried very hard, but It was "no use. The members of the Mount Olivet Bap tist Church, colored, In New York, point to their pastor and his record and say: Where can you find one like him? They have given him the honorary title of "tho colored John the Baptist." The Rev. T. C. Walker took charge of the church two years ago, when It had a membership of but 400. Now It reaches 2000. In one day he baptized 184 persons and gave the right hand of fellowship to enough more to bring up the additions to 40S new mem bers. On Sunday last he baptized 60 men and 63 women as the result of a revival that has been running for some days. Professor McGee, of the bureau of eth nology, it is said, owns and uses the larg est and the most complicated vocabulary In Washington. A colleague in speaking of one of the professor's recent essays said it Is written In "words of one sen tence." The most recent achievement of the bureau under Professor McGee Is tho invention of a new name for the Ameri can Indian. The redmen are now known as "Amerinds." There are many kinds of Indians In the world, and the bureau has long felt the need of a distinctlvo name for the American kind. The prob lem has been solved by combining tho first syllables of American and Indian. PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS Maude When you refused him my hand, papa, did he get down on his knees? Pater No. I jlldn't notice Just where he lit! Chicago Dally Kews. Mr. Bacon I see by this paper that Ice V.i Inches thick will support a man. Mrs. Bacon I always said there was an enormous profit In Ice, John. Yonkers Statesman. A Common Occurrence. She Mr. Gotrox en gaged? Why, he has been a widower only a very short time! He Well, fools and their money are soon married! Puck. Such a Nuisance. Mrs. Gadd Dear me, I've had such a discouraging, hard day of It, mak ing calls. Mr. Gadd What was the difficulty? Mrs. GaddJS'hy, I found nearly every one of them at home. Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. Tho Doting Mamma. "Where's my silk hat?" "Your sllK hat? Oh. yes. Georgie took It to put on the snow man hej made." "The thunder he did!" "Yes. Isn't It nice that ha can entertain himself so easily?" Cleveland Plain Dealet. "What Is heredity, mamma?" asked the Uttlo girl, spelling the wprd out through her falling tears, ahd waiting to write down the meaning. "It Is 'm. how hall I explain It? Oh," said the mother, "something you get from your fa ther or me." And the small child wrote down on her paper of home lessons: ".Heredity spanking." Tit-Bits. How It's Done Nowadays. A scene In Scrib bler & Co.'s historical novel factory. Great author-manager (dictating) Gentlemen, your request to hand. We will be able to flit your order for 49 Colonial novels by Saturday morn ing, 9 A.M.. sharp. Our factories are working night and day, but we will complete your or der on time. Judge. Bargain Day. Just after her husband had ar rived at the hospital his wife regained con sciousness. "Did she get It?" the wife asked, feebly. "Get what, dear?" he answered, bend ing over her. "Why. that last yard of ribbon marked down from 10 cents. I saw It first and made up my mind the other woman should not have It without a struggle." Ohio Stata Journal. r V M -