THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1903.
tts zzg&axcau
Entered at the Poatofllce at Portland. Oregon.
as seconrclasi matter.
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YESTERDAY'S WEATHER Maximum tem
perature, 47; minimum temperature, 39; pre
cipitation, .02 of an Inch.
TODAY'S WEATHER Cloudy and occasion
ally threatening, with light rain at Intervals;
winds mostly southerly.
rOBTLAXD, SATUKDAY, DEC. 19, 1903.
CALUMNY WELL ANSWERED.
The report of Messrs. Conrad and
Bonaparte, special attorneys, on the
postal scandals, is so complete and self
illuminating that there is little to say
In its exposition or elucidation. It lo
cates responsibility for the frauds fully
and fearlessly, precisely as the charac
ter of the men making it guaranteed it
would do. If it errs at all, it Is on the
side of zeal. The only complaint we
shall hear is the same complaint we
heard about the original Tulloch charges
and the recent Bristow report Every
body concerned will protest against the
injustice and promise to clear them
selves. But in what shape do these official
reports leave those high-minded and
pure-souled patriots who boldly an
nounced that the Administration had
protected, was protecting and would
continue to protect the postal offend
ers? How about the precipitate retreat
the President would beat as soon as
Hanna began to intercede for Heath?
How about the continual charges of
complicity directed at Postmaster-General
Payne, who, this report says, .has
done everything In his power to facili
tate investigation? How about the kind
and gentle treatment accorded Machen
and Beavers? How about the ominous
and suggestive and damning silence as
to Perry Heath and Charles Emory
Smith?
None of these baseless and malicious
lies, accusations, and Inuendos is found
true now or has been true or justifiable
at any time. The papers that have been
guilty of them can do either one of two
things either confess their own malice
and the baselessness of the charges, or
else stand convicted of a craven mean
ness even greater than the original of
fense. A NEW NAVIGATION ACT.
Navigation acts, imposed by a home
or mother country, upon a dependency,
are dangerous things, as our Revolu
tionary history should remind us; but
for all that, the "Washington dispatches
indicate a great expectation that Sena
tor Frye's bill restricting Philippine
trade to American bottoms will be
passed at the present session of Con
gress. The move, it Is needless to say,
is prompted not in the Interests of the
Philippines, but in the interests of
American shipowners. The islands are
to suffer inconvenience, loss and prob
able discontent, for the benefit of our
few transportation lines, which are no
toriously unable to handle the business.
If this step Is taken, it can only result
in confusion, disgrace here and heart
burnings at Manila.
The present situation is that the nav
igation laws of the United States, limit
ing domestic traffic to American ves
sels, are held to apply to the Philippines
and would so apply, but for a suspen
sory act of Congress. In the case of
Huus vs. the New York & Porto Rico
steamship Company, the Supreme Court
of the United States rendered a decis
ion under which no vessel not built
and owned In the United States can
navigate between the various islands of
the Philippine Archipelago or between
the, Philippines and the United States.
The islands are "domestic" Trade with
them is "coastwise." But the act of
March 8, 1902, provides that until July
1, 1904, neither of these restrictions shall
lie. This suspension will expire by its
own limitation next July, unless re-enacted
by Congress In the meantime.
"We have not the full text of Senator
Frye's bill, but we assume from the
mere fact of the introduction of posi
tive legislation that he has the human
ity to withhold from its purview the
interisland trade. That is, we make bold
to hope that while he proposes to "limit
all trade between the United States and
the Philippines to American ships after
July 1, 1904," he has conceded to the isl
ands the poor privilege of conducting
their internal trade with the vessels,
and the only vessels, now or likely for
a long time to be available. Upon this
head we have the assurance of Secre
tary Root that "unless there be a fur
ther suspension of the navigation laws
or other legislative relief, consequences
very disastrous to the islands will re
sult." Nor is the situation regarding the
trade between here and there much bet
ter. In the fiscal year 1903, out of the
$13,863,000 of exports from the Philip
Dines to the United States, nearly 97
per cent, and of the exports from the
United States to the Philippines approx
imately 90 per .cent were carried in for
eign vessels. The Commissioner of
Navigation is able to find only 17 ves
sels, with a total of 145,000 tons' capac
ity, which may be available by the close
of 1904 for this trade. SecretaryrBoot
ventures the opinion thatby July 1 next
"there will probably be a sufficient supi
ply of American ships to do the freight
business between the Pacific ports and
Manila." If this should prove a correct
forecast, there is nothing to prevent the
American ships from doing the busi
ness. If not, the trade must languish,
and business be driven to foreign ports,
either in Asia or in British Columbia.
SENATOR FORAKER'S EBROR.
It is disquieting to apprehend so able
a debater and accomplished an orator as
Senator Foraker descending, as he did
on Thursday, to a level some kilometers
below the standard of Senatorial acu
men and dignity. His failure to cut the
proper Senatorial caper must have been
humiliating to the Senate as a whole
and In particular to Senator Hoar, most
immediately concerned.
The offense will appear the less ex
cusable If we compare the honorable
gentleman's conduct with the correct
procedure of Senator Spooner the day
before, and remember that Mr. Foraker
erred with this shining example direct
ly before him. In a somewhat heated
passage-at-arms between Spooner and
Teller, the latter had driven the Wis
consin man into an uncomfortable hole,
when by one skillful stroke the man at
bay turned the tables (If that Is not
mixing metaphors) and effectually
closed Teller up (if etc.) so that he
hadn't another word to say.
Mr. Spooner's coup consisted .In noth
ing more than a simple appeal to the
principle of Senatorial courtesy. Teller
had intimated that Republican Senators
who had changed front on the Cuban
bill had yielded to Influence from the
"White House. This would have been
a mortal sin, for the word Senatorial Is
nothing If not a synonym for Infallible.
To confess being affected by knowledge,
reason or appeal addressed to a Senator
from mere ordinary humanity outside.
Presidential or otherwise, would be to
admit some slight divagation from the
Senatorial perfection. Spooner was In
deed in an extremity of danger. By a
happy inspiration, however, he turned
the Senatorial sanctiflcatlon upon his
Colorado antagonist; for was not the
Implication of Teller Itself a reflection
upon Senatorial impeccability? Was it
not In reality "discourteous to his fellow-Senators"
for Mr. Teller to Inti
mate that a person once endowed with
the Senatorial omniscience or second
blessing could be reached by influences
from without? The shot went home.
Teller retired discomfited. He was
thankful to, be allowed to live and
breathe in obscurity, If to be his lapse
Into lese majeste were forgotten.
We are now prepared to view the of
fense of Mr. Foraker in its true light.
Senator Hoar had been inveighing
against .the Administration Panama
policy. His honest soul revolted at the
perfidy and sharp practice shown by
the President. It reminded him of the
policeman who should hold a pedestrian
for a footpad to rob and then insist
upon a share In the spoil. Senator For
aker was obtuse enough to take this as
an attack upon the Administration. He
did not see that the policeman Illustra
tion was a deft compliment to the Pres
ident. He coarsely assumed that when
a Senator ranged himself with the Ad
ministration's antagonists, used their
arguments and answered the Adminis
tration's arguments, he was against the
Administration and for Its foes. He had
not the grace to perceive that Mr. Hoar,
being a Senator with all that Implies,
was entitled to attack the Administra
tion and still account himself its friend
and champion; that being a Senator
and all the term Implies, he was free to
enjoy the glory of Independent criti
cism and at the same time disown and
escape any regret or displeasure from
those he had attacked and abused. I
hit you, it was Senator Hoar's privilege
to say, because I think just as you do.
I spit in your face, because I am your
devoted adherent.
Senator Foraker, like the untutored
son of the West he Is, dlsregardful of
Senatorial, Pickwickian and Polonius
lan courtesies, privileges and sanctifl
catlon, tooik Hoar at his word, held him
for what he said. It was not dignified, i
it was not in Keeping witn the article
that the elect can never sin, it was not
Senatorial. No Senator, he should have
reflected, can ever put himself in a posi
tion where he Is justly censurable by
another Senator. No Senator can pos
sibly do anything which at a subsequent
time he might regret having done. What
ever a Senator may say Is to be com
mended for the pleasure it gives those
who agree with him, but not on any
account to be reprobated or called in"
question for the contrary effect upon
those he attacks. One hardly knows
whether more to admire this sublime
philosophy of the Senatorial Mahatmas,
or the sturdy spirits of big-fisted Bailey
and Tillman, whom it drives to blows.
HIGHER LICENSES TOR SALOONS.
Once more the City Council, now work
ing under the new charter, Is wrestling
with the problem of raising the license
for saloons. This has been an open
question since 1897, when a, prohibition
amendment was submitted to the voters
of Oregon and decisively defeated. In
Multnomah County public sentiment
ran to high license as against prohibi
tion. Interviews with representative
men -not Interested In the liquor busi
ness directly or Indirectly, published at
that time, showed a large majority to
be in favor of $1000 a year as the lowest
for drinking shops of any class.
The late Judge Matthew P. Deady,
who shaped much of the legislation of
Oregon with great wisdom, had a well
defined opinion on what Portland
should do to regulate the liquor traffic
so as to minimize drinking and at the
same time put the largest possible sum
into the City Treasury. His plan was
to permit only one saloon In a block,
the lowest license to be $1000 and the
highest whatever the traffic would
stand. He believed that the number of
saloons would be decreased about one
half, and that the city's revenue from
this source would be increased at least
one-third. While his plan would not
suit the wishes of distillers, wholesale
liquor-dealers and brewers, he argued
that whisky-selling would soon get Into
the hands of men who are satisfied with
the legitimate profit on whisky. Free
from the menace of opposition at the
hands of any rascal who secured "two
barrels, a plank and a bottle of fusel
oil," they could well afford to conduct
their business without Illegal and semi
criminal adjuncts, and at the same time
refrain from selling impure liquor.
Judge Deady expressed the opinion that
$5000 a year, perhaps more, would be
paid for the privilege of conducting a
saloon, to the exclusion jof others, on I
more than one down-town block.
It is not likely that the present Coun
cil will undertake to make effective
Judge Deadys plan; still, as the matter
of raising saloon licenses is now a live
question, it Is interesting to recall the
views of a distinguished man who took
cognizance of everything that tended
toward the moral improvement of Port
land. THE COLOMBIAN MORALITY.
The character of the Colombian poli
ticians who had charge of the canal
negotiations is thrown into strong re
lief by an anonymous writer In the Out
look, the editors of which vouch for his
intimate knowledge of canal affairs and
for his reliability and fairness. It did
not matter to these Colombians whether
It was a corporation or a nation that
they thought would "stand for the
graft," and they made efforts to hold up
both the French company and the
United States, meeting with no success
In either case. In the first stage of the
negotiations Colombia twice committed
itself to the proposition that the new
Panama Canal Company might sell Its
rights to the Government of the United
States.
This having been done, when the Hay
Herran treaty came before the Colom
bian Congress for ratification It was
represented to the Canal Company that
the treaty would not be favorably re
garded unless the sum of $10,000,000
afterwards reduced to $5,000000 was
paid by the corporation to Cplombla.
Naturally the French company would
not accede to such a preposterous de
mand. Its right to sell had been clearly
established, and the price of $40,000,000
it.was to receive was rather under than
over the value of its property. This
country backed up the French company
In Its refusal, and the treaty was sum
marily rejected by the Colombian Con
gress. This blackmailing scheme having been
foiled, Colombia, fertile In resources,
bethought herself of another. The
French company's concession, which
originally was to expire In 1904, had
been extended to 1910 by an executive
act when the country was In a state of
revolution. For this extension the com
pany paid $1,000,000. The Colombian
Senate now proposed to annul the ex
tension, and, when the concession ex
pired In 1904, to take the property of
the corporation, with the explicit inten
tion of dividing the value of the result
ant boodle between the United States
and Colombia.
.Jn view of these attempts at black
mail and robbery, Colombia has been
treated not w'th too scant considera
tion but with too much.
CANADIAN ELECTION AND PROSPERITY
The Canadian election, now near at
hand, is likely to result In victory for
the present Laurier government, which
will base its appeal to the constituen
cies upon 'the prosperity issue. After
eighteen years of control the Conserva
tives were beaten by the Canadian Lib
erals in the general election of June,
1896. In the Fall of 1900 the Liberals
"went to the country" and were again
victorious in November of that year.
In the normal course of events the next
election would occur In 1905, but the
Liberals Intend to appeal at once to the
country for indorsement of their record
and policy. If they win their-possible
tenure of office will be extended for five
years from the date of election, unless
they again appeal to the country and
Sficureaffstlll further tenure. Under
the Canadian system the party In power
can precipitate an election for the pur
pose of extending its term of office,
choosing a time when it feels confident
of victory. It can cling to power if the
signs are unpropitious, until the expira
tion of its normal term of five years,
and then fight Its critical battle.
The development of Canada under the
seven years of the Liberal party rule
has been marvelous. It will not be pre
tended that this development has been
entirely due to the policy of the Liberal
party, but the figures of Canadian prog
ress during the Liberal regime are so
impressive " to the superficial examina
tion and scrutiny they are likely to
receive from the majority of the voters
that they are likely to make Sir Wil
fred Laurler's "calling and election"
sure. These figures show that under the
Liberal rule the total foreign trade of
Canada, its total exports, the gross
earnings of Its railways and railway
freight tonnage for 1902 show an in
crease of 75 per cent over that of 1896.
On these figures the Liberal party will
ask and will probably obtain the ap
proval of the people of Canada In shape
of a continuance of the control of the
government.
But the wonderful progress of Canada
during the last seven years Is likely to
be enormously outdone in the next
decade. The Dominion has but a small
population today, but If that population
does not show a remarkable increase
within ten years the most sagacious
men of business, both In the United
States and Canada, will have proved
but dull prophets. The "valley of the
Red River Is estimated at 432,000 square
miles, a vast tract capable of producing
500,000,000 bushels of cereals. The Sas
katchewan is navigable for light craft
for 1500 miles, and the "hard wheat" of
this valley Is the best In the world.
The millions of acres of wheat lands
of this valley have been barely pros
pected in an agricultural sense. The
Peace River Valley will produce mil
lions of acres of wheat. Last year at
Fort Providence, on the Mackenzie
River, a few miles east of Great Bear
Lake, a very fine wheat crop was
raised, being sown and harvested
within ninety' days. Fort Providence Is
above "the 62d parallel, 1150 miles north
of Montreal. Along James Bay Spring
wheat is grown. The cultivation of
wheat Is possible through the vast ter
ritories of Athabasca, Slave and Mac
kenzie Rivers.
The Dominion government, if Hud
son's Bay should prove a feasible route
for grain shipments to Europe, will rap
idly utilize this route for all that It Is
worth. It Is believed that it Is possible
to traverse the waters of this great bay
for almost five months of the year, car
rying the produce of the Northwest to
market immediately after harvesting
the crop. If the channel is navigable
for a sufficient period of the year, this
is the shortest and most direct route
for Canadian wheat to the markets of
the world. The Dominion government
has already granted charters to no less
than eight different railroad companies
f to build lines to Hudson's Bay, which
fact attests the confidence of Canadian
capitalists In the destiny of Northern
Canada. These railway lines are pro
jected from the provinces of Quebec,
Ontario and Manitoba. They have al
ready been pushed Into the new wheat
regions and will be extended northward
as fast as traffic warrants. It Is prob
able that Hudson's Strait will not be
Y found navigable for more than three
months, from the first of July- to the
first of October, but even if this route
be found not available for grain des
tined for the markets of Europe, there
would still be abundant traffic to jus
tify using the route for the period of
open water.
The distance between Liverpool and
"Vancouver via Hudson's Bay is 4568
miles, a saving of 1300 miles all in rail
haul over the present Canadian Pacific
route. In the forests around James
Bay there is more timber than in Min
nesota and Michigan put together. It
is mcstly large spruce and tamarack,
and the areas available for the manu
facture of pulp are Immense. It Is con
fidently predicted by Canadian men of
business eminence that" within ten years
Canada would be able to supply all the
foodstuffs of the United Kingdom, and
the eagerness with which American
capitalists invest their money in Cana
dian enterprises proves their faith In
the rapid growth of the Dominion. So
far as American interests are con
cerned, the policy of the Liberal party,
now in power, is more favorable to reci
procity with America than Is the policy
of the Conservatives, who favor raising
the Canadian tariff to the level of that
of the United States, with a preference
to England and the British colonies.
American Medicine expresses a novel
view of the physician's duty in prescrib
ing for patients. The magazine asserts
that the effect of the treatment should
be considered not only as regards the
patient but as regards the patient's fam
ily. Instead of sending the more or less
needy father of a large family to Colo
rado for the benefit of his lungs, the
Idea seems to be that he should be left
at home to work until his growing fam
ily was able to shift for itself, when he
could quietly shuffle off his mortail coil.
In the case of a father in moderate cir
cumstances, American Medicine points
out that were he to go to a better cli
mate his children would have to fight
their way through the world, and the
result might very well be one sick
father and several sick children. Amer
ican Medicine is placing too heavy a
burden upon the physician. He is not
responsible for the father's visit to Col
orado. Having explained the situation
to his patient, he may leave the decision
to the sick man, who evidently knows
more about his pecuniary affairs than
the physician. The article also advo
cates treatment adapted to the patient's
"social position and financial position."
In this connection a curious statement
is made. "By the employment of in
expensive drugs in the place of much
higher-priced articles," says American
Medicine, "the same effect can, in nine
cases out of ten, be produced upon the
patient's state of health, and a proper
discrimination in cases of this kind may
well be classed within the humane of
fice of the experienced physician." Are
we to understand from this that only
the experienced physician may venture
to prescribe an inexpensive drug where
there is a chance to prescribe a higher
priced article?
The Bureau of Statistics of the Agri
cultural Department makes the an
nouncement that the acreage of Winter
wheat seeded this Fall was 32,000,000, a
decrease of about 5 per cent from the
area estimated to have been sown in
the Fajl of 1902. It may have been only
a coincidence, but the wheat market
has declined about 3 cents per bushel
since the report appeared. It was prob
ably fortunate for the wheat holders
that the Government did not announce
a heavier decrease. It has been several
weeks since special agents of the Agri
cultural Department visited the Pacific
Coast and were convinced beyond doubt
that the wheat crop of Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho was fully 30,000,000 bush
els under the Government estimates,
but as yet no attempt has been made
by the department to right the wrong
caused by such bearish figures. This 5
per cent acreage decrease may be a
starter toward a more valuable set of
estimates for next year's crop, but the
decline in the market would Indicate
that the trade accepted it with the
usual lack of confidence that has been
shown Government wheat reports for a
number of years.
B1113 providing for the passage of a
law opening the south half of the Col
vllle Indian reservation for settlement
are now before both houses of Congress
and are being vigorously pushed by the
entire Washington delegation. The
opening of this part of the reservation
will provide a field unusually rich In
agricultural resources. The develop
ment of these resources will supply bus
iness for the railroads now passing
through that country, and will cause
the construction of others. The Col
ville country has a railroad, but much
of the best land up there is tied up in
the reservation. Central Oregon has no
railroad, but plenty of land already
available for development.. The two
cases offer an excellent illustration of
the fact that railroad building and agri
cultural development go hand in hand,
and that it Is Impossible for one to
prosper without sharing that prosper
ity with the other. And there are many
localities throughout the Northwest
which are In need of railroad facilities
and some places where the railroads
are In need of a little more agricultural
development.
British underwriters in some cases have
come to the rescue of the unfortunate
British shipowner, and are discriminat
ing against French ships and against
the cargoes they carry. The French mer
chant marine has come into prominence
under "forced draft" and their vessels
are of poorer construction, and as a
rule more poorly manned and officered
than the British ships. This has un
doubtedly been the cause of so many
disasters to French vessels, and the un
derwriters have recognized it and in
creased the rate on French ships and
cargoes. Even this will not prevent
British ships from showing losses on
most routes at the present time. ,The
world is suffering, or at least the ship
owning world Is suffering, from an
oversupply of tonnage, and until this
supply Is cut down or the demand in
creases, there will be little or nothing
In the way of profit for the shipowner.
A charming spectacle is that present
ed in Chicago, where a force of police
was necessary to restrain the mob from
attacking the driver of a hearse. It
must inevitably follow that a corpse
permitting itself to be conducted to its
last resting-place by a nonunion driver
shall be declared "unfair" and be boy
cotted by all faithful members of the
embalmers', the hearse-drivers', the
grave-diggers and the ministers'
unions. It may even be that the depart
ing soul, too, shall be branded unfair,
and be scornfully refused admittance
by the union janitors of the celestial
garden and basement, to mope forever
in the limbo of the independent toller.
SPIRIT OF THE NORTHWEST PRESS
His Eminent Qualification.
Myrtle Point Enterprise.
Brownell wants to be. Oregon's next
Congressman from the First District. A
candidate's success nowadays depends
more on his cheek than his merit. There
fore Mr. Brownell should not be regard
ed too lightly by other Congressional as
pirants. He Is Being Heard From.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Leonard Wood is In the toughest fight
ing district of the Philippine Islands do
ing his duty like a man. His enemies are
in Washington making accusations
against him in comfort before the Con
gressional committee. It would be well
to reserve judgment until one hears from
Wood.
Educational Need at Seattle.
Olympla Recorder.
The officials of the Unlversity
of
Washington should establish a chair of
sluggery and bouncing and install therein
an athletic professor whose duty it should
be to teach the younger classmen the
finer points of ruffianism, using the while
a hickory club to point his lectures and
drive home his deductions.
Not Portland, but San Francisco.
t Spokane Spokesman-Review.
An unknown Chinaman walked into the
Chinese ' theater In Portland on Satur
day and commenced firing at the musi
cians, killing one of them. The musicians
were probably doing their best, but any
one who has heard Chinese music . will
hardly admit that this was a good rea
son why they should bo spared.
Bible in the Schools.
Boise Statesman.
A Kentucky Judge has decided that the
Bible may be read in the public schools.
He holds that it is the foundation of all
Christianity and that its reading cannot
be regarded a6 sectarian teaching. He is
right. All .should be willing to have it
read In the schools maintained by the
public Such reading cannot affect the
sectarian leanings pf any pupil. The Bible
Is the great book of our language, and It
would-be distinctly beneficial to have it
read where children gather together in
public schools.
Coos County's Standing Grievance.
Coquille City Bulletin.
We are a day late this week on account
of a shortage of paper. This paper was
ordered from Portland six weeks ago, and
the shipping receipt was received nearly
a month ago. But our paper has not yet
arrived. If tho business men of Portland
want the Coos County trade they should
see to It that we have better facilities for
transportation. A majority of the mer
chants of thi3 place have been damaged
many dollars' worth because of freight
ordered from Portland and delayed there
for want of steamers to carry It.
Wants Its Share.
The Dalles Chronicle.
There has not been an expression in any
paper of the Inland Empire opposing the
portage railroad, and this is fair warn
ing to members at the approaching spe
cial session to leave .this matter as It is.
The Supreme Court has decided that all
public institutions must be located at the
state capital, and Eastern Oregon, de
barred by this decision of any expendi
ture from the state treasury for that pur
pose, should demand that the portage
railroad receive the paltry sum appropri
ated, because it will benefit a region that
is rarely named In the general appropria
tion bills of the state.
In Mitigation of Race Suicide.
Tacoma Ledger.
There are Infants in plenty. They are
suffering for lack of sustenance. They are
growing up in crime and ignorance. They
are being developed to fill the asylums
and the penitentiaries. In due course
some of them will be hanged. The prob
lem is not as to more children, but as
to what to do with the ones who are
here. Certainly the couple who are not
able to care for their offspring do society
a wrong when they unload upon it a large
family. Certainly the future of this race
depends upon quality. There is no trouble
about the quantity except In the excess.
The fact is lamented that the ultrafash
ionable women do not have children. In
this circumstance there is reason for grat
itude rather than concern.
For Vhat It Is Worth.
Tillamook Independent.
Notwithstanding the harmful reports
of the disgraceful condition of Tilla
mook's public and social affairs being sent
broadcast over the country by Fred Baker
as the accredited correspondent of The
Portland Oregonlan and as editor of the
Headlight, there is not a place In the
world that can boast of a better class of
people, a place where property Is more
secure, where there Is less idleness and
drunkenness, as few "bad" people, where
people pay their debts more promptly,
whero there is greater hospitality, that
has better schools and churches than
Tillamook. And the Independent denies
all statements of Fred Baker to the con
trary, and can say truthfully and with
out fear of contradiction, that the false
and damaging reports that he fathers and
chuckles and grins over are inspired by
malice and a desire to be revenged upon
the people who have repudiated him.
( i reachery Is Suspected.
The Dalles Times-Mountaineer.
There is a vague sort of a feeling
among the people of Eastern Oregon
just now that certain members of the
Legislature who are clamoring for the
repeal of the portage law may have been
"touched" by railroad "influence" In the
matter and the fact that some members
In Multnomah County as well as a few
keast of the mountains are for repeal
against the expressed wishes of the peo
ple generally as well as the commercial
bodies of Portland gives some excuse for
such suspicion. If the members of the
Legislature want to serve the people they
will let the law stand. If they repeal
it to servo the railroad company they
will hear from the people in the future.
The country needs a portage and must
have it. If $165,000 will not build it ap
propriate more. Build the portage and
the canal will be assured. Repeal the
portage law and the canal will remain In
the same condition that it has for 15
years. Take the case of the Cascade
portage and canal as an example and
stand pat.
The Complaint Against Hitchcock.
Walla Walla Union.
After being in session less than half
an hour, the jury in the trial of Asa B.
Thomson, for alleged misconduct In the
office of Receiver of the United States
Land Ofllce at La Grande, returned a ver
dict of not guilty. Every one who knows
Asa B. Thomson believes the verdict of
the Jury to be absolutely true. His
friends throughout this entire section will
be glad to hear of his complete vindica
tion, although it was anticipated. Under
the circumstances they had a right to ex
pect that having undergone a thorough
examination in a competent court of jus
tice, where every opportunity to probe into
the management of the Land Office under
his Incumbency, had been given, and a
full and free investigation Into all the
charges that had been hatched up against
him had been heard, and his complete in
nocence proven, his reinstatement would
immediately follow. It ought to follow,
but with an obdurate and unfair official
like Secretary Hitchcock to deal with,
there Is no telling whether justice will be
done or not. Already he has intimated
that nothing of the kind could be expect
ed. Having been baffled In his efforts to
convict Mr. Thomson of wrong doing in
office he proposes to obstruct justice and
fairness by his own arbitrary cullog.
HIS SERVICE TO RELIGION.
Brooklyn Eagle.
The Brooklyn Ethnical Society was real
ly Herbert Spencer's child. It was formed
by earnest Spcncerians who saw how
profound and radically his doctrine af
fected every field of knowledge and who
sought to spread the study of his works
and tho fearless application of his law
to every department of thought. For
many years these meetings were held on
Sunday evenings in the Second Unitarian
Church. From that contact it was almost
inevitable that the burden of the applica
tions of the doctrine made there should
fall Into the .field of theology and religion.
When the meetings began Spencer was
still hidden in the shadow behind Darwin,
and to the general mind the whole "Victo
rian study of science was embodied in
the "Origin of Species" and typified in
the satirical phrase that Darwinians were
trying to prove that their grandfathers
were monkeys.
The theory of evolution of all life and
thought from primary germs gradually
took shape In the popular mind as some
thing larger and more far reaching than
the mere descent of man, as a universal
law for which Darwin supplied a part of
the proof. The discussion of the Brooklyn
Ethical Society, and their publications in
annual volumes, contributed notably to
this popular enlightenment. It was in
evitable that the frank discussions of the
evolution of theology should rouse criti
cism from conservatives, but the town
became accustomed. to freedom of speech
even upon a church platform, and the men
who guided the world's thought pursued
their studies more and more in the sun
light which evolution threw upon the dark
places of human ignorance. The climax
came, at least locally, when Dr. Lyman
Abbott preached a series of evening ser
mons in Plymouth Church in which he
frankly declared himself an evolutionist,
and applied that principle to the study of
the Bible and to the growth of theology.
Dr. Chadwick. who had been the spiritual
sponsor for the Ethical Society, was an
advanced Unitarian, while the men who
spoke on his platform were for the most
part agnostics. But Dr. Abbott was the
pastor of an evangelical church, and his
acceptance of the new light and of the
historical view of the books of the Bible
gave a severe shock to the Ignorant. It is
safe to say that his sermons on this basis
stimulated thought more keenly than any
single occurrence in local church history.
What Herbert Spencer did for mea of
National repute in Brooklyn he did In no
less degree for thinking men all over the
country- He put thought and study upon
a new basis. Once his theory was accepted
a thousand minds arose to carry on the
work of the collection of facts and the
deduction of law from them, or its ap
plication to them, with which Spencer had
remade the map of the intellectual world.
How active that Influence was may be
seen from a statement of sales of Spen
cer's greatest books. This man, whose
"Social Statics" in 1S50, and "Principles
of Psychology" in 1S55, attracted no at
tention, and for whose books propaganda
had- to be made in this country because
his fellow Englishmen ignored them, final
ly brought a harvest to his publishers of
almost $130,000 for seven volumes of his
greater work3. That was small return
for the 40 years of supreme effort which
Spencer put into their preparation, but as
an indication to the extent to which Spen
cer was read by his own generation, the
figures are Impressive. Professor James
believes that of these works the purely
scientific portion, the biology, sociology
and psychology, will not long be read, and
that Spencer will ultimately be known
chiefly by his political and ethical books.
It is the fate of all scientific work to be
displaced by new discoveries. When Spen
cer had once given the key, when he had
convinced the leaders of his generation
that evolution was the great law underly
ing not merely the physical universe, but
human development as well, he had done
his great service. In the nature of things
one man cannot apply that principle to
all departments of knowledge, though
Spencer, with the bOdy of an invalid,
wrought with the energy of a giant In
that field. His specific books may be as
neglected in the future as the accounts
of this continent by the early explorers
are now, but his idea, his addition to tho
sum of human knowledge, can no more be
forgotten than can those of Euclid, of
Gahleo, or of Newton.
What Would Randolph Say?
Philadelphia Ledger.
We wonder what John Randolph of Ro
anoke would say could he know that little
children by the name of Dabney have
been denied admission to a white school in
Virginia for the reason that they are one-sixty-fourth
Indian blood? Randolph was,
as every one knows, a lineal descendant of
Pocahontas, the daughter of a King, and
the Hotspur Virginian was never ashamed
to admit the fact. Pocahontas was the
daughter of a naked Indian, who cooked
his fish with the scales on and the entrails
undisturbed within, while the little prin
cess, In all the charms of unclothed na
ture, would play with the Jamestown boys,
"turning a somerset" equal to any of
them. Yet, after all, she was a princess,
and her marriage was the first in the now
long list of Anglo-American "alliances."
The memory of the daughter of Powhatan
should have made Impossible the exclud
ing of the Dabney children from that Vir
ginia school.
Peril in Automobile-Riding.
Medical Sentinel.
Although we have just begun to use
these new motor wagons, there are al
ready evidences that many diseases will
be provoked and can be traced directly
to this mode of locomotion. Doctors who
have used these wagons extensively al
ready realize that catarrh, bronchitis, with
various ear troubles, aro common results.
Pleasure seekers who use them, at hlch
speed are obliged to wear goggles, veils,
gloves and rubber coats and not only suf
fer from affections of the eye and ear.
but have local neuralgia. The high speed
and temptation to take risks on a good
road and break the record for skill and
time develop nerve tension which is very
exhausting.
Carlyle and Tennyson.
Grlf Anderson In Pittsburg Dispatch.
Age had crept on them both;
It had whitened their hair;
And each lounged, nothing loth.
In a cozy arm-chair.
They'd been longing to meet
They had longed to commune.
And their silence was sweet
In the gathering gloom.
There were songs In the heart
Of the poet that night;
And his friend had a part
In his songs of delight.
He had sung to the crowd
In the music of tjpe.
New In silence he bowed
A3 be puffed at his pipe.
Thero were thoughts rich and raro
. In the mind of the sage;
And bis friend had a share '
Of that glittering page.
'Gainst life's follies and shams
All his powers he'd Invoked.
Now as silent as clams
He and Alfred Just smoked.
In the practice long skilled
Ease by habit once earned;
They their pipes often filled ;
Much tobacco they burned.
Though the fire had burned low.
Neither friend had once stirred.
Neither said "Aye" or "No"
Neither uttered a word.
When the poet stood up
And prepared to depart.
He had lacked bite or sup.
But he spoke from his heart:
"Good-bye, Torn'. I must leave!
Thanks for evening so brlghtl"
Said Orlyle. "Mon, but we've
Had a braw time the nlsht!"
There are men who have great
Oratorical powers.
Of church or of state
They can cackle for hours.
But a flc for their craft!
I'd fain sit near those two
And partake of a draucht
Of the silence, iher kcfiiv!
NOTE AND COMMENT,
We note without surprise that Colombia
has recruited the God of Nations.
Baker City lays claim to a book agent
that has gone insane. Such a case of re
flex action Is rare.
If r could be a Congressman,
I'd wear a beaming smile:
I'd gtryly go to Washington,
At twenty cents a mile.
There are happier states than to be a
Jap in Tenino. There the little brown man
Is fired at by big white men and by yellow
Chinamen.
In the Coeur d'Alene apparently skele
tons were not given the small distinction
of a closet, but heaped in a hole and
covered with mud.
Gresham has instituted the collection of
milk by automobiles. This is a good idea,
for by the time the milk reaches the
creamery it will be churned.
The Kansas City World adds Its tribute
to Herbert Spencer's powers:
Herbert Spencer was a man with a mind
marvelously well attuned to the deeper re
searches into matters of the utmost weight
and gravity.
One of the witnesses in the Dunsmulr
will case gave it as his opinion that Alex
ander Dunsmuir did not "drink to ex
cess." This witness must be one of the
class that holds it impossible to have too
much of a good thing.
It may be better that the Universiy of
California had Its $40,000 devoted to the
improvement of the horse than to have
had the money used in spreading Informa
tion about the Greek particles. Anyway,
the former Is a more exciting way of
spending money.
Students of English at the Northwestern
University aro held up to scorn because
they make such slips in spelling as
"howse" for "house." It is quite unneces
sary to go to Chicago for such instances.
Twenty-five per cent of the people who
"write to the papers" make equally
ludicrous blunders.
At a certain wayside inn in the north
of Yorkshire, according to "M. A- P.," a
farmer drew rein and, hailing the waiter,
said: "Hey. lad, fowk tell me ye hev some
vary good ale here; just bung us a quart."
The request was quickly complied with
and the ale soon disappeared, and the
farmer, apparently relishing it, said:
"H'm, just bung us another quart." This
quickly followed the first, then the farmer,
dismounting, remarked:, "It's very decent
stuff, lad, I think I'll get darn and hev
some."
Clams are now being shipped without
their shells to lessen the freight charges.
But who could eat a shell-less clam?
One of the great charms of the clam Is
tho manner in which it awakens memories
of the sea. The shell Is as suggestive as
that of the nautilus, and Is as Inspiring.
Had Dr. Holmes happened to see a clam
shell before writing his poem to the
"chambered nautilus" there Is little doubt
that he would have chosen the equally ro
mantic and far more joy-giving clam. As
It is, the latter silently awaits its
laureate.
Alfred Austin is accused by the Brook
lyn Eagle of having written this stanza:
Loud sped the bullet's ping.
Sharp flashed tho saber's sting.
As on to Mafeking
Sped we with force meet;
While the bravo garrison.
Steady by trench and gun,
Faltered not, no, not one,
Living on horse meat.
And then compared it with Kipling's:
We havo spent a hundred million pounds
To prove the fact, once more.
That horses are quicker than men afoot
Since two and two make four;
And horses have four legs and men have
two legs:
And two Into four goes twice;
And nothing over except our lesson;
And very cheap at the price.
We may say of these Tom Hood's lino:
Which was blackest none could tell.
This is going the rounds of Wall street,
says an exchange: A broker from the
financial vortex sought admission at the
pearly gates. "Who are you?" said St.
Peter. "I'm a Wall-street broker." "What
have you done that entitles you to ad
mission?" "Well, I saw a decrepit woman
In Broadway the other day and gave her
2 cents." "Gabriel, is that on the records?"
"Yes, St. Peter; It's marked down to his
credit." "What else have you done?"
"Well, I crossed the Brooklyn bridge tho
other night and met a newsboy half
frozen to death and gave him 1 cent."
"Gafiricl, Is that on the records?" "Yes,
St. Peter." "What else have you done?"
"Well, I can't recollect anything else just
now." "Gabriel, what do you think we
ought to do with this fellow?" "Oh, give
him back his 3 cents and tell him to go to
hell." WEX J.
OUT OF THE GINGER JAR.
Parke Was that your doctor's automobile In
front of your house? Lane Yes. He owns It
and I paid for It. Town Topics.
Mike Did ye attlnd Casey's funeral? Pat
OI did. Mike Was ye wan uv th mourners?
Pat Ol was; somebody stole me hat? Puck.
Egbert But I have never loved before and
you havo certainly encouraged me. Elsie And
why not? I always encourage a promising
pupil. Puck.
He I think I'll go and speak to your father
at once. He can't do more than kick me out.
She It seems a pity to risk It, dear, in that
good suit. Life.
Wife How many people gaze at my new
dress! I presume they wonder If I've been
shopping in parts. Husband More likely they
wonder It I've been robbing a bank. New
Yorker.
Teacher Where Is your brother this morning.
Tommy? Tommy He fell In a barrel of cider
and hurt himself. Teacher How could cider
hurt him. Tommy It was hard cider, ma'am.
Chicago News.
"Come. come. Brown. Do go home, old
man; It's 2 o'clock. What will Mrs. B. say?"
"Rest easy, my boy. Mrs. B. was just as
mad tbrce hours ago as she's going to be all
night." Life.
Small Tommy The teacher wanted to box
my cars this morning. Grandma How do you
know he did? Small Tommy 'Cause he
wouldn't have boxed 'em If he hadn't wanted
to. Chicago Journal.
Tese I hear she Is to marry an old fellow
with $1,000,000 thrown in. Jess That Isn't
her Idea. She told me she was going to marry
$1,000,000, with an old fellow thrown In.
Philadelphia Press.
I got a whole lot ob faith In my fellow
man, but all de same I don't lak t' sec Brud
der Simpson put hii thumb so fah down on
de inside ob de coliecshun basket, Mist ah
Jackson. Baltimore News.
Buckle I hardly know what to do with my
son. I don't bellevo he has got a cupful of
brains in his head. Clasp Why don't you
let him take up your business? You have
always done first rate at It, you know. Boston
Transcript.
"There's one thing about my boy. Josh," said
Farmer Corntoasel. "Once get him started an"
there' no obstacle kin stop him." "Yes,'"
answered his wife; "I reckon Josh'll be run
nln' an automobile or a trolley car yet."
Washington Star.
"I never saw any one in such a horrible
humor as Townlcy was jesterday." "Well,
well! and yet they say he "is not easily
moved." "That's the whole trouble. Some,
body bought his house over his head, and ha
j had tn. stt caLy.eglidav-W?hliartMrt3iay gresa.
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