X
THE SUNDAY OREGOJTTAN, PORTLAND. JANUARY 30, 1910.
PORTLASD. OREGOJT.
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PORTLAND, Bl'NDAI, JAN. SO, 1810.
A TOPIC OF THK TIME.
Portland bids fair to obtain noto
riety as the leading city of the United
States In the "hold-up Industry." It
may bo feared It has that bad emi
nence now. Why should robbers be
more numerous in Portland and
throughout Oregon than elsewhere?
Is It not most probably due. In some
part at least, to the looseness of idea
about the rights of property, steadily
proclaimed here? Is It not further
due In part to the slowness of justice
and to the facility with which enforce
ment of the penalties of the law Is
continually obstructed?
The doctrine is taught openly ir
Oregon that the property which peo
ple have worked for or paid for, and
has grown to value in their hand3,
either through careful administration
or the general progress of the .country,
or both. Is not rightly their own, but
belongs to "the social organization" of
which these robbers are units. The
robber therefore holds for he has
been taught -that he is merely "com
ing Into his own." ,
The scheme of socialism favors this
doctrine. Our "reform legislation"
-certainly many of the attempts at It
Is tinged with it. The owner of
property, not the robber. Is the crlm
lnal and the public enemy. It Is a
poll that breeds anarchy, robbery and
murder.
The attitude of the lawyer, the ob
struction of Justice, the tenderness of
the courts towards known criminals.
the belief, well founded, that through
the hesitations and delays that at
tend the administration of law and
Justice, on ahighly artificial system
a system that could hardly be worse
If devised expressly to afford Immun
ity to criminals are factors also' in
production of a, situation like thi
Society Is not organized for its own
protection, as it should be. There is
not sufficient moral force, nor severity
enough, either in the administration
of 'the law, or in public opinion. There
is nothing but mischief m the ha
rangues of street orators and agitators
against society, property and .gov
ernment, and nothing but evil in toler
ation of tramps and hobos; and the
politicians who bewail the fate of
these people "deprived of their rights
and victims of oppression,'" are the
worst pests of all except those law
yers who prostitute their calling to
the open protection of the enemies of
all order.
There Is a close relation between
the laxity of public opinion and these
robberies; between these robberies
and the high cost of living, against
which there is so loud complaint. One
great reason why the cost of living
is high lies in the agitation against
the rights of property; In the dissatis
faction thus produced with earnest,,
honest and gainful labor; in the
Etories of riches In the cities and
towns "riches, that belong to the peo
pie"; in the inducements thus, offered
to the. multitude to flock to the cities
where this "agitation" Is continually
in progress, and in the desperate con
dition to which many are reduced,
who are attracted by the clamor and
glamour. Useless as It may seem to
cay these things, it is Just as well to
know what they mean. The system or
tendency fosters "robberies, murders
and detested sins."
' So-cal'ed reform effort in Oregon,
abandonment of the old landmarks
and safeguards of society, which it
Is openly boasted has proceeded
further here than anywhere else,
cause Oregon to be advertised as a
paradise for persons in search of
their "rights," as- against society and
government. Much as this Journal
may regret to say this, it yet is a truth
which our people should ponder. To
know what an evil Is affords the only
way to fortify against it. Encourage
ment of the agitation of socialism
and quack remedies cannot but pra
luce disorder. And here in Oregon
is a spawn of isms which no man can
number.
We have departed too far from the
faith that was delivered to our fa
thers, and which our fathers delivered
to us. It was a consequence of our
too long isolation here, from general
contact with the influence of the
outer and larger world. We shall
correct our errors through experience
and through the help ' that now is
earning and will 6teadlly come from
Increased intercourse with other peo
ples and their advent from other
states. It is out of regard for his
state and his desire for Its welfare,
above all things else, that this writer,
an Oregonlan of Oregonlans, makes
these remarks. Necessity will force
the cultivation anew of the old vir
tues here, assimilation of what may
be good in newer ideas, and elimina
tion of errors and follies. It is a
weakness of society to pity and to
pamper those who are averse to labor
and who complain of their lot In a
new country like this, where millions
of acres are unoccupied and the re
sources of nature are as yet scarcely
touched by the industry of man. What
is to be expected of such a mistake
but a crop of criminals?
The Woman's Club Is about to in
augurate another crusade against the
high steps of the streetcars in this
city. It is urged that these steps
are unnecessarily, even cruelly hlgn,
and that they can be lowered from
four to six Inches, thus contributing
materially to the comfort and health
of passengers. Women and children
are not the only' sufferers from the
cause of which complaint is made in
this protest in petition. Just watch
the fat man board one of these high
steppers! See if, after he has pulled
his 250 pounds avordupois up these
high steps by main strength of his
not too muscular asms, and dropped.
purple-faced and panting into a seat.
he does not look like a candidate for
heart failure." Why not, good wom
en, ask euch as he to Join in the pe
tition to the street railway company
to lower the steps of its cars? Do
not for a moment think that the
names of these men would not carry
weight.
tOVni.V "VTTN'ITS AXI) GB306TLIKB OOMET
Many persons who never before
studied the eky see the planet Venus
the bright evening luminary and
think it a comet. But so long as they
don't know the' difference between a
planet like Mercury, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter or Venus, or a star like Sirlus,
Capella, Aldebaran or Betelgeux, and
a nebulous ghostlike "A-1910," per
haps it does them good to behold for
the first time the radiant beauty of
Venus. It may be of interest bo them
to learn that the lseauxy torch which
follows close behind the sun is the
commonest object in the sky and is
earth's next-door neighbor in the
solar system and nearest reesmblus
Earth In size, mass, atmosphere and
length of day of any of the sky ob
jects. For many weeks Earth's beautiful
neighbor has been beaming in her
loveliness, but few mortals have re
sponded to her glances, until now she
is taken for a comet. That's a doubt
ful compliment to loveliness, isn't
it? Soon she will change her beauty
time from sunset to sunrise, and then
will be called the morning star, for
she will be looking at the earth from
the other side of the sun. That will
be the place HaJley's comet will be
seen from, next May and June, p-nd
then again -Venus may practice Tier
deceptive arts Just as now.
' Flirting with Venus is too senti
mental a business when one is search
ing for a matter-of-fact comet. And
lest the gaysome planet make an
poor mortal imagine she is the "whole
thing," this warning Is sounded.
GERMANY AM) ENGLAND.
In the February McClure's, Mr.
William Bayard Hale writes enter
tainingly upon the prospect of war
between Germany and England. Mr.
Halo paints with a liberal brush. He
loves vivid colors and lays them on
thickly. In his fondness for excite
ment no doubt he treats the breath
less reader of his article to many a
thrill which the facts do not quite
warrant, and yet there is no denying
that war between England and Ger
many Is a contingency which must be
reckoned with. It is probable and
may be imminent. Very likely the
world is on the verge of one .of those
transpositions of commercial suprem
acy which have happened frequently
in the past. One of them carried the
trade of Europe away from the Ger
man cities of the middle ages to Italy.
Another may carry it back from Eng
land to Germany. Commercial lead
ership has flitted over the world much
as a flirt's affections go from one
man to another, lighting here and
there, without apparent cause. Of
course, there is always a reason, but
sometimes it is far from obvious.
The erratic movement of trade since
history began to trace it followed first
the shores of the Mediterranean.
Seated originally at Tyre, it passed to
Carthage and then to Athens. In Ro
man times there were several com
mercial capitals scattered about the
empire. Later the leading marts of
trade were the free cities of Ger
many. Italy then gained the prize,
but did not keep It long, and' it passed
over to the Dutch, who lost it to the
English. From this curiously erratic
history the portentous faot stands out
very clearly that no naval empire has
lasted long. The world has seen a
great many of them. They have been
powerful, brilliant, progressive, but
they have quickly perished. Just why
this is so is "perhaps a puzzle, but one
may partially account for it. Naval
empires usually subsist on trade rath
er than agriculture. Their profits are
exorbitant. Riches rapidly accumu
late. The love of ease engenders the
love of life and the dread of death.
Character and physique deteriorate
and some new nation, eager and am
bitious, finds it easy to supersede the
decadent possessor of power and
wealth.
Between Germany and England
this may be the present situation.
England has already held naval su
premacy about as long as it usually
abides in one country. She has been
the leading trader of the world for
a century and more and has felt the
full effect of accumulated riches and
the relentless spirit "of greed on the
souls and bodies of her people. The
British lower classes have lost their
physique, energy and military splr'.t
by herding in cities and toiling in un
wholesome factories. They no longer
afford suitable material for armies.
The wealthy classes love their money
better than their country. The
chances are that they would sooner
see England become subject to Ger
many than sacrifice their fortunes.
What difference does it make who
governs them bo' long as "they can
enjoy their dinners, their horse races
and their fox hunts? 1
Germany is in many respects the
youngest nation in the world and is
by all odds the most ambitious and
intelligent. It makes ingenious and
profitable use of . -scientific discov
eries as fast Ks they appear. Its
people are highly Instructed, disci
plined, hardy and prolific. In Ger
many there are few enormous for
tunes and but little, dire' poverty. The
government is in form a medieval
monarchy. In substance it approxi
mates to a democracy, for it is a gov
ernment of intelligent ideas. Brains
play a more important part in. Ger
man statesmanship than in that ' of
any other Christian country. This
means that the Germans are upon the
whole governed Justly and with due
attention to popular opinion. In Ger
many what is called by publicists
"the social consciousness" is pervasive
and energetic. The people are eager
for power. They feel capable of world
leadership, both in war and trade, and
believe that their numbers, intelli
gence and discipline would win it for
them if the test should come. The
British, on the other hand, are
haunted by a sense of impending
doom. Like decadent individuals, a
decadent nation instinctively appre
hends the insidious approach of de
struction. The situation between England
and Germany is all the more dan
gerous because it is not voluntary.
It is the work of subconscious forces.
Perhaps it has been arranged- by evo
lution preparatory to one of those
vast "mutations" by which races
transform their destinies. When war
comes the British will fight with th5
leick- ferocity of despair, the. Germans
with the Jubilant vigor of youthful
hope. But for all that, the outcomes
is by no means easy to predict. The
contest must involve all Europe and
the alignment of the nations will be
much as it was in the life and death
struggles of Frederick the Great. The
essential difference is that Austria,
who led the fight against Frederick,
is the close ally of William, while
England, who saved Prussia from de
struction in the former struggle, is
now at the head of her foes. Other
wise the array stands as it did in the
eighteenth century. Russia and France
are eager, now as then, to strike down
the power of Germany, so that the
Kaiser will be assailed on tooth flanks,
while the British attempt to sink his
ships. Interminable fighting may
probably kill off his fine troops, de
stroy his discipline and exhaust his
treasure, Just as it did for Frederick.
If it were not for William's war bal
loons and the incalculable part they
are bound to play in the next war,
one could not help trembling for the
fortunes of Germany. "
DEMOCRATIC BOSS "BO'ItUM." .
Though Democrats held an assem
bly Just before the last state election,
made a slate, named a ticket and
adopted a platform, they haye no
memory of it now, and rail at Repub
lican assembly.
The brethren assume an air of su
perior virtue and call party assembly
wicked and baneful and dangerous to
primary-law privileges of the people.
Possibly the Democratic assembly was
thus wholly bad. Unlike the dele
gates who will sit in the Republican
assembly, they were not "chosen";
they gathered themselves together-
bosses and politicians, officeholders,
ex-officeholders and seekers of office,
committeemen and chairmen and
declared themselves the Democratic
arty.
But now O tempora, O mores!
they say Republicans cannot hold a
state assembly, of delegates, picked
In the counties b fair and open
choice, without breaking the law and
insulting the intelligence of the peo
ple. Perhaps they imagine them
selves immune from criticism through
the saving grace of the statute of lim
itations. More probably they are talk
ing "bunkum."
Truth is. Democrats rail at assem
bly this year because it will enable
Republicans to name fit candidates,
whom the body of Republicans will
support. Democrats dread peace in
Republican ranks. They thrive on fac
tional war and strife of Republicans.
They want no majority movement
among Republicans. And because as
sembly is the one means Republicans
have of "getting together" and agree
ing upon candidates. Democrats cry
that assembly is wicked and prohib
ited by the law and by the will of the
people.. .
But the people will decide this in
due season. In Portland, last city
election, they accepted the recommen
dations of a representative assembly
and gave the assembly candidate for
Mayor majority in both primaries and
in election. The man the assembly
recommended and they nominated and
elected has already proved himself
one of the best Mayors Portland ever
had.
Let the Democratic brethren not
worry nor howL The people will
Judge -the state assembly candidates
In the primaries, and either accept
or reject them as nominees. Then in
the election they will either accept ot
reject them as officers of the state
government. The people will protect
themselves .against any boss imposi
tion. They have the -best of facilities
for doing so.
The "bunkum" in the Democratic
tirade against assembly shows in the
face of the record and in the smirks
of the brethren. They were well
within the law when they held their
assembly, but are they within the
realm of decent citizenship when thny
indulge in such false pretenses?
extensive economy.
Washington advices state that all
Oregon and Washington river and
harbor projects indorsed by the Army
engineers will be taken care of in the
bill soon to be reported in the House,
although the full amounts asked for
may not be granted. If this policy is
carried out, there should no be much
loss through delay in the "many proj
ects now under way in the two states,
although all of the estimates of the
engineers for these waters were on a
very conservative scale. In comparl
son with the enormous sums of money
appropriated for other branches of
the Government service, the amount
actually needed to prevent loss on the
uncompleted river and harbor projects
of unquestioned merit is so insignifi
cant that there should be no attempts
at the expensive economy which re
suits from paring dpwn appropriations
for river and harbor work actually be
gun. .
Not even the most drastic financial
squeeze would cause a railroad com'
pany or any other form of private en
terprise to close down an uncompleted
work on which as much money had
been spent as has' been used in some
of the river and harbor work in the
Pacific Northwest. However, we have
the repair work on the dredge Chi
nook well under way, and there will
prooaDiy De sumcenc iunas to keep
the craft working on the bar next
Summer. This work, with enough to
keep the other projects from falling
back into decay until a sufficient ap
propriation is forthcoming, will be
better than the treatment we have
had in some previous - seasons, air
though it will not be what we are en
titled to.
OCR N'ATTON'AX, KXTRAVA G A' CE.
According to some current reports.
Senator Jeff Davis, of Arkansas, is
troubled in spirit over the boundless
extravagance of the American people.
An esteemed contemporary, desirous
of chastening his fears, points him to
a court function held by Kaiser Wil
helm the other day, where the be
Jeweled costumes of the ladies cost
upon the average no more than $400
apiece. This example is instructive,
but, to our apprehension, it lacks ap
plication to the matter in hand. It
proves that the German court ladies
spend money rather stingily on their
gowns, saving the residue for their
stomachs, like true philosophers, but
we cannot see that it proves much
about the habits of American women
or men, either.
.To be sure, there were twenty
American women at .the Kaiser's party
and our subtle contemporary wishes
us to Infer that they were clad as so
berly as the Germans, but we are not
to be caught by any such wiles. An
average price of $400 for gowns does
not exclude twenty costumes which
cost 150,000 each. Let us make the
supposition that 3000 women attended
Wilhelm's party. Their gowns at an
average of $400 would come to $1,-
200,000. ,The twenty American dresses
at $50,000 each would make up $1,-
000,000, leaving $200,000 to pay the
expenses of the German women. Thus
the average cost of their modest at
tire would fall below $70, which ap
pears to us to be a reasonable figure.
We know of whole families whose
entire annual clothing bill does not
exceed $70. It is a pity if a woman
cannot array herself for a single night
with that sum.
high: meat pricks.
Retail butcher trade costs consum
ers big money on the present plan
of many shops, expensive deliveries.
high rents and many clerks. That's
one reason for high" prices for meats,
just as for groceries. Then again,
consumption of meat has heavily in
creased with the growth of popula
tion and of extravagance. Greed of
the meat trust boosts prices also.
though probably not as much aschas
been commonly supposed.
The retailers' margin, . in price of
meat to consumers, varies in different
parts of the United States from 31
per cent in the North Atlantic States
to 54 per cent in the South, accord
ing to statistics of the Department of
Agriculture. In fifty cities the De
partment flndH that retail price ex
ceeds wholesale price by the following
percentages:-- "
North Atlantic States 31.4
Bouth Atlantic States .38
North Central States 38
South Central States 54
Western States 30
in Shreveport, La., for example, the retail
price is 68 per cent higher than the whole
sale price: In Boston. 36 per cent: wichita.
Kan., 49 per cent, and 58 per cent in Spo
kane, Wash. On the other hand. In New
York the retail price is only 20 per cent
above the wholesale; and in Baltimore only
x i per cent.
The housewife demands these days
that the butcher shop have a full
complement of clerks, so that she ho
not kept waiting; also that many de
livery wagons, horses and boys ba
maintained, so that she may have
meat for early supper, without her
self carrying it home. Often delivery
costs the butcher more than the con
sumer pays, but he feels that he must
"keep trade." '
Cost of retail business perhaps can
be reduced and the trust may be in
duced to take a little less, but there
is no likelihood that cost of meat to
consumers can be brought back to
prices, of ten or even five years ago.
For while production has lessened,
with the well-known decrease of cat
the ranges In the West, population and
consumption have Increased.
High beef prices will turn the peo
ple more to vegetables, chickens, hog3
and farm life for food. The change
works hardship, but the results will
be beneficial.
PARIS.
There is no other city in the world
which every civilized person knows so
intimately and loves so well as Paris
It is sa'd that all Europeans have two
countries, first their own and then
France. Certainly Americans, if they
have two cities, give Paris the second
place in their affections. At the cap
ital of France everything in the way
of improvement and beautiflcation
that we would like to do, if we had
the intelligence and courage, has ac
tually been done. Human reason has
there had free play for hundreds of
years, and the outcome Is a munlcl
pallty where all that exists alms di
rectly at the material and intellectual
satisfaction of mankind. TJie streets
are designed for comfortable traverse.
Hence they are broad, smooth, desti
tute or pitfalls and invariably kept In
repair. The public buildings are not
intended merely as roosts for politi
cians, but as places for the transac
tion of business Intelligently and hon
estly. Hence they . are commodious
and architecturally correct, while they
are grouped in masses which show
capable good sense in those who
erected them. It Is not probable that
a single public building in Paris was
ever placed where it stands to boom
anybody's real estate.
The Parisians admit with candor
the existence of certain bodily needs
which the more delicately modest
Americans never will confess that they
experience. Consequently there are
conveniences a't intervals on the Par
isian streets for which our citizens
must resort to the hospitality of sa
loons. The example is typical. In the
French capital nothing that actually
exists is denied or evaded. All the
necessities of mankind have een
carefully observed, and intelligently
provided for. The enjoyment of life
is looked upon as an end worth plan
nlng for and the planning has been
done with keen appreciation of the
problem. Because Paris looks fo
frankly to the comfort and enjoyment
of its citizens many people say that
it is a wicked city. These people aro
beset with the false puritanical be
lief that in order to be good we must
be miserable, . r, . gg
The Parisians, are Just as good as
the Portlanders, while they have so
arranged matters that their lives are
a great deal more complete and en
joyable. Of course it is unfair to
make comparisons between the public
advantages of an old city like .the
capital of France and a young city
like Portland, and therefore we shall
not do it. The proper proceeding is
to hold up what the Parisians have
done as a' shining model for us to
work toward as we grow older. The
banks of the Seine, for one thing, are
lined with clean and beautiful quays
and the buildings which border the
river are the most exquisite in the
city. Some time the Willamette,' as it
flows through Portland, will be freed
from the monstrous structures which
line its banks and the streets parallel
wrth the river will be adorned with
monuments comparable with the
Louvre. This must naturally be
work of time.
Paris cannot be called a truly an
cient city, but it is one of the oldest
of modern capitals. Caesar speaks of
it in his commentaries by the name
of Lutetia. In his day it was a col
lection of mud huts on an island in
the Seine and its inhabitants were a
miserable tribe of filthy savages called
Parisil. It was only after the Roman
Empire had fallen and native mon
archs had begun to construct the
French monarchy that Paris became
a place of importance. After the
rulers of the nascent nation had chos
en it for their capital it began to
grow and in the course of centuries it
acquired those features of beauty and
convenience which make it the ad
miration of the world. Some of these
features are now threatened by the
great flood which has deluged the
city, and the nations look on with
J anxiety wUls the watais carry out
i s
their work of destruction. America
and Europe would not care half so
much about a flood in Rome or Lon
don as they do about this one In
Paris. We are all interested in the
capitals of England and Italy, but
the feeling is comparatively foreign
and remote, while anything that hap
pens in Paris is like an event at home.
It touches the heart as well as the
brain. Every intelligent American
who has never been to Paris expects
to go there before he dies, or after
ward, and naturally the fortunes of
the city concern him intimately.
It is built on a level bottom, not
more than 200 feet above the sea
level, -and it is enclosed by a ring of
hills. The Seine, which cuts through
the middle of the city, is lined all the
way with noble buildings and spanned
with bridges, each of which is a work
of art. When the river has risen high
enough to overflow its banks there
is little to hinder it from spreading
over the entire city and as the current
is naturally strong, one can imagine
the damage that must ensue. The
Parisians, unaccustomed to great nat
ural calamities, are at their wits end
to account for this one. Not perceiv
ing any natural cause, they seek for
an explanation in the realm of the
occult, ahd since they know that Hal-
ley's comet. is approaching the solar
system, they Jump to the conclusion
that it is responsible for the deluge
from the Seine. Just why or how it
is responsible nobody explains. The
comet Is still many million miles dis
tant from the extreme outer limit of
the solar system. The naked eye can
scarcely discern it.. The light which
It sends us is still almost impercepti
bly faint, and yet in spite of sense
and reason a whole city full of un
usually intelligent inhabitants, at a
loss to account for their misfortunes.
ascribe them to Halley's comet. When
all is said and done, common sense is
still but an insignificant factor in
human affairs.
v HOME RU1E.
In the new British Parliament the
Irish members will hold the balance
of power. . The Liberals, strictly so
called, are outnumbered by the Union
ists, or Conservatives, ana! can onlv
control the government by the assist
ance of. other sections. The labor
members and Socialists have their
own purposes to look out for and
cannot be depended on for unwaver
ing loyalty to either the Liberals or
the Unionists. In the main they will
vote with the Liberals, but at any
moment circumstances may divert
them to the Conservatives. They
openly express contempt for all par
ties except their own and profess al
legiance to nothing but their class in
terests. The Liberals can only carry
on the government, therefore, by
maintaining a strict alliance with tho
Irish members. This ought to be easy
enough, since the Irish demand but a
single fundamental concession, home
rule for their country, and the min
istry has agreed to grant it. The
reader may hastily conclude that there
is but little difference after all be
tween the reliability of the Irish mem
bers and the socialistic laborltes as
allies. Both these sections seek
their own advantage frankly and stand
ready to sacrifice everything else to
it. but their position is not the same
for all that. The Socialists may hope
for almost any amount of concession
from the Lords. The Irish can hope
for nothing from them. 'Hence be
fore a great while we may perhaps
see the Labor members Joined with
the - Unionists against the Liberals.
The Irish will either vote with tho
Liberals through thick and 'thin or
they will become obstructionists. A
treaty of amity between them and the
Unionists is Impossible.
It is highly probable, therefore, that
a home rule bill for Ireland will be
introduced' into the House of Com
mons and promptly passed. Its fate
in the House of Lords is more dubi
ous, but the chances are that it will
be rejected. Home rule for Ireland
has been one of the leading Issues be
fore the voters in the recent elections
and almost everywhere In England
public opinion has been unfavorable
to It. The question of the land tax
jnade' more noise and has interested
our American doctrinaires more
warmly, but one may guess that the
English paid large attention to the
prospect of granting "local Independ
ence to Ireland. The Liberals know
very well what their constituencies
think of home rule. It has Just barely
missed losing them the control of the
government, and there is a lively sus
picion, everywhere that if they dared
they would repudiate their promta
to the Irish members and put the
subject off indefinitely. They 'do not
dare, however, because if they break
their promise they will promptly go
out of office.' So, as we have said,
the home rule bill will likely be in
troduced and passed; but it will be
passed with a lively anticipation on
the part of Mr. Asquith's government
that the Lords will reject it. Nor will
this anticipation cause him or hU
colleagues any very bitter grief. No
normal Englishman really wants Ire
land to become locally independent.
He would concede that right to Scot
land and Wales with incomparably
less regret than to the sister isle, for
he would believe that it entailed less
danger to the mpire.
The simple fact of the case is that
the English "distrust the Irish pro
foundly. . The feeling Is no doubt
partly racial, but we do not lay so
much stress on what is called race
antipathy as some persons do. There
are no pure races in the world, an-fl
such radical differences as exist easily
give way under association and habit.
The Welsh are as much Celtic as the
Irish are, but there is no antlpathv
between them and the English. We
are inclined, on' the other hand, to
reject the opinion that the bitterness
between England and Ireland can be
accounted for on the ground of in
veterate wrong on the one side and
Imperishable' resentment on the other.
There, have been wrongs, of course,
deep and gross ones, and the Irish
have resented them, sometimes with
a ferocity greater than their tyrants
ever exercised. . But, after all, Eng
land never has treated Ireland with
the consistent and unvaried cruelty
which has been the fate of Sicily. The
Sicilians, too, are not of the same ra
cial stock as the Italians, and yet
they have managed to overlook the
injustice of their fate and feel as
loyal to, the common government as
Lombardy does. Many current theo
ries which profess to account for the
ineradicable distrust between England
and' Ireland are superficial. The real
secret of the matter is the same as
the root of the present hostility be
tween England and Germany.
It is a phase of the struggle for
existence. Ireland Bes near enough.
to England to enjoy all its advantages
of climate and natural resouroes. It
is not a sterile region, like much of
Scotland, nor a land of barren moun
tains, like Wales. It is an extremely
fertile island and it is large enough,
were it3 resources developed, to be
come a dangerous rival to England
in trade. This is what the English
are afraid of. It is what they have
dreaded ever since the first destruc
tive legislation was aimed at the Irish
woolen and linen industries. They
have passed hostile statutes against
Ireland for precisely the same reasoi
as they sent hostile fleets against Hol
land time and again in the seventeenth
century. The same cause makes them
build dreadnoughts to fight Germany
when the Inevitable crisis shall come.
England feels driven to suppress Ire
land exactly as Elizabeth could not
avoid beheading Mary Queen of
Scots. The belief is that one of the
two islands must perish commercially,
and England does not choose to be
the one. Home rule for Ireland would
unquestionably lead to the revival of
its manufactures and foreign trade.
This prospect terrifies, not the land
lords, who may be defied If need be,
but the English middle class, who in
the last analysis govern the empire
and who cannot be defied by any
party without peril. In opposing home
rule the Lords are in sympathy with
the fundamental passion of the Eng
lish middle class, the passion for as
sured commercial supremacy, and we
may be pretty certain that they will
by sustained by the electorate in
throwing out any measure for that
object which the.. Liberals may enact.
The court at Mesaya has acquitted
General Medina and other members
of the court-martial of responsibility
for conviction and execution of the
Americans, Groce and Cannon, who
were shot a few weeks ago. The Nic-
araguan courts in war times have
never been famed for their impar
tiality, and for that reason there was
never much danger of any one being
convicted for an act that was in
tended to further the cause of Nica
ragua. Much as the loss of the two
bright young Americans is deplored,
it la hardly probable that this coun
try will take any decided stand In a
demand for punishment. They lost
their lives while engaged in the
dangerous and foolhardy practice of
fighting against a government in
which neither of them had any
proper special interest. The calling
of the soldier of fortune has always
been an extra hazardous one; but the
hazard can be lessened only toy those
who engage in It.
No law has been enacted to abolish
the Normal Schools of Oregon, but
the appropriation for their support
and executive direction was withheld
by the Legislature of 1909. It will
tiow be proposed to enact by initiative
a law for revfval of the school at
Monmouth, Polk County, and for ap
propriation to support It. The re
port of the committee having the
matter in charge is submitted through
The Oregonlan today. This effort
probably will call forth similar ones
'at Ashland and Weston, and all doubt
less will go to the electors together,
but in separate bills. Hood River also
has been laying plans for a normal,
but It is said such proposal for a new
state institution must first be adopted
by the Legislature and then go to the
people.' This whole matter doubt
less will be one of the subjects of
debate during some months preceding
the general election in November
next.
The Republican party. In holding
assemblies or conventions for sug
gestion of candidates for the primary,
does not propose to "set aside" the
primary law in any particular, but to
conform to it strictly, Just as the
Democrats 6Md when they "invited"'
men to become candidates and named
an entire ticket Chamberlain for
Governor, . Gearln for the Senate,
Sroat for Secretary of State, and go
on which ticket they supported
throughout fn the primary and nomi
nated for the election. Then again,
in 1908, their assembly named Cham
berlain for the Senate. They didn't
violate the primary law; nor will
Republicans when they do the like.
In the opinion of Dr. James Withy
combe, director of the Oregon Experi
ment Station at Corvallls, the Wil
lamette Valley oan be made the great
est dairy section on earth. To be
sure it can be. No well-informed
person doubts It. The trouble is to
get people who live from hand to
mouth in the cities and towns, groan
ing over the price of butter and
cheese and milk and cream, to mak-3
practical application of this infor
mation. Of course it was awfully funny to
take advantage of the temporary ab
sence of John Reed from Harvard to
notify the papers and the police that
he had- disappeared. It ought to be
easy for the Joker to explain in per
son to the anxious parents that it was
all a Joke. He should by all means
be given the opportunity.
Hungry folk will not appreciate J.
Plerpont Morgan's gift of $100,000 for
digging up relics in Assyria and
Egypt. They would rather eat the
money up and lick their chops for
more.
The Democratic assembly, they say,
was "another thing" not the pro
posed Republican assembly at all. Yes,
it was another party. That is the
whole difference.
Mr. D. M. Watson was shocked
when Speaker Cannon asked if he was
one of those "fool Statement-one Re
publicans." So would any Democrat
be.
To take the place of the Peary
Cook row we now have the polecat
rivalry of Mr. Jeffries and Mr. John
son. Mr. Jeffries still calls Mr. Johnson
"skunk." But a hand-to-hand battle
with a skunk is usually one-sided.
But for the baneful comets, it might
have been easier to keep those New
Year resolutions.
The more the farmer gets for his
products the more he must pay for
what he buys.
Countless light specks are m. the
sky, any one of which may look like
a comet.
Colored folks saw all kinds of com
ets the night Jeffries was in Port
land -
TOPICAL VERSE
If You're Waking.
If you're waking, call me early, call m
early, Bridget, dear,
There's Jam to make, and bread to bake,
and the "Ladies' Aid" meets here;
I hope I do not ask too much, but 1
must early rise.
To dust and wash and make the beds,
and bake the weekly pies.
I used to think a maid would do thes
tasks at twenty per,
Cut I have learned not to expect such
menial work of her;
Pve learned to be most grateful to hav
a maid at all.
So, if you're waking. Bridget, don't for
get that early call.
L. Case Russell, in Woman's Horn
Companion.
The February Tree.
Now blooms for all the world to see
The February cherry-tree,
Whereof, with all veracity.
We now set down the history.
First Cupid saw it standing fair
And cried, "A tree, I do declare:" .
Then, whipping out his knife, with care
He left initials carven there.
George Washington then cut it down
In order to acquire renown.
And since in every vale and town
The story serves his fame to crown.
A few years later Lincoln came.
He also wished to make a name.
Jr'ursulng thus the noble aim.
He split it into rails and fame.
Lipplncotfs.
-.' The High-Heeled Boots.
He stands upon the city street, keen
eyed and brown of face;
He seems to bring a breath of ait
from some broad prairie space;
He's perched upon a pair of heels thai
fit the stirrup's curve.
That meet the bucking bronco'
plunge and counteract each
swerve:
And of all the chaps with whom th
gods are ever in cahoots
Give me the cattle puncher in th
high-heeled boots.
He brings a hint of wider skies, ol
ranges that are vast.
Of manful vigils in the days when
sweeps the wintry blast:
All out of step with things in town, he
sees the crowd surge by;
The sage is in his nostrils still, he
hears the gaunt wolf cry;
He rides as Alexander rode, the bell
rings -when he shoots,
The gallant cattle puncher in tht
high-heeled boots.
He is the last of that old guard de-
fending cattle land.
Those knights who jousted for th
cause, blood brothers of th
brand ;
But now they've fenced the water hole,
they're harrowing the plain.
They're changing all the sage brush
flats to fields of waving grain
The -cowmen will be gone, they say,
and there are no recruits
Good-bye, brave cattle puncher in
the high-heeled boots.
Arthur Chapman, in Denver Repub
lican. Reincarnation.
The wonder child at Harvard
They call a fresh edition
Of that world famous Grecian,
The mighty mathematician.
If there's reincarnation
For ruler, sage or hero.
My neighbor has a youngster
Who might be naughty Nero!
Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
In Former Times.
King Solomon, he handed down
Some very fine decrees.
But he held sway before the day
Of technicalities.
They hadn't got hair-splitting then
So absolutely pat.
One might condense some common sense.
And let it go at that.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
American Girls Too Shy.
(The Duke of Benevente and thi
Marquis Lombay have been arrested at
Gaudlx as counterfeiters. A completo
plant was seized in a cottage owned
by the Duke. Madrid News.)
Deserving rebuke are the marquis and
duke
For making and shoving "the
queer";
Yet ne'er could they live on the rents
they receive
That point is sufficiently clear;
And coveys of glrl3 in American whirls
Grow shy, and yet shyer each year.
His
title was once for the veriest
dunce
" Quite good for a thousand a week:
If, taking a wife with the consequent
strife.
A marquis would pose as a freak;
Now Pittsburg is coy, and Chicago's
too fly
And 'Frisco's demand is but weak.
And, as for a duke, he could not
score a fluke,
" In days not forgotten as yet;
The heiresses rushed, and Jostled and
pushed
To grab at his sweet coronet;
Now maidens most flip wear their
scorn on the Hp.
And papas will tot up your debt.
'TIs Vassar and Smith they are reck
oning with:
Yes, Berkeley, Mount Holyoke, Bryn
Mawr;
The duke and marquis had no heart,
it may be,
With fate unheroic to war;
So, fearing to roam, they made money
at home:
And that's what their punishment's
for!
Brooklyn Eagle,
s
My Donkeymobile.
I can't afford a motor car.
But I've a donkey fine
Who satisfies my yearnings In
The modern motor line.
When he doth break the stillness with
His strident morning bray
It sounds Just like a touring car
A-honklng on its way.
When't comes to speed he doesn't go
So fast he breaks the law.
And hence it is I never come
Beneath the copper's paw.
But when he stands there never was
Such virtue as is his;
You'll find if you would move him he's
The fastest thing that is.
So here's my little Donkabout,
He needs no gasoline;
Three quarts of oats are all he asks
To keep his spirits green.
He never skids, he never scuds;
He never strips his gear.
To make him go I give him Just
One spark-plug on the ear.
Horace Dodd Gastlt, In Harper'
-
Personal Vision.
"O, wad some power the giftle gie us,
To see ourselves as ithers see us!"
So sang the Scot and yet
I doubt.
If he knew what he sang v
about.
Had we the power, and used it then
Who'd ever want to look again?
Krchangsn