SATURDAY MAY 25, 1895
WAR IS BARBARISM.
The old question of the cruelty of
the Japanese at Port Arthur is again
being discussed in the dispatches, and
this time by a correspondent of an
English newspaper, who severely criti-
- cises Minister Dun's report to the state
department as being prejudiced in"
favor of Japan, because he has a
Japanese wife and is a subaltern to the
minister of foreign affairs of that gov
ernment. It is undoubtedly true that
the victorious troops at Port Arthur,
incensed by the barbarities practiced
on their comrades by the Chinese,
committed excesses of cruelty which
should receive the severest condemna
tion of all civilized nations. But no
country is blameless in this regard, for
war, as stated by one of our greatest
. generals, is barbarism, and there has
not been an armed conflict between
nations for centuries in which there
has not been instances of unquestioned
cruelty. The Napoleanic wars in
, Africa and Europe were censurable for
this reason, and the name of Na
polean was cursed because of the bar
barism he is said to have practiced
upon conquered foes. Hot mentioning
intervening conflicts, our own civil
strife was blackened by the in
human treatment of prisoners at
Andersonrille and the massacre at
Fort Pillow, and later wars in Europe
are subject to the same criticism. Sol
diers, when inflamed by passion in the
heat of battle, are brutal, and the Jap-
. ahese, who have just emerged into
civilization, are not, perhaps, possessed
of the same chivalric regard for a
fallen foe as other races who have en
joyed the benign influences of ad'
vancement for centuries. It could not
be expected that the army that
" marched into Port Arthur, seeing
their friends hanging to trees with evi
deuces of their having been tortured
in the most cruel manner, should have
but little consideration for the Chinese,
even if they were non-combatants.
and, without strict' discipline being en
forced, would not retaliate upon the en
emy when opportunities presented. The
science of war is a science of killing men
-in the most expeditious way, and those
who follow the profession of arms
must sacrifice many of the finer sensi
bilities of civil life. They are accus
tomed yo human blood and human suf
fering, and the tender sympathies of
the heart are completely dulled and
obliterated. Japan and China enjoy
amicable relations, and the cruel deeds
which blackened the history of the
recent conflict should be forgotten by
each. Other nations should not be too
eager to condem acts which might find
examples in their own experience, and
the lesson taught, should be heeded;
ana tnat is, war ana civilization are
antagonistic, and one cannot advance
without the other deteriorates. -
THE MONARCHY PREFERED.
The report of the correspondents of
the New York papers, published in the
- dispatches yesterday, did not speak
favorably of the attempt at self-govern
ment in Hawaii, and stated that the
natives were in favor of re-establish'
ing the monarchy. This was to be ex
pected under the circumstances, for it
takes a long process of development for
a people to become competent to man
age their own affairs, either in a de
mocracy or in a republic, and, perhaps,
the Anglo-Saxon race is the only one
that has succeeded. After centuries
of earnest, untiring efforts in establish
ing individual freedom, and at the
same time Inculcating the personal re
sponsibility that attaches to the citi
zen' when he occupies the position of
an independent political factor, the
people have reached that point by a
natural evolutionary process when they
are capable of governing themselves
"without giving license to the anarchis
tic and communistic tendencies which
are inherent in the uneducated masses.
Other races have tried the experiment;
but the trial has resulted in a more
tyrannical form of monarchy or in the
wildest of anarchies. ' " The inhabitants
of the Sandwich islands are a docile
people, and they do not worry much
over any abridgment of liberty if they
' can secure sufficient to eat, and there
is not any interference with their nat-
- ural inclination to luxurious ease. The
responsibility of government is too
' burdensome for such people to under
take the task, and it would take'gener
ations under thorough discipline and
training for them to be competent to
exercise the elective franchise.or to in
telligently understand the duties of
citizenship. If President Dole can
colonize the islands with Anglo-Saxons,
the republic will be successful, and
the Kanakas will be relegated to the
position of helots. But the attempt will
be futile if dependent upon the native
population, or if they possess sufficient
influence and power to interfere with
the harmonious operation of the
machinery of government. Under such
conditions, whether it is advisable to
force free-government upon unwilling
aboriginees is a question that will ad
mit of ethical discussion. If a race are
more contented under hereditary mon
archy and are not adapted by develop
ment or environment to enjoy liberty.
as a principle of philanthropy it is bet
ter that they should remain under the
institutions to which they have been
accustomed, and it is an injury to'them
.to attempt to place them under condi
tions which are antagonistic to their
habits of life and for which they are
not adapted. -
THE ' TRUE ISSUE.
In all this free-silver agitation in
Republican ranks can be discerned
the fine Italian hand of the Democracy.
Last February when the fight was be
ing waged fiercely for the election of
U. S. senator in the legislature- every
' Democratic organ in the state . sup
ported the bolters in their craze for a
candidate in favor of unlimited coin
age, because they knew that by so do
ing they were dividing the Republican
party into factions, and they are now
engaged in hounding on the silverites
to capture the convention of Republi
can clubs in session at Portland. A
few politicians, who have no other
means of becoming popular, are follow
ing in line with the Democracy, and,
strange to say, some ttepuDUcans ap
pear to be carried away by the infatu
ation for the white metal. The scheme
is very transparent, and it is a mystery
that any honest Republican should be
deluded by such a subterfuge. There
has never been any factional dissen
sion in the ranks of the
party on the money question,
and the country has enjoyed the
safest currency during Republican
administrations that it ever did at any
time during its history. Since resump-
tion of specie payments was inaugura
ted by the passage of the bill through
a Republican congress there has been
no depreciation in government paper
or silver, and our financial standing
with the world has been first-class.
The monetary system of the party has
been thoroughly tested for over thirty
years, and it has stood the trial of every
emergency. There is no reason for
any new experiment to be made and
untried theories are always hazardous
in comparison with successful experi
ence. The object of Democracy is not only
to work a complete disintegration of
the party; but to attract public atten
tion from the great tarriff issue, which
will cause the Republicans to sweep
the country in 1896 by the largest ma
jority even known. Protection and its
benefits must be kept before the public
constantly, and comparisons made of
the good times enjoyed during Harri
son's administration and the distress
ful, free-trade consequences suffered
under Cleveland. These are - object
lessons which the people will never
forget until a change is again inaugu
rated by Republicans being jn pos
session of every branch of the gov
ernment. Every portion of the
country has seen the result of the
Democratic experiment, and are heart
ily tired of the dierful results that
have followed. Unlimited issue of
greenbacks, fiat money, free silver and
Coxeyisms are chickens hatched in the
same nest and by the same cackling
hen, and these should be relegated to
Populism. The motto of Republicans
should be protection and a sound and
safe currency, and with this watch
word victory in 1896 is assured.
CONSERVATISM NECESSARY.
The disposition of the American
people is very mercurial, and in this
characteristic there is the greatest
danger to free institutions. Eternal
vigilance 1b the price of liberty, and
this is true in every instance. Repub
lican government cannot exist with
out the responsibility devolving upon
each individual being thoroughly un
derstood and carried out practically,
both in the relation to the government
and to the community. Freedom does
not imply license; but in very many
instances great restraint must be
placed upon personal desires and what
may appear at first blush personal
rights. The good of the citizen must
be subservient to the benefit of the
whole, and this will require many sacri
fices of selfish desires and aims. This
is implied in the fabric of society in
all civilized communities, and the
same rule will hold good in all well
established governments. Man may
be a free moral agent, according
to the law of ethies; but
circumstances frequently control
him to so large, an extent that he
is simply objective to the ends or pur
poses to be accomplished and not in
the least subjective. In our relations
with each other and with the public
generally a conservatism should be
exhibited which will keep down any
inclination to fanaticism and tend to
sink the .individual in the composite
whole. This principle should be exer
cised in the discussion of all questions
in which the nation is interested, and
wild, fanatical ideas which serve per
sonal ends should be kept in the back
ground. A free people must be a con
servative people, and any mistake
made in government must be directly
traceable to the public not giving due
consideration to the matter. Every
national question decided at the ballot
box should be after due deliberation
of its effects, not on ja, single com
munity; but on the entire people
Citizenship and the right of suffrage
are weighty responsibilities which the
state, in its sovereign capacity, should
only grant to the competent and intel
ligent. Manias in politics are -very
destructive to the stability of free in
stitutions, and it is the duty of patri
otism to euro all wild notions witn a
mercurial people, for they tend to ren
der unsafe the fabric of popular gov
ernment; and may end in the complete
wreck and ruin of the best and freest
nations. The history of our country
furnish many illustrations of this dan
ger, but as we have escaped it in the
past the good sense of the American
people may be sufficient for any emer
gency in the future. It is not neces
sary to point out any particular in
stance in tne past or present; but if a
general alarm is sounded it may have
the effect to keep down certain unsafe
political theories which periodically
pass oves the land.
THE PORTLAND CONVENTION.
The conveniion of Republican clubs
which met in Portland yesterday would
not have had much political signifi
cance if it had not been for the effort
made by a few silverites to capture the
organization, and force a free-silver
resolution to be endorsed by the dele
gates. In both of these matters they
were defeated, as well as in the elec
tion of delegates' to the National Re
publican League convention at Cleve-.
land. After the meeting was called to
order it was endeavored to control the
committee on credentials by the free-
silver men, but this signally failed; and
when the delegates at large and from
the different congressional districts
were nominated the candidates of the
silver men were defeated by over
whelming majorities. Later in
the evening they again rallied,
and attempted, to pass a resolution
in favor of unlimited coinage, but this
was voted down and the convention
adjourned. There were over 1000 del
egates present, and, 175 clubs were rep
resented. The meeting was very har
monious, and, aside from the contest
on the money question, no business of
importance was transacted.
It was never expected at any time
that the delegates of Republican clubs
at this meeting would outline a plat
form for the party for the campaign
next year, but with so many represen
tative Republicans meeting in conven
tion the action would have great sig
nificance regarding the position of the
party on the silver question. It was
not considered a subject for contention
before the legislature convened last
February; but after .the determined
fight by the advocates of the white
metal on the senatorial question at
that time, it was expected that they
would transfer the contest to future
political conventions. If they had
been successful in Portland they would
have had encouragement to makje an
attempt to control the nominating
convention in 1896, and Oregon might
have been wheeled into the line of
free-silver Btates against the wishes of
the rank and file of the party. As it
is, they have met a crushing defeat,
and it is hoped and expected hereafter
they will not attempt to instill their
pernicious financial doctrines into
the organization.
ITS RECORD.
Political parties, the same as indi
viduals, are known by their acts, and
from these conclusions will be drawn
regarding their characters. No man
can lead a dissolute life for years,
and expect to be trusted in fiduciary
relations without there is some evi
dence that a reformation has been
effected; neither can a political organ
ization make a complete failure on a
platform of principles for the manage
ment of national affairs, and hope to
be returned to power without there
has been a complete change of base
regarding party policy. Reasoning
on this bypothsis, and we believe it to
be a correct and fair one, Democracy
must stand or fall by the record it has
made during the past few years. It is
not necessary to go back two or three
decades to point out the errors of
which that party has been guilty; but
confining examinations within the
last three years sufficient may be found
for the American people to arrive at
the conclusion that it is not competent
to guide national affairs.
In 1892 the Democratic candidate for
president was elected on a free-trade
platform by the largest majority ever
received since the war. Both houses
of congress were Democratic, and the
people, at the ballot-box, demanded
a change from the policy that had been
pursued by Republican administra
tions. The Democratic party was
placed in power under the most favor
able circumstances. There was an
overflowing treasury, business was
prosperous, and labor was better paid
than ever before. The first act, after
repeal of the silver-purchase clause of
the Sherman law, was the passage of the
free-trade Wilson bill, and the change
came. Factories closed," wages were
reduced, and business depression and
financial stringency were general all
over the country. ' These have con
tinued for nearly three years, until
the people, rendered desperate by
want and starvation and the deprecia
tion of values, are grasping at any
expedient that offers the least relief.
The test of Democracy has been made,
and the people have suffered from
the practical demonstration.
The issues of the campaign of 1896
will be based on facts and not on theo
ries. Problems have been solved, and
the people have suffered in conse
quence. The relief promised has been
demonstrated to be illusory, and faith
will no longer be placed in Democratic
pledges. From the depths of the mis
ery now being suffered the people are
fully satisfied that times were good
under Republican administrations,and
the - change was most "disastrous.
Democracy must face the music.
It must stand or fall by the record it
has made since 1893, and no
amount of sophistry can make this
favorable to the - prosperity of
the nation. This will be the line of
battle in 1896, and Democracy cannot
shift it to the free-silver ground. It
has solved problems in a very practical
manner, and the wage-earner and
toiler to their great sorrow have
been the factors in the solution. '
FOSSIL ROAD.
The people of the southern portion
of Gilliam county are desirous of hav
ing a road constructed connecting
them with The Dalles, and in this mat
ter they are acting in harmony with
their best interests. For many years
this city has been the great wool and
wheat market of the northwest, and
higher prices have been paid for these
products than at any point in Eastern
Oregon. Since the D. P. & A. N.
Co., have had opposition boats on the
Columbia, the advantages of The
Dalles have been increased, and now,
aside from being the best market for
the sale of produce, the best and
cheapest facilities for shipping to sea.
board are offered farmers. In another
year there will be an open river to the
sea, and in the meantime the highest
price will be paid for grain and wool
and cheap water transportation
afforded to Portland or . eastern mar.
kets. The producers of the Inland
Empire understand these advantages,
and are anxious to reach this point
From the southern portion of Gilliam
there is only a few miles difference in
distance to The Dalles than to Arling
ton, and a much better road could be
constructed, passable at all seasons oj
the year. We are pleased to note the
fact that ' the Fossil Journal, the
leading paper of Gilliam, is advocating
this matter with considerable vigor,
and we have every reason to believe it
will be successful.
CUBA.
The status of the rebellion in Cuba is
difficult to understand. Information
rom Spanish sources say the revolution
is quelled; but Cubans say it is alive.
active, and is constantly kicking and
killing the troops of the home govern
ment. We detest monarchy and arbi
trary rule. This is bred in the Anglo
Saxon race for centuries, and has
been a predominant characteristic of
that people in every country they have
inhabited; but, sometimes, we con
sider the mongrels of South America
and the West Indies not fitted by tra
dition or pride of ancestry for self-
government. In such instances auto
cratic domination is preferable to a
wild, unstable, anarchistic freedom.
This may be the case with Cuba, where
races have commingled for centuries
and it is difficult to ascertain how the
people should be classified. If the
islanders are oppressed, and are capa
ble. of self-government, there is not an
American citizen who would not 'wish
them God-speed in their efforts after
freedom. But if these conditions do
no exist, it is better for the people and
for all others concerned that the island
should remain under Spanish do
minion. Freedom is the better state
for intelligent men; but it is simply a
synonym for license for the vicious
and uneducated.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
The convention of Republican clubs
in Portland on the 22d inst. is creating
as much excitement as the bi-ennial
election usually does.
Kate Field has joined the staff of
correspondents of the Chicago Times-
Herald, and will write to that paper
from Hawaii, which is her first ob
jective point, traveling for her health,
The fact of most interest about the
income-tax law is that it is certain to
be repealed - at the next session of
congress if the supreme court doesn't
knock it completely out oeiore tnat
time.
There were five members of the su-
supreme court who were of the opinion
that the income tax law was unconsti
tutional, and four who considered the
measure valid. Tne majority oi one
decided the matter.
Hon. John G. Carlisle, secretary of
the treasury, is making sound money
speeches in Tennessee, and is listened
to by large and enthusiastic audiences.
The people of the south are awakening
to a true realization of the disasters
that will follow unlimited coinage.
Warner and Sibley are still on their
missionary tour in the northwest.
Their reception has been enthusiastic
almost everywhere. The people are
now prepared to listen to Gen. Coxey,
who, no doubt, would attract large
audiences in the silver states.
Where will the Democratic adminis.
tration look for revenue now that the
income tax is declared unconstitu
tional? The treasury will be bank
rupt until 1896, when a Republican
congress will re-enact protection laws.
The Hawaiian government appears
to support Minister Thurston's side of
the controversy with Secretary G res
ham, and, while Mr. Frank P. Hast
ings will represent the young republic
at Washington President Dole does
not consider the actions of the former
minister censurable.
Bradstreet's reports, show a large in
crease iu business in the east; but the
wave of prosperity has not reached the
coast yet. Our people are patiently
waiting for the "good times" coming;
but they will hardly be perceptible be
fore the country is restored to the pro
tection policy.
When a large portion of the interior
is looking towards The Dalles for a
market our business men cannot devote
too much et Mention to good roads.
Those who desire to trade with us and
reap the advantages of cheap water
transportation should be given the
means of reaching this city.
Hon. Hugh McCulloch, secretary of
the treasury during Lincoln's and Ar
thur's administration, died in Wash
ington yesterday. He was 87 years of
age, and was a native of Maine. Mr
McCulloch will occupy a conspicuous
place in the history of the country
for his able management of publ:
finances.
The day of great water ways is but
just coming it seems. Germany has
just finished a ship canal from the Bal
tic to the North Sea. and now it is an
nounced that Russia will build a canal
a thousand miles long, connecting the
Black Sea with the Baltic. But after
all nothing- will suit Russia quite as
well as the control of the Hellespont
and Dardanelles.
The prospects for a good wheat har
vest are very bright at present; but
there is not the acreage of former years
and consequently there will not be as
much harvested. Low prices for the
past few years have discouraged far
mers, and they have devoted more at
tention to other products. With the
fertile soil of the northwest yielding
abundantly wheat is not a profitable
crop at 35 to 40 cents a bushel. It pays
better to raise nogs.
The election of Hon.M. A. Moody, of
this city, as one of the delegates from
the second congressional district to the
Republican League convention
Cleveland, is a compliment to the high
political standing oi tnat gentleman,
He was not present at the convention
and was not aware that he was placed
in nomination until - asked by tele
phone if he would accept. Mr. Moody
is a thorough Republican, and at the
meeting in Cleveland will do credit to
himself and reflect honor on the dis
trict he represents.
Hon. Peter H. Burnett, the first con
stUutional governor of California, and
a pioneer of Oregon of 1843, died in
San Francisco yesterday afternoon at
the advanced age of 88 years. He took
a prominent part in the formation of
the territorial government of this state,
and' occupied many positions of trust
in California, at one time having been
an associate justice of the supreme
court. His death removes to the silent
majority one of our earliest pioneers.
and a man highly respected ail over
the coast for eminent qualities of
heart and brain.
That was a sad- accident tHat -hap.
pened in San Francisco yesterday,
when the four-year old daughter of
Mrs. F. Feak, of Astoria, was run
over and killed by a trolley car. She
was in company with a sister two
years older, and was crossing the street
wnen tne car ran over tne little girl,
killing her and mangling her terribly
If the children were alone at the time
.the mother was to blame for permit
ting them to go on a crowded
thoroughfare: but so far as the facts
can be learned the car was running at
unusual, speed and the children could
not get out of the way. Someone has
blundered, and another life has been
sacrificed to carelessness.
Venezuela is having trouble with
France, and the United States is asked
to act as arbitrator. This is a duty
our government should perform with
the greatest circumspection, for this
being the greatest republic now in ex-
it should exercise parental solicitude
for the little free states on this conti
nent. We have the means of enforc
ing a due respect of the rights of those
who claim our protection on this side
of the ocean, and this should be car
ried out in-- a spirit of fairness, and
with due respect of the rights of all
concerned. Venezuela may be right
or she may be wrong; but in the deci
sion careful consideration should be
given to all matters relating to the
subject.
The Albany Democrat says: "People
who expect to get relief on the silver
question through bi-metallic leagues
will be disappointed, except perhaps
in the matter of education. Figure as
you will, and it must come from the
Democratic party. That is a fact. As
important as this question is there are
other important questions that will
come before the people, and voters
must not be drawn off into paths that
will make them regret their course.
Perhaps this is true, and yet we are
tempted to turn back the pages of
history a few years and read the prom
ises the Democrats made of "relief"
when thev should inaugurate free-trade.
They made the test, but the "relief"
is not tbe land tne people desired, it
will be the same with Democratic, bi
metallism.
The income tax law has been de-'
clared unconstitutional, and the last
hope of the administration to gain rev
enue by this means has been blighted.
What a dark and dismal page in the
history of the country the Democratic
innovation in 1892 upon Republican
rule will furnish. With all branches
of the government in its possession,
after two years of attempting to inau
gurate a new policy, the most distress
ful times ever suffered have been ex
perienced, and the most available way
of keeping the treasury to the legal
limit has been declared unconstitu
tional by the highest judicial tribunal
in the country. The free-trade experi
ment has been a most dismal failure.
and the people will not permit it to be
tried again during tnis or, pernaps,
many succeeding generations.
The recent publication of the opin
ions on American life by Paul Bourget,
Clemenceau and the Marquis de Castel-
lane prove the inability of cultivated
foreigners to appreciate our customs or
our national character, says the San
Francisco Chronicle. This is strange,
because well-educated Americans have
no difficulty in estimating at their true
value the traits of French or German
life. No American who is not hope
lessly provincial would dream of jot
ting down tne absurdities wmcn ne
sees on the Paris boulevards as char
acteristic of the life of the French peo
ple; yet all through Bourget's book is
seen tnis tendency to generalize irom
petty or absurd incidents, it is child
Ish, but it seems to mark also the work
of Clemenceau and Castellans. Is it
that the national conceit of these
Frenchmen is so large that they are
unable to see clearly, or that their
credulity is so much greater than their
common sense? Whatever the reason
the fact remains that their observa
tions are rendered ludicrous by the im
importance which they give to trifles
and to Btoriea which a little investiga
tion would have shown them were ab
surd and without any foundation.
TELEGRAPHIC.
TEBBIFIC EXPLOSION.
Fourteen Penoni Killed In a Nltro-Gly-eerlne
Explosion.
San Francisco, May 21. A terrific
report and concussion, which was dis
tinctly felt all through the city and at
towns around the bay for a distance ofH
iorty miles, was at first believed to oe
caused by an earthquake, but proved
to be an explosion in the nitro-glycer-ine
and mixing houses, storehouse and
gun-cotton departments of the Cali
fornia powder works at Pinole, across
the bay- this morning. The crew of
the glycerine house, four in number,
and the foreman of the mixing house
were killed, as were also nine Chinese
working in the latter department.
The explosion occurred in the nitro
glycerine house at 10:45 A. M., and was
probably caused by a Chinese dropping
a can of the explosive. The cause
cannot be definitely ascertained, as all
connected with the building are dead.
There were 200 Chinese in the adjacent
mixing room, and at the sound of the
explosion all ran and escaped.
The force of the explosion was tre
mendous. Huge trees were thrown
into the bay, a distance of half a mile,
and nitro-glycerine tanks, weighing a
ton each, are now lying ow yards dis
tant from the scene. Toes, hands, legs
and other parts of the mutilated re
mains of the dead are scattered along
the road for a mile.
The nitro-glycerine house first went
' up, then the mixing house, storehouse
and gun-cotton departments. The
nitro-glycerine house, of which not a
vestige now remains, was a three-story
frame structure, 200 feet by oO. It con
tained 8000 pounds of nitro-glycerine
ana zuuu pounas oi Hercules powaer.
A remarkable feature of the explosion
is the fact that, although the store
house containing 1000 pounds of Her
cules powder is completely wrecked,
its contents are intact. In all, 10,000
pounds of explosives went up with a
roar and a sheet of flame. The fatali
ties are as follows:
Killed Clare Johnson, foreman of
the glycerine house, and D. A. Dean.
both of Pinole; H. M. Minugh, of Oak
land; C. Venegas, of Martinez; W. D,
Taylor, foreman of the mixing house
nine Chinese.
SKIFF DRAWN UNDER.
Three
Drowned In a Whirlpool Near the
Methow'. Month.
Water vtlle, Wash., May 21.
Word was received this morning of the
drowning of C. F. B. Haskell, W. A
Barton and Mrs. Prowell, wife of Mr.
Haskell s associate. The men were
conducting a government survey on
Columbia river. The accident occur
red at 6:30 P. M. yesterday, at a point
on the river a short distance below
the mouth of the Methow. They came
up tne river on the steamer MUensowg,
and undertook to row from the Ellens-
ourq to tne government steamer in a
skiff, but were caught in a whirlpool
and drawn under. Mrs. Prowell was
thrown out, and the men hung to the
boat. In a few minutes -the boat was
again drawn under with the men, aud
never reappeared. The current car
ried Mrs. Prowell ashore, but before
assistance could reach her she disap
peared. There were several witnesses
of the catastrophe, but they were un
able to render any assistance. All
were from Wenatchee. Mr. Haskell
was one of the best-known civil engi
neers in the state. He had almost
completed his government contract.
He left a widow and child, and Mr.
Barton left a widow and two children.
SEATTLE BANK FAILS.
Merchju-tV National of that City Will
Xot Re-Open.
Seattle, May 21. The first failure
of a national bank in this city occurred
this morning, when tne Merchants'
National bank closed its doors and it
was announced that it would not re
open. The Dan it was incorporated July zi.
1890, with a capital stock of $300,000.
In explaining the failure, Angus Mack
intosh, the president, said this morn
ing: "This misfortune is the inevita
ble result of the hard times and the
inability of the people to respond to
the calls made upon them. Our board
of directors met this merning and de
cided, in view of the position of things,
not to open today and to have the
cashier notify the controller of the
action taken. We can do nothing un
til the examiner comes in. The plan
of consolidation fell through, and this
bank will simply liquidate. The bank
will pay all its obligations and 1 do not
thing that this will absorb any of the
capital stock. Our aim will be to call
upon our stockholders and .not to go
through the hands of a receiver. The
stockholders will be able to recoup
themselves from the assets as fast as
they are able to realize on them, and
they will be quite sufficient to make
the'stockholdera whole again. I can
not give you an exact statement of the
affairs of the bant until the examiner
gets here, but I can say generally that
there are no really bad assets, the only
difficulty being that they are slow to
realize on."
SOUTH AMERICA.
Pro pec ti of a Revolution In Venezuela.
New York, May 21. The World
says: Private letters received here
tell of renewed political disturbances
in Venezuela, with prospects of anoth
er revolution. Tne plan of general
amnesty, which was intended to draw
back to the country all of its noted
exiles, has prooved a failure.
TomrJew xort tnere went ueneral
Praza, General Monagas, General
Hernandez, General Sarria, General
Puildo and severrl others. General
Guzman Blanco, the greatest of Vene
zuelan revolutionists, refused to be
drawn from his retreat in Paris, al
though the new government offered to
him every inducement.
iiy the last steamer uenerai Monagas
returned to New York and General
Praza, who was formerly minister to
Washington, will go next week.
Nearly all the returned exils will leave
the country again.
Business in leading cities is poor,
In politics tnere is cnaos wnich
rapidly reaching a crisis.
President Orespo is reported to be
getting ready to form a new cabinet.
CLASH BETWEEN AUTHORITIES.
Canada and England Disagreed on Sealing
Regulations.
Victoria, May 21 Those who have
had most to do with securing the adop
tion of the new seal regulations, disclose
the fact that a serious disagreement oc
cured between the Canadian authorities
at Ottawa and the British authorities
at London, which at one time threat
ened to bring a renewal of tne old reg
ulations. Contrary to the general"!
belief, the isritisn government has
favored the position of the United
States and not that of Canada as to the
seizing of arms on vessels plying in
Behring sea during the closed season,
but desire in London to continue the
former rule of seizing arms was stub
bornly combated at Ottawa by polit
ical influences which saw an advantage
in a policy antagonistic to tne united
States. These influences finally pre
vailed in London, although the author
ities there yielded reluctantly to the
Uttawa views.
A CorvallU Suicide.
Cohvallis, Or., May 21. William
Uhlman, the superintendent of the
Coast Carriage & Wagon Co., com
mitted suicide this morning by hang
ing rrom a water pipe, w nen lound
by one of employes during the after
noon, he had evidently been dead
several hours. He had attached a cord
to a water faucet, passed the other end
around his nee, and fallen forward
with his body nearly flat on the floor.
By the broken cords it was easily seen
that two or three attempts had been
made before he succeeded in getting
one strong enough to support his
weight.
Situation la Critical
YOKOHAMA, May 21, Advices from
Seoul, the capital of Corea, dated May
20, say the situation there is critical.
The premier has resigned and the
minister of the interior has applied to
the representative of foreign powers
lor assistance. The residences of the
fate regent and the king's father, who
is also the leader of the anti-Japanese
party, are surrounded by the police,
and entrance to or exit from their
dwellings is forbidden.
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
The Internal
Revenue
Killed.
Law Declared
Knoxville, Tenn., May 22. The
startling announcement is made by
Colonel Noble Smithson, a Knoxville
attorney who has had much practice
before the United States supreme court,
that the decision on the income tax
has also killed . the internal revenue
laws. In a careful prepared opinion,
Colonel Smithson says:
"Justice Fuller, in his opinion, says
the constitution divides federal taxa
tion into two classes. First, direct
taiee; second, imposts and excises
and that direct taxes must be appor
tioned among the several states in
proportion to their representation in
the house of representatives. Appar
ently the logical result of this opinion
is that all federal taxes, except duties
on imports (that is to say, taxes col
lected under tariff laws) must be ap
portioned among the states according
to their representation in the house of
representatives. " An act of August 27,
1894 (the Wilson bill), section 48, pro
vides there shall be levied and collect
ed on all distilled spirits, etc, a tax of
$1.00 on each proof gallon; the statutes
of the United States levy a tax of 6
cents a pound on tobacco, etc. It
seems clear, according to this opinion
of the chief justice, that these are di
rect taxes on personal property, and
not being apportioned among tne sev
eral states according to their represen
tation, they are unconstitutional and
void.
"If this view is correct, the supreme
court has not only wiped out the in
come tax but has practically repealed
the internal revenue as it affects to
bacco, whisky, brandy, etc. If this
construction of the opinion be correct,
all direct taxes, including- those on
real and personal property, must be
levied according to representation, so
that the rich people of New York,
Massachusetts and other eastern states
will pay no more tax per capita than
the poor western and southern states.
Of course, this is not to be thought of.
The result would be that practically all
revenues for the support of the govern
ment must be raised by duties on im
ports, and instead of reducing the
tariff it will necessarily increase it
materially."
ESCAPED from jail.
The Man Who Killed Klncald Walked ont
of the Roaebnrg Jail.
Rosebueg, Or., May 22. Samuel G.
Brown, who shot and killed Alfred
Kincaid at Oakland last August, and
who was, at the December term of
court, found guilty of murder in the
first degree and sentenced to be hanged
February 15, 1895, and whose sentence
was suspended pending an appeal to
the supreme court, walked out of the
county jail some time after midnight
last night. Deputy Sheriff Shipley had
been guarding Brown at night, sleep
ing in the corridor of the jail. It has
been the custom of Shipley every night,
about 7 o'clock, to lock Brown in the
steel cage. It seems that last night
Shiply failed to do this. As there was
only a spring lock on the outside door,
it was a easy matter for Brown to make
his escape while Shipley lay sleeping
close at hand. The escape was not dis
covered until 4 o'clock this morning.
It is generally known that Brown has
friends on the outside, who no doubt
aided him to escape, and no doubt he
is well armed and will kill before he
will be taken. Sheriff's posses are out
in all directions - scouring the country.
Sheriff Cathcart is leaving nothing
undone to capture his man. Deputy
Shambrooke is on Brown's tracks, and
it is expected he will soon be captured.
FOUR PRISONERS ESCAPED.
Snceeufnl Jail Delivery In Alameda Coun
ty Last Night. ,
Oakland. May 22 Four prisoners
in the Almeda county jail broke out
during the night and escaped. They
are Thomas Harris, alias JN . r . mckey,
Jack Demsey, Thomas J. Duffy and
Thomas Denton. Harris had been
charged with sodomy, had had one
trial and would soon be brought up for
second trial, when it was expected he
would be acquitted. He was made a
trusty and had the run of the corridors
and many privileges. His cell was
unlocked at night. He took the other
three prisoners in his cell last night.
They cut through three iron bars and
reached the roof, lowering themselves
to the yard by rope baskets. By means
of a canvas ladder pushed over the
wall by broomsticks, they scaled the
wall, and so escaped from the jail yard
to the street. No traee of tne escaped
prisoners has yet been discovered.
SENATOR CARTER INTERVIEWED,
Republican Prospects Depend on How the
Silver Question Is Met.
New York, May 22. United States
Senator Thomas Carter is at the Im
peial hotel with his wife and daughter.
Senator Carter is here on business,
and will start for his home after hav
ing had a talk with ex-President Har
rison at Fifth-avenue hotel. Senator
Carter, who is chairman of the Repub
lican national committee, was seen by
a reporter at the Imperial hotel. He
was asked to express his view on the
national situation, and more especially
concerning the silver question. Sen
ator Carter said: "The Republican
prospects west of the Mississippi de
pend on how the party meets the silver
question. The Western demand must
be met in the national platform. Fifty
nine electoral votes depend on this.
These votes will not go to any man
not willing to pledge himself to sign
the silver legislation sent to him by
congress. I believe silver bills will be
passed by both houses next year. .
"As to the candidates there is no
pronounced sentiment. Allison is the
only man west of the Mississippi
named. 1 am unable to estimate his
following. John C. Spooner, former
Benator from Wisconsin, has many
friends. The silver views of a candi
date, and not his personality will inter
est us. we snail insist on a man mak
ing a declaration which will meet that
sentiment."
RIOTOUS STUDENTS.
Over Three Hundred Engage In a Fight at
Depauw University.
Green Castle, Ind., May 22.-Three
nunared students oi tne uepauw uni
versity engaged in a riot last night, or
as they called it, a class fight. Many of
them were bruised, and a large number
of others came out of the scrimmage
with their clothing torn and be
draggled.
The fight was between the sopho
mores and the seniors on one side and
the juniors and freshmen on the other.
The first two classes gave a party and
the last two quietly engaged the. com
pany of the girls of the invited classes.
Then came the war, the seniors and
sophomores attempting to either carry
away by main force the other fellows
or to so disfigure them that they would
not be presentable. The police were
powerless, and the fire alarm was rung
and cracked scalps are common today.
The juniors and freshmen were victor!
ous and captured tne ladies.
Crushed Between Two Logs
Astoria. May 22. Charles Spears, a
logger, was .brougnt Irom Knappa this
uaui uuig uuyi im&Qu w uu. j u uuo
pitai, to be treated for injuries received
by being crushed between two logs.
It is feared the ' victim la hurt inter-
nail v. although the extent of the in
juries could not be' determined by the
attending physician.
Attempted Boieida at McKinnvUlt!.
McMinnville, Or., May 22.-Geor?e
tsere, years oia, snot mmseii. bud-
poseaiy witn suicidal intent, tnis after
noon. He placed a loaded shotgun to
his mouth and blew away the whole
. ...... .
left side of Ids face He is still alive.
witn little cnance oi recovery.
For Bale.
A few choice tobacco plants can be
purchased at low figures by inquirine-
Of A. ULLRICH & SON.
The Dalles, Oregon
TELEGRAPHIC.
KICKAPOO BOOMERS.
Bosh for Land on the Reservation
Kansas City, Mo., May 23. A
special to the Star from Guthrie, Okla
homa, says that late last night half a
dozen deputy United States marshals
raided a camp of whisky-peddlers on
the line of the Kickapoo reservation,
four miles north of Shawnee, and in
the fight two of the peddlers were
killed and two wounded. A special
from Oklahoma City says all last night
the road to the Sweeney bridge, on
the edge of the Kickapoo country, was
crowded with horsemen and vehicles.
The dust was stifling as the horses
dragged through the deep sand and
stumbled over roots Of trees in the
road. The crowd had filled up the
yard at Sweeny's bridge road house
and extended back a mile. When day
broke every one got out to cook coffee
and hitched up to await the race at
noon. Down the river for miles boom
ers were camped on the edge of the
bluff leading down North Canadian
river. Their rush will be most danger
ous, down an 18-foot embankment,
across the river, which is in many
places too deep to ford, up on the bank
on the opposite side, through a belt of
timber and thence across the famous
Kickapoo flats for claims. There are
many wire fences around allotments
which will have to be cut or jumped.
Before noon many crowded over the
river and flooded the country, and
their names were noted down by hon
est homeseekers, who obeyed the law
and waited.
Score for Each Claim.
Oklahoma City May, 23. Sharp
at noon at least lo.uuu men witn a large
number of women, made a grand rush
from all sides of the Kickapoo reserva
tion for the 450 odd claims open to
white settlement. In less than an
hour there were scores of contestants
on each of these claims in addition to
the sooners, who had already taken
possession of the lands.
QUESADAI WILL; DISAPPEAR
The Cuban Insurgent General Drops Ont
of Sight.
New York, May 23. General Ques
ada will disappear from view today,
and will not be heard from again until
he is within the line of the Cuban in
surgents and practically at the head of
the armies who are fighting for the
freedom of the island. While he has
been here he has obtained what to him
is of most moment in the fight. This
is arms and ammunition, which have
been shipped to some places in the
east, whence they will be sent to Cuba
as rapidly as possible. General Ques
ada expects to be in Texas within a few
days, and then he will endeavor to get
to Cuba with his ammunition without
being captured by the Spanish. There
is a price upon his head, and the Span
ish government will make short work
of him once he gets into their clutches.
On this account his movement will be
only known to his closest friends.
uenerai yuosaaa does not speak .Eng
lish. Through - his nephew, Manual
Quesada, he declared he has 4000 rifles
and a large quantity of ammunition,
which he will take with him to Cuba.
He says Cuba does not need men, but
arms, and that when arms are furnished
there-will be plenty of men to use
them. The general also says that soon
after ne reacned tne island be will
drive General Campos from it. His
nephew and two others whom he does
not name, will accompany him.
Henry Brooks, the Cuban patriot,
was a passenger on La Qascoqne. He
says he has come here to ally himself
with General Quesada. He came here
from Cuba a few months ago, remain
ing a few days and then going to Paris.
He expects to return to Cuba to assist
the revolutionists. He refuses to di
vulge ms pianB, otner than to say
Santiago, not Havana, is the objective
point oi tne insurgents.
SPANI8H AMERICAN REBELS.
Capture the Town of Machala With Anns
and Ammunition.
New York, May 23. A special to a
local paper from fanama, says:
The steamer Loa which has arrived
here brought confirmation of advices
that the town of Machala and the arms
and ammunition of the government
have been captured by the revolu
tionists. The entire province of
Manabi is reported to be in arms. The
capital Port Viejo, is in the power of
the patriots of LaHonra Naccional.
General Yepez, of the ' government
forces, is a prisoner. Crowds of young
men oi Guayaquil are waiting in tne
city to join the revolutionary armies.
The government is said to be com
pletely demoralized. Its official action
is in disccord with its friendly decree
tnat issued a general amnesty while
calling an extra session of congress for
a popular election. Secretary of State
Sarasti is in discord with General
Flores, commander of Guayaquil, who
is nicely to be deprived of his office.
Doctors Vela and Fernandez are at the
head of the revolution. Ambato is I
marching on Quito with a force of 1000
men. hameraida was still in the
hands of the government May 17, but
it was iearea tnat tne rebels intend an
attack shortly to regain possession of
the port.
THE CHINESE ARE TOLD.
Imperial Announcement of the Ratifi
cation of the Treaty.
London, May 23. A dispatch from
Tien-Tsin to the Times savs that an
imperial proclamation has been issued
announcing the ratification of the
treaty of peace between China and
Japan. It is declared that the govern
ment aoepiy pondered over tne advice
wnich bad been offered to it to con
tinue the war, rather than surrender.
out tne crisis demanded a decision, as
no victory had been obtained on land
or sea, owing to the incompetency of
the leaders, whd had only been able
to recruit the rabble. . The enemy, the
proclamation Bays, were menacing
.reKing. i ne country was in a terri
ble condition. The proclamation then
goes on to say:
"Could we permit alarms to disturb
the dwelling of her sacred majesty?
ueaven naa not witnneid nis augury.
The seas overflowed the coast and the
camps were submerged."
An Unfortunate Inheritance How
It Wm Destroyed.
"Spokane, Vuk, Ana. a, 1W
M t. Hood Co., Lowell, Hiu.i
"Gentlemen: I wish to add my testimony to
lb worth of Hood's Sanaparula. Hy Uttl.
Vl as Mm eond bj it of Inherited catarrh.
Sh had ooldj continually erery month and yel
low dlseharft, bat lnc taking Hood's Sana
C-OOOD'S
Sarsaparilla
CURES
puma aaa tan anttraiy eorad. Hood's Bar-
aapartOa I Bar. found of graat kelp to my
uerenadm.' Mma. L. M. Gnxzm.
Hood' PUIS at hand mad, and Mr
m yroparaeo aaa appBaiaaMk.ffi. par kosvr'
Catarrh in the Head
THE CELEBRATED
Columbia
AUGUST BUCHLER, Prop.
This Well-knowu Brewery is now turning out the best
Beer and Porter east of the Cascades. The latest appliances
for the manufacture of good healthful Beer have been intro
duced and only the first-class article wi 1 be placed on the
market.
East Second Street.
The Dalles.
Closing Out
SALE
Of Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots
and Shoes, Hats and Caps,
At Less Than Cost
BED ROCK PRICES, as Goods
Will Be Sold Regardless of Cost
Call and Get Prices and Be Convinced. N
No Trouble to Show Goods.
J. P. MCIN6RNY.
Great Shirt Sale
Commencing Tuesday and continuing for the Entire Week.
A0
and Be
JOHN
GEORGE RUCH.
PIONEER GROCER
(Successor to Chrisman & Corson.)
FULL LINE OF
STAPLE AND FANCY GROCERIES
Again at the old stand I
lonner patrons rice uciivc-jr
COLUMBIA PACKING COMPANY
Corner Third and
Cared Hams, Bacon, Dried Beef and Tongues,
, And the Best Beefsteaks, Mutton Chops and
Veal Cutlets in the Market.
Orders Delivered to
Fresh Vegetables on Sale
GREET BHRGHINS
IN MILLINERY.
Trimmed Hats 75 Cents and Upwards.
MRS. PHILLIPS.
Washington Street
San i Francisco i Beer i Hal)
jp. T ,FTT.Ti
WINES, LIQUORS
ALL KINDS OF BOTTLED BEER .
COLUMBIA BREWERY
WASHINGTON STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD.
Brewery
Oregon
Convinced.
C. HERTZ.
vvyvyyvwvyvV'
would be pleased to see all my
pan m
Washington Streets.
Anv Part cf lie Cit
at the LowestPricea.
Proprietor.
ana UlliAKS.
BEER ON DRAUGHT