1 < - _ . - . „ "
riTiTvt a Tr 4 T A - - - -
TVvoEin. . Tn-nvi-v A - r * A T nTT nit lone
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
B. tlOHEWATKIl. Editor.
I'U111.18IIEI > CVKUY MOllNINQ.
TKJU1H Of HUUSCIUPTIONI
tlly Jco ! ( Without flundar ) . One Year . $0 00
Dallr lleo nnJ Sunday , Ono Year . 8 00
HU Month . * >
Three Month . ' M
Sunday lire , One Venr . 200
HMurday Her , One Year . > ?
Weekly Dee , One Year . * >
OKFKIC'US :
Omaha ; Tlie lleo Hulldlns.
Boulli Oman * ! airwer Jllk. , Cor. N and 20li Bit.
Council IIIuT ( : 10 J'cnrl Street ,
, Chicngo oillcc : KB Chamber of Commerce ,
New York ! Temple Court.
Washington : COI Tourtecnth Btreet.
coumspoNtE.N'ci : .
All communications relating to new and edito
rial matter ihould bo addtewscd : To tli * Editor.
All business letter * and remittances should bo
Bddreteetl to The Uee Publishing Company ,
Oronlm. Draft ? , fhockn. exprcig and posloltUa
money orders to be made payable to the order or
the company. .
mi : uin : PUIIUSIIINO COMPANY.
BTATIMINT : or CIUCULATION.
Elate of Nebraska , DotiRlas county , ' . :
Oeorgu II. Tzschuck , tecrctary of The lice Pub
lishing company , tclns duly iiworn , ays that the
nctual number of full and complete coplc of The
Dally , Morning. Evening and Sunday lien printed
during the month of February , UOS , was as fol
lows : _ . , .
1 , . . . 20,9V ) jj 21,088
1 2l,9- 16 21.C.11
2 20V)2 ) 17 ' 21.COJ
4 ro.763 18. . 21,815
t IOS73 19 , . . . 21,504
6 21,030 M ; 21,093
7 20 , SO" 21 . . . . 21 3"
t 21.0-.I 22 21,421
9 21.USJ 21.033
10 20,8 21 ZI.M3
11 21,1M 23. . : . . . . . . . 22.141
12 21,070
' ' '
1.1 21.012 27' . . 21.4M
14 29,903 23. . . . 22.M1
Total S37.5SI
Totalreturned and unsold copies . . . . 9,32
Not total 'falcs
Net d , , y"a
Bworn to before me and eulwrlbed In my
this 1st day of March , 1S38.
Tlio editor or El Iniparclnl oC Mnilrltl
FOCIIIH bent on convincing the world that
.Spain Is HitHlcluntly progressive to sup
port an up-to-ilato yullow Journal.
The Hoe prints the most complete and
most reliable market news of any paper
published in this suction. Compare The
Hoe's market reports with those In other
papers. . _ .
I'our liumlruil worklngmen In an Iron
furnace In I'lttsburg have been assured
n 10 per cent advance In wages April
] and they do not regard It as an April
fool Joke either.
Despite nryan's olTorts to keep silver
to the Tore , 11 IP re seems to be a pnpo-
crallc demand that lead nnd Iron In form
Kultablo for ammunition shall be sent to
the front.
With India already exporting wheat
from this year's surplus and the price In
the Brent markets of the world un
changed , what becomes of the contention
that tile only cause of American pros
perity lies In famine and drouth ?
Omalm Is miiklnir. a record for law
lessness , but in the pre.si-nt state of
police Inetllclency one city Jail is ample
to hold all the prisoners who are appre
hended by private citizens or surtemler
themselves to the police.
If there Is to be any compromise be
tween the city and the Bolln bond sure
ties It must proceed on equitable lines.
In no event would the city authorities
lie Justified In compromising for less
than the principal of the Judgment. The
remission of three years' Interest would
.be a very generous concession.
Omaha's postal business Is growing so
rapidly that additional postal employes
nro In urgent need to enable the post-
ofllue to handle the postal trafllc. Every
good business man , however , Is ever
ready to enlarge his staff to meet an In
crease of business , and Uncle Sam ought
to regard the situation In a similar light.
One Georgian knows "where he Is at. "
Tom Watson has declined to run for
governor and In his letter announcing
the fact he says , "I want to be con
sidered politically dead nnd burled. " The
other tall to the presidential ticket of
two years ago Is evidently of like mind ,
Imt Is keeping very still about It , but the
head of the old ticket Is obstinate.
Whenever a successful bond bidder
wants to crawl out of his bargain he
tries to throw a cloud upon the legality
of the bond Issue. The brokers who nre
pursuing this ipprehcnslblo course with
respect to Omaha's funding bonds , which
, m ro awarded them In good faith , should
be made an example of and forced to
pay the penalty of their audacious fraud.
There Is no reason why bond brokers
should not be held to the terms of their
agreements Just the same ns other pee
ple.
The announcement comes from the
weot that Thomas A. Edison has suc
cessfully demonstrated the practicability
of extracting gold from dry placers by :
Ms now magnetic process and that work
will soon be commenced with the process
In the golden laden sands of New Mexico
and , A rlstoim. This Is good news for the
residents of the southwest , where gold
Is abundant but has not been commer
cially available. Every Improvement In
mining methods adds to the value of the
great mineral deposits of the western
states and territories.
The local yellow organ that ha been
perpetrating every species of war fakes
upon its readers complains that because
other papers have given space only to
reliable and authenticated dispatches
they have been
suppressing news for a
purpose. lint this same organ attempted
only a few days ago to cover up In a
seven-lint ; notice the biggest gambling
raid made In Omaha In years. In which
fifty-two persons were caught In n no.
torlous gambling resort next door to It.
own olllce. The question Is , What was
the purpose behind the suppression of
this news ?
The superintendent of public Instruc
tion has been directed by the legislature
to make an Investigation of the practi
cability and desirability of establlshin
free public echool libraries lu Iowa in
nil the largo and small districts. This is
in acordance with hl.s suggestion made
on taking his olllcu and as lie has beei
foremost in advocating school libraries
In Iowa , it may IK- assumed that he wll
give the subject his best thought nnd
present n report that will make the bos a
possible presentation of the merits of the
aystem. School libraries have uover boci
listed aa ncliool fad *
LOOM OF FUSION FOn PATnOSAQR ONLY
Fusion In Lincoln lias resulted In rep
resentation on the popocratlc city ticket
of democrats , populists , no-called silver
republicans and prohibitionists. It will
bo noted nlso that ti > explaining the
distribution of his appointments to
subordinate positions under him the
populist state auditor says that bo
lias given places not only to dem
ocrats , populists nnd silver repub
licans , but also to prohibitionists.
In other words , the logical trend
of fusion on the patronage basis IK
toward a combination of all the ele
ments required to make up the majority
vote necessary to fetch the olllccs , Irre
spective of the conflicting principles and
objects of the elements thus combined.
The question Is , How will the demo
crats , who In the past have constantly
stood for personal liberty and who have
battled tlmo nnd again against the
threatened encroachments of sumptuary
legislation , like an alliance with the vn-y
men who pose as champions of constl-
tutional and statutory prohibition ? tlow
can the democrats of Nebraska , who
elected their only democratic chief
executive on a direct Issue of antl-
prohibition , now make their polltl-
cai beds with the men whom they
then accused of trying to rob them of
a duly elected democratic gov
ernor ? How can democrats who have
always professed to see worse enemies
In the prohibitionists than In the repub
licans take the former to their political
embrace simply because they think they
sco an opportunity to divide the spoils
between them ?
It Is well known that the bulk of the
prohibition vote in Nebraska went to
swell the fusion majority la this state
In the elections of 1SOO and 1S07 ami
that this prohibition vote Is considerably
larger than the vote of the so-called
silver republicans. If the silver repub
licans nre awarded a share of the olilces
what Is more natural than that the pro
hibitionists should put in at least an
equal claim ? If the prohibitionists are
entitled to places on the fusion municipal
ticket at the state capital , nnd nre also
considered in the appointments under
the state auditor , why should they not
insist upon representation upon the legis
lative and county tickets ? Why sliould
not Uio prohibitionists insist
upon repre
sentation upon the state ticket ? Can
they not urge ns good reasons for nom-
natlng n prohibitionist on the fusion
late ticket as secured for the silver ro-
mbllcans a place upon It in the cam-
lalgn of 1S07 ?
If this Is not the real logic of fusion
n the patronage basis , what Is ?
STA'fK MILITIA IX TIMK OF II'.IR.
There Is diversity of opinion as to tlie
nthorlty which may be exercised by the
U'osldcnt of the United States over the
rganlml militia or national guard of
ho several states In case of foreign
var. The constitution provides thar , the
resident shall be commander-in-clilcf
f the militia of the several states when
ulled Into the actual service of the
Jnltpd States , but the question Is as to
ho course to bo pursued by the preal-
leufc livicalllng forth these state troops ,
t Is held by sonic that thcmllltla organ-
nations would bo called Into the service
f the nation by the president directly
ind would report for service anywhere
ho national military authorities should
mler , while In the opinion of others
hcse organizations would bo under the
nmedlate control of the governors of
lie states , who would hand them over to
he national authorities.
Iileutcnnnt Colonel Davis , professor of
aw at the United States military acad-
iny , has Issucdn ( pamphlet relating to
his subject , In which bo says that the
tistom of sending the call for state mlll-
la through the governor Is a matter of
; ourtesy and Is not required by law.
le holds that "the president's orders
nay be givoa lo the chief executive
naglstrate of the state or to.any mill-
la olllcor be may think proper. " Ac
cording to this authority It Is entirely
vlthln the discretion , of the president to
leslgnate certain organizations for serv-
co under the call , but "If there be no
n-ganlzed militia In the state pointed out
> y the act oC July 17 , 1SU2 , as the one
rom which the militia should bo drawn ,
ho power to designate becomes Impos
sible of execution and the call must In
lon.sequenec be addressed to the gov-
Tiior of the state. " Referring to this
he Army and Navy .Journal says that
nllllary usage and courtesy both re
quire that a call for troops should be ad-
Ircssed to the governor as commander-
n-chlef. If the governor should refuse
or neglect to respond to the call the of
roops required could bo ordered Into
ho service without his consent
If the view of Colonel Davis Is correct ,
ind It Is understood to have the ap
iroval of the War department , the mill-
la of the states can be called Into
fho service of the nation by the presl
lent directly , though It Is not at all
probable that this would everbo done , of
even In a case whore there might be
good reason to believe that a governor
would not respond to the call. Un- In
loubtcdly the established usage and
courtesy will always be observed , what
ever the exigency requiring the calling
of troops for thn national defense. In
regard to disposing1 state troops after
they have entoi'ed ' the service of the na
tion , it Is needless to say that they can
bo sent anywhere In the United States.
They are then under the absolute con
trol of the federal government for the
to
period fixed In the call of the president
and by the terms of their enlistment
In such service .state boundaries In no
way limit the movements of state troops
or restrict the right of the federal nu
thorlth's to disposeof them ns they see
lit within the national boundaries
Whether , however , state militia can bo
sent out of the United States without the of
consent of the state authorities , unless I
be clearly nocoftsary to repel invasion
Is questionable.
There Is no danger , however , that any
of these questions would be fount to
troublesome in the event of Its becom
Ing necessary to call for troops for tin
tlonal defense. There Ls not a governo
who would not respond promptly to sucl
call and there Is not a state that woul
not offer tlie government more men thai
Its quota , ready and eager to go whcr
cycr Uio national authorities should
t to Rend thorn. Hundreds of thou-
amis nro anxious for the opportunity.
THK LACK OF SRAMKX.
While hundreds of thousands of men
re ready to respond to n call lo mill-
iry service It Is found difficult to secure
ion for the navy. Service on the sen
ppears to offer no such Incentive to
ntrlotlsm as service on the lam ) . There
re many ) young nnd vigorous men out
f employment In the largo cities who
vould uiako excellent soldiers and sail-
rs , but while probably most of these
vould enlist If n tall for troops were
mile , very fewof / them are disposed to
ike service on our cruisers nnd battle-
hips. Life on the sea has no iittrnc-
Ions for them.
Ileferrlng to this the Philadelphia
'ress suggests two obstacles to enlist-
ig men In tlie navy. One Is tlie small
' ay , but the chief obstacle is the luabll-
j'a ;
y of seamen to rise. No man , observes
hat ' paper , who enlists In the navy has
,
. ny . prospect before him of anything
, . Igher than a warrant officer. Unques-
lonaoly there is something In this , but
robably n better explanation of the In-
.
( Isposltioiv of men to enter the naval
ervice is to be found in the rigid disci
line , the hard work and the Isolation
ivolved In the service. The seaman on
lie old-fashioned war ship had little to
o In comparison with the demands
vhlch the modem naval fighting ma-
bines make upon him. Not only is he
ubjectcd to a severer discipline than
'ormerly , but he has much more labor
o perform. Undoubtedly It would be
good policy to Increase the pay of sea-
ion In the navy and to provide a system
f promotion. There are certainly good
casons why , this should be doue , but It
vould not remove all the objections to
lavnl service which make It dllllctilt to
ccure men for It when there Is an abuu-
ant supply of men.
AN KSTIMATK OF M'KIXLKI' .
Expressions of confidence In President
McKlnley are not so uiiconijiion as to In-
Ii ! > special attention , but occasio inily
here Is ono from a source which glvos
t peculiar Interest. Two years ago no
lie in the country thought less of Me-
CInley than the HOIK Thomas C. Platt
of Now York. Krom n political stand-
loint ho regarded the Ohio statesman as
10n
no of the weakest men In his party and
ill the Influence of air. Platt was ex-
illrt
rted against McKlnley as a candidate
01 the presidential nomination. Like
01n
nany : others who then felt as ho did ,
li . Platt has changed his mind and now
lu senator from New York Is one of the
lum
varmest admirers of tlie president.
In a recent letter to a friend Mr. Platt
limits the unfairness and Injustice ofthe
' Is former Impressions of McKlnley and
f'1' ' : "I did not know him as I have
. earned since and ns subsequent events
inve demonstrated. He Is , In my Judg-
iiont , a prudent , sagacious and wise
hluf , executive. The ideas which were
quite prevalent that he had not deter-
ninatlon | and courage have been dlssl-
iated. " This has como to be the Judg-
ncnt of the entire country , of fair
nlnded ) men of all parties , as It was of
i majority of the American people two
ears ago. There nro some narrow-
nlnded or malignant politicians and
icwspapcrs who attempt to discredit the
incerlty and patriotism of the president ,
but these have no weight with Intelligent
loople who have Bomo appreciation of
ho great responsibilities resting upon
he chief executive. No president In our
ilstory had a stronger hold upon the
onlldonce of the country than McK'nley '
las and he has achieved it by , showing
ho highest qualifications for his great
rust. Senator Plait's estimate of li'm
s shared with piuctlcal unanimity by
Vmericans Irrespective of politics and Is
n nccord with the impartial Judgment o
elllgcnt men everywhere who are
vatchlng the course of events hero.
OWA'KUSinP OF TIIK IllVKRS.
A feature of the general Irrigation
> roblem second In Importance only to the
luestlon of how and where to got the
vatcr Is that of how to adjust equitably
ho rights of those who .ileslre to use the
vatcr and avoid expensive litigation. It
ms been computed that In some of the
tatcs irrigation lawsuits have cost more
ban Irrigation ditches , due almost en
tirely to defective laws relating to Irri
gation. Where Irrigation Is necessary It
s the water that gives value to the land
and Is In fact ai part of the value of the
arid Irrigated. Whore the laws rccog-
ilzo property rights In water aside from of
he land and provide for control of the
vatcr from the streams or wells by per
sons or companies who dispose of the
same as they see fir , the geatest number
lawsuits are recorded.
The other view of Irrigation water
hat It belongs to Uic state or the public In
and that right to use can only be ac <
quired by using is most nearly In accord
with common sense and fairness. The
lieu who have been active In urging a
wholesale revlson of laws relating to Ir-
Igatlou , or rather national recognition
the Importance of the Irrigation work
n the west , Insist that the ownership of as
If
irrigation water should always remain
the name ofi the state and the right
o use thereof should Inhere In the land.
Another view taken by them Is that v
tribunals for establishing water rights
should be established to act Indopen-
Joutly of the courts and that a nominal
fee should bo charged for use of water.
There Is no more reason why water
T
should be absolutely free than that land
hould bo free where both are necessary
successful agriculture.
In the midst of the agitation for the
cession of the remaining arid lands to an
the states by act of congress these and
similar queslons have now force and de
serve greater consideration than In the
past
of
The disposition shown by the officers
the Ak-Sar-Ilcn to monopolize the
Coliseum nnd prevent Its use for con of
ventions and great gatherings during the
exposition reflects little appreciation of
the public support generously accorded as
the Ak-Snr-Hcns. The people of
Omaha certainly have a right to expect
that the guests of this city , whether they
como primarily to attend conventions ,
musical festivals or the exposition , will
bo given commodious quarters and
afforded the best facilities for currying
out the objects of their visit Only by ou If
harmonious co-operation and exhibition
of public spirit can Omaha creditably
discharge the pVwmposcd task of popular
ula cntcrtaln/Acnt / , The Ak-Sar-Hcn
directory shoulif nVso bear In mind that
no festivities they , may promote or un
dertake this jfeiyr , , can bo made compcii
| ) letely successful" without the active coof
operation of tlieuoxjiosltion mauagetucnt.
Minnesota republicans have set a good
example for tnc ) Republicans of other
states. A Republican State league has
been organized * with which la alllllatcd
nil the republican local clubs and
through which nctlvo work for the
spread of republican doctrine will be car
ried on. during the present year. This
work Is supplemental to that of the reg
ula ular state campaign committee , but It Is
n work that can bo done best through
voluntary clubs and ought to bo done In
every state. The state and congressional
campaigns will soon bo on and repub
licans must bo alert. The enemies of
sound money and a safe and conserva
tive , administration nro prepared to take
advantage . . of every open point and make
the . most of It for reversal of the popular
will as expressed In the election of Mc
Klnley.
In no state of the union has there been
greater departure from well recognized
democratic principles in the. manner of
conducting I elections than that proposed
by the democratic majority In the Ken
tucky legislature. The plan contem
plated Is to place control of nil state
elections in the hands of boards or com
missions appointed by a central board
appointed by the governor. This Is a
centralization of power and denial of the
.
right of local government nnd locnl con-
. trol . of local affairs that would not bo
tolerated . in any state of the union where
democratic principles nro loved more
and paraded less.
If the police officers , captains or pri
vates , have any evidence of any thefts
committed by anybody it is their duty to
cause the offender's arrest and prosecu
tion. _ No police officer , however , can
excuse or Justify his own flagrant fa
voritism to notorious skin gamblers by
concocting story that
some one con-
ncctcd with The Boo has taken advan
tage of their lax police methods. The
public Is still waiting to know what was
the consideration that Induced the po
lice ofllcers to release men charged with
felonies on nominal bonds In order to
assist them to escape the penalties of
their crimes.
fop E.vi
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
France ana Russia nre trying to blow up
the Chinese loan. Nothing la safe lo
bubbling times of International discord.
Kuiiey Fllvit AVi-ny from Fact.
Cleveland I'laln Dealer.
Eloquent Chaiticey Dcpew clalma that the
birds have built 'their ' ncsta In the cannon's
mouth and that they musn't be disturbed.
H Is feared that'-'Chauiwey lets his poetical
fancy run away With his patriotic good sense.
There Is only oneTblril ( hat Interests us Just
uow and that Is the glorlouo old Homan
beaked war eagle.
Crtiitifolii llic Wheel.
American.
The calmness displayed by the American
people while waiting for the Maine report
may be the calm tfefore the storm , but It la
alao- the quiet. ofetcontrol. ! . Rcast > nand ;
riot passion , will settle the momentous ques-
tlciss Involved , arid In this crisis the mtlco
la furnishing an example to the world of
how a Belf-governlnjji people can act In
critical moment".1.
HoulilcKltiMiiclnJ Drnln.
Inclldnapolls Journal.
The people of this country arc Just now
submitted to a double financial drain for
which fact they may thank the Spaniards.
With their taxes they are buying ammuni
tion to kill the persecutors , If necessary ,
and with their charity they are sending food
to the victims. It would take a clever and
adroit judge to decide which expenditure la
made the more cheerfully.
The Maine Ttclluf Hill.
Philadelphia Record.
Under the terms of the relief bill as passed
by congress , the suwlvors of the disaster to
the battleship Maltno are to be Indemnified
for IOFSOS actually sustained up to a limit
of twelve months' pay and allowance. This
lo substantially the plan pursued In regard
to the survivors of the wrecks of the Nlpslc ,
Trenton and Vaodalla In Apia harbor. These.
sea tossed and forlorn toys of Ill-fortune
managed generally to make their accounts
of loss compare reascnably with the
maximum allowance ; and there will be , no
doubt , a similarly generous allowance for the
Maine survivors. Whatever may bo the
sunw awarded , they will be paid by the
nation without grudging and without delay.
I'lniinclc- YcllOTVlniu.
Springfield Republican.
A few days ago the chief of yellow news ;
papers , the New York Journal , sent a re
porter to Mr. Roosevelt , assistant secretary
the iavy , for an Interview , He was very
persistent , but Mr. Roosevelt as persistently
refused , and had no conversation with the
man. Nevertheless , In poster type , an In
terview with the assistant secretary was (
spread all over the first page of that paper.
Upon Its publication the head of the Wash-
Ingtcn bureau wrote Mr. Hoosovelt , giving
him the source of the Journal's Information _
and asking him not to deny the Interview.
reply Mr. Roosevelt wrote as follows : '
"Dear Sir I do not contemplate denying
the story. I already have denied It In the is
most unequivocal terms. The statement In
today's paper was an absolute falsehood. I
told your reporter not once , but again and
again , as he was persistent , that I would
not give him an Interview of any kind. His
conduct was Infamous , and you yourselvw
should have kno\vn that no such Interview
a
thst could possibly have come from me ,
for no other reason than that I have
never given a certificate of character to your
paper. In your final paragraph you aay that
you tri U ttat you will not have to change "
jour opinion of me. ' I can Imagine nothing =
Me would bo df less consequence to me. " "a
If others would.resent , such brazen Impucai
derce with similar , emphasis , the era of
yellow Journalism would be cut short.
A XUMIIUII OXU XATIOX.
There ] Mny H V OUiem , but Xoiio Ont-
eliiM ,1'nclf ' Sum.
Clevolaml IMam Denier.
Americans have Ions believed that , as a
nation , they were-iuiniber one. It may bd
that In daja gone by they placed too high his
estimate upon themselves ; but at the ho
present tlmo their superiority Is amply
borne out by thp facts.
The United States Is without an equal , til
What nation combines such quality with
euch quantity of , people ? The population fu
the United Stages more than the popucc
latlon of any other nation Is composed of
po
peryle of mind. It Is composed of people pr
who take a deep Interest In the welfare his
their government , because primarily the the
governing poA-er Inheres In them , and who
would , oil principle , uphold It In any crisis.
There has never been a nation with euch
resources moral , Intellectual and material "
the United States. So far as material Dr
resources are concerned. It Is estimated that of
the fifty millions of dollars which were recently - w
cently appropriated by congress for the purpose - "
pose of putting the nation In defensive < "
shape Is only one-sixth of 1 per cent ot the
assessed valuation of the real and personal ad
property of the nation. of
Patriotism , brains * and money and all la
superabundance form an Invincible triad
amiable Uncle Sam should ever be thorv
hly aroused , that fact would be made w
manliest , * tl
TUB IlOCn AXn ITS
'Let Vi Keep Onr flonicn TlirnnRhuut
Thin Crucial Fcrl i1. "
Nerr Tork Mall and
It IB probable that by the close of ( he
week just begun the ability of the American
icoplo to coolly and calmly weigh the facts
of a tcrrlblo national calamity will have
> ecn tested In the cyca ot the world ae they
o seldom been before. The Hoard ot In
quiry report , It would eeem from current
news from Key West , Is within n few dajs
of publicity , but whatever Ita formal find-
ngs may bo , Uio people , who arc tbo court
of final resort and judgment In this case ,
ind must bo so regarded , have alee to give
t thcln approval , It U Is to stand for any-
hlng ot moment In the controversy. So ,
too , mtrat the president , his cabinet and
congrcei. The document will no doubt live
.n history , for U will make history ; but
not 'to Ita words , so much as to Its rccop-
lon throughout the country and the action
hat results will the world at large , to
day and In the future , look for an Indecc to
.ho character , of the American people and
their ability to keep within the limits ot
reason and righteousness , no matter what
the temptation or promptings to stray be
yond.
Nations demonstrate 'their ' vitality not dur-
ng ordinary times , but during such a crisis
is that whloh now approaches , and It Is
: hen also that a people grown rich , numer
ous and powerful far beyond their own an
ticipations can assert and prove their tltlo
to enduring greatness and to the respect of
all mankind. This Is not to bo accomplished
solely by unsheathing swords and shotting
guns , for peace hath Us victories no less
renowned than war , and the world has
Msacd beyond < the times when might made
right. The
civilization of today puts a
ration ; to a higher test than the capacity
to kill or overawe more people than any
other , for the triumphs that now make most
for [ national progress nro not won lu the
lists of battle , but In the fields of science ,
commerce and the arts. Had this not been
so , all Europe would have run with the
blood of Its people on at least two occasions
in recent years , and oven today Its gov
ernments would bo relying on their soldiery
rather than ithclr statesmen to eolvo the
most menacing problem with which this gen
eration In Europe and Asia has had to
deal.Lot
Lot us , therefore , resolve above all to
keep our senses throughout this crucial
period. There Is abundant reason for doing
so. A victorious war with a nation so far
outclassed 0.9 Spain would bo could add
nothing to the luster of the stars and stripes ;
but even If It could the war must first of
all bo a necessary and a Just ono. Old
Qlory Is not a symbol of strife , but an em
blem of "Peace on earth , good will to man. "
It Is moro ir.ujcsttc and Inspiring when
contemplated In this true significance than
vhen put forward as a defiance to other
nations , which It Is not. Therefore , wo
have nothing to lese and everything lo gain
by facing this crisis In the right spirit and
according to national precedent.
POSTAL IIAT1CS OX RAlMtOAUS.
render IloKiiril of COIIKTCKH fop Truiis-
po rln 11 ( i ii Co mini n le.H.
Springfield ( Muss. ) llepubllran.
The postotflcn appropriation bill was under
discussion In the house lust week. When
tin burning question of compenpatlon to
tbo < railroads for the- carriage of the malls
came up Chairman Loud of the postolllce
committee Immediately rose and moved that
del bo closed In five minute ? . But thla
Is a most Important part of the bill , said
Mro . niand of Missouri ; you surely
wouldn't dispose of It In such haste as this.
lute Mr. Loud Insisted. He was opposed
to nny reduction. There was call for a
division on the Loud motion. The ayes
seemed to prevail. Then there was a demand
for tellers and the vote was 97 to SO In
favor ' of discussing the question. The rail
roads had been beaten In the preliminary
skirmish.
Uut 1 they won finally , when on Saturday
tin house refused to rcduco the- railroad ap
propriation by a vote of 74 to 82. And
yet It was asserted In the debate , without
contradiction , that the railroads
were being paid at the average rate of about
,
8 cents a pound for the carriage of the malla
ind were at the eame time , and for equal
averages distances , charging express com
panies less than half a cent a pound for the
carriage of similar matter. It further ap
peared that there had been no reduction In
the rullway mall charges since 1878 , while
Freight rates In the same tlmo hive declined
some 40 per cent. And this enormous av-
erugo charge of 8 cents a pound Is Imposed
on the basis of weights established for four
years during some specified month when the
railroads have every opportunity to pad the
malls and arc pretty well known In many
cases to exercise It.
Moreover , It appeared that the govern
me ment was paying the railroads In addition
an average yearly rental for postal cars of
? 5GOO , or more money each year than would
boJ required to build the curs.
Small wonder In
that the opponents of a re
duction In the railway appropriation wanted
tO stifle debate. They know what facts
discussion would bring out. And so the
postal | ; deficiency of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000
yearly wll continue , and when people wonder
why 1-cent letter postage or extended free ho
rural mall delivery or other desired re In
forms and changes are not forthcoming , let
them know that It Is because a majority of
tholr congressmen have fallen Into the heads
ofpel the railroads and are being used to per- In
pctuato what appears to bo a gigantic cx- *
tortlon on behalf of the roads against the
government. '
(
I'KHSO.VAI , LVXU OT1IF.HWISE.
Havana's Idea appears to be millions for JJjJ
war nhlps , but not a cent foe charity. "
Ono thing that throws a doubt on the
alleged great value of Cuba Is the fact that
no American syndicate baa offered to buy
ho Island.
at
Colonel A. K. McClure , the veteran Phila
delphia editor , has accepted an Invitation to ton
vlalt several southern cltlea and lecture on
southern development. as
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show carried the
Irat popcorn over sold In Paris , and last week
Ive tons of It were shipped to the gay cap Bcn
ital. Mr. Cody deserves credit for Introduc-
the useful as well a tbo picturesque
features of American life.
At an elaborate "banquet given 'by Mrs.
Wright In Mexico to Governor Atkinson of
'Georgia , the honored guest , prefaced the
dinner by rising and asking a blessing. Tt An
said that the governor ahvays observes ? ?
this rule whether ho lines In public or prly
vato.
A paper In Belfast , Me. , eaya that "Robert
Smith was atruck by tbo southbound pafwn- tor
gcr train la t nlplit and Instantly killed.
Mr. Smith , It will bo remembered , met with
similar accident about a year ago near
Scarboro. "
General Nelson iD. Swcltzor , who died In
Washington ' not long ago , was graduated
from "West Point In the same class with
Sheridan , Schofleld and Mcl'herson
, an < l It
was a detachment from his command which tin
captured Dootli , the assassin of President
Lincoln. ] tt
Mr. Hutchlnson , who le now daunting the
national capital trying to got some congress tr
man to Introduce a bill ho has drawn ap
propriating $10,000,000 to put the Idlet to
work. Is the last survivor of a family of
abolitionists , who once traveled over Itio r
country singing the wrongs of slavery.
Ao old farmer In Michigan has made hto
will In favor of Harnuin's circus. Ho left
. . old homestead to his wife , but his $10,000
would fain have go to the abow which
gave him pleasure. Such a will Is of course
called "eccentric , " aud the old man's rela in
tlvea mean to contest It , -
in
Dr. 0. Lane Tancyhlll of Baltimore * re
fuses to give up his private practice to ac ar
cept the ofilco of quarantine physician at that
port with $3,000 annual ealary. He eays his
present Income U more than ttiat and ttiat
practice could not readily bo regained In re
event of a change of administration.
Will J. Ham of Atchlson , who Is about to
graduate ) 'from the St. Louis Medical college ,
has been employed as a Missouri Pacific
brakeman during hU entlte four years' couroe be >
study. Ho had a run on a St. Louis aubur.
ban train , which enabled him to attend the
medical classes during the afternoon and
evening.
William A. Klrkland , the ranking rear
admiral In the navy , baa acen a great deal
hard naval service and has a fund of ex
pcrlenco which would bo Invaluable to thla
country in case of trouble with any other
nation. Ho U a North Carolinian by birth ,
wan appointed to tbo navy in 1850 and Is a
tluff veteran of the old school ,
op Tins rnrcs.
Spain Is buying food uppllcs for Iti
( oldlora In thn New York market.
Loyalists In Havana subscribed $10,000 for
a war ship , but not a cent for charity ,
battery of itxtrrn big gun * juit
mounted at Fortress Monroe Is warranted
to give a hot reception to any ship on nils-
chief bent.
Foreign dealers In obsolcto war ships ,
who hnvo tried In vain to .unload on Uncle
Earn , have reached thr > conclusion that this
country Is abundantly supplied with junk.
General Leo has secure ! measurements of
the plat In Havana cemetery wherein the
Maine victims were burled , and Intends hav
ing erected around It a tailing of marble pil
lars and chains , to bo entered with a deco
rative gate bearing a suitable Inscription.
There Is no occasion for Idle prophecies
or speculation. A North Carolina astrola-
glst has turned a searchlight on the planets
and tells what the future has In store. Ac
cording to the planetary signs , the period ot
acute tension between this country and
Spain mill bo between April 4 and S , anJ It ;
war Is not actually begun before April 10
Spain will bo supplicating for peace at any
price.
Senator iMnson of Illinois declines to per
mit Dr. Frank E. .Powell . of La Crowe ,
WIs. , to take his place In duel with the
Spanish baron , El Cardo. Dr. Powell Is a
crack shot. 'Ho ' can puncture a penny at
ten paces and frequently amuses himself !
driving pins with pistol bullets. The scnaS
tor dislikes killing the baron as quickly as i
Dr. Powell Is capable of , and has concluded i
to dispose of him at le'sure by sending him
regular Installments of pub. docs.
Ono of Now York'a yellow war cries re
cently printed In poster type an alleged In
terview with Assistant Secretary of the ,
Navy Roosevelt. The alleged Interview was ,
manufactured by the Washington reprow
Hcntatlvo of the concern , who , after Its pub
lication , wrote to Mr. lloasevelt requesting
him not to deny Its genuineness. This
was Roosevelt's answer : "I do not con
template denying the story. I have already
denied It lu the most unequivocal terms.
The statement In today's Journal was on
absolute falsehood. I told your reporter ,
not once , but again and ayaln. as he waa
persistent , that I would not glvo him on In
terview of any kind. His conduct w-as In
famous , and you yourselves should have
known that no such Interview as that could
possibly have como from me , It for no other
reason than that I have never given a cer- i '
tlfleato of diameter to the Journal. In
youn final paragraph you say that you truat
you will not have to change your opinion of
mo. I can Imagine nothing which would
bo of less consequence to me "
In response to several requests from ex-
confederate soldiers General Longstreet
writes : "If the time should over como
when ithe government should call for OUP
friends to enlist , you may icly upon It I
will go with you again and do my beat with
you. My serviced and sword are at my
country's call , and I am as ready to respond
spend at my present age as I was as a
young lieutenant In 1846 , na I feel the mar
tial ardor of my youth and the blood lion-
faster and 'the pulse beat quicker at the
thought of the cannon's Joan and the mus
kets' "zip , " "plug. " But I have refrained
from writing you more promptly because
of the apprehension my modest contribution
might add to the excitement prevalent among
thu people , and my purpose la to help and
strengthen the president rather than fan
the fierce feeling and hot paslon which dis
turb cool , calm action and conservative Judg
ment. The president can bo fully trusted
to pursue a patriotic policy and rcacli a
wise conclusion , satisfactory to our coun
trymen. 'But rest asauml thut should the
president make the call It will bo my great
est pride that our old army comrades have
expressed the desire , 'If Longstreet will lead ,
wo will follow. ' "
AIIOUT XOTH1) " "
Congressman Jolin IMurray Qlltchell of Now
York Is fond of seeing his name In all Its
fullness. It Is customary among senators
and representatives In Introducing bills to
write on the manuscript the family name
with the prefix " .Mr. " unless there are two
members of the same name. The Now York
congressman , through the only one of that
name , always appears on such occasions as
John 'Murray ' 'Mitchell.
The late Senator JJruce had for years sup
ported the widow and daughter of 'his
former master , who was a planter In Vir
ginia. They have been entirely dependent
upon his bounty , and although there1 was no
legal obligation whatever , they had treated
him with great kindness when he was a
slave , he 'had acquired the rudiments of an
education from the tutor of his master's
son an ) felt a gratitude that expressed
Itself In this manner when he learned that
they were In needy circumstances.
I3ir Claude Macdonald , the lUrltlsh minis
ter to China , Is 46 yeras old nnd holds rani ;
the army as major. 'Ho served with the
Seventy-fourth Highlanders and was In thn
Egyptian campaign of 1882 and the Suaklm
expedition before ho was appointed consul
general at Zanzibar In 1S87. After leaving
East Africa ho was sent to the .Niger , where
proveJ a very succeeaful consul general
the Niger Coast protectorate , as the dis
trict which was once known as the "Oil
HIvers Protectorate" Is now designated. Sir
Claude's career In West Africa was cut short
. 1S9G by bis selection for the embassy at
Peking ,
J Hebron correspondent of the Lewlston
Me. ) Journal says that tbero Is a section of
country twenty-five miles In diameter situ "
ated In Androscoggln and Oxford counties ,
Maine , \\lth IHcbron academy its center , "
which has furnished moro noted men of As
world-wldo reputation than any other sec
tion of equal extent In the United States , If
not In the world , and backs up his state
ment by mentioning Hannibal Hamlln , born I
Paris ; John D. Long , IJuckfleld ; Nelson
Dlngley , Durham ; William P. Fyre , Lewis- *
; Senator Illlborn , 'Mlnot ' ; Eugene Hale ,
Turner , and Postmaster General King , Park ) ,
a few of these. Another well known man
who was born In the town of Oxford , In this
region , was Prof.iMerritt Caldwell of Dlckln-
college.
I
The oldest Ironmaster In Pennsylvania ,
Gottlieb Moyer. dlod a few dajs before Sir
Henry Biisaemer , at the ago of 94. Ho op-
eittted forgca In that state seventy yearn
ago , and It Is noted by 'tho ' bulletin of the
American Iron and Steel tmsoclation that ho
sold ' his Iron then at $100 a ton. Within the
tlmo of Ula life at the business the Iron pro
duction of the UnUed State * has increased
UJ
from seine tJO.OOO tons a year to 9Cu2,630
tona In 1S9T , and the prlco has fallen from
$100 a ton to $10 , ant ! even ft ! In w > mo ol
the Iron producing sccMonn of the south.
What this wonderful record of progress In
mnii'n command oven the power * of nature
means for the material benefit and comfort
of the human race Is simply beyond calcu
lation ,
The late Senator StockbrlJge ot 'Michigan ' ,
though generally very plain In his tastes ,
spent $309.000 In building and fitting tip s
mansion. Then ho told a frlenl that nil hn
needed .was . n parrot. "Why a parrot" asked
an old friend. "I'll tell you , Jim , " answered
the senator. "I want a parrot to sit at ths
front door and say ovcry tlmo I e-omo In :
'Here comet ) the d n fool lhat built thl
shanty. ' "
YOb.M ; .1II3.V FOIl ACTION.
A \ orvCriii nfninl UITCU-M in l'rti *
Chicago Inter Occnn.
In ordinary times the American pcopls
i pay very little attention to the navy , espc-
' clally ! to the personnel of Its officers. Tter
are no fewer than fifty-seven of thehigh -
11 | grade oniecrs of our navy who saw servlco
In tha war of the rebellion , yet there la not
one of them whose nauio was at all fnmllhr
to the general public prior to the blonlng up
of the Maine , except that Captain Mab.trt
had achieved fame as a writer. During the
war Farragut. Footo and Porter achieved
special ! prominence , Farragut ranking with
Sherman and Sheridan as a popular hero.
. Should war with Spain come , undoubtedly the
navy ; would have the brunt of It.
ill would seem from a Washington dispatch
'that ' steps are being taken to retire Hear
Admiral 61 card from command of the North
Atlantic station on account of the Infirmities
of ago. the
Evidently situation Is soinc-
what embarrassing. The rear admiral has
' done the country good service. Ho was
with Farragut when ho ran the Mississippi
and Mobile gauntlet. Ho went through a
dozen bombardments , and In each case com
bined bravery , coolness and skill. 'He ' was
one of those dauntless .heroes . who sailed
up to a line of torpedoes , and without slack
ing speed passed on. 'Hut Iti Is a long tlmo
now , measured by tbo length of human
llfo , since these days.
It will bo remembered that when the civil
war come on the loyal people of the coun
try relied much upon General Scott. The
period between the '
close of tho'Mexican war
and 1S61 was less than half as long as the
period between the close of our last war
'and 1S98. .Hut the command of the army
eoan { passed to younger men , mm who , If
they were with Scott and Taylor In ( Mexico ,
were too young and low lu rank to attract
the attention of the public. No doubt If war
comes at all now It will develop from the
younger men of the service these who are t
win renown.
Muirr A YD iiitKi/.v.
Cleveland Leader : The Professor Yeti are
no gentleman , Hlr.
The .Man with the Silk Hat You're a. liar
'
I'm worth ) $2JO,000.
Chicago Ilocord : "Then you don't bellova
In prestlgn derived from ancestor : * ? '
"Not a bit ; I believe In fixing things so iny1
ancestors will derive prestige from ) me. "
Brooklyn Life : Jnck Yes , ancestor * cer
tainly help to give a pe-is n social prestige.
Tom Ksjie'clnlly when they are wealthy
and one lived with them.
Chicago Tribune : "I don't Uno.v that I
need any ivork done about Uio house. What
can you do , my good fellow ? "
"Sir , In my day I'vn been a carpenter , a
barber and a school teacher. I can .shlnglo
your house , your hair or } our boy. "
Washington Star : "The children 'wish ma
teen as'.t , you to tell them some fairy Htorics , "
ealcl politician's wife.
"My dear , " was the re-ply , "I can't do it.
I have been talking to a great many votcu
today. I must have some relaxation from
thei routine of business. "
Indianapolis Journal. "Don't ypn think , "
asked the editor of the Dally Scare , "that
our correspondent " hus a graphic , nervous
style ?
"I Imdn't noticed the- nervousness , " an
swered the tiresome old fogy , "but when
you cometo think oC it. hl utorlcs are a
little shaky. "
Cleveland I'laln Dealer "
: "Can yon glvo
any evidence In regard to the character ol
the elpceafotl ? " en Id1 the Judge.
"Yes , my lord , " re-piled the witness. "Ho
was n man without blame , bplovetl and ro-
spectcd by all men , -puro in all his thoughts ,
and
and"Where
"Where did you ! learn 'that ' ? "
"I copied It from hs ! tombstone , my lord. "
Chicago Post : "Tho daughter of King Leo-
polil Is said tn have eloped. "
"Oh , dear , 110 ; not at nil ! It would be nn
elopement if she were Just an ordinary
everyday girl of the hol-pollol , but , being a
princess , It Is an abduction. "
Detroit Journal : "Forgive me ! " she orled.
In a sudden access of remorse , nnd "threw "
herseJf nt his * feet.
Ha caught her Ini his arms.
The Incident hat no Importance.
Particularly la the. . reader -warned that It
has no relevancy to the question of the ago.
namely , can a woman throw ?
Chicago Tribune : Prosecuting Attorney
You cay you know the prisoner ?
Venlroman YPS , sir. He owns the house
next door to mine.
Prosecuting Attorney la there a line fence
between you ?
Venlreman There Is.
Prosecuting Attorney Your honor , we'll
take him.
THE U12K1 UK III I.I , Y MASON.
\VnslilnRton Post
"Will I fight lilm ? " Hilly Mason spoke with
emphasis Intense ;
"Will I fight with Alia Villa ? Will a tom
cat climb a fence ?
soon as I can pack my grip I'll go across
the 0ca
And teach n wholesome lesson to that poly-
ROt marquis.
will tnke a saw nnd cleaver and a trusty
butcher's Icnlfo
That ' Phil Armour's going to send mo ; I
\vlll upon my llfo.
Tlie Marquis do Alta Villa little reckons of
the fate
That awaits him when I meet him nnd get
fairly on Ills gait.
Then you will see how Billy fights. I tell
you plainly now
will carve him as the fellows In our stock.
ynnla carve a cow.
With upper cut I'll prash him where the per
terhouse locates ;
Then I'll stab him In thn portion whenca
the rib roast emanates ;
Then with keen anil true precision I will
quickly run him through
Where wo pet. out in Chicago , the dcslgna
for kidney stow.
And when I'vo finished with him , cffcto
monarchies will know
How WP light the festive duel In the town
of Chicago. "
'There is nothing ]
truly valuable which can
3e purchased without
pains or labor. " _ _
That is an argument against the so-called "cheap" cloth-
ig that is chpap only in the one respect of quality. Good cloth-
-jg of the Browning , King & Co. standard costs but little , if
ny , more , and you get your money's worth , or your money
ack , every time simply for the asking , if it is not precisely as rep-
esented ,
It is a favor to us , in fact , to have you tell us when goods
ought at our store are not as they should bzt We want the
hance to make them right.
BROWNIN&KING&CO