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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1896)
THE AMERICAN. THE AMERICAN auml al rotlofh.-a aa wvoad-rUM lukttor. JOHN 0. THOMPSON. ". W. a KlLLKY. Rulae MuaM Pl'BLlKHKO WKKLY BY TUB AMERICAN FDBLISEIN3 COIPAST, Ml IIowako frrr. Owik. Nib. THE AMERICAN urNCKa. IMS Hor.1 HirrrL Onmha. N-b. M VvwvU Ave.. MM Ion -li " l'lilafO, 111. l O. H I'rlupl Owk Cola. 09.UO m )Mr, troMv la jtl-no. TO THE PUBLIC. TDK AMKK1CAN U 81 tha organ of any aect order, aaaorlatlon. party. cltiu, fu-t'oa or divUluo of tha population of Uitt grand Republic, and npudlaUa Bod brand u Nla all clatnta or cliarcea that It la aueh, Irt aura claim or rliarta ba anada by any prraua or peraons wbom aoavar, T11K AMKUICAN U a sewipapar of racral circulation, going to and being read by popli of all rellgloua brllrfi and political afllllatlona; by the wblta and tha bla-k, tba nudre Ixiro and tba naturalised, the Jew and the Urnllla, the I'rou-fiUnl and the Kouian Catholic. Tnlartatui ran ba auhatantlatad la any court of Juatlre at any time. AMERICAN PUBLISHING CO., I, JOMH C. TMOKf$OH. frmUtmt AUGUST 28, 1810. TIIK TICKETS. RKPCHLICAN, For President, WM. McKINLKV, of Ohio, For Vice-President, GARRET A. HOBAUT, of Now Jersey DEMOCUATIC. For President, WM. JENNINGS BRYAN, of Nebraska. For Vice- President, ARTHUR C. SEWALL, of Maine PROHIBITION. For President, JOSHUA LEVERING, of Maryland For Vice-President, HALE JOHNSTON, of Illinois. NATIONAL. For President, CHARLES E. BENTLEY, of Nebraska For Vlce-Preidint, J. H. SOUTBGATE, of North Carolina The letter of acceptance written by Major Wm. McKlnley la both an able and a statesmanlike document. Ex-Governor Francis, of Missouri, bas been apiointod to succeed Hoke Smith as seoretary of the Interior. The old soldiers will very likely vote In 1898 as they shot in 1864 against the enemies of our free institutions. The fact that Wm. J. Bryan dined with Senator Hill has given rise to the rumor that the two distinguished gen' tie men have arranged a peace. It is an awful thing, in the eyes of an A. P. A. free silver adveate, to think of the support McKlnley lsrO' oolving from Dick Kerens and John Ireland. The summary dismissal of . S. Fiagg from the fire department is causing a great deal of comment. It is b3lng compared with the treatment ac corded Rowan and Dow as on the same charges. McKiNLET does not stand any more show of being president than a chunk of ioe has of retaining its shape when exposed to an August sun, aocordlng to the Omaha World-llerald. B-ut the World-Herald has been fooled before The platform at Utlca, N. Y., on which W. J. Bryan was standing that is the one from which he was speaking not the one he was running upon gave way beneath the weight of the crowd upon It and threw him to the grouni. Fortunately he was unin jured. The supreme president of the A. P. A. has, over his own signature and un der the seal of the supreme council, notified all members of the order that they are at liberty to vote for whom they choose for president, but urges them to be careful in tha selection of congressmen. By the way Dick Bland, who was de feated for nomination by the Democrats at Chicago because he had a Roman Catholic wife, is to travel in company with Bryan, and Mrs. Bland is to ac company them. This certainly looks like a campaign dodge to win Roman ist votes. It will be so Interpreted. Boston Citizen. Friends, please keep this in mind until after election. It is another thing to add to the anti-A. P. A. plank which they left out of their platform to help secure a few more American votes. Watch them. They are very foxy. The Evangelist gives the following report of Dr. Madison Peters, at the Monona Ltke Assembly: "On Siturday, the Rev. Madison Peters, D.D., of New York, spoke to a large audience on "Will Our Republic Live?" He alluded to the dangers which threaten the country and In cloalng, said: 'When American cua- knt reare, and tbe manners of de polio Kurope take their place, this gov eminent la on toe war to 1U funeral America a a republic can only live whtl the cuatonia which make it a re public: live. 1 pray God that my fears may prove groundless. May my fear of the wont cure the worst that may come. It KH'iui to us that tbe only a la to return to God, perform our whole duty a patriotic citizen and Ciiru tiana, and may we real on the promlaea of Cod that America will stand as tbe Imperlshablo glory of man's Iat and beat attempt at aoU-government.' " The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor should have the attention tboee who love liberty, for the ele ments are doing bad work on It Tbe Romans could not give much, whe they thlclt of their "mental reserva Hon," and if the thug were to go down under the water they would be kind enough to sing a Te Deum at the death of the goddess, and would prob ably have the angels the Pata, the Macks, the O's and the Mikes to ring the bells of Babylon. The Interwt of Chicago has the following: "Bartho- dl's statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, the gift of France to America la now described by the New York Journal as almost a ruin. The brick work is loose, tbe walls seamed and scarred, rivets have fallen out of Liberty's dress, and rents in her robe, due to the deposits of verdigris or oxldo of copper, are grow in size. The elements have also nearly taken out a plate In Liberty's skull, 'the most gl gantio case of trepanning on record, and it Is feared Miss Liberty will soon have a bud case of water on the brain, Any one who has recently seen the statue across the waters of the bay recognizes a disappointment In the fee ble glow of light the great torch now emits, while tbe colored lights about the crown are wholly gone. In fact, this noble statue, owing to negligence and lack of funds to keep it in repair, is now almost a wreck Itissald it will take $1 50,000 to do the needed repairing, to say tothicg of the sum necessary to complete the pedestal and statue ao cording to the original plans. These facts are not with a moral, which al most any one can a raw. There are not a few bolls and rivets loose in our national statue of Liberty, and her dress also is In places becoming badly frayed and torn. 'The price of liberty is eternal vigilance' Is a truth that is equally applicable to the statue and the reality Liberty." SNUBBED AGAIN. No Irish need apply; their position to pay the Peter's pences is good enough for the groen isle. The Evan gclist has the following: It Is given out that the Rev. Sobas- tlon Martlnelll, who has been ap pointed to succeed Cardinal Satolll as apostollo delegate in the United States, will be consecrated at Home as arch bishop on August 23rd. It would Beem that this cilice has now become a per manency, though, when we first heard of it, it was regarded as a temporary appointment to meet special conditions In a few o: tbe Catholio dloceases. But we are surprised that the pope again appoints one of bis own nationality, passing bv all the able Irish-American prelates of the country. ATTOKXEYCEXERAL CHURCHILL n the Matter of Mutual Insurance Com panies. For tbe information and the satlsfac tlon of those of our readers who are in terested in the question, as well as for the purpose of correcting any misap prehension or misstatement, for polltl cal effect, of the position taken by At torney-General Churchill with refer ence to the Mutual Insurance Com panies of this state, we have taken the pains to ascertain, and herewith submit his official action and opinions regard ing them and the laws under which they operate. It fully and clearly ap pears that he has at no time antagon ized nor hindered the organization and operation of these companies, but on the contrary bas carefully scrutinized the preliminary requirements and pro ceedings to Insure their entire stability and the protection of its members. This was and is his sworn duty as an officer of the state, made so by the statutes. Sec. 1, chapter 43, statutes 1895, provides: And they shall also make a certificate under their hands specifying the name as sured by such company the objoct for which said company shall be formed and the place where the principal office of said company shall be located; which certificates shall be forwarded to the auditor of state, who shall submit the same to the attorney-general of state for examination, and II it shall be found by the attorney-general of state to be in accordance with the provisions of this act he shall make cer tificate of the same and return it to the auditor of state" Section 3 provides: "Nor shall any company on the plan of mutual Insur ance commence business in this state until agreements have been entered into for insurance with at least two hundred applicants, tha premiums upon which shall amount to not less than twenty-five thousand dollars, of which at least five thousand shall have bean paid In actual cash " Now, when such certificate was sub mitted for the Farmers' Mutual Insur ance Company recently, it was found to provide for the payment of such twen ty per cent, or five tbouaaud dollar ad vance into their treaaury by not. in tea J of cash. Mr Churchill's opinion was that this did not answer the re quirement of the law, and In this opin ion be was sustained by the supreme court, In an action there brought to compel the auditor to approve their organization. So later, In the case of the Trans MUslaalppI Fire Association here In Omaha, the opinion of the attorney genoral to the auditor, after calling attention to various formal defects, concludes: "When the changes herein suasested are made In conformity here with and duly certified, and, notice given as required, then I an of the opinion they would ba authorized to make agreements, and when two hun dred applicant have entered Into agreement for Insurance and have paid in five thousand dollars In cash and given notes to tbe amount of twenty thousand dollars, duly certified and founded upon actual and bonafide applications fjr Insurance, then you would be authorized to Issue them their certificate." This was compiled with and this company is safely under way. Now it must be clear to all that 1 full and fair discharge of this, his sworn duty, there Is more of favor, benefit and protection to the mutual Insurance companies and their mem bers than to any one else. It Is very far from showing favor or subserviency to the old line state companies, for these would profit much more if the mutual companies were allowed embark in business with some fatal flaw or omission in their organization which must later undo or destroy them He Is the best adviser and friend to any measure or organization who in slats upon its full compliance with the law. And he is the best o nicer of state who does his whole duty under the law. No good citizen will ask for more than equality before the law. All com panies are suoj acted to the same re' qulrementa. WILL PAT TO-MORROW. How a Drunken Priest Worked Sam Hotopn. He staggered into George and Sam place, on Jefferson, near Sixth street, last Wednesday, and Sam Hotopp came very near dropping when he entered He was a Roman Catholio priest and had on a regular old-fashioned Roman Catholio load a mixture of beer, whiBky and in fact anything his atom acn could hold. Above the counter was a highly embolished picture of the little red school house, but to this the priest paid no attention whatever. He wasn't looking for the little red school house or any other style of school house. He was simply searching for schooners and the very largest he could find at that. He called for beer and upon it being handed to him he adjourned to a back room where he could enjoy it at his leisure. The beverage seemed to set exactly right for he called for one glass after another until finally Lam was compelled to telephone for "more beer." He said his name was McGlll Father McGill and that be had been spending a few weeks at Gethsemane. He drank and drank until at last the foaming lager began running out of his ears. He went to the front door with a glass of beer In his hand and stood there until quite a crowd of men and boys had collected. After making an exhib 1 tlon of himself he returned to the saloon and placed the empty glass upon the counter. "Well, I will bid you good-day," he said, extending his band to Sam 'Good-by and good luck to you." "What about paying for this beer you have been drinking?" asked Sam, "I will come and pay you tomorrow," he replied, as he staggered out the door and down Jefferson etreet, and Sam let it go at that. But the drunken priest has never yet returned to settle his bill and no doubt by this time Is safe again behind the wills of Gethsemane. Justice. Union. The Presbyterian of Philadelphia has this to say about "Union:" "Dr. Sanday, the influential Oxford professor, has just made a deliverance on the relations between the Anglican church and the Church of Rome. It is unexpectedly mild, and Dr. Sanday is more hopeful of ultimate union than most of his fellows in the Anglican ranks. His words have no longer the stern, strong, militant stamp of the old English Protestants. He strongly ad vises against "polemics," and is sure that all efforts at 'proselytizing' should be suspended. How much effec tive 'proselytizing' Is done by the Church of England from the Church of Rome, at the present time? The cur rent sets all the ether way. The record of English curates and of women in some of the English sisterhoods, who pass into the Roman church, grows steadily larger. Occasionally a peeress succumbs to the 'Roman obedience.' How singular it is to hear the soft, sweet voice of men like Dr. Sanday falling gently upon the ear and warn ing us against 'polemics,' when a foe so busy and so successful is In the leld." Have Pro- vision Against Sec tarian Appro priations. Her. J. A. Landing Lajs Down a Polltl cal l'rograa for all Patriots as Follow. It has come to pass in these latter days of the 19th century that the United States stands conspicuous as a great beacon-light among the nations, "Government of the people, for the people, and by the people" finds, with the greatest of republics, an Illustra tion that compels world-wide atten tlon. Indeed, for one hundred years, or since the era of the French Revolution and our American Declaration of Inde pendence, the whole movement of pub lio opinion, both In Continental Europe and in North and South America, has been governmentally along three dis tinct and well-defined lines; viz.: 1. Separation of church and state. Z. Constitutional lorms or govern ment, In which the people have their part, through their chosen representa tlves. o. u niversai education at public ex pense, under public supervision or con troi, mat me people may wisely exer cise their constitutional rights. There can be no question as to the benefits that have come to men through this century-long movement; and would seem that all patriotic workers might agree upon the lines of legisla tlon needed to save to us what has been already gained, and make the ground work for further onward movements. We suggest, as tbe legislation that is now clearly needed: First, the en grafting upon our state constitutions where it is not already an integral part of the same, constitutional amend' menta along three conspicuous danger lines; viz : 1. Sectarian appropriations from the public treasury. 2. Diversion of public money to prl vate or denominational schools. 3. Voting without being citizens of the United States. There are Twenty-three states In the Union where there are no constltU' tlonal guarantees against sectarian ap propriations. These states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut Delaware. Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. There are seven states where it is yet possible to support other than public schools with public money; viz., Colo rado, Missouri, New Hampshire, Deta ware, Vermont, Virginia, and Maine; and there are nineteen states where persons can vote at all elections, though non-citizens. These are: Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Indiana, Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Michigan, North Carolina, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Oregon, South Dakota Texas, Wisconsin. If any changes In the states above enumerated have been made in the last year, and if so, what changes, should at once engage the attention of patriotic leaders and workers, and the whole enorgy of our patriotic bodies should at once be concentrated on the vital and fundamental questions in volved In the needed legislation, to close forever these dangerous loop holes in our state and national life. When you consider that, according to Dr. James M. Ling: "By consent or mandate of the legis lature, New York City has annroDri- ated for sectarian uses, since 1869, in property and in public money, not less than $25,000,000; and that the makin? of sectarian appropriations by nations or states constitutes essential union of church and state:" and that the major part of this and all such appropriations goes to a church that not only rejects outright our American conception as to the union of church and state, but deliberately moves athwart it in all possible cases, it will be seen how needful is immedi ate political action along this danger line. Again, it is of the utmost import ance that American patriots every where unite as one man to prevent the public purse being drawn upon for pri vate or denominational schools of any grade. For while It is true that thirty seven states have made constitutional provision against such division, it is equally true that this same foreign- ruled church has, under its American leaders and by the help of self-seeking politicians, obtained large and yearly Twenty-three States No Constitutioual grants of money in moat of these states, in direct violation both of the spirit and letter of the law; and that the principle of a division of the school fjnds Is not only advocated by her most eminent leaders, as Archbishop Ireland, but that the whole country is called to note, in Manitoba and other provinces of Canada, the settled deter mination of the Romanist leaders to obtain, directly or indirectly, as at Poughkeepeie, Pittsburg, Fairbault, public support for parochial schools. All patriots should unite to bring about such legislation as will visit with severe penalties attempts to use In any way. where constitutions prohibit it, public funds for denominational schools, and should make sure that all states have this prohibition And to make this the surest possible. an patriotio leauers or every name should combine to bring about the adoption of the sixteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, so ably championed by "The National League for the Protection of American Institutions," which has been formulated in the following terms "No state shall pass any law respect ing an ejiaousnmeni oi religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or use its property or credit, or anv money raised by taxation, or authorize either to be used, for tbe purpose of founding, maintaining, or aiding, by appropriation, paymeni ror services, expenses, or otherwise, any church, re: Ugious denomination, or religious so- ciety, or any institution, society. or undertaking which is wholly or in part under sectarian or ecclesiastical con trol." The value of these constitutional safeguards received a perfect Mustr tlon in the state of New Jersey, where, but latterly, the so-callad "race-track' and "gambling" fraternity, having se cured control of the Democratic "ma' I. f it , ,, , cuine, ana so tne legislature, were asked by the only organized foe of our common school system to pass a bill uiviaing tne public school fund pro rata, bo that parochial schools would stand on an equal footing with the publlo schools. But on the question being submitted to the attorney-gen' eral as to whether this would be legal, he pointed to the provision in the state constitution prohibiting such a division of public money; and the whole un American scheme collapsed, Lot us make such proposed legisla tlon in state or nation impossible, and let us do it at once, and if any church organization, or man violates either the lettteror the spirit of our. Ameri can conception, let the people, as one man, unite against that church, organ! zatlon, or person as a political power, And that this may be done, we need a campaign of education that shall cover a term of years, and that shall grapple with many political problems. Since we are our own rulers, we shall be held by Him who rules over all accountable for the manner and spirit of our gov erning. It must be plain to all that so monstrous an evil as allowing men to vote who come to us on the great tides of Immigration that are today flowing In upon us from Italy, Poland, Hungary and other nations foreign to our speech and alien to our spirit, before they are naturalized, is but to invite the destruc tion of our body politic; and yet this is what is being done in nineteen states, so that In many cases a foreigner can vote sooner after landing on our shores, though he can neither read nor write in his native tongue, than can the na tive American or naturalized citizen who changes his residence inthe state, or from one state to another. To all this, American patriots should at once give heed, and never rest until the constitutions of all the states make the voting of non-citizens impossible. Again, ought we not, in all the states, to have an educational qualification for voters? And can we do better than to insist that all voters should be able to read and write, and embody our insis tence In legislative enactments? And hall not congress be called upon to so legislate, that in the elections of mem bers to congress, at least, none but full- fledged citizens shall have the fran chise? Once more, if we are to secure state and national constitutional amend ments, time is needed, and the whole energy of the patriotic workers and organizations should be centered upon our state legislatures, our national house of representatives, and the senate of the United States, long before the question of the presidency or governor ships is pressed to he fore. Since our legislatures meet, for the most part, biennially, and our house of representa tives is elected once in two years, and our senate changes but one-third of its membership every two years, it is plain that nothing short of a five years' teady pull on aistinct and well defined lines will serve the purposes of patriotic workers. The legislature that takes the initiative in submitting the consti tutional amendments on the three lines we have indicated, must submit its amendments to the people for ratifica tion or rejection, and many states must perhaps submit them again for final ratification to a second legislature; bit in any case, there must needs be a thorough and exhaustive discussion ot the local and general facts bearing upon the proposed changes, so that the whole country, through the press, the pulpit, tbe platform, and by the dissemination of literature, would be come Informed of the grave dangers that threaten us on many lines, and tbe almost revolutionary legislation needed. The Immigration problem (See No. IS) would receive thorough consideration; the secret and open arming and drill of large bodies of men of one race or one church, though not part of our state or national militia would have the attention it deserved; the imprisonment, practically for life, under a religious idea, in convents and monasteries, by Roman Catholio pre lates, of many who may be there now in violation of the personal liberty guaranteed to all under our form of government, would ba thoroughly sifted, and doubtless corrected by righteous laws; the subject of muni cipal misrule, which has become ao vital, would, in the mtdst of such an agitation, be traced to its proper sources; the question of civic reform, as illustrated in all our multiple move ments for good government, would be thoroughly discussed; the common school system, bo ruthlessly attacked by Romanism, would be sifted and amplified; the problem of taxation could not fail to be pushed to the front, and the consensus of the people obtained as to what property should be taxed; and while we might hare five or ten years of ceaseless agitation on distinctively American lines, with more or less of victory or defeat, Is it not sure that, as the outcome of such an educational campaign, the patriotic wave that has now risen in this coun try would culminate in giving us that major and minor legislation that would perpetuate our American Ideas. and in stitutions. THE POLITICAL LAJCE. The Hon. Tom Watson, Populist vice- presidential candidate, sums up the situation in the following unique style: "It is remarkable that in his speech of acceptance Mr. Bryan should have completely Ignored those planks In his platform relating to national banks, to railroads and to the tariff. To each of these planks the psople'lwho will follow Mr. Bryan's future attach vast Importance. Why did Mr Bryan have to keep mum on that topic (banks)? Because of the fact that Arthur Sewall, his running mate.is a national banker. Again, 'ithere was the question of theotarlff. To expect to defeat McKlnley without saying a word against McKlnley is something new under the sun, but Mr. Bryan's silence was proper and neces sary. He could not afford to denounce protection while Mr. iSawall, his run- ulng mate, is bo well 'known oas a pro tectionist. Mr. Sewall is even now acting in league with the republicans to secure legislation which will lew tribute upon every Annrlcan consumer of foreign goods in the selfish interest of the New England shipbuilders, of whom he is one; and just as Mr. Sew all's presence on the ticket prevented Mr. Bryan from assalllngj national banks of issue and the republican doc trine of protection, so thesama bane ful influence, prevented him from de nouncing railroad monopoly and ex tortion. Mr. Sewall baingia corpora tionist of lusty proportions himself. Mr. Sewall's presence on the ticket was meant to say to the privi leged classes of the north and east: Don't get scared at Bryan's 'speeches. I will see to it that the present state of things is not disturbed.' In other words, Sewall Is the soothing syrup of the campaign for the monopolists, and he is relied upon to keep northern and eastern democrats from waillnz too much under the inflictioniof Bryan's Popullstlo proclivities. , If the free silver fight is to be won, the sooner the attention of the (manag ers is given to those two section from which the votes must come, the better. Much precious time has already been lost. Let Mr. Arthur Sewall retire from the ticket, join bis son Harold and make McKlnley speeches all over New England, and let Bryan and Wat son join hands and solidify the west and south, tn no other wayi'can the free silver foes be whipped." We believe Watson voices Jthe senti ment of a very large majority of the southern Populist, and his utterances will have considerable weight with the southern wing of his party. Wat son is not built of the stuff Jwhlch his twin running mate is made, and he can be expected to speak out In meet ing whenever opp3rtunity presents. Nobody will accuse Tom Watson with "hob-nobbing" with either Demo crats or Republicans his originality is purelv Populistic. It appears that Hon. Paul Vac Der Voort has forgotten the existence of a trade between his party and the free silver wing of the Democratic party, Iz which the former was forced Into the background. It is difficult to see how the general Is goingto adjust him self to fit existing circumstances. Van Der Voort is a Populist pure and sim ple, but at the same time he is pos sessed of a high sens 3 of public honor and honesty. Whatever part he may take in the campaign we believe will be taken with an honest conviction in his own mind that he is right. Binding Transcripts. Won't each reader of this paper in duce one friend to subscribe during the coming week? Friends, please put your shoulder to the wheel! Who can not afford The American at the pres ent price?