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The Commoner.
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
Entered at the postofiice at lyincoln, Nebraska,
as second class mail matter.
What kind of "wise business policy" is it
that takes all the oash China can raise and then
sells China goods on credit?
Why not send General Bates to Cuba to
"persuade" the Cubans to allow the flag to
continue waving over them?
it
There is growing suspicion that Congress
man Babcook is only bidding for some of tho
fai" in his district next year.
The Czar may suppress the Russian version
of Tolstoi's writings but ho is adding to their
popularity on this side of the Atlantic.
DeWot is giving John Bull too much lead
and J. Piorpont Morgan is purloining his steel.
This is injurious to John Bull's iron constitu
tion. Cliina offers to pay the indemnity if the
powers will loan her the money. John seems
to be having a joke at the expense , of the for
eigners. The promptness and liberality which marked
our action in settling the Rock Springs rioting
cases should, of course, impel China to pay up
promptly.
It seems that Ferdinand Peok was unfortu
nate in that his expense account reached the
comptroller before he had been seen by the
proper parties.
It appears that the gentlemen most anxious
. for . "re-organization" of the democracy are
those who are enjoying the special favors of
the present administration.
The Sultan of Turkey will never know
what postal trouble really is until ho forgets to
mail a letter given to him for that purposo by
one of his numerous wives.
General Chaffee has issued a "farewell ad
dress" in China, which is more like Washing
ton than any action on the part of this govern
ment for two or three years.
The Commoner.
By announcing the possible withdrawal of
Postmaster General Smith from the cabinet
and denying it the next day, some of the papers
were able to fill up space in two issues.
, The Earl of Cadogan announces that Ed
ward VII is ready to aid Ireland. Edward
must be preparing the ground for another call
for Irish troops to serve in South Africa.
It is too early yet to quote the exact lan
guage of the democratic platform of 1904.
But it is safe to say that the platform will not
bo written by demoorats who always vote the
republican ticket.
A book reviewer says eighty "historical -novels"
came from the press during April. A
history of republican degeneracy may bo had
by reading the last two or three national plat
forms of the party.
It is said that John W. Gates is going to
organize a trust to fight the steel trust, but his
past record rajses the suspicion that he will
not be averse to selling his interests to the big
steel trust whenever the inducement is suffi
cient. '
The Buffalo Times is authority for the
statement that the new ships purchased by J.
.Pierpont, Morgan are to fly the English flag.
Possibly the great financier is planning to fol
low the example of Mr. Astor and ex-patriate
himself.
The Commoner is indebted to the repub
lican organs that are so deeply interested in the
permanency of its subscription list. The ad
vertising is sufficient to insure the permanency
of the list if there is any virtue in advertising
in such mediums.
The people of Jacksonville,Fla., are working
heroically to care for those who were made
homeless by the terrible conflagration which
swept over the city, but outside help is needed.
Contributions may be sent to the mayor or to
the various relief committees.
Elizabethton, Tenn., has been visited by
unprecedented floods. Mr. Lee P. Miller, Pres
ident of the Relief Association, wires The
Commoner that one thousand persons in the
town and county are homeless and destitute
and that outside aid will be gratefully received.
Mr. McKinley refused an invitation to visit
Mexico, saying that an unwritten law prevent
ed the president from going outside the United
States It would seem that Mr. McKinley
also holds that the constitution does not go
outside of the United States when it is more
convenient to keep it at home.
Prof. Starr of Chicago University Bays
that the habit some of the college boys have ot
parting their hair in the middle is a sign of de
generacy. What about those so-.called demo
crats who part their political opinions so near
the middle that they can vote the republican
ticket as easily as m they can the democratic
ticket?
The Federation of Musicians has placed
"Goo-Goo' Eyes" and other rag time musio
under the ban. This will not be sufficient,
however, to extinguish the fondness for some
thing bright and spirited. Until the world is
trained to the enjoyment of classical music, the
simple melody will be in demand.
The Hereford Republicans (the white faced
variety) arc doing a little premature rejoicing
in the south. When a democrat becomes a re
publican for office he is not apt to take many
with him. A man's political influence is ac
quired by the advocacy of principles and is
lost when he abandons his principles. . . .'
General Fred Grant has returned from the
Philippines and his first unofficial act is to
blame the anti-imperialists for the trouble in
the Islands. According to this distinguished
gentle man we arc returning to the time when im
perialism was right and when any criticism of
it was next thing to treason. If ho had lived in
England during the revolutionary period he
would have been an enthusiastic supporter of
George III.
The New York Sun warns Mr. Babcock
that he is likely to receive "a sound party
spanking for the irresponsible revivification of
an issue always disturbing to the commercial
world, regardless ,of its disadvantage or ad
vantage to the republican party in parti6iilar."
After this rebuke the gentleman from Wiscon
sin ought to subside and content . himself with
reading in the Sun of "the country that glows
with industrial activity and rejoices in pros
perity." Where silence is bliss 'tis folly to be
a disturber of the peace.
The character of Judas has so many coun
terparts in modern times that it is not likely
to be forgotten. Mr. Dilchcr of the United
Mine Workers says that the corporations found
among the laboring men of Pennsylvania "one
dozen traitors" and took them to Harrisburg
to oppose tho passage of bills intended to ben
efit the wage-earners. It is lamentable but
true that corporate interests can generally find
a few men in every community who for a small
temporary advantage will jeopardize the per
manent welfare of themselves and their chil
dren. The machinists throughout the country are
striking for a nine hour day with ten hours
pay. No one can give an intelligent decision
upon the subject of wages without knowing
the conditions existing in the various sections
where the demand is made, although it is only
fair to assume that tho demand is reasonable,
unless the republican reports of prosperity are
subject to heavy discount. As to the number
of hours, however, that should 'constitute a
day's work it is easier to form an opinion. A
nine hour day is long enough anywhere. Tho
Commoner is an advocate of an eight hour day
and observes this limit among its employes.
It hopes to see the rule adopted everywhere.
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