REPLIES TO HIS TRADUGER
GOV, ROLCOMB DENOUNCES A
FILTHY POLITICIAN.
Undo Silas Uses Vigorous Lan
gunsa In Giving to tho foul
Mouth Healers a Merited Re
buke. Lincoln, Neb., March 15.-J. W. John
ton, who cnJoyB about tho moat un
savory reputation of any professional
republican trickster In tho state, and
who Is now filling the bill of political
tcavangcr for the republican clique
which has disgraced Nebraska, has re
ceived tho following dressing down by
Governor Holcomb.
Tho following has been given out to
the press:
"On tho editorial page today's Journ
nal appears an article over tho name of
tho notorious liar, J. W. Johnson, so full
of malicious falsehoods that It ought not
to go unchallenged. The truth regarding
the matters spoken of Is familiar to all.
To give the article sanction and a
prominent place In the columns of a
newspaper that pretends to rcspectn
bllty, borders on the disreputable In
Journalism. It Is quite apparent that
the author of tho article and probably
the paper also, Is over-anxlouB that the
taxpayers of tho state be defrauded and
tho bolndsmcn of Mr. Bartley escapo
thplr lust, moral and lerral responsibil
ity. Moreover, It would doubtless be a
oause of great rejoicing among these
defenders and apologists of the plunder
ing of the public treasury If Mr. Bart
ley himself were given another trial on
his application now pending and another
opporunlty given them to roll under
their tongue as a Bwcct morsel the false
cry that the attorney generul was In
competent to discharge his duties and
that the governor was to blame because
ho did not at the time of approving
Mr. Hartley's bond prcsumo that he was
a defaulter and a dlBhoneBt public oill
clal whom the republicans hod elected
to a second term as state treasurer.
"These men have not a word to say
About an outrageous verdict that was
neither supported by law or evidence,
and can only be accounted for as n whim
or freak of a Jury which misunderstood
its duty or was actuated through cor
rupt motives.
"Tho attorney general Is to be damned
by these some men if he resorts to every
remedy open to him under the law to re
cover th money stolon from the tax
payers, and he would likewise have been
damned had ho resorted to but one
remedy. Not one word of encourage
ment, not one act of asBlBtance, can ho
expect from this large number of In
fluential politicians who are bene
ficiaries Indirectly and perhaps directly
st the frauds and plundering perpetrated
upon tho taxpaxers of the state and
who, I doubt not, though they may not
ay It, ore desirous that these bonds
men be released of their responsibility
for fear of tho exposure that would fol
low If the truth regarding these defalca
tions and tho cause of them should bo
known by tho whole people of tho state.
SPECIFIES THE FALSEHOODS.
"It in hut natural to exnect that such
willful and wicked falsehoods may find
a person depraved enough to become
their sponsor and a paper disreputable
enough to publish them. The article
o far as it concerns mo speaks of three
matters In connection with the Bartley
eult, all of which are willful lies and
Which comprise the principal part of It.
"Lie No. 1: That the treasurer's books
have not been thoroughly examined,
and if they were It would be shown
whero and when the shortage of Mr.
Bartley occurred. The fact 1b the treas
urer's books have been most thoroughly
and carefully investigated. Every well
Informed person knows this. The cor
rectness of tho books have been Bhown
beyond controversy. These books havo
been examined most painstakingly from
beeinnlne to end and from them not a
dollar Is shown to have been lost during
Bartley's first term of onice, except that
lost in depository banks and perhaps
some interest because the depository
law was not faithfully enforced, but
neither of these matters, as questions of
fact, are In dispute in this suit.
"Lie No. 2: That the evidence of the
governor in the suit was uncertain
and unwilling. That Is an absolue false
hood and tho writer knew It. Whatever
may be said as to the method I adopted
in requiring Mr. Bartley to account for
the funds In his possession at the be
ginning of his second term of ofllce there
is no dlsputo and no uncertainty about
what waB actually done. The only testi
mony on the Bubject being by myself
and Mr. Bartlett, tho deputy state treas
urer, and our evidence in this respect
was In substantial accord, and the peo
ple of the state are perfectly familiar
with it.
"Lie No. 3: And this Is the most In
famous and villainous falsehood In the
entire article and one that an honorable
man would not utter In the face of my
specific, denial heretofore made. There
Is not a circumstance, not a suinuuu ui
evidence, not the slightest fact to base
the falsehood and none but a dishonor
able and disreputable creature un
worthy to be called a man would make
it. The writer says, In substance, that
I secured from the state treasurer
money for favorite banks and favors
in the way of free passes. The state
ment Is a lie made out of whole cloth.
It Is only a reiteration of Rlmllar false
hoods heretofore uttered by him and
which I have branded as utterly false
and without foundation In fact.
DENIAL FOB ALL TIME.
"I wish to say once more and I hope
it may be the last time that I may be
required to Bay It: That any statement,
elghter by an individual or a newspaper,
that I have directly or Indirectly had
the use of one dollar of state money, or
have profited to the extent of one dollar
of Btate money, wrongfully taken from
the state treasury, of that Mr. Bartley
favored me with ial'road trnrnportatlon,
or that there were any other relations
or deallnffB between us that were not
perfectly proper or consistent with my
duties as governor, is absolutely and
unqualifiedly false, made without cause
or Justification, and I brand the author
of such a statement as a malicious fal
sifier and devoid of truth or character.
"The language I have used herein
may seem harsh, but the attack Is so
outrageous and villainous that I feel
justified In using It."
Chicago. 111., March 15. Mrs. Lizzie
K. Spauldlng, wife of former Bank
President Spauldlng, now under sen
tence for embezzlement, was granted a
divorce in less than live minutes after
he had filed a cross bill to her husband's
application for a divorce. The divorce
was granted on the charge that Spauld
lng had been convicted of a felony.
Neither Mr. nor Mis. Spauldlng were
present In court, and It Is said the pro
ceedings were by agreement.
Washington, D. C, March 15. Sec
retary Alger Saturday received a dis.
patch informing him of tht death of
his sister, Mrs. A. K. Piatt of Detroit,
at New London, Conn., Saturday morn
ing. Mrs. Alger will leave nt once for
Norwich, but the secretary is unable
to accompany her on account of his
health. Mrs. Piatt has been HI for a
long time.
FOnTIFYINQ HAVANA.
Blanoo Is Preparing Havana For
War.
New Tork, March 14. A dispatch to
tho Tribune from Havana says: Many
soldiers were among the people on the
water front, who watched tho Mont
gomery entering tho Iiarbvr. The feel
ing was rather sullen, and an cccaslon
al utterance was heard against tho
Americans. This waa especially tho
case when the salutes were fired. How
ever, there were no open demonstra
tions. The officials havo complied with
all of Captain Slgsbce'a requests re
garding anchorage. He stated vigor
ously but courteously that the placo
originally selected was not satisfactory.
Tho Montgomery Is now anchored
within a few hundred feet of tho
wreck of the Maine.
The naval board has substantially
completed Its Investigation. Everything
now Ib In the nature of cumulative tes
timony, strengthening the evldenco
that the Maine was blown up by an ex
ternal explosion. The divers this week
have been able to add little to what haa
previously been learned. In effect, the
proof, from the condition of the hull
and the keel, as well as tho magazines,
makes what might be called a completo
case of structural evidence of external
cause.
How far tho board can determlno
tho agency of the explosion, is very un
certain. Many accountH of conspira
cies are sifted by It, without result. A
digest and unalyslB of tho testimony
haa been made. It Is understood that
this is on the way to Washington.
Spanish divers work.
The SpanlBh dlvcrB are continuing
their work intermediately and in a
perfunctory manner. The super
structuro of wrecknge Is now fairly
well cleured away. Nothing definite
can be learned regarding the Spanish
admiralty board's intention to close Its
investigation. The Spanish authorities
will do nothing until the American in
quiry is closed.
Little publicity has been permitted
for either tho Lee episode or the talk
of warships as a menns of bringing
provisions. The papers have published
more frbm Mudrid than from the
United States on that BubJecC. They
have consisted of denials from Sagastu
that the recall of Consul General Leo
was demanded. At the samo time,
President McKlnlcy's declaration, that
Lee's course had been satisfactory to
tho government, and that under no cir
cumstances would he be relieved, was
published. This, with the statement
that the consul general had been eulo
gized In congress, has had a good effect,
and strengthens Leo'B official Influence.
The ultra-Spanish now know It would
be useless to make any further objec
tions. General Blanco had no part in
the movement against the consul gen
eral, but other official representatives
of Spain did, uh well as members of tho
autonomist cabinet.
General Lee was not Informed of
what had taken place, until the Inci
dent wob closed. The commercial
classes, who are yet hopeful of peace
ful Intervention of mediation by the
United States, are pleased to have Gen
eral Lee remain. They assure him that
no outbreak against Americans will oc
cur. Tho authorities apparently think
a crisis In the relations with the United
States Is close, but do not bellcvo tho
time is quite ripe for them to meet It.
HAVANA BEING FORTIFIED.
They are receiving information of tho
coming of American war vessels, and
ure pushing their own preparations for
the defense of Havana harbor. Thin
is in the face of semi-official statements
from the captain geuerui'a confidential
advisers that the diplomats will settle
the questions growing out of the Maine
disaster, and nil other matters of dis
pute which may arise between the two
governments. Nevertheless, every sug
gestion of intervention by the United
States to end the present conditions In
Cuba Is resented with bitterness.
The Army Gazette publishes n mnp ,
of the American coast, and points out
where Spain's navy will strike effect- I
lvely when war begins. The action of
congress In voting J50.00O.00O credit Is
published without a comment. Neither
the ofllolals nor the army olllccrs Beem
to understand Its meaning. Coincident
with this action, many commercial
houses have news further weakening
credit, to the effect that the Spanish
bank In Madrid Is refusing government
bills of exchange from Cuba
The autonomist, or colonial, govern
ment, Is in a state of collapse. The
claims that the Cubans who have been
arrested on charges of conspiracy are
implicated in dynamite or similar plots,
Is false. They aro held on political
charges. No assurance can be had that
they will have a trial before deporta
tion. This is an Illustration of the pan
icky feeling of the authorities. The
nutonomlst cabinet Is made to bear the
odium of these urrests. Nobody heeds
Madrid's proposals for modifying and
broadening autonomy, or pays any at
tention to the long manifestos issued
by the autonomist factions In Cuba.
The Bole topic now is the relations
with the United States. The authori
ties cite the quiet prevailing this week,
during the exciting reports, but this Is
not conclusive. Tho Havana popula
tion has been engaged In admiring tho
Spanish warships, and has known little
of what was going on elsewhere.
BOILED DOWN.
Myrtle Storrer, a 16-year-old girl, re
siding near Fayettevllle, Ark., has been
arrested, charged with the murder of
her father. Mr. Storrer objected to an
admirer of Myrtle.
A dispatch from St. Johns, N. F., says
that startling revelations have been
made in the legislative assembly, show
ing alleged corruption and extrava
gance by the liberal government
I. G. Reed, a prominent Philadelphia
newspaper man, while visiting at New
York city, became violently Insane. Ho
Is 45 years of age and a brother of Rev,
J. S. Reed of San Francisco.
Mr. W. A. Piatt of Colorado Springs,
Colo., has been appointed receiver of
the Commercial bank of Denver, In the
place of Frank Adams, resigned, and
also of the German National bank of
Denver, In place of Z. T. Hill.
Ex-Chief of Police J. H. Jacks of
Muskegon, Mich., has been held to die
criminal court by a coroner's Jury on the
charge of killing Andy McGee.
A desperate battle was fought be
tween United States marshals and
moonshiners near Fayettevllle. Ark., In
which G. Phillips was killed unu two
others wounded.
Fire destroyed the town of Whltte
more, la., causing a loss of $25,000.
Ike Warren, a Joint keeper of Guten--vllle,
Kan,, has been convicted of the
murder of Sheriff Lard;
John Dougherty, a life prisoner In jail
at Newcastle, Del., for killing a Swede,,
escaped from his cell Saturday.
President Andrew Freedman of tho
New York base ball dug has signed
the Brush blacklisting and suspension
law.
President Schurman of Cornell unl
ut 'snouuoua uaoq sm 'puuiaj oqj
through the west and will visit the Uni
versity Is now on a two weeks' tour
pered with.
WAR IS ALMOST CERTAIN
PRESIDENT ADMITS THE GRAV
ITY OF THE SITUATION
Malno Inquiry Portends 8Grloua
Termination-Consul Genorat Leo
Favors the Aasemblngo of Sever
al Warships In Havana.
Washington, D. C, March 14. Thero
Is not an Intelligent man In Washington,
In or out of congress, who docs not
believe that a war between tho United
States and Spain Is almost certain to
begin before the expiration of two
weeks
So clear Is it now to all that sharp
work must come soon that the presi
dent himself, in a private conversa
tion, throws aside the mask he has
been wearing for the last two weeks.
He said to an intimate friend that
the situation Is one of gravity, and that
in his opinion the prospect of settling
tho controversy with Spain without war
was "very remote."
He said ho has had In hla possession
for nearly a week full Information of
the causes wnicn lea to me uiBastcr ui
Havana, and the circumstances are
such as to render peaceful negotiations
"exceedingly difficult." He admitted
that war and navy departments are
engaged on work intended to anticipate
the direct result, and this result he
saw little hope of escaping.
Tho president informed this gentle
man that he would send to congress
within the next few days a message
which will convey to tho public the
findings of the "Sampson court of in
quiry." Tho president told his visitor that
the Maine was blown up by a sub
marine mlno under such conditions as
Burrounded the disaster with all that
M-.iMn.i Un irrdvnol nnnftpmtpnrpR. ...
He also explained that careful plans1
for war had been mappeu out, uui uiey
would be manifestly Improper subjects
for discussion.
A plan of campaign Btrongly favored
is this: The sending of the president's
message to congress declaring that the
blowing up of the Maine was an act
cf war, and the submitting of the re
port of the court of Inquiry as a reaBon
fnr thin declaration.
This Is to bo followed by the move
ment of the fleet at Dry Tortugas upon
Havana and the Immediate bombard
ment of that city and the Spanish war
ships in Its harbor.
This Is not given as the probable
method the president will pursue, but
In the opinion of eight out of every ten
Intelligent men It Is an entirely possible
one. The situation should crystallize
when Senator Proctor, who has been In
Cuba as a quasi agent of me uammis
trntlon, arrlveB here.
It 1b suggested that the senator, who
Is accompanied by the second stenog
rapher of the court of Inquiry, may bear
a copy of the court's report, which
Judge Advocate Marlx 1b to present
to the secretary of the navy In person.
Consul General Lee favors the as
semblage of Beveral warships In Ha
vana harbor a an object lesson to tho
Spaniards. This will not be done If the
present Intention Is carried out.
When the warships appear before
Havana they will be there for the pur
pose of demanding the surrender of
that town and the evacuation of Cuba
by the Spanish troops, to be followed
by cannonading If refusal Is made.
There was a state dinner at the White
house Friday night. The president and
vice president were there greeting for
eign ambassadors wun smiies unu
handshakes, while the young Belgian
prince, In whose honor the dinner was
being given, was the Hon of this Joyous
occasion. And such are the necessities
of diplomatic usage.
Contrast the scene nt the White House
with ones that occur each day tho
grave president receiving reports from
his cabinet officers, Issuing orders to
mobilize all the artillery regiments on
the Atlantic seaboard, hurry oraera De
lng constantly given to manufacturers
having ammunition contracts to com
plete the work at tho earliest moment
possible.
GENERAL NEWS.
The Empire Transportation company
will operate steamers this summer be
tween Seattle and Dawson, via St. Mi
chaels.
John Daly, the pugilist, who has been
on trial at St. Louis for the murder of
Lulu Falles, was acquitted today. He
cried aloud for Joy.
Jack McClelland and "Yock" Hennl
ger, lightweight pugilists, fought thlr-tv-flve
rounds on a boat In the Ohio
river, near Shannopin. Pa to a draw.
Josef Hoffman, the young pianist,
gave his second recital In Carnegie
hall, New York. 5,000 being In at
tendance. No pianist ever captured a
public more completely. He was re
called fifteen times.
Emll Devan has tried to kill himself
and his four children by laudanum, at
English, Ind. All are In a precarious
condition. Mrs. Devan died nearly a
year ago, and it is thought Devan's
mind became unbalanced.
There is much dissatisfaction at San
Francisco over Referee Green's decision
In the Sharkey-Choynskl fight.
Captain George Evans, Tenth cavalry,
has been placed on the retired list, on
account if disabilities incident to tho
service.
Ex-Postmoster James A. Aldoman of
Newport, Neb., who died Tuesday, was
buried by union comrades of 1SG1.
Mrs. L. K. Snauldlng. wife of ex-Bank
President Spauldlng at Chicago, who Is
undergoing a sentence for embezzle
ment, has been granted a dtvorce.
The Southwestern Smelting and Re
fining company, which has Just been
Incorporated, Is about to commence the
erection of a smelter In Los Angeles,
Cal.
United States authorities are greatly
excited over the discovery of a large
number of counterfeit sliver dollars. It
Is estimated that there J20.000.000 spuri
ous coins in circulation. The discovery
was made In Denver.
The Grand Pacific hotel, Chicago,
noted until It was closed In the spring
Df 1M)5 for its nnnual game dinner, and
is the stopping place of politicians of
national reputations, was reopened un
der the management of ex-Alderman
William R. Kerr and Albert E. Glennle.
The departure of Queen Victoria for
Riviera, south of France, Is regarded
as Indicative of a clearer foreign hori
zon. The Pioneer Klondike Transportation
company of St. Louis, Mo., proposes
to grubstake 500 men to prospect In
Alaskan gold fields.
George W, McCoy of Portland. Ore.,
hns been arrested by the United States
luthoritles, charged with using the
malls for fraudulent purposes.
The directors of the Crete Chautauqua
issembly have decided not to hold nn
issembly this year on account of the
Trans-MIsslsslppl exposition at Omaha.
The result of tho parliamentary bye
toctton Wednesday In the Stepney dl
rlslon, London, when the liberals were
rlotorious, is charged to Salisbury's un
favorable fortlgn policy.
TALMAGES' SERMON.
Washington, D. C, March 13. Dr.
T&lmage preached today from Acts
7:65-60: "Behold 1 see the heavens
opened," etc.
Stephen had been preaching a rous
ing Barman, and the people could not
stand it They resolved to do as men
somttimes would like to do In this day,
if they dared, with some plain preach
er of righteousness kill him. The only
way to silence this man was to knock
the breath out of him. So they rushed
Stephen out of the gates of the city, and
with curse, and whoop, and bellow they
brought htm to the cliff, as was tho cus
tom when they wanted to take away life
by stoning.
Having brought him to the edge of the
cliff, they pushed him off. After he had
fallen they came and looked down, and
seeing that he was not yet dead, they
began to drop stones upon him, Btone
after Btone. Amid this horrible rain of
missiles, Stephens clambers up on his
knees and folds his hands, whilo the
blood drips from his temples to his
cheeks, from his checks to his garments,
from hlB garments to tho ground; and
then, looking up, he makes two prayers
one for himself and one for his mur
derers: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;"
that was for himself. "Lord, lay not this
Bin to their charge;" that was for hla
assailants. Then, from pain and loss of
blood, he swooned away and fell asleep.
I want to show you today five pic
tures. Stephen gazing into heaven. Ste
phen looking at Christ. Stephen stoned.
Stephen In his dying prayor. Stephen
asleep.
GAZING INTO HEAVEN.
First, look at Stephen gazing Into
heaven. Before you take a leap you want
to know where you are going to land.
Before you climb a ladder you want to
know to what point me laauer readies.
And It was right that Stephen, within a
few moments of heaven, should bo gaz
ing into it. We would all do well to ba
found In the same posture.
There Is enough In heaven to keep us
cazlnrr. A man of wealth may have
tatatuary In the hall, and paintings In
the sitting room, und worKs or art in an
parte of the house, but he has the chief
pictures in the art gallery, and there
hour after hour you walk with cata
logue and giuBS and ever increasing ad
miration. Well, heaven Is the gallery
where God has gathered the chief treas
ures of his realm. The whole universe
is his palace. In this lower room where
we Btop there aro many adornments;
tessellated floor and amethyst, and on
the winding cloud stairs are stretched
out canvases on which commingle azure,
and purple, and saffron, and gold. But
heaven Is the gallery In which the chief
glories are gathered. There are the
brightest robes. There are the richest
gowns. There are the highest exhila
rations. John says of it: "The kings of
the earth shall bring their honor and
glory Into it."
There la not a man In this house today
bo isolated in life but there is some one
In heaven with whom he once shook
hands. As a man gets older, the number
of his celestial acquaintances very rap
Idly multiplies. We have not had one
glimpse of them since the night we
kissed them good by, and they went
away; but still we stand gazing at
heaven.
While you long to Join their com
panionship, and the years and the days
go with such tedium that they break
your heart, and the viper of pain und
sorrow and bereavement keeps gnawing
nt your vitals, you Btand still, like
Stephen, gazing into heaven. You won
der If they would recognize your face
now, so changed has it been with
trouble. You wonder if, amid the
mvrlud delictus they have, they care
as much for you ns they used to when
they gave you a helping nana nnu put
their shoulders under your burdens. You
wonder if they look any older; and
aometlmes In the eventide, when the
house is all quiet, you wonder If you
should call them by their first name
if they would not answer; and perhaps
aometlmes you do make the experiment,
and when no one but God and yourself
are there you distinctly call their names
and listen, and sit gazing into heaven.
WONDERFUL INVITATION.
Pass on now, and see Stephen look
ing upon Christ. My text says he saw
the son of man at the right hand of
God. Just how Christ looked in this
world, Just how he looks in heaven, we
cannot say. I have to tell you that
unless you see and hear Christ on earth
you will never see and hear him In
heaven. Look I There he Is. Behold
the lamb of God. Can you not see
him? They pray to God to take the
scales off your eyes. Look that way
try to look that way. His voice comes
down to you this day comes down to
the blindest, to the deafest soul, bay
ing: "Look unto me, all ye ends of the
earth, and be ye saved, for I am God,
and there Is none else."
Oh, wonderful invitation! You can
take it today, and stand at the heaa
of the darkest alley In any city, and
say: "Come! Clothes for your rags,
salve for your sores, a throne for your
eternal reigning!" A Christ that talks
like that, and acts like that, and par
dons like that do you wonder that
Stephen stood looking at hlmf I hope
to spend eternity doing the same thing.
I must see him; I must look upon
that face once clouded with my sin,
hut now radiant with my pardon. I
want to touch that hand that knocked
off my shackles. I want to hear that
voice which pronounced my deliver
ance. Behold him, little children, for if you
live to three score years and ten, you
will see none so fair. Behold him, ye
aged ones, for he only can shine
through the dimness of your falling
eyesight. Behold him, earth. Behold
him, heaven. What a moment when all
the nations of the saved shall gather
around Christ! AH faces that way.
All thrones that way, gazing on Jesus.
His worth if nil the nations knew,
Sure the whole earth would love him,
too.
STEPHEN STONED.
I pass on now and look at Stephen
Btoned. The world has always wanted
to get rid of good men. Their very life Is
nn assault upon wickedness. Out with
Stephen through the gates of the city.
Down with him over the precipices.
Let every man come up and drop a
Btone upon his head. But these men
did not so much kill Stephen as they
killed themselves. Every stone re
bounded upon them. While these mur
derers were transfixed by the scorn of
all good men, Stephen lives In the ad
miration of all Christendom. Stephen
stoned, but Stephen alive. So all good
men must be pelted. All who will live
godly In Christ Jesus must suffer per
secution. It Is no eulogy of a man to
say that everybody likes him. Show
me anyone who Is doing all his duty to
state or church and I will show you
men who utterly abhor him.
When I see a man In some great
moral or religious reform battling
against grog shops, exposing wicked
ness in high places, by active means
trying to purify the church and better
the world's estate, and I find that some
of the newspapers anathematize him,
and men, even good men, oppose him
and denounce him, because, though he
does good, he does not do it In their
way, I say: "Stephen stoned."
The world, with fcflnlte spite, took
after John Frederick Oberlln, and
Paul, and Btephen of tho text.
But you notice, my friends, that while
they assaulted him they did not suc
ceed really In killing him. You may
assault a good man, but you cannot
kill him.
HIS FIRST CONCERN.
Pans on now and see Stephen In his
dying praysr. His first thought waa
not how the stones hurt his nead, nor
what would become of his body. His
first thought waa about his spirit.
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Tho
murderer standing on the trap door,
the black cap being drawn over his
head before the execution may grim
ace about the future, but you and I
have no Hhamc in confessing some anx
iety about where we are going to come
out
You are not all body. There Is with
in you n soul. I see It gleam from your
eyes, and I Bee It Irradiating your coun
tenance. Sometimes I am abashed be
fore nn audience, not brnnse 1 come
under their physical eyesight, but be
cause I realize the truth that I stand
before bo many Immortal spirits.
The probability is that your body will
at last And a sepulchre In some of the
cemeteries that surround your town or
city. There Is no doubt but that your
obsequies will be decent and respect
ful, and you will be able to pillow your
head under the maple, or the Norway
spruce, or the cypress or the blossom
ing fir; but this spirit nbout which
Stephen prayed, what direction will
that take? What guide will escort It?
What gate will open to receive It?
What cloud will be cleft for ltB path
way? After It has got beyond the
light of our sun, will there be torches
lighted for It the rest of the way?
"Will the soul have to travel throuch
long deserts before It reaches the good
land? If we should lose our pathway,
will there be a castle at whose gate
we may ask for the way to the city?
I do not care what you do with my
body when my soul Is gone, or whether
you believe In cremation or Inhumation.
I shall sleep Just as well In a wrapping
of sackcloth as In sntln lined with en
gle's down. But my soul before this
day passes, I will find out where It will
land. Thank God for the Intimation of
my text, that when we die Jesus takes
us. That answers all questions for me.
What though there were massive bars
between here and the city of light, Je
sus could remove them. What though
there were great Saharas of darkness,
Jesus could Illumine them. What tho'
I get weary on the way, Jeeus could
lift me on his omnipotent shoulder.
What though there were chasms to
cross, his hand could transport me.
Then let Stephen's prnyer be my dying
litany: "Locd, Jesus, receive my
spirit."
WOULD BE SWEET TO DIE.
We may be too feeble to employ
either of these familiar forms; but this
prayer of Stephen is so short. Is so con
cise, Is bo earnest, is so comprehensive,
we surely will be able to say that:
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Oh,
If that prayer is answered, how sweet
it will be to die! This world is clever
enough to us. Porhnps It haa treated
us a great deal better that we deserve
to be treated: but If on the dying pil
low there should break the light of that
better world, we shall have no more re
gret nbout leaving a small, dark, damp
house for one large, beautiful and ca
pacious. That dying minister In Phila
delphia, some years ago, beautifully de
pleted It, when In the last moment, he
threw up his hands and cried out: "1
move Into the light!"
Pass on now, and I will show you
one more picture, and that Is Stephen
asleep. With a pathos and simplicity
peculiar to the scriptures, the text says
of Stephen: "He fell asleep." "Oh,"
you say, "what a place that was to
Bleep! A hard rock under him, stones
falling down upon him, the blood
Btreamlng, the mob howling. What a
nlace It waa to sleep!"
And yet my text takes that Bymbol
of slumber to describe his departure,
so sweet was It, so contented was It, so
peaceful was It. Stephen had lived a
very laborious life, his chief work had
been to care for the poor. How many
loaves of bread he distributed, how
many bare feet he had sandaled, how
many cots of sickness nnd distress he
blessed with ministries of kindness and
love, I do not know; but from the way
he lived, and the way he preached, and
the way he died, I know he was a la
borious Christian.
HIS LABORS ENDED.
But that Is all over now. He has
pressed the cup to the last fainting lip.
He has taken the last Insult from his
enemies. The last Btone to whose
crushing weight he Is susceptible has
been hurled, Stephen Is dead! The
disciples comes. They take him up.
They wash away the blood from the
wounds. They straighten out the
bruised limbs. They brush back the
tangled hair from the brow, and then
they pass around to look upon the
calm countenance of him who had lived
for the poor and died for the truth.
Stephen asleep!
I have Been the sea driven with the
hurricane until the tangled foam caught
In the rigging, and wave rlolng above
wave seemed as If about to storm tho
heavens, and then I have seen the
tempest drop, and the waves crouch,
and everything become smooth and
burnished as though a camping place
for the glories of heaven. So I havo
seen a man, whose life has been tossed
and driven, coming down at last to an
Infinite calm, In which there was the
hush of heaven's lullaby.
Stephen asleep! I saw such an one.
He fought all his days against poverty
and against abuse. They tradwed his
name. They rattled at the door knob
while '' wns dying, with duns for debts
he coull not pay; yet the peace of God
uiouuiu uer ins piuow. and when the
world faded, heaven dawned, and the
deepening twilight of earth's night was
only the opening twilight of heaven's
morn. Not a sigh. Not a tear. Not a
struggle. Hush! Stephen asleep.
THE BLESSED SLEEP.
I have not the faculty to tell the
weather. I can never tell by the Bet
ting sun whether there will be a
drouth or not. I cannot tell by the
blowing of the wind whether It will be
fair weather or foul on the morrow.
But I can prophesy, and I will prophesy
what weather it will be when you, the
Christian, come to die. You may have
It very rouhg now. It may be this
week one annoyance, the next another
annoyance.
It may be this year one bereavement,
the next another bereavement. Before
this year has passed you may have to
beg for bread, or ask for a scuttle of
coal or a pair of shoes; but at the last
Christ will come in and darkness will
go out. And though there may bo no
hand to close your eyes, and no breast
on which to rest your dying heau, anu
no candle to lift the night, the odors of
God's hanging garden will regale your
soul, and at your bedside will halt the
chariots of the king. No more rents to
pay, no more agony because flour has
gone up, no more Btruggle with "the
world, the flesh and the devil;" but
peace long, deep, everlasting peace.
Btephen asleep!
Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep.
From which none ever wake to weep;
A calm and undisturbed repose.
Uninjured by the last of foes.
Asleep In Jesus, far from thee
Thy kindred and their graves may bt
But there Is a blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep.
You havo seen enough for one morn
ing. No one can successfully examine
more than five pictures In a day. There
fore we stop, having seen this clunUr
of divine Raphaels Stephen gaxlng
Into heaven; Stephen looking at Christ;
Btephen Btoned; Stephen In his dying
prayer; Stephen asleep!
,
OUR AUXILIARY WARSHIPS.
In addition to the fifty regular cruisers
of the United States navy there are some
thirty odd vessels now employed in the
merchant service which could be rapidly
converted Into cruisers and which
should be taken Into account In estimat
ing the naval strength of the country.
These ships woulo. ! unarmored and
would carry a comparatively light com
plements of guns. It would be impossi
ble for them to fight even a small war
ship, and they would not be expected to
do bo. Their special mission would be
to prey on the enemy's commerce and
to capture unarmed merchant vessels.
For this they would be admirably ad
apted by their high speed and light
armament.
In the navy department,- where an
exact list of these vessels is filed, they
are officially known as auxiliaryor cas
ual cruisers. Last year, when congress
was considering the bill appropriating
$850,000 for providing an armament for
this auxiliary fleet, the chief of the
bureau of ordnance reported thirty-three
vessels as available for this kind of
service.
Of these twenty-four are on the At
lantic coast and nine on the Pacific. To
gether they call for forty-six six-Inch,
twenty-seven llfty-four slx-poundere,
eight one-pounders nnd 112 machine
guns, or a total armament of 351 guns
of all clases.
The largest and best known of theso
arc flve-lnch and 104 four-Inch rapid-fire
rifles, the four American line steam
shipsthe New York, Paris, St. Louis
and St. Paul. It 1b Interesting to noto
the tranformatlon which one of theBO
big passenger steamers would have td
undergo In order to fit It for the work
of an auxiliary cruiser. Just what
changes would probably be made in con
verting one of theso peaceful ocean
liners Into a warship was pointed out by
Mr. G. C. Grlscom, Jr., of the Interna
tional company In a talk with the corre
spondent the other day. Most persona
will probably be surprised to learn how
much of the bluld and fittings of on un
armored cruiser those big paBsenger
boats now contain.
RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.
"There seems to be a general im
pression," Bald Mr. Grlscom, "that some
kind of contract or agreement exists
between ths United States government
nnd the International Navigation com
pany by which the latter are to turn
over Its boats to the service of tha
United Statea whenever needed. There
Is no such agreement because it Is un
necessary. The United States has a
perfect right to demand and take the
property of the International Naviga
tion company, Just as It has the right
to demand the property or services of
any other of Its citizens, and It would
undoubtedly do so, with proper Indemni
fication, should occasion arise."
What was done by the government
when the postal subsidy act for the en
couragement of American shipping was
passed was to demand that, In consider
ation for the privileges granted by that
net, certain plans should be followed in
the construction of the vessels that were
to benefit It. These requirements were,
roughly, that the rudder and steering
apparatus of the steamship should be
under water, and that the vital parts of
the ship should, so far as pcHaD
below the water line, where they would
be less liable to Injury from cannon shot.
"The plans for the American line
steamers were Inspected and approved
by nn officer or the government wnen
the boats were built, and they satisfy
at the New York you will Bee four
white marks at regular Intervals along
each of her sides. Directly above these
white marks, on the steamer's promen
ade decks, are the places where the six
Inch guns would be located were she to
be armed. You will notice, too, that
the deck supports at these points are
strengthened by an additional column.
On the deck at this point Is a round
steel cap covering a manhole, Intended
for the passage of ammunition from be
iow. "These are the only marks Indicating
to the uninitiated any preparation for
the placing of cannon; but there nre
other provisions. The deck platform and
supports are strengthened at this point
by additional gilders and crossbeams,
so as to sustain the weight of guns and
carriages. There are also arrangements
for the mounting of the smaller ma
chine guns. Practically the only thing
necersary to equip these vessels for ubc
.n war would be to run the gun carriages
on board and mount the guns on them.
There would probably be some alterna
tions In their Internal arrangements to
provide quarters for seamen and ma
rines, but those could be made within a
very few days.
"Last year, when the English steam
ship Majestic was detailed to attend
the naval celebration of the queen's
Jubilee, she nrrlved In Liverpool on
Kednesday afternoon; on Saturday she
sailed for Southampton, runy ntteu oui
as an unarmored cruiser. The whole
eulpment had been placed on board and
put In position within three days. I see
no reason why the New York or the
Paris could not be fitted out within the
same length of time, assuming that th
guns were ready to be put on board.
"The theory of an unarmed cruiser Is
that she shall be fast enought to run
away from any war ship and strong
enough to overpower any merchant ves
sel. I think that our boats fully satisfy
these requirements. You remember that
when the Columbia made the trip across
the Atlantic at a speed of about eighteen
knots for the whole voyage it was hailed
as a remarkable achievement. It was
for a warship. But our ships cross
the ocean, year In and year out.v In the
course of their regular business, at
an ordinary speed of about twelve knots.
No war vessel In existence, unless it
was one of the small torpedo boats or
torpedo boat catchers, could overhaul
them. Of course n single shot from a
modern battleship would go through
their sides, but I think that It would
take more than one to destroy them, be
rnnun n i hnve said, they were laid
flown on lines Intended to guard againBt
lhat."
Blasts From Ram's Horn.
The contented mind has a continual
feast. . A
Wrongs never grow strong enough to
right themselves.
No grave Is deep enough to bury the
good man's hopes.
Don't waste today's strength fighting
tomorrow's battles.
Those who lean upon their dignity are
In need of better support.
If all great deeds got into print the
world would not hold the books.
Our "names are given to us, but our
lives give them their meaning.
There Is no pathway through life that
Joes not have some roseB In It.
The more heart we put Into a hard
task the lighter our toll becomes.
Suspicion Is a robber who conceals a
lrawn dagger under his cloak.
?
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