i
. K-i
t3be Conservative.
AV1IKN TIIK NEXT CKNTUHY UKOINS.
Th NliiHonilli Century Ends at Midnight
of Sunday , December 31 , 1000.
"Hundreds of persons coutontl that
the twentieth century will begin with
January 1 , 1000 , while other hundreds
contend with cqunl positiveness that the
correct date is January 1 , 190I- " writes
Edward Bok in the October Ladies'
Homo Journal. "Tho 1000 contingent
argue that , of course , the now century
begins with its numeral date , and go on
to figure out very deftly that with the
last day of the year 1899 the hundred
years will have run their course. They
argue that if the first year ended with
December SJ1 of the year one , the nine
teen hundredth year must , of course ,
end with December 551 , 1899 , and that
the first day of January , 1900 , is , there
fore , the first dajr of the now century.
And , curiously enough , this latter figure
is correct , but only in a numeral sense.
These statisticians overlook ono very
important fact , however : that it re
quires ono hundred years to make a cen
tury , and it calls for no expert mathe
matician to figure it out that the full
hundred years of the nineteenth century
will not have run their course until
twelve o'clock midnight of the thirty-
first of December , 1900. Numerically ,
we enter the twentieth century with
January 1 , 1900. But , nevertheless , we
must complete that entire year of 1900 ,
and go through its three hundred and
sixty five days , before the actual nine
teen hundred years shall have run their
course. "
IGNOKAJs'CK OK AVIIAT ?
Colonel "William J. Bryan , in his
speech opening the Nebraska campaign ,
is reported by a friendly newspaper as
having provoked a sympathetic audience
to laughter and applause by declaring
that after McKiuley's election , "Things
got so bad that many people thought I
was elected. " Stimulated , posbibly , by
that acclaim of the multitude that for
him has so great a power to fascinate , he
went on to declare that during the six
mouths succeeding the election of
McKiuley more banks and business
houses failed than in the corresponding
period of the previous year.
"Why did Colonel Bryan say this ? Did
he make this assertion about the num
ber of failures during the first six
mouths of 1897 because he believed it to
be true , and that it was an important
truth to be communicated to the 10.000
at O'Neill ? What are the facts ? The
number of failures during the first six
mouths following McKiuley's election
was 6,831. The number of failures iu
the corresponding period of 1890 was
8,002. This appears to make the num
ber of failures in the six months referred
to by Colonel Bryan 1,241 less than in
the six months referred to by him ns
being BO much better. We might as well
Sr
add that the linbilities of those failing in
the first MX months of 185)15 ) wore $97-
8(59 ( 082 , while the liabilities of the fail
ures in the corresponding period in 1897
were § 91 092 787.
A more glance by Colonel Bryan at
easily procured and trustworthy statistics
would have made it impossible for him.
if a truthful , mnn , to make such a mis
representation , and we do not believe
that the 10.000 who heard him make this
unfortunate speech at the beginning ol
the Nebraska campaign will think better
of him for it. We are inclined to * think
that Colonel Bryan made his comparison
ignorantly. Even an inspired leader
cnnnot know everything.
The Nebraska opponents of Colonel
Bryan have been supplied by him with a
cudgel that should ba used with energy
and persistency. Colonel Bryan has
been regarded as a man who intends to
be fair. In order to bo fair about statis
tics one must be acquainted with them.
And when it is shown that the average
Mobilities iu failures decreased from
§ 14.993 in 1890 to § 11.559 in 1897 , and
that it was $10 722 in 1898 , it will be in
cumbent upon Colonel Bryan to admit
that he did not know what he was talk
ing about , or , that , knowing , he stated
what ho knew to be not the truth East
ern Exchange.
One gold democrat recently writing
to another democrat declared that
Colonel Bryan , even when he first
sought office in Nebraska , unblushingly
proclaimed that : "It is the money in
the "flice , and not the honor that at
tracts me. " Morton's Cent < ervative.
The New York San , goldbng republi
can , editorially commenting on the above
says in part :
However incapable we may think him
of the power to winch he aspires , how
ever much , even , of the theatrical and
artificial th re nuiy be in his tempera
uient , we d < m'G believe th it it conrains
one jot of baseness. Neither does any
body else "except Julius Sterling Morton
and his anonymous gold democrat.
The Sun knows a lie when it sees one.
Morton barks at Bryan's heels lilw a
fiste does at a Newfoundland. Crete
Democrat , Sept. 27 , 1899.
New York lawyer
is noted for his
ready answers and bkill in repartee.
When a young practitioner , he appeared
before a pompous old judge who took
offense at a remark the lawyer made
criticising his decision.
"If you do not instantly apologize for
that remark , Mr. Blank , " baid the judge ,
' I bhall commit you for contempt of
court. "
"Upon reflection , your honor , " in
stantly replied Mr. Blank , "I find that
your honor was right and I was wrong ,
as your honor always is. "
The judge looked dubious , but finally
said that he would accept the apology.
Tit-Bits.
A. TAiUKNTAHIE The prosperous
VI UK. villngo of Palmyra
suffered a severe
loss by fire on Monday , Oct. 2. The in-
huranco upon the destroyed property is
said to be almost wholly of the mutual
variety. House Rent Holcomb is an
officer in ono of the mutual companies
which will bo , wo are told , a heavy
loser. The value of this sort of insur
ance will Boouor or later come to be fully
appreciated iu Nebraska. These com
panies may have much litigation before
the supreme court. No officer of such a
company nor any member of such a
company should be a judge to doterniino
cases in which it may be interested.
TKMCGUAiM.
Nuw YOUK , Oct. 3 , 1899.
J. STERLING MORTON ,
Nebraska City , Nob.
The World is sending to several thous
and conspicuous American citizens the
following petition with the request for
permission to use their names as signers.
"William McKiuloy , president of the
United States.
"The undersigned representatives of
American public and private life most
respectfully petition you to offer the
friendly services of the United States in
mediating between Great Britain and
the Republics of the Transvaal and the
Orange Free State.
"Articles one , two and three of the
plan adopted at the peace conference
make such offers the right of any friend
ly power , 'even during the courrfe of
hostilities. '
"Wo respectfully submit that it is not
only the right and dnty of this nation
but also ita high privilege to strive to
prevent the wiping out of two of our
tiihter republics , the desolation of thous
ands of English and South African
homes , the slaughter of thousands of
i-ivilized men , the drenching of South
Atnca with blood and tears. "
The World asks you to join in this
petition. If you will do so please tele
graph at the World's expense permission
to add your name that the petition
may be forwarded at the earliest pos
sible moment. THE WORLD.
[ Answeredin the affirmative. EDITOR ]
MISAPPREHENDED."I paid her , "
MISAPPREHENDED.
said the Imagina
tive Young Man , "tho highest compli
ment one human being could pay
another. "
"What did you say to her ? " asked the
Practical Young Man.
"I told her she was a superior being
who walked on chalk. "
"You fool ! How did she take it ?
"She looked at me in astonishment ,
turned her back on mo and walked out
of the room. "
"What did you mean by it , anyway ? "
"I meant that she was a white-soled
angel. " Chicago Tribune.
