12 Conservative.
DESIGNATED DEPOSITARY OF THE UNITED STATES ,
National Bank of the Republic
OF CHICAGO.
CXAJPITJLL , OJVJ3 MILLION DOLLARS.
JOHN A. LYNCH , President. W. T. FENTON , Vice President and Cashier.
J. H. CAMERON and H. R. KENT , Asst. Cashiers. R. M. McKINNEY , 2d Asst. Cashier.
TIIKCKUAI PACK Kit
A bill has been already introduced by
Crumpacker of Indiana which has for
its plain purpose the limitation of the
number of representatives from the
South in accordance with the second sec
tion of the fourteenth amendment to
the constitution. The bill provides for
increasing the membership of the House
from 357 to 365 , so that under its terms
the increase or decrease in members of
different States would be as follows :
Northern States.
Total 18 2
Net gain 10
Southern States.
Total 5 13
Not loss 8
In the states not included in the tables
there will be no ohange from the present
number of representatives. Under the
present apportionment what are known
as "Southern * States" have 142 votes in
the electoral college , while the remain
ing states have 805. Under the Or urn-
packer bill the South would have but
134 electoral votes , against 321 in the
North and West.
The issue is a perplexing one. The
language of the constitution apparently
leaves no other course to be pursued
than that of making the apportionment
upon the principle of the Crurnpacker
bill , and yet many of the foremost
authorities hold a different view. It is
known that neither the president nor
any eminent republican leader in either
house has favored a reduction of repre
sentation from the South , while many
of the most influential papers of the
country have strongly opposed it.
The prevailing sentiment among con-
servatives. at any rate , is very well
expressed by the Baltimore American in
saying : "This is not the time to pass
upon this question of Southern repre
sentation. Causes are pending in the
federal courts testing the legality of
negro disfranohisement , and when they
shall have been determined it will be
time enough to think about retaliation.
Now the sections dwell together in
amity , and the relationship should not
be disturbed. So far as the matter of a
general reapportionment is concerned ,
we believe it may best be settled by
raising the basis so as to keep the house
down to its present number , and without
changing the numerical representation
now enjoyed by the several states. "
MINUTE GUNS OF A CENTURY.
When , on the morning of Jan. 1st ,
1801 , the proud Ship of State , Columbia ,
hoisted her anchor and bore away into
the unknown , untried waters of the new
century , she left behind her a harbor of
peace ; a harbor teeming with the re
awakened life of the nation. She had
but just come safely through the dark ,
stormtossed seas of the Revolution and
now , againhe brasts the waves , aclang-
ing her liberty bell and waving the
starry folds of her banner in the morn
ing breeze.
The rosy glow of the budding day
gives no warning of the raging billows
beyond the harbor ; no warning of the
squalls about to swoop down upon her ;
no warning of the deadly typhoon that ,
ere she again reaches harbor , will be
shrieking about her ; nor the placid
waters , reflecting on their clear surface
the ship's goodly proportions , inkling of
the maelstrom soon to seek to draw her
within its awful embrace.
But the brave officers who direct her
course and the brave seamen who man
her , are not to be deceived by these
signs. Well they know that there may
be deadly reefs in their pathway , and.
from horizon to horizon , the sea is
scanned by watchful eyes.
And so , ere many leagues are passed ,
the lookout discerns the cloud "no big
ger than a man's hand , " the good cap
tain notes the falling barometer , all
hands are piped on deck and soon , all is
ship shape , and the good Ship of State
passes , at length , eafely through her
first storm the war of 1812.
Then , when her carpenters have re
paired the broken helm and the damaged
hulk , the good ship proceeds on her way
joyously , for many leagues more and
yet I Was that not a distant rumble of
thunder I Or is it the roar of breakers ?
The helmsman turns the wheel and
steers the vessel farther out to sea , away
from the long line of foam that betokens
the hidden reef , and the danger is
averted for the time being.
Then a source of danger rears itself in
the distant southwest. A short , sharp
squall rushes suddenly upon the vessel ,
but , by the bravery of her crew , the
good ship weathers the gale and comes
again into the sunshine the Mexican
war is passed.
The noontide of the century passes.
But again the hoarse roar of breakers 1
The ship is drifting toward the rocky
shore drifting drifting to certain de
struction and no hand upon the helm !
Ahoy ! Men of the Columbia , ahoy !
Breakers ahead ! God above , what
means this ? Mutiny ? Will the seamen
in their mad strife , let the ship go to
her doom ?
But a tall form strides forth from the
struggling mass , his hand grips firmly
the wheel of destiny , his noble brow is
lifted heavenward , his eyes meet un
flinchingly the glare of hatred and scorn ,
his grand voice rings above the din of
battle , above the roar of breakers :
"Stand by to save the ship ! "
And thus he remains through the
early hours of the century's afternoon ,
seeking to save the vessel he loves , while
the battle rages fiercely about him. But
his followers are victorious ; the good
ship , though nearly rent in twain , her
masts riven in splinters , her sails torn in
shreds , her deck covered with the dead
and dying/ turns slowly about and again
struggles seaward. And the afternoon
glare of the century's sun falls direct
upon the ship's banner , floating at half- x 4
mast , and alights pityingly upon the
cold , upturned face of the valiant helms-