T II K HESPERIAN.
B
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the cost of the displacement of the poor, the English census
commissioners of 1851 declare with great gusto: ,4Vc feel it
will be gratifying to your Excellency to find that, although
the population has been diminished in so remarkable a man
ner by famine, disease, and emigration, and has been since
decreasing, the result of the Irish census arc on the whole
satisfactory." Satisfactory, indeed !
It is gratifying to turn from exhibitions of such heartless
ncss to(a consideration of the efforts put forth in this century for
the betterment of social conditions in It eland. The last hun
dred years has witnessed the passage of several acts meting
out somewhat of justice to the Irish people. True it has too
often been but tardy justice granted in a manner that did not
favorably impress the recipients, Catholic emancipation, the
disestablishment of the Irish church, and the various land
acts of the Isst twenty-five years, constitute a scries of legis
lative measures that have in some degree undone the wrong of
previous acts. Hut the facts, nevertheless, remains that an
indelible wrong was done Ireland ut a lime when the great
manufacturing industries oi modern times were in their in
fancy, and that no amount of remedial legislation at this late
age can wholly right the wrongs ol former periods, and re
move from England's escutcheon a blot dyed deep in the
blood of Irish martyrs.
CURRENT COMMENT.
There is perhaps no sight dearer to a patriotic American
than the sight of the stars and stripes waving at full mast
from the dome of some public building. What would a per
son think if he should sec printed across the stripes or the
stars some such emblems as these: "Buy Your Hardware of
Jones" or "Chew Lorillard's Climax" or anything gotten up
as an advertisement? This would immediately be considered
as un insult to the American flag and the people would not
r.iihmit to it for they arc of one mind in regard In their flag.
They wish to keep it for future generations unlrammclcd,
untainted and as pure as when in 1776 it became the
model, wholly our own, ol thirteen white stars upon a blue
background and alternating red and white stripes. In order
to do this a bill has been introduced into Congress making it
an offence to use the United States flag for advertising pur
poses. No doubt this will become a law. It has already
passed the House but in the Senate an objection to the bill
was raised and it was consequently held over until next ses
sion. The reason for this, as given by the St. Louis Globe
Democrat is that the republican committee had just had
printed hundreds of thousands of campaign hand books, the
cover of which represents the American flag. Across the flag
is printed the words, "The grand old party, it is true to the
flag." It is plain to be seen that "the grand old party" is
"warping" the truth considerably in this statement or it would
have printed its motto in some other place.
The following article is clipped from the Evening Post
New York, bearing dale of October 9, 1890:
"A few nights ago prior to the departure of the Strauss
orchestra from this city, a remarkable musical and vocal en
tertainment which has not so far been noticed in the press,
ws given in this city to an audience o( 800 people assembled
at the Grand Union Hotel in Saratoga. By means of a long
distance telephone circuit the performances of the Strauss
orchestra stationed in the telephone building in Cortlandt
street were transmitted to Saratoga and there heard by means
of a set of hand telephones. The applause of the audience at
Madison Square was distinctly audible in this way, while
some of the songs and solos, and a recitation ol the, "Charge
of the Light Brigade" were heard all over the room at Sam
toga by means of a single loud-speaking receiver provided
with n large funnel shaped resonator which magn lied the
sound. While all this was going on, n loop was thrown in
connecting the residence nt Morrlstown, N. J., of Mr. A.
S. Hihhard, one f the managers of the long distance system.
The distance is thirty miles, and the strains of the orchcura
were heard so plainly in the house at Morristown that danc
ing was carried on with perfect case and comfort by the guests
there assembled. This is "the first time on record that a
room full of dancers have been able to enjoy themselves with
music from a distance."
It is almost impossible to believe that there has been such
great progress in electrical science within the past thirty
years, but such is the case. This particular branch of science
ha been almost entirely developed since 1858. The tele
graph was in operation then and was about the only thing in
which electricity formed the important factor. During
that year was witnessed the accomplishment of the first great
step towards the establishment of electrical communication
between Europe end America. Since that time the advance
has been marvelous, until today we arc far ahead of England
in both electric lighting and in electric railways. Perhaps a
few statistics on this would be interesting. There arc in
America today 1,500 central stations, about 250,000 arc and
three or four million incandescent lights. At the beginning
of the year the United States had no fewer than 200 electric
roads with 1,641 miles of track and 2,346 cars.
The time is at hand that to be well educated one must have
a certain amount of knowlcgc concerning electricity and its
appliances. The uses to which electricity may be applied aic
so many and varied and they arc increasing so rapidly that to
keep abreast with the times one must know something of the
workings of this giant power. It may be utilized in almost
every branch of industry.
It would seem from the clipping above referred to that,
contrary to expectation, part of Bellamy's "Looking Hack-
ward" is about to become a reality. If the music discoursed
by the Strauss orchestra is heard at a distance of thirty miles
by means of electricity, why is it not possible for arrangements
to be made so that anyone, by simply turning a thumb screw
or some such ingenious device may flood a room with choice
music. Or after the Strauss orchestra returns to Vienna may
not the music that it plays there be brought to this coun
try by means of electricity
In the Evening Post of October 13 there is a very lengthy
discussion of the iniquities of the new tarifi. This is the
speech Senator Carlisle made in the United States Senate,
September 30.
The iubject is veiy ably discussed by Senator Carlisle,
and any one who is studying this most important issue in our
politics may add to his knowledge somewhat by giving this
speech his most careful study. The senator first presents the
effects that the bill will produce on taxation, and in the con
clusion of this article says: "Mr. President, let it be under
stood that I am not contending that the revenues of the gov
eminent will be actually increased to the extent stated.
Because many of these duties are absolutely prohibitory, and
according to the statement submitted by the committee on
finance from which I have read, this is confessedly a bill to
reduce the revenues by increasing taxation. While, there
fore, it will not increase the revenue k this extent, it will
inciease. taxation upon the "people many times this amount by
WMSWfUWMflni
