THE HESPERIAN.
this, for the peasants, the outlook for the future is well-nigh
hopeless. The. horrors of famine arc intensified ly riots and
murders; the people are growing desperate. Now that the
distressed state of affairs is becoming generally known, lib
eral men in all parts of the world are beginning to send in
contributions for the suffering peasants. One large firm in
New York city with a branch house in St. Petersburg has
offered to transmit all contributions free of charge. America
with her plenty should be the first and largest contributor
Congressman C. F. Crisp, of Georgia, has at this writing
been chosen by the democratic caucus for speaker of the
house of representatives. This means his election as the
democrats have a majority of about 150 in the house. The
general impression seems to be that by this nomination the
democrats have brought the silver issue more to the fron1
and have in a degree shelved the radical tariff rclormcrs.
Speaker Crisp himself, however, said: "I beg to say to you
now that my election means a step backwards in tariff
reform." It may mean, nevertheless, that he will advance
no radical tariff reform such as Congressman Mills would
favor. There is one pleating feature in this speakership
contest to those who are patriotic enough to do something
besides wave the "bloody shirt." Southern men have again
taken the position their ability deserves. If we may judge
oJ the men who were candidates from their previous record,
we may well conclude that the democrats acted wisely in
nominating Congressman Crisp of Georgia for speaker. He
is an able man and one that can command the respect of even
his opponents.
Recently two lunatics in New York City attempted to
assassinate two millionaires after failing to extort money
from them. To most people, doubtless, this will appear to be
but the mad act of a maniac. Even when it is known that
the madmen were half starved creatures few people will give
the matter more than a passing notice. Yet it is well worth
more than ordinary consideration. When the hungry, crazed
lunatic came face to face with the cunning millionaire reared
in luxury there met the extremes of the civilization of to-day.
The same social system that made the one a millionaire, an
aristocrat, and a man of power made the other a pauper, a
criminal, and a maniac. Some one, no doubt, will object
that it is not the social system, but the man himself that is
accountable for his condition in life. Let this be granted.
Then state the matter thus: the same social system has per
mitted one man to become a millionaire, the other to become
a mad pauper. Does this statement of the ense make the
matter any better? Not at all. The violent contrast
between the conditions of life of the two men is still apparent
and fearfully real. It is too apparent and too real to be jus
tified in the heart of any honest man.
It is sad to think that the indomitable Cyrus W. Field is
now laid low by misfortune. After a long and eventful life,
he is now probably brought to his denth-bed by the question
able business practices of his oldest son. He has always
been a man of great physical vitality and endurance. His
untiring perseverance and undaunted courage were the talk
of his time. Through ten long years of continual failures in
attempts to lay the Atlantic cable, he struggled to final and
triumphant success. An incident illustrative of the estimate
great men put upon his energetic zeal comes to mind. While
dining one day at the house of Mr. Adams, in London, his
head nodded with weariness. John Bright, who sat near
him, exclaimed, "I am glad to see you sleep; I didn't know
that you ever slept." It is said to-day Cyrus W. Field has
no home. He is lying sick in the house of a friend. His
property is all gone to pay the debts of his crazy son. The
man that linked the world together by his wonderful "chain
lightning" certainly deserves a better fate.
One moic good man has gone the way of the just. On
Saturday morning, December 5, Dom Pedro II, ex-emperor
of Brazil, died. At his death, he was but three days past his
sixty-sixth birthday. He was related to several of the royal
families of Europe. By marriage his mother was related to
Napoleon I. She was herself a member of the Hapsburg
family. Among his relatives he could number constitutional
monarchs and absolute rulers.
Dom Pedro II, though not a great man, was a good man.
He was a man of whom all men, certainly all except his ene
mies, spoke well. As a sovereign, he had closely adhered to
the constitution. He was a liberal monarch. He looked to
the best interests of his people. He wished to elevate them
as a people and as a nation. By peaceful means he accom
plished the extinction of slavery. He brought the govern
ment of Brazil more in accord with moJcrn ideas of govern
ment. As a reward for his goodness, not for his faults, he
was deposed. May it be that he is now in the delight of a
more fitting reward.
EXCHANGE,
In the November miiuhci of the University Quarterly is a
very sensible article on "College Men in Journalism." The
writer has a very good idea of human nature in general, and
of a journalistic aspirant in particular. He first takes up the
question as to whether a college curriculum is beneficial to a
person intending to make journalism his profession. The
writer's answer to this question is an emphatic yes. He
further adds that a college education "is a desirable prepar
ation for any profesion, business or trade." Continuing he
says: "The fact is that the newspaper man has more need
of the most thoiough and liberal education possible than a
man in any other profession or business. The preacher has
need to be well versed in theology, the lawyer in jusisprud
ence, the engineer in appplied mathematics. But the news
paper man has need to be master of all these things. He
must be able to write, immediately and intelligently, about a
hciesay trial, the building of an aqueduct, a military cam
paign, a contested will case, the fluctuations of trade, the
influenza, the newest electrical invention about any topic in
any depattment of human knowledge or human interest.
Surely, to fit him for such work no university curriculum is
too extended." To be an "all-round" newspaper man, the
author claims one must have a "newspaper temperament
which includes an almost instinctive knowledge of human
nature, swiftness and sureness of judgment, steadiness of
nerve, compiehcnsive memory, accuracy as infallible as man
can hope1 to possess, nimost infinite taking of pains." One
other requisite should be added, "devotion." A man whose
ability as a newspaper man is unquestioned should devote his
whole time to his chosen profession. Those that merely wish
to do newspaper work before they "settle down to business"
should be told that there is no room for them. "There is no
place in Newspaper Row for a tide-waiter." Although many
sneer at journalism, "It Is not easy to sound its due and law
ful praises in too high a strain. The newspaper man is the
writer of history; not of the past, but, which is far more
important, of the present. He is the statesman who speaks
not to senates but to nations." Not every journalist can
resell the standard Gicelcy or Delane reached, but success
will attend his efforts if he goes into the work with sincerity,
earnestness and devotion.
i The article is written in a masterly manner and we are
sorry it is impossible: to insert it verbatim.