rHE HESPERIAN.
UNIVERSITY of NEBRASKA.
Vol. XIV.
LINCOLN, NEB., MAY i, 1SS6.
No. XIV.
CURRENT REMARK.
The promptness with which the late storm was on hand
seems to indicate that some weather predictor has got in "sol
id" with the weather authorities. If this is the case we may
expect a reform in weather reports.
The fame and notoriety gaincd by certain members of the
city government in the late Law and Order League troubles
is a striking example of the use to which the proficiency
gained in student squabbles may be put.
Our friend, Rev. Hitler, seems to be holding his own in
Omaha, and we wish to predict that if the Lincoln people stay
by him he will be eminently successful. There is a good deal
of push about Lincolnites everywhere and they make a relig
ious meeting boom as well as anything else that they take
hold of in earnest.
The efforts made by our prohibition friends to carry the
municipal elections indicate thai they have strong hopes of
success. From our observation of the tune 01 the Nebraska
press we think that the sentiment in favor of prohibition is
undoubtedly growing. We watch with full confidence that
a wise adjustment of this problem will be reached.
We consider the movement which has been taken by the
students towards an athletic organization opportune. The
athletic spirit lacks encouragement and the fact of an organi
zation will be a stimulus to induce the government of the
University to give a gymnasium next year. Those who have
entered into the matter should not let it flag. Students cannot
hope to become professional athletes and remain students but
they may very frequently attain a fair degree of physical
skill.
Lincoln has a base ball nine! Professionals too; and of the
first water, so claimed. With a pitcher who can throw any
kind of a curve, and a catcher who can catch the pitcher, and
a variety of knowing fellows scattered over the field Lincoln
bids fair to really be the leading city of the state. The new
club shows up in grand shape along side of an amateur nine.
We wait with fear and trembling to sec what they can do with
playcjrs of like pretensions with themselves. Base ball is a
noble game, especially when played by professionals. What
would life be without it?
Arbor Day is coming to be one of the pleasantest as well as
most practical holidays throughout the country. Nearly all
of the western states and some eastern ones celebrate this day.
We of Nebraska ought to observe it if any one does, because
it was originated by a Nebraska man. (Every paper in the
state heralds this to the world every year and we take up the
cry.) Then the custom is very beneficial in a state where trees
re a scarce as they are here. Let us improve it while we
can for in a few years the essential part of the day .will be for.
gotten and it will be celebrated as a day in which to haye a
rest or a picnic where one can get the benefit of the new spring
outs.
The use of the newspapers by both of the factions engaged
in the present labor troubles is amusing and instructive.
Twice or thrice per day the public is told in one column that
trains are moving regularly.thc strikers arc loosing heart, and
the strike is practically at an end; regular reports of assem
blies of Knights of Labor which have surrendered their char
ters are given and the railroad officials announce their deter
mination to maintain their position. A parallel column is de
voted to the working men and a similar determination is ex
pressed; we arc told that the Knights arc encouraged, contri
butions arc pouring in from every side, and there is no thought
of compromise. Such vagaries are highly entertaining but
they make us surmise that we can't tell anything about the
truth of the matter.
A great deal of blame has been heaped upon the militia
that did the shooting in East St. Louis. Perhaps there was
ess provocation there than at many other places, but there
was enough to justify them. The strikers remind one of the
camel. His master, away out in the desert, allowed him to
look into the tent where it was roomy and light. After he
had looked awhile he stuck his nose in, which was such a little
thing to do, that he was not driven out. Then his head and
and neck were gradually worked in and permitted to remain
because it Was such a slight innovation. After awhile, by such
slight advances the camel was entirely in the tent and the
master was driven out. So with the mob; each thing they do
may be small in itself but adding one to another, they soon
have the power in their own hands and the authorities arc
driven out. And the sooner some one tries to check their ad
vances the better.
Between the majority in the Senate who are opposed to him
because of the frequency with which he has used his power of
removing from office, and the members of his own party who
,ove him not because .'he has not exercised his prerogative in
this respect with more frequency, P:esident Cleveland's row is
by no means an easy one to hoe. The time spent by the for
mer party in trying to trap him into an inconsistency, certain
ly, in our humble opinion, might have been spent with more
profit to the nation. Partisanship, in this august body as well
as with the people at large, seems to be encroaching upon the
sphere of patriotism. People seem to forget that when n party
leader is elected president, he then becomes president of all
and that all shonld equally desire the success of his adminis
tration at least where the prosperity of the country is in
volved. The trouble seems to be in the prominence of party
and the prevailing exalted idea as to their claims upon their
members. Judging from the way one who does not see fit to
support an incompetent or dishonest candidate just because he
was nominated by his party in the regular way, is abused by
the partisan press one would suppose that hanging would be
too mild a punishment for such a wretch; while in reality
such an action may, and in the majority of cases does, indi
cate the highest patriotism. . -