- f 4 f- ) , - v J ,
THIT OMAHA DAILT BEEt THUBSDAT , MARCH 31 , 1898.
r E
THE OMAHA DAILY BER
sf
E. nOBEWATKU. Editor.
rUULISHEU KVT.UY MOnNINO.
TEUMS OF 8UDSC1UPT10NI
Dally Ileo ( Without Sunday ) , One Year . (9 DC
Dillr lire and Sunday , One Tear . . . . . . 8 M
BU Month . 400
Three Months . 2 OC
Sunday Dec , One Year . . . . . 2 OC
Haturday lice , One Year . IK
Weekly Dee , One Year .
Omaha ! The Iec llulldlng.
South Omnlia : Hlngcr 111k. , Cor. K and Zlth Sta.
Council lllurrt : 10 Pearl Street.
Chicago OlHce : 102 Chamber of Commerce.
New York : Temple Court.
Washington i Ml fourteenth Street.
ConncSPONDENCE.
All fcommunlcatlona relating to news and edito
rial matter should be addre retls To the Editor.
BUSINESS Lnrrnns.
All buntnes * letter * and remittances should be
Udrecretl to The Ike I'ubllthlng Company ,
Omaha. Drafts , checks , express and postofllcc
money orders to be made payable to the order ol
the company.
TUB BEG I'uuuamyo COMPANY.
STATEMENT OK
Elate of Nebraska , Douglas county , . :
Oeorice II. Tzs'.huck1 , secretary of The Hec Pub
lishing company , being duly sworn , fays that the
actual number of full and complet * copies of Tlu
Dally , Morning , Kvenlnit and Sunday Uee printed
during the month of February , IMS , was as fol
lows :
Net totnt Mies .
Net dally average t\.W. \
or.onan n. THSCHUCIC.
Bworn to b fore me nnd subscribed In m >
presence this 1st day of March , ISO" .
N. r. rniu
Notary I'ubllc.
Taken ns n whole. March has bcur
after nil more Iamb-like tlmn lion-like.
That school board committee appointed
to icport on neglected school fund re'
sources uliouUl wake up.
The business of the true diplomat Is
to uphold the disnlty of his country nnd
avoid war If possible without dishonor.
The wenthur bureau has ruled that It
Is Illegal to bet on the .weather. . ConiliiK
ns this docs In the month of March there
will be no dissenting opinion.
For having Introduced popcorn Into
Paris the whole Iluffalo Kill show
ought to bo admitted to honorary mem
bership In the American Mnlze propa
ganda.
It Is reported that Spanish filibusters
nre sneaking along the Texas border of
Mexico. If so , the Texans may bo left
t6 care for all such 'bands In their own
inimitable way.
The effort to make Alaska n prohibi
tion country will fall. As well try to
keep the men out of the gold valleys as
to keep them from securing something
to drink aside from the Yukon water.
The German protectionists may require
that American horses be labeled or even
branded , but American tourists will
continue to ride all over the fatherland
BO long ns American bicycles go In with
out microscopic Inspection.
The Iowa legislature Is of the same
opinion ns the people of Iowa namely ,
thnt It would have been nn eternal reproach
preach to the Ilnwkeye state not to have
provided for n creditable representation
at the Trunsmlsslsslppl Exposition.
With Chauneey M. Depew ns president
of the New York Tnlnsmlsslsslppl Kx-
position commission , the Empire state
may safely be counted to keep well to
the front. Everything Mr. Uepuw U
connected with holds a place in the llrsl
rank.
The Denver school board has oi'dercd
a special school census because tin
school principals failed to enumerate at
many pupils ns Denver people think
they ought to have. Usually the school
census shows too many pupils to suit
the school board.
The city authorities must not overlook
the fact that the great majority of the
exposition guests will be making theli
first visit to Omaha this summer and
will require every facility to keep theli
bearings. The street signs and house
lumbers must not be neglected.
A township treasurer In Kansas seenu
lo have worried himself Into the insane
asylum because of the discovery of a
shortage in the accounts of his prcdecos
ser , while the guilty mail suffered in
sleepless nights over the matter , but lei
his friends fix It up to prevent prosecu
tion.
The public has not yet had information
whether that Cuban relief fund Is really
being kept ns a special deposit in n repu
table bank. If the Cubans have ns hard
a time to get their money as have sotm
of the charitable publisher's employes
they may die of starvation before the
succor arrives.
Now that the legislature has dctlnltelj
decided that the state of Iowa , one ol
the Transmlsslsslppl states , shall be
properly represented at the Transmls
slsslppl Exposition , the men who take
pride In the Ilawkeye state will nol
have to feel discredited when they vls.ll
the great fair of the year.
A Cincinnati man who recently vlslter
In Mexico made n little study of the ef
feet of a silver standard on prices am
was greatly impressed with what hi
learned about shoes. "Shoes are ham
made In thnt country , " he said , n.s re
ported by the silver Itc Denver News
"nnd they sell for 35 cents wholesale
The highest price paid Is $1 a pair. " Di
> ve want Mexican prosperity ?
Ex-President Cleveland Jias curtly do
cllncd an Invitation extended bj
New York's yellowest pnjjer to servo 01
an honorary committee for the crectloi
of a monument to the victims of tin
Maine disaster. Mr. Cleveland's reasot
forcibly expressed Is that he refuses ti
'
'allow his sorrow for the dead seamen t <
bo used for the purpose of advertlsin ;
any demagogic sheet. Mr. Clevelant
evidently lias no patience with braa
baud charity that seeks to buy uotorletj
WlUl OtbW JMK > tfU > ' HsOUC/ . .
V J
HKCOUNITION OF IttDEPEKttEXCB.
It is extremely , doubtful whether
grcss will assent to any arrangement
between the United States and Spain
thnt docs not provide for the ludj
peiidoncc of Cuba. It Is unqneetlonabls
the practically unanimous sentiment ol
the American people that Cuba should
bo free and they are not disposed to re
gurd with favor any proposition Involv
Ing the perpetuation of Spanish sovereignty
eignty In that Island. This feeling le
fully understood In congress and hence
the tendency to break away from cxecti'
tlve restraint and take nlllrniatlvo ac
tion looking to Cuban Independence ns
the only consistent course for the United
States. The evident feeling Is that thle
government cannot without stultlllcatlor
of its republican character be a party
to an arrangement for continuing Span
ish control In Cuba ; that It must clthci
net with reference to securing the abso
lute In'dcpendcncc ' of Cuba or leave the
contest there to be fought out by those
engaged In it.
Recognition of Cuban Independence
would mean war. There can be nc
doubt of that. The , passage by congress
of a resolution such as was Introduced
by Senator Vorakcr nnd Its approval bj
the president would certainly be re
garded by Spain ns a cause of war. The
Forakcr resolution not only proposes tc
recognize the Independence of Cuba , bul
It authorizes and directs the prcsldenl
to use the land nnd naval forces of the
United States to carry the resolution
Into effect. That Is , having ( declared
Cuba Independent this government
shall nt once proceed to use Its powci
to establish Independence there. Prac
tlcally , therefore , the resolution Is r
declaration of war , since la order te
inako It effective we should have to drive
the Spanish troops out of Cuba. It Is
needless to sny that such a movement
on our part would bo resisted by Spain ,
Hut even the simple recognition ol
Cuban Independence , without any pro
vision for using force to make the recog
nition effective , would undoubtedly ru-
suit In war. It would necessarily mean
that the United States espoused , the In
surgent cause. The recognition of the
Independence of n revolutionary party
piesupposes the accomplishment of Its
objects , which means that the old gov
ernment against which the struggle Is
directed has been vanquished. This
would be nn absolutely arbitrary as
sumption as to Cuba which It Is Impossi
ble to believe Spain would tolerate. To
declare Cuba Independent while the
struggle there Is still going on would be
unpicccdcnted and It would be very
dlillcult to justify It. The statesmen In
our earlier history would not have
thought of taking1 such n course. The
American people sympathized with the
people of South America In their strug
gles to free themselves from Spain as
heartily and earnestly ns they now dc
with the Cubans , but the Independence
of the Spanish-American countries was
not recognized by the United States un
til those countries had completely liber
ated themselves from Spanish control
and fully and firmly established their
Independence. These precedents oughl
to have some weight with those In au
thority today.
It Is the unquestionable right of thU
nation to recognize Cuba as an Inde
pendent state and to establish relations
with It ns such , but It cannot do thle
without Inviting war. No matter lu
what form the recognition should be
made there can be no doubt that 11
would result In hostilities.
'tllK KKW CORTRS ,
The elections for the lower house ol
the new Cortes resulted In the choice ol
about Iho'llbernl or government majority
that Sagasta had estimated nnd the elec
tion of senators , which will take place
on April 10 , will also result la the choice
of a majority of liberals. Thus the new
Cortes will convene , on April 25 , ready
to support the ministry on the questions
It must deal with , particularly in relation
to Cuba , unless In the meanwhile the
Cuban question shall have been disposed
of , either by the United States taking
possession of the Island or by some ar
rangement that will give It to the Cu
bans. There Is again talk of the Cubans
purchasing their Independence , but It h
hardly passible that any proposition ol
thnt nature would be entertained by the
Spanish government. The Indication.
are that long before the tlmo designated
for the Cortes to convene there will bo ti
conflict between Spain nnd the United
States nnd that nn American nrmy will
have landed In Cuba. In that event the
now parliament will have nothing to de
so far as Cuban policy Is concerned anil
can confine Itself to providing the money
to carry on war with this country.
Practically the Spanish parliament Is
merely the Instrument of the cabinet
which virtually nominates the candidates
for the Cortes , so that its coming to
gether Is not a matter of great Irn
portnnco In respect to the policy of tlu
government.
JinStK L1FR 1IKHK AIW AltltOAD.
There Is n wholesome nnd Instructive
sermon lu n letter recently sent to tin
State department by the United State !
consul at St. Gall making a comparlsor
of social conditions among thu wugt
earners of Europe and America. Then
Is nothing particularly new in the figure :
given. Nothing new Is needed , but tlu
fact of the wide difference In home life
among the laboring men of the two con
tincnts cannot be too often nor toe
forcibly impressed upon the more fav
oretl class.
Consul Du Kols presents the case * o
a skilled workman In a representatlvi
European city and thnt of an Amcrlcni
workman similarly situated. The Eu
ropean earns ? 2tO a year , the America !
$408. The European depends upoi
wages earned by his wife or members o
the family to make up a deficit nt tin
end of the year , the American has i
small surplus left over. The America !
pays $8 to $10 a month for a comforta
bio six-room suburban house with yan
and garden , the European pays $4 i
month for three rooms In a flat ; th <
European seldom has meat on bis table
the American has the best food and ai
abundance for himself am ) family.
The fact that European workmen di
et pead M muck for living M tin
American workmen means simply that
they cannot afford to lire as well , that
they flubmlt to Inconveniences and dta *
comforta and that their food IB not aa
varied nnd choice. "In the United States
prices for the necessaries of life are
lower and the wages of all who labor
are higher than In any other country , "
says the consul statements borne out
by statistics available to all who deslro
the truth.
It Is In regard to the cost of living that
there Is dispute , not In the matter of
wngca. This cost of living Is determined
by Its character and the ability of the
wage earner to surround himself with
necessaries and comforts. The Amer
ican laboring man cnn and does live bet
ter than the laboring man of'any other
country. That Is his good fortune. The
European laboring man spends less for
his living because he has less to spend ,
lie gets a cheaper living because he can
not afford a better one. This Is an old
subject but not threadbare. It concerns
a vital difference between social condi
tions here and elsewhere.
STANDING OP FOtt UObU-UPS.
When Governor Holcomb appointed
Robert E. Leo Herdmau to be police
commissioner a year ago he sukl he ap
pointed him to the short term purposely
In orxlcr that he might retire htm at the
end of a year. He gave It out that If
the democrats should win In the then
Impending city election , thus giving
them , counting the mayor , three votee
out of live on the board , he would con
sider It right that the republicans be
accorded representation or that his own
party , the populists , have equal repre
sentation with the democrats. Now ,
however , the governor reappolnts Herd-
man oa the pretense that It would be un
fair to cut him out after only one yeat'fl
service.
At the lime Hordman was first ap
pointed Governor Holcomb knew that
Ilcrdmtut was a political adventurer , Ir
responsible nml without standing In the
community , and he apologized for his
selection on the ground that It was de
manded by Howell , Hansom and other
members of the Douglas delega
tion to the legislature , who claimed It
would Insure the election of a fusion
mayor and council. The governor's eyeteeth -
teeth were cut when the election returns
showed that the Ilerdmau gang were
distrusted and repudiated. The county
election of 1S97 simply rcaflirmcd the
protest which Omaha had registered In
the city election against the Ilerdman
gang of political desperadoes. Governor
Holcomb uiny suiter a lapse of memory.
He may even fool himself and others
who want to be fooled , but he cannot
escape the responsibility for Indicting
upon Omaha under the guise of reform
the worst police government with which
It has ever been cursed.
THE PHKS1DENT.
It Is said that President McKluley has
become tired of congressional criticism
nnd has thought of asking congress to
either take the Cuban question nnd set
tle It In Its own way or leave the execu
tive free and untrammeled. The pres
ident Is probably not disturbed by the
criticisms of political opponents , but may
naturally feel hurt at the fault-flndlng
of political friends. Mr. McKlnley , how
ever , can bo content In the assurance
that the best judgment of the country
approves his course and still has the
fullest contidcnce In him , while he has
commended himself to the respect of
thoughtful men everywhere.
The complaint against the president
on the part of his critics Is that he has
not taken aggressive action In other
words that his efforts have been for the
maintenance of peace. It Is In the high
est degree honorable to President Mc
Klnley that he desires to avoid war , that
he would keep the country out of a con
flict which , whether of short or long
duration , would be costly nnd would dis
turb the conditions that are making for
national prosperity. It Is not the ambi
tion of the president to make his administration -
ministration memorable through Avar ,
but to make It remembered as a period
In which the American people prospered
*
nnd the nation realized material pro
gress. There Is every promise that If
pence Is maintained this praiseworthy
ambition will be gratified , but war In
volves destruction nnd loss nnd Its effect
would be to check the advance the conn-
try Is making. Therefore In endeavorIng -
Ing to avert war President McKlnley Is
looking to the interests and welfare of
the whole American people , but he will
make no sacrifice or compromise of na
tional honor , if that tihnll become In
volved , In order to avoid war. No one
will lo found more earnest nnd zealous
than he in upholding the honor and dig
nity of the country-
President McKlnley has shown that
he fully understands his great responsi
bility nnd he will shrink from no duty
that presents Itself. While laboring to
maintain peace lie has realized the possi
bility of war nnd prepared for It if It
must come. The president Is still enti
tled to the umiucMlonlng confidence ami
support of the country.
Governor Ijccdy of Kansas Is entitled
to n great deal of credit for the active
interest lie has manifested in the Trans-
mlbslbslppl Exposition and the sagacious
course ho has pursued In securing sub
stantial support for n cru.lltable Kan
sas exhibit In spite of the obstacles en
countered. In deferring the npppoint-
ment of a Kansas exposition commission
until after mitllclcnt contributions had
been assured from the large corporations
the governor only carried out his idea of
prudcnco and sound business sense and
has made the task of the commission
so much easier than had it started with
no substantial backing.
The new charter is very explicit In
making It mandatory on the governor to
glvo a full Investigation and finding to
all Impeachment charges filed against
his police commissioners. Under the
old charter a cowardly governor could In
his discretion refuse even to consider
complaints. The only charges ever filed
against former police commissioners
were thus treated. The now charter \
certalul/ Improvement In this par-
tlcular whatcVerKmajr bo thought of
other provisions ,
For * . Mm * at Leaai.
vrMmniton Pott ,
The SpanlitVcitiletrnkn who thinks the
eouthcrn atatcdjyould co-operato with Spain
In caeo of war will do well to keep out of
the southern
Combination.
Cincinnati Tribune.
The rjoldlarfl'tfl the south , uniformed In
blue , and the UaHon'a navy , caparisoned
In confederate arai , form a combination In
battle colors Invincible before the lighting
strength of the world , of which Spain Is but
a epcck. _
Cullal t { of n. TruRt.
Buffalo Express.
The abandonment of the tlnplato combi
nation la followed byi a cull In price to $2.70
for 100 pounds and Welsh Importations are
being greatly affected. The Incident. la p.-oot
that a customs duty docs not necessarily
Involve a trust and that domestic competi
tion is pretty certain eventually to bring
prlceo lower than those charged for foreign
goods.
Overlooklnif the He mil ,
Bprlngfleld ( Maes. ) llepubllcan.
Since the Infamous Postmaster Baker
burning and ahootlng In South Carolina four
or flvo weeks ago there have tjeen four
teen murders committed by mobs In the
southern elates , and It Is needless to 6 ay
that all but one or two of the victims , were
negroes. Only In four cases wao the prov
ocation the usual one of rape , the accusa
tions against the others ranging all the wcy
from bad character to murder. But the cry
ngalunt the brutal Spaniard rises to a very
high pitch In that section.
Moiicr In the Hunk * .
Philadelphia Ledger.
The people of the United States are
wealthy and have faith In the government.
Thcee two facts are shown In the report of
the comptroller of the currency , which
states that the individual deposits In the
national banks now aggregate moro than
$2,000,000,000 , being the largest amount over
recorded In the history of those Institution.
This statement docs not take Into account
the deposits in state ana private banks nor
the immense sums known to bo held by
savings bunks. When these are added tlio
wealth of the United States Is seen to bo
truly enormous.
HUMC IiiKnitltuilc.
Chicago Tribune.
That decayed representative of Spanish
nobility , the duke of Veragua , has been fol
lowing the of Do Lome
example- und express-
Ins his opinion of President McKlnley , of
whom ho Bays : "Mr. McKlnloy does not
Inspire with confidence. He thinks himself
the flist stateJifjin of the world. Ho Is
proud and vain , and his great vanity makes
him believe- himself a Napoleon , when In
reality ho Is on Ignorant sutler. " The duke
of Veragua Is the Spanish don who was the
guest of the United Stages during the Co
lumbian exposition. Ho came over hero
at the expense of this country , was dined
and wined everywhere ho went , was shown
extraordinary honors , and left the country
after running up a bill for entertainment
of most rolcssal dimensions. Like Do Lome ,
after having enjoyed the national hospital
ity , he turns round llko a boor and Insults
the country through Its president. Mr. Mc
Klnley IIAS now , bad two similar experiences
of Spanish manners , He is a rcan of infinite
patience , but there ( are plenty of Americans
who would enjoy ho ! commission to reseat
these Insults for him.
lIllstllCNM HllltlllK.
Philadelphia Times.
The war scare has not even checked the
Importation of gold , but it has checked busi
ness operations : dependent on the future , a
condition that As clearly reflected by a de
crease in bank loans and deposits of $15.000-
000 in flvo weeka.1 , ' In other words , loans
that ID ordinary course of business would
have teen renewed have been paid and
fewer new.loatys Mve been negotiated , b-
cause now enterprises are deferred. The
cause of this slow-up In financial activity ' 1s
directly traceable to the nervous uncertainty
that has followed 'the blowing up of the
Maine In Havana 'harbor ' an uncertainty
that will ' continue' to paralyze prospective
business operation's until the issue of war
or peace lias been definitely decided. The
encouraging feature of the situation Is that
while the money in the financial centers Is
largely idle , thereis plenty of it , and the
gold reserve , both in th United States treas
ury and in the banks. Is greater than ever
before. There will be no necessity of re
sorting to unlimited Issues of paper prom
ises to ray , even in case of war , if congress
does not lose Its head ,
PKUSOXAL , Airu OTHERWISE :
IDenJamln F. March of Illinois , one of
the most distinguished looking men In con
gress , rose- from a private to ti colonel dur
ing the war , served In nine atatcs and was
shot four times.
Sculptor Frencho'a statue of Rufus Choatc ,
the gift of the tate George D. Hyde to the
city of Boston , was placed In position In the
county court house on Friday. It will be
kept veiled until Its dedication in May.
President iMoKlnloy has consented to de
liver the oration at the unveiling of the
Key monument , at Frederick , Md. , and , to
Insure his attendance , the date of the cere
mony has been changed fronv June 14 to
August 9.
President McKlnley li reported to have
said to a persistent oulcesecker : "The man
who feels that he cannot wait for a post-
office appointment at a time like this does
not deserve the place , and will not get it. "
Whether he said it or not , it Is well aald.
The German society of Milwaukee. Wls. ,
Is raising a fund for the publication of a
history of the German people of the state
from the time of the first settler until the
end of this century. The author la not yet
selected , so far as has been made known.
By the death of the 'Due ' Do Talleyrand
et Sagau the Princess De Sagan at last suc
ceeds to the title she has waited for so many
years , for only by the most tender care has
she been able to keep her husband , the new
duke , allvo long enpugh to outlive his father.
M. Hanotaux , the French minister of for
eign affairs , eajs of the United States and
Spain that both nations are "dear to our
hearts. " As much of Spain's debts Is held
In France , the former Is likely to prove
dearer to the French pocket than this coun
try.
Every morning at 6 o'clock Mr. Faure ,
the French president , appears In his study
and devotes two or three hours to private
reading. Winter and summer alike , no r.at-
ter the hour at which he goes to bed , iio
is up at 5 , takes a cold douche , puts on a
suit of white flannel and betakes himself to
hla books.
Color Sergeant Walker of the Royal Scots
Fusiliers was captured by the Afrldls and
kept prisoner foi\slx weeks. On his release
hs waa courm Vilaled for being absent
without leave , anfl , though acquitted , was
i-ndoxned to losd his pay for the time he
\ ; > + s away fromjhli regiment.
'
H. Remsen Xvtil'lehouse , formerly secre
tary of the Unltetll States legation at Rome ,
and author of "Sacrifice of a Throne , " has ,
by or dor of Hilng Humbert , received the
decoration of 'cbnimander of the Order of
Saints Maurice and Lazare , aod copies of his
work have been ordered for the government
libraries of Italy.
The late Timothy Maher of Philadelphia
bequeathed oucifourth of his fortune of
$100,000 to charitable purposes , $10,000 going
to the Seminary of St. Charles Dorromeo
for the education of clergymen , $5,000 to the
Roman Catholic protectory at Flatland , Pa. ,
and $5,000 to the iHouse of the Good Shep
herd , in Philadelphia.
Because of 'compla'uts by those who say
they do a "legitimate" business , as they
pay rent. Mayor Dlcklr/son of Springfield ,
Mass. , has decreed that all-night lunch
wagais eball disappear from the streets of
the city on April 1 , and he explains that
this does not give them official permission
to remain In the streets in the Intervening
time.
John Burroughs has a sort of hermitage
In a wild locality some miles back of the
Hudson. It bears the prosaic name of
"Slab-Sides , " descriptive of the walls of
the modest domicile , which ho constructed
with bis own hands. The four or flvo acres
of ground contiguous to "SlabJJIdea" are
owned by Burroughs and are utilized by him
In the growth of celery. The author takes
'great delight la superintending the horti
cultural work on the place , and often passes
weeki at a time In seclusion , even cooking
bl own meals.
VKHDICT OF THE COURT.
New York Sun : Nor will there be anj
arbitration as to the fact * , on any pre
text or under eny circumstances. Our owe
tribunal , composed of our own trusted offi
cers , was not constituted in order that Iti
decision might bo treated forty days latct
as a partisan presentation and plea , to be
reviewed subsequently in any quarter.
St. Paul Globe : The act was one of war ,
with the added odium of treachery. Tin
confirmation of the act by the report bring :
the country and the president to the crisis
foreshadowed by President Cleveland , \\hei
Intervention to stop hostilities would be
come Imperative. It brought to a quick
culmination the- long gathering causes fet
Intervention. And the president shrinks
from the duty laid upon him. The country
docs not ; congress may not.
Chicago Post : President McKlnley
knows that no protestations of Spanish Ig
norance of the destruction of the Maine- can
alter Spanish responsibility. Spain Is re
sponsible for that as she Is responsible be
fore God and humanity for the only govern
ment she Is capable of giving to Cuba , "gov
ernment by starvation. " Humanity has
decreed that this must rcasc , and Immedi
ately. Spain stands convicted by the con
science of the American people and the
uontenco is that ehe get out of the western
hemisphere at once and forever. Europe
may tolerate her , but her days on this con-
tlnent are done.
Kansas City Star : So far as the Maine
Incident is concerned the president seems
to have fulfilled the limit of his present re
sponsibility. Ho cannot overstep the bonds
which hedge about the government at
Washington by reason of the doubt and un
certainty as to the authorship of the Maine
explosion. While the belief among Ameri
cans Is practically unanimous that the tor-
rlblo tragedy in the harbor of Havana was
duo to Spanish treachery. It has not been
demonstrated that the Spanish government
Is Implicated , and in default of such evi
dence It is clear that the Maine explosion
cannot afford a pretext for a declaration ol
war.
war.St. . Paul Plcnecr Press : The act was the
act of Spain. Her complicity cannot bo di
rectly proved. But evefy reasonable pre
sumption fastens the awful responsibility
upon her. The civilized orld will e > o con
sider It. and til Its universal horror at the
atrocity of the dastardly deed It may well
wonder at ( tie magnanimity of our govern
ment In not holding Spain to prompt ac
count for It as an act of war. For the civ
ilized world will without doubt accept the
verdict of our court Of Inquiry of ) final. Spain
may face the calm Judicial conclusions from
the facts with boisterous denials. But hei
haughty brow will atlll remain branded with
the shame of the basest crime of the age ,
And sl'e Is to receive full punishment for II
and for all. the long series of atrocities ol
which this Is the crowning Iniquity. It wac
not only the Maine that was blown to plectn
In that explosion wrought by the hands of a
Sfrnlsh assaaln. The whole fabric of SpanIsh -
Ish power In Cuba will tumble before the
resounding recoil of that awful crime.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat : The Maine
was blown up by a mine outside. There wae
no negligence on the ship. Such Is the re
port of the naval court of .Inquiry at the
end of a personal Investlgatlo'n at the wreck
lasting twenty-three days. The report and
tcstlmciiy have reached congress , and a
copy of the findings has been furnished the
queen regent of Spain. Thus the matter
stands , awaiting the action of congre/'s and
the responseof Spain. No recommendation
Is made by the president , though he sug
gests that the Spanish- sense of honor and
Justice under "the friendly relations of the
two governments" will dictate the course
at Madrid. Sagasta can now dispute the
accuracy of the court's verdict , or claim that
further investigation Is necessary , or , which
Is quite likely , admit that there was foul
play by Irresponsible parties and otter repar
ation. Whatever is said or done at Madrid
the official fact is fixed in the minds of the
American people that the Maine was ex
ploded by a secret mine in a Spanish harbor ,
and almoot certainly by Spaniards. It was
a horrible deed and perhaps an act of war.
Indianapolis News : While the president
\\111 be loyally supported In his efforts to
"ocure a settlement by negotiation , the pco-
plo are determined that the trouble ttiall be
settled even at the cost of war. Wo do not
believe they were ever In more complete
havmony than they are on this Cubcu ques
tion. They do not insist on Cuban Inde
pendence , though they will not force auton
omy on the Insurgents. What they want Is
peace In Cuba , and they want to allow Spain
to make the best terms she can. They have ,
through their representatives 'In congress ,
clothed the president with vast power , end
declared their confidence In him. Every
sacrifice in behalf of peace should bo made
that can be made honorably , but It is diffi
cult to see how we can compromise on a
question of humanity. If the Spanish gov
ernment and the Insurgents can reach an
agreement , this country will bo satisfied ,
but the present policy of comuest by star
vation must bo discontinued. No mediation
could alter the opinions of the American
people. Until the restoration of peace and
eettled government In Cuba are brought
about , even the Maine question can wait.
WlCYLEIl'S I1LACK CHIME.
Rciientlnir a Iteflectlon. ' on Sherman
and Sherldnn.
Springfield ( Mass. ) Republican.
Comparison has been made between the
Weyler mode of warfare In Cuba and that
of Sheridan In the Shenandoah valley and
Sherman in South Carolina ; and the New
York 'Evening Post Is entitled to the dis
tinction of Intimating that the Spaniard does
not suffer in the comparison. It sajs :
"All the trustworthy accounts we receive
of the state of things In. Cuba show that
there is a great deal of suffering among
the population , or persons who have been
compelled by the Spanish authorities to
abandon their homes in order not to afford
aid and comfort to the rebels. This measure
of destroying people's homes In order to pre
vent their furnishing supplies to the enemy ,
by the by. Is not ) an Invention of the Span-
lards. There is nothing Spanish about it.
It Is exactly what Sheridan did In the
Shenandoah valley and Sherman in South
Carollra. "
This Is adroit In the shifting of the mat
ter to a question merely of destroying prop
erty and homes , but It is not a crcdltabla
performance.
What Shermaa did in his northward march
through South Carolina was to destroy con
federate stores that had been accumulated
at various points In the interior , and ap
propriate for himself and officers and men
some fine old wine that had been sent up
Into the country for hiding by wealthy
families In Charleston. What Sheridan did
In the Shenandoah valley , as afterward
stated by a local committee of confederate
sympathies , was to burn or destroy thirty
dwelling houses , 450 barns , thlrty-ono mills ,
three factories , 100 miles of fences , 100,000
bushels of wheat and several thousand head
of live stock , besides farm utensils. Not a
single non-combatant , so far as recorded ,
wca made to suffer even the momentary
pangs of hunger. And we may add that the
pigs and cows were not put to death by slow
torture , but quickly.
What the Spaniard , Weyler , did was to
drag the noncombatanUi in the ravaged
districts Into the fortified towns and cities ,
and there confine them without taking the
Ike Royal is tke highest grade bakfag powder
brawn. Actual test * ebow it goee
third further than ooy other bread.
OVM. turns > OWMH eo. , new VOM.
trouble to feed thorn. To liken that act to
anything Sheridan or Sherman did Is
atrocious , and without the slightest regard
for the truth as now established by wit-
neusrs like Sonaton Proctor. The policy of
Weyler Is not even to bo compared for a
moment wflth the rebel treatment of the
Aiidersonvlllo prisoners ; for In the first place
the confederates did make eomo attempt In
the poverty of their resources to feed the
prisoners ; and In the * second place , the men
had been taken with anna In their hands ,
no Invaders , and It they had been penned up
and deliberately starved to death so that no
man escaped , the deed would still bo
eclipsed by this of the Spaniard , who haa ,
us It were , locked up great numbers of noncombatants -
combatants men , women nnd children , un
armed and unresldtlng , taking no sides In the
contest and then denied them food , to that
they have been perishing by tens of
thousands.
The records of modern warfare will bo
searched In vain tor a crime so black cs
this. It will have to be , and will be , writ
ten In later tlmo that the closing days of the
nineteenth century witnessed an act of war
committed under the banner of civilization
which for cool and dcllbetute and sweeping
savagery can hardly bo paralleled outHdc of
the annals of the iace in Its moat barbarous
ntate. A government which would count
enance such methods , and a people which
would defend ! them , are not flt to sit In the
familyof the nations.
CAPTAIN
Mc-im Stricture * 014 m llnivcnml True
Jlntt llcoeiilril.
New York Sun.
In Washington It la now accepted as a
fact that the Malno was destroyed by the
explosion of a submarine mine , and there U
a disposition In some quarters to hold Cap
tain Slgsbce responsible for the Ices of tfio
ship and its crew. The argument upon
which he Is convicted without a hearing runs
something llko this : The Maine was In an
unfriendly , if not a hostile port ; the cour
tesies extended by the Spanish authorities
to the American captain and Ills officers
were perfunctory and Insincere ; lie had been
warned to be on his guard against attack bn
shore and hidden dangers In the harbor ;
ho took no precautions against either ; ho
should have had the anchorage examined by
divers for submarine mines , nnd he should
have established extra sentries on the Maine
and exercised the eamo vigilance against
surprise as If a state of war existed. Con
demning any man unheard Is mighty omall
business , nnd It Is shameful when that man
Is as bravo and loyal * and humane and
honorable as the captain of the Maine has
shown himself to be during a test of char
acter such as few men hare over been ex
posed to.
The American people will not soon forget
the quiet heroism of Captain Slgsbee's
mesrago reporting the blowing up of the
Maine , In which he asked that Judgment be
suspended na to the cause of the illwistet.
It was the sentiment of no ordinary man.
Nor will the American people ovcc forget
that Slgsbee behaved himself wild a daunt-
lesj courage , which In England would have
won the Victoria Cross , when his ffiatterrd
and burning ship was sinking under him
and another cxplcnlon was momentarily ex
pected. The last man to leave Its deck , ho
was the first and nwt forward In mlnlstcr-
Ing to the wounded and sustaining the spirits
of survivors. No man could have lived up
better to the traditions of the American
navy , nor could any man have borne him
self with moro fortitude and discretion than
Charles D. SlRsbco did In the dark arA
trying hours that followed the disaster.
"It is beat not to think , it is best to know , "
will live in the language. Nothing niorfc
mean and cruel can bo Imagined than an
attempt to hold the captain of the Malno
responsible for Spanish treachery.
STATU 11AIIAVAVS IV 1'UUSSIA.
IntcrcHllnir Fnctn About Government
Operated IlniulH.
Chicago 1'ost.
'Interesting Information is furnished by
our consul at Weimar In regard to Prus
sia's system of government railways. It
Is based on an official report , submitted last
January by the minister of public works.
The mileage of the state roads , ln opera
tion rose from 13 , uo miles In 1S87 to 17.0C4
miles In 1S97 , but It Is not to bo Inferred
that the government has constructed 3,209
miles during the decade. It has been the
policy of the government to purchase small
private roads , the Intention being to leave
no railroad property within the limits of
Prussia In the hands of private companies.
Today the mileage of railways not owned by
the state Is insignificant. During the decade
dealt with the total number of employes In
creased by 10,304 , and the total now reaches
the high number of 297,400 persons , of whom
109,204 are "beamten , " officials having high-
sounding titles. Conductors , brakemeu , en
gineers and laborers are not regarded as
officials , which Is a matter of some surprise.
The- socialists do these things bet
ter on paper for every state cm-
ployo Is clothed by them with
the dignity of official status. Why
dees not Llebknccht agitate for a bill making
all railroad employes of Prussia beamten ?
That would 'end to popularize socialism
with the Inferior workmen , for the Prussian
dearly loves a handle to his name.
We find that the government realized a
profit of 3.65 per cent In the fiscal year
1S96-97. The net earnings were 7.15 per
cent , but the government pays to the holders
of the state bonds ( former proprietors of the
railways ) Interest at the rate of about 3 %
per cent. The sum earned on the Invested
capital was $119.927,976. The profit to the
government Is a highly appreciated item In
the budget.
Accidents appear to have been more fre
quent than URUal. One thousand four hun
dred and twenty-nine persons were Injured ,
being 0.17 per cent , and the administration
has had to pay over $711,059 for accidents
for which It laa been held icsponalble. Per
haps the frequency of accidents may bo ex
plained by reference to another part of the
report that dealing with the hours of labor.
It appears that 14,911 employee worked frcm
twelve to thirteen hours a day. 12,279 worked
thirteen to fourteen hours , 4,272 worked four
teen to fifteen hours and 3,690 worked
fifteen to sixteen hours. Track men , guards
and switch tenders have the longest working
hours. What wonder there are so many ac
cidents ? The social democrats In Germany
do not care to use the hours of Prussian
laborers as an Illustration of the advantages
of socialism. Would the system be profit
able If the average day's work were not
exceeded ?
Our consul does not claim that the system
Is a great success , nor docs this conclusion
emerge from hla facts.
DIVIDENDS OJf
Important Kn ur !
Kate Be lel B. 't
ClilctRO Trlbun * . " -
The action of the supreme court of f thi
United States In the Nebraska maximum
freight rate case was aatl factorjr to ths
roads concerned. The state w i forbid len
to enforce rates for local freight which > cr
so lew that they would not cover operating
expenses. Under those rates the total ex
pense of the local biulnces of the Ourllngtoo
read In 1S93 would havd exceeded Its recolpta
from that source by $62,000.
But ( here Is one passage In the oplnlo
the court which cannot.be Mtlafaclory
owners of the watered stock of the Ne
roads or of other Araertoaa railways.
court states that during ( be d
the case It w a contended , oa behal
roads , that "A''r llroad company Is en
exact such churg < w tor transportation
enable It at all times not only to pay operat
ing expenses , but dl.io to meet the Interest
regularly accruing upon all Its outstanding
obligations , and Justify a dividend upon all
Its stock , and that to prohibit It from main *
talnltig rates or charges for transportation
adequate to all thcno ends will deprive It of
Us property without duo procwa of law nd
deny to It the equal protection of the laws. "
Or , In other words , It eomo men organlxo 1
a railroad corporation , sell bonds to the
amount $20,000,000 , spend half the pro
ceeds In building the road and pocket the
other halt , and then print and give away or
sell Tor what they can get for it stock to the
amount of $30,000,000 , on account of which
not a dollar has l-ecn pald-.io the c
pany.That road should bo allowed to ch
transportation rates high chough to en ;
it to pay Interest on all Its bonds and
dcnds on Ita atock. *
The answer of the.court to this audac' '
proposition Is :
If a railroad 'corporation has bonded
property for an amount that exceeds
fair value , or If its capitalization Is largely
fictitious , it may not Impose upon the pub
lic the burden of such Increased rates as
may bo required for the purpose of reallz-
Ing profits upon such excessive valuation or
fictitious capitalization ; and the apparent
value of the property and franchises used by
the corporation , an represented by Its stocks ,
bonds and obligations , Is not alone to bo con
sidered In determining the rates that may
bo reasonably charged.
But the holders of the billions of watered .
railroad stock In existence will not accept
without a struggle the conclusions of the
supreme court. They are determined that
that stock which represents nothing shall
earn them as much as If It actually repre
sented the value it pretends to. So they
will try to obtain from congress legislation
the effect of which will bo to overrule the
supreme court.
V.'hcu the Cuban question has bosn dis
posed of the railroad Intercuts will renew M i
their efforts to secure the enactment of a v-/
measure legalizing the pooling agreements * P
thcv may deem it advisable to enter Into < Y > v
for the purpose of putting up and Itccplmr , . \
up rates. The roads will also put forth /ftl la >
their efforts to defeat the enactment of a ; * but
law ghlng th : interstate commission po drug
to prescribe reasonable rates where tto of
roci's are exacting rates which arc un\of
reasonable. w-
The people must be on their guard. They r
must not fancy that the roads have given' < t
up the Idea of having their pooling agree- v
inents legalized. They are waiting in ) a-
facts.'t | ill
have the leisure to attend to them. I I
iiuiuirr AM >
Detroit Free Press : "Oh , milt you read
mv hnnd ? " she said , with cuiloslty.
He s.iId : "This hnnd , to be well read , I
must take home with me. "
Brooklyn Llfe : Tlnuny Pop , If there's a
war arc * you going ?
Pop No , sir. Your mother haa been th
man of the house for tne past year.
Puck : Lord St. Agnant I say , old man ,
deuced queer people In this country.
Lord Nozoo Yea ; novnh. let y" know whn I
they're going to telba Jokcy' kiiW , if'
"j
Indianapolis Journal- „ , . . . „ „ . M
tell youvbout mytelling bin
unpalatnblo truth T'w " , _ . I . ' , 4 . v- t ? * 5 *
"Ho didn't puuit.thal way. He wiifasH
ted ! him some IhJnOT.tha .ircrp/prcHyj St i
Somervllle Journal : The proof.reader ha
a thankless task. Nobody give'himany
credit for the countless blunders he cor'ecU
nnd everybody jumps on him for the few
ho overlooks. <
Chicago Tribune : "Going1 to raise my
rent nfter the 1st of May , are you ? I won't
" .My dear elr , this Is a more deslrablt
corner tlmn It used to be. Look at th
crowds that como hero every day to inu *
at thai six ) foot nine Inch policeman at
the crossing. "
Washington Star : "Mr. Jabbles is a mam
of extensive Information. "
"Yes , " replied Miss Cayenne. " 'Exten
sive1 expresses It precisely. I never saw
a man who could take a fact and stretch
It as no can. "
IndlanappMs Journal : "I don't know
whether this new Is
man a very aatuta
diplomat. " said the railway attaph ? Vkir
a very bad speller. " , / * tf&F - } I UV *
"Have you heard frowiyour letter'0.HK' K
what ho haa done wlth reference-t w. je
hostile members of the- let Mature ? " *
Cleveland ' '
Plain Dealerf'YSITdon't rneaw
Y ' 'm ° ° > 'ears old ? " -
; ; And'Htlll ( laying ? " ,
resfioy'"She must bo the nesler of ncr
COMK HlTHKIl , . SPUI.VGt
Gertrude Hall In Harper's Magazine.
\ -worshipped one ! nh , faithful uprlnKt
iPlnnyou comeasall > y ° u brlr"f .
Fhat Hock ot Hewers from the fold
Where warm they slept while we were col * .
What ahall we saj to one K > d ar.
fhat keeps her promise every year ?
( Vn , hear mo promise , and as true
( Vs you to ua am I to you.
Ne'er shall you come and ns a child
? . ' , ' , ! n , tno " " "totplplns mild ,
With dnnof-lnclteinent in your glanc *
\nd I not dance and I not dance !
nut you ! thei same will nvor.be.
While ninety irprlnwm . .JIMmo ;
ret truly as you come and play ,
3o truly will I dance , I My | ,
Fhero H a strati * * , thing 4o.bV * ix i
One distant April , plnlt nnd ereen :
Defore a young- child piping.awedt
\n old child dancing ulth spent fest. .
time is one that calls
for earnest deeds.M
These are earnest times. Every American is alive to th
necessity of preserving the credit of his country.
But war or no war that is a matter about wthich opin
ions may differ. The credit of the conntry is a subject on which
there is but one sentiment. May we suggest "tnat tii < credit ol
the country is bsir.g pretty well maintained in the matter of cloth
ing ? No country is better dressed and no part of this country
is better dressed than that part that we provide with spring suits ,
American woolens are the best'in the world and our clothing is ,
likewise , the best to bz had at any price. Try it or , at any ratt
look at it.
.S.W. CorJ4Ltb and Uouglmm