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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1896)
" z fin ..' rfoi.'" . tU&$T C '& - ""' - v tiSSs x r a kwoccx v5 ' - i ri. i 'f, "' , '-i.p. a .. : f. "& . . t ;'t- 'f rbxsd ni teb roar omcmuKHl AS UKOXD-CI.AM XATTtt PUBLISHED EVERT 8ATTTSDAT TK 6MRIER PRIIITIIfG All PIILISUN ft Office 217 North ElaTenth St. Jelephonc 384 W. MORTOS SMITH SARAH B. HARRIS Editor and Manager Associate Editor Subscription Ratee In Adduce. Per annum W.Q Six months IgO Three months H Onemonth 30 Single copies 0 The world has not forgotten the fear ful Russian famine of 1891-2. '-The poorest dog which hangs about the streets of America can pick up better food than the Russian peasant clamors for,' said the Northwestern Miller in November, 1891, in an article describing the condition of the Russian peasants and calling for contributions for the relief of the stricken people. "Day af ter day, we read of the Russian famine in tho daily papers, but we really do not half believe the tales therein tolJ. We imagine that there is something behind it all which cannot be discovered. That human beings can sink so low as to eat hunger bread,' made of tree bark, powdered peas and goose foot, passes our comprehension. We talk about our own poor, and we think we know some thing about poverty, but the absolute want of food, which causes a man to tight for bread which even an animal would disdain this, thank God. is un heard of here. Vet that it is true, to a V " 'V ". ' "i , - .K v l 'BIHHhILF'lV I OBSERVATIONS H "IBkJvVYvv5siR "'r'i''ssjsw'ss H LINCOLN NEB., SATURDAY. AUGUST 29. 1896 certain extent, in Russia.is undeniable." The people of the United States were quick to respo.d to the despairing ap. peal of starving humanity in a less favored country, and the record of that response, as contained in a little book by W. C. Edgar, entitled "The Russian Famine of 1891 and 1892: Some Partic ulars of the Relief Sent to the Destitute Peasants by the Millers of America is a splendid commentary on the benevo lence of the people of this nation. In the light of Mr. Bryan's oft-repeated protestations of sympathy for the un fortunate and distressed, the part taken in this generous movement by the men who is now the popocratic candidate for president is not easy to understand, and it is not surprising that the thou sands of Russians and affiliated foreign ers and their American born children in Mr. Bryan's own state, and in all parts of the country, should take a stand of unalterable opposition to the man who stood in the way of this country s great gift of nearly G.000,000 pounds of Hour and corn meal to the starving peasants of Russia. Largely through the efforts of the Northwestern Miller of Minneapolis, seconded by proclamations by the gov ernors of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Massachusetts and other states, there was raisec: an amount of food supplies sufficient to till one of the largest ocean steamers. Mr. Edgar, in his book, says: "After the contributions secured for the cargo amounted to several million pounds, it was suggested by Senator Washburn of Minnesota that the flour, having been given bj American millers and transported by American railtoads, it would be in keepiug with the spirit of the undertaking to have an American vessel carry it to its destination. To this end he consulted with Secretary Tracy, and immediately on the assem bling of congress, offered fn the senati a Joint resolution authorizing the secre tary of the navy to charter a steamship in which to forward the flour to Russia. This resolution passed the senate by a heavy vote, but when it came into the house it was defeated. The action of the house was wholly unexpected, and surprised even the partisan members, who yoted aga'nst the resolution more with a mistaken idea of going on record in favor of retrenchment and reform than with any serious objection to the measure. Many others were evidently ashamed of their action, being spurred to a realization of their mistake by the unanimous censure of their constituents and the press, irrespective of party." Mr. Bryan's opposition, as the Con gressional Record shows, was based on serious objection to the measure, and if he was ever ashamed of his action there is no public record of it. The measure was supported in the house by such men as Breckinridge. Blount and Bou- " ir$i&. f - rs ESTABLISHED IN 133G telle. Mr. Blount, in the course of his remarks on the resolution, said: "It is a simple proposition. Liberal donations have been made by the American people for the relief of the starving people of Russia, and there is no proposition here to take money out of the treasury for that purpose. It is simply proposed to lend certain vessels of the United States, or, if that cannot be done, to make an appropriation of 100.000 to procure vessels to transport these sup plies to sufferers in Russia. Now, what precedente have there been for this ac tion? In 1847 the congress of the United States provided ships for the convey ance of relief to the suffering Irish people. In 1880 the two houses of con gress provided, just as this joint resolu tion doe , for the chartering of ships of the uavy department to transport sup plies for the relief of the Irish people, with the difference that in 1SS0. so eager was the American congress to answer the call which came from distressed Ireland, that the proposition wa voted that there should be an indefinite ap propriation, so that there should be no possible obstacle in the way of the con summation of the national wish." The president of the United States sent a special message to congress in which he said: "The secretary of the navy has no steam vessel at his disposal that could be used for the transportation of these supplies, and I therefore rec ommend that he be authorized to charter a suitable vessel to receive them." Congressman Boutelle in a speech sad: "The quality cf mercy is not strained. Them is no necessity in this case for straining it through a commit tee. We know the distress exists. We know that some of our generous people have come forward to vindicate our feeling of humanity, to vindicate the sentiment of friendliness existing be tween these two great nations, by tend ering timely and prompt offerings of relief to a suffering people. Let us not seek by technicalities to delay this gen erous and worthy act. The Constitution of he United States ought not to be pleaded against a case or humanity when the libera'ity and generosity of our government and our citizens toward foreign noples are involved There was nothing in the Constitution of France that sent Lafejette here to tender the use of his -sword in behalf of the young republic. There was no or ganic provision for the tendering of the services of Rochambeau ami DeKalb, Von Steuben. Pulaski, and those other heroic men who came across the sea to mingle their young blood with that of our defenders of liberty, and to write their great names on the brightest pages of our country's history." Mr. Breckinridge sai. in part: "It is - l $. ti ", PRICE FIVE'CBNTi constitutional; it is human; therefore it is American. It we are not going to do it, let us say so frankly. Let us say 'We have not the power,' or that 'We have not the will, or that we do not think that in this day we ought to fur nhh contributions to anybody in any national aspect. Then the country and the world will understand that in the int rcourse of America with foreign people we can commit war, we can cover our seas with ships of war, we can give medals to sailors, we can decorate those who have saved our ships in foreign ports, we can thank Russia for relieving Melt ille in the Arctic ocean, but that we are powerless to aid out of our abun dance, when God has blessed us with sunshine and rain, and when out of the fertile bosom of American soil has come a tceminc crop, and He has given scarc ity and famine to others." Here is Mr Bryan's position: "It might bo proper to suggest that if other sections nf our country whose industries aie Jess susceptible than the farmers to the influence of the weather, were as liberal, transportation for the gift of the northwest could easily be provided without an appeal to congress. But we are now asked to appropriate Si 00,000 if necessary, to charter a ship to carry the food to Russia. Will not a precedent be established? Will not other nations, and those, too, more like ours in form of government and more humane in their treatment to their own citizens, justly feel offended if we withhold from them the aid which some gentlemen seem willing to grant, without investi gation, to one of the most despotic of nations? I hope this bill will be re ferred back to the committee, so that an amendment may be reported, strik ing out the appropriation of 8100,000." After some delay the Atlantic Trans port line offered the use of their steam ship, the "Missouri," for the purpose of transporting the donations, free of charge, so that Mr. Bran and other representatives notwithstanding, the supplies went forward to Russia. .Mr. Bryan's opposition greatiy incensed the Russians in the northwest, who were large contributors to the relief project, and they have not forgotten what Mr. Brjan said and did in the first session of the Fifty second congress. In the public mind Iowa is associated with political heresies. It is true that most of the fads and isms that have stalked across the cjuntry in recent years have found a hospitable welcome in Iowa. The James B. Weaver school of politics has flourished formanyjears. In every congressional distiict. aye, al most in every county, is some prominent and more or less influential graduate, with the Weaver diploma and the Weaver degrees. Although Gener-"1 s Ss PBI
