The sun. [volume], December 22, 1897, Page 6, Image 6

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916

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VbI WEDNESDAY, DEOEMDBn 22, 18D7.
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I K Wffi v tracrlptUn by Malt. rot-Paia.
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iHl' Mm. DAILY.perYear
lK flK v SUNDAY, per Yr
IT S DAILY AND SUNDAY. per Yer OO
' IF DAILY AND SUNDAY, pr Month 0
Br? UH Postage to foreign countries added.
t Ww I Tn Beit. New Tork City,
k R' S ' PASts KIoqu No. IS. Bear Grand Hotel, and
t $8 IP1 KIMou No. 10, Boulevard de Opuolne.
I Iff It '
IT IK Xfeurfrttndtuho favor ui wUK manutertpt for
i Imr' f ' jiuolleallon urtsa to Raw rejteted article! returned,
I WE Wlk ItowmueHn ail oatee tend etampe for that pvrpoe.
I SM BS , ---
I P$ ' BP ' Senator Chandler 'a Ideas.
I H Kb f nn DN ocs no' at " Brco vflth Scua-
. sV- IBS ' r Chandler of New Hampshire, fn his
1 ' Raj II j- Ideas In regard to stiver and bimetallism,
WW ill but fc Dn'8 ln llls rccont letter to tho IFasi
' PifrJ Hr ' ington Post much to approvo.
ml ML IBS j The Senator says that If tho currency ro
K?Kn US'! '' formers vrlll drop tholr hobby, and let tho
wtfPlg J-; Houso attend to tho business before It de
li' l:f IS mondlng immediate action, Congress can
I l? m adjourn In May, and tho Republicans, next
I fcjV. Ill ;( autumn, w ill bo ablo to elect a majority of
E t jyjjj; I- ',' tho Incoming Houso pf Representatives.
li fej, p .' ' It, on tho contrary, tho bill for issuing
If BPl? ' Bld bon(la Mld for tinkering tho National
I S "$ Bank act Is forced to tho front, It will re-
t rtF':-' Tiro tho silver Issue, split tho Republican
mf IS Wi 4 party Into fragments, and glvo the Demo
I K crftts botn tho noxt 1Iouso ot Kcprcsenta
B?'lv i tlvos and tho noxt President.
K IS? K n hnye a" alouK contended that no leg-
Ki K?, I f Islatlon affecting tho curroncy is needed at
K WF U ? present. An act forbidding the relssuo of
' Kai '& redeemed Government notes, except against
m W ty.V Bld d"5"09118' would bo useful, but It Is
"' t ft not ,mPorat,vo- With a sufllcicnt revenue
B i j' the redeemed notes could not bo reissued
m ' except for gold ; and to provide that rove
m p7-' i? one Is a duty that takes precedenco of all
? f' othtra. A formal declaration In favor of
m 'S p 't tho gold standard is also desirable, but tho
' m ,?'i declaration, to havo any permanent effect.
Hi K ' must bo madobya majority of tho people
P if Bnd 10'' by baro maJor"'y ' Congress.
B; KS What ono Congress may do, in this respect,
'lll a succeeding Congress may undo. Nothing
R'i K, v; ,v but an overwhelming national sentiment
K fA can settle tho question, and that sentlmont
uF W " 's, at present, too nearly equally divided
Ps " 'or Congress to act upon It
g, K Let tho currency alone, and provide rovo-R-
S'.il nue enough for tho Government expenses!
I, -.g.- rl ,j. That Is what common sense dictates, and
K S' 'K ft vro commend Its advice to tho leaders of
Bf f$ I;1 the Republican party.
K E ? How Bis Ought tho Bona to JJo?
it I: . It has finally dawned upon tho minds of
t ?; , . the Rapid Transit Commissioners that thoy
B'1' ': ; must obey the law, and exact from tho con-
j' j L, tractors for tho construction and operation
I ' I ' . ot their proposed railroad a bond not only
? ' H y ' to secure tho construction of tho road, but
Bi iw B'80 tne Payracnt to tho city of tho rental
m fe M- 'or It during a term of not less than thirty
B 1 ' Ta nor raoro tnan tT y0318' They aro
'. i k i bow engaged In dovislng arguments to
R '- ir ' ;-' satisfy the Supremo Court that this bond
T W? I ' ought not to be for as much as $15,000,000,
W and talk ot ono (or $5,000,000.
mfc gf, Tho road will certainly cost $35,000,000
M- p. t C and mny C03t $s0000000- Tho Interest
Bi ft I on the bonds will not be at a less rato than
i : 8 per cent, per annum and may be 3 per
Bl W-h W i cent., and they must run at least thirty-
BP Kly ve yeara and maT navo to run "y
B S KSr f Taking tho lower rate of interest and the
B?3f Sralll I shorter terra of years, and adding the 1 per
Blf Kwill s cept. per annum for tho sinking fund re-
SI MSh1 :l quired by tho "Rapid Transit act, make tho
BBK' v" amount which the contractors are to pay
Mm Ipl2 W 1,400,000 a year, or $40,000,000 in all.
B'l' fe' Taking the higher rato of interest and
Hm rPm f tho longer term, the contractors will agree
' i Mm to nay 2,'JDO,000 a year or a total of
m ' b; 9ii2.boo.ooo.
Bt"1' Mw'ir Unless, therefore, the road earns, when It
R?'' ,;Bf'S i completed and put in operation, more than
Kfe Sy ' 1 its operating expenses the city risks the
Bl''i't'P I Io8s of $40,000,000 and may have to risk
1 Kf I $112,500,000.
Rf"1 Wfej, C, li ' course, It will be said that the road Is
Vf Sp. ' k euro to earn atleast $1,400,000 ayear, over
B fm 4 nnd abovo operating expenses, and will
umW II' ' probably earn $2,250,000 a year. If that is
BHr 3 ! "J suro t'nB the contractors can afford to
I "4'' 1' ; give a bond guaranteeing it; If It Is not
H ft1? " BUro tho city ought to havo a bond suf-
B :g; ife '? Sclent to cover Its totol possible loss.
H 4' &$ $: 'r How big should the bond be to secure the
B ' S ' payment of a rental which must amount to
B fef i J $40,000,000 and may amount to $112,-
Bli BOO.OOOf Surely, $15,000,000 is too little,
B jji aj, 'h rather than too much, and tho Supremo
Blvt fe "f f- Court ought to insist upon tho stipulation
B t'ij & ' It proposes to require for that amount.
K?. B f Ireland and England.
B Kb5ffi&
K ffO ' r Joiin Dillon's recent denunciation
B Wf J.pli' " of the old alltanco between the Liberal
B mr- M K ' party and the Irish members, and tho al
B , ' I" most simultaneous elimination of the ques
B lf ',t' tlon of home rule from tho Liberal platform,
B fv " i X Bro without Importance save as Incidents
B A jK ,t i giving a formal ratification and an his
B IT $' p' H torlcal date to an act of separation which, as
B : li tf Announced In Tns Son at the time, really
wt fe. took place more than ayear ago.
ft fi Tbo close ot this chapter In tho his-
8 " tory of tho Liberal party of Great Brit-
tj Q ' ain Ib baso almost beyond conception.
1 , No other judgment can possibly bo rcn-
B WA V ' '? dered at tho tribunal of impartial his-
Bviffr & j tory. But Mr. Gladstokb will not be
B'lP - ""' '' Included In that condemnation. He was
Bj'jfl g V J '' unquestionably sincere when ho made
II ' tne concession of Justice to Ireland tho lead-
Bi ' i'!, " ing principle of his administration, but his
B l $ splendid powers were waning when he un-
Bf $' dertook the settlement of that tremendous
B 'l 8 problem ot the centuries and the opposl-
B 4 " '''' tlon ln '8 ovm ranka Inally nullified his
B f' 4i i t efforts. This fact, wo believe, will bo mado
B '-" f ', , clsar when all tho light that Is to be ob-
B j ;,' talned on the different phases ot thestrug-
B 'i gle shall be given to the world. But, atall
B j t ,1 events, one great meed of praise Is due to
B rt t. the venerable Liberal chieftain, namely,
B $ n i tliat tbe cou(llt,on ot Ireland is now, be-
' I v I ' cuso ot n'8 "fforts in her behalf, ma
I i 7 " terlally better than it was when he es-
t$ poused her cause. Ho did not do all that
M f f he Intended to do, but be did all that he
H' hf f 'I I could do; and the firstot living Englishmen
mm,' 'ill Was Drobably the best friend among Eng-
B ;, i $ llanmnn that Ireland ever had.
B "if' - :'f'' At tho present time the two English par-
B f; ) ' ties Becm to be congratulating themselves
Ki "' f If that tho Irish question, as they had to con-
m , '' H front It halt a dozen years ago, Is settled
V; , '', permanently. But it Is more than proba-
f: 1 r - ble that thoy will have an unpleasant awak-
!i i L enlngfrom this short slumber of security
,', before the summer of the new year is at an
end. The centennial of a most memorable
' 1' ' , anniversary In Irish history Is already
t.'j fr; ' throwing a "very largo shadow over that
. S country, and the preparations for It em
He,,!. V V wMtnmvmmiiii"iii ' J 1 ' r 'nr r r-r"---''''" ''.'"'
ii i m i I ii i
brace a proxrammo w Woa ka tte ramifica
tions almost every where.
Tho Irishmen who aro planning tho com
memoration ot the rebellion ot 100 years
ago, and the tons of thousands of tholr
kindred In other lands who will then co
operate with them, are no believers ln tho
efficacy of Parliamentary' agitation. On
tho contrary, they sabra and loatho It, and
distinctly proclaim through their central
commltteo that tho Irish members must
drop their M. P.s If they wish to partici
pate in tho ceremonies designed to honor
the memory of tho martyr ToNn. To thorn
tho letters M. P. stand for "Muscled Pa
triot," and they will have no ono vaunting
that badgo of servitude, as they call It,
around thorn when tho fundamental prin
ciples of a now strugglo for Independent
Irish nationality ore proclaimed.
But a still more significant evidence that
tho sptrlt of national life is yet a vital
force ln Ireland, Is tho remarkable educa
tional and literary movement now In
progress . regarding the restoration ot the
ancient Gaello language and the popu
larizing of Its literature. Tho spectoclo of
an oppressed peoplo taking up tho study of
tholr ancestral languago after It had fallen
Into practical disuse during a period ex
tending over hundreds of years, never be
fore, so far as wo can recall, has been seen
in the history of the world.
Tho Fnturo of Samoa.
The report that Germany Intends to selco
Samoa probably grows out of tho1 revived
colonizing and annexing spirit at Berlin,
but It may be dismissed as absurd.
A few years ago such a rumor might have
been entitled to moro credence, becauso Mr.
Cleveland practically, invited such an
attempt by Germany, or, rathor, sought to
rcmovo out of her path our own country,
which then stood and still stands as & very
solid obstacle ln tho way. Mr. Cleveland
openly advocated our withdrawal from the
agreement of 1880, under which our country
exercises with Great Britain and Germany
a sort of joint protectorate over Samoa.
Such a course would leave tho other two
countries In political control, and by any
arrangement between themselves Germany
might have seized the Islands, England
being Indemnified elsewhere, and the com
mercial rights of Individual Americans
being pledged.
But that time has passed away. Con
gress Ignored Mr. Cleveland's repeated
suggestions to renounco the obligations wo
had entered Into in Samoa, and the natives
wero not turned over to the mercies of
England and Germany, which had already
divided so many of the Pacific Islands be
tween them. President MoKinlkt does
not propose to abandon our foothold in
Samoa. His polloy there, as ln Hawaii, is
the American policy announced by Ben
jamin HAimrsoN, which Cleveland at
tacked on coming Into office.
Wo seo no reason, therefore, for expect
ing any attempt on the part of Germany to
seize Samoa. She could do this only with
tho assent of England, and both powers
would hesitate to face tho consequences of
breaking faith with the United States. Yet
wo think It might be well for President
McKinlky to emphasize the purpose of our
country henceforth to discharge all Its ob
ligations under the Berlin agreement by
sending an American warship to visit
Apia. It is many years since such a vessel
has shown our flag at that port.
A Iilttlo Common Sense About Rapid
Transit.
Tho underground railroad Is extolled by
its advocates as a great boon for the city,
on the theory that It 'would supply this
community with adequate rapid transit
facilities. In truth, it would add only a
single means of transit, advantageous chief
ly to the inhabitants of the comparatively
thinly populated outlying districts.
The noise mado over the project Is not
justified by its Importance to tho public.
If it wero built, tho relief furnished by it
would be partial and limited only. The
great body of the travel of the city
would havo to be accommodated by tho
other means of transit, tho elevated
roads, and the cable and electric roads; and
In a very few years after its completion, if
it should ever be completed, tho outcry
against its discomfort, inconvenience, and
Inadequacy would bo loud and general.
Before it could be constructed, moreover,
tho existing methods of transit would be
extended, with the result of providing fa
cilities for travel more convenient and
moro agreeable for the public. Tho com
pletion of the electric system ot the Fourth
avenue road to tho City Hall will help
largely to supply the demand ln a very
satisfactory way. A similar transformation
of the Second avenue road Is now nearly
completed, and Is soon to be made ln the
Sixth avenue, the Eighth avenue, and the
Ninth avenue surface roads, multiplying
their facilities and rendering them vastly
moro attractive. Inevitably, too, alterations
and extensions ot the elevated system will
greatly Increase Its accommodations for
travel. With that system as It is, there
are seven tracks. Add tbo surface lines and
there are eighteen more tracks, or twenty
five ln all. Accordingly, the four tracks ot
the proposed underground road would In
crease the total by less than one-sixth.
The above-ground roads, moreover, will ab
sorb almost wholly the travel which alone Is
profitable to those furnishing the facilities,
or tho short-stop or short-dlstanco travel,
A passenger on a surface car will discover
by observing the Indicator of fares received
that in tho long trip from the City Hall or
the Battery to Harlem, moro especially ln
the hours when travel is greatest, It
records many moro fares than could bo ob
tained from even the most crowded single
load. The reason Is that the car Is fre
quently filling and refilling during its long
Journey; and that means profit to the road.
If the car ran from the Battery to Harlem
with the same load ot passengers Invaria
bly, thero would bo no profit. A five-cent
fare for transportation that distance does
not pay tho cost. Without the short-distance
travel the roads would go Into bank
ruptcy. Moreover, the proper accommoda
tion of the great bulk of the travel requires
that the stoppages shall be frequent and
access to the cars and egress from them
convenient and easy. A man compelled to
go five or ten miles on a stretch might de
scend to an underground road for the pur
pose of gaining time; but It he had to go only
ten or twenty or even forty blocks the gain
ot time to him In so doing would be trifling,
even If there was any gain at all, and it
would bo offset by the trouble be would
have to take to get It, and the disadvantage
of travelling through a tunnel, which Is
felt wherever underground roads exist,
even ln Boston, where the tunnel Is the
most agreeable that modern engineering Im
provement has made practicable.
Moreover, as we said, the underground
road would be only a single means of rapid
transit, convenient tor only a small part of
A,' . in, ! I MIIIHIITlMlfcllfMlimSI
the travel. It might carry a great number
ot passengers without supplying more than
a small fraction ot the demand (or rapid
transit Tho outlying districts,, which tt
would benefit chiefly, will not (or many
years contain moro than a compara
tively Insignificant port of tho popula
tion, and the extension ot tho existing
means of transit, which naturally will
keep pace with tho Increasing population
of tho remoter districts, will supply that de
mand as It rlsos. Nor can It bo expected
that as Now York grows to tho northward
thero will not bo Incidental changes In tho
centres of business, making now seats of
commercial and Industrial activity ln that
region Itself. Tho district about tho Bat
tery and oven far beyond Is too much re
stricted to accommddato tho trado ot tho
future Now York. It tho city grows during
tho next twonty-flve years as It has grown
during tho last twenty-flve, a new city
must develop to tho northward, whero
thero Is amplo space for Its establishment.
Tho theory on which the underground road
is so strenuously advocated, that the growth
of population ln thoso now outlying dis
tricts will create an exaotly corresponding
lncreaso in tho demand for transportation
to tho present business centres, Is not likely
to be sustained by tho result.
Tho execution of projects already made
(or tho Improvement and extension ot tho
existing means of transit will of Itself
be sufficient to satisfy tho demand for
many years to come. Accordingly, thero Is
not tho pressing need for tho underground
rood which Its Interested or deluded advo
cates try to mako out. Its construction would
load the city with a crushing burden of
debt, and would involvo during its progress
on obstruction ot streets fearful to Imagine,
bringing into reproach any city administra
tion under which the work was done.
It Is fortunate, therefore, that tho under
ground schemo seems now to havo been
mado Impossible o f execution.
Spain's liast Dry Season In Onba.
" Gen. Pando," says El Corrto ot Madrid,
"bcllovcs that with money enough. Spain
can end the war ln Cuba during the dry
season." But money Is needed for that pur
pose, and Gen. Pando says, also, that It tho
dry season passes before the war Is over
then God alone knows what will happen.
Similar remarks and admissions havo ap
peared In El Impartial.
Tho Spanish General, according to both
newspapers, reports that the sanitary con
dition of the troops Is so desperate " that
only a third part of tho men is fit for
military service." Ono dlro instance ot tho
ravages of tropical disease among his sol
diers is described by Panto. "In the
whole battalion ot Tetuan," ho says, "only
sixty men aro of any use." Gen. Pando
ends his statement with these words:
" When I say that money is noeded, I mean
much money. It Is useless (or us to try to
conceal this truth."
Wo know by The Sun's despatches from
Havana that Gen. Pando himself is at
present making a desperate effort to over
come that gallant Cuban commander, Gen.
Calixto Garcia, tho struggle being near
tho mouth ot the Cauto River. Spanish
official reports announced last Monday that
a florco battlo had taken placo on tho Cauto.
Tho fight Is regarded as tho most Important
ot the wholo war. Tho Spanish squadron
of gunboats played a prominent part. We
know, also, that Gen. Gaucia's control of
the cast Is absolute.
El Impartial informs us, at the same
time, that from Sanctl Splrltus to Clego
do Avlla, throughout tho most Important
part of the Santa Clara province, "all the
land Is controlled by the insurgent, Maximo
Gomez." In PInar del Rio, reports the samo
.newspaper, the patriots aro very strong,
and It Is false to say that the war has
ended In Matonzos and Havana. " The so
called Government of tho republic of Cuba,"
adds the Impartial, " Is unmolested in the
province of Puerto Principe."
Tho other Spanish report that the patri
ots are willing to surrender and accept au
tonomy tho patriots themselves have an
swered by hanging or shooting, according
to a law previously proclaimed by Gen.
Gomez, all the envoys from the Spanish
camp sent to them with offers of peace.
The tragic end of Col. Ruiz at tho very
gates of Havana is a proof that their
motto, "Independence or Death," Is not
lightly regarded by the Cubans.
Such is the situation In Cuba. Can
Spain, ln tho distressing condition of her
army which Gen. Pando describes, con
quer and put down such a revolution before
tho end of this dry season I
Can Spain raise all the raonoy which, ac
cording to Gen. Pando, she needs ln order
to terminate the war before next May!
Both questions ore difficult to answer ln
(avor of Spain.
Ivory.
Antwerp recently has become tho princi
pal Ivory market of the world. It has sur
passed Liverpool for nearly two years in
the amount of its Imports. This change of
centre Is due to the fact that while all the
tusks from central tropical Africa were
formerly carried to Zanzibar and thence to
Bombay and Liverpool, a large part of tho
trade has now been diverted down the
Congo to the Belgian steamers, and they
land the product at Antwerp.
As long as tho supply holds out, Ivory will
continue to bo one of tho most expensive
articles of commerce. It Is costly, first of
all, because, it requires largo expenditure
to get it to market. Most of the supply Is
carried hundreds of miles through the
wilds of Africa on the bocks of men. It
costs about $G0O a ton to transport It to the
sea. In about a year more ivory, for the
first time, will be carried by steam from
tbo far Interior of Africa, for the Congo
railroad will then be completed. The new fa
cility, however, may not reduce the price
very much, for freight charges will yet be
high and the sources of supply are becom
ing more and more restricted.
The world has used Ivory for many cen
turies, but tho peoples living nearest the
beBt Bources of supply never found it out
till after this century began. Loss than
a hundred yeara ago the natives on the up
per Nile killed elephants for their flesh
only and threw tho tusks away. Thoy said
tho tuuks were nothing but bono, and wero
of no use to any one. Since then the hunt
ers of tho Ivory merchants have penetrated
every elephant region, and the world wants
more ivory than ever. It will benefit by
the fact that large sources ot supply ln the
far Interior of Africa were not tapped un
til ln recent years.
A considerable part of tho commodity
now reaching the market Is " dead" Ivory of
excellent quality obtained from elephants
killed many years ago. It may take half a
century to find these accumulations and
purchase them of the natives.
The ivory trade is perhaps unique in the
(act that tho capital invested ln the manu
facture of ivory goods, although much o(
the labor la artlstle, blgnly skilled, And ex
pensive, is really Insignificant In compari
son with the money devoted to hunting
Ivory. By far the larger part of tho ex
pense has already been incurred 'when tho
tusks are delivered to tho manufacturers.
Trolley Universities.
A correspondent ot our always instruc
tive Boston contemporary, tho Transcript,
cries out bitterly against " tho domlnoerlng
commercialism ot tho present day." At
first this seems to bo a sort of apology to
tho smaller Now England cities for tho re
cent! effort of Boston to luro, their custom
ers by means of excursions at reduced
rates. It soon appears, however, that tho
protesting correspondent Is a child ot Art
and not ot Mammon.
Tho child of Art Bays that "one of tho
most unpleasantly evident and tiresome
forms ot this commercial spirit la streetcar
advertising. Unless wo bury ourselves In
a paper or book, we aro obliged to stare at
theso wearisome details of buying and soil
ing. Try as we will, wo cannot resist read
ing them and that over again."
It might have been supposed that a pas
senger could look out of tho window or at
his feet, or wrap hlmBolf ln hlmsolt and sit
llko a yogi, gazing ecstatically at tho point
of his own noso, but evidently tho attrac
tion ot repulsion Is too strong. Tho child
ot Art has to look at tho horrid things,
and ho fcols that they aro degrading his
mind. WhorcuponhobulldshlmApleasuro
palaco, a suitably decorated and highly
educational car:
"B the ipuxn Btaalljr filled with adrertliemenU
should, Initetd, contain photograph) ot aoenerr, arch
itecture, or of good painting, Intonpened with quo
tation from the great mutera ot proea or poetry,
what a relief and pleaiura It would bel And, more
orer, moh a valuable means of Instruction, especially
to the young. The.weary merchant or tired clerk on
hla ride home oould rest and refresh hi mind with an
xtraot from LnooLH'a Gettysburg oration, some
lines from GnaJtzsrsann or Warnm. or a photograph
of some bit of picturesque scenery, or a Dresden Ma
donna, Instead of, as now, being confronted with the
aame old story ot trade which has been occupying hi
attention all day.
"The child also would be storing Its mind with ele
vating Ideas and forming a tut for good literature
and art. Instead of carrying away at the end ot the
journey only memories of Jomos'a $8 shoes, sural
Kaiamaioo beer, or Bnows'a soap."
Tho happy day can bo foreseen when
every Boston car will be a schoolhouse on
wheels. The mixed method suggested by
tho Trantcrlpt'a correspondent Is such as
might bo expected In a community do
voted to eclectic culture, but In time these
educational sundries will bo classified.
There will bo sculpture cars, painting cars,
thcosophlst cars, Vcdlo cars, mentlculturo
cars, middle high German cars, Provencal
cors,modern Scotch dialect cars,HALLCAlNE
cars, and so on. Wo can hear tho starters
now: "Tho car ahead (or Michael Akoelo,
ma'am ; this car (or Arlo Bates. Change
here (or Chelsea and Saraii Grand. This
way (or Harvard square and Marie Con
elli. Transfers (or Sandro Botticelli
here ; this car (or KLaNt, SonELLiNO, and
Boston Neck."
We pity the Boston car conductors. They
know too much now.
Tho Federal Army and tho Pension
Army.
Speaking of this Increase of 54,000 ln the
pension list during the past year, our
esteemed contemporary, tho Brooklyn
Eagle, recently remarked:
"Nearly twice a many persons are on the pension
list now a were erer on the roll of the Union Army
at one tlmel The war ended thirty-two year ago!"
The pension list Is large enough, but tho
Eagle's statement Is not quite accurate.
At the present time there are moro than
070,000 persons drawing pensions on ac
count of all the wars in which this country
has been engaged.
The final report of tho Provost Marshal
General gave- the number of men ln service,
In all the armies of the Union, at certain
periods of tho war:
Prtient. Abtent. Total.
July 1,1801 183,688 8,163 188.701
Marah 81,1868 S89.0S 90,410 837,126
Jan. 1.1803 898,803 1 10,380 818.101
Jan. 1,1881 011,390 240,487 880,787
Jan. 1, 188B 820,034 838.888 850,480
March 1, 1863 687,747 822,880 080,088
May 1,1886 707,807 202.708 1,000,618
The last figure, just passing tho round
million, represents the total enrolled mili
tary force at tho round-up after tho surren
der ot Lee. It will bo observed that the
grOBteat number actually present and
under arms during tho war was a little
less than 700,000, In 1803.
The pension list now exceeds that num
ber by 275,000, but it Is yet short of tho
million mark, and it Is by no means accu
rate to say, as tho Eagle does, that "nearly
twice as many persons aro on the pension
lists now as were over on tho rolls of the
Union Army at ono time."
The Republican pnrtv was stronir last rear,
and drew strength from other sources, b cause It had
not been afraid to speak Its mind at Its National Con
Tentlon and setup a standard which could be seen,
milled to, and defended In the open Sea York
Tribune,
True enough; but If the St. Louis Convention
had listened to your plsadlnga It would havo
invited dlsfrracoful defeat for the Republican
party by tho cowardice ot evading; the use ot the
word H Bold."
Governor Bob Taylor of Tennessee has
exploded flowery bombs at pretty much every
body and everything; scattered scarlet and
purple speech all over the country. A "Knox
vllle citizen" plucks n few posies for Don:
"He Is the star In Tennessee's Srmament to which
the unfortunates look for light whrn clouds are deep
est and blackest and they find their hope still shining.
lie Is the fountain spring from which flow the rtrera
of mirth, whose ramification reach every hamlet
and erery mansion, making merry the heart
of all who drink therefrom. From hi tongue
come forth word that are illrer and that are
golden. The gems which he matters broadcast from
hla heart will still adorn the throat of Tennessee's
fairest women, after the fountain spring hath ceased
to Bow, and the friendless shall hare searched ln Tain
forth star that shlneth no longer DENE ATM the
cloud."
Bod is not only eloquent himself, but the
causa of tho eloquence that la in other men.
The opinion I gaining; ground among the Com
missioners that the Rapid Transit aet prorldee that
the bond shall apply to the term of operation of the
underground road aa well as to the period or oon
struotlon. Ntto York Herald.
Is It, Indeed I If tho Commissioners, when they
first took office, had read tho Rapid Transit sot
as carefully as duty required, the opinion now
gaining ground among them would havo been
solidly embedded In their mind.
It will not escape attention that tho Hon.
Willuu Morris Athwart of Nevada and tho
Hon. Wiluau Vincent Allen of Nebraska are
again beginning to take the centro ot the stage.
It Is reported that tho principals of the
public schools In Horseheads have determined
that wbenorer corporal punishment Is to be In
flicted In those school It ehall be Inflicted by
means ot a rubber tubs. The precise merits of
the rubber tubo as a rod cannot be known until
after a eerie of experiments. The voice ot
the Horaeheads pupils has not been heard
in regard to tbo subject. Did it ever occur to
the Horiebeads principals that, if they want to
use a form of corporal punishment the light
ness or severity of which they can ttraduate so-
WtiiWto'4UUlt-.'JJa3WwwecMMjav.vJajiv
j u-i t .
curatelr. ther should latitats the habit ot Use
late Aitoa Deokson Aloott in one of his
schools I Whenever a pupil was naughty the
phllosophlo schoolmaster feruled himself.
Our nolghbor, the .Mpw York Times, puK
Hahcs conspicuously an artlclo from the Specta
tor, a weekly nowspnper ot London, assailing
Now York ln tho usual English fashion as the
moat dcmorallied of communities, " a municipal
Gehenna." That the Timet should ro to a Lon
don paper for the stuff, when so' much ot the ;
samo sort Is always obtainable close at hand
from tho columns of the Btening Pot, Is some
what curious, moro especially as that New York
paper is the original source from whloh the
other obtains its dofomatory accusations, and
practically the Spectator's artlclo Is plagiarised
from the Ettnlno Pott.
The Bon. Josiaii Qotncy must havo been
reelected Mayor of Boston on account of the
noblo clvlo courage which he has displayed
since the Chicago convention by refusing to say
whether he la a silver man or a gold man. Some
are for gold and some are for stiver, and Jostan
is for Joan. A high political principle which
earns to psy him.
Tho Hon. John W. Lkeot, Governor ot
Kansas, has a constructive genius. Bo Is always
building eomethlng j one day a Populist platform,
the noxt a plan for an tntontato railroad from
tho northern boundary of Kanias to Galveston.
His newest and noblest work is a proposition for
an Irrigation canal from Montana to tho Red
River In Texas, to be fod at nocd from the Mis
sissippi and tho Missouri. It would be a beautiful
long canal, and tho Governor estimates that tt
would cost only $305,000,000, or say $300,000,
000. leap year Included. Ho is ready to build it
himself as toon as the money Is raised; and
raising; money, on tho Populist plan, is not much
harder than whistling.
The Hon. TnotiAS Riley of Boston means
well, but he ought not to run for Mayor again
until he set his hair cut. No man can nourish
a weltering waste of ourls like hi and have an
undivided mind to giro to politics.
It Is painful to havo to say that for tho
moment Indiana seems to pride herself moro
upon being the parent of the Hon. Norman
Bkldt Kin MoOor than upon her Illustrious
poets and novelists. Twonty-elght counties and
814 towns aro confident that they are the only
original genulno birthplace of this warrior.
Thus once moro do letters yiold to arms.
Kansas needs to be repressed. Its genius
for sueeess is getting monotonous. Col, Toucn
of Wichita, who bought tho mighty pacer
John R. Gentry, says that "Kansas prairie
grass Rives better lung power to a racehorse
than the grass of any State in the Union." He
has " turnod out thirty-three horses in Kansas
with records less than 2:30. three of which
were wonders." CoL Toleii puff the Kentucky
blue grass away, and will have nothing but
Kansas pralrlo grass as tbo meat of speed. Is
Kansas going to give up raising cranks with
better lung; power than those of any other State
and devote a part of her energies and prairie
grass to raising recortl-parers I
Ex-Senator Henderson of Mlssonrl has writ
ten a letter warning young men not to Hiek pubUo
office. Indianapolis Journal.
Mr. Henoerson has had his offices, and it is
not fair for him to try to discourage the fellows
who havon't had tholrs from prospecting until
they find them or are ready to give up seeking;
Give the boys a chonoo.
Struggling merit should not be allowed
to struggle without receiving- one kind word.
Tho recent efforts of the managers of the
weather In these parts to change the bill every
day havo been crodltablo to their versatility.
One rosy have objected to some of the perform
ances, but nobody has bad any reason to com
plain of lack of variety. Let u pay due homage
to talent.
What London Drink.
lY-om the London Lancet.
In a recent case at the Keniln jton Petty Session
the well known refreshment contractor. Uessrs.
Spiers & Pond, caterers to the Victorian Exhibition,
were summoned at the Instigation of the Kensington
Vestry for selling a sample ot brandy and two sam
ples of wblikoy which were not ot the nature, sub
stance, and quality of the article demanded. The
defence set up u the extraordinary one that ln one
oaae a barmaid had emptied Into tho brandy and
whUkey decanter the remaining portion of a
glasa of brandy and water and alio a portion of
a glasa ot whiskey and water left on the counter by
customers. In the case of the other sample the bar
maid had, in consequence of a complaint which bad
been made to her that tho ttock of the bar under her
charge was unsatisfactory, put water Into the siphon
which supplied tho tap from which the sample of
whiskey wu purchased. The benoh Inflicted a pen
alty of 16. Apart from the fact that the spirits
were adulterated, the practice of emptying the lear
legs of oustomers' glasse Into the vessels bold m
the spirits for puhUo supply Is a disgusting and filthy
and dangerous one, and the Vestry of Kensington de
rre the unqualified thank ot the publlo for the
action which they took.
Burma- if ew Civilisation.
irom the Kort ft China Jltrald.
While King Theebaw 1 amusing himself by throw
ing pebble Into the sea on the west ooast of India,
young English officer, drink whiskey and soda and
play cards In his throne room, at llandalay, which
ha been converted Into a club. No Burmese soldier
with over heavy swords now stsgger about the street.
There 1 a regiment or two of Tommies, with nothing
for them to do but make love to the Burmese girls,
and die of dysentery and fever. There area few
hundred Princesses about llandalay, to whom the
Indian Government, In unbounded generosity for
having taken their country, give eaoh IB shilling- a
week. Even In Burmah It Is bard to keep up a quail
royal state on 15 shillings a week, 10 the ladles, who
are of an enterprising mind, turn, a aristocrats now
do, to bustnes. One Prince wa fined the other day
tor keeping a gambling helL
The Paradox or the Bar.
TYom the Indianapolit Journal.
Any soft drinks?"
"Only hard elder."
The Fact About Klao ebon.
Within the Council Chamber,
Enthroned In all bis prld.
In hi ever-crlnglng Minister
Great William oould confide.
"My lords," quoth be, "when out last night
A rhyming to the moon.
The start and all the nebulie,
Whloh we shall gobble soont
The air was rhlll and bitten
From my English crown of gold
I had lost my patent ear lap.
And I caught a ousted cold.
My lord, oh. Foreign UlnliUil
I fain would And relief i
So you know of any natlontU,
On whom to play the thief t"
Then spake the trembling -la-tori
"May It please your Majestea,
There's a tenth rat colored President
Aoross your own deep ."
The Emperor smote hi breast dlvinai
' Tl well." be made reply i
" What else have you upon the li
To please my wondrous eye t"
" We're all run out," the Chancellor stld,
" If your Miteity'd uggest
If you but pre the button, Blre,
Then we will do the reat."
"Wbat,ausgespleltr Bills I Not an Isle f"
The royal anger 'roae -"
I'll name a spoil but first ot all.
Just let me blow my nose."
Then William sneexed, oh, how he snad.
And the Hlntttera sneesed, too
And that's tne way poor China lost
KlaoChoul KlaoChoul Ke-chuot
W. B. a
The last opportunity to hoar Dr, Hansen leo
tur will occur to-morrow afternoon at Caroegltf
Unit. Thelad.etandgtntl-Dien who baro arranged
for tbU special appearancs of Nanien have dono
o out of publlo pi lit, and that clroumitanoa Lt a
tribute to the Interest and educational Talue of the
explorer's etUrrlfif narratlre.
rt ; Hi. i.i. .KM-JHIH I 11 IL4I S1J0W "' mil' 11 -rr I I -
tax rjtorzs Airit xan rssaxoxa.
Hat tbo tTerthr Peaaleaer bnt the Unworthy
I lb Target,
To ttm Editor op Trw 8or Sir; Your arti
cle dealing with tho systematto looting ot the
Government coffers by an organized band ot
pension thieves throughout tho country and ln
the halls of Congress at Washington Is conclu
sive and to tho point. How the governing ma
chinery of this country could permit such a
statoof affairs to exist surpnssos comprehen
sion. Keep your runs ln action on this target.
New York, Deo. 20. J. P. TnniDEnT.
To n Eorron ot Tnrs 8on Sin Thank you.
thank you, tbank you for your splondtd article,
"Tlobb(rthoNfttlon,
Keep lt up! Only by bard knocks and the fire
ot the press can such a piece ot motnl be ham
mered into shape.
You never bofore desorvod more thoroughly
the thanks of tho people.
A MEMDin or I payette Post No. 140, 0. A. R.
New Yonit. Doe. 20.
To tiie EmTon or The 8un Str: The pen
sion article published ln Tne Son to-day do
serves carctul perusal by every Amorlcan. And,
with the exception of 1,130,317 persons, by no
means all of thorn Americans, tho conclusion
would appear Just to everybody.
You have brought out tho facts with remarks
bio olesrnoss, but there Is something moro doop
ly rotten ln this ponslon system than tho raonoy
It costs, namely, paternalism. This wns tho evil
that pursed Rome and Atbons and caused their
downfall. Hordos of shiftless, worthless vaga
bonds were fed, clothed, and supplied with
amusement by theso two (treat States. Botoro
Athens fell, paternalism was rampant, and bo
fore Rome changed to an emplro the doma
gogueswero clamoring for "frco corn for cltl
sens." In the history of every repuhllo demagogues
have arisen mho have encouraged men to Uvo at
th State's expense Ii they succeedod, the 8tate
foil. Wo bellovo we are the groatest nation
that is or that has been. It seems Imposatblo
that we, who aro the cleanest and most upright
people to-day, should fall through our own rot
tenness. But do not let us, thoreforo, play with
this insidious corrupter, paternalism, which
crushes its victim suddonly, out of the dark. 1
TlJK Sun's suggestion that tho record of evory
pensioner on tho rolls bo rigidly examined is ex
cellent. I nm ln hopes Tub Sun will continue
the fight with its wonted vigor. It Is by far our
most vigorous, fearless, and distinctly American
nowspaper. May Its shadow never grow leiil
J. M. PATTEH80rr.
New Haven, Conn., Doc. 20.
To Tns Editor op Tub Sun Sir: Just a
word of praise for tho finest article ovor wrltton
on the ponslon swindlo, which apponrs ln Tun
Bun to-day. It seems a pity that a few moro
such papers as The Bun cannot mako a bold
stand, and bring suoh Influence to boar on tho
public opinion that our representatives in Wash
ington will see the writing on the wall, and act
accordingly.
Don't let tip. but give It to 'em everyday.
Moro power to your arm I . A. 1L, Jr.
New York, Doo. 20.
Tottie Editor or The Sun Sir.- Howl wish
I could put in wrltlnc my thoughts concerning
your magnificent paper. Your fearlessness in
exposing; things that should bo oxposed Is some
thing wo do not find evory day In tin; weok.
How glad I was to see your splendid article In
to-day's Issue on the gigantic robbery ot tho ago'
tho pension business.
Several tlmos during my llfo have I run across
people getting a ponslon who had no moro right
to It than a yellow dog. Living here In this city
are peoplo who havo an Income of from $30 to
$50 a week and yet are sotting pensions. An
other who owns three houses anxiously looks
for "pension day."
Let mo toll you a little story that will probably
interest you. A man living ln this city enlisted
in the navy two years and nlno months prior to
tho breaking out of tbo war. You will soe ho
still hod three months of his term of enlistment
to servo when tho war broke out. Instead of
turning around, just at that time whon our
country needed his services, and reenllstlne,
what did ho do I Ho got as tar away from tho
front as he possibly could, and now he wants a
pension. This man, I know, always enjoys tho
best of health, and one day when tolling him
about on uncle of mine who lost a leg in the war
(and has neror drawn a pension), ho made a re
mark to the effoot that " the cruel war mado
cripples of us all 1"
I am an American and I am proud to think
that my father served through the ontlre war.
My great-great-grandfather was ln tho Revolu
tion. My great-grandfather was a "drummer
boy" ln tho war of 1812. My grandfather served
throuRh the Mexican war. My father servod
through the war of the rebellion, and my brother
"slept" twenty-one nights on his gun at Val
paraiso during the threatened trouble with
Chill. m. F.
Passaic, N. J., Deo. 20.
To tot Editor or Tn Sun Sir.- Your
article of to-day on pension trrabblng Is worthy
of all praise. Such praise every honest citizen,
without regard to party, who has tho welfare of
this ropubllo at heart, must accord It, Only laBt
night a number of gontlemen and good citizens,
assembled socially, were talking' over this out
rage on the good name of our Government, and
wondering how It was that no other newspapor
had the courage to take np tho fight against
this glgantlo swindle. Tho editorials qn that
subject published from time to time In your
columns were mentioned and Just tribute paid
to them.
Yourstand Is tho right one, but it is only the
first move ln a great fight to relieve the nation
of a running sore which will eventuolly,polson
lt to death.
Tho currency Is all right, the taxation is all
right, the tariff and all other questions are all
right, and will regulate themselves according1
to tbodemands of the tlmos, but our terribly ex
travagant governing household Is not all right,
and there Is the root of nil tho evil.
Do your best to remedy this by a perslstont
fight against the pension swindle, and don't let
up for a moment You have the backing and
wull wishes of all good citizens. II. B. W.
Niw York, Deo. 20.
To tub Editor or Tins Sun Str: Well done!
Necnssaryand timely. Concise, convincing, and
clear. Frkdeiuu W. Panodorn.
Nkw York, Deo. 20.
To tits Editor of Tub Sun tr: I thank
you for your exposure ot tho pension Infamy in
this morning's Sun. Tbo ponslon list, as lt ex
ists to-day, is at onoe the disgrace and Intolera
ble burdon of our country. How members of
Congress can be found willing to vote, and
Presidents of the United States as honest men
can be found ro idy to sign these bills, tins lotus
pasted the comprehension of one who Is thank
ful for one great Journal brave enough and
faithful enough to mako the exposure you mako
to-day. . n.
New York, Dec. 21.
To Tint Editor or Tub Sun Sir: Tbo en
tire country Is Indebted to Tub Sun for Us ex
posure of the pension robbery, I was ln the
army of the Potomao and was discharged for
disability, but I have never applied for a pen
sion and never expect to apply.
Keep up the good work. Don't drop It,
New York, Deo, 21. Veteran.
To tub Editor of Tub Sun Sir ; I venture
to say that all tbo bonost people of the United
States and there are millions of them feel
thankful to Tub SUN for Its masterly exhibitor
tho great pension fraud.
It Is light the peoplo need. The honest press,
the peoplo's frlo d, is tbo power houso and re
flector. Give them light and they will pay you,
ln profound uratltude, (or the sorvico,
BnooKLTN, Dec 21, 1807. S. R, O.
To tub Eorron or Tub Bun Str: Thousands
of pensioners, while drawing their pensions reg
ularly, aro also In tbo oubllo service.
It seems to me that when a man Is holding
offlco under the munclpal or county, State, or
I Federal Government bis pension bhould be
stopped during the time that he draws his sal
ary. He doesn't need It,
M This would leave thousands of dollars in the
Treasury which are nowbelnp paid to people
who are actually dorlvlng their Incomes from B '
tbo Government. A groat many of tho above- H '
named class h..ro beon employed In Rood, re- E
mutieratlvo posts In almost evory department H ,
ot tho Oovornmont sorvico slnco tho war, and I
aro woalthy now, but hnvo not tho docenoy to Mi
rctuso tho paltry 98 or 912 a month pension. Hi
- Purge tho rolls ot this class! C. W. H. ('
Brooklyn, Doc. 21. B '
jviiir irrsr (tuns pjjic il
A Pronmnl to Call It Hopper Park. Mli
To tub Editor of The Sun Sir : This morn- IrtA
lng's papers notlco tho fact that tho Board of HU
Strcot Opening ami Improvement hns set aside M'i
for a publlo park tho property lying within lj
Fifty-second and Fltty-fourth struots. Elovonth $
and Twolfth avenues. Tho undersigned bogs Im
leavo to suggest that tho new recreation c-round BU
bo designated Hopper Park, for theso reasons: BA
,Tho property Is a part ot tho well-known Hop "
per farm, which was ncqulrod by John Hopper. M
tho elder. In 1007, and hns remained In his family Mi)
and Its branches to this day. Uu
His son, John Hopper, tho youngor, built H'
thoroon, between Fifty-second and Fifty-third B
stroots, his homestead In 1702. and It was oecn- ll1
pled by his descendant. Gen. Gnrrlt Hoppor !j
Striker, and. tho laitur's family till razed In
1800 one of tho oldest houses ln tho city. Th W
extension which contalnod the kitchen and Wt
servants' quarters Is still standing. Tho Mot. M
mansion occupied a slto near tho nortborn Hi
boundary of tho now park, closo to tho river. If mu
was rimnollshod lit 1805. Tho rocky promontory B
on which this houso was situated was known Be
for noarly two centuries as Hoppor's Point Mt
afterwnnfMolt's Point. M
In 1803, and at least onco since, bills hare Jgi
boon Introdticorl at Albany snttlncr apart this K
block for a breathing spot, to bo called Hoppor's Mk)
Park. In ouch en so tho bill passed ono or the HI'
other of tho houses. lit
Through this property runs at prcsont, as It W.
hasforgcnorntlons. Hopper's lnno (now Btrlk- m
cr's lane), tho original and only access from '
Bloomlngilnlo roml. across tho farm. This way,
nswoll ns Mott'H lnno. u short distance to the me
north, will Ho within tho park. B
I submit that for ttirto reasons such a doslg- n
nation as suggested will not only bo appropriate M
but historical. llori'Ku Btriker Mott. II
New York. Dec. 18. K
Discrimination In Pith. N
To nr KnrroR or Tna Ben sir: I there any good J
reason why a farmer, residing on the marvtn of ij
Chautauqua Lake, should have any greater privileges Wj
thin a farmer who happen to bo a rtsldcnt upon tha tV
bank of Seneca Lake, or any of the other Inland JH
waters of tbls8tate? This Is the problrm which the IBi
Chautauqua Fish and Game Association proposes to nr'
present to tho Legislature at Its noxt session. stiff
Chapter 70S of tbo Laws ot 1H97 provide that j! j
muscallonge, one of the most valuable of the game 9; 1
nines of this State, may bo taken with spears from n
Chautauqua Lake during tho first twenty day ot M 1,
Fobruary, thu giving to those who happen to reside V '
fn tho neighborhood of this lake privileges whloh aro V
denied to citizens of every other locality In the State. 9 j
Chautauqua Lake Is tbo location of tho State hatch- a (,
ery for the propagation of muscallongei lt la tho only HA
take In the State In whfch theso nsh aro sufficiently K
hardy and numerous to afford tho spawn neorssary flat
to make the hatchery successful, and so conservative Mnl
an authority on fishing as the lion Turtcr Sheldon 9tl
say thero Is no doubt that If this law remain In T
force there will be 8,000 men upon the Ice, armed )
v, 1th spear, on the 1st day ot Ftbruarj, and that f i
they will literally take ton ot these fish, including jf,
the best producers ot spawn, In the tirenty days, Hf
This special statute was enacted last winter at tha Sj
Initance of Lcandcr Nixon, wbonaa alile to convince vM
the State Fish Commission that It wa better to hava W
this law. In splto of Ub well-known opposition to spe- k3
clal legislation and of tho Ghauttiuqua Fifth and 1 '&
Game Association, backed by U,000 signatures of tho f i
people of Chautauqua county ha Ing millions of dol- B 1 1
lar of Investment around this lake, demanding Its iff
repeal. Insisting that no greater nrh lieges shall ba
extended to tboso who lire upon this lake than are S '
granted to people in the Stato generally. In other m v
words, they aro opposed to the wanton destruction of II
the muscallonge of Chautauqua Lake at the behest ot II
a few professional fishermen, and tbev believe that .
It Is a matter in which the people of tho wholo Stats ffl
have a common Interest. II
A law that Is good enough fortbaStato; a law that 1
has for Its object tho preservation of the game fishes. 9
Is good enough for the farmers and professional flshr Hi,
ermenot the town of Cilery, and they believe that w
sportsmen ln all parts of New York shoul t bo Inter V
ostt d ln the repeal of this special law, and tbey ask, M
through TnE Suf, tho opportunity to present thl cas y
to the equality loving people of tho State. m
jAazsTown, N. Y., Dec. 81. JJsiS. Paso.
- .- H'
The Fire Ulitrlrt. li
To ma Editor or The Son Sir- The writer of th Is
article beaded "The Hro Districts" la the Besot r
Dec. 20, by confining bis investigations to the statls- 1
tics of fires and loss within certain sections of tha M
olty, a shown on the map accompanying the depart- B
ment report for 1800. and tiy Ignoring tno divisions
of the uniformed force, made a mix which needs si
aratinn and correction. Tho city isdlvld il Into four
ton battalion districts, each under a CI 1 f of Ilat
tallon, who Is subordinate to the Deputy Chief of
Department, the whole forco being under the com
mand of the Chief of Department Trior to tht
month of November the tity was divided at Twenty
third etreet Into two s ctlon. each under tho charge
of a Deputy Chief, ln that month the Hoard of Flro
Commissioners increased tbo number of Deputy ?
Chiefs to three, which necessitated a re division of fl
the city lato three districts, so that each Deputy
Chief should be responsible for the work of the fore ,
at fires wlthtn the section to which he was assigned. fl
This was done to lncreaso the erflcleney of the forest B
and will without doubt have that effet t. 9
With this explanation ou v. Ill seu that the fire die- H
trlcts have not been decreased In number, and, as the fl
changes affoct only Manhattan Islund and that por- J9
tlon of the city north nnd east of tho Harlem River, B
other sections of the Grtater New York were not jB
considered. Joui R. Shields, Assistant Secretary. H
Nkw YoitK, Dec. 31. JB
England llskn Up to Mlllielm der Cross. Ill
From the M. Jamet'e Uatctte. Ill
The Oerman naval programme, If It Is ever carried 111
out, will havo effects which aro worth the serious 1U
consideration of Unttllshm, n. It will do something lfl
else besides making of Oermany a naval power of th B
very first rank. Thu new shlpa will bo built In Oer- vm
man shipyards by German mechanics; and the result fl
will be to glvo a great impetus to that German ship- I
building industry which Is growing steadily and "a
rather faster than suits our own builders on the j
Clyde and tho Tyne, hampered as they are by hlgn
wages and obitructlve unions. And tho ships mado
in Oermany are not all cheap and nasty. It Is stated
that tho new North Gi rmun Lloyd Ilucr, the Kaiser
WllhelmderGioise, averaged aiecd of 22.85 knots
per hour during her recent homeward run. This Is
well ahead oMhe best performance of the Lucanla,
which so far has held tho Atlantic record. From
whloh It would seem that the Germans havo nothing
to learn from us In the building or the working of
fast steamers of the largest size.
At the Cross Itoada or Future. 1
From the St. raul Republican.
The Topullst party has contested Its Inability ever 1
to accomplish anything without outside assistance, 1
and Its members are now pausing at tho cross roads of S
throe sepurute and distinct future policies. They are J
required to decide without delay whether they will
tart all over again by organising a brand-new party, i
whether they will meekly submit to absorption by
tho Democrats or whether they will return to their
first love of Hepubluanlsm Inasmuch as they seem
to bo about equally divided on the question, there U
no longer much doubt ooncernlng tho future of pop
ulism. As the boy said about the applo oore, "Ther
hain't golu' to be any" future.
(ilnrtsloue'a .erve Tonto.
from the H'tilmtntter Jltiiew.
On the eve of Mr. Gladstone' departure fo
France, wbeu ominous report were lu circulation as f
to the slate of his health, a friend asked the veteran l
statesman if his continuous reading aud his literary B
studies mliflit not have bad some unJeslrnble effect J5
onhlsnertus. "My dear sir," replied Mr, Gladstone VM
with an air of seriousness, "can you Imagluo what M
wnuld bo the condition of my nerves If I were coin-
pellcd to do nothing)1" H
The l.ftoo.oon Iloo.ier Immortals. 9
From the Courier-Journal, I
And now It Is Charles Dudley Warner who j ropose M
that we shall have a literary tribunal In this country B
Imlltrto the French Academy. Mr. Warner nods. 9
lie ought to know that we already have suob an lu- I
stltutlon, over lo Indiana, and that about seven- I
tenths ot the entire population of the State are mem- W
bcrs. B
I'lalu Tralh rrum Australia, I
Ftom the M, Jnrnrs't Oaeetle. I
On oratorical candidate for a Melbourne con. I 1
tltuenry, lu a fine burst of eloquence, asked tha ' i
question, "What Is It tbat has mado England what J
be Isml,hty, revered, fe.red, and respected M
"Olroland," was the prompt and unexpected Mute- sfl
In a racy brogue from the rsar of th haU. 1
l(tgij8ilaSMWU -tlWjfeval