Douglas Island news. [volume], December 21, 1898, Image 2

About Douglas Island news. [volume] (Douglas City, Alaska) 1898-1921

Image provided by: Alaska State Library Historical Collections

                
* ? .1 I ? 11 ?. I
THE DOUGLAS ISLAND NEWS.
A. a. ricBRIDR and CHARLES A. HOPP
Editors and Publishers.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
TERMS:?In Advance.
One Yeur - - $3.00
Six .Months - - - - - - 1M
Three Months ------ 1.00
Single Copies ------ .10
Foreign Postuge must be prepaid.
The New.* at Juneau.
The News is on sale at the Postoffico News
Stand.
At Douglas City.
This paper is on sale at McDonald's Cigar
Store mid at the office of the News.
Advertising Rates.
Cards, one inch or less, per month * $1 !?0
Display advertising, per in. per month 1.00
Local notices per line, per issue - - .10
These rates will l>o strictly adhered to. We
treat all our patrons alike.
Wednesday, December 21, 1898.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The peace commission has arranged
that the United States shall retain the
Philippine Islands and pay Spain $20,000
000. To this part of the treaty of peace
serious objection is made and doubts
are expressed as to whether the senate
will give its approval upon the ratifica
tion of the treaty. Only the sena
tors will vote, but upon the appropria
tion of money the house and senate
each have a voice.
Territorial expansion, to such an ex
tent as to take in the Philippine islands,
is a serious question and it is not un
expected that there should be a great
diversity of opinion on the matter, upon
which, we are pleased to say, there will
be no party lines drawn, but rather
the east will In? arrayed agaiust the
west, the latter in favor of, and the for
mer opposing acquisition.
It is not our aim to enter into a full
discussion of the subject, but briefly
stated, some of the arguments of those
opposing the expansion of the territory
to so great a distance are, that the in
habitants are a very undesirable class
of people and unworthy to be made
citizens, and who, owing to lack of ed
ucation aud even civilization, must be
difficult to govern; that our standing
army would of necessity bo increased
Hnd a greater navy would also become
necessary; that the forefathers of our
country opposed expansion and wo
should iu the future as in the past con
fine our acquisitions to the North Amer
ican continent.
On the other hand it is argued, that
with the great increase of population,
trade, manufacture, and agriculture we
should extend our interests, and that an
iucrease of territory will open up new
markets that we could not otherwise
control. Also that having engaged in a
war to free Cuba from Spanish oppres
sion, we saw proper to carry the con
test to the Philippines aud after hav
iug assumed control of them we are
morally bound to not permit their
return to Spaiu.
Of the two couteutious, we are favor
ably inclined to the latter. The gov
ernment of the Philippines may cost us
some mouey, but suppose it does? We
will need a larger standing army and a
good navy, but suppose we do? What
we need, or even want, we can afford to
have, and why not have it? A fine
navy, the superior to that of the Brit
ish empire, we can well afford to main
tain and we believe it would be very
gratifying to Americans to possess it,
as a matter of style. We have been re
garded as a "joke" by European pow
ers until we licked the stuffing out
of Spain. Germany and France have
both been anxious to knock the
chip oft' our shoulder, and we believe
in entering European politics and like
the British government, grabbing onto
everything in sight. A people that can
build up a government such as we pos
sess, need not hesitate to undertake
the government of even that composite
mass that inhabits the Philippine is
lands. China will be for division soon
and why not take our share. The ad
vance of the English speaking people
is just commencing. It is to the An
glo Saxon race that the world must fi
nally look foi good, decent, free gov
ernment. Man cannot live for himself,
aud the same rule will apply to gov
- * ? ix 1 _ j
ernments. As a iree, emignienea, eu
ucated and christian people, we owe a
duty to Clod and man to render such
aid as is in our power to bring good
government and civilization toallmau
kind, and when the first real opportu
nity has been presented to thus extend
our influence, must it be said we were
not men, but cowards.
Examine into the various systems of
government in Europe, and outside of
the English nation the people are free
in name only. We all know what
Spanish rule is. France, that floats
under the name of a republic, is a dis
grace to the earth. Germany is just a
trifle better. Russia is next to an un
limited monarchy. Turkey, oh, Lord!
think of it. To extend American in
fluence to all parts of the world is our
duty, as we understand it. Civilize
the Philippines first, wade into old Chi
na and shake the old "joss" out of ev
ery temple, and divide it up, civilize
it and make a decent lot of people out
of the material, if possible, and gradu
ally work over to Europe. They need
civiliziug over there too. It won't be
long until Germany will want a "scrap"
with us and theu we will have an op
1 portunity of doing some missionary
I work there.
Yes, wo say, keep the Philippines.
cmukcm irNt-Lutrsv/L:?.
i Wo stepped into a law olllco in Ju
, noau a few days ago and were there
j told by a student that he was much
j pleased with the spirit and tone 01 a
recent article that appearod in those
columns, in which we expressed our
belief in a place of future happiness.
Our attention has been so often direct
ed to the subject that we are led to
again refer to the bible and the man
ner in which it is now taught. What
! ever our conduct may bo, it is apparent
that there are few people at the close
of the nineteenth century who would
desire church influences removed from
the community in which they live. We
may not attend church and in fact
I disbelieve many things that the scrip
ture contains, but still the fact remains
that a truly good man, where guidance
I and daily actions are in harmony with
the teachings of the bible, is honored
and respected in his belief. Any min
ister, with fair ability, who will teach
Christianity to his congregations as
Christ and Paul taught it, need never
want for hearers, although what he may
say has been taught the people for
more than eighteen hundred years.
What there is about christian teaching
that fascinates the human mind it is not
our desire to discuss at this time, but
admitting that church influences are
1 desirable, we are led to enquire if that
influence is made as effective as it
could or should t>e.
We have often heard it said from the
pulpit that the world is getting better,
that with the increase of knowledge
j and advance of thought, the teachings
! of the bible are becoming more and
I more acceptable to the human iuiud. In
our opinion the ministry of today is
laboring under an erroneous impression
and from a christian standpoint is ret
j rograding. The modern or advauced
ideas of the scripture, as it is called,
as taught by many ministers, tends to,
and does create doubt in the minds of
many as to the sacredness of the bible.
We are referring to the general teuden
! cy of the age. We do not claim that
there are no exceptions. There are
many ministers who are not led away
from the scripture and its teachings,
but the general tendency at present is
j the contrary. Why is this? What is
making this great change?
One of the reasons is that the col
; legos of the country are hotbeds of
infidelity. Xo opportunity is allowed
to pass, to impress upon the mind of
the student that where modern
thought and ideas, common sense, as
some say, does not agree or conflicts
with the bible, the former must prevail.
That science has so far advanced that,
when the bible conflicts with it, the
scriptures must be set aside. That
those things which can be explained
upon natural causes should be accept
ed and all others must be swept aside.
The result is that every preacher has
his own ideas of what common sense
j is, his own ideas as to what the con
flict between science and the bible is and
from the pulpit you get such a con
I glomerate mass of-stuff that those who
j really desire the truth are soon num
bered among the largly increasing
number of agnostics, to which class
the preachers are gradually drifting
if not already within the fold.
What the churches need are preach
ers who will teach the bible. They
i need more church trials. Preachers
who refuse to believe the bible and
i teach it, ought to be fired out of the de
nomination to which they belong. If
those things which the bible contains
that cannot Ix? explained upon natural
causes must be rejected, how much is
l there left? What will become of the
immaculate conception? Who will be
lieve in a God that could not cause
miracles to be performed? If you
commence rejecting the bible in part,
where will it cease? But above all,
what does the ministry accomplish in
! teaching this modern idea of the script
ure? Will it make anyone better?
We fail to see how a preacher can ex
pect any great amount of good to re
sult from saying to his congregation
that this or that part of the scripture
! is nonsense.
The boy a from Fort Wrangel tell us
they have the best Commissioner in all
Alaska. Fred Page Tustin is his name.
The information is not new to us how
over, we said the same thing in the
columns of the News while in that city.
CITIZENSHIP IN ALASKA.
We observe among our Alaska ex
changes a disposition to severely criti
cize congress for its apparent neglect
of Alaska and the long continued delay
in granting to her inhabitants the leg
islation she needs and to which she is
justly entitled. Some of this criticism ;
is no doubt meritod and yet it should j
not be forgotten that the people of the :
| territories of the United Statos have in !
; part, if not altogether, suffered from |
the same neglect. The Congress of
! the United States is so large that it is J
au unwieldy body and it is difficult to
socure any needed legislation until the
! peoplo become thoroughly aroused and |
I the great luw making body is forced to j
action. In this connection wo might j
; say that owing to the unwioldinoss of
congress the whole peoplo are deprived
of their constitutional representation, j
| Of recent years the speakor of the i
house has become so autocratic and j
dictatorial that no measure can even
i be brought to a vote without his con-1
i i ? i---a: 4- '
| seat. A reprosuuiuLivB must* aan jJO* - J
mission of the speaker to be recognized
by the "Lord" of the nation. We do
not refer to this matter from a politi- j
cal standpoint, because it matters not
to what party the speaker may belong,
| the power which that officer assumes |
remains the same.
But as for Alaska and her rights, it I
| should bo remembered that only with- j
, in a few years has she become promi- I
nent and regarded with that respect to j
which she is entitled. It was only a
few years ago that John Sherman, one i
1 of our greatest statesmen, opposed j
| military aid to the people of Alaska to j
protect them against threatened inju-.
' ry by the Indians. At that time, ho j
advised an abandonment of tho dis
1 trict by the whites; not, however, that ?
| he lacked in sympathy for tho people,:
j but because he was totally ignorant of ,
I Alaska and her resources. Such gross ;
ignorance, you will say, is inexcusable,
but we must take humanity as we find 1
i it. Many others shared the views of
Mr. Sherman, but they were probably ;
a little more guarded in expressing j
j themselves.
When the bill was betore congress 10
pay Russia the purchase price for Alas
ka, it was bitterly opposed by some of
the supposed greatest statesmen in the
country. Seward could see that in the
J future, the purcliaso would become a
profitable investment and be approved
by the people; there were few who be
lieved as he did, and it was ouly as a
reward and expression of appreciation
of the kindness of Russia towards the
i United States, for her influence in pre
: venting the British government from
aiding the South during the civil war,
that the appropriation was made.
Alaska has beou so grossly unknown,
that in part at least, it must l>e sug
gested as an excuse for the tardiness
of congress.
A territorial government for Oregon
J was opposed because the country was
supposed to be worthless. The settle
I ment in that district was continued
I from 18.'K) to 1818 before the people
! were iu a territorial form of govern
i ment, and the bill for the admission of
j Oregon to the union was before con
i gross for about two years.
The Alaska of to day dates back but
a few years, and the fact is that if the
' present congress will extend to her the
needed legislation, which we doubt not
j she will do, we will be far more fortu
} nate than many of the territories that
are now among the brightest stars in
the flag of our union.
Alaska
Steam
Laundry
Dyeing and Cleaning Work.
o
E. R. JAEGER, Proprietor.
o
Laundry Work in nil its branches. Suits
; cleaned und pressed. Colors restored. Dye
i big of every sort promptly atteuded to. Cnr
j i>ets cleaned without taking them up. All
| at lowest possible prices consistent with
I good work.
i C?T*Eddv McCormiek Solicitor for Douglas
City and Treadwell.
DELMONICO HOTEL
AND RESTAURANT.
ALEX. LA MOTTE, Proprietor.
k Board by the Day,
A ? Week, or Month
' " Rates n ?
W
MEALS AT ALL HOURS,
w
The table First-class and will
satisfy the most fastidious.
w
Our Coffee cannot be excelled.
| Douglas* City, Alaska.
yjL|ijr
STANDARD
f
MUSIC
HALL
JOHNSON &COTTRELL,
PROPRIETORS.
Douglas City, ? Alaska.
Hot and Mixed Drinks a
Specialty.
The Finost Brands of
Liquors and Cigars al
ways on hand.
jpflF" A First-class Lunch Coun
ter has recently been added.
^ Good Goods. ^
G
-t
You go to that three corner store,
' ^ That's where I get the best,
CO Tho Price isn't a darned cent more, O
Thau I've paid all over the West. 1
uame *8n'^ovor the door jjjj*
But you'll find the place just the same
The people flock there by the score, j
While the rest of the city is tame. (^)
o 3
Low Prices. ^
THE FINEST EQUIPPED RESTAURANT IN ALASKA.
Wine and Spirit Merchant. Catering in all its Branches
The Nevada Cafe'
GEO. L. RICE.
Private rooms while waiting for the ferry boat will be found one of the many
conveniences at the Nevada.
JUNEAU, ALASKA.
Comet....
SAMPLE ROOM
Headquarters for Tourists
and Yukoners
"There's nothing
too good
for The Boys."
i
ED. CASEBALT, Proprietor.
; Opp. Occidental Hotel, JUNEAU, ALASKA.
I
G. ROENE,
Denier in nnd Manufacturer of?
^STOVES^
TIN- AND HARDWARE.
W?PLUMBING?W
Douglas City, - - - Alaska.
# We have Just Received
l LARGEST HOLIDAY l
% AND HAND- rAAnc
1 SOMEST QOODS*"" 8
* LINE OF UVVUJ ?
ft EVER SHOWN IN ALASKA. ft
I '*?? 1
A ft
^ Come and See them. m
^ Our Prices are Right, too S
THE ALASKA DRUG CO., $
S PRESCRIP- Front A Seward Sts., S
ft TIONS A ft
ft SPECIALTY. JUNEAU, ft
Tho Best Hotel in Southeastern Alaska.
AT THE BAR?Finest
Wines
Liquors
Cipars
Yukon Hotel
ANDREW ASPLUND, Prop'r
$1.00 per Day
Front Street DOUGLAS CITY
F. M. JAMES,
GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
VWVW
I am CLOSING OUT certain I
LINES OF -A-J
#Dress Goods
To make room for Spring Assortment.
/jJtT' Have now on view a full Line of
Hen and Boy's Sweaters
from 75c. up.
DOUGLAS CITY, .... ALASKA.
1U
ALASKA MEAT MARKET
D. McKAY, Proprietor.
A full line of Fresh, Salt, and
Smoked Meats constantly on *
hand.
Poultry and Game Hunter Block, Douglas City, Alaska,
in Season. ( . TELEPHONE NO, 8.