The age-herald. [volume], December 07, 1901, Page 4, Image 4

About The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902

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i 1
tHE Age-Herald
A. W. HAKKKTT.Editor
ROSS C- SMITH.Business M«o»**r
;
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Daily and Sunday^ per month. I®
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Remittances can be made by express
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THE AGE-HERALD.
Birmingham. Ala.
Washington Bureau Age-Herald. 1421
G Street. N. W.
m ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
=■
All lovers swear more performance ;
than they are able and yet reserve an !
ability that they never perform.
—Trollus and Cresseda.
New Hay-Pauncefote Treaty.
The terms of the new treaty are
eimply beyond criticism. England
gives up her rights under the Clayton
Bulwer treaty of 1850, and that stum
bling block and general mistake is
abrogated. It Is to live in history only.
It should never have been negotiated,
but foresight in 1850 had not caught
up with hindsight.
The new treaty first wipes out the
treaty of 1860, and then it is agreed
between England and the United
States that the latter may build an
isthmian canal at any point,'* and en
joy all the rights that go with such
construction under ordinary circum
stances. It is to have exclusive con
trol of any canal it may build except
that there shall be no discriminating
tolls or rules in the government of the
canal, and it shall be considered neu
tral territory when war comes on. Its
terminals are not to be blockaded, and
obstructions are not to be placed in
th.e canal. War is to be carried on
«
elsewhere. The United States may
police tho canal, maintaining "such
military force along the canal as may
be necessary to protect it against law
lessness and disorder." This rather
indefinite agreement practically gives
the United States full control of the
canal, for in an emergency an army
could be sent thither. As a general
rule, however, the United States agrees
in the new treaty to hold the canal
open to all comers on just terms, very
much as the Suez canal is now con
ducted. This is just, wise and reason
able.
There is now no obstacle in the way
of a speedy beginning of work upon
the Nicaragua line. The commission
shows that the Nicaragua route is in
every way better than the ^Panama
route—that the former can be built for
much less money—that it will better
serve the commerce of this country.
Public sentimen? has been thoroughly
tested on this subject, and outside of
the international railroads and a few
Eastern ports there is no opposition to
a Nicaragua canal. The country wants
a Nicaragua canal, the treaty sweeps
all obstacles, and Congress should act
speedily.
Wheat Planting in Alabama.
In Georgia wheat is freely sold as
stock food. It is in fact the best and
cheapest food that is now available
in the South. At 90 cents a bushel
wheat is worth 1% cents a pound,
while corn sells at 86 cents a bushel,
and a bushel of it weighs 56 pounds.
Oats are worm 63 cents a bushel, and
a bushel weighs 32 pounds. Oats are
therefore worth more t.'an 2 cents a
pound, and a pound of corn is worth
a little more than cents. Wheat
is the lowest in price of the three great
food products. Pound for pound, the
nutritive value of wheat, either for
man or beast, is the highest, and we
have therefore come to a time when
it pays best to feed wheat to stock, |
and to buy wheat for that purpose if
stock food be needed. In Georgia
farmers who lack a full supply of corn
are planting more than the usual acre
age in wheat, hoping to use the wheat
for feeding purposes in the coming
summer months before corn can be
matured. No harm can result from
such a course, and there may be^nuch
economy in it. There are some who
anticipate dollar corn, and dollar corn
would probably mean dollar wheat,
and a good supply of wheat next June
would be vary desirable. Southern
farmers would do well to consider this,
for in many localities in this State It
is not too late to plant wheat for next
year’s use.
Grain Duties in Germany.
The German government is endeav
oring to levy duties on grain to the
extent of about $200,000,000. This is
to be done to pleaso the landlords. The
big landowners want better prices for
the products of German soil in order
that they may secure either larger
earnings or larger rentals. This class
is relatively small in numbers, about
16 per cent, but it is a very powerful
class, and is a compact force in the
Reichstag. It has dickered with the
Imperial government and in return for
votes in the past the government is
---1
endeavoring to pass the pending tariff
bill.
Herr Bebel leads the Socialists in
the Reichstag, and the Socialists In
Germany are as a rule consumers, liv
ing in tho towns of the empire. "There
are two nations,” said Herr Bebel re
cently, “in the German State—the
plunderers and tho plundered.” This
is an excellent general definition and
description of Dingleylsm wherever
found. A Dingley tariff in any country
at once separates a people into two
parts, and Herr Bebel has adopted cor
rect terms for ti.ose parts. The plun
derers in this country are now headed
by trusts, while the consumers remain
helpless, mere individuals drifting
without knowledge or concert of ac
tion, the prey of organization and mo
nopoly. Herr Bebel described what
exists in the United States as well as
what wul exist In Germany when the
nev.' tariff bill becomes law. "The
plunderers and the plundered" is a
platform in itself. It covers the ground,
and Is strictly accurate, truthful and
just.
Congressional Representation.
Congressman Crumpacker has de
cided so far as he himself is concerned
that Alabama should have but six Con
gressmen instead of nine, and that tho
representation of other Southern
States should be reduced until four
teen members from the South all told
are lopped off. He proposes to call a
Republican caucus to the end that his
bill may be made a party measure to
be ruthlessly pushed through the
House. The Senate is, however, an
other proposition. Unless revolution
be intendeu no such bill can be crowd
ed through that body, for there are
some long-winded Senators on the
Democratic side. •
The plain truth is, the Republican
leaders, ever aggressive and auda
cious, never, however, more so than
at present, fear the Democrats will
control the House in tne next Con
gress. They expect Maryland to elect
next year a solid Democratic delega
tion, and they know the unchecked
robberies of the trusts aided by a
Chinese-Wall tariff, will annihilate
their majority unless something can
be devised to outweigh the popular
movement. This something consists
in a reduction of Southern representa
tion. They propose to cut off from
14 to 16 Southern members..
The spokesmen of the movement are
Messrs. Moody of Massachusetts, Dick
of Ohio, Crumpacker and Landes of
Indiana—all young men except Mr.
Crumpacker. Mr. Dick desires to be
the next Governor of Ohio, and the
other reductionists are ambitious men.
President uoosevelt has agreed, it is
said, to bold himself aloof from the
problem until a bill goes to him for
signature, when he would undoubtedly
sign it. The Ohio Republican conven
tion and perhaps a half dozen more
have declared in favor of a reduction
of Southern representation.
The Crumpacker brigade proposes
to act arbitrarily. The questions in
volved properly belong to the courts,
but the reductionists say that Con
gress can act and should act without
regard to law, the courts or anything
else. They demand arbitrary and def
inite action, and they will secure such
action unless public sentiment in favor
of oruerly juuicial methods makes
itself felt. i.i any Southern State has
adopted an unconstitutional provision
let it be set aside, but let not injustice
be done through arbitrary Congress
ional action.
The Senate will not speedily adopt
so revolutionary a measure. Perhaps
it will not adopt it at all. If it does
then indeed should all hopes Indeed
of a white Republican party in the
South for a generation to come be dis
missed. No such outcome would then
be possible. Such injustice would for
bid.
There were so many flowers when
Congress was opened that some mis
took it for a wedding, some for a
funeral. The truth will be disclosed
later.
Miss Aurelia Bingham, young though
she be, announces that she is going to
become “a theatrical entrepreneur.”
No key goes with this.
The eases of Rathbone and Neely
are still hanging flro a3 freely and
lengthily as they did in the days of
the Hanna regime.
If Senator Fairbanks is Presidential
timber. Congressman Sulloway of New
Hampshire certainly ia also—long tim
ber, too.
One boat rocker in Maryland has got
what he deserved—he has been con
victed of manslaughter and sent to
prison.
A President who faces zero weather
without an overcoat i3 robust enough
to give tho politicians a prolonged
tussle.
Tho Colombian revolutionist always
knows when he lias had enough, and
his surrender is correspondingly grace
ful.
More persons visit, alas, th9 birth
place of Robert Burns than visit that
of Shakespeare.
Congress is net nearly so piquant or
picturesque as the Lola Bocine trial.
In the new Georgia dispensaries tho
color line Is not drawn.
Booker T. Washington seems to have
contracted the White House habit.
There Is an elopement epidemic in
Connecticut, but as a rule no one has
It twice.
Mr. Carrie Nation has been divorced,
and presumably will resume his
maiden name.
Tho esteemed Congressional Record
looks remarkably familiar after Its
long vacation.
Young Corbett will not be an up-to
date pugilist unless he establishes a
saloon very soon.
Protection's handmaiden, reciproc
ity, should lose no opportunity to get
out of bad company.
Dr. L. C..H. E. Zeigler was attacked
by a footpad in Chicago, but he brought
away his initials Intact.
Slxto Lopez is a lost asteroid in the
political world. He is a floater with
out a connecting link.
■ ■ ■ ■ —
A tramp was arrested In Chicago
for sleeping in a church. What were
the regular members doing?
It would not be wise in Nebraska
to spoil an editor to make a Governor.
It would not be a promotion.
POSTPONED.
From the New York Sun.
The Hon. Albert Burleson of Texas
will positively set the Potomac on lire,
but the performance has been postpon
ed until next month.
MARKET UP 50 PERCENT.
From tho Hartford Times.
During the ten years prior to June 30,
1893, the annual expenditures of the gov
ernment never exceeded $384,000,000, and
the average was less than $350,000,000.
Bast year the expenditures were close to
$500,000,000, and they will be almost as
much this year. Next year they are cer
tain to be more.
The estimates sent in to Congress from
the executive departments foot up $610,
827,688. Of this amount $100,000,000 is
asked for the army, $73,000,000 for the
navy and $140,000,000 for pensions. More
than half of this vast contemplated ex
penditure is for the military service.
“Expansion,” following the Spanish
war, has marked up the cost of govern
ment in this country $150,000,000 a year,
or nearly 50 per cent. What is the aver
age American man getting for his taxes
now that he did not receive In 1897? Is
his national government worth 50 per
cent, more to him than it was four years
ago?
IRON TRADE COMPETITION.
From the Pittsburg Press.
A recent letter from this city to The
New York Journal of Commerce on the
Iron and Bteel situation has attracted
considerable attention, reciting as it does
facts which while obvious here, are not
so generally understood abroad. The
writer rg^intains that a good deal of the
! extraordinary activity in the Iron and
steel trades arises from the demand of
new concerns entering the field to com
pete with the big trust. They are describ
ed as clamorous for material and ma
chines with which to build and equip
new plants. The Sheet Steel Trust, now
a part of the United States Steel Cor
poration, started out with a control of
75 per cent, or more of the country’s
sheet steel production. But according
to the letter* Independent sheet steel
mills have already been built or are be
ing built in number sufficient to produce
three-fourths as much as the Trust is
able to produce.
The correspondent would hardly have
exaggerated had he said that in the tin
plate trade the same development Is un
der way. Some of the iron trade Jour
nals are shaking lugubrious heads at the
owners of these Independent enterprises,
but, inasmuch as new fields of raw ma
terial supply ore constantly appearing
and, Inasmuch, further, as the independ
ents have the advantage of new plants
and low capitalization, the struggle is
by no means bound to be one-sided.
SMOKELESS STOVE.
New York Cor. Chicago Tribune,
Stove men are discussing an invention
which they say will be as revolutionary
as that of the sewing machine. The in
ventor is E. R. Cahoon of Troy, and the
invention that of a firebox which burns
soft coal without smoke. They believe
Cahoon has at last solved the problem
of perfect combustion in the burning of
bituminous coal. In his stove all the
carbonaceous gases are consumed which
hitherto have escaped through the chim
ney flues in the shape of. dense smoke.
The stove has been inspected by chem
ists, railroad men and representatives of
some of the big coal companies, and their
estimate of the results of Its development
are far-reaching.
Half of the 4,000,000 stoves manufactur
ed irf the United States each year are
used to burn soft coal. It will be possi
ble to burn this coal with as much clean
liness as hard coal.
Several New York financiers and rail
road men are Interested In the forma
tion of a company with a capital of $1,
000,000, the organization of which is be
ing perfected.
The theory of combustion is to get air
and fuel together in proper quantities
heated to the required degree. Chemists
have never been able to do this with soft
coal for practical purposes. Cahoon ef
fected it through introducing super
heated air into the fire-box on all sides
of the fuel, and he did it by means of a
down draft
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
From the Chicago News.
Many a man who isn't a bigamist has
one wife too many.
The average woman’s sense of humor is
more or less warped.
The average girl lays aside her bash
fulness with but short dresses.
When poverty enters the cellar iovo
crawls out through the skylight.
The average man doesn’t worry much
about the poverty of his neighbor.
There s nothing in a name. Angels never
eat what mortals call angel food.
"I love not lightly,” warbled the young
moil whose best girl tipped the scales at
250 pounds.
A man's first trip abroad takes all the
conceit out of him, but his coming bock
fills him foil again to overflowing.
i *»
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE
Has Curious Memento.
A drummer was sltttns In the lobby ot
the Morris Hotel yesterday toying with
what, appeared to be a mashed coin at
tached to his watch chain. In response
to curious looks he said:
“That’s one of the most valued me
mentoes of my collection. Its intrinsic
value Is just 5 cents, but some day its his
torical value will he Immeasurable.
“What is lt?“ some one asked.
“Why, that’s a nickel that was run
over and flattened by the McKinley
funeral train. I suppose there are thou
sands of them in the United States, but
no small amount of money’ can buy mine.
“I was in a little town not far from
Canton, O., on the day the train bearing
tho remains of the martyred President
was to pass by en route to the final
resting place. Thousands of people from
tho town and the country around lined
the sides of the railroad track, and I
noticed little boys carefully laying coins
on the track. At first I failed to catch
the idea, but soon the value of such a
souvenir dawned upon me and I decided
to place this nickel on the track. The
idea quickly’ spread and within fifteen
minutes the rails were sprinkled with
small coins for a distance of several hun
dred yards.
“When the train came in sight the peo
ple stood in respectful silence until the
heavy Pullitian cars had rolled by. Little
boys, however, kept an eye on their coins,
and when tho train had gone the souve
nir planters began t# reap a harvest. My
nickel was mashed flat like you see it.
and as a memento of the sad occasion I
am certainly repaid for my trouble.”
Colonel Tompkins Here.
Col. Ilcnry 13. Thompson, one of the j
most prominent attorneys of Atlanta, Is ~
in Birmingham on business matters.
Colonel Thompson Is Interested in the
street car system of Mobile and repre
sents corporations of power which are
now making investments in the South.
But he is an Atlantian. and like all other
Atlantians is very enthusiastic about his
home city’. In conversation at the hotel
yesterday he said:
“You really' would not know Atlanta
now'. In case you have not been there In
six ©r more months. Especially do I
have reference to Whitehall street and
Peachtree for the first two block. The
big viaduct which we have been working
on for some months is nearing comple
tion. It entirely changes the looks of the
city and gives us an appearance that
quite dazzles those w’ho are now visiting
after a long residence elsewhere.
“Then, too, the many large buildings
which are to be erected along the blocks
touching the viaduct are rapidly assum
ing shape. These entirely change the
topography of the streets and add ma
terially to the views one gets when first
alighting at our passenger station. You
know, that place is really’ so bad we do
not call it a station—just a carshed.
“But we are to have a new one. The
Legislature passed a bill yesterday giv
ing us w'hat will be the most complete
and magnificent passenger station In the
South on the ground where the present
shack stands. The ground is owned by
the State, as well as all the terminal
property surrounding it. And now that
It is to be improved w’e will extend invi
tations to all the world to come and see
us, and then not be ashamed of what we
have to show.”
Talks About Sheffield.
Col. N. F. Thompson of Sheffield is in
Birmingham. He says his town is one of
tho best in the entire mining district, and
speaks very Interestingly and enthusias
tically about its prospects and attractions.
Jn talking yesterday he said:
“Of course e\eryone is familiar with
the situation of Sheffield and of the prod
ucts w’hlch it sends from Its mines and
furnaces. But few throughout th3 state
are familiar with the advantages pos
sessed there over every other mining and
iron shipping point. I refer to the ad
vantage of freight rates.
“Sheffield, on account of Its position on
the river, has a freight rate that enables
us to ship iron at 50 cents per ton less
than from Birmingham or any other cen
ter. Shipments may be made, of course,
either by wrater route or by railroad. Bir
mingham prices prevail there, however,
and on every ton of iron shipped from
furnaces there a profit is rAude of 50
cents more than the profit oi local ship
ments. '
“During the past few days, as was
published in today's Age-IIerald, a deal
has been consummated whereby the
properties of the Sheffield Coal and Iron
Company and the City’ Land Company
become merged under the control of one
company. This company is composed
largely of Birmingham citizens. The prop
erty is valuable and Includes GOOD lots.
The deeds of transler have not been
signed, and the purchasers cannot be
named. However, they’ have secured
property which when developed will yield
handsome profits.”
Davenport Full of Fun.
“I met Homer Davenport on the train
between Washington and New York,”
said Culpepper Exum at the Hotel Hill
man last night. “Everybody In Birming
ham will of course recall that Mr. Daven
port and Julfcin Hawthorne visited Birm
ingham abqut a year and a half ago.
Davenport was as full of fun as ever, and
expressed himself ns being better pleased
with his visit to Birmingham than with
any trip that ho ever took In his life,
either in this country or abroad. He Is
anxious for politics to get mixed up again
down here, so that Ilearst of the Journal
will send him down to make some car
j toons. Ho promised that if he ever visit
ed here again, ho will not cartoon Ers
kino Ramsey as looking for something,
or Colonel Altman presiding over a Dem
ocratic convention. Ho Is afraid that un
less he makes this announcement these
two distinguished gentlemen will not let
him stay In Birmingham as long as he
would like to.”
About Persons.
H. M. Flckinger of the Frisco system
is registered at the Hillman from Mem
phis,
• • •
L. C. Riggs of Chicago is a prominent
traveling man registered at tho Hill
man.
• • •
C. D. Reamer of Chattanooga Is at the
Hillman.
• • •
W. C. McClellan of Nashville Is at the
Hillman.
• • «*
F. S. Harrl3 of Nashville is at the
Hillman.
• • •
M. J. Cohen of 8t. Lords is at the Hill
man.
• • •
J. WitLrman Murray, for marly aunar
intendent of the Linn iron works, but
now living in Pittsburg, is at the Hill
man.
• • •
M. B. Neece of Huntsville Is at the
Florence.
• • •
J. M. Sherer and J. E. Burton, two well
known citizens of Jasper, are In the city.
• • •
W. Rodman Wharton, a traveling man
from Philadelphia, Is at the Florence.
...
W. C. Fish of Longview, Tex., Is In the
city.
...
T. H. McMlchael. a prominent business
man frqm Sylacauga, is registered at the
Florence.
...
R. B. Wilkinson of Louisville, Ky., Is In
the city.
...
J. J. Blanton and wife of Nashville
are at thf Hillman. Mr. Blanton is as
sistant yardmaster of the Nashville Ter
minal Railroad Company. Ho and his
wife arc en route to ,Ncw Orleans on
th<Jr wedding tour.
* • *
H. T. Sharan, Jr., is at the Florence
from Cincinnati.
• • •
J. D. Lowry, ti well known Chattanoo
gan, Is in the city. *
* * •
J. A. Dysart of Atlanta is registered
at the Florence.
• • •
J. S. Hargrove, a well known business
man from Attnlla, is in the city.
W. M. Martin of Atlanta is at the
Florence.
• a •
M. A. Atkins of Knoxville is registered
at the Florence.
• • *
O. W. Wilkerson, a prominent citizen of
Marengo, is at the Florence.
* • •
J. H. Mingo of Faunsdale is at the
Morris.
• • •
R. L. Little of Jasper is at the Morris.
• • •
W. A. Billingsworth of Anniston is at
the Morris.
* * *
J. T. Gardner of Anniston is at the
Morris.
■ * •
Henry Qulde of Mobile Is at the Mor
ris.
...
H. Kahn of Montgomery Is at the Mor
' rls.
WITHOUT SO MUCH TALK.
From the New York World.
There Is certainly a pleasant way of
getting around this corset question.
ITO REFUSED A PASS.
From the Saturday Evening Post.
Marquis Ito. the Japanase statesman,
said while in St. Paul recently that of all
the American customs that Impressed him
as peculiar the free transportation ex
tended to the distinguished Japanese and
setmed most odd.
"Why,” said he. "should a railroad give
away tickets? Every bit of mileage to
them Is the same os a piece of cloth to a
drygoods Asm. In Japan everyone has to
pay for his transportation. I never rode
on a Japanese railroad for nothing In
my life."
When the Marquis and party decided to
proceed east from St. Paul over the Mil
waukee line the officials of the road ex
tended to the distinguished ajpanese and
his companions the courtesy of the line
and Informed Mr. Ito's private secretary
that the tickets and the private car
would cost nothing. The secretary was
visibly embarrassed and shook his head
dubiously as he left the office of the com
pany to convey the startling information
to his master. Shortly afterward Marquis
Ito appeared at the railroad office and
Insisted on paying for the tickets and the
use of the special car.
"I have no claim to your yteemed com
pany,” said the Oriental. *1 should not
feel right In traveling over your. idoBt ex
cellent road without paying for Yhe great
pleasure.”
And so the Milwaukee officials were
obliged to carry the Marqul^ and his party
over their line In the same way as If they
were just plain, every-day Americans.
NO GROUND FOR ALARM.
Relations of Chill and Argentina Are
Not Strained.
New York, December 6.—In the Cham
ber of Deputies Senor Yanez, minister
of Foreign Affairs, declared that there
Is no ground for alarm ovet the rela
tions between Chill and Argentina, says
the Valparaiso, Chill, correspondent of
The Herald.
It is reported that the Argentine min
ister, Senor Portela, will soon be trans
ferred to another Legation and that his
sucessor at the Chilian capital will be
Senor Qulrlno Costa. It is also reported
that 3.000 Boers Intend to establish a
colony In Chill. q
The Qjilllan reply to the Argentine gov
ernment's proposal regarding the settle
ment of pending questions is not as
satisfactory as was believed at first, says
the Buenos Ayres correspondent of the
Herald/
The complication Is long and contains
a review of the whole boundary question,
but nothing definite about Argentina's
basis of settlement. The dispute is prac-,
tlcally as far from an amicable solution
ns at the beginning. The minister of
Marino has received dispatches in refer
ence to the purchase of an armored
cruiser for Argentine. It Is asserted that
the purchase of a large war vessel has
been afTected and that the snip is now at
Alexandria, Egypt. A large crew, it is
said, has been dispatched to bring the
armored cruiser to Argentina.
FIVE MORE DIE.
Were Injured In the Head-End Col
lision at Malvern.
Malvern, Ark., December 6.—Five more
deaths have occurred In consequence of
the head-end collision between two pas
senger trains on the St. Louis, Iron
Mountain and Southern Railway near
here last night.
Maggie Stevenson, colored, of Landers
vllle, Ala., died today from injuries de
ceived. Two white men names
unknown, who had been riding on
the front end of the baggage car on the
fast mail, southbound train, were found
dead In the Wreckage today.
It Is supposed they were sawmill
hands. None of the white passengers in
jured In the collision will die. Twenty
eight Injured coloretj passenger^ were
taken to the railroad hospital at Little
Rock today. The coroner's jury has been
holding an Inquest all day, but have
reached no conclusion ns yet. The devel
opments today Indicated that the col
lision was the result of a misunderstand
ing of orders.
Would Pension Mrs. McKinley.
Washington, December 8.—Representa
tive Taylor of Ohio today introduced a
bill to pension Mrs. McKinley at the rate
of 86C90 a year beginning September 14.
1901, the do to of the death' of the late
PrnoMont
How Education Will j
Solve the Negro Problem
BY THOMAS NELSON PAGE, If THE NEY YORK JOURNAL.
The problem is not a simple one of ed
ucation. It is very complex. It embraces
race qualities, race antagonisms and oth
er factors.
Like all other ethnic problems, it must
rest upon economic conditions and can
only be solved on economic principles.
Sentiment may hasten action, but after
all, the final solution must be based on
economic principles.
After tho war the entire force of the
government, the undivided sentiment of
the north, millions of dollars, and the en
ergies of thousands and tens of thou
sands of devoted men and women were
applied to the solution of this question
on other than economic grounds. For a
time the work appeared to many pre
eminently successful. Paegans were writ
ten in praise of a millennial condition.
The negro race, sustained by all the pow
er of the national government and by
the sentiment of the great body of the
people of the north, was invested with
the powers and attributes of authority.
The white people of #the south, disfran
chised, impoverished and discredited,
were left in a position rhetorically and
not inaptly described as "prostrate and
shackled.” The result was absolute dis
aster.
The government troops were withdrawn
and the negro power fell to pieces, like
a house of cards, almost in a night.
The north supposed that the ballot
was the talisman that would bring sal
vation; the south knew better than this,
but hoped that education might avail.
To this end serious efforts were made
throughout the south to establish and
carry through honestly a plan to give
free education to the negro.
The report of the commissioner of ed
ucation for 1898*99 shows that the sixteen
former slave states and the District of
Columbia had, since 1809-70, expended on
the education of the colored race $101,
860.601.
The south la now spending on negro
public schools over six and a half mil
lion dollars annually. Of this sum con
siderably over 90 per cent Is paid by the
whites by voluntary taxation, and lesa
than 10 per cent, in some sections less
than 3 per cent, is paid by the negroee.
Suggestions are occasionally made by in
dividuals that the money derived from
the taxation of the two races should be
separated and applied exclusively to the
education of each race. This proposal
has recently been reported adversely by
a committee of the constitutional con
vention now In' session in Virginia. It
has never been adopted anywhere. It
was stated on the floor of the Virginia
convention in a debate on the school fund
that the total amount or public school
money in the state last year was $1,971,
000; that the total negro taxes in the
commonwealth were about $125,000. In the
village of Fairfax the taxes paid by ne
groes toward the negro school were $1.08.
It is the firm belief of many that the
negro is in some respects in a worse con
dition today than he was thirty-odd years
ago, when he was endowed with the elec
tive franchise. It Is the conviction of
many more that but for the terrible mis
takes which were made In initiating him
into freedom he would today be in a far
better position than he will be fifty years
hence. They cite as reasons the growing
divergence of the two races, the loss of
the old relation qf kindliness which once
existed between the old whites and the
old blacks; the coldness, if not the hos
tility, that is growing up between the
younger element of the two races and the
| tendency of the negroes towards soli
darity of race feeling on every question,
which were once confined only to politi
cal questions. These and all other mat
ters relating to the subject can only be
determined after wide investigation con
ducted in the most serious and philo
sophic spirit.
Today social intercourse is closer be
tween the whites and the older negroes
than between the whites and the younger
generation of negroes.
The two principal reasons for this are,
in the writer's opinion, first, the manner
in which the negroes generally, under the
instigation of ignorance and passion, con
ducted themselves In the years succeed
ing the war, when the white people of
the South were forced by military power
to stand by in impotent wrath and were
subjected to the humiliation of seeing the
worst element of their former slaves
made rulers over them and given the pow
ers which the forefathers of the whites
had secured by generations of courage
and aspiration.
Another and perhaps the principal rea
son is the numerical power of the negroes
in the South and their hostile attitude of
solidarity, which under existing circum
stances might make any relinquishment
of the position of the white people of the
South result in a serious practical men
ace to the white race. To this has been
added the knowledge of the debasing re
sults of free social intercourse in other
countries, which is abhorrent to the An
glo-Saxon’s pride, if not to his instinct.
Whether others agree with them or not,
a view held with absolute unanimity by
nearly twenty millions of people must be
seriously reckoned with. Unfortunately,
the matter has been mainly regarded po
litically and the discussion has rarely
been without temper.
A negro member of Congress, In de
fence and eulogy of his race, declares in
a speech delivered on January 29, 1901,
that since the war the negroes have re
duced the illiteracy of tho race at least
45 per cent.; that they have in practice
over 2000 lawyers and a corresponding
number of doctors; that they have about
140,000 farms and homes valued at about
$700,000,000, and personal property valued
at about $170,000,000; that of this they
have over GOO,000 acres of land in the
South alone. This is a fair showing,
though tho speaker committed an error
in attributing all of this advance to the
negro.
Unfortunately the statistics are not at
hand to speak generally, but judging the
whole South by that part with which the
writer is familiar he would say that of
the rural real estate owned by negroes in
the South over 90 per cent, has been ac
cumulated by those born in slavery.
Similarly, statistics would seem to show
tnat he ratio of crime 1b larger among
the "new Issue" than among those train
ed in slavery and their immediate suc
cessors. Naturally, no comparison of the
death rate between these classes can be
made at present, but a comparison of
the death rate among the negroes and the
whites may be had. A startling exam
ple of this may be found in a report of
the committee on health just made In the
District of Columbia. (See tho Washing
ton Post, November 12, 1901.)
Whatever disappointment there may be,
this much at least may be laid down:
There are only two ways to solve tho ne
gro problem in the South. One is to re- I
jmavtr him: tho other Is to educate *nd cU
vatc him. The former Is out of the
question. The only method, then Is to
improve him.
The question Is. how shall this be done’
Viewing the matter economically, the ne
gro race, like every other race, must bo
of far more value to the country In which
he is placed If he Is properly educated,
elevated and trained than If he Is al
lowed to remain In Ignorance. He Is a
greater peril to the community In which
he lives tf he remains In Ignorance and
degradation than if he Is enlightened.
It is axiomatic to say that the educa
tion given to the negro should be of tho
kind which will benefit him most. A
few plain principles may be stated He
should he taught that education con
sists of something more than a mere
ability to read and write and speak;
that education Includes moral elevation
as well as Intellectual development; that
religion includes morality, and is more
than emotional excitement. He should
be taught that one of the strongest
-elements in racial development Is purity
of family life; he should be taught that
the duties of citizenship are much more
than the ability to cast a ballot or even
to hold an office; that elevation to su
periority among the people of his ow»
race is of far greater moment to hira
at this time than external equality with
another race, and that true superiority
is founded on character. He should be
taught to become self-sustaining, self
reliant and self-respecting. A people,
like a class, to advance must either
he strong enough to make Its way
against all hostility or must secure the
friendship of other peoples, particularly
of those nearest It. If the negro race
proposes and is powerful enough to over
come the white race, well and good; if
not, it must secure the friendship of
that race. Owing to conditions, the
friendship and sympathy of the Southern
section of that race Is almost as much
more important to the negro race than
is that of the North as the friendship
of the latter Is more Important than that
of the yet more distant Canadian sec
tion of the white race.
The best way—perhaps the only way—
for the negro race to progress Is to secure
the sympathy and aid of the Southern
whites. It will never do this until the
race solidarity of the negroes Is broken
and the negroes divide on the same
grounds on which the whites divide;
until they unite with the whites and act
with them on the questions which con
cern the good of the section in which
they both have their most vital inter
ests.
As a result of the above principles It
would appear, first, that elementary
education should be universal. Even tho
commonest laborer, speaking In general
terms, profits by it. And if the State 13
taxed for It Is seems to the writer that
compulsory education should follow com
pulsory payment. This education should
be attended by such Industrial education
as may be found beneficial at least, for
such as show aptitude enough to promise
any good results therefrom. With this
education should go moral training. As
easy as this Is to say, It may be difficult
to effect. Still, it ought to be done—It
must be done. They must be given high
er ideals than to masquerade as white
folk, to eat at white men's tables and
sit beside them In hotels or theaters. Ono
suggestion at least Is practical. Let
moral fitness be the first essential for
every teacher. The character of a teach
er Is worth more than learning. Arm
strong and Frizell and Booker Washing
ton are worth more to the negro than
the whole race of politicians.
A higher form of education should bo
attainable by those who have shown
their ability to profit by It
A college education should be the final
reward and prize only of those who have
proven themselves capable of appreciat
ing it and who give promise of being
able to use it for tho public good.
To ignore rules founded on such plain
common sense is worse than folly. The
money so expended Is not merely thrown
away; this might be tolerated; It Is an
actual Injury. It unfits the recipient for
the work for which alone in any case
he might be fit. and gives him In ex
change only a bauble or a weapon with
which to Injure himself and others.
It is the belief of a large section of
the whites, who from their situation have
the best means of knowing, that tho
claim of the young negro today is no
longer only for political equality; his as
piration Is for social equality; this the
young ••educated” negro today is taught
this he cherlsheB In his inmost heart and
discloses more or less according to his
boldness and surroundings. He could
not have more fatal teaching.
Finally, and for the only sound founda
tion for the whole system of education
the negro must be taught the great ele
mentary truth of morality and duty
Until he Is so established In these that
he can claim to be on this ground tho
equal of the white he can never be his
equal on any other ground. When he Is
the equal of the white it will be known.
1 ntll then he Is fighting not the white
race, but a law of nature, universal and
inexorable—that races rise or fall ac
cording to their character.
EXPANDING EXPENDITURES.
From the New York World. *
The estimates submitted to Congress
yesterday by Secretary Gage call for ap
propriations aggregating $G10,827,GSS to
cover all departments of the government
for the fiscal year 1902-1903. This Is only
$4,000,000 more than the total appropria
tions made for the current fiscal year,
ending June 30, 1902.
It Is when we compare It with the total
appropriations of but a few years further
back that a budget of $610,000,000 seems
huge. It Is twice the sum total of appro
priations for 1898—only three years ago.
And it Is $153,000,000 In excess of the.total
appropriations for $1901.
This enormous addition to the nation's
annual running expenses, first made in
1899 to meet the Spanish war bills, Is now
seen to be permanent and progressive.
We are Indeed living In a new era,—ex
pansive and expensive.
It would be unreasonably pessimistic,
however, to overlook the fact that the
country Is growing also by leaps and
bounds, and that our annual expenditures
and per capita tax burden are still tho
smallest of all the nations that comparo
with us in numbers, wealth and produc
tive power.
UPHILL.
By Christian Rcssitti.
Does the road wind uphill all the way?
Yea, to the very end.
Will the day's Journey tako the whole
long day?
From morn to night, my friend.
But Is thcro for the night a resting
place?
A roof for when the slow, dark hours
begin.
May not the darkness hldo it from my
face?
You cannot miss that inn.
Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gofce before,
Then must I knock cr call when just in
sight ?
They will not keep you standing at that
door.
Shall I find comfort, travel-sors and
weak?
Of labor you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who
seek?
Tea. bads for all who ooosst t x % m*