The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-17
GENERAL PRESS REVIEW.
The New Orleans Democrat argues stron.


1880 no less than $40 divorces were allowed
in that state, or one to every 1860 inhabitants,
worse showing than anywhere ellie in the
world The matter has been called TO the
attention of the legislature, and an attempt
will be msde to modify the laws so that mar
fiages will be made binding. 1t was the
habit Of the prOhibitionists of Maine of cid
TO pretend that conjugal troubles were largely
due TO alcoholism. This facts, however, show
that, on the contrary, family quarrels havo
grown worse ever since whisky was banshed
from the state, and that teetotalsm has de-
veloped divorces instead OF stopping them.
We don't know how all tho Maine people
ere away from home, but We have seen some
CT them who took as kindly TO rock and rye
or champagne as if they had been raised on
it. AS TO the divorce business, it doesn't
seem TO us that New England climate is
conducive to marital separations, as it must
be, US tho Democrat suggests, an ah5erce of
liquor that is leading to this unhspYy STATE of
affairs.
From the Scientific American, an c-.ceod-
ngly interesting and valuable journal, We
learn that:
The annual report Of tho commissioner Of
patents for tho year ending December 81,
1880 gives the business Of the year rs follows
Application! for patents for Inventions 81
I6l; applications for patents for designs,
634; apple tiQns for issues of patents, Gl7 /;
total 23,0l2, Patents issued, 13,4l1; patents
reissued, 500; patents expired, 3,18l trade
msrS3 and labels registered, 533.
OF the l34ll patents issued during the
year, Il G55 were to citizens of tho United
States, md 1856 to foreigners.
There WAS received during the year for
patents, copies Of records or drawings and
from other sources, On aggregate of $749,-
G8532. Tho total amount expended was
S53S, SG5.17, leaving balance of S2l0 $40 10.
On January |, 1880, there remained ST. A20,-
S06 So to the credit of the patent fund, which,
added to the surplus of 1880, makes the
amount to the credit of the patent fund on
January !, 1881, $l,631 ,626T.
And every year fully rs msny patents
issued. OF all this number, how many
are of really any practical benefit to
the country? If the patent laws could be so
modified as to restrict the issuance of patents
to only articles of real value and that will be of
service to man, it would save the country
deal Of expense.
The New York press may be very staij,
slow solemn and pedantc, but it speaks
words with tho true ring to them, when it
does take positive stand. Speaking of the
French project to dig canal across the
Isthmua of Panama, the World says:
The report and the resolutions of a dem.
ocratic congress in the year 1884, touching
an issue far more closely affecting our re-
lations with California and the Pacific than
the condition Of Cuba ever did or could al
feet them, may DO taken, we hope, as on
earnest that before this congress lays down
its trust it will see to it that the flag Of the
United States is planted on tho lsthmus Of
Panama in such manner rs shall make il
entirely plain that the United States intend
TO keep the doorway Of our intercourse with
the Pacific without help or interference of
any kind from any quarter!
We like this. Let us adhere TO the Monroe
octrne, and all it implies. That doctrine
drove the French out of Mexico, have kept
the hands of Great Britain and France off of
Cuba, and let it take Il firm stand on Darieu,
and say in thunder-tones to all the world:
"The American flag waves here, and no
bitches are dug without tho consent of the
United States government, and without they
are to be under the protection, control and
direction of the United States government
after they are dug"
We don't know how they do up in CHI
cage, but it occurs to us that if ono news
paper in this section of the country was to
say Of another what tho Inter- Ocean saysin
tho following, that there would be music in
the air aud tho liveliest sort of times for
little while:
II is now ascertained that II copy of Grants
article ia the North American Review which
was stolen from the Office of publication bv
the agent Of a Chicago newspaper and printed
before its appearance in the MAJ zine. was
offered by the thief to tho Now York Herald,
and, DO It said to the honor of that news.
paper, refused. When tho editor was an.
preached and told that paper prepared OK.
presly for the North American, and of
great value, of course, to that magazine, had
bean secured by some hoousplcus, and
would be sold to the Herald for considers
lion, the editor promptly Informed the dealer
in stolen property that his newspaper was
not in the habit OF gaining news by dsrepu-
table or criminal means, and that he did
not propose TO rob current publication
OF valuable property simply because
a sneak has been found to purloin il. There
was just one newspaper in the United States
having the money and meanneas to take what
belonged to another, and reward the scoun-
drel who stole It, That newspaper was the
Chicago Tribune. Many of the professions
have organizations Designed TO improve the
tone of their calling, and ostracise such
members rs prove unworthy of confidence
and respect The lawyers have one in this
city, and besides that an attorney who is
guilty Of professional misconduct is fee
qlently debarced from practice by the courts.
II q like association existed for the elevation
of journalism the man guilty Of such an of
Tense MS this would be expelled instanter. Az
it is, the profession must endure and share
the odium of such dishonorable actions But
as the petty and unscrupulous attorneys are
known by distinct name, so man guilty
of stesllng from fellow.l ublisher ought to
be dubbed the editorial shyster. a man
could nave his hand upon his pocket then
whenever member of tho family was
about, and avoid the danger of treating such
character as gentleman.
If the Chicago Tribune did what the Inter-