Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-25

New York city has been reminded again OF the
danger OF permitting electric wires TO remain
above ground BY nifty -thousand-dollar IRE re-
sulting from the contact OF An electric light wire
with q telephone wire. The various bitches and
delays which have occurred there In the enforce
ment OF the law requiring the burytng Of all
electric wires have been due more to the petty
Jealousies existing between several local func-
tonaries thar TO any defect In the statute ITSELF
In city like Washington no such hfndrances need
be feared The Commissioners have the best Of
engineering talent at their command, and there
does not seem 70 be any good reason why law to
compel the sweeping away OF the poles and the
laying OF tie wires In subwayS once enacted
should not be put Immediately into operation.
In Baltimore IL Is understood, there Is some delay,
incident 70 the fear OF Inconvenience resulting
from the tearing up OF the streets This Is familiar
argument against the reform. Frequent extern
sion OF the underground system VIII be demanded,
and the buried wires will need occasional looking
after. IL Is desirable that some comprehensive
system should be adopted which Will provide
ample accommodation for all wires and not cause
city streets TO be In state OF chronic excavation
OF course there should be convenient means OF
access 70 the constructed subways without involv-
ing the necessity OF tearing up any part Of the
surface Of the streets The necessity OF Observing
wise precautions in order to accomplish this work
70 the satisfaction OF the public furnishes no sound
argument against undertaking the task.
Ireland Is not alone In her nationalist movement
One Is In progress In America also. 1t crops out
here and there In way that would make some OF
the trainers OF our constitution open their eyes
wide n they could come back to witness it. There
Is an American party In politics, with the motto
america for Americans" and with Headquarters
In every large city, including Washington. There
Is an American nag legion, started In New York
city but with the hope OF its spreading to all
parts OF the Union, whose object Is to
see that nothing but the national colors shall
be displayed on public buildings or carried In
American PROFESSIONS. There Is O widespread SEN
timent, not confined By any means to the Ameri-
can party or nag legion, hostile to permitting the
political control or the country TO be held by iit-
crate masses OF foreign population, assimilating
with Americans slowly and with difficulty. Ex-
Senator wallace at the recent Harrisburg conven-
ton gave voice TO this feeling. He declared that
no new voter should be permitted to vote who can
not read and write the English language, and ad-
vocated a constitutional amendment establishing
this requirement. This from leader Of the party
which has always held FIRST place as the choice Of
the naturalized population, Is IN the highest de-
gree significant The New YORK legislature which
has just passed o ballot act providing that the
clerk OF each county shall have instructions
10 voters printed at the public expense
'fn English and such other languages a he deems
necessary, /" Is behind the age. Exclusive display
OF the American nag Is Of very little CONSEQUENCE
but surely no one can reasonably claim the fun
rights OF an American who does not care enough
about his adopted country to learn to read and
write its language.