Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-25

Representative Matson OF Indiana is a
democrat who believes in pensions, and
has astCnished his party by introducing Il
bill which, it is estimated, would call for
S25O, OOO,CoO tor pensions. As Mr.. Matson
is the democratic candidate for governor
of Indiana, some are unkind enough to
suggest that his proposition was made to
catch the soldier vote OF that state in the
coming election. But the soldiers know
as well as Mr.. Natson himself knows that
the democratic party III Congress would
never pass such bill, and they will no
doubt stand by their colors.
The Salvation Army is playing havoc
with family circles in Atlanta, Ga, and
several divorce suits among respectable
people nave grown out OF its presence there
A prominent iron manufacturer in the
city has become so infatuated with the
army that he has quit business entirely
having put out the fires in his furnace and
closed his shops. The Salvation Army
probably reaches some classes which can
not be reached by religious teaching in
any other way but there are such serious
drawbacks connected with its work that
the best opinion appears to be that it does
more harm than good.
The decision of a New Jersey court that
Henry George is disseminating views CON
trary to established laws and inimical to
the good of the public is worthy of note
The decision was rendered in the suit of a
widow to invalidate the will of her hus-
band, leaving his entire estate for the adj
vancement of Henry Georges views in re
gard to the common rights of property and
the equal distribution of labor and wealth.
The court declared that it could not sane
ton the spread of such principles in plain
opposition to existing laws and therefore,
declared the bequest null and void.
At the Methodist conference in New
York last week Rev. DR.. Swndells Of
Philadelphia presented a memorial from
the Christian Peace commission asking
the conference to do its best to "hasten
the day when universal peace shall pre-
vail The presentation of this memorial
was greeted with an "amen," to which all
the Christian world will heartily respond.
Ard yet the facts do not indicate that this
happy day is in the near future. Eighteen
or twenty millions of men are held con
stantly in arms in Europe, ready to cut
one another's Threats whenever an oppOr-
tunity shall present itself, and 1t is safe to
assert that there is never time when Il
great part of the Christian world is not
ready TO engage in most un-Chrstian
warfare Universal peace can hardly be
more than a dream, for some time to come.
The bin providing for a celebration of
the Tooth anniversary of the inauguration
OF the constitution of the United States
and the establishment of republican gov
eminent upon the Western hemisphere
next year has been favorably reported by
the House committee, and will probably
pass. The BILL which has already passed
the Senate, has for its object the Celebra-
ton of this great historical event in the
different republics of North, Central and
South America, in manner becoming the
dignity and greatness of the New World.
During the past one hundred years fifteen
American sister republics and thlrty-eight
States and Territories have taken the
United states constitution as the model OF
their organic laws, making a total of tifCy.
four written constitutions in the three
Americas, and it is fitting that the United
States, as the foremost republic of the
world should take the initiative in regarc
to the celebration. We trust the project
will he carried through in style worthy
of the nation and its sister republics.