The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-25
CREAM OF THE PRESS.
LIVING ISSUES DISCUSSED BY THE
METROPOLITAN PRESS.

The Samoan Difficulties Testimony "'
coasui- General sewaII Before the For
eixn Relations Committee - Reducing
the Surplus by Raising the Taxes NC
SAMOAN DrFFrcuLTTEs.-The senate
Committee Yesterday reported IN la'oI
,f appropriating 100000 for the Use Oh
.be President in maintaining our rights
against German aggression ana intrigue
N the Samoan Islands. Our treaty Oh
1878 with Samoa binds the United Staies
% an obligation 10 assist Samoa IN case
IF its ENHANCEMENT with other govern
nents Consul.General Sewalls out
,poken criticism of the course OF ms
,uperiors in the State Department j.
liable to lead to his retirement V0''d'
A very frank Washington reporter
publishes the following
"The testimony of Consul-Generai
sewall before the Committee on Foreign
Relations, il is thought, may get that eX-
frank and fearless gentleman
nto trouble with his superiors in the
state Department. He did not hesitate
10 criticise the Secretary Of state and to
make II plain that the State Department
had by no means backed him up IN his
Efforts 10 see that the treaty rights OF the
United States in the Samoan Islands
we're respected by the Germans. The
natives of the islands, Mr. Sewall said,
we're very favorably impressed with our
attitude towards their country when Inc
existing treaty was negotiated. mat
his treaty had ever been negotiated hr
sewall regarded as an unfortunate oc-
rurrence. for the reason that the United
States had uniformly failed to insist
upon the Observance Of its provisions by
the Germans.
RAISING THE TAxEs.-FOr the first
line in the history of this or any other
civilized government the plan IS seriously
adopted Of attempting 70 reduce the sur
plus revenue by raising the taxes.
To-day the Republicans Of the Senate
let MS hope without the assistance OF
even one DemOcrat-will endeayor TO
PASS bill which actually increases the
luties of war tariff in majority OF the
scbedules. It doubles the duty in many
,ases thar was deemed sufficient for
I'd protection Of infant industries over
1uartel of a century ago. And It adds
10 the Injustice and viciousness OF the
I'D system a bounty from the pockets OF
payers TO the promoters OF a favored
industry - Void
OUR NATIONAL DEFENsEs.- There i
no rational basis for the assumption
which some Of our contemporaries have
made that we have been subjected 10 a
wanton insult in Samoa by officers OF the
German navy. The dispatches that tell
US al we h .ie. I'D q aud disturbance in /
Mia <, &c evidently written in loose /
Inaccurate and exaggerative fashion.
Got until the official reports
rom our own naval officers /
each the State Department shall
We know exactly what has happen
d. When we DO know that, ii will be
ime enough 20 consider what ought to
,e done
The importance Of the incident, a. al
eady reported, is nevertheless consider
bile. Probably no intelligent American
cad the dispatches that were published
N Sunday without rejecting how poor
Y provided We were in case a serious
.ause of quarrel should arise or an insult
,e wantonly put upon Ms by any foreign
,ower-Ne.o York Times.
Mr.. Bucks CABINET CHANCES. The
listing statesmen are all having their
urn at the shrine in indianapolis, and
,lso on the Cabinet slate US made mp all
,yer the country just now Mr.. Buck,
# Georgia. is foremost in the pubic
mind. and he was not only accorded a
pecial and distinguished reception and
confidence by the President-elect, but he
) credited by partisans and considera-
be part of the public with the sure pros
3ect of a place in the Cabinet-Aag"'ia
yhroHic'e
POETRY OF TIE WEST The CONNER
,ialism of the West cannot stide the
natural poetry Of her people. Continued
of the pork-packing. STA
istics of Chicago makes one liable 10
'orget this. but the truth bursts out on
Is again with fresh force in reading the
following discreet and gentle tribute of
Memphis dramatic critic 10 Rose Cogh-
ans voice III can coo Ike the gurghng
IF a sentimental dove, laugh like The las
,iyious lutte, triumph with glad contrallo
shouts. depict sadness and despair as a
master yiolinist makes sOul-harrowing
;ounds wall from the vibrating fiddle
strings o-Ne,o FORK Tribune.
The BICYCLE EXPLORER.-Acting In
concert, the admlrals of the English and
German fleets have proclaimed a block
lde of the coast of Zanzibar, and notlce
10 that effect was served upon our
State Department in Washington yester-
iav. But the Worlds explorer, Mi
stevens, will get there just the same
World
A DIsGRACEFUL SCRAMBLE The lie
Dublicsns have only been out OF office
four years-at least such Of them rs are
not amenable to the civil service rules
and vet it IS said on the authority Of the
papers that such a rush for
office as is now going on has not Deen
seen for generation
LISA pitiful spectacle, indeed, and the
only trouble is that the newspapers are
afraid to report ii as it exists. Il IS a
scramble without precedent in the poll
teal history OF the country and II Is 10y
no means confined TO the tramps OF the
party Some very big men are engaged
in it.--AHanta Constitution.
PETROLEUM FOR DEFENsE.-The
World has evolved plan for defending
this city from naval attack which has, AT
least, the merit of novelty. Moreover, ii
is, in its general aspect, simplicity itself.
Just set fire 10 the habor, says the World,
In substance, and there you have il
1t proposes TO accomplish this by fore
ing petroleum out in the bay, and, at
the right time, touching it off, and either
burning up the enemies vessels or as
their crews with smoke. II
any of the enemy should get through
this lake Of fire and smoke, they are TO
be sunk, as they emerge, before they