The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-03

The plight in which 200 negro emf
grants found themselves the other day in
New York is truly ptiabe. Some we'll
meaning but deluded pbilanthropists at
Washington are encouraging the emigra-
ton of the colored race 10 Liberia, in
Africa. The most roseate assurances of
prosperity, peace and happiness are held
out TO those who will commit themselves to
the paternal care of these dreamers, and
circulars are issued broadcast by agents
giving information as to climate. produc-
tons and freedom of government. These
circulars, without any further leverage,
have produced ferment of unrest among
colored settlers IN Oklahoma Territory, and
those who have reached New York are but
an advance guard of Others who are ready
TO sacrifice their farms and to fly to
a region they know nothing about.
where il is only toe certain most
OF them will encounter bitter disap-
pointment. The negroes are told that ii
they can only reach New York at their own
expense ship will be ready to convey them
10 their destination across the Atlantic and
that upon arrival they Will have grants Of
land 10 the extent of twenty-five acres and
provisions for six months free. The land
is described as producing three crops year.
In this instance the emigrants Travelled by
the Baltimore and Ohio route for SIS each
When they reached New York there was
nobody to receive them, and but for charity
they might have persisted from cold and
hunger. Some of them were without food
for forty hours, and they all had occasion to
bitterly repent their hasty resolve to go TO
Africa. The bark Liberia. by which they
would be sent If sent at all, could not ac-
commodate more than half their number.
The absurdity and even insanity of
Il, -, 4E,o Co
analysed. In Oklahoma, on what was
Cherokee territory, there are, ii is said.
10000 of the colored race who have found
homes there within three years. A large
proportion of them may be considered pros
porous. Many of those VINO travelled to
New York had abandoned farms of 100
acres, worth $500 or more. and all they
could get for them under D forced sale was
1.-THE of the value. What they expected
TO gain In Liberia under the most favorable
circumstances to compensate them Tor
this foolish sacrifice surpasseS conjecture.
The market in Liberia can only be a
very limited one. The prospect of gather
ing three crops a year should amount
to nothing, because there are so many
partS Of the United States where
three crops can be raised. Ii depends
upon what is grown. Five cr0ps If
alfalfa may be obtained in California,
-
eiDation, ana 1t illustrates rather painfully
the emotional impulsiveneSs aud almost
childish simplicity of large numbers of col
ored people, whose prospects of success In
life must always be far better in the United
States than In any other country. Our
population Is not yet SO dense in any State
that we can afford to look on at emigration
with equanimity. We may object TO some
kinds of immigration. but for the present
the country is quite able to Americanize and
sI,a.Ii Loft oil HI oh
the truth about Liberia were known there
would be little more swearing allegiance 10
':he government of Africa" whatever that
may III Fan.
The sympathisers with Mrs. Maybrick
In this country need not be too confident
that their efforts will tend to secure her re-
lease, or even a reconsideration of her case.
But the money they have subscribed is
being usefulIy employed by lawyers in
drawing UP a fresh review of the case, with
possibly some fresh evidence in favor of the
prisoner. Mere argument will avail moth
ing. There was q considerable degree of
doubt felt at the time of the trial, and. had
/ tie case been tried in Scotland, the Scotch
verdict OF mot proven" would have sur
prised no one. But the jury found Mrs
Maybrick guilty of murder. and the Judge
was not dissatisfied with the verdict. This
is usually tantamOunt to a confirmation of
the sentence " hen the case Is under review
By the Home Secretary, but so great was
the clamor raised lay public opinion that
MIR. Mathews sbranS from inflictiug the
death penalty, and committed the sentence
10 penal servitude for life. The question is.
should the prisoner now have the benefit of
the doubt? Were there cenrt of criminal
appeals all this uncertainty would be cleared
up IN proper judicial way. and the public.
who know very little about the bearing OF
evidence, would feel no occasion to eonsti-
tute themselves judges and jurors.
One strange element has material
bearing on the Maybrick trial. It was Mr..
Justice FiiZjames Stephen who presided,
and who declared himself not dissatisfied
with the verdict. Very shortly after that
trial baFristers noticed a strange break
down or somnolency of the mental faculties
in Mr.. Justice Stephen. He was irascible
in demeaDOr aud occasionally broke out into
savage reproof quite unnecessarily in his
court. One barrister he almost threatened
TO commit for contempt because he asked a
witness to follow his lordshiDs pen in
taking down evidence. 1t was also motto ed
that he did not decide ordinary points of
| law with readiness, and that in short his
! grasp OF cases was becoming weak.
Wherever il was possible lawyers avoided
! going before Mr.. Justice Stephen. AT length
| the matter was broached as delicately
as possible in Parliament, aud there
| it appeared that there is no method of
removing Judge except by impeach-
| ment for cause, and that alienation is
| not a ground on which to proceed.
Meantime Mr.. Justice Stephen knew moth
ing OF what was being said in Parliament
| and very openly whispered outside. One Of
his friends on the bench at length broke the
matter 10 him. He was amazed, being alto
| gether unconscious Of any change in his
mental status himself. Thereupon lie took
! medical advice ana tested himself otherwise,
| and the conclusion he came to was that his
| faculties were sound. but that for the honor
| and reputation of the bench it would be un-
| wise to take any risk OF incapacity, and so
| he consented 10 retire. This incident OF
| itself should be considered in dealing with
| the MaybTick case, because il must be borne
in mind that an English judge in summing
up to jury comments pointedly and freely
! on the evidence, ana indicates pretty plain
| ~ his opinions, although he does tell the
jury repeatedly that they must decide.
| There is just possibility that new
manufacturing business may spring up on
the Pacific Coast in those regions where we
have vet an abundant supply OF timber A
| German doctor has discovered a new and
| unsupported source of food supply, quite
| Wholesome enough, according to present re-
| 6nemeniS, for cattle, but perhaps susceptible
! of adaptation directly to human wants He
| converts the eellui0Se Of wood into grape
| sugar, and. by adding 40 per cent of any OF
the meals from wheat, barley, oats or rye
| he obtains wholesome cake, on which
| cattle may fatten with good appetite. Other
| elements that enter into the composition OF
| animals may be added. Chemists doubtless
| find nothing startling In the discovery,
which is not nearly so wonderful as the