The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-09

opinions A seat upon this great tribunal
Is no sinecure, so far as work Is concerned
Though Justice Field is still able TO sit
on the bench and To take his share Of the
labors. Ii has been noticed for some time
that he was doing so with increasing diff
Guilty and with evident rapid diminution
OF his powers Of concentration and achieve
ment. IIo long since passed the age at
which no could retire on full pay, but he
does not like TO have President Cleveland
appoint his successor for personal reasons,
and at the same time being Democrat,
wishes to have president Of his own par
ty faith I'll the vacancy 10 be created by
his retirement
Secretary Gresham's Taste.
There has recently been considerable talk
to the effect that Secretary of State Gresh-
am might wish TO take place upon the
supreme court should vacancy occur. /
asked Mr.. Gresham about this, and he re
piled: do not want a seat on the bench.
III wero going TO DO judge again,
should prefer TO sit on circuit court In
Chicago, as did before 1 came to Wash
ington. In tho supreme court ono has TO
sit upon bench, like an owl, without any
freedom OF action and without any oppor-
great court, and tho men who constitute
IL are an honor TO their country, but do
not care to become one Of them. / like to
meet people, TO chat with lawyers, to be
free and natural, and To be compelled to sit
on that dignifled bench, with all it's forms,
ceremonies and gowns would be distaste-
full to me. "
Great regret Is expressed by many sena-
fora A nd IN vac fbat the last con
gress did not provide for examination Of
tho route of the proposed Nicaragua canal
by board Of government engineers. The
argument which played havoc with tho Mic
aragua bill in congress was that the route
had nevef'beeu critically examined by on
gineers who were independent All the
surveys had been made by men in the en-
ploy of tho canal company. The argument
used was that il the government should
appropriate money To construct the canal
it might DO found 800, 900, 00Q was not
enough, and that goo, 600, 900 or $500 000,
600 would be necessary, as was tho case
with tho i'll fated Panama canal. IL board
OF government engineers had been directed
to survey the route with borings, calcula-
tions and estimates, submitting its report
TO tho noxt congress, thsn the national
Legislators would be- in position to act in
telligently. Many men of both parties be-
lieve this will yet be done, and that in
time the great canal viii bo constructed by
the United States government.
The Pacific Ocean.
Men who are watching the progress OF
affairs throughout the world say tho Pa
ciflc ocean is 90 be the theater Of one of the
greatest commercial Developments civiliza-
tion has ever seen. Both Japan and China
have just begun 10 evolute from barbarism
into complete civilization. In railroad
building and commerce they are sure to
play an important part In the development
of civilization during the next 20 years.
Completion OF the great Transsiberlan
railway by the Russian government will
also make a great change in the commerce
of eastern Asia. Australia is developing
at rapid pace, too, and the west coast of
South America The argument is that for
loaiing place in this great empire of trado
the United States should be strong bid
der, and in nc other way could it advance
it's interests SO quickly and surely as by
piercing tho isthmus with n ship canal
ROBERT GRAVES.