The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-19

DE has chance for the presidential nomi-
nation from the Democratic party. seems
20 have good Idea Of the situation. He
did not hesitate TO put himself i'm touch
with the sound money sentiment when the
opportunity for doing so occurred. He is as
shrewd d politician as there is in the
country. and in his forecasts Of the politi-
cal future ne is much ofJeuer right than
wrong.
II Mr.. Reed had taken a stand in favor
Of sound money he would have made for
himself many strong friends-friends who
could have helped him to a nomination for
the presidency. and who would have done
so. The course he took made him no
friends and caused some Of his sincerest
admirers 10 wonder whether. after all he
is the man the Republican party wants
for its standard bearer in 1896.
Hawaiian RcpubIicanism.
There comes from Hawaii a story Of
current politics that should prove Of
deep interest to Senator Lodge OF NIassa-
chusetts and other members Of congress
who are in favor of1naking the Hawaiian
republic "A part Of this country. The
story appears in the New York Mail and
Express. and recites in detail how Pres
ldent Dole's government is employing
torture to secure such evidence as it
wants in its treason cases. The narra-
tive is from the pen Of the San Francisco
Calls special correspondent. who gives
names, dates and details in a straight
forward manner.
One of the victims Of Doles inqui-
siuon. according TO the story is an Amer
lean named William Davies. the captain
Of the steamer Waimanolo. While pro-
testing his innocence Of the charges
against him, and asserting his American
citizenship, he was taken into the prison
yard and strung up by the thumbs, being
given to understand that a confession
was what was wanted. AS he did not
weaken from the thumb stringing. his
legs were bound with cords, he was
stripped TO the waist and again tied up
by the thumbs, the cord being drawn so
that his toes barely touched the ground.
While the victim was thus suspended,
Marshal Hitchcock, Attorney General
Smith and Surgeon General Cooper waited
with a stenographer for his confession.
Davies refused to yield. and when it was
apparent that death must shortly ensue
he was cut down. AS soon as he was re-
vived two negro convicts strung him up
again. This operation" says the dis
patch, was continued from noon to {
o'clock in the afternoon, when the unfor-
tunate man made the statement that
was desired"
Another case related is that of a ma
tive, who was handcuffed and placed in
a tank of ice-cold water. He was kept
there until the blood in his extremities
had almost ceased and Surgeon Cooper
declared the action of the heart almost
suspended. The unfortunate native was
then taken out of the tank and revived
only to be put back again. Flesh and blood
could not endure such torture, and aV'con
fession" was secured from him also.
1t will be noted that the attorney gen
eral of the republic is charged with having
been present at the torture of the Amer
lean, hence the president was directly
EEIl GSCAAlGQ II may bt lHdl tndl OLlClal
great love for freedom. liberty and equal
ity induced him to order that the politi
cal methods of the dark ages be resorteC
to. The wonder is that Dole's govern
ment has not resorted to ham-stringinl
as a means of intoxicating Hawaiian re
publicanism.
1t remains to be seen how the jingt
element in congress will defend the tor
ture of Americans in Hawaii Lodg
and the others will, of course, defend Dole
The Pennsylvania legislature has passe,
an act to do away with kissing the book
as a part of the formula of making oatl
to tell the truth. The strongest arguments
used in favor of the passage of the &C
was based on hygienic objections to ;
| promiscuous handling and kissing of
/ book. The horrors of bad teeth and of
! fensive breath, and the dangers of con
/ tagion from kissing a book previousl,
| handled and kissed by all sorts and condi
/ tons of people, readily suggest themselves
From a medical standpoint, the Pennsyl
vania legislature has done a wise thing
From a moral standpoint, is there nee
for a kissing of the book to bind an oath
VIII not the person who swears with up
lifted hand, or with hand upon the book
J regard the oath as sacredly as if the bool
were touched with the lips? kissing tn
volume does not increase the oath-taker'
chances of perdition in case of perjury
1t is merely form, and form that ever
state should change. as Pennsylvania ha
DONE in the interest of sanitary safety.
Capt. Mowatt, of the barkentine Sadi
A. Thompson, which was wrecked on tn
Bahamas, as detailed in our dispatches
thinks the misfortune to his vessel wa
due to a detection of the course of tn
Gulf stream. If Capt. Mowatts theory
correct. it may offer some explanation @
the severe cold in Florida and along tn
South Atlantic coast this winter 1t i
an old belief that the mildness of the eli
mate of this section is due to the prox
unity of that wonderful, warm ocean cur
rent, the Gulf stream. If the northwes
! and west winds that have prevailed 70
some months have actually blown til