davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

to find congenial company. Such laure-
ates as Tate, Rowe, Colley, Cibber,
Whitehead, Morton and pyc need not
make Mr.. Austin doubt his ability to
answer the requirements of position
which from generation to generation
are growing less exacting.
The new laureate is not n great poet.
He is clever man, with the poetical
instinct. who has done some good work
in Il literary way which entities him to
respectful consideration. But the gap
between Tennyson and Austin is Il very
wide one and the literary world will
feel that in the elevation of the third
class English poet TO the distinguished
place occupied by some of his prede-
cessors that position has suffered
deterioration. Swinburne is unqucstion-
ably England's greatest living poet but
he is too liberal To be honored with the
position of laureate.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
THE BALTIMORE HORROR.

Detroit Free Press: Panic is a contagion,
but few men with cool heads and plenty of
nerve could have prevented that horror In a
Baltimore theater. In a dangerous crisis the
average crowd Is almost sure to do the wrong
thing, but a strong check promptly applied
can render them amenable to reason. Time
and again this has been demonstrated under
circumstances far more threatening than
those which led to the Baltimore tragedy.
Chicago Post: There was not the least
danger. Not a soul would have been in
jured had the audience remained seated.
From beginning to end the catastrophe was
due to sheer stupidity woman saw gas
jet flare up. She screamed "fire." A brutal,
cowardly, ignorant mob did the rest. The
only extenuat!ng circumstances are the fact
that the theater itself has long been con-
sidered unsafe even by its patrons, because
OF insufficient exits and the fact that the
overcrowded audience was made up of people
whose habits and training are not calculated
to beget the self-possession needed in mo-
ments of danger
Philadelphia Inquirer: The theater in
which the panic occurred is one around which
many traditions linger In it Jenny Lind
charmed thousands with her marvellous
voice; Kean, Macready, Edwin Forrest and
the elder Booth played there; the national
democratic convention met there in 1860, the
union national convention in 1864, which
renomlnated Abraham Lincoln for president
and nominated Andrew johnson for vice pres
dent assembled within it's walls. and the
beauty and fashion of what was once the
ariatocratic portion of Baltimore used to
gather there in the dance Its doors should
now be closed forever.
Washington Star: An auditorium holding
several hundred people contains when occu-
pied the elements of a panic. 1t will not
do to depend upon the intervention of cooler
minds to stay a crowd Of panic-stricken peo-
pie. The only rule of safety Is to provide
the most complete means of exit known to
architecture, and, as in all problems that
deal directly with the preservation of human |
life, the only solution permissible is that |
which exhausts every possibility and spares
no expense. 1t may be that an official inspec- |
tion Of local auditoriums of all kinds, in |
spred by the sad affair in Baltimore, might |
result in wholesome revelations and rene
dias
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
THE MONROE FURRY.

Chicago Chronicle While England is
notified that 1t will not be permitted to cap
| ture territory down in Venezuela to which it
has no rightful claim, the same remark ap-
| plies to Alaska.
| Chicago Times Herald: While the entente
| cordale between this country and Great
| Britain is some what disturbed over the Vene-
| zulean question it is necessary to chain down
| the eagles at Lincoln park to keep them
| from doing the lions violence.
Globe-Democrat: If Salisburys bluff on
| the Monroe doctrine had worked the English
ships would probably be thickaning around
Cuba in view Of the threatened success of
the insurgents. The presidents. promptness
has discouraged deal between England and
Spain.
New York Electricity: On the subject to
which the Monroe doctrine applies, what use
has any American for any international law?
No such law has any bearing upon the pres
ent controversy. The Monroe doctrine Is our
law In enforcement of that law the United
States stand supreme, defiant, unconquerable.
Dertoit Free Press: Some of the Nercest
attacks upon the American policy are being
made by Mr.. Astcr's paper in London The
bitterness of renegade is proverbal, and
then there is the fiery Spanish ancestry to
consider in this instance. Spain H. not feel
ing kindly toward the great country that she
discovered
Minneapolis Times: England's swagger was
conspicuously absent when Russia in 1870
lpic up thS treaty VI IdIlS VI loOO, ulttuleu
by England, and moved her fleet to the Black
saa. If Russia had been a weak nation like
Venezuela or Nicaragua British vengeance
would have been swift and relentless. John
Bull can swallow an affront meekly enough
when he has to-.
Cincinnati COmmercial little boy once
asked his father If 1t was wrong to say "cof-
ferdam." He was assured that it was not
and was asked in return why he propounded
such question. when he replied that the old
COW had got choked on an apple, and he
thought she would cough-her-dam head of.
Johnny Bull might get choked II he at
tempts to swallow that Venezuelan apple
st. Louis Republic: But are we to conclude
that what England has done with us we
are incapable Of doing with England? The
burning and sacking of our national capital
by the troops of General Ross early in this
century Is still unavenged Not until we
pitch camp in London will that deep insult
ba wiped out. The only questions are thoss
of transfer and terminal facilities. Give us
the necessary transports and ocsan convey
and we can land 1000, 900 men on English
shores within six months. Once there the
results would not be such as to justify a new |
edition Of Macauley's heroic verse describing !
tho ruin Of the Spanish armada.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Watch the democrats who We're so
loud in denouncing the republican ma
ton to financial propositions in con
ncction with the location of the national
convention applaud the open sale of
their own democratic convention to the
highest bidder among the cities that
are competing for it. The proceeds of
comfortable sum which no national Or
ganization will refuse to accept with
out extraordinary reasons, and least of
all the democratic national committee.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
and lynchfiS should bend their encr.
gics and drect their work.


Treasury officials have discovered
counterfeit 81 bills in circulation in the
city. They are 50 nearly perfect that
experts fihd II difficult to detect them.
There are also a few counterfeit $40
bills, poorly executed, in circulation in
the city. These bills were showed by
parties now under arrest who operated
with n gang of eleven countcrfciters, all
of whom have been apprehended by the
treasury officials. Publicity is the
quickest means of stopping the circula
tion of bogus money 1t is the duty
of every person coming into possession
of counterfeit money of any kind to
report the fact to the government de-
tcctives. If this had been done
promptly in recent instances the men
who brought the stuff to the city would
now all be behind the bars
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTs.

Indianapolis News: Mckinley has engaged
forty-five rooms in st. Louis, the indica-
tlons being that he has secured a lead for
the nomination by about fifteen rooms.
Des Moines Leader: If Governor Morton is
really a presidential candidate. he keeps
wonderfully quiet about 1t. This quetneas
10 the surest kind of an indication that he is
candidate.
Chicago Tribune: II. Harrison, esq. of
indianapolis is observed to be successfully
maintaining a concliatory attitude toward
everybody at this juncture Nevertheless, we
still believe he is not a candidate.
Chicago Times-Herad: Colonel Morrison's
name was mentioned several times in con-
gre9i the other day, and several correspond
cnts are surprised that "it awakened no en-
thus.asm." They seem to have forgotten that
congress is NOT st. Louis.
Cincinnati Commercial: Senator Allison of
Iowa is really and truly a presidential can
didate. NJ man was ever elected president
who only shaved his upper lip, ana recogniz-
ing, this, the Iowa statesman has permitted
his mcustacha to grow. He now resembles
a composite picture of Grant and Harrison.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
THE CITY TREASURY.

At the very threshold of the new
financial problem. The condition of
the city treasury will demand at the
hands of the authorities Immediate at
tention and serious consideration. The
deficiencies in the municipal revenues
have become matter of grave con
cern. Unpaid and ntcrcst-bcaring war
rants are outstanding drawn against n
half dozen different funds, and within
the next ninety days there will be hardly
Il fund that will not show n balance on
the wrong side of the ledger.
Until now the taxpayers of Omaha
have been for the most part fairly
prompt in meeting the demands of the
tax collector upon them. We have now,
however. reached Il stage that makes
the payment of taxes even for the
heaviest property owners very difficult,
If not absolutely impossible. The col
lection of taxes by the forced sale of
property can not be depended upon to
replenish the depleted treasury. That
fact has already been demonstrated by
'it i'lundi vi 'aA ulic biohSlS w INV tHt
in any but the choicest of city proper
ties. The treasury defalcation has only
made Il bad matter worse. The pros
poets of recovering the embezzled
moneys without tedious litigation are
not very bright
Meantime, the credit of the city of
omaha must be maintained and the
necessary machinery of government
must be kept running. The question is,
How shall we tide over the period of
shortage and what means shall be de-
vised to meet the emergency? The
men who have the largest interests in
Omaha's welfare must put their heads
together and agree upon some plan of
rp1;pf
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
LOVES EVIDENCE.
New York Sun.


Oh!
How we love you,
Don't we, though?
You can bet
That the innermost depths Of our volumi-
nous gizzards
Palptate for thee,
Ameriky.
Please turn away your heads while we
Pat you on the back
And place n few fortresses and such sig-
niiicant marks of our affection around
your borders
Simply to show you
That we love you
Like Sam Hill.
Our, dear American cousins.
Tied by blood,
We love you always,
But the best
When you accept our idea of your rightl
and those Of other nations
And don't interfere with us
In any way whatever
We loved you at the time Of the
RevolutiOn:
only you were wilful and disobedent,
And didn't know what was
Good for us.
Then. by permitting slavery. you gave Of
fense to our high ideas or
National morality.
And we jumped In and tried our best
To do you up.
For your own good.
But the simple. sweet, sugar-coated blan-
dishments we constantly keep In stock
and disseminate without stint.
And the printers ink we daily waste In
showing why you should not lick u.s.
No matter what we do,
Prove that
Our love is bowling success
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
YHAT BICICLE Tx.

Councilman Kment's plan to raise
revenue by a license tax on bicycles
has been rejected by the council. Why
it was rejected passes comprehension.
The city has as much right to license
bicycles as it has express wagons Many
bicycles are to be had for hire, Just as
are hacks and carriages. Few if any
of them are listed for taxation. There
are probably 5000 bicycles in use in
Omaha, and IL license tax of 81 per
apnum would yield $1,000. Such Il
tax would not be a hardship, and yet
it would yield enough to pay the sal
aries of seven teachers in the public
schools.
1t looks rs if the proposition was re-
jected by the council simply because the
money would so into the school fund
instead of into the city funds and
would be spent by the school board in
stead of by the council. Evidently the
council has overlooked the fact that
the same people support the schools of
Omaha that support the city govern
ment and the money raised by license
tax would be so much subtracted from
the money raised by the school levy.
AT any rate 1t is surprising that
proposition in the interest of the little
red school house should be uncere-
moniously shelved by men who claim
to make its protection their mission on
pnrth
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

When Governor Holcomb refused to
call the state appointing board together
to select the Omaha police commission
he questioned it's consttutionality. he
was assailed with epistolary abuse from
the other two members of the board.
Now it is these two members of the
appointing board who have refused to
convene to execute the law. They have
no excuse to offer in the way of scruplcs
as to the legality of the enactment. but
are simply sparring for wind. They
ought to have their old letters to the
governor copied and readdressed to
themselves.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
Senator Nelson of Minnesota

Senator Nelson of Minnesota has al
ready made n set speech in the senate
and that before his first month in his
first session of congress was completed.
Had this occurred few years ago the
whole country would have stood aghast
at the new senator's temerity in dis
regarding the time-worn rules for pre-
serving senatorial dignity 1t was the
late Senator Van Wyck who first re-
fused to abide by the unwritten code
that relegates new members of the
senate TO at least year of unheard
obscurity. He was severely criticised
for his rashness. but now the same
performance by Senator Nelson will
scarcely elicit comment
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

The State Board of Transportation
has new case presented to it in Il
complaint agninst the Elllhorn hay rate.
This is an important case, but it should
nn: de .perritted to interfere with an
early decision in the Omaha depot pro.
raedingS. The rule of doing one thing
ut time and carrying it through to
completion would admonsh the board
to leave the hearing of the hay rate
case until after the pending depot case
shall have been definitely disposed of.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

There is greater activity in local labor
circles along lines of moral advance
ment than has been noticeable hereto
fore During seasons of business de-
preston craftsmen have time for social
intercourse and they are improving the
opportunities presented Local leaders
are evincing lively interest in various
projects now being earnestly discussed
by our citizens, which, if consum-
mated, will afford employment for
every idle mechanic and laborng man
in the city and bring more wageworkers
here. These enterprises. of course. can
not materialize before the opening of
spring, but the kindly attitude of or
EaniZcd labor toward them will no
doubt hasten the completion of plans
already under way.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

member distinctly that on the 9th OF April.
1855. when Lee surrendered at Appomattox,
the branch OF the army In which I served
had the honor OF assaultlng the fortlncations
OF Fort Blakely. Ala. Of which my honorable
relD, was in command. My distinct recol-
lection Is that we captured the honorable
senator and his entire command There are
on this side of the chamber FIVE or six gem
tlemen who were In command Of confederate
troops whosa forces, | remember, were con-
I sprynd
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
ENGLiND'S POET LAURE1 TIE,

The death of Alfred Tennyson left the
position of poet laureate of England
vacant and there has been much specu-
lation since rs to who would be ap-
pointed TO the position. The question
has been settled by the appointment of
Mr.. Alfred Austin, a poet of the third
class, who by comparison with his sue
cessor will hardly be regarded by the
world at large as poet ut all The
position of poet laureate of England is
one the distinction of which Is rather
dependent upon the man than upon the
title. A number of inferior poets have
held the title and with few eXcep-
tons it has never been held by any
great poet, The historical succession,
passing over the legendary period from
Chaucer down, begins with Ben Jonson,
who would have been the most brilliant
man of his most brilliant period if he
had not had Shakespeare as contem-
porary, and in the varied opportunities
of n court poet was more successful
that the other probably would have
been.
In the list of men who have figured
as poet laureates, Il position which car
ries with 1t little emolument, several
have been of very inferior character, so
that Mr.. Alfred Austin will not fail
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

The abolition of the fire alarm bell
should be among the first reforms in
augurated in the year 1896. There
never was any need of continuing to
ring fire alarm bells after the volunteer
fire department was supplanted with Il
discontinued these alarms and Omaha
should have Joined the procession long
ago
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

The number of marriages in Omaha
during 1898 was 060, while 1919 couples
Were mated in 1894. Figures given for
every month in the year prove conclu-
sively that the fall season is chosen by
n greater number of benedicts for forg-
Ing the link that forever binds. We are
told that ''in the spring the young mans
fancy lightly turns TO thoughts of love-"
This may be true, but in Omaha the
greater number of contracts are sealed
In the fall
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
That Russian Loan.

IhIIdUtIphIa RttOIu,
Russia has been SO persistent borrower
in the money markets of Europe that the
story concerning her offer to loan $i00 900 600
in gold to the United States, without inter
est, seems absurdly incredible 1t is true
that large amount OF the precious metal is
locked up in the war chest of the czar, but
IL Is impossible to believe that the Russian
government would be willing to dlssipate this
immense treasure which has been so pain
fully gathered for use in a special emerg ncy
The ways of Russian diplomacy. however. are
past finding out.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Chicago newspapers are inveighing
against the fads which have attached
themselves to the public school system
there. 1t is asserted that pupils are
surfeited with fancy frills under the
name of public instruction and leave
the schools unable to spell or read OF
cipher properly. Such comment is ap-
plicable to the Omaha schools, as The
Bee has often pointed out.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

One trouble following manifestation of
the United StatesH determination to maintain
the Monroe doctrine is the bellicose effect
on the republics of South America. Ever
since the message of the president little
Venezuela has been pirouetting around like
a bantam rooster "spilin' for a fight" All
the dispatches from that quarter indicate
that Venezuelaiis now anxious to fight any
body or anything and II she does not cool
down it may be that Uncle Sam will have
to spank her, as wei. as thrash John Bull
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
The Irrigation Fair.

There is to be an irrigation fair held at
North Platte, Nsbl, some time this year, and
the promoters are making preparations for
a grand events THEY are interesting business
men and farmers all over the western part
Of the state, and it is thought that Colonel
Cody will take a hand and add to the at
fractions. In that case the fair may attract
national attention, and at any rate 1t cannot
be other than beneficial to the interests Of
the state. Western Nebraska has the irri-
cation fever very badly. but 1t is all for
tha hest
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
The Trnnsmississippi Exposition.

Omaha has already taken steps to organize
the Transmssissppi and International expo
sition of 1898. When it assumes a proper
stage. and the time comes for Colorado to
act, unanimous and generous support should
be given to the enterprise on the part Of
every citizen of Colorado. The prominence
of this state in the transmissouri country
should be made so evident in its display
at this prospective exposition that its posi-
tion as the Empire state OF the Rocky noun
tains would never be called in question The
whole west will watch the progress Of the
enterprise with genuine interest.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Everything The Bee predicted as to
the conduct of Broatch and Vandervoort
as police commissioners Is being veri-
fed as time goes on. The department
has under them deteriorated into a po-
litical machine, the sole object being
the promotion of Broatch's insane am
bition for office. He must, however,
cross several big streams before he can
reach gubernatorial nomination.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
Senator Aliens War Record.

Mr. Alen-Mr. President, / believe that
am the only senator on this side of the
chamber who served as a private soldier In
the union army during the war, and carried
a musket during the entire time. My ex-
perience was with the grandest soldier the
world has ever seen, in my judgment-the
late George III. Thomas. If l have any
prejudices coming to me from youth or from
early association, those prejudices would be
against the passage of the bill. but l have
none.
To indulge in little ancient history. / re-
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
Pulled His Gun in the Wrong Crowd.

VICTOR. Colo, Jan. 1.--Just what caused
the shooting at the Union theater. In which
at least two and probably three lives were
sacrificed, Is not known. 1t appears that
Burt Ferguson, a deputy sheriff. went into
the theater and threatened TO shoot out
was called and Immediately the shooting
began. Smith was shot dead. as was Tom
Pascoe, a patron of the theater, while
Ferguson was fatally wounded. William
Macthinney, who was Yictor's first city
marshal, and Charlie Watson received flesh
wounds.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

The United States has started the
new year at peace with all nations on
the light of recent events affecting our
international relations 1t is to be
hoped as much can be said of every
day of the new year.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Hon. J. Sterling Morton is down on
the program of the Nebraska State His
torcal society for an address at its
meeting at Lincoln January 10. This
means. of course, that Secretary Nor
ton, in spite of the draft upon his time
as n member of the cabinet, has been
able to compile material for another
interesting chapter on the early history
Of Nebraska.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Attorney General Churchill began
business as a rail splitter. This was n
good beginning and no doubt he was
n good aXeman. Some people are cruel
enough to suggest that he made great
mistake when he left that honest occ,l-
nation
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02
The Elastic International Code.
Globe e-Democrat.

History records that once, in an Asiatic
war, Portugal captured the tooth of a sacred
monkey from Siam, and refused to return it
until ransom of $3,5OO, 900 was paid. Some
of the governments of Europe have been in
so many transactions Of this kind under the
sacred shadow of what they call international
law that they think that elastic code justfes
everything from petit larceny to a massacre.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

We are reminded by the session of
the Modern Language association in
Chicago that volapuk, the universal Ian
guage promised not many years ago.
is yet to be invented. The only Ian
guage that all nations on earth under
stand is the language that is mute
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Borrowing money is not the best way
to start the new year, either for the
individual citizen or for the national
government. Going into debt should be
n resource used only when income can
not be made to meet necessary eX-
Opn1iture
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Watch meetings were in order Decem-
ber 81, which may account for the meet
ing of heavy taxpayers in the First Ma
tional bank. They will continue the
watch meetings until the city and
county governments adopt policy of
retrenchment and reform.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

Beatrice courts convict dcfaulting city
officials and sentence them to the peni-
tertiary. Omaha defaulters walk the
streets undisturbed by the authorities
charged with prosecuting them.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-02

The fact must not be overlooked that
the county treasurer-clect was able to
furnish individual surety on $780,
BOO bond. The city treasurer-elect was
not so fortunate. Both men are well