davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
The Dream of a British Customs
Union Dispelled.

The July number Of the London National
Rerie,c contains a detailed report of the
replies made by the colonial Premiers to
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN's proposal that a Pan
Britannia Zollverein should be established,
under which Great Britain and her colo
MES should reciprocally impose preferen-
tial duties on each others goods. AS we
shall see, some of the colonial Prime Min
listers looked favorably on the project, but
those representing the Dominion of Canada
and New South Wales opposed it, the re-
suit being, as the National Reriew admits.
hat Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN's scheme has
fallen through.
The favorable opinions were expressed at
a meeting under the auspices of the United
Empire Trade League, the object of which
is 1.-THE furtherance Of mutually advan.
tageous trading relations on a preferential
basis between all who share allegiance to
her Majesty the Queen" This meeting
was attended by five Premiers, namely, Sir
GEORGE TURNER of Victoria, Sir HUGH
NELSON of Queensland, Mr.. Seldom of
New Zealand, Mr.. KINGSTON of South
Australia, and Sir JOHN FORREST of
West Australia. Sir GEORGE TURNER
expressed the belief that the colonies
would be very glad to give some pref
erence, so that they might trade with
Great Britain for goods which they now re-
ceiye from other countries. He bought,
indeed, that the proposition should come
from Great Britain, but he had no hcsita.
ton in saying that any advance from her
would be received in no huckstering spirit,
but with every desire to enter into n fair.
reasonable, and equitable arrangement,
such as would be advantageous to all par
ties. Mr.. KINGSTON of South Australia
also thought that it would be better for
the mother country and her statesmen
to formulate proposals for the accept
ance of the colonies. Any such sugges-
tions, he said, would receive the most
sympathetic consideration in the lands
from which the Prime Ministers present at
the meeting came, for in their trade rela-
tionship they would prefer that their trans.
actions should be with their own flesh and
blood. Mr.. Seldom of New Zealand com.
planned of the existing treaties with Bel
GUM and Germany that bar the way to
the preferential trading which he advo.
Gated. Mr.. BYRNEs, the Acknowledgement
OF Queensland, also addressed the meeting
in support of the principle of the United
Empire Trade League.
Thus far all had gone we'll for Mr.. CHAM.
BERLAIN. Unfortunately for him, Sir Will
FRID LAURIER, the Premier of confederated
Canada, and, therefore, by far the most i'm.
portant representative of colonial interests,
threw his weight into the opposite scale.
He explained the motives which had
prompted the Dominion Parliament to ad.
nit British goods at rates somewhat lower
than those levied on corresponding COM
modities from other countries. The Liberal
party. now in power at Ottawa. OF which
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
Ensland's Merchant Marine.

In a recent speech Senator ELKINs set
f1rth with much thoroughness the various
elements which combine to perpetuate Eng
lands mercantile power on the seas.
First comes her enormou tonnage, which
far exceeds that of all other nations to-
Eether. This Is supported by "the British
Lloyd system of surveys and classified
tions, discriminating in favor of British
('naiIt vessels" That system, in turn, leads
TO determinations by the insurance under
writers, favoring English ships. Then
come mail subsidies, "amounting to about
Sd. 900 900" a year, on which Great Britain
is willing to suffer "a seeming loss of
about 50, 600 annually; while SUBJ
sides to steamships as auxiliary cruisers
add about $2oO,000 a year.
Again, she mans her ships more cheaply
than we man ours, according to Mr.. ELKISs,
employing fewer men to the ship. and Civ.
ing lower wages. Her ships are surer of
cargoes, having markets everywhere. While
the tax rate and insurance are low, the
income from ship ownership is high, com.
pared with the current rates of interest on
money. The ships supplies are taken from
goods in bond, or duty free" In repairs,
IL bhlpS nave Ill uAlcuuhlltu uOCk cQulp-
ment, with low rents for the docks and a low
cost of labor.
Other advantages which Great Britain
holds are those of national pride and in
terest in marine affairs, giving the Govern
ment a free hand in shipping matters; the
possession of the beaten track of m
and an enormous foreign trade covering
the world; a banking system greatly &C.
commodating the debtor nations, and ire
mendous in the capital and surplus of its
banking houses; an excellent consular sys-
TEN a national Board Of Trade which has
full executive power; a very extensive sys-
tenn Of submarine and other wires a system
OF great colonies all over the world, creating
and supplying markets; finally, a powerful
navy for the protection of the merchant
marine, II needed.
The wage-earning power of the British
merchant marine is put at $40, 900, 900 an
nually, and the freight and passenger earn
Ing power at $500, 0OO, 900, while all this
gives remunerative employment for supply
ing coal, iron, and steel, and profits in
building and repairing ships.
These points are not enumerated by way
Of encouragement, but merely as a rational
explanation of existing British maritime
supremacy. They are hard facts, and it
was with a reliance on existing facts that
the london Times recently declared, in re-
viewing the discussions of the proposed re-
vival of American shipping, that "the
Union Jack is not likely to have anything
to fear from the Stars and Stripes for a
long time to come"
But the true lesson is that, with Great
Britain thus strongly intrenched in the
worlds carrying trade, no ordinary meas
ures will restore to us a fair share of il.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
Another Columbia Arumnus on Mr.. Low.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sus-sfr: Tho righteous
wrath OF Mr.. George W. Lawrence. whose letter IN
printed in THE Sun of to-day. leads him to q rhetor-
ich exaggeration that does injustice both to Column
ba Univerpity and to President Low. Certainly three
OF the older professors. Ware. Peck. and Butler, have
weI-earned regulations in their respective depart
ments of architecture. classical Literature, and educa-
ton, that arc not only national but international. To
DO sure, these mon were all in service long before
President Low was elected. and he 10 not entitled TO
any credit for their selection; that belongs to the
lamented Barnard.
It must be granted to your correspondent that most
OF President Lows own appointees arc mediocre or
worse. he Ii VIGOROUSLY lacking in scholarship and IL
no Judge Of men. His selections for the law faculty, and
for that expensive and absurd department known a.
the faculty OF political science, were OF the weakest
possible sort.
II 10 an opNu secret that Seth Lows complacsntv van
ity and humiliating lack Of familiarity with scholars
and scholarship arc q great incubus on the institution.
Can this explain why the trustees. professors, and
many alumni arc SO heartily supporting his straw
ballot campaign for Mayorp Do they want to unload
him on New York; TwExrY YEAns AGO.
BRooKLYH, July 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18

We are surprised to discover that our
esteemed contemporary, the NctD Fork Times,
has about as poor IN idea of the value Of Alaska
as 1t has Of Hawaii:
Tho Hawaiian annexation argument will not be
appreciably fortified by THE SUX's awkward blunder
OF assuming that in the Alaska purchase Mr.. SEWARD
bought the Klondike mines. tchen he only bought
some troublesome seals and q JeN cretched Indians
rery much In need Of soap"
That is not all that SEWARD bought. His pur-
chase Of Alaska made US the owners of Jones 4"
River, for example; an acquisition formerly re-
garded in some quarters as of inestimable value
to the American people. But leaving Jones"
River out of the question. the subjoined estimate
OF the worth of the SEWARD purchase 10 fur
nished by an authority which even the Times
ought TO respect
ALREADY Mr.. Stewards purchase of Alaska Is vim.
dicated as q matter OF business. That statesman him
self declared that It would take tho people OF tho
United States q generation to hnd out what . bene-
faction he had bestowed upon them in the purchase.
Two-thirds OF o generation have elapsed. and It Is
already evident that II the seal fishery were thrown
open to the public under proper safeguards as to tho
payment Of a tax upon the captured seals. the Gov.
eminent would receive . handsome income upon its
investment.
"sealing. however. is somewhat precarious rs q
source OF revenue. A sudden freak OF fashion. which
has been constant to seals for q singularly long period,
would diminish the profits of the seal ring to such an
extent as would make Its managers Indifferent to any
~poaching that might be practiscd upon their pre-.
serves. The description published In tho Times yes
terday makes 1t evident that after this precarious
source of revenue Is exhausted other and more trust
worthy sources will remain.
1.-THE destruction OF our own forests Is going on at
so rapid a rate that before long the visible supply in
Alaska will be a question OF great moment. . =
When tho domestic supply becomes manifostly In.
sunicient for our needs. the spruce and cedar of
Alaska viii be OF great national value.
"The mineral treasures OF Alaska will form an.
other addition to the wealth OF the nation, the i'm.
portance of which cannot as yet he even vaguely con.
Jectured. There Is no doubt that gold exists and
very little that at some time It will be prontably
worked. The coal deposits are extensive and valu-
able and of a more immediate Importance. The Pa.
cihc coast. at least. may yet md In Alaska its chief
source of fuel supply"
II the Times desires any further testimony as
to tho vast natural resources and surprising
value of tho Territory of which it now speaks so
fippantly and foolishly, we can readily produce
the same from the 1inles's own editorial col
umns, like that just quoted.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
why Is whitelaw Reid Suspected Z?

This mysterious and possibly significant
remark is attributed by the Washington
Erening Times to the Hon. THOMAS WILL
bur CRIDLER, Mr.. SHERMAN's Third As
sistant Secretary of State:
"Iwant to say for HAsIrS and myself that neither
of us is responsible for the publication of tho docu.
mcnt. / think II came from England. ana was prob.
ably sent to tho Tribune by wnirELAw REID. There
was ample time to send the letter by mail TO tho
Tribune"
Mr.. CRIDLER was speaking Of the pre-
mature and unauthorized publication, in
the New York Tribune Of Wednesday last,
of Secretary ~SHERMAN's letter of instruc-
tions to Ambassador HAY in regard to the
Alaska fur seal question.
The publication of that letter at the pres
ent time is regarded all around as an i'm
proper and indecent performance, detri-
mental to American interests and embar.
RAISING to the Administration.
Why does Assistant Secretary CRIpLER
drag in the name of the Hon. WHITELAw
REID, Special Jubilee Ambassador of Con-
graduation and Ceremony from the Govern
ment of the United States to the Court of
st. Jamcs'si
What does the Jubilee Ambassador know
or care about the fur seals Of Alaskan Why
should he disturb his soul, serene in the
facile exercise of Turveydrop functions three
thousand miles away, with projects of news
paper enterprise illegitimate in the case Of
one in his station, and extremely annoying
to the kind hearted President who ap-
pointed hint Is he not sufficiently occupied
with the graceful handling of his teaspoon
at the royal and imperial board2
Probably Mr.. CRIDLER Is led into his I'M
just and uncharitable suspicious by the
purely fortuitous circumstance that the
Hon. WHITELAw REID holds simultane-
ously these three posts of dignity and op-
portunity:
1. Honorary editor of the Ne,p York Trib-
M
III. Jubilee Ambassador, with friendly
access to JOHN HAYS mail bag;
III. Son.in-law Of Mr.. DARIUS o. MILLS.
the Nice-President of the North American
Commercial Company, the lessee Of the
Pribylov Islands, which has paid no
rental for the same to the Government
since 1892, and against which suits have
been brought by the Government for from
eight hundred thousand to q million dol
lars due and unpaid.
1t would be very embarrassing II the Nc.
Kinley Administration. in it's aunt for the
MAJ who published that letter, should feel
itself impeiled to search Windsor Castle.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18

nominated. This question has been moro
serious than any other I'm Argentina ever
since the disastrous financial collapse that
occurred there a few years ago; and 1t was
mainly because Of the promise he made In
regard to It that he was selected as the can
didate of the Nationalist party.
It is probable that Senior URIBuRU, who
now holds the Office of President, and who
has served his country we'll In that place,
would rave been nominated for another
term but for a provision Of the Argentine
Constitution that a President cannot be
reelected. The term is six years in length,
and the election is by representatives Of
the fourteen provinces, equal to double the
number Of Senators and Deputies COM
bined. This system has proved satisfac.
tory In practice.
The Argentine Republic has had a num-
Der Of Presidents of unusual ability, among
whom may be named Col. SARMIENTo, the
schoolmaster; Dr.. SAENZ-P1NA, who re-
signed, and the present Executive, Senior
URIBURU. The adhercnts Of Gen. RocA
believe that he will be a worthy successor
of the most distinguished of these men.
The thing most to be desired Is that, In the
event Of his election, he shall observe his
promises, and shall give proof that he pos.
sesses the financial wisdom which, 1t may
be said, Is now a necessary qualification for
a President OF Argentina.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
Education in tho Hawaiian Islands

Those who oppose the annexation of the
Hawaiian Islands assert that the inhabit-
ants are uneducated and incapable Of as
Stimulating American civilization. This is
by no means true &c far as the Hawaiian
and Portuguese elements of the population
are concerned. The facts are set forth in
the July number OF the North american
Rerteto by Mr.. DANIEL LOGAN, the editorof
the Honolulu Evening Bulletin.
According to the census of 1906, the
population Of the islands is 100, 900, where
Of 46,O23 are Asiatics who are not eligible
for the franchise. Almost Incredible as
chised ~nationalities, and moro han IL
per cent. Of the entire population, at
tended school In 1896, the whole number
of pupils being 14,O23. OF these, $3.50
were Hawaiians of full blood; 2,44s were
part Hawaiians, and s, 900 were Portuguese.
Even OF the Chinese there were 921 and Of
the Japanese 387. The growing eagerness
evinced by Asiatics in Hawaii to obtain an
English education bears witness to the
power OF Hawaiian civilizing influences. 1t
should be noted that the Hawaiian lam
guage Is no longer taught in the public
schools. For some time English had pre-
dominated, and last year the use of it was
made compulsory in all schools, private as
well as public. The law requires that every
child from five to sixteen years Of age
shall attend either a public or a pri-
vate school taught in English. The text
books employed are almost all American,
the only exceptions being those dealing
with Hawaiian geography and history.
More than a third of the teachers in all of
the schools are Americans, the Hawaiian
and part Hawaiian instructors coming next
In number. 1t should also DO mentioned
that schools are In session even In remote
districts for forty weeks Of the ffty-two.
Formerly 1t was the custom of the Legis-
latures to make grants Of money to schools
under the control Of different religious
denominations. Now, however, the Con-
%stitution Of the republic of Hawaii pro.
hibits any aid from the public treasury to
sectarian schools. Practically, the islands
have a free school system, the only excep-
tions being a group of establishments con-
verging to the Honolulu High School. No
other country in the world devotes SO
large a proportion of its public revenue to
education. OF 81, $3.50, 97s.5O, the total sum
appropriated by the Hawaiian Government
for all purposes. in the two years ending
Dec. 81, 1897, the amount allotted to the
support of public schools is $404, 900. AS
the private or independent schools are like
wise sustained out of the pockets of the
people, the aggregate contributions of Ha-
wall to the cause of education may be fairly
described as astonishing.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
The Harlem Young womcn's Chris.
tian Associations Vault.

The public revenues of the city of New
the revenues from vault privileges amount
ed last year to $139 900. With energy in
the collection Of the charges and penalties
for vault privileges, it Is thought by some
optimistic reformers that this sum could be
increased to certainly $4,000 in a year,
and this view Of the case appears to nave
impressed itself strongly Upon the Dep
uty Commissioner of Public Works, the
Hon. HOWARD PAYsoN WILDs, who. as
THE Q has described, has been endeavor-
ing to collect for additional vault privileges
from the United States Government, from
Uncle SAM himself. The willingness of
WILDs to collect has been matched only by
the reluctance of Uncle SAM to pay, and as
the result of the brief encounter between
the two, Mr.. WILDs has withdrawn from
the field of controversy, and the public rev.
enues of New York have not been increased
by any payments for vault privileges by the
Federal Government.
Thwarted in this particular. WILDs has
discerned with q fortitude truly commenda-
bic a possible source of revenue for vault
privileges from the Harlem Young Women's
Christian Association, and a lively contro-
versy has arisen between the representa-
tives Of that association and the Deputy
Commissioner of Public Works. Chapter
1873 of the Laws Of 1890 authorizes the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen to exempt
from the payment Of any fee for the con-
struction of vaults under s~idewalks-the
Wilds speciality in revenue collecting
"places of public worship" and this exemp-
ton Is claimed for the building of the Har-
lem Young Women's Christian Association,
the members of which are DESTROYS of
extending a vault In front of their prem
ises on 124th street without the payment
of a fee, and to hold "thc city harmless for
any loss or damage that may be occasioned
by the work to be lone ut their expense
under the direction of the Commissioner of
Public Works. such permission to con-
tinueo only during the pleasure of the Com
mon Council. Such is the language of the
proposed resolution. which. however, has
met an obstacle in Mr.. WILDs, who declares
that the term "places of public worship as
used In the law can be applied only "to
places whose primary and essential purpose
is for public worship" In this view of
the facts the law counsel Of the Harlem
Young Women's Christian Association
does not concur, and the Harlem Young
Women's Christian Association does not
concur either. The Secretary Of the asso-
citation gives this formal and explicit ac-
count of its work:
at is distinctly q religious organization, its aim
and object being to win young women to lives OF
nnFfDhanAaa 49,. III tH..v,a 90 annnI
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
The Senate and the Ships.

Some of the reasons assigned in the Senate
for refusing to pay more than $500 a ton
for battleship armor show an astonishing
capacity for misinformation about the navy.
The Populist Senators appear to be es-
pecially gifted In this respect.
Senator ALLEN of Nebraska avowed his
utter want of faith in battleships, as being
unwieldy craft that care constantly going
ashore, coming in collision with some other
vessel, going aground, or cutting up some
other caper not on the programme" He
went aboard one of them, and it was an
utter surprise" to him that 1.-THE thing did
not absolutely sink, without being arm
ored." Childlike wonder at the buoy
ancy of thick iron or steel, when in the
form of q ships hull, is not uncommon
among some people who are beginning
their observations Of naval architecture.
He also thought rather less favorably ever
of American than of foreign battleships.
He doubted "if we have a battleship to-
day that would be capable of going into &C.
ton against the best vessels of Europe" And
yet in the Indiana, the Massachusetts. and
the Oregon we have three vessels which for
their combination of armament and armor
we believe to be unsurpassed in the world,
II, indeed, they are anywhere eoualled.
The Iowa, the Kcarsarge, and the Kentucky
will also never hesitate to attack any vessel
they may como across; while IL Mr.,
ALIENS friends will allow the Alabama.
the Illinois, and the Wisconsin to take on
their armor, we shall have a third trio COM
petent to face any foe that floats.
Mr.. BUTLER of North Carolina was
equally Respondent, and with as little rea-
son. He described the Oregon as " one of
those vessels with the spongy, imperfect
fraudulent plates. 1t is possible" he added,
THAT there is not a single good. honest
armor plate on the ship" Nevertheless,
it is not possible, as the records of
the Navy Department show. Senator
TILLMAN of South Carolina declared, and
three times repeated, that the famous fine
of about $l40,4S5 imposed for the bad
Carnegie plates had been refunded. He did
not dispute that it was imposed, but "any-
how, l know the fine was remitted." Secre-
tary HERBERT, who ought to be an author
ity on the subject, says, Oh the contrary,
that the fine, which was paid by check, has
never been RENTED. In fact, Mr.. TILL
MANS announcement on the subject Is the
first intimation we ever heard that anybody
in the country supposed the money was
paid back by the Government.
With various queer notions like these
prevailing in the Senate, 1t can be better
understood why that body fixed on the pre-
posterous price of $500 per ton for the
armor which the three latest battleships
need. Even Mr.. TELLER, whose chief COM
plant seems to he that a fleet has not been
sent 10 Havana. said he did not care
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18

whether the new battieships wsrs finished
o. not. They would b Just az useful ON
the stocks as on the seas" But that issheer
petulance, because a navy superior to
SPANS is clearly a good backing for our
diplomacy In anything we may hope to do
for Cuba. When, also, Mr.. TELLER says
that elf we should want few extra ships
Of war we can buy them In the markets of
the world" he not only suggests the over
throw of a policy founded by the fathers of
the republic, n maintained to this day.
but he forgets that the few extra ships may
be needed when a declaration of war will
have made 1t unlawful and impossible to
buy them In the worlds markets.
But wild and ignorant talk Of this sort
was well suited to the wild proposition
which passed the Senate.