The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-15

ton of the forest areas in its mountain
ranges and the sans is true of many
other counties. President Cleveland's
forestry order set aside reservation of
about 100000 acres in the far west,
making in all about 100000 acres
thus reserved during his administra-
ton. The shortsightedness of western
senators in passing bill last week, re.
voking this finest reservation order may
not be felt by the present generation.
but it is certain to be factor in dimin-
ishing the fertility and value of western
land, in the not distant future.
500
SPAIN should be little more wary
and circumspect in dealing with the
Philippines, at least while the Cuban
difficulty is not yet settled. When the in
surrection in the former islands was ter
minated few weeks ago, the victorious
Captain General Polavieja issued pro.
clamation of amnesty to the inhabitants.
the beneficial effect of which was imme-
diately noted in the islands. Now it an
nounced that Polavieia's successor,
General Primo di Rivera, now on his
way to the far East, will annul every
grant made in the direction of constitu
tional liberty and civic rights since
1890. 1t is this policy of dishonesty and
cruelty which is responsible for Spain
troubles with her colonies. 1t is true
her colonial population is not of high
character either in the East Indies or
the West Indies. but it is sufficiently
high and intelligent to understand and
appreciate at its true worth such double
dealing as that now reported from the
Philippines.
The Volunteers of America cele-
brated their first anniversary in March.
The progress which they have made is
remarkable. They begin their second
year with 160 posts and 500 commis-
stoned officers and with 5000 members of
their auxiliary. or " Defenders League"
the posts, Mrs. Ballington Booth is con-
Quoting wonderful mission in the state
prisons in New York, Massachusetts,,
New Jersey and California. She is also
establishing homes to which prisoners
can go when reles sed and where they can
receive aid in obtaining work. During
the past winter the Chicago posts fed
1888 hungry people, lodged 9,206, gave
away 5.186 garments, 30 tons of coal and
J,055 loaves of bread. They also distrib.
uted hundreds of dollars worth of gro
ceries, shoes and medicine to the worthy
poor.
While in the United States, the past
year or two. the revenues of the govern
ment have been falling behind the expen-
ditures, Great Britain's budget for the
past year shows a comfortable surplus
of about S13, 365 900 over expenditures.
With such a nice little surplus, and
Canada offering the mother country
preferential trade. there ought to be no
lack Of enthusiasm in this diamond iu-
bilee year in Victoria's domains.
500
The UNIvERSALIsT will not print
programs of the Associations or minor
meetings Of the church this season. 1t
is frequently useless demand on our
space, as the programs are very rarely
followed, and are often on this account
misleading. Convention programs will
be given one or two insertions as here
tofore.
After this week we shall print no
more Easter notices. IL such notices
come hereafter in other correspondence,
they will be eliminated. Ministers and
churches who failed to promptly re-
port Easter services must not expect
us to keep our columns open for their
convenience long after such matter has
ceased to be news.
Our friends who send US obituaries
should remember that there is a con-
slant demand on our columns and that
it is not possible for US to print IN ec-
tense. We always regret to abridge
such notices. but it is necessary to do
this when obituaries exceed a reason
able length.
@OS
Our eighth page is filed this week
with UNCONVENTIONAL notices and obitu-
aries to the exclusion of our usual COL
umns of news. Next week we hope to
continue our resume of the weeks news.