davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Our Lake Merchant Marine.

One Of the striking facts in the forthcom-
ing report Of the Commissioner of Naviga-
tion is the continued increase OF the ton
mage of the great lakes. 1t may surprise
those who are not familiar with the statis-
tics Of this subject to learn that the ton
mage Of the entire Atlantic n Gulf coasts,
comprising so large a part Of our seaboard,
is not a great deal over one.half Of that of
the country as a whole. hat is, the whole
documented merchant marine was on June
80 last 22,633 vessels of 4,789,02O tons,
making the half 2,3S4,510, while that of
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts was 2,647,-
300. The tonnage of the great lakes has
increased to 1,410,1 03, the remainder OF
the total going to the Pacific coast.
Another noteworthy fact Is that the lake
tonnage was the only one that increased
during the year, the Pacific tonnage about
holding It's own, and the Atlantic and Gulf
tonnage losing about 10000, while that OF
the lakes increased by $4,000 gross tons.
1t was wholly due to the latter, therefore,
that our net gain was 65,400 tons. This
gain, by the way, is small, and suggests that
Congress may find in this matter a field for
its labors.
One other reflection is that on the great
lakes we now have a very large and valu-
able merchant tonnage, exposed, like any
part of the shores, to the ravages Of any
British feet of gunboats and torpedo boats
that might obtain access to those waters
through the st. Lawrence and the Dominion
canals. But we may also note that this
very fleet, with the large and powerful
Al-A - 49, ~ IL
really contains the potential elements OF
self-defence. 1t is only necessary to see
that a suitable supply Of guns and gun
mounts, with the needful ammunition, lie
In reserve ready to be put upon these yes
sells 80 as to turn them into cruisers. II
that be provided, with u shore defences
our submarine mines, and proper provision
for breaking the canals, there need be nc
anxiety for the safety of our great and
growing lake fleet.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

question with which Low and his orators
will have nothing to do. They will fire
blank charges only. The issue will be be-
tween Gen. TRACY and HENRY GEORGE,
and them only. 1t will be between the st.
Louis platform and the Chicago platform.
Is HENRY GEORGE, with his strange and
dangerous social theories, to be the first
Mayor to set in motion the machinery Of
the government Of the new and enlarged
municipality, for the benefit Of general
social revolution, or is the man to be Gen.
Tracy, a solid and conservative statesman
That is the question, and before the I'd of
next month the very respectable and pom
derous, but politically purblind gentle
men, who will sit on he platform at the
Low meeting tomorrow night, will all be
aghast at the possibility Of GEoRGE's being
the man selected, and they will be ashamed
when the name of Low is mentioned in
their presence.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

1t has often boon said that Terre Haute is tho
gamest town in the country.-Terre Haute Erpress.
without undertaking to understand what n
:" game " town is. we may be permitted to re-
mark that in other days Terrc Haute had
clearer titles to greatness. Tho literary peri
helion OF tho country was supposed to be Mt
Terre Haute. Where is 1t now2 Has IT.
moved or been movedi Somewhere in Indi-
ana It must be, for nowhere else beneath
the waggish eye OF heaven arc there so many
writer's to the square inch rs In the demesno of
the Hoosiers. Poetry grows there as freely as
corn, and you catch essays there as easily as
you catch the measles anywhere else. There
are moro associations of authors in Indiana
than there are baseball clubs. And Terro Haute
used to be tho capital Of all this paradise of the
intellect. Has Terrc Hauto changed, or is 1t
misrepresentedi
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sfr: Referring to the
interesting article on page 4 Of this days Sunday
Sun. entitled "Tho Meteorite Unloaded, e I would call
attention to the following paragraph: 1.-THE dificulty
OF distinguishing an iron OF telluric (or earthly from
one OF meteorio origin has been lately rendered very
evident by the controversy as to the origin of the
largo masses OF iron, containing ! or g per cent. OF
nickel and weighing 5000. 10000. and $1,000
pounds. respectively. found In 1870 by Prof. Norden-
skold on the beach at ovifak, Disko Island. western
Greenland and would say: Would not the doct. inc
Of chances. founded on mathematical probability.
disprove all these bodies of similar competition to
be meteorites? Some years since q famous will case.
involving o large amount. was decided adversely to
the claimant in Rhode Island because the signature to
the will was absolutely identical in form with a
signature OF the deceased property holder found upon
aletter or business paper OF his execution upon the
ground that the chance that he should make his sig.
nature twice exactly alike was practically as one to
the will. because exactly like the other. was traced
from that upon the letter and W as therefore a forgery.
A number OF writing and mathematical experts were
called upon to testify. II such a thing be possible.
are not the chances greater that not any one Of these
bodies OF so rare and nearly identical composition,
gle island, arc met ortc, and in view OF the further
fact also that meteoric bodies OF anu composition of
so great weight. II not quite, at least are practically
unknown to exist elsewh here upon the broad surface
OF the whole earth? To state the question more
briefly and simply: II the chance in the will case was
rs one practically to infnity, ia not the chance in this
case as one TO innnity2 THEODORE D. KELLOGG.
NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 1897.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Jews with Black skins-



have noticed in the press from time to time
items concerning a blind black Jew who is
81 doing " the United States. He must be a bit
OF a traveller to Judge from the various points l
have heard from him. He has been West. South,
and North. and when last heard from was in
Hartford. Hebrew is a language in which he
seems to be at home. and a writing pad is his
means of communication.
i presume that he is a Falasha or Abyssian
Jew, belonging to Il people that was saved to
Judaism from the conversion efforts Of the MIS-
sionaries through the Alliance Israelite Univer-
selle, That association sent NJ. Hillevi among
them, established schools, and put them in touch
with their brethren in faith. The connection of
the Falashas with the main body OF the Jews
through ancestry dates back a long period, for
they use neither Tails prayer cloth nor ply.
lacteries. nor do they celebrate either the Feast
OF Dedication, in honor Of the Maccabean vic
tory. or even Purini, SO that it must be back Of
the Christian era.
There are other black Jews besides the Fa-
lashas. The Yemen Jews may be called so.
There are black Jews-as well as white Jews-in
Cochin China. There are also black Jews in
Jamaica. These arc the children of mixed
marriages.. e., of Jews with the native women,
whose children they have acknowledged and
l~egitimiZcd and who have thus come within the
fold of the synagogue. There are also black
Jews in India. the Bene Israel. n community in
and about Bombay, that has been restored to
Judaism by the Anglo-Jewish Association Of
London.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
No. No Drawn Baltic!

The Organizes of New York would like
to see the party Of the st. Louis platform
defeated.
MI. SETH Low wants to see Q drawn bat
tie between Bryanites and Republicans, and
himself elected by an organization which
invited the cooperation of members Of
any national party whatever" honest
money men or free-silver men.
A drawn battle in the Greater New York
such as Mr.. Low proposes between the st.
Louis and Chicago platforms would be only
second as a national misfortune to the Re-
publican party's outright defeat. The Citi-
zens' Unions attempt to make the battle
end in a draw, or. in other words, in the
election of Mr.. Low, is a blow at good
government only less definite in intention
than Organism pure and simple.
The time has passed for talk Of compro-
mise between Low and TRACY. Mr.. Low
must retire in TRAoY's favor or take his
place as a disturber by the side of HENRY
GEORGE and WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Sunday Golf and Kentucky Culture.

Fron the LeItn1fun Gazstfe.
II is said that the first meet on the golf fields at
Falrlawn in Lexington is to take place on q Sunday
afternoon. To draw a nimsy ven OF Justification over
question able proceedings society causes a report to
be circulated that some Eastern Bishop. lame I'M
known (and better SOY. had said that after attending
church In the morning II was no harm for people to
play golf on Sunday afternoons. II this were so It
would be n slur upon Episcopalianism which the true
Episcopalian would dlscountenance. 1t Is safe to say
that no who would play golf on Sunday afternoon
would seldom occupy q church pew in the morning.
1t Is true that many OF the strict Sabbath laws are
passing but a bold dissertation OF the day, by people
who want to be considered g~enteel, 10 not yet. fortu.
nateIy. Endorsed by the best people.
1t would seem that Lexington society. or that part
OF II which represents old and cultured families. had
Its head In q halter and was being led by a few new.
corners whose tendency has been from the nrst to in.
troduce Eastern depravity which ia cloaked under the
name OF style.
II New York. or Boston. or Washington openly prsc.
tees q sin that our forefathers Stunned, 1t Is no
reason why we should apo that sin or the shallow
perpetrators OF 1t.
Lexington society had best go a little slow. Some
OF our most cultured young people are withdrawing
from II. or never entered 1t. Many do not consider a
social career the one thing to be desired, and scorn to
be patronized by its leaders. Regrets are sent to all
large social functions. and a quiet preference for cul-
ture is made.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

The Hon. PRYNNE COKE Of Good Govern
ment Club G has returned to New York from
Northeast Harbor and proposes to put his tai
ents and his unrivalled collection Of Low but
tons at the service OF the Better Element" The
Better Element ought to BIO happier than it
looks. Mr.. COKE does us the honor to write US
as follows about an important subject:
"In regard to tho so.called lisp Of our honorea
and able leader. Mr.. JAMES B. REYNOLDS. I wish to say
that II there is any technical deficiency In his elocu-
ton. It is more than made good by the earnestness Of
his character. his devotion to the cause OF non parti'
sanship and his remarkable ingenuity In deviSing
legends for Low buttons. The friends of sell
nsh and partisan government may say or
sneer as they will. but long after their petty
malignity has been forgotten the name Of JANIS b.
REYNOLDS will DO treasured in the Jewel rooms OF his
tory by the side OF such names as GROVER CLEVELAND.
BoSuM p. SwABBs tof Good Government Club O.. and
SETH Low. Make no mistake
Mr.. CoxE's agitation is pleasing even II not
wholly necessary. II Mr.. REYNOLDS lisps, he
lisps in numbers, as his immortal lyric, From
Top to Toe I'm for SETH Low" proves. And he
has no more powerful coadjutor than our es'
teemed and militant little friend. the Hon.
PRYNNE COKE Of Good Government Club G.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

At last a genuine obstacle to American
agricultural prosperity has appeared. A de-
cision of n Treasury official forbids or prevents
tho Department of Agriculture from distribut-
ing any seed this year. 1t is we'll known that
nothing In the agricultural line. except weeds,
will consent to grow unless by the request of the
Department OF Agriculture. and in consequence
OF official seed. The friends of silver and woe
gaze into the future with GLAD eyes. Next year.
weeds and bulletins OF the Department OF ARri.
culture will be tho only agricultural products
that will allow themselves to be produced. For
eign famines will have to starve. A happy time
of misery is sure to come, provided the earth
hears Of the inability of tho Department of
Agriculture to replenish II.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

The accounts of the State Convention Of
the National Democrats Of Massachusetts, con-
tain one thrilling and pathetic passage, which is
here respectfully submitted:
when nominations for Governor were in order, .
delegate presented the name Of GAMAIIEL BRADFORD.
1t received no second"
How could it receive q secondi 1t is q name
inimitable and unique, to which nothing similar
or second has been or can be in all the directory
of time. GAMALIEL BRADFORD! 1t reaches
from Jerusalem to Plymouth Rock and
Puddle Dock. 1t sounds like heavens
artillery spiking itself in one tremendous
explosion against the world. The dynamic
force of 1T is appalling and almost In
conceivable. A nomination on the most minor
of minority tickets is too weak thanks for such
q name. The bearer OF it is entitled to some
thing greater. He ought to be moderator of tho
next town meeting in Brookline.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Belgium's Military Position.

The news sent by our London CORE
spondent in regard to the proposed visit of
Emperor WILLIAM to Belgium and the de-
sire of the Germans to find a route through
that kingdom in case of a war with France,
gives special timeliness and interest to a
study Of Belgium's military possibilities,
published in the London Times.
The occasion Of this study Is the attempt
about to be made at establishing universal
CONSUMPTION il Belgium, with the abolition
of the present right to buy substitutes. A
plan for this purpose was drawn up by
the Government a year ago, but aban-
doned; but now the Ministry will try it
again, believing that the scheme is vital to
the security of the kingdom. Belgium
is well supplied with powerful forts, yet
without assurance of adequate garrisons;
and one French writer points out that it's
army Is the smallest in Europe in ratio to
population, that 1t has a military budget
less than one.third as much in proportion
as that of England or France.
The origin of this condition of affairs Is
presumably the guarantee of Belgium's
neutrality in the protocol of Jan. 27, 1881,
by five great nations. But, as the writer in
the Times points out, that guarantee did
not justify her in neglecting adequate self.
defence, since she might fall into the condi.
tion described by BLUNTsoHLI and others,
when " in the event of the helplessness of
the neutral State it loses by that very fact it's
neutrality" A practical illustration of the
military duties of a neutral was given after
Sedan, when a part of the defeated French
Army crossed the Belgian frontier, only to
be disarmed and informed, $4,000 troops
under Gen. CHAzAL having been sent to
the border to meet such a move. Again,
when DUERoT on one occasion meditated
crossing a strip of Belgian territory to
reach Mezieres, MoLTKE ordered that he
should be followed and attacked on thai
intervening strip, If the Belgians them
selves did not disarm him.
Thus Belgium's duty as a neutral is clear
yet for years the Clerical party has de
clared that her strength was in her weak
ness, and hat to abolish the exemptions
by purchase and to build up the arm,
would "be regarded by her powerful
n~eighbors as "a menace" However, sh'
did take one most important step TO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

ton. One Of these politicians spoke a few
days g Of bringing the rebels to terms by
making them an offer of amnesty T.
Should such an offer be made, the insensate
politician will very soon hear the Cuban
answer to it.
The rulers Of Spain are disconnected by
the continuing failure of Spanish arms In
Cuba. The prospects for Cuba are such as
furnish encouragement to the brave men
who fight her battles. Cuba is to win in
her war for freedoml
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

state Troops Must Hereafter order Their Uni-
fnrms from tho Nnr Dcrnrtnicnt.

WASHINGTON, Oct. i.-National Guard orRani.
~zations throughout the country will DO inter.
csted In q decision made to-day by Assistant
Secretary Mcikloiohn Of the War Departments
concerning tho issue of cloth for uniforms to
tho militia by the Observation-Disclosures OF tho
army. A law OF Congress, enacted ton years ago,
provided that tho Sta Q militia organizations
would be entitled to receive. at tho exceedingly
low army rats. the same stores and materials
issued TO the regular troops. William c. Endi-
colt Of Massachusetts,, who was then Secretary
tho state troops to draw uniform cloth from tho
General.
Recently tho Alabama authorities contracted
with a Philadelphia firm TO supply uniforms for
the State troops. and offered in part payment
700 yards OF regulation cloth, for which appli-
cation was made to thc Government. Tho uni
forms furnished by the PHILADELPHIA firm ws-s
not satisfactory, and complaint was made to the
War Department. This caused Quurtcrmaster-
General Weeks to inquire into the system, and
he came to the conclusion that there was no
authority in the law OF ten years ago for allow
ing militia gnnization to draw uniform cloth,
Soldiers of the regular army arc not permitted
to get cloth from Qunrtcrma5.crs and then hnvo
1t made into uniforms. but can order uniforms,
which are made by army tailors.
On the recommendation of the Qrnrtcrmnster
General. Assistant Secretary Mciklejohn to-day
revoked Mr.. Endicotts ordcr rs far as u APP
piled to drawing cloth. and hereafter the militia
mon will be obliged to order their regulation
uniforms from the War Department. They will
without any extra trimmings, such as arc fro
Quently displayed by the National Guard.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

defence. After France, by great exertions
and great cost, had covered with
powerful forts the pen frontier from
Mezierns to Belfort which defeat had left
her, she saw that II Germany should vio-
late Belgian neutrality, she could turn the
whole of the French defence thus a~ssiduous-
ly prepared. Germany, or herpart, sawt that
France might do the same. In Belgium,
meanwhile, Gen. BR1ALMoNT had for years
been advocating a new system OF fortiica-
ton, suited to modern exigencies.
At length, ten years ago, Belgium adopted
Gen. BRIALMoNT's plan for fortifying the
line of the Mouse. The two points selected
were Namur and Liege. The former, at
the junction Of the Meuse and Sambrc, is
dominated by a ridge on which have been
built twenty-five iron forts, armed with
heavy guns. The total cost Of fortifying
Namur was about $7,5O0,o00. Similar
detached forts lave been constructed at
Liege, and at both points the passage of
the Meuse is controlled.
While these forts were voted for with
the idea that they would avert the neces-
sity for the CONSUMPTION, yet, as the Times
writer proceeds to point out, they have
really made its need more obvious. The
reason is that in case of war the gar
risoning of Antwerp and the Mouse for
tifcations would take up the whole
army. MoLTKE long ago observed that,
in that case, Brussels itself would be left
undefended. as we'll as important trade
centres like Charleroi, Mons, and Client.
He thought that Belgium ought to add
10000 men to her army. The writer from
whom we have quoted considers that the
present Belgian establishment could place
no more than 10000 combatants in the
field and that at least 80, 900 Of them
would be required to garrison Antwerp,
Namur, and Liege.
Such is the situation which confronts
Belgium in taking up the question of es-
tablishing a universal CONSUMPTION law.
AS our London correspondent has indi-
Gated, the advantage which Germany
would derive from marching her troops
through Belgium, instead of attempting
to force the line Of French forts, is great.
Indeed, some Belgian military men would
solve the hard problem by frankly taking
part, on the outbreak Of a war, with one or
other of the great combatants. thereby pur.
chasing protection.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
Tho United Hebreu Charities.

To THE EDITOR OF THE sus-Sir: In the article
headed "For Reform in Charity which appears In
your columns to-day. you quote the newly appointed
Commissioner. DR.. Stephen Smith. as saying 1.-THE
work OF Investigating the characters and needs OF the
applicants for charity is now carried on systemati-
cally only by the Charity Organization Society"
II DR.. Smith be correctly quoted he has condemned
at Wholesale the many charitable institutions OF this
city. and for one. the United Hebrew Charities asks
permission to defend Itself from such q charge.
This society carries on Its affairs with as much sys-
tenn and circumspectiou as can consistently be used
in tho work of relieving the poor. and we are sure
that our methods OF investigation will sooner or later
detect the fraudulent.
II any reference az to our work DO needed we can
refer the Doctor to the Charity Organization Society
itself. with which we have worked in cooperation for
many years. NATHANIEL 8. RosESAU. Manager.
NEW YORK, Get. /.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05
why D1r. George Is q Candidate.

This Is not the time to reply to the sub
Joined communication precisely in the
manner desired
"To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: Now that Mr..
HENRY GKoRoE has been nominated for the Mayoralty
of Greater New York, purely on account OF tho prn.
cfpies which he is known to hold. Il would crafty the
readers OF THE Sun to tce therein q brief and concise
exposition OF the theory in connection with which his
name has become famous. THos. HIGoISs.
AIS EAST GATH ST.. Sept. So"
1t is true that Mr.. GEORGE has been NOM
mated for the Mayoralty Of the Greater
New York, but not because Of the theory
In connection with which his name has be-
come famous"
Mr.. GEORGE has been nominated for
Mayor to take up the thread which the
regular Democratic organization, Tammany
Hall, would have some rebellious voters
believe that it has laid down.. Mr.. GEORGE
has been nominated as the champion of
Organism, the genius of the Chicago plat
form. He is to carry on the Bryanite move
ment, for which Tammany processes to have
grown cold, and the animus of his canvass,
therefore, will not be so distinctly George
ism, or the propagation of his special hob
bies Of the single tax and free trade, but
the Chicago platform, with Its reckless,
vague, but passionate enmity to wealth, to
capital, and to social order.
Mr.. GEORGE Is in the field to carry on the
fight Of Organism and to maintain in New
York city the spirit Of the Democratic
organization as 1t exists In the country at
large. No better representative Of that
spirit could be found here than Mr.. GEORGE,
and what it is can best be understood from
the fact that Mr.. GEORGE represents it.
The contest to which all citizens of New
York must seriously address themselves
by taking one or the other side is be.
tween the unlicensed radicalism of HENRY
GEORGE and the American conservatism of
BENJAMIN F. TRACY.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-05

From the Topeka State Journal.

An Indian yell which made the blood OF the
people Mt the State House run cold reverberated
through the halls and offices yesterday after
noon. 1t sounded like the dying moan OF a
thousand souls going down into, perdition. 1t
the, extreme. Chiefs Much Nose and Little
Talk were doing the State House and stepped
guide. The carriage started up ana then the
Indians yelled. One dropped down on his knees
ana lifted up MS voice IN a weird, discordant
other seized the iron grating of the cage and
yelled in savage style. The muscles Of his face
stood out in bold relief so great was the %exertion
of yelling. The sQuRws foil upon the floor Of
the elevator and seemed in a faint. When the
visited the State House no longer. They hurried
down n stairway leading to the main entrance
and disappeared as If by magic toward their
camp.