davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

Our esteemed contemporary, the Utica
Herald. AYERS that Col. GRIFFITH, Governor
BLACKS private secretary. made u favorable
impression in performing tho duty OF delivering
the message In the two houses" an impression.
II might have added. entirely deserved. Whether
the two houses made an equally favorable I'M
preston upon Col. GRIFFITH 10 NJ present un-
known TO men. and must remain so until
he writes his memoirs. The observer from
tho Oneida Reservation says that Col. GRIr-
FIFTH appeared In = Prince Albert coat. and
IS he stepped down tho aisle of the Assembly
chamber. escorted by the stoutcst Assistant
Serg eant-at-Arms bis stature recalled the days
Of lamont. RICE. and WILLIAMS. when physical
proportions were not requisite in private sscre-
tarios." But when were physical proportions
requisite In private secretaries7 Is IL upper
mitted save TO men OF length to wear a frock
coat2 Assistant sorgeants-at-Arms are. and OF
right ought to he. portly and weighty. There
should be q room-nlling look about them.
Their mere size should make them authoritative
As representatives of order, their inertia
should DO great. But the private secretary may
be as alert, useful. ana accomplished, and
more inconspicuous. II he occupies only a reason
able amount OF space. The Hon. DAN LAMONT
was at once tho smallest and the greatest Of
private secretaries. but Col. GRIFFITH. IRE.
spcctive of size and tho frock coat which ex-
cites so much evident wonder in tho Oneida
Reservation. now has the chance TO rank himself
with that acute IL not gigantic philosopher.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
Black on Constitutional Law.

Tit new Governor appears to have over
looked some important provisions OF the
Constitution OF the United States and the
Constitution Of the State Of New York when
he prepared his first message to the Legisla-
ture.
In one place he says to the Senat and
Assembly:
II suggest that you consider the subject OF building
a State cruiser upon which the nsval militia might re-
ceive such actual training asl 10 provided for tho guard
In the camp at Peekskill."
But how about the prohibition In the
Federal Constitution, which declares that
no State shall keep ships Of war In time Of
peace without the consent OF Congress ,
Had we not better obtain that consent be-
fore W. provide for building n State cruiser ,
Again, in reference to the State civil ser
vice, the Governor makes this suggestion:
IF an examination has disclosed tho fact that a
certain number OF men arc qualified to MI . given
position. the place would DO moro likely to be prop.
erly nlltd II tho appointing omcer could sslect from
tho who.e number so qualified than II he was limited
to q quarter OF that number
Blu to allow the appointing power to
select from the whole number Of qualified
candidates, as thus proposed, would be to
SUBSTITUTE u uere p"ss ehauiihh'ioh LOT u
competitive examination, and would he a
violation OF the new Constitution Of the
State OF New York, in all cases where com.
petitive examinations are practicable.
Another portion of that instrument con,
tains the form OF the oath which the Gov
ernor is required to take. The only part OF
that oath which we are now concerned with.
is tho beginning, which runs thus:
81 do soiemnly swear that I viii support the Con
s,itutiou OF the United States and the Constitution OF
the State OF New York"
The people expect their public servants to
keep this oath.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

remind him that the Cuban republic will
not be Of that sort, but that oven . republic
Of that sort would be greatly preferable to
Spanish rule.
Prof. Gross gave utterance to but q few
words about Cuba; they were not such as
to call for any comment.
Three Of the other Harvard professors
who were approached by the Boston re-
porter declined absolutely to express any
views on the question, because OF the I'M
certainty OF affairs in Cuba" That was
discretion, unsupported by pluck. There
Is, indeed, uncertainty about some OF the
affairs OF Cuba, but not about all
Of them; not. for example, about the
existence OF war there, or about SPANS
struggle for sovereignty, or Cuba's
demand for independence. Is Spain In the
right, or is Cubai Would justice or FREQ
dom be advanced by tho success Of Spain,
or would Cuba go to the dogs under q
republics We do not sec that Prof. AMEs,
or Prof. BAKER, or Prof. TAUssIa has any
need to be afraid to form or to express an
opinion oven upon uncertainties. Perhaps
they favor free Cuba, but did not like to
say 80 at Harvard.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

ton that q large majority Of our foreign
born citizens take q conservative view Of
the currency question. He points out. more
over, that the last quoted figures indicate
that q large majority Of our foreign-born
citizens voted against the revolutionary
sentiments of the Chicago platform. But
IL d"isintegrating and revolutionary doctrines
can be beaten in our great cities, where
foreign-born persons are concentrated, they
are not likely to flourish anywhere.
Another impressive outcome Of the Stats
tics collected by Mr.. LODGE IL that the pop
ulation of the Mckinley States was, In
round numbers, nearly forty-five millions,
while the population Of the Bryan States
was only n little over twenty-five millions.
II also appears that the wealth OF the States
which gave their electoral votes TO the Re-
publican candidate vas, according to the
census Of 1890, close upon ~forty-seven bill
lion dollars, while that Of the States which
voted for the Democratic candidate was.
according to the same census. just over sew
enteen billion dollars. Still another table
exhibits the age OF the States voting for Nc
KINLEY or for BRYAN, the age, Of course,
being reckoned from the date OF admission
to the Union. The average age OF the Nc
Kinley States turns out to have been s0.4
years, while the average age Of the Bryan
States was but $40 years. This table
brings out, also. the interesting fact that
MCKINLEY carried nine Of the thirteen
original States; while, Of the other
four. North Carolina was 80 divided
that its vote had little Significance. Go
ing beyond the borders Of tho thirteen
original States, Mr.. LODGE points out that
outside Of the South, where the voters were
held In line merely by party discipline. Mr..
MCKINLEY carried the States just about in
proportion to the duration Of their exist
ence In the Union. What could be clearer,
then. than that the older and moro settled our
States become, the more decisive is their
verdict against d~isorRanizing and revolu-
tionary principles Of government,
In view Of these results Of m analysis OF
the votes cast at the last election, Mr..
LODGE submits that we are warranted In
believing more firmly than ever In the
character and intelligence OF the American
people when a great moral issue is squarely
presented to them.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

thing II the majority against liquidation
and anarchy in the United States had been
larger than 700 ZOO. II It had been 1,700.-
600, for instance, some Of the dangers which
Brother SrERNE deplores, but does not de-
scribe, would have been further removed.
and would appear less imminent to the
hysterical Mugwump mind. But 100000
was enough. The popular majority OF
700, 900 against the allied forces Of Populism
aud anarchy, trading under the honored
name Of Democracy, suficed; and many an
important election in tho United States has
been decided by q majority very much less.
The early Presidents of the republic were
chosen without q majority at all, there
being no popular vote. and no particular
harm or injury seems to have come to the
republic In consequence Of the failure Of all
its citizens to be agreed on political sub
jects. The HARRISON and VAN buren, con-
test. TfPPEcANoE and.TyLER. too, OF 1910
Is often referred to as the most exciting and
uncertain in the history Of American Presi-
Dental elections up to hat time. But the
popular majority for Gen. HARRISON was
only 1919, 900. No moro important election
in the United States, perhaps, In respect OF
subsequent legislation and the course OF
subsequent events, was ever held than that
OF 1850; and yet Mr.. LINCOLN, the victor,
had no majority at all. He polled only
1900 900 Of the 1900, 900 votes cast in the
country. The pessimist statesmen OF that
period had, apparently, nj share in such
fears as Brother STERNE expresses. that the
plurality OF the President-elect was not large
enough. It was largo enough to insure his
Inauguration, and It was large enough to
endure until tho next Presidential election,
when Mr.. LrNcoLS's majority on the popu-
lar vote was 400, 900.
II the friends of honest money, Of honest
politics, OF constitutional methods and Of
representative Government, are always
fortunate enough to be able to summon to
their support a majority OF 10000, the
dangers which tho sad-eyed Mugwumps
have pretended to discern on the political
horizon. may as we'll, once for all, be brushed
away as OF 40 Importance.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
His Remuneration.

Our ancient Mugwump contemporary, the
Baltimore Sun, has not yet grown weary
OF sounding the timbrel In honor OF the re-
nowned excursionist and ~duck-hunter, the
Hon. GROVER CLEVELAND. In q despatch
from Washington it makes the superfiuous
but wholly safe remark that he has long
been perfectly content with the record OF his
public life" OF course he has, and so have
the Mugwumps. and will be to the end.
mo nomination." says the Washington
eulogist, ever came to n man less unsought
to him in 1899, but he would either
have been less or moro than mortal to have
refused" The syntax Is not beyond cavil,
but the sentiment Is sublime. 1t has been
supposed, however, that it was admitted, as
a condition precedent OF the Qualification OF
Mr.. CLEVELAND, that he was and is moro
than mortal. The Hon. W. C.. WHITNEY
will be surprised to learn that the nomina-
ton was not sought. and most industriously
sought, by Mr.. CLEVELAND in 1899.
As to the course Of Mr.. CLEVELAND in re-
gard TO the nomination in 1896, hear the
Mugwump apologist:
at was no cause OF surprise to those well &C.
qualnted with the character OF MIR. CLEVELAND that ho
WIN bitNht et a. ohhihNb
made in 90 many quarters up TO the time Of the selec-
ton OF delegates to the Chicago Convention on his
alleged ambition for another term in the white
House. The President took no notice OF the persist
ent attempts to draw an expression from him, be-
cause he considered Il neither necessary nor becoming
TO do so. unless . situation should intervene making
II. In his Judgment imperative TO speak. Il was not
the iess fully known to those who shared his conn.
dence that not only was he without the least desire
for another Presidential term. but there were no
possible circumstances which could possibly induce
him to again become . candidate"
Mr.. CLEVELAND wanted the nomination
so little in 1896 that he took the trouble not
to say so even in n hating and an ambigu-
Gus way, until his canvass and the impor-
~tunities OF his friends had made the nomi-
nation OF a sound-money candidate impossi-
BILE. IL it had not already been made i'm
possible by his Administration. Then the
worshippers betook themselves to Indian
apolis, and bleated for the unique and in
dispensable.
"In choosing Princeton as his future
home,'' continues the bard, the President
was actuated by the wish to find n spot re-
mote from hustle and turmoil" Beautiful
and philosophic remuneration Still, IL the
Hon. GROVER CLEVELAND should find n
lodge in the Alaskan wilds, he would not be
too remote to fish for another nomination,
and he could depend upon the help OF tho
faithful. OF whom the Baltimore u is one
| OF the most faithful and fond.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
VIVA, Mr.. Money Saw in Cuba.

The assertion OF Mr.. II. ID. MONEY, the
new Senator from Mississippi, who has Just
returned from Cuba, hat he found the
island fast becoming q desert under the
operations Of the war, IL doubtless true In
the sense which he meant to convey. Mr..
MONEY made n trip from Havana, going to
San jose. about twenty miles distant. He
saw that towns had been burned and sugar
and coffee plantations destroyed. the insur-
gent forces having raided up to the very
suburbs Of the capital.
At the outset the patriots, for military
reasons, declared that beef and other sup
plies must not go into the towns occupied
by the enemy, and also that the sugar plan
tations must stop work. Gen. GOMEZ, In his
orders of July I, 1895. from Najasa, In
Camaguey, directed that those who should
attempt to grind the crop, notwithstand-
ing this prohibition, should "have their
cane burned and their buildings de-
molished." In November following, at
sancti Spiritus. he went further, and
ordered the destruction Of all sugar planta-
tions. Then, addressing honest men, vic
Tins OF the TORCH" he showed why this
"choice between the wealth Of Spain and
the liberty OF Cuba" must be made.
Having resolved on winning independence
through war, it would be folly TO sacrifice
human lives without stint to that end, and
yet shrink from sacrificing the z crop.
"frcm which the enemy still dreams Of OBJ
taininE his revenue. First Of all we must
triumph; toward that end the most effective
means, though they may appear harsh,
must be employed" The sugar crop has
been a great source OF income for Spain,
through the taxes and export duties on IL,
and hence a means Of carrying on war
against the republic Of Cuba.
War is always devastation, but the de-
struction OF property is not its cruelest
feature. The cotton crop and baled cotton
were attacked in our civil war, as the sugar
crop is now attacked in Cuba, and on similar
grounds. The grain fields were ravaged In
the Shenandoah Valley and elsewhere.
Cnquestionably the war in Cuba Is carried
on with great ~ferocity and great destruction
OF property; but even Mr.. CLEVELAND,
who will not be suspected OF an undue
leaning toward the patriot cause, said in
his recent message that the Spanish Gov
eminent is now apparently acting upon
the same theory as the insurgents, namely.
that the exigencies OF the contest require
the wholesale humiliation Of property, that
1t may not prove OF use mt advantage to
the enemy" In fact, Spanish garrisons,
under general orders, are withdrawn from
plantations, and rural populations are COM
PEELED to 10 to the towns, so abandoning
the crops to their fate.
Mr.. MONEYS observations suggest how
patriot forces, and how little is fully con-
trolled by Spain. Long ago Congress, seeing
thisd devastation, declared 1t to be the duty
Of Mr.. CLEVELAND to seek to bring peace to
the island, on the basis OF the acknowledg
ment Of Cuban independence; and this 70
mains his duty to-day.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
Advice OF Little Weight.

The Chamber OF Commerce rather pre-
sumes on the forgetfulness OF this COM
munity when 1t puts itself forward again
rs an adviser concerning a matter OF grave
Importance to the people.
On Thursday it passed unanimously a
long preamble and resolutions calling upon
the Greater New York Charter Commission
to apply to the Legislature for more time
for the consideration OF the proposed char
ter, and upon the Legislature itself to refer
the instrument when passed to the people
Of the communities concerned, for coniirma-
ton or rejection.
Shortly before the election OF 1894, this
same Chamber passed with the same una
nimity an appeal to the people to vote
for the construction OF an underground rail
road at the expense Of the city government,
arguing that - In n series Of years the city
will own the road free OF all debt and in
cumbrances. thus making good the security
for the bonds issued for building the road"
The Chamber of Commerce further assured
the people that by voting for the project
they would secure immediate relief" in
the way Of rapid transit, the cost Of which
1t estimated at $50, 10000
more thnn Two years nave gone ny, YET
the Immediate relief" has not come, and
there has been no step toward it, The
project which the Chamber OF Commerce
commended to the people rs an absolutely
safe financial investment was unanimously
rejected and vetoed by the Appellate
Division OF the Supreme Court on the 2ed
of May, 1890. The grounds for this de-
cision were thus summed up in the closing
sentence OF the opinion Of Justice VAN
BIUNT. with the concurrence OF all the
justices of the Court:
THE probabilities Indicate that after sinking nifty.
ono millions OF dollars In It without being able TO
complete it. tho enterprise would have to DO abnn.
doncd, since no legislation could anord any relief.
All that ueheld 1t would begin to mock, saying, This
city began to build, and was not able to nnish.'"
Is the Legislature likely to heed the nd
vice OF n body which has proved itself to be
30 i'll prepared as the Chamber Of Commerce
to give counsel regarding public affairs
The main question as to the Greater New
York was submitted to the people, and they
approved the project. Now the duty of the
Legislature is to execute the scheme.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

The weather was impolite when the Hon.
ORR COOKE Of Barkhamsted was inaugu-
rated Governor Of Connecticut. As our esteemed
contemporary. the NsU Hdren Register. rays. In
words In which the darkness OF tears and tho
silent sadness OF overshoes butfeting the snow
are but too plain. the air was damp and chilly:
the snow from overhead gave an unpleasant
greeting to the new Governor of Connecticut"
IL this were SO. II were a grievous fault.
but surely II was worth while TO chill
and dampen a hundred statesmen at Hartford.
since an event In Itself so regrettable became
tho unconscious means OF the discovery that
snow falls from overhead. The eyes Of men OF
science all over the world have flashed and
frightened at the news Of this discovery. But
who will follow the New Haven discoverer Of
tho decadcnce OF snow when he attributes TO
nature this hostile purpose?
Mature frowned upon the new administration"
Wo think better OF nature than to believe her
capable OF frowning upon the Hon. L.oRRIS A.
COOKE of B~arkhamsted. Even II nature In
tended this uncomfortable discourtcsy. there is
still n heart In her bosom. She could not
mean to frown upon the might and
the majesty. the beauty and the terror.
of the Second Company. Governors Foot
Guards. and Horse Guards OF New Haven. both
organizations presenting an excellent appear
ancc In their full.dre.s unifarm." Nature
knows a good thing when she secs It.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09

from the Sdu Frdnrtsco Chronicle.
Much has been said and written during the
past few months about the manless isles of 81.
John. In the South seas. and Capt. bergman Of
tho American bark Big Bonanza has been
quoted In picturesque descriptions Of the beau
tiful women there and the fife of luxury that
awaits the man who Is bold enough to make one
OF them his bride.
The BIG bonanza dropped anchor In the har-
Dor yesterday forenoon. and 1t required but n
brief interview with those who accompanied
Capt. Bergman on his visit to the islande to
demonstrate that the entire story is q myth.
Capt. Adolph Bergman. who was In the bark n
year ago when she sailed past the ST. John
islands. and who Ii accredited with having first
given the story publicity in n sydney paper. Is
no longer in III OF the vessel. His
brother, Cant. Alex Bergman. formerly OF the
Majestic. occupies the cabin.
There ~are.only two members OF his crew who
accompanied Capt. Adolph on tie voyage that
Is now famous. Both are boye, and only ono
speaks English. When tho Ehglish-speAking
youngster was tumb!ed out OF his bunk last
night aud piled with questions he soon exploded
the uft-Tepcated yarn. He said that the Big
Bonanza did not stop at the ~. John Islands al
all. She merely passed close By. A.crowd. "
natives, all men, put OF III boats and boarded
the bark. begging. stealing. and trading, rs the
opportunity offered. No women came. nor did
Capt. Bergman or any of his men 90 ashore.
The sailor boy said that the natives might have
related to the Captain the story no Is sail to
have afterward repeated. but there was no evil
dence that there was any truth In the Jsrn.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
Sterne GricVes.

1t would be a mighty poor and unim-
portant election which was not followed,
six weeks later, by an address on the miser-
les OF politics, the horrors Of the spoils
system, and the degeneracy of American
statesmen by the Hon. SIMON SrEINE,
whose method of improving the suffrage
has always been to restrict it, In order that
in exercising the franchise undesirable and
unworthy individuals should be totally ex-
Guided from any fellowship with Mug
wumps, Mr.. STERNE's grievance now is
the peculiar one that Notwithstanding the
teaching of political economists and states
men, there were only 100000 out of 49,
900, 900 votes between US and the establish
ment of the silver coinage delusion."
Undoubtedly 1t would have been q good
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
A WEIeHIY UBJECr.
The susgsstisns or - Correspondsnt Tor .
Historical Portrait.

EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON. D. O.. Jan. 4
Hon. John lloyd Thacher. AIbdnv. " j,
My DKAR SIN: I sincerely regret that the many
Official duties do not permit me to join my friends In
Albany on the 9Th inst. as n participant IN their cen
tennial celebration. The years spent in your city
while I discharged all such oniciai duties left on mi
mind the clear conviction that no mistake was made
when Albany was nxed upon as the seat OF govern
ment for the great state OF New York. to be always
thereafter associated with Its glory and It's prestige.
During my stay among the good people Of Albany !
gathered In many delightful remcmbrances. You
may he sure. therefore. that. though absent, lshnll on
the day OF your celebration mcmbe with cere
monio,s eradication my proposed participation In
the exercises at this particular capital, and pleasure
bly, recall the discharge OF important and isborious
public duties mado more easy by the great hospitality
OF Its people. Very truly yours.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
To THE EDITOR or The SUS-Sir Tho above
Enthusiastically elegant and really beautiful let
ter of an extraordinarily ordinary man ought TO
receive more than n passing notice:
To zee the numbering hugeucss OF his elephan-
tine intellect walIowinp along through the Eng
lish language 10 n spectacle to SGT Parnassus
wild with rapture. "Cercmonious qualification"
caps the climax of . phenomenal career OF toll
some phrnse-making. Get us n photograph or
paint US . picture OF Cleveland in the act Of re-
mcmbering things =" with ceremonious Rratinca-
tiou." and have It hung up in the Albany Cap
itol. Justice has never yet been done to tho
comical side Of Grover Cleveland's porcine SOL
emnity. nor to the unoducated Johnsoneso Of his
corpulent and natulont style Of expression.
This bulky deposit Of Presidential sdipose
should be depicted by artistic genius before IL
goes waddling and twaddling toward the near
and y~carninR horizon Of retirement, obscurity,
oblivion.
pray you rise to this great public duty and