The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-04-16
EDITORIAL NOTES.

EDITORIAL NOTES.
The rush to Alaska is subsiding.
People are coming to their senses, and
are not so ready to risk their lives and
fortunes chasing after mythical treas
ures in the frozen North. 1t would
have been well if the rush had sub
sided before it began.
The union forces of Harley county
have made no mistake in naming Hor-
ace A. billiard for county clerk. The
writer hereof has known Mr.. billiard
for many years, and recognizes in him
an honest, capable man for almost any
office within the gift of the people.
The permission given Minister
Woodford to leave Madrid before dip
lomatic relations have suspended be-
tween America and Spain is an un-
usual procedure. However it does not
indicate hostilities so much as it does
the dissatisfaction of the administra
tien with his acts.
Astoria now has railroad, and the
papers of that city are wondering what
they are going to do with it. notwith-
standing they have been crying for
railroad for years. 1t will probably
prove to be something like fifth
wheel to a wagon--good for ornament,
but of little utility.
American manhood and honor is to
be asserted, despite the wishes of sena.
tor Hanna and his little man in the
White House. Congress says Spanish
in nilgnities must be resented. The
peace at any price" policy of Hanna
g. Co, will not 60 down the American
throats of majority of the senators
and congressman.
Were it not that the senate would
refuse to permit the issuance of gold
bonds, Wall street would allow the
president to declare the rights of
America and issue to Spain an ultima
tum in unmistakable terms. 'Tis the
money power more than anything else
that holds matters in check and forces
us to accept Spanish insults.
1t is pity that the United States
has not today Jackson, Lincoln or
a Grant in the presidential chair. If
we had such president at the head of
the government the voice of the cring-
ing moneybags would not be needed,
but the lives of the 26O brave sailors
who perished on the Maine would be
avenged, and Cuba would be free.
A very creditable special edition has
just been issued by the Pendleton
Tribune. 1t has % pages we'll filed
with descriptive articles and bio
graphical sketches, and is we'll illus
trated with zinc etchings. The pub
lication will be of benefit to Umatilla
county, as it gives splendid descrip.
tion of the recources of that section.
The partisan whip has been cracked
over the heads of congressman, and
the money bags have undertaken to
support President Mckinley in his ef-
fort to purchase peace at any price,
but congress has taken hold of the
matter in true patriotic way and has
risen above partisanism. The lives of
the brave meu murdered on the Maine
will be avenged.
A blundering, weak representative
of the United States at Madrid has
caused more insults heapeG upon this
government by Spain. He gave out
the impression that the United States
was not in earnest when demanding
the cessation of hostilities in Cuba,
therefore Spain treated the demand
lightly, and displayed perfect disre
gard of the note from the president.
A petition is being circulated re-
questing N. H. Gates to accept the
nomination of the democratic, peoples
and silver republican parties for the
office of prosecuting attorney of the
seventh judicial district. 1t is to be
hoped Mr.. Gates will consider the
petition favorably and will accept. He
is young gentleman of sterling
worth, and we'll qualified for the office.
Nearly two months have ealpsed since
the Maine was blown up and 258
American citizens hurled to death. still
our government with "brave and
valient soldier" at its head, has made
no demand upon the Spanish govern
ment for redress. Were the lives of
those sailors valueless? 1t seems that
the patriotism that coursed through
the veins of our fore-fathers has be-
come sluggish.
The message transmi tied to congress
by President McKinly is characters
tic of the man-evasive and non-com-
initial. During his entire public
career Mckinley has never displayed
any strong traits of character or fixed
purpose except in his advocacy of high
protection to the favored classes. His
foreign policy is his weakest point,
and it is such as brings blush to the
face of weary patriotic American citi-
Zens.
Oh, Yes, the Dingley law is working
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