davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
THE BIG INFIDEL.

From the Kansas city, CMo) Times.
lie has made an immense fortune assaI-
ing with tongue and pen the Master who
taught that charity was the greatest of
all virtues. lie has charged people a. dol
lar a head for years TO hear him CuloGi2c
in rythmic phrases the ennobling intlu-
ences of brotherly love, of charity, of
home, of neighborly kindness, and of
country; and to inform them that the
Christ, who crystallized and symbolized
them in ALI His life and teachings, is a
myth, a fraud, and a creation of crafty
hypocrites and persons of feeble mind
In all the time he has been making
money in this way he has never endowed
an asylum for the helpless intellect; never
established home for the sick, the aged,
or the poor; and never, so far as is known.
given of his bounty to assist in the cause
of educating the ignorant lie is full of
professions of benevolenCe and charity,
but empty I'm performances. He Is a
snowy, entertaining charlatan, who has
chosen the forum instead of the circus
ring to make money in. He has passed
into the chestnutesque and reminiscent
stage. His power to draw has waned
into one-night stands
When he shall have passed away like a
ran-drop on the river, Christ and the
doctrines He tauEh: on the Mount will
still be with the neople-helping, consol-
ing. cnliGhtenng and uplifting them with
their saving grace, their simple, grandeur,
and their ineffaceah1e truth.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
SENATOR HoAR's POSITION.

From the Wilkes Barre Record
Senator Hoars attack on the president,
In the senate executive session, on We'd
nesday, is naturally attracting much at
ternoon, not bccause it was expected, but
because many will concur in the logic of
his argument even while questioning its
wisdom. Mr.. Hoar denounced the action
of the president in appointing senators as
members of the Spanish American peace
commission. He argued to show the i'm
propriotE of choosing senators To neSo-
tiatc a treaty when the treaty so nego-
tiatcd must come before the senate for
ratification. There are three senators on
the peace commission and when their
work comes before the senate these same
senators will pass upon the treaty which
they themselves negotiated. Mr.. Hoar
thanks this is all wrong. But on the other
hand, II might be urged that when so
important a matter as the peace treaty
with Spain comes before the senate Is IT
not well that there should be somebody
there to explain the many points that Will
naturally be raised and who so well quail
fled to do that as Senators Frye, Davis
and Gray. who assisted in negotiating and
framing it? Mr.. Huar certainly selected
an unauspicious time for raising such a
question. According to his own reason-
ing 1t would be very improper for MIR.
IIoar to ask the president to appoint any
particular person to a federal office, bc-
cause such appointce would subsequently
come before Mr.. lIoar, as a senator. for
confirmation. Nevertheless it is known
that Mr.. HOar has secured the appoint
mcnt of many persona! and political
friends whom he afterwards assisted in
confirming.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
Canal Difficulties.

The construction of the Nicaragua
canal by the United States government
will be beset with difficulties other
than those of the engineering work
involved. Before we can begin to scoop
dirt and blast rock we shall first have
To get over, under or around the Clay
on-Bulwer treaty, which perpetually
pledged us to permit England into part
nership In any canal enterprises along
the isthmus Of Darien; and then next
we shah have to make terms with Nj
caragua, which already has two con-
Cessions outstanding.
The first of these, known as the Men
ow concession, was granted in April,
1887, and was not to he operative un-
ill $20O0,OO had been actually invested.
The Maritime Canal company, the pre-
sent nominal organization which rep
rCsents the remains of the various past
efforts to combine canal-building in Nj
Caragua with security speculation at
Washington, nine years ago got the
Nicaraguan government to admit that
it had actually expended 80 600 900,
whereupon it's concession became valid
for a period of ten years, with privi-
leges of renewal. This period expires
Oct. ., 1899. Since October, 1889. il is
claimed by the president of Nicaragua
that the Maritime Canal company has
laid down and not lifted a pick nor
welded a shovel. All of it's property at
Grcytown and vicinity has either been
sold, stolen or rendered useless by de-
cay. Under these circumstances Prcsi-
dent Helaya, of Nicaragua, says he did
not suppose the Maritime Canal com
pany would have the nerve to ask for
an extension, and therefore he gave a
new concession to Messrs. Cragin and
Eyre, representing British and Ameri-
cans capitalists. to take effect on Oct.
2. 1889, when the Menow concession
IaHscs.
As the case now stands, therefore,
two concessions, one expiring and one
pending. stand in the way of a direct
grant of complete right of way To the
United States government, nothing less
than which should satisfy congress.
But if we can reach a satisfactory basis
Of agreement with Great Britain re-
specting our right to take sole charge
Of this canal project, it is unlikely that
We shall have much difficulty in COM
ing to terms with the government of
Nicaragua. This government is motor
iously impecunious. A fair offer of
purchase could not be refused, and af-
ter that the spectators who have been
trying for three-quarters of century
10 build & Nicaragua canal from New
York city into the treasury at Wash
ington could whistle.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
Speaker Reeds Witticism.

An epigram Is credited to Speaker
Reed on the subject of immigration
and quoted with great glee by the op-
ponents of expansion. Certain Repub-
licIn members of congress as the story
goes. had approached the Maine par
lamentarian to learn If he would OBJ
struCt consideration of the Lodge bill
to restrict immigration. lie replied
that he would be glad to have the bill
called up at the earliest possible mo-
ment; bat at the same time he thought
it would be somewhat inconsistent for
this government to bar out few
thousand immigrants from civilized
Europe when it is offering 81 head
for about 100000 900 Filipiros.
This does well as "A Witticism but
as a criticism 1t is unfair. Nobody
knows better than Mr.. Reed that our
government is not paying 81 a head or
any other sum for Filipinos 1t is
paying $2O,5O0,Oo0 to Spain, nominally
as reimbursement FOR pacific improve
ments made in the Philippines. but ac-
tually as cheaper plan Of getting her
war again, to disturb business again.
upset commerce again, ana run
renewed risks Of getting into
trouble with other European nations.
Upon the proposition that, after
Dewcy's guns blew the life out of
Spanish sovereignty in the East Indies,
the United states has been both moral
ly and legally responsible for the main
terance of order in Manila and in the
territory Of which it is the capital,
intelligent men cannot disagree. The
giving to Spain of a sum of money to
hasten her departure peaceably was
simply necessary alternative to put
ting her out by force, a solution which
would have complicated greatly our
maintenance of proper protection for
foreign interests in the archipelago. It
signifies no barter whatever in human
merchandise.
In our humble judgment nine -tenths
of those who are hurting hot criticisms
at the president for his treatment of
the Philippine problem do not know
what they are talking about. They
have set up a lot Of imaginary targets
and are knocking them down under the
hallucination that this effects the pres
ident, when rs a matter of fact he has
gone no step further at any point than
was dictated by necessity and is COM
mitted to nothing beyond that Spain
must pull out. What shall follow
Spain's departure, whether an inde-
pendent Philippine republic, Joint
protectorate by the leading powers or
an American colonial system fitted to
conditions as they shall appear here
after, cannot be settled off-hand; 1t
is necessarily a decision of the future.
=
What would Lord North think If he
could arise from his grave and hear a
member of the present British cabinet
allude to the North American republic
as the greatest of civilized states? For
that matter, what would Washington,
or jefferson, or any of our Revolution
airy fathers think? Verify, expansion
has done this thing and it will go on.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
The New South.

Some information is presented i'm the
Baltimore sun concerning the cotton
spinning industry Of North Carolina
which is highly interesting in itself and
also highly suggestive of the indus
trial possibilities of a region which
most NOrthorners rather nippantlv dis
miss from their minds as of little if
any account.
In 1890 North Carolina was ninth in
the list of cotton-spinning states in the
South, but has now gone to second
place, South Carolina leading. Georgia,
the third state on the list. is over 30O.-
900 spindles behind North Carolina.
only four other states-Nassachuset
Rhode Island, New Hampshire ana
COnnectiCut-dre ahead of North Car
olna in number of spndles. There
are 220 cotton mills, of which % make
hosiery and 19l spin on weave or do
both. There are in operation 1864 ,6Sj
spindles and 24,5S5 looms. No less than
A. per cent. of the mills run day and
night. The consumption Of cotton is
now 1633S9. 000 pounds yearly, The in
crease of spindles in mills completed
this year is $4,000, and old mills have
enlarged their plants by adding 1880
spndles. The only reduction is due to
two fires, which destroyed $500 spin
dies, leaving the years net gain 56,5OO
spndles.
The wages of cotton mill operatives
in North Carolina is much lower than
III the New England states, and while
the latter have enacted laws regulating
the hours Of the labor all attempts to
do so in North Carolina have failed.
The average number of hours making
- days work i'm the mills in North
Carolina is eleven ana three-quarters.
On an average the mills run 293 days
out of 3l3 working days in the year.
There appears to be an abundance of
mill labor in the state. The employees
are better satisfied than any other
state, and there is practically no am
taSOnism between employer and em-
ployed, neither favOring labor regula-
ton legislation. There are no strikes.
In fact, there has never been a mill
strike in the state.
The average daily wages paid 10
skilled men is $107: unsIilled, 6S
cents; to skilled women, G3 cents; un-
skilled, 45 cents; children, 81 cents.
The general average is GS cents for all,
which is said TO be gain of / cent
over last year. II costs as little to
live in North Carolina as i'm any state
in the union. About 22 per cent. of the
mills have increased wages; over 2S
per cent. furnish their employees houses
free of rent There were during the
year only so accidents, Of which but
one was fatal. or adult employees, SO
per cent, and of children, 50 per cent.
read and write. At almost every mill
there is a free school. Mill owners
support most OF these.
1t Is small wonder in view of these
facts, that New EnRlands former firm
grasp upon the textile industry is fast
weakening and viii soon he relaxed
doubtless forever.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
Army Problems.

The most disappointing feature of the
recent report of the secretary of war
was the absence of recommendation of
changes in the organization of the
regular army designed TO remedy the
defects and weaknesses disclosed dur
ing the war with Spain. The people for
several weeks had been told by the
friends of Secretary Alger that he was
not to blame for those shortcomings;
that the faults were the faults of a
faulty system. His report was awaited
in the hope that he would indicate in it
how some of these faults could be reme-
died but it contained nothing in the
nature Of light.
Bills for the reorganization of the
army are already before congress. one
was drafted by General Miles. The
other is said to be the joint work of
Secretary AlGCr and Representative
Hun. These measures agree in author
iziuc a large increase in the regular
military force, making also some
changes in the number and duties of
the STAFF officers. but neither of them
reaches or remedies any of the general
points of weakness disclosed by the re-
cent mobilization. The system of au-
tonumous staff departments is main
taincd in each, with Il Quartermaster
general playing at official odds with a
coordinate commissary- general and
both ready 20 resent any interference
from a coordinate surgeon general.
Experience has shown that this hydra
headed method of managing a war,
putting in the supreme place over all a
civilian who is not required to and who
not iufTequantly does not have any
technical knowledge of military mat
ters whatsoever, is cumbersome. waste
full and. at best, inefficient; yet not one
of the persons prominently connected
with the present war department ad-
ministration has apparently any i'm
prOvements to suggest.
Perhaps they are waiting for the re-
port OF the presidents special commits
sion Of Investigation. 1t is to be hoped
this report viii gey to the marrow of
the difficulty. although we do not think
it will 1t can take only volunteered
testimony. What is needed in order 10
lay the foundations of satisfactory
readiustmcnt Of our poorly working
military machine is an inquiry by con-
gress, not for partisan or malicious pur-
poses. but an inquiry which will use the
power of summons and contempt to get
at the exact and whole truth, and from
that build inward.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
SOLID GROUND FOR THE DEMO
Gratis.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
No wise Democratic leader will oppose
the taking of the Philippines without pre-
senting practical alternative. 1t is too
late for anybody to say that we ought to
drop them and run Moral and inter
national obligations must be respected.
We cannot consult self-intCrest alone Be
sides, it may be for our interest to own
and hold the islands. That proposition
has as yet been neither proved nor dis
proved.
The Democrats will be ON solid ground
if they hold the administration to the
highest stardards of political business
probity in its treatment OF our island de-
pendencies. A policy that has for it's OBJ
ject not only the material development Of
Porto Rico, the Philippines and cuba, but
the advancement and happiness Of their
people will have the hearty support of
the American people, No other will.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
THE BABY ON THE TRAIN.

Everybody restless,
Grumbling at the dust,
Growing at the Cinders.
Pictures Of disgust.
.,.@'
Axle hot and smoking.
Train delayed an hour,
How the faces lengthen,
Sullen, wrinkled, sour.
Sudden transformation
Passengers in smiles
SCowls and frOwnS have vanished
What Is ii beguiles?
Grimy face ana fingers,
Mouth all over crumbs,
Smeary wrist contrasting
Pink and clean-sucked thumbs.
Round head noddinF, bobbng,
Blue eyes iull of fun,
Nind-blown trCSses shining
Golden in the sun,
Everybody cheerful,
No remarks profane,
Magic change Effected
Baby on the train.
indianapolis Journal.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
MONROE DOCTRINE NOT RE-
PUDIATED.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
The persistence with which the French
press urges that our acquisition of the
Philippines means a reputation of the
Monroe doctrine gives rise to the sus-
picion that wish is father to the
thought. We think however, that Europe
will find that the Monroe doctrine is still
In force. We have invaded no sphere over
which Europe has any claim. When we
enter the sphere of European sovereignty
It may be time TO talk about treating the
Monroe doctrine as obsolete. That VIII
depend. however, urOn circumstances.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

our own county, probably two-thirds
as much. This is the tribute the people
pay into the well-lined pockets of the
shark alderman or justice and his shark
confederate, the mischief-making con-.
stable. 1t is highway robbery under
sanction Of law, but IL is what will con-
tinue or increase until determined steps
are taken for relief
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

Az a result of changing suddenly
from an average temperature of 100 de-
grees or more to "A climate full of frosts
and blizzards, General Garcia has pneu-
monia. May the brave old patriot soon
get well.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

the golden text of the week chanced TO
be the verse from Matthew, commencing
Let your light so shine" When Sunday
came the little maid trottcd off to Sun
day school with her older brothers and
sisters. and when the teacher asked her
for the golden text" she promptly slid
from her seat and convulscd the class
by repeating gravely: Keep your gas
burnin'. Truth.
speaker Reed was in Boston and
Maine smoking car the other day while
two men beside him were loudly discuss
Ing the Philippine question. well. l know
how to solve It," said one. Mr. Reed
rached over and tapped him on the shoul-
der. Young man." said he" 81 want
your address. The information YOU have
VIII be worth II fortune to the next con-
gross"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

The city fathers, in their eagerness to
popularlze the bond ordinance. should
60 IL step further and propose to deed
to every affirmative voter house and
lot. permanently exempt from taxation.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

According to newspaper reports. the
streets Of unsanitary Havana are now
cleaner than those Of Scranton.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

There is still some question in the
minds of many as to the manner in
which the antl-tlcket scalping bill will
work entirely to the interest of the
dear public"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

Whom the gods wish to Destroy"
etc. Congressman Bailey now imag-
ines that he is a bigger man than GEN
eral Joe Wheeler.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

will be welcome news in the army.
where he is a prime favorite. Whether
in broadcloth or regimentals, may good
luck attend him!
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

1t is not In the American character to
be governed by pull-backs.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10
SCRANTON, DECEMBER 10. 1898.

The next mayor of Scranton should
be man who will make the police de-
partment hustle.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

Yellow journals are missing oppor-
tunities in Philadelphia in not printing
advance copies of Gideon Marsh's
promised statement.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

The Spaniards, it seems don't want
Americans to pray for them. That only
shows how much they need praying for.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

The costs on discharged and ignored
cases in criminal court average in Luz
zerne county nearly $4,000 year; in
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

General Wheeler's decision to resign
his seat in congress in order that he
may continue in active military service
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-10

Secretary Alger evidently intends
that General Miles shall continue as
general in name only.
The Philipsburg mail., 1898-11-11
Changes In CyCle RAciHE.

In these days cycle racing is becom-
Ing an exact science and men ride fae-
ter, farther and more continuously
than ever before. When thoroughly
trained, the racers speed, behind pace
is practically limited only by the en-
durance and speed OF his pacemakers.
Thirty years ago the first racing on
two-wheeled machines began. The vc-
locipede, or "boneshaker," was at the
height Of its brief career Of popular
ity, and races were held on it. 1t was
fast riding in those days to do a mile
in six minutes, but better than this
was done by w. r. Pitman when he
captured the vclocipede championship
OF Maine. Ten years later Mr.. Pitman
raced on the rapidly improving Or
dinary, and won the first prize at
Brockton, Mass, on July 4, 1878. II
was heat race and his best time was
3:47. The cup he then won he natur-
ally values above all his many later
winnings. Few persons In this coun
try have been so long aud SO closely
identified with cycling. Mr. Pitman's $
interest in it does not flag and he is
full of interesting "reminiscences OF the
past.
The Philipsburg mail., 1898-11-11

worth while to work for less in such a
country-at least, they feel so now.
For most OF them came in to make 4
fortune in short order and, if they cam;
make it, they say they might Just as
well return to more habitable coun
try. Men with trades, who came for
the purpose of working for wages. weni
to work at once. The mass, the for
tune seekers, those whose ambitiuas
are' bound up in lucky strike" watch
the few build cabins and prepare fos
winter.
II the number who had already built
cabins or caches for their food were
any criterion OF the number who will
stay in the country, then not mora
than 5000 will remain. A thousand
had sold their outfits and started out
of the country by July l. But for pride
two-thirds o! the lot would ALREADY
have followed suit. It is hard to re
turn to your own with less than rou
had when you neutrality-suspicious.
hard to explain to your friends why
ALASKA is failure when it's golden
harvest seems bound to increase with
every year. "Doggone it," said a
young Missourian, I'm going back 10
the old farm with a thousand dollars
Il had that when l left-if I have to
stay in here ten years. Doggone it.
wasn't green, though, when | reached
Seattle I'd never seen any gold mined.
l thought you could get it easy enough
once you were here-and. doggone It.!
why your troubles have just begun"
OF those pilgrims who remain in the
country some will 60 to work for
wages, some will hang around Daw-
son and wait for somebody to make a
The Philipsburg mail., 1898-11-11

manufacturing steel. His method II
sawdust and then smelt 1t electrically
with lime to form calcium carbide. BY
experimenting with Ottawa sawdust he
produced what he considered a prac-
tlcally pure carbon free from the im-
puritios contained in carbide made
from coke and charcoal, which
a.:a more or less contaminated with
slate, sulphur. silica. etc. Carbide
made from sawdust carbon will. ss
says. produce a larger quantity Ut
acetylene gas than coke carbide, and
will, by using refuse material and
by the employment OF economical
methods in manufacture. afford the
cheapest light known. BY this process
he claims that he can produce carbon
in greater state of purity than by any
other means and more cheaply than
coal can be mined. The commercial
possibilities Of his process include also
the production OF calcium acetate and
light and heavy oils for the manufac-
ture OF paints and varnishes. Tas
feasibility Of the plan has so far cor.-
mended itself to the wealthy lumber
men as to lead them to incur the eX-
pense Of establishing an experimental
plant and to cause the Canadian gov
ernment to suspend for one more year
it's law against dumping sawdust int
the river while the practicability o1
the process is being demonstrated