The record-union., 1898-08-12
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.

world after it has become American
| lied. The disease which originates
there is not due to natural conditions,
but to the filthy habits of the residents,
both Spanish and Cubans.
THE NEW SPIRIT.
Petaluma Argus: One of the most
1 remarkable features of the war with
1 Spain has been the development in the
! United States of new and aggressive
4 spirit. 1t must not be forgotten that
| in its declaration of war Congress as
sured the world that it did not intend
| to undertake a war of conquest, that
the President was directed to intervene
for the purpose of securing peace and
to aid the Cubans to establish "a stable
and independent government of their
| own" National faith and the integrity
of an honorable people demand that
that declaration shall be made good, no
matter at what sacrifice of interest or
| opportunity.
OUR NAVAL OFFICERS.
Fresno Republican,: A naval officer
from the time he enters the Naval
Academy until he is retired for old age
is taught to respect himself and to have
a high sense of the responsibilities Of
| his station. He knows that no ordi-
nary man can meet these responsible
ties, and he does not permit himself
to become an ordinary man. Born, per-
haps, in humble surroundings, educated
| in the quietest and most backward
town in Maryland and spending most
OF his life at sea, away from the haunts
of men, he knows that he must be
able to appear as polished gentleman
at any court in the world. Educated
to sail ships and fight battles, he must
be able, if necessary to decide ques-
| tions of international law and diplom-
acy, and to act or refuse to act, where
the issue of war or peace may depend
on his decision. He must be trained
| to think, as other men are trained in
schools and also in those more personal
qualities, for the training of which
other men trust to chance, and this
without egotism or much hope of re-
ward. In a generation, the opportunity
for the supreme test of the qualities
thus developed comes perhaps to one or
two or half a dozen officers, but when
1t does come the fate of a nation and
the course of the worlds history may
depend on it.
As result there is no more genial
and attractive and generally capable
| set VI men IN the world.
REMARKABLE CHANGE.
Portland Oregonian: This returning
life, and prosperity in Cuban ports is
happily hkened by the New York
journal of Commerce" to the change
that occurs when a section of the Col
orado Desert is brought under the in
fuence Of irrigation. The agricultural
and the mineral resources of the West
Indies and the Philippines have been
little more than touched under a gov
eminent that provides no roads, that
heavily burdens industry and that
makes the preservation Of peace and
order impossible. The American busi-
ness man is already waiting in the
waters of Cuba for the warrior to give
MIN chance to establish trade. The
American fnancier is studying island
maps as carefully as the soldier is, and
Is measuring the need of fiscal institu-
tlons ana means of transportation
Commerce is all ready with its balm to
heal the wounds of war. And the
money that Americans will make will
not be made out Of the people emanci-
pated from subsection to Spanish Cap
tains General; it will be made by sup
plying those people with the things
they need and assisting them to de-
velop the resources of their own coun-
tries for centuries blighted by Spanish
land pirates. This prophecy is already
seeing the first fruits of it's fulfillment
IN the rehabilitation of the port Of
Santiago.
HAWAIIAN CABLE.
San Diego Union: Referring to the
action of the Hawaiian Government in
awarding a contract for a cable from
the islands to the United States. the
Evening Wisconsin suggests that
England may be permitted to have a
nnger IN the pie. "The cost of the
proposed Pacific cable" remarks that
paper, lis the same as that estimate.
IN the case of the proposed all-British
cable connecting Canada with Austria
lasia The plan of the projectors of the
all-British cable was to run a line from
Canada with branches from Hawaii to
San Francisco, and ports in China and
Japan. Of course Hawaii's grant of
exclusive cable privileges to the Pa.
cific Gable Company will thwart the
British project, but it is probable that
there Will be a consolidation of inter-
ests in keeping with the closer rela-
tions which have been established be-
tween America and Great Britain as
a iSSuil VI lilt idlleTS pTdcLlcdl SYM
pathy with the American cause during
the war with Spain.'' 1t is Of course
possible that this consolidation of in
terests" may come, but to most people
there appears no reason why Ameri-
cans Gncluding the islanders as such)
should not lay and operate this cable
themselves. British capitalists may
lay an independent line if they desire.
The Pacific Ocean is broad enough for
| all.
INITIATIVE AN REFERENDUM.
Tulare Register: The initiative and
referendum are not bad things when
applied with a rational regard to pub
lie convenience. There is no ques-
ton as to the abstract right of the
people to take the initiative or to have
referred to them any question of what
| is feasible and what is not 1t will
not be feasible to submit State laws
to a referendum. The machinery would
be too costly and cumbersome. and the
repeal Of a law would often leave the
State without anything on the sub
ject, or re-enact an old law equally un-
satisfactory. Besides, all statutes have
to be amended as experience requires,
and law once sanctioned by the ref
erendunn would not be subject to
amendment without another referen-
, dum-an infinitely costly proceeding, or
If subject to amendment by a Legis-
lature, might be amended out Of all
h h1ay l. Il