The record-union., 1898-05-06
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
state and Coast Opinions on Sub.
jects of Living News
Interest.

woodland Democrat: 1t begins to
look as if somebody is going to learn
a whole lot about war he never knew
before.
WHAT WE NEED.
1reka Journal: What this country
needs when we settle the Spanish trou-
bic is to have large fleet. We can
raise all the volunteers needed when
war occurs, and they are better men
for the purpose than those kept in bar
| racks for such use. No country or
combination of countries can invade the
United States and succeed, but on the
nigh seas we are weak, when we ought
to be as strong as England to maintain
Eour rights in every part of the world.
THE SCHOOL-BOOK QUESTION.
Humboldt Standard: The Record
Union" has five-column article on the
| proceedings of the Textbook League
which clearly demonstrates that Cal
ifornia saves a vast sum of money by
making its own textbooks 1t gives
comparative tables of the cost of our
State textbooks and those furnished
by outside firms by contract to the
States of Oregon, Nevada and Arizona,
showing that our State system saves
to the people in the cost of textbooks
from 32 to 75 per cent as compared
with the cost in these several States.
If our State textbooks are as good in
the matter they contain, are as well
printed and bound as those of outside
publishers, California has no need to
regret the State system, as it has saved
the people of the State from S350.000
to S0OO,OO0 within the past eight years,
beside giving US SO far as the series
extends State uniformity in school
books The school-book ring, as the
representatives of outside publishing
houses and their friends are called, will
need to produce some powerful argu-
ments to overcome the figures and ar
guments produced by the State Text
Book League, as published in last
Thursdays "Record-Union.' 1t is a
thorough and most comprehensive pres
entation Of the text book problem.
THE FROSTS AND FRUIT.
Martinez County Paper: The reports
are conflicting as to the actual damage
to the fruit crop in this county by frost
1t is variously reported, and it will take
time to get at the true facts. From
the San Ramon Valley it is reported
that the apricot, peach and almond crop
is a total loss, and that the prune crop
is greatly damaged. From the O'Hara
Colony, east of Antioch, it is reported
that the frost has completely destroyed
the almond crop. Other reports are to
the effect that while the frosts have
been very serious, that a fair crop may
be expected. The writer has examined
some almond trees in Antioch, and
finds them in about the same condition
they were last year after the frosts. The
fruit is as large as small olives, and
looks strong and vigorous. Many Of the
blossoms seem to have been blighted,
just as they were last year. 1t will be
remembered that after the frosts last
year it was reported all over the coun-
ty that the almond crop was totally de-
stroyed, and yet the sequel proved that
the damage was only in spots and
trif1ing, and we harvested a good aver
age crop. 1t is hoped that the same
thing will occur this year.
THE ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND.
Stockton Record: The dispatches for
the past day or two have seemed to
indicate that public sentiment in Great
Britain was veering around somewhat
and becoming more favorable to Spain.
This is perhaps only natural when one
stops to reflect. The horrible condi-
tions prevailing in Cuba, the atrocities
practiced by the Spanish officers, the
circumstances attending the starving of
helpless women and children are not so
we'll known in England as they are in
America In fact, it is allowable that
English people should think that
Yankee exaggeration might be an ele-
ment in the matter, and then it is only
natural that Englishmen, who are born
with a prediction to acquire more ter
ritOry, should think that others are con-
stftuted likewise and that the United
States was scheming to possess Cuba.
Then the further fact must be taken in
to consideration that Spain is down on
her knees, imploring the Powers, weep
ingly proclaiming her innocence and
whiningly blaming the United States,
and weakness and tears always attract
a certain amount of sympathy
LOW TACTICS.
Oakland Tribune: The tactics by
which the Democrats and silver men
are endeavoring to blockade the war
policy Of the Administration as regards
the revenue measure are being voted
down as fast as the dilatory resolu-
tions are set up. They may think they
are making politics for the records
will mean sure defeat for them when
they show their faces for revelation.
; The masses of the people are too loyal
to the flag to approve of partisan poll
tics being injected into Congressional
work at this particular time.
TRIED AND TRUSTY.
Riverside Enterprise: There is good
deal of kicking just now over the old
Springfield rifles with which most of
the volunteers are to be armed. The
Government is blamed in some quarters
for not having on hand sufficient num-
Der of the new small caliber rifles using
| sn1okeless powder with which to equip
the troops. Whether or not this criti-
cism is merited, only time will show, but
it is we'll to point out certain facts in
connection with the subject which have
!, probably had something to do with the
Z slowness of the Government to adopt
the new arms.
In the first place, the high power rifle
depending for effect upon velocity rather
than size and weight Of projectile, is as
yet merely an experiment The Ger
mans adopted it after the French had
: brought it out. and the other Powers fol-
, lowed suit It was used in Abyssinia
by the Italians and is said to have been
failure; certainly the Italian cam
paign failed, and there are those who
: attribute the disasters which overlook
the forces of King Humbert to the lack
4 of cy,, r1nxua,. in their arms