Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-02
LITERARY NOTES.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
With its February issue the Forum
completes its .wenty-fourth volume,
which shows q manifest advance
when compared with mary of its
predecessors. The leading article in
tie current number is contributed by
the president OF the international
geographical congress, Sir Clement
X. Markham, X. e. b, On Antarctic
Exploration and its Importance. :"
Whiie numerous north-polar expe-
eitions have been undertaken during
the past quaEter-century, with the
result OF large additions to CIR
knowledge OF Arctic lands, it is more
than 90 years since any organized
at ampt was made TO solve the south.
po!sr problem. Antarctica is today
sealed book. Sir Clements per.
iinon,.y quotes remark OF
the dukc OF Argyll, TO thd eflec;
that it is almost reproach
to civilization that, while we are
able 20 snalyze the substance, and
distinguish the chemical composition
OF the mos. distant objects in space.
we have arrived az the close OF the
nineteenth century without knowing
the whole superficial appearance Of
our own little planet. The urgent
need of a magnetic survey, il is
claimed, is sufficient reason for de-
spatching 81 expedition to Antarc-
tic seas. Ex-Secretary Of the Treas
uTy Carlisle, in second paper or
dangerous Detects OF our Electoral
System" proposes q remedy. His
plan is ''a constitutional amend
ment, providing simply that the
president and the vice president shall
be chosen by the people Of the sew
erSI states, voting By ballo. on day
liked By congress, which shall he the
same throughout the United
States; that the electors in each state
shall have the qualifications required
Tor electors % the most numerous
branch Of The state legislature: that
each state shall be entitled to nun
her of yOtes-to be called .spresi
Dental" or electoral" votes-cqual
70 the number Of its senators and
representative il congress; and that,
in ascertainipg the result OF the cleo.
tion. each person voted for shall be en-
titled TO have counted in his favor O
number Of the presidential or cleo
torul votes vi each state, correspond.
iDg TO the proportion OF the popular
vote received By him in such state.
Ms. Carlisle claims that such a plan
would rot only secure uniformity
and equality, but would avoid nearly
all Of the dangers inciien. 20 the ex.
i5ting system. Other meritorious
literary contributions complete the
number.
! DR.. Nsnsen discusses in the Febru.
airy McClure's the future Of ezplorg.
tiOa N the direction OF the north
. pole. His conclusion Is thu: the Poi
"csa be reached without too great
diili culties," either "by Z ship drift.
tag with the ice across the polar
sea-" OF by help Of DOS aad sledces
from the Greenland side" He en-.
forces this conclusion with recitals
from his own experience IL getting
; 1875 miles nearer the pole than say
other man has got except Jobansen,
who accompanied NaHsen), ana the
article is as interesting ~ it is valu.
able. 1t is illustrated with numer.
Gus pictures Of people and scenes Of
the far north drawn or photographed
from lie. some Of IN N OF Dc. Nan.
sen himself. This number Of Nc.
CluTe's is particularly notable In its
personal and biographical matter.
I Gen. James X. Wilson contributes
q timely and carefully prepared pa.
per en- Americas Interests in
China" to tho February humble Of
the North American Review. Being,
as VIC are, Gen. Wilson asserts,
CbinG's nearest neighbo- across TIE
sea, and the Only ore of the gyes,
powers which has absolutely nc
plans hostile to the peace. integrity
ard general welfare Of the Chinese
people, We cannot but look with
deepest apprehension upon the events
taking place in that quarter. We
cannot afford 10 be mistaken rs to
the plans Of the other powers, nor io
depend upon the most benevolent Of
'hem for our proper share Of the
commerce now in existence, and
which is sure to increase rapidly
hereafter il China is permitted t.
work out her own salvation with her
possessions intact and her autonomy
unimpSi.ei.