The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-19

which is that since 1893 immigration
has been vigorously restricted and has
come to standstill." The
statistics tell a different story. The
total number of immigrants in 1890 was
455, 3O2; in 1892 it was 579, 1858; in 1894,
2SS, 900; in 1895, 25S, 536; in 1896, 343,-
26S; in 1897, $780, 1872 Another rank
misstatement is that 'demagogic ma
twist interests. too cowardly to openly
admit their design OF prohibiting imIni-
grafton entirely, hope to attain their
end by making the condition governing
the admission of immigra SO unpleas-
ant for the latter, as well as for their
friends residing in America, that immi-
grafton VIII, as a result cease alto
gether.' This is absurd The Immi-
grafton Restriction League, which
drafted the first bill requiring an edu-
cational test, is, as it declares, a strict
ly non-partisan and non-sectarian or
ganization, which advocates stricter
regulation of immigration, but not the
exclusion of any immigrants whose
character and standards fit them to be-
come citizens.
HAWAII
Fresno Republican: Captain Mahan,
one of the best naval authorities in
the world, is of the opinion that the
United States should annex the Ha-
waiian Islands. He declares that their
possession would strengthen the United
States and that a greater navy would
not be needed for the defense of the
Pacific Coast than would be required
with the islands unanneXed. If the
islands were ours and we had in the
Pacific a fleet of proper force, the pres
ence of the latter, or of an adequate
detachment from it, at the islands
would materially weaken if not wholly
cripple any attempted invasion of the
Pacific Coast except from British Co
lumbia), and, consequently, would pro-
portionately strengthen us. Captain
Mahan believes further that it is not
practicable for any tranSpacific coun-
try to invade this coast without occu-
plying Hawaii as q base, and it is to
our interest, of course, to prevent such
a contingency. The only way in which
the United States can do this is to an
mex the islands. The Captains state
ments not only make clear the strate-
gc value of the islands to the United
States, but also dispose of the argu-
ment of the anti-annexationists that 1t
would require an additional navy TO
defend it and would, therefore, be
source of great expense to the Govern
ment.
BRAINS AND MUSCLE.
Tulare Register: The Berkeley
World" confesses with humiliation
that the fact that Berkeley habituaily
downs Stanford in contests of oratory
is but a poor satisfaction in the minds
Of Berkeley for that other fact that
Stanford habitually downs Berkeley at
football. Well, brother, there is no use
in repining. Human nature is just nat
urally built that way. The nations
which cultivated the ways of art and
luxury and forgot how to fight fell an
easy prey to those other nations which
despised comfort and the piping times
of peace. but practiced the art of war
with assduity; and when it comes TO
doing the worlds work, to feeding the
hungry and clothing the naked through
the forces of industry, the team of men
who got away with the pig skin will
also get away with the team that wins
the laurel leaf on the field of oratory.
Human nature and the nature of hui
way, and that is the whole of it.
NINE REASONS.
Santa Rosa Republican: Mr.. Bryan
is out in statement of nine reasons IN
favor Of fusion in the political cam
paign of 1898. Where fusion has been
successful in campaigns, 1T has not gen.
eraly resulted in giving the people good
government. Why have party fusion
on Mr.. Bryans propositions? Let those
who believe in his nine propositions
and nothing else in politics and gov
eminent constitute one party and go
before the public openly and fairly. Mr..
Bryan's efforts to pull the PopuliSts
into the Democratic party by stealing
their platform is not the most sincere
or reputable politics.
FALL OF A PROHIBITION IDOL.
Stockton Independent: John P. st.
John, once the greatest of apostles of
prohibition, has fallen from his high
pedestal as an idol of his party. He
has signed the petition of an Olathe
druggist to be permitted to sell intoxi
cants, and those who once worshiped
him have become his revilers. 1t can
hardly be said twas ever thus" but
such lapses are sufficiently frequent TO
make prudent people hesitate about
adopting idols. When ST. Johns char
acter as a man was assailed some years
ago from his old home in Illinois, pro-
hibitionists denied the accusations as
vile ISLANDERS invented to affect him as a
candidate They closed their eyes and
ears TO all evidence of his human frail
ty. Now, that the evidence of his un-
reliability comes from him, they will
probably believe the stories of his social
lapses in his younger years. Iowa peo-
pie would not believe that Boies had
abandoned silver at IS to l until he told
them so himself and he, too. fell by his
own showing after having withstood
all the assaults of the enemy, and even
his latest utterances has failed to rein
state him.
RIVER APPROPRIATIONS.
Stockton Independent: The people Of
Stockton, who desire that the San Joa-
quin River should be dredged in the in
terest Of commerce. legitimate and
proper object for Government aid-sent
a representative to Washington not long
ago, to labor in that behalf. Now comes
the report that the California delegation
at the National Capital has decided that
it will be useless to attempt to get an
appropriation at this session for Cali
fornia river improvements. This is not
surprising Most of the members of
that delegation are trying to get Con-
gress to vote $500, 900 for the coming
fiscal year for San Pedro slough--one-
tenth the sum appropriated by the
House for national defense during that
period No wonder it is useless to talk
Of getting any money for legitimate i'm