The record-union., 1898-01-18


she is not likely so to be compelled is
due mainly to the fact that she would
be a very potent factor in determining
now doubtful issues in favor OF such
of The European powers as espoused
her cause. And after the present phase
of the Chinese question has disappear
ed, whether Britain, Japan. Germany
or Russia be the chief beneficiary OF
the ten porary settlement, Hawai- Will
be even more coveted by foreign pow
ers thar it now is. The Chinese prop
lem opce solved, Hawaii certainly WIN
become a European or japanese pos
session, unless it speedily be made
part of the United States
THE BOOK RING.
Stockton Indepndent: The State
Teachers Association has again passed
resolutions eondemning the system OF
State publication of text books. oIhls
seems to have become the regular thlnS
with that body, but it is little re-
markab BILE that the resolutions are al
ways sprung upon teachers meetings
almost at the last moment, when there
is little time for debate, and the teacn-
ers are tired and want to go nome. 80
far as can be seen from the published
reports of what debates We're had there
were neither facts cited nor arguments
employed against the books or the sys-
TEN, the objections resting on empty
declarations that the books were not
good and the system a failure. So far
as the word system" applies to the
methods employed by those in charge
of the publications, the assertion calls
e 6.1f te- CO anontnVGd
as TO imply that the principle of the
State publishing the text books used IN
its schools is bad The method pur-
sued has not resulted in producing
books as good as they should be, but
that is evidence that the State Board OF
Education has not done its duty in the
selection of editors. This is evidence
that the State Board is not in sympathy
with the law, but rather leans toward
the hook ring.
ARE THEY TOO SEVERE?
Oakland Tribune: Sometimes it seems
as if cur criminal laws are just lit
tie TOO severe in some regards. A
young man, only 26 years old, was yes
terday, in accordance with the stat,
utes, sent to State Prison for life by
Judge Wallace His offense was that
he and an accomplice had ''rolled" a
man in a saloon and taken $40 from
him. No weapons were used nor does
it appear that any great violence was
committed. The trouble with the priS-
oner was that there was prior
against his name, and that was what
cause the life"
HAWAIIAN DISCUSSION.
"a
the Senate might as well have dis
cussed the Hawaiian annexation treaty
in open session. There seems to be nc
secrecy whatever as to what is being
said and done in the matter. In any
event, very full accounts of the pro-
ceedings are afforded by the press as
sociations. This is only right and prop
er. The people of the whole country
are vitally interested in this Hawaiian
matter, and there is a prevalent senti-
ment that if this republic is to make
so radical a departure from it's tradi-
tional policy as is involved in this an
nexation project, the country at large
should know the precise grounds on
which this step is to be taken. The
secrecy of executive sessions, however,
appears in the present case to be a
harmless fiction, SO the people will not
quarrel with the Senate's methods in
the matter. OF course if that eminent
ly respectable body prefers to talk over
the Hawaiian matter in executive ses-
sion, nobody will object so long as the
newspapers continue to publish full re-
ports of the proceedings
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
Fresno Expositor: 1t is said that
there is no question about the passage
Of the bankruptcy law at this session of
Congress. There are differences of
opinion as to whether voluntary bank
ruptcy should be permitted, but the
opinion of some of the old leaders is
that an agreement will be reached and
bill presented that will secure q ma
jority in each branch. The struggle
for a fair bill of this character has been
on before Congress many years, but the
present struggle dates from 1889. when
Charles Ackerman, a leading attorney
of San Francisco, was the recognized
leader of the measure. The necessity
of such a bill is generally recognized
by the business world, but there has
been difficulty in creating a measure
that would contain all needed safe
guards against fraud.
HANNA.
Placer Argus: The fact is that Han
ma is a successful business man with
thousands of well-fed men under his
employ. Until the last campaign he
had never figured as a politician, but
he showed himself as the National
Chairman of the Republican party to
be a general of no small caliber. The
Democrats hate him, and have reason
to hate him, for under his leadership
they were badly blistered. They may
send up their cry Of fraud all they
please, but it is Oliver Twist over again.
The biggest scoundrel puts up the loud
est shout of thief"
RESTRICT THE EMANCIPATION.
Tacoma Ledger: Preliminary meet
ings are being held in some Eastern
cities to perfect organized opposition to
| the Lodge immigration bill 1t is Il no
ticeable fact that the opposition, so far
| as names of organization or individuals
are given, is almost entirely composed
of men Of foreign birth or origin; many
of the German societies in this country
being in the forefront. The only rea-
son given for the opposition is that the
| biil if 1t becomes a law, viii shut out
| from this country immigrants who
might become good citizens. and that
| it also reflects upon people of foreign
| birth now in this country. There is
more sentiment than reason in the lat
| ter statement. for those foreigners in
| this country who have become good cit
| izens or Industrious law abiding people,
| have. all the privileges of the native
born American, save that OF being ELI
| gible to the Presidency. These for
ficrn horn cifizens- lrnnu hnueuar fha I