davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
CURRENCY REFORM IN RUSSIA.

A st. Petersburg cablegram in the Jour
nal few days ago stated that the Russian
minister of finance expressed great pride
in the results of the adoption of the gold
standard, calling attention to the striking
fact that while at the end of 1896 only 37,-
OOO,0OO roubles in gold coin We're in circula-
tion at the end of 1897 there were 155, 900 900
in circulation, while the gold in the treasury
rose during the same period by 109, 900, 300
roubles. The statement shows also that the
volume of existing bank notes has been re-
duced by 122 900 roubles. A rouble is
equal to Y cents in gold, American money.
The figures show an extraordinary improve
ment of conditions since the adoption of the
gold standard. The manner in which this
was accomplished illustrates the compare
tive promptness with which great and ben
eficial reforms are sometimes effected by
the exercise of absolute power. In cases
of emergency a monarchical government
can act much more promptly than one in
which every step has to be discussed in a
legislative body to a tiresome extent, and
perhaps submitted to popular decision at
the polls over and over again before any
definite conclusion is reached. That is
poor way to settle nations financial pol
icy. The adoption of the gold standard in
Russia furnishes an instructive contrast to
this dilatory method.
According to the former laws of Russia
the monetary unit was the silver rouble.
There were gold coins of various denomi-
nations but silver was the legal tender for
the payment of taxes and duties to the gov
ernment for an unlimited amount. The pa
per money was redeemable in coin and was
also legal tender. Up to the year 1854 gold,
silver and paper money circulated at par.
In that year began the Crimean war, the
heavy expenses OF which, together with
other political and economic events, COM
PEELED the government to suspend specie
payments The suspension lasted nearly
forty years, during which all business in
Russia was done with a huctuating and
irredeemable currency. About fifteen years
ago the government decided to inaugurate
a policy looking to the resumption of specie
payments With this object in view, its
expenses were reduced. its revenues in
creased, and a gold reserve was accumu-
lated till ii amounted to more than twelve
hundred million roubles. The accumulation
of this reserve raised the national credit
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

The Churchman, which is the most
prominent of the journals printed for Epis-
copalians, and paper of intelligence and
authority, speaks strongly against the
cent election of Bishop Dudley of Ken
lucky, to be general secretary of the Board
of Missions. A good deal of surprise has
been expressed in other quarters by promi-
nent members of the Episcopal Church at
this selection of a bishop for the secretary
ship. When the office of bishop is considered
in the light of the history and doctrine of
the Anglican communion the election of
Bishop Dudley becomes most inexplicable.
However, he has not yet indicated whether
he will accept the position, and as there
seems to be a good deal of opposition he
may refuse the appointment.
The choice of a bishop to such position
Isis likely to awaken in the minds of stiff
churchmen anxiety to the future of the
episcopate. BY the episcopate the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church and all bodies in
affiliation with 1t stand 1t represents, ac-
cording to Anglican claims, a line of con-
tinuity between the ministry of to-day and
that of apostolic times. The three orders of
the ministry are the diaconate. the priest
hood and apostolate the last and high
est communicating the power and author
ity to the lower orders. The legality of An
glican orders is still denied by Rome, al
though a prejudlced layman, reading the
many very able treatises prepared by both
sides since the reformation would be
puzzled to pass judgment in the matter.
In the American church the bishops have
ccme TO be more and more business admin
istrators of the affairs of their dioceses,
while retaining all their spiritual authority
A tremendous responsibility rests upon
them, and they are exceedingly busy men.
They belong i'm their own dioceses, and. as
the chief missionaries Of their church, they
are kept constantly moving. They must
carry in their minds not only a knowledge
of diocesan affairs but they are necessarily
intimately acquainted with the business of
every parish within their jurisdiction.
When a priest IN the American Episcopal
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE MET.

Political issues are made by events, not
by political parties or conventions. The lat
ter only recognize and deal with them. BY
political issues in this sense are meant also
economic issues and all questions of public
policy. These grow out of conditions, not
out of theories. Conventions may meet and
''resoloot till the cows come home" but
they cannot create an issue until events and
conditions come to their aid. 1t has been SO
in every phase of the financial question in
this country for the last thirty-five years.
1t was the logic of events and the imperious
demands of existing conditions that brought
about the issue of greenbacks and bonds,
the establishment of national banks, the re-
sumption of specie payments, the mainte-
nance Of the gold reserve, the reduction of
the national debt, the repeal of the Sher-
man silver law the issue of treasury notes
and other features of national financial
policy. These issues forced themselves upon
the country and it would have been impos-
sible for political parties to have avoided
meeting them The same is true Of currency
reform. The conditions and the time being
ripe the issue has forced itself upon the
country in a way that it cannot be ignored
by the people without lack of patriotism,
nor evaded by parties without lack of cour-
age. One of the greatest services rendered
by the monetary convention and commits
sion has been in leading the people to rec
ognize the existence and Importance of the
issue and in formulating it in such a way
as to give an impetus to and a rallying
point for the currency reform sentiment of
the country. AS Mr.. Fairchild said: This
movement has gone long way towards
bringing about a unity of belief and action
of the advocates of sound money. 1t
is this solidarity that the movement started
in Indianapolis year ago is accomplish
ing" This states the case well. The condi-
tions giving rise to the issue were ripe and
the issue itself, imminent, when the con-
vention and the commission came to the
front as a popular movement to formulate
the issue and enunciate policy on the main
features of which all the advocates of sound
money and currency reform can agree. The
issue thus presented will not allow repose
to the Nation until it is either permanently
settled, or put in the way of permanent
settlement, on right lines and principles 1t
is an issue that must be met.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

pearance in our streets had passed its
members, especially the women members,
were treated with respect and courtesy
even in the most dangerous and vice-pol-
luted regions of the city
Thelr uniform was as perfect q shield Tor
them as is the garb of the Sisters of Char
ity. They went everywhere in the COM
munity. When they entered saloons or
dives TO sell their papers they were never
moleSted, nor was anything more annoy
ing in their experience than perhaps a
brief and unmalicious jest.
therefore, ii seems remarkable that at
last one of the women of this army should
nave been stricken down, and even more
SO that this assault should have been COM
mltted in one of the suburban villages. In
VeStigatlon, however, seems to indicate
that not from the outside, but in the inner
circles of the Salvation Army, was this
attack planned.
Revenge. a malignant spirit entertained
by one who was with this woman. a MEM
ber of the army, is thought to have been
the inspiring motive Thus, again, we per-
ceive that the members of the army. when
they have been the victims of attack, have
been compelled to look to their associates
and not to the wicked of the outer world.
The only malicious. vindictiVe. scurrilous,
accusations that have been brought against
the Salvation Army workers were those
which have been hurled by men and women
who followed General Booth rather than
Ballington and Mrs Booth and the inevita-
BILE effect of these malicious and false inn
putationS have been the conviction that the
Salvation Army needs to exercise upon it
self that discipline, that grace and moral
ity which it processes to be desirous of
stimulating on the part of sinners who are
not of the organization.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

Church accepts an election to the episco-
pate his home is henceforth to be in the do
cese that has chosen him. Only three
American bishops have ever resigned, and
these We're all missionary bishops, holding
the jurisdictions of Cape Palmas, China and
Japan. The participation of Leonidas Polk
who had been elected bishop of Louisiana
in 1S41, in the civil war as a Confederate
general, and his dearh in battle. have al
ways been matters of deep grief in the epis-
copate. 1t is point of honor Independent
of the most impressive vows of their conse-
Grafton, that bishops shall stand by their
dioceses. When they become old and in
firm assistants are chosen, but once
bishop always a bishop is the rule. One of
the Western American bishops who spends
a good deal of his time in the East has
Soandso, with stress on the from. But
the average bishop holds his office in high
respect and does not evade his responsible
ties discomforts.
Thus it is not surprising that there should
be protests against the proposed transla-
ton of Bishop Dudley from Kentucky to
New York, there to accept work not prop
erly belonging to the office of bishop. Even
the temporary acceptance of the position
would establish an unfortunate precedent,
which would hereafter be deeply regretted
by those Episcopalians who, by reason of
their fullest acceptance of the doctrine and
practice of their communion, are called
high churchmen.''
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

New Jersey has taken the lead among
the States in road building. Seventy miles
of /macadamized highway were added last
year to the roads already improved, and eX
tensions in the way of connecting links are
planned this year that will make complete
thoroughfares from the lower end of the
State through the principal cities and towns
to the upper end. The work is done by the
State, the seventy miles costing an outlay
on the part of the State of 100000, and on
the part of individuals and counties of
$25O,OOO. The farmers at first strongly OPP
posed the law providing for such expendi-
ture, but the benefit derived from the roads
now built is changing their views, and de-
mands for the improvements are coming
from all parts of the State. The progress
of work of this kind must be gradual, since
such outlay would not be justified except in
thickly-settled regions, but as time goes on
permanent road building will be one of the
things undertaken in country districts as
soon as conditions will permit, just as the
paving of city streets is proceeded with at
the earliest possible moment. In the coun-
try as in the city, the Improvement will be
regarded not so much a luxury as busi-
ness necessity.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
ALPHONsO BETRoTHED.
He Is Only Twelve Years Old, and His
Fiancee Is Fifteen.
New York World.

4NeW 1OTk WOTlQ.
A cable dispatch says that Francis Joseph.
Emperor Of Austria, will shortly announce
the betrothal of the ArchducheSs Elizabeth,
his little granddaughter, TO Alphonso Allt,
The Archduchess Elizabeth seems to have
been born to trouble. Her little life has
been often ,clouded. Tragedy has chased
scandal and scandal tragedy. Her father
was the Crown Prince Rudolph, whose tragic
death, murder or suicide, at Meyerling, after
a life of escapades, was one of the most
mother the Crown Princess Stephanie, IS
the daughter of the King of Belgium, a
woman erratic as the wind, whose acts
have frequently given rise to Scandals and
who has never shown mothers love Tor
her child. Were it not for the aftectlon
OF the aged Emperor, who has been not only
father but companion and playfe!low
of the little heress to his throne, her life
would have been far from happy. But the
Emperor and to a less extent the Empress.
have played the parts of father and mother
and shielded her to the best of their ability
She was born-the child Of a loveless mar
riage-on Sept. 1883, and was named
Elizabeth Marie Henriette Stephane Gisela
She took her first communion when twelve
years old in the chapel of the Imperial
Palace at Vienna At the conclusion of the
ceremony she gave her mother the cnt di-
rect, and walking up to the old Emperor,
of whom she was passionately fond, was
clasped in his arms and covered with affec-
tionate kisses.
whom were very fond of good-natured but
profiigate Rudolph, "Unser Rudi." as they
called him.. gave his place in their hearts
Lady, BY Rudolph's will she was made
the ward of her grandparents, and nobody
was surprised or displeased, unless it was
Stephanie herself who never showed any
signs of anger at this post-mortem evidence
of the crown princes sentiments regarding
his wife,
Should she become the consort of the
youthful King of Spain, who is three years
her junior. she will likely find more trouble
awaiting her in trying to rest easy upon
that tottering throne.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

Ex-President Cleveland ought to know
whether he ever favored the annexation of
Hawaii or not. and when he declares he
never did that should settle it. So far as
the Journal knows, Senator Morgan's state
ment was the first intimation that anybody
ever suspected Mr. Cleveland of favoring
annexation. The alacrity with which he put
his foot on the infant republic and his per-
sistent efforts to re-establish the monarchy,
showed that he had no sympathy with the
movement to bring the islands under the
protection of the United States. 1.-THE mis-
sion of our Nation" he says with dogmatic
assurance, lis to build up and make a
greater country out of what we already
have, instead of annexing the islands"
Much the same argument was used against
the acquisition of Louisiana territory in
1903, of New Mexico and California in 1S4S
and of Alaska in 1867.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
WROTE BERNHARDT'S LAST PLAY.
Octave Mirbenu, One of the Noted nIen
of the Day.
London Sketch.

1<CHuOn ohSlcH-
M Octave Mirbeau, the author of LES
Mauvais Bergers," the new play which
Nine Sarah Bernhardt has just produced
at her theater in Paris, is a native of Nor
mandy. His personality is most striking.
Llkt an ancient Gaul, he has only his chin
shaven, while his reddish mustache and
light hair, and, indeed, his whole physiog
nomy, reveal his Gothic descent 1t might
be imagined that in some age long gone by
M. Mirbeau figured in a Bayeux tapestry,
on which Queen Matilda embroidered the
images bf the brave companions Whom her
husband William took with him to conquer
cur island.
1t is about fifteen years ago that NJ Mir
bel.u made his debut in literature. his first
contributions to Journalism appearing in the
Gaulos. Il was one of the first to recog-
nize the genius of Maeterlinck. and his eulo-
gies have increased the popularity of the
Belgian poet. NJ Mirbeau is, in fact, happy
in discovering merit. He has done much by
his pen to help Auguste, the sculptor;
Claude Monet, the painter, and Henry
Becquc, the dramatiSt. AS a novelist, Mir
beau is known for his LIE Calvaire.' which
appeared in the Nouvelle Revue about ten
years ago, and Sebastian Roch." His
''Lettres de ma Chaumiere'' are full of
most delicious irony. In all his writings one
can see the spirit of the literary man of the
north His strange, tOpaz-colored eyes,
tinged with green and blue, and scar be-
tween his eyebrows, give his simDle reerlar
face a look of curious compleXity, which,
however, does not always hide his aggres5-
SiVe but Stanch character.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
A Point to BE Noted.


IHIdutIpIIId IttCUIU'
While the indications are plenty that the
monetary convention to meet in Indianap-
oils this week will be a decided success in
point of attendance-the number of dele
gates probably reaching four hundred
there are also signs that the South and
West will have little representation in the
gathering. Unwelcome as this fact may be.
it is as well to have it made clear, it
serves to specifically define the missionary
field in which the convention should hence
forth expend it's chief efforts. The atti-
tude of the South and West does not nee
essarily involve hostility to the cause; at
most, 1t may signify indifference. What
ever it's precise meaning, however, it is a
challenge which the friends of honest
money cannot pass in silence.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26
In the Deaconess work.
Western Christian Advocate.

WESTERN Christian AuVOcate.
When Isabella Thoburn was about to
leave the EliZ besh Gamble Deaconesses'
Home to resume her work in India she Sc
lected Mrs. Kate Rawls Haynes, of In
dianapolis, as her successor. The prophetic
choice is now fulfilled, and Mrs. Haynes this
week enters upon the duties of superintend
ent of the home, thus relieving Miss Pierce
of double work and leaving her free to de-
vote all her energies to Christ Hospital.
For years Mrs. Haynes has been endeared
to our church in Indiana by her ability, con-
Here her responsibilities and opportunities
will tax her resources and call for the ear
nest cooperation of all friends of this ex-
cinnati Methodists will welcome her to their
hearts and homes. Mrs. Haynes is a sister
of Rev. Z. 3. Rawls. the able presiding ell
der of the Indianapolis district.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

waterway which has become wholly insult
hcent for the commercial needs of a great
city. Something must soon be done or the
lake trade of Chicago will slip away. This
trade cannot be held with the little light
draught vessels that did the carrier service
on the lakes when the city was young
There must be a harbor deep enough for
the big modern craft that find easy access
to the elevators and docks of Duluth and
Superior.
There is an alternate project to the South
Side artificial channel. 1t is to make an
outer harbor in the lake on the North Side
and connect it with the river by a big
canal One or the other of these projects
will no doubt be adopted during the pres
ent year. The tunnel-lowering scheme
would do nothing but restore the old river
nels were built. 1t was nothing but nasty
creek then and it cannot possibly be trans
formed into a good commercial harbor.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

Fifteen delegates from Iowa, representing
seven cities, called at the Journal office yes
terday to repudiate statement published
by the local Bryan organ intimating that
the delegation does not represent the senti-
ments of the people of Iowa on the money
question. They were anxious to have it un-
derstood that Iowa is distinctly gold
standard State and getting more so every
day, and decidedly in favor of currency re-
form. One of the delegates said: I'VE don't
say sound money any more in Iowa, we say
gold standard" and all the rest approved.
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

The opponents of Hawaiian annexation
might get an accession of patriotic ideas
by studying the submarine cable system of
the world. They would find that of about
100000 miles of such cable lines 10000 are
owned by England and English corpora
tions $1,000 miles by other European ma
tionalities and $4,000 miles by American COM
panies. They would also find that since the
Venezuelan question came up four years ago
England has been quietly surrounding this
country with cables, and that with three
lines from Bermuda to the West Indies
fourth is now being laid from Bermuda to
Jamaica. The effect of these lines is to en-
able England to connect her great naval
depots at Halifax, Bermuda and Jamaica
and make them independent of communica-
tion through the United States. These lines
are subsidized by the British government,
and to all intents and purposes are mill
tary cable lines within forty-eight hours of
the port of New York On the Pacific side
we find English companies connecting Eu-
rope by way Of Gibraltar and the entrance
to the Red sea, through India, Australia,
China and Japan. BY means of these
various lines the British government can
place itself in instantaneous communication
with it's naval stations at Halifax, Bermuda,
Jamaica and with Esquimalt, on Vancouver
island, the most strongly fortified point
on the Pacific coast, and she could concen-
trate a fleet of war vessels at any Pacific
port quicker than the United States could.
England has already encircled the United
States with submarine cables. Shall we
take the risk of her making another Ber-
muda of Hawaii?
The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-26

so that instead of borrowing money at s
PEI cent, as was the case fifteen years ago.
the government was able to borrow at 3 2-10
per cent. With this accumulation of gold
and improved credit it was determined to
reform the currency. The first question to
decide was what should be the new mon
etary unit. The silver rouble always had
been, but Russian financiers recognized the
fact that the great decline in the value of
silver had completely upset the old ratio
between the metals. In view of this fact,
ard the constant fluctuation in the price
of silver, the government decided that it
was entirely unit to be used as the none
tory unit. Accordingly, on Jan. 3, 1897, an
imperial decree was issued declaring that
the gold rouble would henceforth be the
sole standard Of value assigning to silver
its place as subsidiary coin, and prescrib-
ing the rates and conditions on which pa
per money would thereafter be redeemed
in each Of the coins. On Nov IA, 1897, a Sec
ond imperial edict was issued making addi-
tional provisions and completing the
changes necessary to the establishment of
the gold standard. These facts are mainly
Cleaned from a statement recently made
by M. De Routkowsky, financial agent of
Russia and attache of the legation at Wash
ington. Referring to the present status of
the Bank of Russia, he says:
The State Bank of Russia will be, as
heretofore, the only credit institution which
WI have the right to issue state, credit
notes, eXchangeable at par with gold in the
State Bank and all it's branches. 1t may
ISSUE ISSUE such notes to an unlimited amount
n a
regal tender to an unlimited amount.
Ihe issues of the credit noIeS by the State
bdnh, II needed by the expansion OF COM
merce, Will be so regulated that the amount
of outstanding notes will not be allowed to
exceed by more than 300,OO0000 roubles the
value of gold coin and gold bars deposited
in the State Bank for their redemption
Inc amount OF outstanding state credit
notes Dec last in bank and in circula-
gold in coin and in bars in the bank was
l,l6OOOO,OO0. The exchange or state credit
n9fes 9dif; at par r. with gold is guarannteed; ant IN
state property (about 900, 600 acres of for
est and $1,000 miles of railroads, besides
Bank will not be included in the metallic
reserve of the bank for the purpose of re-
demption.
This great and beneficial change was ac-
complished without any long-winded de-
bates in legislative body and by a firm ap-
plication of and adherence to sound finan-
cial principles. Russian statesmen are
unanimous in the opinion that it will con-
tribute enormously to the economic develop
ment and commercial prosperity of the en-
pire. 1t is worthy of remark that although
silver had always been the monetary unit
in Russia, and although specie payments
were suspended for nearly forty years, there
was no opposition among the people to the
adoption of the gold standard and the es-
tablshment of sound monetary conditions
1t is only in the United States that advo-
Gates of cheap money and fiat money are
found.