The record-union., 1898-12-31

be repeated six months later thus in
one year providing money enough to
carry the proposed Russian loan.
With the acquisition of the Philip
pines, Hawaii and Porto Rico, new
channels for the use of American money
by Americans will be provided, but
from the present outlook there is no
fear that any American enterprise will
be hampered or prevented because two
or three hundred millions are loaned to
foreign nation. There is plenty Of
money in the eountry-more than is ''in
sight" as was shown by the subscrip-
ton for fourteen hundred millions of
United States bonds, when only two
hundred millions were offered.
VOTING MACHINES.
San Jose Mercury: The experience in
several Eastern cities with machines,
establishes the fact very thoroughly
that voting by machines is entirely
practicable; that it is economical; that
it precludes not only frauds, but the
mistakes incident both to voting and
to counting; that it saves the time of
the voter; that it enables the returns to
be made in an incredibly brief space;
and, finally, that it has a desirable
moral effect by substituting certainty
for uncertainty, exactnesS for looseness,
carelesSness or incompetency, and i'm
mediate results for tedious and vexa-
tious delay. It was between one and
two weeks before the complete State
returns from the last election were in,
but had voting machines been used the
count in every precinct in the State
would have BEEN completed in less than
an hour. Furthermore, election con-
tests, whether based upon alleged er-
rors or supposed fraud would rarely
if ever occur were machines in use, be-
cause their accuracy would be unques-
toned. The voting machine era is
about to begin in this country, and
ness by being one Of the first States
to adopt this long needed reform.
THE WIDE TIRE LAW.
Yreka Journal: If the wide tire law
is amended as proposed by the Legis-
lature this winter it will be a valuable
factor in the maintenance of good
roads. Extensive experiments made by
the Agricultural Department of the
University of Missouri have established
the fact that the average draft of
vehicles supplied with wide tires is
from 10 to so per cent: less than the
draft or narrow-tire vehicles, SO that
there is economy for farmers in wide
tires as we'll as in road maintenance.
GOVERNORS MANSION.
Marysville Appeal: A number Of
State papers that now ridicule and op-
pose the erection of a Governors man
Gil OF rtn CHI
sistency by advocating the building of
a magnificent home at Washington for
the President, for the reason that the
White House is now inadequate to the
transaction of necessary business and
besides offers little opportunity for pri-
vacy to the President and his family.
They also claim that National dignity
demands it. How about the dignity of
the State of California? Is not Gov
ernors family entitled to a home and
the privacy that it affords? And
should not the labors of the Executive
be expedited by being afforded better
facilities?
THE FUTURE OF SPAIN.
Los Angeles Herald: One who con-
siders the hight of power to which
Spain ascended in two and a half
centuries after the discovery of Amer
lea, and the low condition to which she
is now reduced, will naturally speculate
in regard to the future. There have
been causes forthis extraordinary rev.
olution in circumstances. Spain has
been the possessor of more dependen-
cies than any other modern nation and
her present low state is the result of
her policies in regard to them. Instead
Of growing stronger, as might have
been the case had her policy been hu-
name and civilizing, she has uncon-
sciously been growing weaker inter-
nally as well as externally. Through
the want of proper conception and
the practice of what gives a nation
strength, one by one her vast colonial
possessions have slipped from her
grasp, and she has retrograded at home
until she is not as influential as a Eu-
ropean Power as when Columbus sailed
from Palos on his first voyage of dis
covery.
Ancient and modern history presents
the question whether colonies are of
value to nation. The cases have been
rare that their utilization has been of
real value to the possessor, and rarer
still that dependencies or colonies have
been benefited by being under the gov
ernment and supervision of another
people. 1t has been the general prac-
tice to oppress and plunder-to disre-
gard that law of fraternity which binds
all peoples together.
DEPORTING CHINESE.
Stockton independent: The action of
United States District Judge J. J. De-
Haven in giving such Chinese as rely
on interested Chinese testimony quick
transit back to China will be applaud
ed. Judge DeHaven's Chinese rulings
and decisions have closed the door to
fraudulent pretenders. 1t has been
the invariable practice for the press to
criticise adversely such rulings and de-
cisionS of the courts as did not conform
to the popular Interpretation of law
and justice. 1t is therefore quite
proper for the press to commend such
judicial vigilance as leaves no room
for popular disappointment. While
Judge DeHaven is one of the last in
the world to be guided in any way by
popular clamor, he yet has very de-
cided sentiments as to the intentions Of
law and such clear perceptions that
legal quibbles and verbiage will not
prevent his finding as may carry out
the justice and design of the law.
The Open Sesame EXPLAINED.