davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
TIE IlLElII1A TREI TY.

The Hawaiian annexation treaty will
be taken up in the senate next Monday
and it is expected that its consideration
in executive session will be continued
from day to day until it is disposed of.
The discussion of the treaty in open seS-
sion has been talked of and this may
be proposed, but there has been no init
nation that this course is likely to be
adopted though the propriety of doing
so, under the exceptional circumstances,
is obvious. The people are entitled to
the fullest knowledge of the views of
those who propose to drift the nation
away from its traditional policy and if
the anneXationist senators have reasons
to offer which they believe to be sound
they should be willing to declare them
in open senate.
There is reason to hope that the treaty
will not be ratified, though it is said that
the anneXationists have gained two or
three senators since the holiday recess.
They are by no means confident, how
ever of securing the two-thirds vote nee
essary to ratification. The movements
of the European powers in China nave,
it appears, operated in favor of the an
neXationists, it being urged that in the
event of the Chinese empire being par
titioned our interests in that quarter of
the world would be worthless unless we
possessed Hawaii This is on Il par with
the proposition that we ought to take the
islands in order to keep them out of the
hands of some other country. The prom.
ise is that the debate on the treaty will
be prolonged, for the opposition to it,
according to all report, is prepared to
make vigorous fight
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

There is difference of opinion among
prominent statesmen at Washington as
to the attitude the United States should
assume in the event of an attempt by
European powers to partition China.
Some think the moral influence of this
country should be eXerted in opposition
to any scheme of the nations of Europe
to seize Chinese territory; others think
that this government might find it eX-
pedient to go to the extent of forming n
coalition with England or any other
power in order to maintain our rights in
China; still others urge that the United
States should adhere to its traditional
policy and keep free from all entangling
alliances.
Secretary Sherman expressed the
opinion that no European power is bent
upon partitioning China, but If that EN-
pire should be parttioned it would not
interest us materially, because the
powers would gladly seize the oppor-
tunity to trade with us. Our commercial
interests, said the secretary of state,
would not suffer in the least but quite
the contrary. Mr.. Dingley expressed Il
like opinion. "Were the powers to palti-
ton China" said the chairman of the
ways and means committee ''the result
would be no injury to this country.
China would be developed and our trade
with the conquered provinces naturally
increased" On the other hand, Senator
(. % I,n hn nsn N
empire should be partitioned our inter
ests there would be destroyed. Our
trade with China now amounts to about
$lG,O00000 annually and has been
steadily growing. There is no doubt of
its continued growth If the Chinese mar
kets shall remain open to the competition
of all nations. We should be able, with
unrestricted opportunity, TO at least
double our commerce with China within
the next decade. Assuming ii to be the
purpose of Russia, Germany and France
to partition the Chinese empire, their
object is to acquire commercial ad-
vantages. They are seeking the trade of
that vast population. 1t seems, there
fore, entirely reasonable to assume that
having possessed themselves of the terri
tory of China they would do everything
possible to discourage commerce with
other countries. Commercial expansion
is the incentive to the movements of
European nations In the far east and in
the pursuit of this they will certainly do
nothing to promote there the growth of
American commerce.
In this view of the matter, what should
be the attitude OF the United States?
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
CIVIL SERVICE LAW UNDER FIRE.

The statements sent to the senate by
heads of departments in regard to the
civil service regulations now in force
will be to some extent disappointing to
some of the friends of the system and
may have n tendency to strengthen the
opposition. None of these officials OBJ
iects to the law or to the principle but
there is complaint that civil service regu,
lations have been injudiciously extended,
bringing into the classified service many
employees of the government who should
not be embraced in 1t. The most impor,
tant statement is that of Secretary Gage,
who expresses the opinion that consid-
cradle number of persons should be
taken out of the classified service who
were placed in it by the last civil serv-
ice order of the Cleveland administra-
ton, which he characterizas as too
sweeping. There is no doubt that Mr..
Gage is Il sincere friend of the principle
of civil service reform and it is because
this is so that his views and suggestions
merit careful consideration. Indeed,
this can be said of every member of the
administration, not one of whom has any
sympathy with the assault of the spoils-
men on the civil service law. When,
therefore, these officials recommend
changes and notifications in the regu-
lations what they say will command
serious attention.
Meanwhile congress is entertaining the
country with Il discussion of the subject
which will reveal the real aim of the
opponents of the civil service law. The
discussion in the house has been pretty
lively and while there has been little
that points clearly to the outcome it is
pretty safe to say that the spoilsmen
will not be able to secure all that they
seek, but on the contrary that there will
be few if any changes made in the law.
What President Mckinley will do in re-
gard to the sweeping extension of the
classified service made by his prede-
cessor remains to be seen. 1t is possible
that he will be guided by the suggestions
Of the heads of departments and
make some notifications but if so it
will be done because he clearly sees it
to be in the interest of the public service
and not by reason of any demands of the
opponents of civil service regulations
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

should we unite with England in pro-
testing against the designs Of Russia,
Germany and France, IL these be found
to contemplate the partition of China, or
should we Keep free from all entangling
alliances and take the chances of losing
our Chinese trade? SO far as moral sup
port is concerned it is already with Eng
land, but it may be of little value.
Ought we in any event to go beyond
this? The wise course, undoubtedly, Is
TO adhere strictly to our traditional policy
and make no alliances, but we may still
exert all efforts not Inconsistent with
that policy to preserve our interests in
China. American sentiment is opposed
to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF that empire and
if it shall become plain that this is the
purpose of the European powers we
may, as a nation, properly declare our
sentiment We want no part in any
complications that mGry arise Ill the far
on St
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
1lEEp 1T BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

The aggregate carrier delivery cir
cuintion of The Evening Bee IL
double the aggregate carrier delivery
circulation of the Evening World
Herald nnd more than six times
Erentcr than the aggregate carrier
delivery circulation of the Morning
WorId-HcrnId in Omaha and South
Omaha.
The carrier delivery circulation of
The Evening Bee reaches 7,03i Bona
Gdc subscribcrs that are not reached
by the Evening Wnrld-HeraId and
1910 Subscribers that are not reached
by the Morning WOr1d-HernId.
More than 5000 carrier delivery
subscribers to The Omaha Evening
Bee and The Omaha Morning Bec are
not reached either by the Morning
World-HcrnId or the Evening World
Herald.
1t goes without saying that the num-
her of copies of The Evening Dee or
The Morning Bee sold by dealers and
ncvsboyS exceeds by very consider
nbic the number of World-Hernld
dnilirs, morning and evening, sold by
dealers and ncvsboys.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
POPOCRATIC PATRONAGE BRIBERY.

An Iowa newspaper advocate of free
silver and the silver standard, referring
to a suggestion that has been made that
Governor Pingree of Michigan might be
the candidate of the democratic party for
president the next time. warns him that
that nomination has already been pledged
to the leader of the lost battle of 1896.
dent, "thOse who have been active in
the bimetallic and anti-monopoly move
mentS whether in the silver republican,
the populiSt or the democratic ranks,
will receive recognition and be called
upon to aid in the administration of the
government" In other words, the basis
of fusion is patronage bribery. An Offer
like this, contingent upon successful dis
ruption of the party engaged in restoring
the country to its former prosperity, cai.
appeal to no truly patriotic citizen. Men
whose conduct is inspired by patriotism
rather than selfishness are not swcryed
by such promises.
The patronage bribe offered to induce
republicans and pOpulsts 70 batray their
parties and abandon their principles is
small, but not smaller than those who
make the offer. Those who accept it are
of the kind who will not stop to consider
that there is slim prospect that the OPP
portunity will come to make it good.
The agents of the silver bullionaires may
make promises without fear of being
called upon to fulfill them. 1t is n part
of the program in Ohio to injure rcprb-
lcanism and it will doubtless be tried IN
every state this year. In the meantime
Governor Pingree will continue to labor
for reforms through the republican,
party, the only party that has ever
shown any capacity for government OF
the nation and the only true reform party
in the United States.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
MORAL or THE BARrLEY DECISION

MORAL OF THE HARTLEY DECISION
The verdict of the jury In the case of
cx-Trcasurer Joseph $. BARLEY, charged
with the cmbezzlement of state funds,
and the sentence imposed by Judge
Baker have been affirmed by the state
supreme court. The predictions made in
the late campaign by populists ana
democrats that the republican supreme
court would after the election turn
Barley loose on some technicality are
thus proved baseless. The majesty of
the law has been vindlcated by repub-
lican judges on the supreme bench as
well as on the district bench. The fact
that BARLEY was elected to office as Il
republican has not shielded him from
the penalties of his crime nor has there
been any disposition to palliatc the
offense.
In denying the appeal for new trial
the supreme court has handed down
mastery opinion that reviews the entire
case and dissects the specious plea by
which the attorneys for BARLEY were
seeking to reverse the verdict of the
trial court. The moral effect of this
decision cannot be overestimated. 1t Is
Il declaration that in Nebraska public
office is n trust that cannot be willfully
betrayed without subjecting the offender,
whether high or low, to the severest
penalty of the law. 1t is especially
warning to custodians of public funds
that they cannot with impunity speculate
and gamble with money placed in their
official Keeping or farm out public
moneys under pretense that they are
holding up the public credit.
While men cannot be made honest by
law, the Christening effect of sure and
swift punishment constantly held in view
to men inclined to dishonest practices
will have salutary restraining tend
ency. The political atmosphere which in
this state has been so long polluted by
INSCRIPTIONS and constituencies spoils-
men who aspire to office solely to enrich
themselves at the public expense has
been greatly clarified and the famous
declaration of General Grant, 'Let no
guilty man escape" has once more been
vitaized as a watchword, not only for
republicans, but for men of all political
crppls
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Fictitious bookkeeping and financiering
is a bad thing, whether in private busi-
ness or in public business. 1t Is all
right for the city to know that 1t has
money coming to it from delinquent
taxes in due time, but to credit the differ
ent funds with money not collected and
draw warrants on those fictitious credits
is dangerous tinanciering. The inevi-
table outcome will be an increased float
ing debt and expenditures not war
ranted by the actual condition of the
Treasury.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
"NHERE CAME FROM"

S. Il, Kfser in Cleveland Leader.
/ like to hear men sing the praise
or lands that gave them birth;
Mans native place should always be
The dearest spot on earth:
There never was a hero who
Did not look back through tears
And tender memories upon
The scenes of early years.
But you and / too often meet
Men who profess to find
All things less splendid here than were
The things they left behind;
Their native lands had better laws
And better men, they gay,
And oft they make MS wonder why
They ever came away!
| like to hear men sing the praise
OF lands that gave them birth;
Mans native place SHOULD ever be
The dearest spot on earth;
But when a fellow has to seek
His bread some other where,
Let him transplant little of
His love of country there!
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07


Bishop Potter's assertion that the United
States Is becoming too old for boom
times" that we are settling down TO the
level of older countries than ours. where
profits are not made so rapidly as wo make
them Is only the relteration OF a time
honored economic truth, The reduced rates
on government state and city bonds, the gem
orally diminishing dividends on stocks of
various sorts that are not protected by mo-
nopoly, the shrinking prices and profits on
merchandise. the decline of interest rates in
savings banks already noticed-all these are
symptoms of the same general and newt
able tendency, and OF the result forecast by
economists from Adam Smiths time down
to the present. What is thus lost in rapldity
of accommodating wealth should ultimately
find some compensation. however, in an in
creased stability of business and a compare
tive immunity from violent alienation OF
boom times and hard times Here is a lesson
for the silver theorists who would assign
most of these phenomena to "the crime OF
1873" for their cause and their origin.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
A Dcspniring Soul.
New York Sun.

Hon. Richard Franklin Pettigrew, senator
IN congress from South Dakota and rep
regentative of the borough OF Fubduba in
the silver parliament, is no better for his
Christmas goose and his New Years turkey.
He has been found at Chicago with despair
dripping from every pore OF his soul He has
no confidence in anything except some of
his remarkable bills. He says that, despite
Dun's and Bradstreet's, there is no revival
of industries, and can be none under the
present monetary ,eolditlons. so the world
is a mere black patch to Dakota Dick. He it
was who took all the spirit out of the
Chinese. He went to China and China went
to pieces. 1t will take at least three weeks
hard work at the voice-lift to build up
Dakota Dick
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The effects of the bungling work done
by the populist Idaho legislature at the
last session are being felt seriously in
that state and leading business men of
the state are considering the advisability
of urging that the legislature be called
together ih special session to pass many
needed laws. With the supreme court
holding that a large part of the legisla-
tion of the session is wholly void
and that the bills passed did not become
laws, the situation certainly demands
serious attention.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
The KIondike Grnbbers.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
So the fellows who went up TO the Klondike
without provisions or means OF getting any
are proposing to take what they want by
force from their more prudent neighbcrs
That is exactly what was prophesied in these
columns months ago. 1t may confidently be
added that the majority of them went up
there with the deliberate intention of doing
that very thing. They counted on stealing
enough Supplies to carry them through, or
else on having the government send supplies
to them or bring them home again at public
cost. They will probably receive suitable at
tention from the Northwest mounted police,
who are uncommcnly well fitted to deal with
such gentry
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Commissioner of Pensions Evans has evil
IDENTIFY put his finger on the sore spot in his
diagnosis of the seat of pension fraud. 1t
is the army of pension attorneys who have
done the main part of the work in the pad
ding of the pension rolls. By dealing with
the pensioners directly, instead of at second
hand, the government will save money for
itself and for deserving pensioners who are
now CTeyed upon by go-betweens. If the
commissioner OF pensions shall push the re-
forms he recommends to successful result he
will deserve the highest credit, and do more
than has been accomplished by Dingley to
put an end to monthly deficits.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The recommendation of Governor
Black of New York that the legislature
appoint n commission to inquire into The
conditions of the commerce of New York
City, the cause of its decline and the
means of its revival and to report CON
clusions to the legislature, will not es-
cape the attention of persons Interested
in the other leading ports of the
United States. The cause of this
decline is the growing importance
of other ports, especially those on
the Gulf of Mexico and the Pa,
cinc coast. The growth of commerce
mt the minor ports of the United States
is not looked upon as n misfortune out
side of New York. There is no valid
reason why American commerce should
nearly all be done through one port and
many reasons why it should pass
through the natural channels unimpeded
by artificial restrictions and discrimna'
tiOns.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

A mass meeting is to be held in Den
yer to prepare for the exhibit ut the
Transmississippi Exposition. Colorado
was unfortunate in not having state
appropriation as Il. nucleus for an expo
sition fund, but the people of the state
have enjoyed uncXampled prosperity the
past year and they are taking steps to
see that the state is properly represented
Mt the great gathering of all the trans
mississippi states.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The only member of Governor Hol-
combs reform police commission who
has some respect for his official oath is
W. C. Bullard Mr.. Bullard, as n matter
of reciprocity, pays for four copies Of
the double-header police commission
organ TO help its circulation along, but
yet he admits in his dissenting opinion
that he believes The Bee to have proved
Its right to claim the largest city ana
county circulation
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

1t is an old joke that the mint is the only
D,ace which can make money without adver
tising, but few of the people who pass it
every day could suspect that this quiet-look-
ing building, where there is never any hustle
of business and never any appearance of
energy, turned out last year more than SOL
100000 of money in more than 76500 900
separate pieces. The moral seems to be that
it is not always the mcst conspicuous business
that yields the greatest results.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
Teller on His Metal.
,,i,lic r,,r,,l

Senator Teller threatens to introduce a bill
in the senate providing for the payment of
United States bonds in eilver. Senator Teller
claims to be an honest patriot but he pro
poses to pay the bonds in metal which has
sumped down to 56 or 81 cents an ounce and
which will yield to the holders of bonds
about A cents on the dollar. Like other sill
verings. the moral sense in Senator Teller
seems to evaporate when silver is under dis
clISSiOn.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The superintendent of public instruc-
ton in New Mexico in his annual re-
port makes a showing for the territory
in educational matters that answers
some of the objections of the
opposition to statehood. Eight years
ago statistics showed that Gill
per cent of the population of the
territory could not speak the English
language, and the illitemcy Of the ter
ritory was placed at 44,I5 per cent To-
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
The Law of Nations.


Ii Hung Chang's references to the law of
nations would be more pertinent to the situa-
tion if China and Germany were of the same
fighting weight. The application of this law
is largely dependent the ability of the
party which cbjectst'to its application to do
some ugly fighting. AS against Germany
the law of nations is weak reed for either
China or HaYti to lean on.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The old gamblers ring is as much
distressed as are the members of the
police commission over the prospective
ousting of the Herdmanites. The prep
arations for II wide-open town have to
be suspended just when the birds that
are to be plucked are coming in sight.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Providence is in league with the
builders of the Transmississippl Exposi-
tion. Such favorable weather for out
door work was never known in any
other January, The exposition tract is
Il hive of industry every Gay,
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

If every resident of Omaha does his
full share toward providing entertain
ment for the thousands of visitors who
will be here this year the reputation
Omaha will get for hospitality will
amply repay the effort.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Now that the last payment has been
made on the Union Pacific debt to the
government the services of the five re-
ceivcrs who have held down soft jobs
for four years can be soon dispensed
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Russia has been placing orders for
arms and ammunition with American
firms. When compelled to fight Russia
wants to have the best equipment pos
sible for the army.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

day the number Of those who cannot
speak English Is not to exceed IL per
cent and the hlltteracy has been re-
duced to II per cent. The objection to
statehood for New Mexico on the ground
that the people are not sufficiently cdu-
Gated nor familiar with American In
stitutions is, therefore, losing force.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Grandmother Gregory and Granny
Peabody are beginning to see what
pitiful spectacle they are making of
themselves by playing tin can for Robert
IL. Lee Herdman.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Chicago News
Senator Stewart says the plot of the gold
syndicate to control the world began with
the downfall of Napoleon. If Senator Stew
art will look further into the subject he will
find that Dick Bland locates the plot con-
temporaneous with the downfall Of Adam
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

South Dakota is undergoing the same
sort of Il fight for establishing the rail
road commission with full authority that
Iowa went through with a few years
ago.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Experiments are to be made to test
the feasibility of growing tobacco and
cotton in Washington and Oregon. Since
Florida has become corn growing state
the cotton line may as well be moved
nj
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Had the supreme court decision in the
Bartley case been handed down two
months ago there is no doubt that Judge
Post would have polled from 5000 to
10000 more votes.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Even the name "Free Silver is Il
hoodoo In the west. An Aspen mine
bearing that name has just been aban-
doned after three years of exploration
mt an expense of 100000 without n cent
of returns
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The last democratic vice president Of
the United States is to be counsel for n
trust, which leads n contemporary to
remark that this is conclusive that he
is out Of politics" Does it not rather
indicate that he has not changed his
occupation?
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

Why does not the police chief enforce
the law that prohibits the sale of liquor
for any purpose whatever without n
license or permit?
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

This is the season of the year when
the annual crop of complimentary resolu-
tions to retiring public officers is regu-
larly gathered.
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

If the United States absorbs Hawaii
what American can consistently protest
against absorption of China by European
powers!
Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07

The year 1898 will be fixed in Ameri-
can history as the Transmississippi EX-
position year.