davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
Have Faith in This Nation!

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: During
the campaign of 1850 a "doughface" Demo-
crat. as we used then to describe the breed.
prophesied to me that IL Lincoln was elected
the South would rebel. and that as cotton
was king" grass would grow in the streets
of New York" This prophet was one of the
most notable Of the merchants Of New York at
that day.
When the Resumption act was passed by q
Republican Congress q Democratic bank Presi-
dent. distinguished in the financial community
OF New York. took a ~greenbaek from his pocket.
saying to me: Neither you nor l will live to
see any other money except that in this coun-
try. Specie payments! No one in this genera
ton will ever see them"
Lincoln was elected and the South rebelled,
but the streets Of New York did not afford pas
ture for cattle. From a comparatively small
town Of relatively insignificant business and
financial resources, New York grew steadily in
population. in the dignity Of its architecture,
and in the power OF its wealth. trade and man
ufacture. so that its state in 1850 seems mean
by the side OF that In 1893.
The banker who had been so sure that we
should not live to see specie payments lived long
after they established the foundations OF the
greatest prosperity this city and this country
have ever known, and died with an estate ten
times greater than he had when he made his
prediction.
l remember these forecasts OF evil when I
hear now from representatives of similar
shortness OF view gloomy predictions OF ma
tional disaster as the consequence of the
natural development of this country In the ex-
pansion OF its territory and trade. Long before
my day they were frequent in New York. The
Tory merchants OF the city prophesied inev-
liable ruin because Of the Revolution. Every
step in American progress has been taken
against the opposition of this dulness OF per-
ception. OLD. BUT NOT OLE FoaY.
ley YORK. Nov. 80.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01

with their drawbacks known, armored
cruisers may even have moro advocates
than ever, especially in view Of the mag
niHoent craft which could be built with the
new Krupp armor and with a tonnage OF
10000 displacement.
Next In Importance, undoubtedly, on the
new programme are the three battleships.
We are apt to build such ships in threes, as
the Indiana, Illinois and Ohio classes show,
so that this proposal cannot be called ex-
travagant. Competent judges believe we
ought to have at least twenty first-olass
battleships, now that the Pacific as well rs
the Atlantic is OF the highest Importance to
uR: and 90 far we have only twelve built or
building. The great feature TO note is that
the new battleships are to show about 49,
500 tons displacement, against 1o,2SS for
the Indiana class, 1925 for the Kearsarge
and Illinois c~lasses, and IL, 800 for theo Ohio
class. with a thousand tons moro displace-
ment than In this last to work with, and a
liberal outside allowance for hull and ma
chinery, these new battlcships ought to
be In every respect splendid specimens Of
their type. Inspeed ut least eighteen knots
will be required, and their coal endurance
will also be far superior to that Of our
battleships now afioat.
OF the two other Glasses proposed, name
ly. three protected cruisers Of about 5000
tons each and six cruisers Of 2, 800 tons, It
10 enough 10 say that the resumption Of the
building Of unarmored cruisers will denote
the general growth Of the navy. With such
vessels we began the new steel fleet, and
one after another was added until a halt
was called for concentration upon types in
which we were far behind. To-day. exclu-
sive Of the auxiliary navy, which contains
not q few cruisers, and Of some %gunboats
almost large enough to be classed with
them, we have eighteen steel cruisers, Of
which all but three are protected and
range between 5000 and 1875 tons dis
placement, the other three being the De-
troit unprotected class Of 2,0s9 tons each.
The new protected cruisers proposed would
surpass the Olympia, DEwEY's fine and
famous flagship, which displaces only 1870
tons. The six smaller cruisers would come
in displacement between the Detroit class
and the Atlanta.
1t will be observed that no monitors or
torpedo boats are on the new programme.
But Of the former we now have, either built
or authorized, twenty-three, Of which ten are
modern and heavily armed, while our tor
pedo flotilla sums UP, Of all classes, fifty
three, so that we can afford to postpone adj
ditions to these types.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01

iA. a. wo have said. almost incomprehensi-
BILE. The approximations to which they give
expression in regard TO the periIs to our
own civilization that might possibly follow
Philippine Incorporation in our system
seem to indicate a lack OF spiritual stamina
TO which there IL hardly q parallel in the
history of the entire Christian Church.
Most assuredly 1t cannot be found
In that Of the Church Of England
or Of tho Nonconformist churches that
have sprung from It during the last
two or three centuries. Among them
all, what minister, exalted or lowly. ever
before assumed the position now taken
by certain oaEl cautious preachers in this
and other citiesf Is the beautiful parable
Of the Good Shepherd to be weighed down
in future with a modern constitutional limi-
tatlon3 Is the answer to the question in
HEBRR's famous hymn to be that the light
Of life shall be denied to the heather nation
II its extension conflicts with the Bourbon
views Of some obtuse constructionist Of an
organic form Of human government
Such is practically the strange attitude
OF the small group Of anti-expansionist min
listers. 1t is a position at war with the con-
science OF the American people.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
The Pulpit for National Expansion.

1t Is not easy TO reconcile the political
action of the ~clergymen that now oppose
expansion with their professed principles
as e~xpounders of the Gospel, jealous to
carry its divine message to peoples plunged
In abhorrent barbarism. Less than six
months g the Protestant pulpit univer-
sally interpreted DEwEY's marvellous VIC
tory at Manila as q manifestation from on
high that. as q nation, the sublime mission
had been marked out for the United States
Of leading the people Of the Philippines into
height OF civilization and OF rescuing them
from the mental. moral and physical debase-
ment In which they were held by one OF the
very worst Governments on earth. And
with a voice which may be said to be unani-
the conscience Of the country accept
ed that Interpretation.
To their honor, be 1t said, the ~overwhelm-
ing majority of the clergymen of all the
great divisions of the Protestant Church
are still firm in the high beliefs to which
they then a expression. They see in the
victory of the flag In war the sure presage
OF the triumph of Christianity in the years
Of peace that are to follow, and so are CIV
ing consistent, earnest support to those pol
icies OF enlightened and progressive states
manship with the success OF which the ulti-
mate magnificent results they pray for and
hope for are 30 inseparably interviewer.
III course OF their rscalcitrant brethren
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
The Axe and tho Red Light.

First, Chief DEvERY discovers and certi-
fies that this town is highly moral from
turret to foundation stone.
Secondly, CHAPMAN, who once swept the
Tenderloin with his indignant Gothic whis-
kers. is set to sweeping the Red Light"
district, which the Police Board nave sud-
denly discovered to be highly immoral.
Thirdly, the virtuous CHAPMAN leads his
men on what may be called a malicious mis-
chief raid. The police tear dow partitions,
rip up curtains, smash furniture in certain
cafes. Let them 1.-THE proprietorsl COM
plain" cries CHAPMAN, "if they don't clear
out OF my precinct now, I will arm my men
with axes, and we won't leave a thing in
their places"
Nobody is going to weep over the misfor-
tunes Of the dive-keeper of the Red Light
district, but it is a curious thing that viola
tion of the law should be punished by viola
tion Of the law. The New York police Is
blind ninety-nine one-hundredths Of the
time. Then it suddenly appears as a bully
and a terror. After the hullabaloo is over,
vice resumes its sway in the purified "
district a. invisible as ever to the police.
And while the hullabaloo Is going on, other
districts in which immortality looses all its
vice in the eyes OF the police by keeping its
tariff high, sport unregarded.
Probably we shall hearin a few weeks that
CHAPMAN has been sent to compare his
beard with those Of the goats. He Is happy
now. The Red Light district will be happy as
soon as the cruel raid is over and the police
become peaceful again. Then some other
district, perhaps the Tenderloin, perhaps
the Upper Tenderloin. will have to suffer for
a season. But business will not be inter-
rupted long. The police have to do about
80 much for exhibition purposes every year.
The rest of the time peace and prosperity
reign In town.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01

Further Explanation OF the Significance of
tho Present situation.

....". Nno kEthtuN blNVtANANls
TO THE TprroR OF The sUS-Sir. The letter
OF your Norwegian correspondent. DR.. Grcth.
regarding the accuracy OF some statements In
an article that appeared in THE SUN on the re-
lations between Norway and Sweden, raises
some interesting questions concerning the his
torical and actual rotations between the two
countries.
A / read the history Of the union II was not
effected until 1916. BY the Peace OF Kiel in
1914 Denmark coded Norway TO Sweden. but
the Norwegians refused to acduiesce in this ar
rangement, n the Danish Prince Frederick,
then Governor OF Norway, on the advice OF
prominent Norwegians. convokod q National
Diet, or StorthinR, by which he was elected
King OF Norway. The Same body adopted attic
same time a Constitution based on the French
Constitution OF 1901. which was founded on
the sovereignty OF the people as represented in
an indlssoluble elective assembly. This resist
ance to the agreement between Sweden and
Denmark was overcome by force OF the Swed-
ish arms and King Frederick abdicated. The
StorthinR. while accepting the sovereignty
Of the Swedish King. Oscar XIII, nevertheless
maintained the principle Of popular soyer-
Aug. o. 1876, the Act. OF Union fRikseal be-
tween the two countries was passed. the King
20 SS sSSssssis sein 1877 the e., s eo%%o 70 a deolns;e tN %sT.
and receive Ambassadors. Norway retained
of Ministry. its Diet or %StorthinR. is Supreme
Court. its capital at Christiania. and its State
The uitraedemocratic character Of the Nor
wegia1 Constitution. however. conflicted too
sSsl9bbs BEEN S an in sas slns syrs sSRFIsPB ssSse Sna sh sssTo
since. vergine frequently on civil war. In such
way ayS and s as = snas Il tHi e not e0 Unusual Un p for each side side
to accuse the other OF being the one 70 take the
justification of Or. Groth's statement Il may be
summer sain anS. f tSat sweden Tess num WSs % n%IinIs the ser pass
Norwegian frontier. But the first extraordi.
B bs No S = n lo fs %IlitS %Silpe us TIE Swedish wfsS y Sosss
were much later.
The facts Of the present dispute. however. are
NorweGians In the matter Of the armyis to pre-.
vent their regular troops being taken out OF
the country without the consent of the Stor-
OF a coup d'ftdt supported by Swedish troops.
Tor the purpose OF imposing o more monarchi-
cal form Of government on the country, What
Commissioners on the commission nominated
by King Oscar In 1895. while meeting the Nor.
weRlans in many other points. tenaciously stand
countries, shall be at the absolute disposition
9 81 sae TTroE fbi. On n. a N nr1aHiani ara be ennos or
matter is the demand by Sweden that there
s shSll abuse Be e g RrsieIs b st " ab By N NSTwsy Sse c6nt
be taken across the Norwegian frontier. you
ha Il p Is sais ss%Sn q pS on the le R S1tS Of s ~ Sl'ng that hat
whole Of the land forces Of the country under
one law as regards the royal control, and which
constitutes the core Of the trouble. between the
two countries. T..
K YORK, Nov. 30.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
IDg 70 about 3, ooo.o 600. due nom Me1Ico

ing to about 4 5000 900. due nom Mexico
to our citizens.
In the list OF the several additions made
TO the territory originally belonging to the
thirteen colonies, the Philippines and Porto
Rico rank fourth in area, third in value and
first In population.
1t muet also DO borne in mind that the
present trade OF the Philippines affords no
measure OF the Dimensions which 1t Is
likely to assume under good government,
and through the development Of their natu-
raj resources by American enterprise and
capital. From what has happened to Java,
which has an area about one-third as largo
as that OF the Philippines, we should be able
to forecast the future OF the latter islands,
At the close Of the last century the popula-l
ton Of Java did not much exceed two mill
lions. Upon its capture by the English a
wise and stimulRtive system Of ad-
mlnistration was established by Sir
STAMFORD RAFFLns, which the Hollanders,
on recovering the island, had the good sense
to continue, and in some respects to i'm
prove. The population Of Java OF present
exceeds 20, 600, 900, having been nearly
Occupied in q century. The Philippines
have certain advantages Of soil n climate
over Java, and it lie by no means improbable
that, in American hands, they may support
fifty million inhabitants at the end Of the
next hundred years.
When such results are considered in con-
neotion with the shortness Of the time dur
ing which active operations were carried
on, and with the small percentage Of loss
incurred by our army and navy, the high
place among modern wars that belongs to
our recent contest with Spain cannot but be
generally recognized.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
ExPANs1ox AND PACIFIC MAIL.
Two Steamships to Be Built at Newport
News for Oriental Trade.

Two Steamships to BE Built at Newport
News for Oriental Trade.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 30.-Collis P. Hunting
ton is preparing to work very soon
at Newport News on two steamships for the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company to ply be-
tween San Francisco and Honolulu and Orien-
tai ports. They are to be named the st. Paul
and St. Louis of Pacific and will be the fastest
vessels that have ever piled between such dis
tant ports as San Francisco and Hong Kong.
They will cost in the neiehborhood Of $2.OOo.-
600 each and will have q carrying capacity OF
IL 900 tons each. The average speed from
port to port will be about 10 knots, but the
vessels will have O speed Of % knots. The
passenger accommodations will be of the best
and both vessels will be built to carry at least
100 frst-class passengers and from 1000 TO
1000 in the storage.
For some months past the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company has been. unable to handle
TO the stand taken by the United States, in the
tramp boats to carry freight to and from
Chinese ports.
II Is not yet known whether there will be a
line from this port to Manila. This much is
certain. the Pacific Mail people will run a con-
Meeting steamer from Hong Kong to Manila.
II, however. all depends upon the kind OF a
mail contract the Pacific Mail gets for next
year. The contract may compel them to run
direct to Manila. It is reported that the Pa
ciho Mail Company has asked for O subsidy
amounting to 800. 600 a year.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
COMPETITION IN war DESIGNS.
Architectural League Announces tho Con.
ditions of Its Contests.

arcb,ts,trr,l I.,o,. Arr,ur,.. The ccr-
dit,ons OF TIA Contestr.
The Architectural League has made public
the conditions OF the competitions for the gold
and s,,var ,rod,,s ,ha kSarv prize ana the
anu shVer meuais. the avery trize anu tno
Presidents Prize. These competitions win be
held, under the auspices of the league. Thu
snh;.ota ohosan 90 ar roIa and H. r,odais
are reviewing stands. triumphal arches and
publjc prandstands. and the bvpotbesis ia that
eney are constructed ior inc purpose OF reVieW-
Ing an army returning from foreign service.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
TONES PLANS NOT DEFECTIVE
Architects withers & Dickson Say They Were
Deposed for Political Reasons Only.

Architects withers & Dickson Say They Were
Deposed for Political Reasons Only.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-sSr: In the
papers Of to-day it is stated that the Commis-
sioner OF Correction. Francis j. Lantry. had
stopped work on the building because he had
discovered that our plans were defective. mas
much as the girders would have to carry four
lines the weight permitted by law. We desire
to say that the whole matter Is q question Of
politics entirely. Ever since the new admins
tration came into power the authoritieshave
been seeking every ~pretext to get rid df us.
even going so far as to ask US to resign our po-
sition as architects, SO that others In sympathy
with Tammany could be appointed.
Our plans for the iron work were prepared In
consultation with Mr.. Stuart williamson, an ex-
pert engineer. and were. approved by MI. George
B. Post. the architect Of the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment. as well as by the Building
Department.. and we know that the glrders and
all other steel work are correctly proportioned
and OF sufficient strength to carry the cells as
designed by us. What the cell work designed
BY Horgan 4 Slattery is we do not know, and II
they have, not arranged their work in. con-
formity with our steel work as designed the
respectfully. WITHERs & DICKSON.
NEW YORK, Nov. sc.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
What We Have Done We Can Do Again.

From the Journal Of Commerce.
It is absurd 10 pretend that the acquisition of
the Philippine Islands presents any greater consti-
tutional difficulties than the acquisition Of the Gulf
and Pacific coasts. The same direful predictions of
disaster that are now made have been made at every
previous addition to the national area. The same
constitutional objections have been urged. the same
political dangers have been announced. Nearly all
the opposition on former occasions. as on the pres
emit occasion. came from Now England. Our Admin
istration of our national responsibilities has not
been irreproachable. but on the whole 1t has been
good. No one. even in New England. now regrets
the additions already made. We hardly think that
ten years hence any one in New England will regret
the addition now being made. The nation that has
enlarged its area nearly 400 per cent. and added
huge blocks of foreign population. partly by these
territorial additions and partly by immigration,
may be trusted to do as we'll in the future as it has
in the past.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01

Among the fifteen warships selected by
next additions to our fleet, it is noteworthy
that preference is given to the three
Rrmored cruisers. Or, as Mr.. LONG puts it,
with the Philippines ours, we ought to pro-
vide for beginning at once the whole fifteen,
but should authorize the armored cruisers
any way.
The reason for this preference is easy to
discern. We have now, built or building,
thirteen great battleships, all but one OF
the first class, whereas we only ave two
armored cruisers. When the first Of these
cruisers, the New York, was constructed,
under Secretary TRACY, he regarded it as
our "best all-around vessel" taking to-
gether speed and fighting power. In those
days, and for some time later, there were
comparatively few great armored cruisers
in the worlds navies, although some coun-
tries, notably Russia, have long given much
attention to this type. But some experts
regarded the armored cruiser as a craft
which, half way between the battleship and
the swift protected cruiser, and seeking to
combine the advantages Of both, did not
fully secure those Of either. We believe,
however, that at the Kiel celebration the
New York was the most admired ship of all
our representatives, outdoing even the
speedy Columbia in estimation, and yet the
Brooklyn, with about 1000 tons more dis
placement and conspicuous by her tumble
home sides n tall smokestacks, goes
much beyond her predecessor both in speed
and battle power. Still, with those two fine
vessels we stopped, in order to supply the
still more pressing need OF battleships and
torpedo boats and now that these last two
classes exist in reasonable numbers, the
armored cruiser again claims the first place
In immediate attention.
A point specially worthy OF note is that
the three armored cruisers proposed arc to
have about 10000 tons trlal. displacement
each, This is an increase Of about one-half
over the New York. which displaces 5000
tons, and OF about one-thlrd over the Brook
Ign, which displaces 9,215. The maximum
allowance for the new cruisers Is put at
$4,000, 900, exclusive Of armor and arma-
ment, or more even than for the proposed
new battleships, which latter, however. will
need heavier plates and batteries. The
contract price Of hull and machinery for
the New York and for the Brooklyn was a
little less than So, 1000. 1t may be
imagined, therefore, what a magnificent
gain, even over those splendid vessels, We
can make in speed, armor armament and
radius Of action, with 1000 or 1000 tons
and $1,000, 900 added to each. 1t may
fairly DO said that the ruin Of CERvERAIs
squadron OF armored cruisers Gid not de-
ptroy faith in this type. On the contrary.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
An otherwise intelligent correspondent

An otherwise intelligent correspondent
writes to us in dissent from our criticism Of
Director OF the Mint RoBERTs's bimetallic
heresy. He asserts that it Is the Gov
eminent which gives gold its value as
a measure Of other values, and that, IL
the Government were to refuse to coin
gold, it would destroy its value as currency.
This is the direct opposite of the truth. The
value Of gold is not given to it by Government
action, but by the common consent Of mankind.
and legislation merely regulates and facilitates
its use as currency. II all laws on the subject
were repealed tomorrow gold would not cease
to be used as currency. but would pass from
hand to hand by weight. as silver does In China.
This would be inconvenient and expensive. but
not fatal to gold. The same correspondent
also says that 1.-THE only measure Of value IL
price," which is untrue. Price Is merely ono
way OF expressing values: they can also be ex-
pressed by comparing them with one another.
though experience has shown that 1t is more
convenient to have one common value A. .
measure for all. and refer all to that. This one
value at present is that OF gold. and 1t has been
selected. not by Governments. but by people In
general. and no Government can prevent their
continuing to nse 1t. any more than 1t could
prevent them continuing TO eat bread for food.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-01
SEEDS FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
Natives to Be Encouraged to Raise Vege
tables on the Island of LuZon.

Natives to BE Encouraged to Raise Vege-
tables on the Island of Luzon.
SAN Francisco. Nov. 30.-That the Adminis-
tration at Washington was fully determined to
hold the Philippines as long ago as July l is
shown by the fact that large quantities of vege-
table seeds were sent from this city on trans
ports on June 20 to Manila. Tons OF cauli6ower.
carrot. lettuce. melon, onion. parsnip. spinach.
corn, peas. and tomatoes. and other seeds vera
included In this consignment. which was adj
dressed to various military officers in the
Philippines.
The design OF the Department Of Agriculture.
which has this matter in charge. Is to experi-
ment with all common vegetables and see
whether they will flourish in the hill country In
the Island of Luzon. A large amount of seed
potatoes will soon be sent to Manila and will he
distributed free among tho natives. who will be
encouraged to grow them for American con-
sumption. The only potatoes in Manila ara
imported from Spain.
This week. 1870 tons OF fresh vegetables were
landed at Manila; They were shipped from
the troops as soon as landed.