davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
The Passing OF the Small Canal.

The New York Assembly on Monday
passed Il bill to allow the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company to abandon its canal
running from Kingston, on the Hudson, to
the Pennsylvania coal fields. Several other
canals between the PENNSYLVANIA coal
fields and river navigation or tide
water nave been abandoned, owing to
the great c%heapness OF railroad freightage,
which is much less than IA cent Il mile atom.
some OF the canal companies gave up the
struggle after very little effort, but the
Delaware and Hudson Company made Il
sturdy effort to stem the tide OF railroad
competition. But the time has come when
small canalboats and small canals do not
pay in this country.
Small canals in Europe still pay because
they are not crowded out OF business by
extremely low freight charges such as nave
made American railroads unrivalled in the
history Of Lane transportation. The United
Kingdoms network of canals, 2, 800 miles
long, brings all parts OF the country into
water communication with the four great
river systems, the Humber, Mersey, Thames
and Severn. Canals and canalized rivers
converge from all sides on Paris, and the
5000 miles Of canals In France are II most
prominent factorintheco untry's 8, 900 miles
Of navigable waterways. Canals are far
more important in the internal communi-
cation Of France, Germany and Holland
than Of Great Britain, where railways nave
made large inroads on their business, and
they will always thrive where slow transit
Is no objection and railroad freight rates
do not COmDptr. But small panals do NOT
fit into the scheme of colossal enterprises
which are nov the characteristic feature
Of American progress.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
The Brooklyn Water Front.

Notable among the speeches at the FRYE
dinner was that of Senator PLArr, pointing
out that the shore rights In New York
harbor have been SO carelessly dealt with
that now, unless great expense Is incurred,
the Brooklyn shore is all we have left for
the entertainment Of the big ships Of the
future The New Jersey front is taken up
with railroads; alarge part ofthe Manhattan
Island front with ferries and small steam
boat companies, SO that for the big liners OF
the future We must look to THAT strip Of
Brooklyn shore line which it is our bounden
dutytOp protect and improve, until, from the
walled sea line to the open ocean, there
shall be a depth OF water great enough at
any condition OF the tide. and at any hour
Of the twenty-four, for the accommodation
OF the biggest things afioat."
1t happened that on that very day bids
were opened for the dredging of the Bay
Ridge and Red Hook channels, which will
provide the Improvement spoken of. We
naturallylook at the work on the East Chan
mel, from the Narrows to the deep sea, as
the browning feature Of the New York har-
Dor Improvement authorized by the late Con-
gress, in acknowledgment Of which the din
ner to Senator FRYE was given. And this
is the correct view, not only because that is
the most costly item in the bill, but because
a change which is to make the East instead
OF the Main channel the chief highway for
transatlantic commerce is OF vast impor-
tance. Yet the accompanying improvement
on the Brooklyn shore also deserves atten-
ton, and is full OF promise.
The depth authorized for the Bay Ridge
and Red Hook channels is fortyfeet, or the
same great depth provided for the East
Channel, while the sum of 500 o for
beginning the work was voted outright,
with contracts authorized to the extent
Of 50, 100000 for completing it. The re-
suit will be to give a fort y-foot depth
from the Brooklyn water front to the
deep sea, in connection with the East
Channel. The Bay Ridge and Red Hook
channels will not he rs wide as the
Fast Channel, which must accommodate
vessels going to and from all parts OF the
upper halbor, but they will be much wider
than at present, and OF ample capacity in
every way. We may expect, when the
channels are dredged, to see capacious
warehouses and other structures going
up on the Brooklyn front. which will
then perform n great part in the accom-
notation Of the deepest-draught vessels Of
the transatlantic trade.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
Is This a Civilized State?

We undertook to make extracts from
Georgia and South Carolina papers describ-
ing particularly the mutilation and burn
ing Of the negro SAM HOSE or HOLT at New
nan. in Georgia, last Sunday, but when we
had accumulated them they were 80 horri-
BILE that It would have been an outrage on
the sensibilities, the very decency Of civil
lied people to print them.
The tortures inflicted on the negro before
he was burned at the stake were never ex-
ceeded in v ferocity by Comanche In
dams, and they were made the more awful
because Of the greater intelligence Of the
torturers. AS the savage work proceeded
crowd OF two thousand people, composed
largely, as We are told, "of all the farmers
who had received word that the burning
was to take place." watched lite every detail
with absorbing interest and without a sound
OF protest, but rather with unanimous APP
proval and many expressions OF delight.
When 1t was done, this Is what happened,
according to the report in the Charleston
Evening Posti
Before the body was cool IL WAS cut to pieces. the
bones were crushed into small bits and even the tree
upon which the wretch met his fate was torn up and
disposed Of a. souvenirs. The negro's heart was cut
in several pieces. a. was also his liver. Those I'M
able to obtain these chastity relics direct paid their
more fortunate possessors extrayagant sums for
them. Small pieces OF bone went for 20 cents aud q
bit Of tho liver crisply cooked sold for 10 cents. The
crowd fought for places about the smouldering tree.
and with knives secured such pieces Of his carcass
~ did not fall to pieces. The chain was severed by
hammers. The tree chopped down and with such
pieces Of the nrewood as had not burned were car
rtsd away a. souvenirs"
During the progress OF the burning, as
We are told further:
1.-THE road for half . mile on each side Of the
Burning negro was black with conveyances, and
was simply impossible. The crowd surrounded the
stake on all sides. but mono of those nearer than
100 feet OF the centre were able to see what was
going on. Yell after yell went UP and the progress
Of the flames was communicated to those In the
rear by shouts Of the eyevitnesses."
These people, it must be remembered,
were not hoodlums Of a great city. but were
drawn from the countryside, from adjacent
villages and farms. and were fairly repre-
sentative Of the whole rural population OF
Georgia. We need say nothing more.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28

TO THE EDITOR OF THE sUS-Sir: The editorial
OF today in reference to the Court OF Appeals de-
cision in the Fielding ease raises a question as to
whether the Court Of Appeals Judges have not laid
too much stress upon the District Attorneys al.
dress to the jury. in SO far as influencing the YER
diet rendered.
The case OF Fielding WAS one which affected the
interest OF the whole city. The difficulty Of trying
such cases. the great expense involved and the eff
feet upon public officials generally by the reversal
of a decision upon the point raised by the Court Of
Appeals make the decision questionable from tbs
standpoint Of a juryman. Having served on many
juries. ] think that | echo the sentiments OF a largo
number of the jurymen when I state that the sum.
ming M INDUCED in 10y attorneys has very littl.
weight with the average Jury. In fact, | do not
know OF an instance when in the discussion Of \
verdict in the jury room the addresses Of the at'or.
neys have ever been referred to. The charge OF the
Judge and the evidence admitted are constantly in
the mind Of the juryman, and verdict4 are largely
governed thereby. While some jurymen may la
momentarily affected by the emotional side Of an
attorneys address, II disappears with the serious
consideration Of q verdict.
II this we're generally known by Appeal Judges,
il seems to me that r verdict would not ne set aside
on the plea OF a too free license on the part Of tho
attorneys in summing up. JURYMAS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28

Mr.. MOSES O~pPENHEIMER writes to *
plain 10 us how probably II came about that
the Netr York Tribune and the Erenino Post
both located the German end Of the proposed
new cable at Ems, a town and watering place
In the province Of Nassau. Prussia. near
Coblenz." Mr.. OPPENHEIMER's theory Is that
the original despatch. in mentioning Ems.
referred TO the river OF that rame. the mouth
OF which would be a natural landing place for a
cable; and that some young person who had
heard OF the inland Ems. but did not know the
river. padded the despatch In a manner to pro-
duce the ridiculous statement already noted.
We confess that we had suspected that such
might be the case. But we are mystined still
further when so acute a critic and distin-
guished a geographical expert as Mr.. MOSES
O~PPENHEIMER goes on to say:
Had the young man looked at his German geog
raphy he would have found that there is also a river
Ems. at the mouth Of which is situated Bremerha
ven and n little further inland Bremen. two places
not entirely foreign to maritime enterprises. 1t is
manifestly this ri%sr that 10 TO be the terminus OF the
new transatlantic cable. There il nothing moon.
gruous about such a location as far as I can see.
Please prick the bubble
Bremerhaven on the Ems? Bremen on the
Ems? Perhaps Mr.. O~PPESHEIMER. also, had
better look at his German geography.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
INSURANCE PEACE COW MISSION.
Prussia Sends II to See About Reinstate.
ment of Elected Companies.


The royal commission appointed by the
Government OF Prussia to visit the leading
American life insurance companies to decide
the matter OF their readmiss;on to that coun-
try. sailed from Europe aboard the First Bis.
marck on the 10Th inst. and will arrive in
New York to-day. The commission consists
OF rrivy High Councillor Won Knebel lIoe.
beritz and Councillor Marshal Won Beeber.
stein. supervising officials Of insurance In the
Prussian Interior Department. Before be-
Inning their work In New York they will go to
Washington and put themselves In touch with
the German Minister,
In 1895 the Prussian Government issued
decraes cancelling the concessions under which
the Mutual Life and tie New York Life had
been doing business In that country for a mum
Der OF years and obliged them to retire. The
cesslon TO the. New York Life was gran ted in
lSs2 and the decree Of cancellation commanl.
Prussia on Nov |. 1875. The Mutual iifcs
~cesston was granted in 1890 and II was erected
voluntarily. Each company had a LAT &c agency
and furnishing business interests in Prussia.
Their election was attributed to the envy 4
was based upon the allegation that The Amer.
can companies had not complied with tho
mitted to that Government nf. their financial
conditions and, in their methods OF making NJ
statements and exhibitions of policy accounts
and BUSINESS balance sheets.
In retaliation several State Departments OF
Insurance in the United States denied the Prus
sian fire insurance com nanles. then domiciled
In this country the privilege Of doing business
within their bounds. In New York n law was
nassed which enabled SUPERINTENDENT Fierce
20 refuse to license the lrussian National aud
the Magdeburg Fire to transact business in
this State.
Since that time repeated efforts have teen
made TO restore the old state OF affairs and the
matter was made the subject of diplomatic
CORES pondence. This commission is the out
come OF the cDrreSDOnIpDcp The object OT.thia
official visit isnot an Investigation Of tn" fnan-
cial standing or the purely business methods
OF the lie insurance COMPANIES. but to obtain
Indignation unon such matters ~ can hs
studied and Judged properly. only at the i,uins
commission is horne wholly by the Prussiau
Government.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
SHERM4N'S SPEAK ERSHIP EIGHE.
He Says His Prospects Are Bright Payne
May Withdraw.

WASHINGTON. April 27.-Representatiye J.
s. sherman OF New York was in WASH
ington for a few hours to-day. In regard to
his contest for the Speakcrship and his pros
poets for success he would say nothing except
that everything was looking bright. The I'M
preston is gaining ground that representative
Payne will withdraw in favor OF his colleague,
Mr.. sherman will thus have the solid delega,
ton OF his State. and as he is unopposed 10y
any candidate in the East at present. with the
exception of MIR; Payne. he will have the back
ing OF almost all the Eastern members.
Representative Cannon OF Illinois has been
particularly active and has, announced to his
friends that he is a hona-tlde candidate and is
in the race to the end. Uncle Joe;' AS he is
struggle. and. owing to his long experience
and his marked abilities, may prove n formid-
able candidate While he has no desire 10
sentative Hopkins. Representative Cannon
does not think the prospects OF either himself
19 M she fHG d%se a Wi divided ID 1"l !EaIeRat 6y pTig rsm fIis
nois. On the contrary, this may prove a source
OF strength. as it would deprive the contest ot
Of locality and may prevent its resolving Itself
into n contest between State delegations or
regions.
Gen. Grosvenor and Representative Burton
appear to think that Ohio has been sufficiently
and thew express, some difidence about enter
however. that Ohio holds the balance Of power
as between the East and West. and therefore
the support Of the Ohio delegation is worth
having. For this reason they are carefully re-
reserving his strength in case there should be a
drift OF sentiment for II dark horse. In that
event either Representative Grosvenor or
Burton would expect to be the winner. So far
representative HOPKINS has not visited the
city. and. while II 10 expected he will come here
during the summer. no time has been fixed
for his arrival,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
The Professional Communications.

In st. Louis on Wednesday DR.. EMIL
PREEToRIUs Of the Westtiche Post called to-
gether a few editors OF the species com-
monty styled "German-American," and he
and they adopted resolutions as follows:
/. Denouncing the systematic and I'M
interrupted efforts" OF malicious persons
to destroy good will between the United
States and Germany.
=. Declaring that Germany was the first
to acknowledge the supremacy OF the
United States in the Philippines, and, there
fore, has no unfriendly intentions and no
desire to oppose us in the Orient
3. Protesting against the "falsehoods
and intrigues which are intended to inter-
rupt in the interest OF England the friend
ship between the United States and Ger
many"
!. Declaring that decentralization cit
liens stand almost unanimously against
militarism and Imperialism"
DR.. ~PREEToRIus represents in Missouri
journalism very much the same ideas and
purposes as have distinguished the policy
of Herr OTTENDoRFER in New York Jour-
nalism, and OF the Hon. CARL SCHURz in
rhetorical craftsmanship. They and men
like them have n personal or pecuniary
interest in keeping alive the distinction
between American citizens of German
birth or descent and other American cit
liens. They publish newspapers printed
in the German language, and are losers
when the "German-American" citizen
learns to regard himself simply as an
American citizen, without any qualifying
prefix. They seek political Office on the
strength Of their supposed influence with
n so-called German vote, and are the losers
whenever the German vote is merged in
the American vote and disappears as Il
separate entity. They are the professional
commandments. IL they did not make
it their business to insist upon using that
term on all occasions as if it described a
distinct class OF American citizens, with
opinions and interests apart from the rest,
we should hear much less about German
Americanism" than we do.
DIR. PREEToRIUs and his Preetorians need
not be concerned about the friendly rela-
tions between this country and Germany.
The natural ties between two great rom
mcrcial countries at peace are too numtr-
Gus and strong. and the countless interests
making for good will are too closely inter
woven, to admit for an instant the idea
that we are not still Germany's friend
and she not ours, in spite Of the an%noyanccs
and exasperations Of recent incidents Of
friction.
This relation Of friendliness does not need
the support of resolutions from any profess
siona German-American whatsoever.
As to the dangers Of militarism and i'm
perialism which the Hon. CARL ScHURz and
DR.. EMIL PREEToRlUs pretend to foresee
and deplore, they are insignificant as COM
pared with the danger that turks in the
spirit OF separatism and double-faced pa
triotism which the professional German
Americans find a profit in cultivating.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
Austria.

While it is true that Austria is Outwardly
less unsettled now than at any moment
during the past three years. those who fol-
low the politics OF the dual monarchy
know well enough the delusiveness OF the
present calm. 1t must not be supposed be-
cause Vienna is quiet, because the Language
ordinances are less talked OF. because the
fiscal warfare between Austria and Hungary
has cOme to a temporary end, that the
crisis which seems to hang over the realm
OF the H~apsburgs has, therefore, been
averted. The Propagation OF the Reichs-
rath has not caused the agitation to cease.
1t has merely scattered it among the coun-
try districts and provincial diets, where,
though less noticed, it is not less insistent.
From all parts OF the Austrian half OF the
realm, from Bohemia, Styria, Galicia, even
from the loyal Tyrol, come reports OF dis
content and unrest, which threaten, when
the Reichsrath r~eassembles. to upset the
Thun Ministry, and which may easily lead
to yet grarer consequences.
The real question at the bottom OF all the
connections that have disturbed the reign
OF FRANCIS JOSEPH is this: Is Austria to
be German or Slav? Is ii to be a central
lied State with German law, the German
language and German ideas of government
paramount throughout, or is it TO break
up into a number OF emi-independent
provinces, claiming an equal status with
Austria proper and ruled by the nationality
that predominates In each province? That
Is the pivotal point Of all Austrian politics,
the great question to which all other ques-
tions OF language or religion are sub
sidiary. II is not a struggle between Ger
man rationalism and the Catholic Church,
nor between the German language and
the Czech, nor between two opposing
forms OF government, but something far
more vital and comprehensive, a racial
struggle between Teuton and Slav, into
which all tn" bitternesseS that arise from
differences OF speech, religion, instinct and
ideas have been p~rccipitated.
Less than thirt v-tivc years ago the whole
Of what is now the dual monarchy was
governed from Vienna under Il rigid sys-
TEN Of German absolutism. One-half OF
that ~ascendancy was lost when the Hun
garianS regained their old independence,
and from the moral effects OF that surren-
der tn" Germans never seem to have re-
covered wholly. Their influence over the
Cisleithan half Of the monarchy has been
slowly Slapped away, first by the Poles, who
now rule Galicia pretty much as they wish,
and, secondly, by the Czechs, who have
agitated without ceasing for home rule in
Bohemia.
The reason, or one reason at least, for the
declining authority Of the Germans is that
the nationalities surrounding them have
advanced little, If at all, beyond the print
tive racial idea. This, while IL retards
their development in many ways. gives
them for certain purposes, particularly
for purposes Of agitation, an immense
compactness and strength. The Czechs act
as a corporate unit on all political issues
the Poles are never anything hut Poles, nor
the Ruthenians anything but Ruthenians.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28

the Australian colonies, the imperial Gov
eminent seems to forego all right to a
share in any profits but that Is an addl-
tional proof that IL does not regard the
project simply as an investment. Its pro-
posed route from New Zealand through the
Fills and Tanning Island to Vancouver is
chosen with n view to having the inter
mediate stations on British soil, so settling
its control for military, naval and admins
trative purposes.
Our line, which will take in Hawaii and
then Guam and the Philippines, connect
ing finally with Japan and China, will
appeal to the Government on like grounds,
while on its commercial side the advan-
tages OF the direct connection with Asia
are manifest. We shall undoubtedly, there
fore, push ahead with our own plans, indie
pendently OF the British project.
This last, we may add, has been under
consideration for more than a dozen years.
The London conference Of 1887 was fol-
lowed by the Ottawa conference OF q few
years ago. and the difficulties were great OF
arranging on what terms the Australian,
Canadian and imperial Governments should
take part. Then the lack OF knowledge OF
the sea floor between Vancouver and the FL
js and the fear Of coral formations and pos
sible submarine volcanic disturbances were
drawbacks. Queensland and New South
Wales, perhaps getting tired OF the delays,
aided u few years age in substituting a
French cable from the former to New Gale
donia. However, the British project 10Y
seems to be well started, and may furnish
u stimulus for our own, when Congress
takes up the subject next winter. The
question OF private or public ownership of
the cable will be one Of the first and funda-
mental points Their to consider.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
The New English Marriage Act.
From he Outlook.

7 TTHF TITO VWTTVUN.
Nonconformist have had little recognition from
the state in Great Britain. While a brainlass non.
entity in the Establishment might perform the mar.
rage service. the ablest Dissenting minister could
not do so. For instance. neither Charles II. Spurgcon
nor Robert W. Dale was ever allowed to perform
such n ,ervice without the presence Of a registrar to
make the ceremony legal. This has been one Of the
grievances OF the Nonconformists. But very lately
a new law went into effect. not entirely removing
the objections. but still greatly ameliorating them.
Henceforward the presence Of a registrar will not Ia
necessary TO the proper determination Of marriage.
Nonconformist ministers. in the same way as ths
ministers Of the Establishment, will be permitted t.
give certificates 4 marriage. But there are still
some absurd and curious rules which have to be
observed,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28

In Georgia. the Southern Imperial State,
There's a wealth of good things that has made her
name great.
She has beyles Of mAidens and matrous az we'll,
Whose charms all the poets on earth cannot tell;
She has melons by millions. whose sweet, luscious
red
New glories on nectAr.Ambrosia have shed;
She has peaches by carloads, the finest that grow,
For kitchen, for table, for market, for show
She has Crackers galore. the genuine brand
By Thousands who make her the one Cracker land:
She has pride by the bushel. and all kinds of wealth,
And farms by the acre and oceans Of health;
She has great and small cities. a dozen or more,
And villages. hamlets and towns By tho score,
She has legions OF men, Of whose glorious deeds
The scholar at school in his history reads;
she has myrisdS Of all things wherever We turn,
And II seems that she AlSo has niggers 70 burn.