davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
The Nicaragua Canal Bill.

The passage in the Senate yesterday of
the Nicaragua Canal bill, the text of which
will be found in our news columns this
morning, is something for which every
American with the least interest in the
future commercial position and prosperity
of his country will feel grateful. 1t is
true that the measure still must pass
through the fire of interested obstruction
and of foreign antagonism in the House
of Representatives, but the happy Fact
that it was passed in the Senate with only
six dissenting votes ought TO be sufficient
evidence that the stern demand of the
American people for the immediate under
taking of the proposed work is appreciated
at its full political value on Capitol Hill.
and that there is little hope left for those
who would defeat the national canal move
ment for the benefit of clements willing
and eager to block the wheels of American
progress if, thereby, an advantage can be
gained for domestic monopOies or antago-
nistic European interests.
The bill will now be before the House,
and the members of that body could not
better demonstrate their right to public
confidence than by passing and sending it
to the President without the least delay.
1t is no longer open to argument on its
merits. Everything that could be said
against it by the ablest advocates that
money or the promise of political support
could buy has been said. \ nearly bottom
less purse has been and is on exhibition
with the hope OF defeating it. But specious
argument, treachery in the guise Of friend
ship to some alternative scheme and the
corrupt influence of gold have failed to ar
rest its progress through one branch of
Congress, and will be equally impotent to
destroy it in the other.
a great hope Of the people now appears
to be approaching fruition. All eyes are
concentrated upon the House of Repre-
sentatives. They are the eyes OF people
affiliated with every political party. The
Democratic as well as the Republican
masses look to their representatives to au-
thorize and promote the gigantic enterprise
which is TO make America the queen of
earth's commerce, and TO mark the eman-
cipation OF our splendid trans montana
empire from the sordid grasp of soulless
monopolies.
Who is there that will dare to stand in
the way of a whole nations firm purpose
a purpose dictated BY every consideration
OF common good and common necessity?
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

One or The pet eXcitements OF certain
class of people comes from the anticipation
of the end of the world. In the nature of
although il is generally understood that
that IS not likely TO happen for some time.
Before the higher criticism of the Bible
was heard of the public figured out the
probable duration of the earth mainly from
the Book OF Revelations, and remained
comfortably certain that unless he stars
should fall 10 the earth like figs and the
sun be darkened. and the sea turned to
blood, or something of that kind happened.
the end OF the world was not yet. In spite
OF this conviction, one Miller gained n
considerable following in the first half Of
this century, and many misguided people
sold their possessions and made white
robes ana mounted to the highest place
they could find, In order to be ready TO fly
when the time came. Since the nasco Of
Miller there has been no general excite
ment on account of the end OF The world
4 ripple Of interest was recently caused
in London, nevertheless. when an astrol-
oyer declared that the history of this
earth would be finished at the end of the
present century. That brought the end Of
all things Uncomfortably near. or course
most people reflected that there was no
particular reason why the laws OF nature
should cease to work at midnight. Deem
Der 81 1900, any more than there would be
for the birds keeping Sunday. or the sap
in the trees celebrating the four hundredth
anniversary of the discovery of America.
The laws of nature do not work always
according to the almanac-not even ac-
cording 10 farmers almanac. But now
comes a theory promulgated By Sir Robert
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

If anyone had limited in the old days
when wood was the only available fuel, or
even in later times, when the age of coal
had just begun. that We should some day
harness the lightning and make it do our
drudgery, he would have been regarded as
a person ambitious to add a chapter to the
Arabian Nights. The possible exhaustion
Of the worlds supply of coal troubled many
people not SO very long ago; but all that is
past. With the inexhaustible force of cleo
! tricity at service, and the possibility
of utilizing other forces as yet undreamed
! Of. it does not matter If every lump OF coal
! in the world is burned.
1t has been suggested that the coal age.
while merely an incident in the world S
progress, has done one great service to the
human race in developing mechanical
power and natural science; that the ex-
perments made on coal have been. so to
speak q kindergarten in which to learn
principles and gain deftness of hand. The
primal elements in human nature are ever
| the same; there is nothing new in the uni
J verse; the newness is only in the combi-
! nation and manifestation OF these primal
| qualities. In all conscious life, down to
! the lowest forms OF animal existence, the
rudiments of something besides selfish
I greed have been traced. The instinct which
/ leads the mother bird to face her terrible
enemy, the snake, when her young are in
danger, is precisely the same as that OF
the human mother when she braves the
soldiers of hostile army in the search
for her wounded son. The instinct which
led one of a band OF monkeys pursued by
! hunters to turn back and rescue little
monkey accidentally left behind (as re-
lated by Darwin is the same which ami
mates the soldier on the field Of battle
when he rushes through rain of bullets
TO save the life of comTade. The only
new thing in history is the endless nov
city of combination and development. This
is as true in the moral world as in the
phy steal. There has always been cleo
tricity; the tides have been rising and
falling for countless generations; the only
new thing is in mans use of them. in his
laying hold of the forces of nature and
turning them more and more to aid his
own development. That is what We call
civilization.
An analogy may be traced from this sub
stitution of electricity for coal as a me
| chanical factor. There are certain ele-
ments in mental and moral life which have
hitherto been almost as quiescent as cleo
tricity in the physical world. There are
laws which have been little understood
as those of electricity and magnetism.
When great moral teacher discovers or
| explains these laws. he does the same
thing in his sphere that Edison and Tesla
do in theirs. He does not force people to
accept his teachings: he simply points out
the road. Tesla might publish all his dis
coveries, and they might be numerous
enough TO fill a library, but they would
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
The War on Miles.

From the Richmond Dspatchj
Miles is 10 fav6ritc Of ours. No Southern man
has any reason to admire him FrrthcrIuor. i,
may be that in the matter OF hi, Charge regard
ing ''cinhilmed beef' he may have mad. =. mis-.
take may have hecn too hssty and spoken with
out warrant. But if iir believed the charge. 10
be tue he was acting in the line OF his duty. the
results OF the Investigations of Mr.. Mckinley )
Withdrawing Var Commission to the contrary
notwithstanding.
We believe that this is the soicr Judgment Of
The people Of the country at lag. Moreover.
we have faith in lbe' sense OF Justice OF the
people. Therefore. despite their backing by the
bee! .Jctri, and. members of Congress. it moy
turn o.,- hat ii Alger and Mckinley shall use
EaE,di To- down Sliles, these two will not be with.
out company in the end. In other words public
rcprohStj"u Of -urh course will he visited upon
tic rsc-tdent and secretary Of Var
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

Ball. an eminent Irish scientist which has
nothing 10 do with dates or theology. He
says that when the waters of the sea break
through n thin spot which exists some
where in the crust of the earth they
will come in contact with the molten in
terror of the globe and there will be an
explosion which will put an END to every
thing in the twinkling Of an eye. He says
that the crust of the earth is growing
is only a matter of time and that no one
can predict with any certainty when it
will come. or where that thin spot is.
This sounds appallingly scientific and
convincing When an ordinary person tells
Us that we are not looking well we may
feel sorry for ourselves or wish to kick
the ordinary person out of the door. ac
cordins to temperament; but We are not
scared. When a doctor tells lis that We
have a disease with long Latin name,
and that it will surely prove fatal in time.
We become worried. and think it is really
worth investigation. If there is going to
be & grand explosion. in which everything
and every person on this globe will be dis
sipated into molecular bits and scattered
in space and if this catastrophe is to ar
rive absolutely without warning, and may
arrive at any time, it is very different
thing from any prediction by Miller or
Zadkiel. 1t is n lesson to the ordinary
mortal to be prepared.
Then, after this scientific explanation.
Sir Robert goes on to say that the end of
the world cannot occur from the above
cause before at least three hundred thous-
and years. This is as if the physician,
after telling his patient that he is sure to
die from polysyllabic disease. should ex-
plain that the disease is really old age. The
moral effect is all gone. Some one ought
to explain to this eminent scientist that
this is the wrong time of year for April
fool Jokes
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

AS if to emphasize the necessity of a
change to the popular election of United
States Senators. another matter of leg
islative bribery is reported. 1t seemed
enough that in California the outright
purchase OF the votes OF legislators with
money had been established that rival
millionaires in Montana were engaged in
an effort TO buy votes; that in Delaware
the wealth of the gasman Addicks has pro-
duced deadlock; and that it has been
considered expedient to offer enormous
sums for the discovery of the corrupt use
of money in Pennsylvania, where a SEN
ator under indictment for a mercsnary
crime has the lead in the race And now
there is talk of bribery in Wisconsin.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
GRANT SEES HIS FINISH.
Money Transactions With California
Legislators Ruined His Ghancrs.

San Francisco Jan. 2l.-After three
weeks OF balloting the California Legis a
ture is no nearer the selection OF a United
States Senator than at the outset. Today
the twenty-seventh ballot was taken
which resulted as follows: Grant. "A;
Burns. 30: Bulla, Is; Barnes, 10; Scott. :;
Bard. >; Estee. l; FELTON,. l.
There are rumors that all the scattered
elements as well as the Grant following
will go to Buila early next week. 1t is
recognized by all that Grant might as well
get out of the fight, as the revelations OF
the monetary assistance given to legis a.
tors has killed his chances OF success.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
Royal Rows in samoa.


Robert Louis Stevenson i the only man who
ever succeeded in making Samoan politics in
tercstinS to white folks: and he Il dead The
row among the chief, over the trumpsry thrcnc
IS very old story. ~ Is the friction between
the cOnsnis. The German traders were already
making trouble in samoa twenty-five wears ago
or more. In due time the German government
viii probably diSIyow the ia:t-. eccentric per.
inru'lnces OF its consul at ApJ. and Amblssat0s
White will soothinGly eNpisin that they haya
caused the greatest surprise aud regret at Berlin
Our joint -prutectcrate experiment in samoa has
not been shttering success thus far. Perhaps
though. ought to regard it A. a bIessin-.
in disguise il it GeterS from entering int,
similar arrangements clwherc ami On a larger
scale
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

The American people are almost entire
L. in the dark as to the present situation
in the Philippines, owing to the censorship
that has been established over outgoing
as wei! as incoming news. 1t would be
less exasperating if we could be sure that
the particular persons against whose in
terests the ban on dispatches exists. were
not able TO communicate by their own
means with agents at Hongkong. That
the German agents there are kept informed
as TO everything that occurs here in
relation to the Philippines we may take
for granted. 1t is almost as certain that
there is a grapevine line between thsm
and Aguinaldo. and that the messengers
who eiude the officials in order to carry
directions and money to the outlaw chief.
also carry information that is of any i'm
portance. That the Administration con-
siders hostiiities between the American
troops and the rebels as possible and even
probable appears from the hurry orders 10
the hospital ship Relief to report TO Al
miral Dewey as soon as practicable.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

1t is hardly enough for the Berlin gov
eminent TO declare that the treaty rro-
visions will be upheld in Samoa, as ION;
as its agents boldly and violently break
them, going so far as to drive the chief
justice out of his court with the aid of a
body OF rebels. There must be some guar
antee that the German representative there
will stop meddling in native politics. In
the present case there could be no eycus.
Tor independent action on his part until
he had been instructed from Berlin.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
READY TO COMPROMISE.
Siiverites in Nebraska Give Up Hope
of EIerting Allen.

Lincoln. Neb.. Jan. 21-The sixth ballot
for United States Senator resulted: Allen
FUSION, 60; Hayward (RspD. 60; Web
ster (RepD. 10: Thompson (RspD, :: re-
mander scattering. Necessary to a choics,
Ca
The Silver minority asserts its willing
ness TO compromise on an Independent
Republican. being convinced that Allen
cannot get the requisite seven votes to
elect him
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
NO CHANGE IN DELAWARE.
No End to the Senatorial DeadiocI.
in Sight.

Wilmington, Del, JAN. 21.-The dead
lock at Dover forced the General Assem-
bly, to hold a session this morning The
vote taken for United States Senator
brought no change over the ballots taken
during the week. Only one vote was
taken and the House clock was set ahead
to hasten the joint meeting and give
members from the lower part of the State
an opportunity to get home early. There
are no rumors of break and no one sees
any change possible in the near future.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
Explosives and armor.


Recent experiments at the Sandy Hook proving
grounds Indicate that through the 81 high
plo,iyeS the piercing and smashing pro-
ieJtles have attained greater effectiveness talu
ever. There he doubt that If the diff
culties iu-cplrihie from tle oi high rXpln--
ives in shells for Zig guns should he finally over
come. the protection afforded hy any sHrt OF po~-
sihie plate would he merely relative. Their
is 4 positive limit To the thicknS~- OF ..rmnr for
war ships, but none has vet been found Tor th'
destructive energy OF t5s powerful ,ieianItin.s
compounds which modern chemists have turnc,!
out in recent years in great PERCUSSION.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
launching Along IN Asia.

II j. said that Russian general whose eupho-
uors name Is Bcguli35of has orders tu seize the
City OF uerat. in the event Of disturbances fol-
lowing upon the death Of the Nn,err of Mfg
hluistan. England has tolerated much from Rts-
sil in the Port Arthur direction. but Begiiub,
in llerat would mean unless his visit we're
OF fitting and temporary nature
This The Gar knows perfectly well. and vet
Russian diplomacy il reported to Be very active
OF late Advertisements. IL j. ! devious and
tIr-sceinE diplomacy which has resented 4 cur
ious inquiry into its Chinese excursions. and per-
maps the deal Is only intended after all to
divert attention from Minclluria. \ praliv cor
reSpoudrncc HerIt might enable other generals
with names like rippins music TO bunch along
a little farther toward Pekius-
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

7 ~.
The Ohio Supreme Court emit, feeble sauaul,
of protest at the continues! Tudcncs, OF the
Standard oil Company. but carefully refrain, from
doing any Thing 10 excite the luminosity Of Mr..
Rockefeller and his assUcatr- The Supreme
Court knows its business II Lord IIerifor,t-
.'Mirkcd' lierttord- Ihackeray's Lord Stcync.
who gave The useful advice to t!Ic timuious gen
teman who WAS menaccd By noted ducllist
lie threatens 10 pull my most, HEREFORD said
the faint hearted one. What shall | do.'' Tc
which his iordshp made reply: Soap your
nose, Dcky; suuJ your nose The Ohio supIcIn"
nLIri Nm, ,maI II lis nose.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
More Zeal Than Discretion.

tFrom the Philadelphia North AuericI;A
No rational person doubts that wherever The
sovereignty OF this nation extends th-rs viii I've
perfect freedom oi faith and worship auj no per
OF intelligence doubts this, heCIu-r religious
freedom has always followed the flg. Fully
aware nf this 1t is singular that persons with
much zeal and small discretion shu9id insist upon
iRlugurJtns several systems Of pEupIsin''i>nl IN
the territories won from Spain before We have
established civil or military government for the
orderly conduct Of Affairs and Tor the security
Of persons and property. Tile fest duty "j tins
nation relates 10 the establishment 81 order. and
until that duty shall have been performed every
attempt 70 create imbToEiirs involving matters
nj f,itI and belief should H. diScounictatuccd
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

The President is disposed TO overrule
the action of Secretary Alger in appoint
ing the Spanish Bank as the fiscal agent
of this Government at Havana. owing to
the natural resentment of the Cubans.
Nothing is said by officials in explanation
of the instructions for the collection OF
the back taxes imposed by Spain. 1t is
urged that if it is intended to send the
money to the Spanish treasury, the will
ingness OF the Americans to act as tax
gatherers for that oppressive nation shows
an unfriendliness toward Cuba; that if it
is the purpose of the American Govern
ment to keep the money. it is very like
robbery, as it had no claim TO levy taxes
prior to January first. The Cubans, and
also all the American officers at Havana,
hold the opinion that unless the money
goes TO Spain-whch would be intolerable
it belongs to the taxpayers, and should
not be collected at all.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

be of no use to men who could not under
stand them. They would have to gather
dust and mold till their possessors could
use them. So it would be absurd for this
country TO consider itself in any sense
educated, or cultured or moral, simply
because we have class of people who
know what education, and morality. and
culture are. The social principles of free
dom, of public spirit. of justice. of CO.
operation. and the moral principles of
unselfishness, truthfulness. generosity.
may be written down in our books. but if
they are not practced they are of as much
use as telephone kept for a curiosity i'll
the court of king of the South Sea ISL
ands. Great moral forces can be utilized
just as the electric currents are utilized;
their laws are just as unyarying. Elec-
tricity works by law when it comes down
in flash of lightning and wrecks a build
ing; the spirit of freedom works by law
when it causes n revolution against a cruel
and unjust government; in both cases
there is a great deal of damage done by
the operation of natural law. When the
law is rightly understood. we have light
ning-rods, and insulators, and meetings
where men can air their grievances and
get justice done. The old law of brute
force was very much like farming and
manufacturing by hand; when We learn
70 utilize mental and moral forces for gov
eminent we shall do metaphorically what
the electric battery does literally.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
\ Duty Para mount.
(From the atlanta Con-titution.l

tFrum the Atlanth r-tliutlon.l
With the results OF the war. the people may
bc depended upon to deal in Il democratic way.
but before ANY steps can hc taken the Treaty
must he ratified The country must know where
it stIn,'5 Until the TREATY i ratincd spain :
sovereignty over the Philippines remains, and il
,hc Treaty is defeated, she can dispose Of that
sovereignty to some European power
We hope That Democrats who have the intcrcsts
OF their party at heart will undertake to place
it il. Il tdlse position to make it the target
OF unjust criticism.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
be held by the Republicans on Tuesday oil
Wednesday.
WEST VIRGINIA SITUATION.
Gctzendanner and Pierson Get Their


Charleston. ". Va, Jan. 2i--The special
committee appointed by the Senate this
afternoon decided that Senators Getzen-
danner and Pierson were entitled to their
seats and will SO report on Monday Both
are Republicans and at the beginning or
the war with Spain took army commits
sions The Democrats sought to unseat
them on the ground that they could not
hold civil office although their terms were
not ended. The senatorial situation is
much mixed tonight and the election CT
Scott is in serious doubt.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
NATIVES TO BE SELECTED.
w Hope for American omccseekcrs
in t,.e Colonies.

IN TIC IOIonles.
\ statement Was made by Assistant Sea-
rotary of War MeikleiOhn yesterday which
indicates that it is the purpose of the Adj
ministration to select as heads of the bu-
reaus and divisions in Porto Rico. Cuba.
and the Philippines caDable army officers.
These will select as SuboTdinates natives
who have capacity for the performance Of
their duties.
1t is thus hoped that the people of those
Islands having the temporary form of gov
eminent as an object lesson may be pre-
pared for self government when the time
comes to abolish the military system which
is now in vogue.
Mr.. Meikleiohn added that. under the
circumstances mentioned. there will be
but little chance for american civilians 10
secure Federal positions in the islands.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
An old-Fashioned Comforter.

From the Kansas City starr
What shall be said of the solemn fact thai;
wonanSnd snufred Is 900. 900 pounds OF American
snuff last year? That is not, indeed, all, for
much foreign snuff was consumed, OF which the
most precious the Portuguese article. 100
years old. and dry and fragrant as mummy
dust. and doubtless used by old-iashioned per-
sons
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22

The story of the bribery OF the Speaker
of the California Assembly in the interest
Of Grant as originally told was not bur-
lesque and an invention, but was exactly
true. Speaker Wright did receive the
money from Grants manager and did in
tend to vote for Grant for Senator because
OF the money; but having changed his
mind he promised to return it. Speaker
Wrights moral obtuseness is not exclusive.
1t was Grants manager who exposed the
transaction, believing that the public
would be indignant because Wright, after
accepting and using the money, refused
to vote for Grant. So far from thinking
there could be any Puritanical nonsense
about the buying of votes with money,
both parties resent all imputations of cor
ruption except that which is involved in
the perfidy of keeping the money without
delivering the purchased vote. Wright
himself admits that this would be at
least ungentlemanly, and, therefore, his
promise to repay it.