The record-union., 1899-08-17
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.

Los Angeles Times: Some of the
newspapers which are engaged in
frantic endeavor to save the country
profess to find in the prevailing epi-
demic Of strikes in the Eastern States
an evidence, or indication, that the in
dustrial condition of the country is in
very bad way. These sapient molders
of public opinion tell us that the indi-
cations of prosperity which are found
in all parts of the country are merely
SUPERFICIAL; that there is, in fact, no
real prosperity, and that calamity is
in reality stalking in seven-league boots
over the land, grinding the laboring-
man into the dust consuming his sub
stance, making 1.-The rich richer and
the poor poorer" and inviting wreck.
riot ruin, revolution and other rasp-
ing things too numerous and too hor-
rible to mention in detail But not
Withstanding these dire forebodings OF
the professional calamityite the fact
remains-and it is patent to all un-
prejudiced observers-that the present
unsettled state of affairs in the indus
trial world are a sure indication Of
prosperous conditions, not of the re-
verse. Laboring men do not, as rule,
strike for higher wages when work is
hard to obtain at any price. When
there are thousands of men seeking en-
ployment, those who have it are slow
to leave their situations upon a slight
pretext, realizing the difficulty Of Sc
curing new situations. But when work
is plenty-when employment is seeking
labor instead of labor seeking employ
ment-the temptation to engage in
strike upon the slightest pretext is
strongest. Hence the unsettled condf-
tfons in the industrial world at the
present time, when labor is very gem
orally employed throughout the coun-
try, at much better wages than were
paid two and three years ago.
OUR FEARSOME AMERICANS.
Portland Oregonian: In his address
before the National Teachers Associa-
tion at Los Angeles DR.. Jordan Of
Stanford University said 1.-The function
| of democracy is not good government
Then, to explain, he continued: Its eff
feet is to stimulate the people to broad
er outlook, to deeper interest in pub
lie affairs. 1t is not to make good
government, but good citizens, that
public affairs are confided to the COM
mon man. These admissions, were
they true, would be fatal to democ-
racy But they are contradictory and
paradOXical; for that cannot be good
citizenship which fails to make good
government, and when democracy shall
admit that 1t cannot make good gov
ernment it will soon seal its fate.
Again, if democracy is not to make
good government, it can have no proper
function. 1t cannot admit that it is in
capable of good government, and sub
sist upon some dreamy theory of the
rights Of man which it cannot organize
into practical working forces and posi-
tive results. It's capacity for govern
ment is to be the test Of it's power to
live. In another address, delivered
some months ago, on the prob
lem of the Philippines. DR.. Jordan
| urged that we ought to retire from
those islands because the conditions
there present problems of difficulty with
which democracy is unable to cope or
| deal. The argument is that the opin-
ions of the body Of the people are too
crude, their knowledge too imperfect;
nay, sure to commit them then failure
and disaster. There is truth, doubtless
in this estimate of consequences; but
democracy, nevertheless, must make
good its claim to ability to deal with
all the problems with which it may be
confronted, or it will not be wanted in
the world. Things are to be done, and
democracy must do or make way for
force that can But it can develop the
necessary powers only in the school
of activity and experience. We are
'up against it, now, in the Philippine
Islands, as the slang of the day goes;
and right here is to be supplied some
part Of the discipline we need. Man
never yet triumphed over his difficult
ties by lodging them. Democracy cam
not. But why, it may be asked, should
we not avoid or rid ourselves of these
difficulties? Because the course Of
events has carried us into positions
which we cannot abandon without loss
of national dignity and prestige; be-
cause in these positions we are under
obligations national, international and
moral, which we have no right to throw
off; because in this very situation our
We look upon democracy not as theory,
but as a fact that belongs to the
world we live in, and the greatest fact
in it, It is to be worldwide in it's range,
and therefore it must grapple with
every problem it meets 1t is not to
lose itself in subtle disquisition and
confess judgment against itself. If it
hasn't knowledge, it must get it. +
it still lacks constancy and fortitude,
| it must not shirk the trials that will
endow it with these virtues.
THE FRENCH CABINET.
Alameda Encinal: The present Cab
met of France is probably the most in
congruous assemblage that was ever
seen even in that anomalous country.
Milleraud, the Secretary of Commerce,
is a rampant Socialist, of the most
flaming dye, and General Marquis de
Gallifet, Secretary of War, is chiefly
celebrated for having shot thousands
of Socialists during the days of the
! commune. This General is the most
romantic and theatric of all the men in
| the new Cabinet, and consequently
comes nearer to the hearts and imagi-
nations of the Frenchmen than any
other of the new dignitaries. He is 10
years old, but is hale and handsome,
| and his life has been one long series of
daredevil excitement both in war and
/ in love. He went to Mexico with Maxi
milan and there an exploding shell
| tore open his abdomen, and it was
stated in the French papers at the
| time that he carried his entrails in his
hat until the found surgeon A silver