The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-13
NEWS And COMMENT

Sir James Edgar speaker of the Cana
dian house of commons, is an enthusiast
&c eXpanisionist. While In Baltimore re-
Gently ne said: I'VE, in Canada, watch
with much satisfaction the growth and
success of the United States. That. per-
haps, is one reason why our eyes are
turned upon you in your present dipio-
matte controversies According to my
Judgment, the United States has acci-
dcntally been thrust into a situation
which promises to open for her splen-
did list of trade opportunities. Let me
explain, The British empire by the pos
session of a fortified stronghold in China
commands vast bulk of trade in that
populous country which no other force
than the holding the port could possibly
command. This trade with China is one
of the most desirable which the world
now offers. The tremendous sweep OF
territory embraced under the Chinese
name, covered with teeming multitude
of people who are destined to become
large purchasers of the finished products
from civilized markets, presents a most
inviting field of trade into which any
progressive nation might wish to enter
The United States may have the call in
commanding that trade, but If that trade
is to be effective the United States must
possess a port almost at the entrance TO
the Chinese empire, one which can ana
Will be 1Oftlleu, one from WHICH Sllpo
of trade and ships of war can issue forth
for active labors or else seek refuge in
when the occasion requires il. 1t must
be "A port close to the Chinese empire,
from which the United States can speak
with aggressiveness. Your country must
be in a position to speak in that Ian
guage whose alphabet is figured in SHIPS
of war. When you can do that, then
boundless trade with the Orient will
hnp Tf1an ft1f S.
ure house. The accidents of war have
given to your country commanding
gateway. If utilized, and utilized to its
fullest possibilities, your future trading
will become immense
Writes John 7. McCutcheon, one OF
the two American newspaper cores
pondents who went through the naval
battle OF Manila: zone of the incidents
which made America smile was the story
that Admiral Dewey withdrew from the
FRAY TO give his men breakfast. As
matter of fact, that was not the real
reason why he withdrew, but II was
good story, and had flavor Of humor
about it that appealed strongly to the
people at home. The ships were with
| drawn in order to take an account OF the
ammunition on hand report having
come that IL was running low, and that
|
! each gun remained. This was an alarm
| ing piece of news, but on investigation
| il proved that II meant there were fifteen
| rounds for each gun from the magazines
| but that number did not include the
| great supply stin below"
The Cincinnati EXpress-Gazette has
| collected data anent the operations of
train robbers during the past year. The
effect Of federal jurisdiction upon train
| robberies is evidenced In Mexico. Dur
| ing tho past year there was not even an
| attempt at train robbery in the sister re-
public. The crime is punishable there
with instant death. Following is the
record of train robberies in the United
| States: 1890 12; 1891 16; 1892 16; 1893, 90 F;
1891, Si 1895, 40; 1896, 2S; 1897 80; 1895 So,
| Total number of trains "held up" in nine
years, 246. Total number of people
| killed, s.. Total number of people in
| jured (shoD, n. The record for 1898:
| Number of train hold-ups, 2S number of
| stage robberies, Z; number of passengers
and trainmen killed. g.; number of pas
sengers and trainmen shot, 4; number Of
robbers killed, o. number Of robbers SHOT,
| g.
Adiutaut General Corbin's paper in the
| January Forum is calculated 10 correct
popular misconceptions relative to the
kind of men composing the regular army.
| Whatever may have been true IN earlier
times, General CCrbin shows that today
the sot or bum has not one chance in a
| million OF getting into the army. That
the examination Of applicants has be-
come more rigid than in former years is
| evidenced by the fact that while % ,b2l
recruits were obtained for tine regular
army last year. 9S277 applicants were
rejected. Nor is the army an asylum tor
aliens. Although nearly 10000 men pre-
sented themselves to tho recruiting offi-
GERS last year. only about 5000 were ALI