The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-10-07

o""uoo ahoiu Vahe revenge upon US.
Nebraslka's Provisional Government.
The State historical society has is.
sued the third volume of its valuable
series Ct documentary history of the
state. In full the title Of the latest
book Is THE Provisional Govern.
inent OF Nebraska Territory and the
Journals OF William Walker, proyjs.
iOnal governor Of Nebraska TERRITORY.
edited by William E. Connolly. The
book has a complete and scholarly
index. 1t will be reviewed in these
columns soon.
The work which the hist orical So.
ctety is doing for the state IN the prt-
servation Of records and the publish
ing Of these journals is not sufficiently
recognized. On the occasions when
the annual meeting of the society Is
held, or on the appearance Of a vol.
ume like the one just mentioned. its
real activity and unique function be.
come apparent.
Mr.. j. Sterling Morton Of Nebraska
City, is the president Of the society,
Mr.. Charles H. Gere Is treasurer and
Prof. Howard w. Caldwell is sec.
rotary. Mr.. Jay A. Barrett is librar.
ian and assistant secretary. The
members and officers are scholars and
lovers Of learning. They are anxious
to spend money and time to foster
learning and to cause to be written
and preserved for the use Of scholars
and historians, hundreds Of years
hence, the records Of great state in
It's infancy and youth. In times when
every action is determined upon or
rejected by the measure Of gain the
nObil ty Of the devotion Of the mem.
OerS VI tbs. society 10 its purposes Is
unobscured by many other examples
Of the same description.
Among the most devoted members
OF the society was that gentle scholar
ana brilliant lawyer-Judge james W.
Savage OF Omaha, who was its early
pres dent and an original investigator
Ofthe chronological evidences Of early
explorers.
TIE Dewey Aseh.
1t Is most fitting that the arch
which the sculptOrR contributed to
New York city's Dewey triumph,
should become a permanent structure
In bronze and marble 1t will remind
remote generations Of the time when
the American idea took root in the
orient. We have not yet conceived
the change that democracy in the
ttlipines will effect in oriental Gus
tom and thought. 1t Is not deplOrable\
That the TaRals insist upon demOcra.
cy. We are too far away. to prevent
them from attaining 1t II they want
II. and there Is no one In America
who looks forward to an eventual
Filipino subOrdinatiOn any more irk.
some than that imposed upon the
citizens OF any state. Democracy Is
something like the law Of grayita.
tiOn-Only dangerous when deted or
ignored. The Filipinos are brave men
and they have proved their real aP
grec'atiOn Of freedom by dying for u.
They. still have racial peculiarties
which Will be, ut least, partially DE-
stroyed by democratic usages. There
Is also much that Americans can
probably learn from them. -.
Being accustomed to dealing VIII
Spain II Is not surprising that tne
FllipinOs should distrust Americas
Intentions towards themselves ana
require q positive and specific state
ment before yielding. Their rebellion
has convinced the Americans OF theh
regard for freedom and the impOeSi.'
blllty OF establishing anything but
democratic form Of government In 'n0
Islands.