davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-05-29
ENnggcrntions.

There are certain newspapers, which need
not be definitely named, which are doing
a great deal to aid the spread of lawless-
ness in certain directions, and that with
out any conscious intention to effect such
a result They do it by giving undue i'm
portance 10 every small excitement.
man steals a pocketbook and a crowd
chases him through the streets. When he
is caught. perhaps some one on the out
skirts of the crowd remarks such fell
lows ought to be lynched' and in the
busy mind of the sensational scribbler that
ordinary crowd is transformed into a
bloodthirsty mob bowling for the mans
life. The news goes all over the country
that mob threatened lynching' at such
and such a place, when nothing of the sort
really happened. People in other parts of
the country read this sort of stuff, and in
the minds OF the half-educated, irresponsi-
BILE persons who are most easily drawn into
the commission of violence, there grows
up conviction that the proper thing to
do with any sort of criminal is to lynch
him, in the interests of law and order; and
by and by. in some place where this ele-
ment is unusually strong. there actually
is some deed OF violence. and as often as
not the victim is a man who does not de-
serve such punishment.
There are comparatively few places in
this country where the law, unless extra
ordinary proyocstion were offered, would
not be allowed TO take its course with al
most any criminal; but when reports of
threatened lynchings" appear sprinkled
over the news from all parts of the coun-
try, most people get the impression that
the mob is a sort of American institution.
Certainly this impression is often given
10 the foreign press. and TO some of our
own ignorant citizens. Moreover, when the
public hears that lynching was threaten
ed at such and such place, 1t does not
always stop 10 investigate the facts, and
find out whether the threats were carried
out. and how much there was In them:
nor does a subsequent denial of the report
have much effect lie will travel round
the world while truth is coming down the
| front steps into the street.
Suppose. for example. that one Of these
papers should come out with big headlines
announcing that there was an organized
The times., 1899-05-29

The tramp may be either a harmless vag-
abond, with no faults except a disinclina-
ton to work and penchant for petty
thieving. a professional criminal, rascal
escaped from the consequences of some
crime, or a discouraged workman. When
he is harmless it makes no particular dif-
ference whether he is in the city or the
country; in either place he will probably
get something to eat and be enabled TO
keep alive If he is a ruffian it is infinitely
better that his performances should be
confined to the city. In the city there are
police to look after him and protect the
citizens In the country he can terrorize
lone women and commit all sorts of crimes
with. comparative impunity; and in some
parts of the country he does. There have
been districts, embracing several counties,
in which the hobo army, in conjunction
with a gang OF professional thieves, have
kept the whole country in a state border
ing on panic for a period of several years.
Elusive as the wind, the depredators could
not be caught and if one was apprehended
the most important witnesses in the trial
were likely to have their barns burned,
their stock destroyed, or become the OBJ
jects of even worse vengeance. So, being
poor men, unwilling to risk the lives of
their families or their means of livelihood
for the sake of running down criminals,
they put up with the nuisance as best they
might, and by and by when conditions
changed, the vagrants began to operate
elsewhere. This state of things existed at
one time in northern New Hampshire and
Vermont, and at another time in Connect
cut, while one New Jersey county had a
similar experience, eliminating in a crime
of such revolving nature that the citizens
called an Indignation meeting and adopted
radical measures. They never caught the
criminal who was responsible for this par
ticular crime, but they prevented the repe-
tition of it. Whenever tramp appeared
in town he was promptly collared by who
ever discovered him and taken to the au-
thorities. He was given chance to work
on the roads under close surveillance or
get out of town; and he was carefully es-
corted out. 1t did not take long for the
tramp regiments to learn to make detour
when approaching that district.
The times., 1899-05-29
Generosity Not Appreciated.

Notwithstanding Gomez's advice to his
men to accept the donation of three mil
lion dollars allotted by the United States
test with Spain in the Cuban army, it
seems that with practical unanlmity the
proffer has been declined. Out of 4.317 SOL
diers belonging to the Fifth Army Corps
only seven were paid the seventy-dve dol
lars each as his share of the distribution.
The others. actuated by the spirit which
characterized the late Assembly, refuse to
take American money. and do so with
every appearance of disdain.
The United States has been actuated in
all its dealings with the Cubans by mo-
tives of good will and generosity. 1t went
to their assistance in the war OF liberation
and expelled the Spaniards at heavy cost
and with some bloodshed. 1t has assumed
the task of restoring order and setting up
a stable and responsible government in the
island. So far as the former is concerned,
the task has been accomplished. Cuba is
at peace, the people pursue their accus-
toned vocations, local government has
Ting down to a condition favorable to
speedy return Of prosperity If the inhabi-
tans Will but recognize their duties to
themselves and to the United States. The
stubborn resentment shown by a certain
military class and their friends is unfortu-
nate. because it prolougs the period of sus-
picion and exacerbation. 1t is without rea-
son, since in the matter OF the deposit OF
the arms our Government has been very
tender with Cuban susceptibilities, and has
granted everything which ought to have
been expected. The refusal is without rea-
son, because it can accomplish nothing to
promote the interests of the Cuban soldiers
or the Cuban people collectively, and is
calculated directly to prejudice their case
with the world.
| The United States, of course. will per-
sist in its policy of stability. 1t cannot
be deferred from carrying out in both let
ter and spirit the resolutions Of Congress
which preceded the opening of war with
Spain last year. The American people look
TO the good sense of a large class of Gu
bans who are interested in maintaining
amity toward this country and in aiding
it in its benefcent work in Cuba That
the soldiers of Gomez should not take his
counsel is to be deplored, but whether they
come to their senses later or not, it is TO
be hoped that the common sense OF the
people of the island will assert itself. One
thing is sure. The people of the United
States are determined to see to it that the
work of establishing government goes on
| until it is accomplished.
The times., 1899-05-29
Revision in the Dreyfus Case.

The report of the president of the civil
chamber of the Court of Cessation, favor
ing the revision of the trial and the sub
mission to new court-martial of the Drey-
fus case, as it is believed that the report
VIII be adopted, and that Dreyfus will be
brought back to France and retired, is evil
dence of returning sanity in that country.
This celebrated case has shown to what
extremes public sentiment may go when
based on a false conception of facts. The
cries of "anti-Semitism" and the honor
of the army have been sufficient to drive
the great body of the French people for
long while into a state of the widest ex-
citement. in which they have sanctioned
the inhiction of the most infamous pun
ishment upon an innocent officer, when all
the obtainable proofs seemed 10 make it
clear that others higher in rank were the
real offenders. Fortunately insensate pas
sion spends its force after a while, just as
unreasonable prejudice exhausts its power
over the greater number eventually. Pub
lie opinion in this matter has been stead
lily undergoing change for some time, and
seems at last to have become sufficiently
powerful to procure a new trial by new
court-martial
The submission of the case to the court
which perverted justice in the first in
stance would not be reassuring. The Court
of Cessation does well to accord even a
tardy measure of Justice to this greatly
injured man. 1t was due to the French
nation, to the future of the French army
its morale depending on the steady mainte-
nance of real and not pretended honor
to the civilization OF the age, in fact, that
the work of the court-martial which SEN
fenced Dreyfus to deportation and impris-
onment should be totally undone.
The times., 1899-05-29
Casteinr's Influence.
CFrom the Detroit Free press.)

(From the Detroit Free PreSs)
What the immediate effect OF Senor Castelar's
death will be upon the programme OF the Spanish
republicans cannot safely be predicted. 1t may
discourage and postpone the carrying out OF their
plans, or it may have opposite effect. II
CASTELAR, had lived to become the leader OF a new
republican movement it is quite likely he would
have proceeded along moderate and conservative
lines and that the transformation from monarch
ism to republicanism would have been made,
if at all. without serious internal disturbances.
His wcll-known moderateness with reference to
changing the form of government in sIow-going
Spain, born OF bitter experience, would have
prompted him to proceed cautiously and deiib-
erately 1t is possible that the loss of his guiding
influence will result in more aggressive and
radical policy on the part of his party.
The times., 1899-05-29
GENERAL HENRY'S VIEWS.
Porto Nico's Interests Suffering
From the DinEIey Tariff.

From the DinEIey Tariff.
In Times interview with General Hen
ry last Saturday, the former Governor o;
Porto Rico was asked concerning his
opinion of the present effect of the high
tariff enforced against that American ISL
and, upon its agricultural, industrial, and
commercial interests and prospects. The
general replied:
The customs duties are too high now,
but have been reduced very largely since
we occupied the island, but even row they
are complained of too high. In fact. the
inhabitants Of the island Will not be salts
fed until there is none at all. In view of
this the question naturally arises. where are
they going to get the money to build roads,
support their schools, jails. and hospitals.
for which purposes the customs money is
used exclusively.
The customs receipts amount to $780,
coo a month. In addition to this there is
probably $4,000 received from internal
revenue. In the intense desire of the Por
to Ricans to become independent they for
get every problem of this nature which
would arise"
Being asked if Porto Rico had not been
greatly damaged by the cutting of Of her
Spanish markets. while, at the same time,
the markets of the United State1 were
practically closed to Porto Rican commerce
by the prohibtive Dingley tariff, General
Henry admitted that such was the case:
The Spanish market has been shut off,
and owing TO the tariff they could not
send their goods to the United States with
any remunerative return. They are also
hampered by having no vessels III which
to make shipments. This. however has
lately been remedied by the War Depart
ment in allowing them to use vessels un-
der the American flag" He continued:
IF, as The Times seems to think the
equitable course toward Porto Rico. the
island were to be treated fully as nation
al territory, its products allowed to come
in without duty. no duty being charged
upon the productions of the States sent
there the strictly commercial interests
OF our new possession might be benefited
but the Porto Ricans would cease to have
any customs revenue for the support of
their schools jais, hospitals, and with
which to build roads, and also for the gen.
| eral municipal expenses of the island. The
| taxes are high now. and could not be in
creased, and loans would have to be made
upon proper guarantee. Americans would
hesitate to loan money where the titles
were not perfectly clear. which is not the
fact in all cases.
MY opinion is. Independent of the
natural aversion of Americans to a nil
| itary government, that the present is the
best they could have for the time being.
| MY idea is to colonize those people. and
lift them gradually making the military
control more and more subordinate to the
| municipal until they are prepared to as
sumo complete charge of their own af-
| fairs "
The times., 1899-05-29

revolt of the horse against the bicycle;
that horses were coming to understand the
cause of their removal from positions of
trust and usefulness, and were revenging
themselves on the harmless and useless
wheel wherever it could be found. The
basis for this statement would be the fact
that the other day one horse did spring
upon a bicycle rider in Philadelphia, and
kick the rider and the wheel. If not into
the middle of next week, at least into the
middle of the street. which is quite sem
sation for Philadelphia. 1t would be just
as sensible to treat this occurrence in
the solemn and imposing way above indi-
Gated as it is to ascribe huge significance
to other small occurrences in various parts
of the country. OF course, all disorders
have their cause and sometimes they prove
that there is some general and deeply seat
ed abuse which must be righted before the
world may move on in comfort; but it US
ually takes a sociologist to discover these
things. When two men have fuss about
some personal matter in Georgia. or Wy
oming, or Pennsylvania, or New York, and
one shoots the other, it means simply
fuss, and nothing else; the sort of thing
that has been happening now and then
ever since the days of Cain. The two men
may happen to belong to different races,
or different classes in society, but their
personal quarrel does not necessarily mean
that the divisions of mankind to which
they belong are all involved in the busi-
| ness.
Carrying out this principle. it may be
said with perfect truth that the making
of molehills into mountains is not charac-
teristic of the entire American press, but
only to those newspapers which have that
| unfortunate habit.
The times., 1899-05-29
Doctors and HenIcrs.
From the Minneapolis Tribuhs.

The Philadelphia physicians are on the war path
and have organized for the ayowed purpose Of
driving out of business the Christian Scientists,
osteopaths, faith curists, and multitude OF other
.'hcaiers'' Of various sorts and appcllations. Al
a recent meeting OF the doctors said that
'either the law of Pennsylvania would be proven
to be an impotcnt mockery or this hydra-headed
monster of quackery should be at once annihiat-
ed" The war is also on in New York and various
other States. When the doctors and hellers get
to fighting among themselves, perhaps the sica
will have chance to get we'll.
The times., 1899-05-29

What with the prospective failure of the
Canadian Commission, the entanglements
in Samoa, and the contentious between the
civil and military Commissioners in the
Philippines the Administration would ap-
pear to be surrounded by difficulties. In
the last mentioned case it was a matter of
pitiable laundering that might have been
avoided. The military men were getting
along pretty well. without any aid from
civilian Commissioners. The American
people without regard to party, have an
idea that the best way to settle the Phil
ippine question is to put down the rebellion
with all promptitude and vigor, and talk
about schemes OF civil government after
ward
The times., 1899-05-29
Errors of .BIue No.es.v
1Ernrn tho Rnchs.ter pnst.FrnrcssN

C'rom the Rochester Post-Express)
Great Britain and the United States are per-
fectly willing to arbitrate regarding the Alaskan
boundary. and were on the point OF closing their
negotiations. Canada, however, has made Wig
orous protest. and the plan for peaceful settle
meut which the two nations had virtually agreed
upon must now be abandoned The Canadian
statesmen have lost their heads. They seem to
think that in dealing with the people Of the
United States they are dealing with children
They will find ont their mistake. They will not
get one single foot Of Alaska that does not be-
long to them, and while the boundary dispute
is pending they viii get a dose OF retaliation in
commercial affairs that will make them sick.
The times., 1899-05-29
spiritunlism Not chri.tian Science.

To the Editor OF The Times:
Please allow me to make a few remarks
your editorial on Commercial Spritualism'' in
Saturdays Times. In it you blame spirtullism
for the death of a child known to have died from
typhoid pneumonia. Spiritullsm and Christian
Science are two distinct creeds. Christian Sci
eutists. or faith curistS, cure by faith alone.
which failed 10 effect i cure on the child in queS-
ton.
The Spiritualists broad-minded enough not
to be bound 10 any particular school OF medicine.
and for that reason YOU do them IN injustice 70
connect Christian Science with Spiritualism. The
true Spirtuaist has very little faith. il any. but
deals simply in facts He IS lberal-minded enough
to reason beyond the pulpit that eighteen cen
turiej of Christianity have failed TO diminish that
which is bad any more than Mohammcdism or
Buddhism.
All that ia good and noble under the Stars and
Stripes both individually and collectively, Is the
effect OF the spiritual world on the mortal. In
the case of spain YOU have a good sample OF
what eighteen hundred years OF Christianity with
out progress has pr0duccd-a nation which has
very little to commend it, compared with the rest
OF the world, either morally or politically, while
in our own land OF liberty and progress You
have a people ever ready to adopt new reforms
and stretch out helping hand 10 weaker M
tions Of the earth.
after using" SpiTitualism will cite the instance
Of a millionaire who while in earth life had very
few friends and fewer admirers, and yet believe
he 4 church member Now, ne - IA 7PtLit
life. while his daughter. who is n Spiritullist
pure and simple, has been inspired by her father
to become the ideal American girl-a lady wh1
has the good will of every man, woman ana
child There was not a newspaper IN the land
but gave her the highest praise for what
she did for the soldiers and her country during
our war with Spain.
In the last paragraph OF your editorial YOU
s,,' ..tbc re.I trouble is with those who peddlc
out this criminal folly at 90 cents to - a head,
according to the means of customers. This does
not apply to spiritualism. but to Christian Sci
entists The greatest scientist OF England, Proi-
Cooks and Sir Alfred Russell Wallace. and Prof.
Elliott Coues, OF Washington. maintain that Spirit
uslism is a truth regardless OF what Heber New
ton may say
All Spiritnalisin asks is fair play aud iavors.
and il has right to expect it from the press,
LOUIE HUMPHREYS
The times., 1899-05-29
Captain COshlan.


Captain Coghlan has been assigned to the com
mand OF the navy yard at Puget Sound. the Ra-
leigh going out OF commission for repairs. This
is an excellent appointment that will take all
the sting out of the letter of reprimand from the
Secretary OF the Navy, which is not to be pub
lished without Captain Coghlan's consent. The
gallant captains indiscretion has not hurt him
to any appreciable extent, while the fact that
Germany distinctly disapproves of him will not
plunge him into the depths of remorseful grief.
The times., 1899-05-29
The Irnnp.

Josiah Flynt, who knows rather more
about the tramp than any other magazine
writer in this country. having Travelled as
one for many months at time. has some
interesting things TO say about the rail-
road tramp. He points out the fact, which
must be obvious to any thoughtful person.
that the railroad is the main cause of the
concentration OF tramp armies in our
cities. and also the cause Of the elusiyeness
OF this troublesome element in modern
civilization. He states, what will surprise
the general public, that tramp can go
from New York to San Francisco in his
own peculiar fashion as quickly as the man
who pays for his ticket.
Some railroads are doing what they can
to eliminate the deadbeat. and one or two
are succeeding remarkably well. 1t is
rather interesting TO reflect on the proba-
BILE results should all OF them do this. and
the tramp be reduced 10 travel on foot. as
he did in the days before railroads.
There would be some advantages in such
n state of things. and there would be some
disadvantages. As everyone knows. the
tramp pIoDlem a. tat ~ 4S9SAt uag - eA-
tirely different from any with which our
grandfathers could have had to deal
There are several reasons why this is SO.
In the first place, the concentration of
business by means OF mechanical improve
n,enis. trusts, the labor unions, and other
causes, national and local. has thrown
many men out of employment and prac-
tfcally reduced them to hoboes. There is
also certain percentage of our immense
foreign population which recruits this
army Thirdly. the fascination Of railroad
. travel attracts come young boys into the
tramp life. when they would not or could
not take 1t up under the old conditions.
The times., 1899-05-29
Magnetic Theories.

From the Cincinnati CommerciaI ITIbune)
Some theorists are impressed with the idea that
the Manacles in the English Channel where the
big wrecks have occurred are heavily charged
magnetically that the complsses are not to be
depended upon. In this connection, late item
in a consular report says that some ore mines in
the Ural Mountains are so heavily magnetized that
the slcighs with iron runners stick to the ground
so firmly that they cannot be moved. So, after
ALL there may be something in this theory about
the magnetic dnngeTs OF these fatal lodges.
The times., 1899-05-29
4 Question of sincerity.

II is a little too much to say that Repub
lican politician who processes opposition to civil
service reform is pursuing an insncere course
His course is sincerity itself. We suppose the
rank and file OF the party favor that policy, but
the leaders have no use for it, and they have
approved it and adopted it only because they have
not dared to do otherwise. They nullify it at
every opportunity, as Governor Black and the
Legislature OF New York did two years ago,
and az its professed friend, william Mckinley,
has done There may be such thing as sincere
admiration for civil service reform in the Repub-
lican party, but it is sporadic in leadership circles
in TINT party.
The times., 1899-05-29
sampson and schIey and Also Long.

tFr0m the tmcaGo iIlDuhe)
The Navy Department has sought TO make a
paper hero out of Sampson and to discredit Schley.
In this respect Long has been as small as Sampson
has been 1t is time to call halt. The alleged
''reprehensible conduct" OF Schley which was
only an afterthought of his enemies. and the
frightful consequences which might have occurred
but did not, will not count with the people, be
cause they realize that no harm followed, and
furthermore, because they know that when the
fight did come Schlcy near to the enemy and
Sampson was not. 1t too late after the
battle to talk of what Schley did two months
before. schley was in the thick Of the fight and
Sampson miles away at Siboney. schlcy was in
business on the spot, and Simpson was talking
business somewhere else. arriving only in time to
see Schley deliver the knockout blow and accept
the formal surrender of the enemy. With the
people nothing succeeds like success, and they
know that Schey made the success. The Navy
Department is wrong in its unhandsomely per
sistent attempt to belittle Schley. But that is
Characteristic of Secretary Long.
The times., 1899-05-29
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)

III
There are several candidates for county clerk
in the field. and already strong pressure is be-
ing brought TO bear or them by the inevitable
and countless horde of offceseekers
one of these candidates was buttonholed by a
persstcnt fellow whom he tried hard to shake of.
Finally. after a vain endeavOr TO stop the man 5
pleadngs, the candidate turned his heel and
sharply cried;
.'oh. you go to bazes!''
Quick as a fash the fellow replied:
''yy. | chust been to him, und he todt me to
come to you.'
Candidate Blasts will undoubtedly appreciate
this humorous play on his