The record-union., 1899-03-30
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects of Living News
Interest.

by having Dewey called from his duties
at Manila to attend a celebration Wnlch
they are getting up should be set down
upon by Secretary Long and the Presi-
dent. If Dewey requires rest he should
be given a vacation, but this request by
citizens who hope to shine in his re-
lfiected light is an impertinent intrusion
into the serious affairs of the country
Dewey is needed at Manila.
VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS.
Stockton Independent: The intimation
that the army recruits that are now be-
ing organized at different points Will
be employed in garrison duty in this
country while the trained regulars will
be sent to the Philippines would seem
to be in accordance with the best in
terests of the nation 1t is pity that
the Government has not double the
force at Manila that is really under
Otis command and available for serv-
ice. The insurrection could be quickly
suppressed and all the islands be occu-
pied by our forces were there oO.o1D
troops there
THE SIGNATURE LAW.
Los Angeles Express: The California
Code says that an article to be libelous
must be false; but under the Morehouse
bill the law is violated if an article re-
fleets upon the reputation of any per-
son, living or dead, whether it be true
or not. Thus, if a paper says, in re-
cording the Police Court news, that
John Smith was fined S. for drunken
ness" the item must be signed with -he
name of the writer. The item may be
absolutely true and matter of record.
yet it would tend to impeach the repl-
tation of the person named. Even those
who are wholly unfamiliar with the
work of making a newspaper can see
what endless annoyance the newspapers
will be subjected to if the law is car
ried out to the letter.
Under the law the press will suffer
greatly from the attacks of shysters
and other irresponsible, and malicious
persons; for it provides that any per-
son may bring suit against a paper
which he believes may be mulcted. If
it We're provided that the person alleged
to have been injured, or the proper off,
cial, might bring suit, the law, although
unjust, would not be so bad; but any
body can bring the suit. Moreover the
person bringing the suit is to be given
one-half the amount received. Plainly
speaking, this is putting a premium on
blackmail. and it emphasizes the fact
that the bill was maliciously inspired
for the purpose of getting even with
the newspapers, the decent sheets be-
ing made to suffer alike with the yellow
journals.
PARTITION OF CHINA.
Tulare Register: The fear is being
expressed that our country will yet be
| n ipfo
partition China If China is to be par
titioned, or if all the available ports
are to pass into the hands Of the COM
mercial nations of Europe, then our
Government should enter the list and
see to 1t that our commercial interests
are cared for. To let Europe, by gob-
ling up all the available Chinese ports.
shut our nation out of trading with
800, coo, 600 million people would be a
supreme folly. In fact. it is time that
the idea of America being a world
power was fixed in the hearts of every
American citizen. We are not seeking
and should not seek causes for quarrel
ing with other nations of the earth but
we want and must have our share nf
the worlds commerce. We must do this
or become a hermit nation. and the
choice between two ought to be quickl 3
made
THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC MOVE
MENT.
Los Angeles Times: A recent dispatch
from New York states that an official
statement was published there as to the
action of the Paulist fathers. upon the
publication of the recent letter of the
Pope on "Americanism,' which touched
fhso hi Of Lot L %la,.
Hecker, the founder of the congrega-
tion of missionary priests of St. Paul
as interpreted in Able Kiein's French
translation of his life AS soon as the
Pope's letter to Cardinal Gibbons had
been published in the daily papers, it
is stated that the Paulist fathers sent a
telegram to Cardinal Rampolla, the
papal Secretary of State, assuring him
that they entirely acquiesced in the
teachings of the Pope, and that they
would shortly send a letter expressing
themselves more fully. This letter, it
is said has since been prepared and
sent. 1t makes a detailed statement
of the absolute obedience of the Paulist
fathers to the letter and spirit of the
Pope's teachings. This oloses-at least
temporarily-a sensational incident in
connection with the Roman church in
the United States, which at one time
promised to result in a split, similar
to that which took place when Henry
VIII. quarreled with the Pope. in re-
gard to one of his numerous wives, and
the Church of England was then es-
tablished.
THE SIGNATURE LAW.
Fresno Republican: 1t would be hard
to overestimate the radical character
of the change which the permanent en-
forcement of the spirit of the signature
of articles law would have ON Califor-
MIA journalism. To be sure. the thing
is hardly possible. The bill may not
be like the anti-cartoon law, in direct
violation of the written Constitution of
the State, and it may therefore have
to wait to be repealed by the Legis-
ilature. instead of being overthrown by
the courts but it is SO repugnant to the
entire American notion of what a
newspaper ought to be that it cannot
long remain a part of the law of an
American State. 1t is like the law to
put clothes on the Porto Rican chill
dren or the attempt to raise tea in
Virginia; it does not fit the climate.
AT MANILA.
Alameda Argus: We do not know how
the situation at Manila may be re-
garded by those who have knowledge
on the subject and are close to the
il avenues of information, but to US it is
: disquieting. The warning natives have
plainly not been vanquished, and ap-
parently not disheartened. They have
heen pushed hack but not dispersed,