The record-union., 1899-10-26

pendence at this time, as advocated by
Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Lentz, Mr.. Altgeld,
Hoke Smith, Mr.. Atkinson and others,
would be a delightful proposition,
wouldn't it? What a mockery! What
would they do with it? The very
statement of such proposals reveals it's
absurdity 1t would be to turn them
over to the tender mercies of reyolu-
ton. 1t would be to invite carnage, as
sassination and spoliation of the ISL
ands that will be saved to them by the
kind, if stern, hand Of the United
States of America.
THE TURK.
Fresno Republican,: The Sultan has
issued an trade abolishing all meas
ures that prevented the free movement
of Armenians, and ordering the re-
building and repairing, with Govern
ment assistance, of the churches,
schools and monasteries destroyed dur
ing the troubles, and the payment Of
sums due to officials or the families Of
officials who were expelled or killed
during the massacres. But be it not
supposed that the Sultan has reformed
He is merely bidding for the support
of the Armenian Patriarchs, whom he
wishes to reconsider their designations.
| Nobody dreams that the reforms will
go further than is necessary to accom-
| plish this purpose. When the Con-
| cert of Europe becomes less impotent.
Turkish reforms will become more gen.
uine.
LINE WHOLLY OBLITERATED.
Modesto News: Mason and Dixon's
line may now be said to be completely
obliterated. The war with Spain, it
is true, almost wiped out the imag-
mary dividing line, which was a heri-
tage of our civil war, but it was not
completely effaced until the State of
Indiana, with great chivalry and mag
nanimity, returned to Texas the battle
| flag of Terry's Texas rangers, which
was captured by the Seventeenth In
diana Regiment. The flag has hung
for thirty-six or more years on the
walls of the Hoosier Statehouse and
was few days ago returned to it's
| vanquished owners with appropriate
and pleasing ceremonies.
| 1t does not matter how the flag was
captured its return is graceful act,
which strengthens the brotherly reel
ing between the sections once divided
by the Mason and Dixon's line. The
reason the Seventeenth Indiana hap
pened to take the flag was because 1t
was the first regiment that came along
near the fence where the Terry Rang
ers had hung out the banner to dry.
1t is true that the Rangers had been
| compelled to move on before they had
time to gather up their belongings. 1t
is also true that the banner was not
snatched red handed in the fury of the
fray from the soldier who bore it while
leaden missiles were ridding it's blood
stained folds. But all this has moth
ing to do with the main facts, nor does
it lessen the courtesy and good fellow
ship of the Hoosiers in returning the
flag.
THE SIGNATURE AND ANTI-CAR-
TOON LAWS.
/ Eureka Californian: Certain legisla-
tors last spring raised great uproar
over the alleged outrageous acts of the
press of the State and the signature
and anti-cartoon laws were the result.
The lawmakers anxious to place such
| legislation on the statute books invit-
ed the solons to believe that the people
would uphold them and the power Of
the press experience a elimination as
pleasant as salutary.
Well, the legislation was enacted and
each law has proved dead letter. The
people will have none of 1t. The Yolo
Democrat" notes that some of the
! legislators who voted for these absurd
measures are now trying to cast an
anchor TO windWard by currying favor
with the newspapers. The truth of the
matter pursues the Democrat" lis
| that the men who made the loudest
complaints are those who never would
have been heard of outside of the
neighborhoods in which they lived but
them free advertising they could not
| buy for So a line
| The Democrat" thinks there will be
day Of reckoning in 1900, but we
doubt it. The press will not hold the
SHINING solons to SO grievous account
| ing as that. The laws were principally
| intended for the San Francisco news
papers whose conduct had not been and
is not now above reproach.
BRYAN AND NEBRASKA
San Diego Union: The announce
ment that William j. Bryan, leaving
Kentucky and Ohio to take care Of
themselves, will now devote himself to
an especially thorough canvass of Ne
! braska, will not surprise people who
have followed the political trend in the
President seekers State. The truth is
| that Nebraska is in the doubtful col
umn of the States that hold elections
this autumn. A Supreme Judge and
two University Regents are the can
| didates To many, a contest involv-
ing only these offices would seem to
struggle one year hence. 1t appears
to be accepted, however, both in Ne
braska and in the country at large, that
whichever side shall win, will have Sc
| cured an important advantage for the
campaign of 1899. This is certainly
Mr. Bryan's view, and he purposes not
to take any chances. He understands
the situation in his State, and he sees
the prospect of defeat.
SECOND HAND MEDALS.
Stockton Mail: "A San Francisco deal
| er in curios is offering second hand
Philippine war medals for sale. The
Oakland Tribune thinks this indi-
Gates "black sheep among the Cali
| fornia volunteers. One thing 1t does
Indicate, viz: That some of them were
badly In need of money soon after their
discharge,2 which fact makes more in
teresting the question what the news
paper triumvirate of San Francisco is
| doing with and Intends RI 1o with tb "a