The record-union., 1899-09-23

pine Islands, confess ourselves unequa
TO large duties-in short, to turn tai
and funk in the face of the world. We
say Mr.. Reeds position need surprise
nobody because he has been wrong or
every large public question this past
few years. He was for a compromise
on the silver question long after every
man of sound statescraft knew that
compromise would be fatal to the coun-
try. He sneered at the Spanish wal
and sneered again at the efforts of the
Administration to perform its duty
after the war. He has opposed the Pa
cine cable. He defeated the Nicaragua
Canal bill last winter. At a time when
the country needs experience and force
IN statescraft, he-Who has both IN
a high place and
splendid prestige in public life to be-
come a mere money -getter, preferring
to I'LL his pockets to serving his coun-
try. Mr. Reed will, no doubt, continue
to sneer at everything and everybody
as long as there shall be those who care
to hear and repeat his remarks. He
can commonly be counted upon to be on
the wrong side of every great public
question; but we don't know that it
matters much now where he stands.
FORESTRY.
Redwood City Times Gazette: If the
views Of the leading men of thought OF
to-day on the preservation of forests
and the reclamation of our arid lands
be carried out, which we believe will
be done, it will cause a song and dance
among those people who claim and have
taken up all the fine grazing meadows
IN our mountains as swamp land for
the express purpose of corralling all the
pasture lands around them free. If
Congress passes a law to rent or lease
the public domain and give the money
thus acquired to the State, or provide
a fund with which to build reservoirs,
things will change in our mountains,
sure.
NEGRO OFFICERS.
Stockton Mail: Two negroes from
the rank and file of the Twenty-fourth
Regiment have been given commits
sions in the new volunteer regiment Of
colored troops, one as Captain and the
other as Second Lieutenant. There
seems to be no doubt that the pro-
NOTED men are brave and trustworthy.
1t remains to be seen whether negro
officers can maintain discipline among
negro troops Of course, the negro
soldier is as brave as the next one. In
fact, there is hardly any difference in
the courage of the rank and file all over
the world. They are all about the
same. The discipline and morale make
the difference between one army and
another. The difference lies in the or
ganization-in the officers. The case is
that which Napoleon put into epigram-
matte form when he said Men are
nothing: the man Is everything"
OF MR.. BRYAN.
st. Helena Star: William Jennings
Bryan will probably be the Democratic
nominee for President in 1900, but his
high aspirations will never be realized.
He will never grace the Presidential
chair. Mr.. Bryan's strength lies in
his remarkable oratorical ability and
should he again fail in his race for
Chief Executive, he should turn his at
tention to the stage, where he would
undoubtedly be a brilliant success. A
man who is so fond Of applause as Mr..
Bryan seems to be, and is always ready
to speak anywhere, everywhere and
under all conditions, but upon no other
subject than politics, is never taken
seriously by many people. Crowds
rush to see and hear him just as they
gather about any attraction; applaud
his well-rounded sentences and cheer
him as he bows himself out of sight.
The duties Of life are again taken up
and the champion of theories is forgot
ten in the stern realities that confront
the honest toiler. Mr.. Bryan's Sacra-
mento speech was one of statements
and void of arguments. He still says
free silver is our salvation, when the
country has already been saved; he is
an anti-expansionist and yet the Unit
ed States has already expanded; he is
against the war in the Philippines and
opposed to the course being pursued by
the present Administration, but fails
to throw any light on how the ques-
ton should be handled and how this
country can escape the responsibilities
forced upon US by the war with Spain
"a war which President Mckinley was
very loath to enter into and only did
so when all diplomatic measures had
failed, notwithstanding that the Demo
cratic press and Congressman were
shouting, WAR war! war;" and ac-
cusing the President of lack of back
bone; he is against combination of cap
ital, but no more so than all parties
are when trusts thus formed become
a public menace. Thus Mr.. Bryan
swings around the circle singing famil-
lar songs in his well modulated voice,
but not as an advocate of principles
that can convert the busy and prosper
Gus people now enjoying life, comfort
and even luxury in the United States.
Prosperity and plenty reigns and Will
lam Mckinley is good enough for poor
and rich alike.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Redding Free Press: That there are
portions in California where the poor
devils dying with consumption may be
so benefited as to give them a long
lease on life is true beyond question.
That there are other portions of Cal
ifornia where the climate is productive
of consumption is also true. But that
anywhere in this or any other State
any perceptible portion of the popu-
lation has been or can be infected with
the disease by ordinary association with
consumptives from other States is not