davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-05-09
A Governor in n Remarkable Roll

Governor Thomas of Colorado announces
with considerable bombast that if President
Mckinley and the Secretary of War con-
tinue to ignore his communications on
the subject of the Colorado regiment in the
Philippines, "he will take steps with a
view to securing the immediate recall Of
the troops. He condescendingly ADDS
that he would not hamper the Administra-
ton, for he IS an American-an American,
you know-but he does not propose to sit
idly by and see the volunteers fighting for
policy actuating those in charge of the
movements of our armies.
This notable declaration is not so sur
prising as it would be had it emanate1
from the Governor of a State which has
! not produced so many political freaks as
Colorado. We all remember Blood on the
Brides" Waite; and there are Others
from the same section. What Thomas is
really doing is to put himself in the ranks
of the Atkinsons and the Hoars and the
Godkins, if, indeed, he does not outvie
them because of the executive power at his
| disposal.
Sacrifice of life and property. If neces-
sary, is the basic principle of all true
citizenship. No man is at liberty to un-
dermine the Government under whose flag
he lives-and especially no man in high
authority Nor is any newspaper at lib
erty TO defy the constitutional provisions
under which treason is defined.
When Vailandigham was arrested on a
charge of expressing sympathy for those
in arms against the Government of the
United States and declaring disloyal SEN
timent and opinions for the purpose of
weakening the power Of the Government
President Lincoln declared that Ibis [Mr.
Vallandigham'sl views are hostile to the
war on the part of the Union, and his
arrest was made because he was labor
ing with some effect to prevent the rails
ing of troops. to encourage desertions
from the Army. and to leave the rebellion
without any adequate military force to
suppress it,
That is exactly what Governor Thomas
is doing with reference to the situation
in the Philippines. He is putting a pre-
MUM on desertion and threatening
force" if necessary to get the Colorado
regiment back Well, if he wants force"
he can probably be accommodated.
vaIiandigham was driven in disgrace
from public life. Governor Thomas might
study with advantage the history of his
career.
The times., 1899-05-09
RESOURCES OF PORTO RICO.
A Statement Given Gu. by the In
suInr Commission.

The following statement as TO the re-
sources and conditions in Porto Rico has
been prepared by Gen. Robert p Kennedy.
Of the Insular Commission 1t is for the
purpose of answering the numerous in
Guiries in regard to that island which have
been addressed to the Commission since It's
return:
There can scarcely be found upon the globe
more hospitable and warmhearted people than
those of Porto Rico. They are in full sympathv
with American Institutions There is great ieai
OF poverty in tile island as it is understood in
the United States; that is. the people live in
hinislly constructed huts. have few clothes and
still less Of ready money but owing TO the bounty
OF nature around them they can live with little
work and few worldly goods and still not suffer
fIor either cold or hunger The stories OF stlrva-
ticn upon the island are blseless iabricaticrs
While the richer classes live well in beauti-
fuily-lppoiEted homes and have ben for the most
part educated abroad. so that they speak English.
the percentage Of illiteraey among the poorer
classes Is very high. reaching % per cent. btt
tins IS largely due to the fact that there are no
schools worth the name outside of the largest
town, or, indeed, one might say in the whole
island
As to agricultural opportunities, should sny
that not One-fOurth OF the farms in the island
are now under cultivation, and Thousands of acres
remain TO be given TO husbandry. Lands
are held at good price owing to the promise OF
an lEIl1N Uf people nom the United States. sill
there IS opportunity for many thousands Of per-
sons who really wish to engage in agriculture
on the island. That there great opportunities
in Porto Rico is unquestionable.
To young desiring to seek permanent
homes and who have good stccs Of energy and
enterprise, Porto Rico offers great Inducements
But / would discourage the simple aeiyenturer
who expects TO reap quick and unearned e.
ward Sugar and coffee both require a large
outlay in lands. material, and improvements
The promise of both of these. however. is un-
equaled anywhere else in the world An old eof-
fee planter from Java. who has Just bought 4
plantation, assured me that the climate and con-
ditiors favorable as he had ever seen
Tropical fruits OF all sorts grow rapidly and arc
of the finest quality / know Of place which
offers greater Inducements than does Porto Rico
10 Florida orange growers who are seeking 4
location outside the frcst belt.
The opportunities for stock raising. ii appears
to me. are superior to those in almost any part
OF the United States, and this Without dispar-
ageIIent Of our own cattle country. The climate
of the island, IN my experience and from what
l gather Of it from records. official and
otherwise, Is all that could be desidcd II Is
warm in summeT and cool in winter. and even
the densely populated city of san Juan is
markably healthy place. | looA forward to the
time not far distant when Porto Rico will be
not only the tropic garden SPOT Of the United
States. but one Of the most popular winter
The times., 1899-05-09

top hat. in city which is now the most
devoted adherent Of that article of dress.
How true it is that acquired tastes are the
strongest
1t is possible to draw a close analogy
between the appearance of this new fash
ion and the advent of new ideas at the
present day. The reformer is usually
mcbbed. literally or figurativeIy; he causes
great commotion; timid people faint and
have Mysteries at his appearance: the rab-
Bile on the outskirts of the crowd howl at
him without having any very clear idea
what the trouble is all about: and inno-
cent persons are hurt in the scuffie created
by his progress. Then. perhaps. he is
hailed before the embodied law and obi gel
to explain that he has not violated any
ordinance, but is merely exercising his
rights as an individual. To this public
opinion replies that he is violating its
law, which is mishticr than all the rest
and Irresponsible The rcformer contenis
that if public opinion really condemns him
IL must do so legally or revert to barbar-
ism: and in the end. because the sensible
PNNFAt AA' community puNht.AbsR Wv
irrational. emotional fools, his cause is tri-
umphant. If his reform is a great one. it
becomes the law of the community; If he
is a crank, he is allowed to pursue his
course unmolested, it is true, but also un-
needed, and is regarded not as a dangerous
person, but as lunatic TO whom no one
should pay any attention.
Personal violence has, happily, gone out
of fashion in most communities which lay
claim to civilization. Perhaps the time
will come when we shall not resort to
metaphorical violence, but weigh every
mans ideas dispassionately and sensibly,
without subjecting him to the boycott, to
social ostracism, or to any other sort OF
persecution. When that time comes there
will be fewer cranks and swifter progress.
Persecution makes cranks as well as mar
tyrs. If every reformer in this country
had to run the risk of crucifxion or death
at the stake, the community would be re-
duced to level Of emotional brutality
which would make it unfit to exercise
Judgment. Some heroes might be devel-
oped, but the general level of intelligence
would be considerably lowered
The times., 1899-05-09
FINNs APPEAL TO AMERICA.
4 Plea for Aid in Their StruggI.
Against Russsanizati0n.

4 Plea for Aid in Their Struggle
Against Russsanization.
The ukase of Car Nicholas of March 13
establishing new relations between Fin
land and the Russian Government has
been brought to the attention of the
United States Government with a request,
or suggestion. rather that diplomatic rep
resentations be made to the Gar with a
view to securing notifications at least of
its operations and effects. BY the terms
of the ukase the ancient constitution OF
Finland. under which it has existed since
the thirteenth century and the continu-
ance of which has been at various times
imperiled since the incorporation of the
territory into the Russian Empire, is to be
abolished and the autonomy of the coun-
try destroyed. Naturally this action has
created the utmost CONSERVATION in Fin
land and indignation among the 100000
Firms in this country. The latter have
appointed a national committee to organ
ize and conduct a campaign for the pur-
pose of changing or ameliorating the con-
ditions resulting from the issue of the
ukase. Among these committeeman are
Oscar j. Larson, attorney of Houghton
county, Mich. and DIR. C. ]. Sorsen, of
Calumet. Mich. Both are native Firms
Larson is graduate of the University of
Michigan and Sorsen of Rush Medical
College. Chicago. With Senator Mcmillan.
they saw President Mckinley and Secre-
tary Hay yesterday and presented the sit
uation to them. The committeeman ex-
planned that. in the opinion of the Firms
in this country. the ukase did not orig
mate with the Car. but came from the
Church element, which desires to extend
the dominion of the Greek Church over the
Firms, who are almost unanimously Lu-
therans, the remainder adIering to other
forms of Professionalism.
The inhabitants of the country in their
protests against the ukase have the sym
pathy and substantial support of the
Swedes and Norwegians, who see in that
document a forerunner of their own fate
in the not far distant future That any
thing can be done is doubtful as the mat
ter is one that primarily and most largely
concerns the Russian Empire alone. But
it was suggested that something might be
done along the lines of the action taken
by President Harrison regarding the per-
secution of the Jews in Russia during his
administration. The outrages committed
drove them in large numbers to England
and to the United tSates. They were not
desirable immigrants and in view of these
facts President Harrison. through our
Minister at st. Petersburg protested
against continuance of the outrages, be-
cause they tended to drive to our shores a
class OF undesirable people faster than
they could be safely and satisfactorily as
simulated. While the Firms are not of the
same class as the Russian Jews, their
countrymen in the United States do not
believe that It would be wise to have them
driven to this country in such great num-
bers as they are likely to come on the
ukase of the Gear being enforced.
The times., 1899-05-09
The First SIX HIT.

Some antiquarian has dug up from the
moldy recesses of the past an incident
which is not only amusing in itself. but
suggestive to the philosophic observer of
the present day. 1t took place in 1897. in
London.
AT that time John Hetherington, citi-
zen Of London. invented the silk hat Hav
ing contriyed this pleasing form of head
gear. OF course he wanted to wear it. His
family thought he would better not. and
warned him that the citizens OF the
metropolis did not take kindly to new
things. But he was obdurate. and started
down the Strand. with determination in Is
eountenance and the hat on his head, at
about IL O'Clock on the morning OF jan
uary 5. This is what happened, as record
ed in the London papers next day:
John Hethcrington, haberdasher Of the Strand,
was arTaignod before the lord mayor yesterday
on a charge of breach of the peace and melting
riot and was required TO give bond in the sum
Of $500. II was IN evidence that Mr. Hethering-
ton, who is well connected. appeared upon the
public highway wearing upon his head what he
called silk hat (Which was Offered in evidence),
a tall structure having shiny lustre, and calci-
lated TO irighicH timid people. As a matter of
fact the officers Of the Crown stated that several
women fainted at the unusual sight, while chill
dren screamed, dogs yeiped, and young OF
Ccrdwainer Thomas. who was returning from a
chambers shop. was thrown down by the crowd
which had collected ard had his right arm
broken For those reasons the defendant was
seized by the guards and taken before the lord
mayor. In extcnuation Of his crime defendant
claimed that he had not violated any law Of
the Kingdom. bat merely, exercising the
right to appear in a hcaddress OF his own de-
sign
The unfortunate halter was finally re-
leased with reprimand.
This was The connection created by the
appearance OF so simple an article as a
The times., 1899-05-09
NOTES OF THE DAY.

One clever New York boy travels around the
city roller skates. being pulled by a carefully
hsrnessed St Bernard dog.
The speculating mania seems to have attacked
English women with unusual violence this spring
Copper las been their fayorite field.
--hogany is said to have been brought to Eng
land by Sir Waiter Raleigh in I505. but not to
have into general use till 1920.
Because Of 4 wager Samuel H1maker of Nan
helm. Pa, has not cut his beard since Blaine
defeated for the Presidency in 1851.
Directors in IA number of Hungarian -four mills
have resigned because their mills ioined in the
recent move to corner the wheat market.
There is great indignation among the Christian
people OF London over the introduction OF Sur
day editions OF the Daily Telegraph and
Daily Mail
Thr new Swiss aluminium steamer for Lake
Victoria is l3 icet long, carries 81 persons, and
separates into nine sections, part weighing
$50 pounds
Senator n r. Scott of West Virginia has
offered TO the West Virginia University 4 cash
prize of slcO each year for the young woman
ceiling IN oratory.
Last wear twcnty-one women PHYSICIANS re-
ceiyed public appointments in England In the
same year forty-seveH female students of medi-
cine were matriculated in London
Governor William Amos Poynter. OF Nebraska.
Is known about his home as the Farmer Gov
erHor," owing TO his having spent twenty--one
years in tilling the rich prairie soil.
So far the proceeds of the Minnesota inheri-
lance tax. which adopted two yeaEs ago.
have come TO SI.5OO-ahout half the cost OF
equippius the probate offices with the necessary
records
An EnsiishmIn has designed i tent which has
a series OF ribs similar to those used on UNI
hrcllas, the ribs being Of flexible material and
hinged to a block at the centre OF t,e top. al
lowing them to be folded Up in small compass.
The Jahrbuch OF the Prlissian kunsssamluusrn
(XX II contains extracts from the Milan "C0,ey
Atlantieus,' which indicates that the famous
painter Leonardo ia Ninci limited plainly at the
possibility of propclling vessels ON the water BY
means OF steam
The Marble Heart. Anti Matrimonial Assoeia-
tion, of Appleton. Wis. consists of bachelors,
who pay an initiation fee OF S2j and annual dlrs
Of SO. The accumulated funds go to the par
ticular Marble Heart who longest resi5ts the at
fractions Of womaEkiEd
The Argentine Republic has placed a contract
for lO.0OO rifles l0,GO0 hlyonets. and 5000 rifle
barrels with cartridges to match with the Rem
ngton AIMS COMPANY ard is now properly pre-
raEed To send representatives TO the coming
Peace Conference in The Hague.
The times., 1899-05-09

said, at an expersc to the Government of
something like two hundred thousand dol
lars. That agreeable expedition is not
likely to be soon forgotten. either by the
charming companions selected to partici-
pate in its joys, or by the voters who will
review the history Of MIR. McKinley's be-
nevolent Administration next year.
The only possible palliation for Lieu
tenant Commander Perry's conduct in this
matter is contained in the statement that,
if he had obeyed the Taylor order, the
expense OF entertaining the Assistant Sec
retary. the Maryland Senator, and the
twenty-odd other hungry and particularly
thirsty guests would have fallen upon
his own comparatively lean wallet. This
we concede is palliation, but not excuse.
If Perry had the proper conception of duty
in the presence Of opportunity, he should
not be in a position to feel the loss of
a thousand or two occasionally to please
those in superior authority. The assertion
may be ventured that, few years ego.
If a man in Taylor's position had requested
Of Captain Carter a tug to carry coll
lection Of gay junketeers around Savannah
Harbor. the boat. the diamond back, the
Blue Point. the red, red lobster, and the
ruby rum would have been forthcoming
without word of objection or protest
We sincerely trust that the naval officer
has not made the mistake of refusing
an outing to an Assistant Secretary
which he might have accorded to full
blown Cabinet Minister. Assistant Secre-
taries of the Navy in the past have en-
joyed yacht privileges, and why should
not persons OF similar rank in the Treas
ury? The equities emboweled in the sys-
TEN do not allow of nice discrimination.
For. if higher officer may do a thing
which is extra-legal, abusive, and roar
ing outrage on the commonwealth, there
is no apparent reason in morals or ethics
why an inferior may not act likewise. 1t
is the acknowledged custom for officials
of secretarial rank to use public vessels
for private pleasure. In point of law or
propriety they have no more right to do
so than their assistants, clerks, messen-
gers. watchmen, or scrub women. We
are not arguing against the principle, but
its unequal application in a manner OBJ
noxious to our ideas. of equality and re-
publican simplicity. Ii Alger should have
whole steamship, loaded with the fat of
the land. TO escort Colonel Mann, of the
Town Topics all over the summer seas,
Taylor and McComas ought not to be left
out in the cold. johnson, the just vindi-
Gated Engraving and Printing man, should
have a gunboat to go fishing, and Mr..
Cages various chiefs of division are en-
titled to a revenue cutter of Sunday
down the river, at the least. Indeed, there
is not any sufficient reason why, If the
ladies who keep the Navy Department
corridors Shining like the nose of a COM
missary general desired monthly
picnic on a cruiser, it should not be
promptly turned over to them ON the order
of their committee of arrangements. Uncle
Sam is a fat old lemon; let everybody have
a squeeze.
The times., 1899-05-09
NEW WAR EQUIPMENT.
Improved Devices Authorized by the
War Department


The War Department. 1t Is learned, has
authorized the use of telescope sights for
field artillery pieces The manufacture of
these sights viii begin at once. Fault has
been found with the present open sight
The peep-hoie is declared to be tco small.
and the sight does not give satisfaction
Tor the longer ranges
The issue OF telescope sights Will 5e an
innovation in the field artillery service.
Oncers who have examined the proposed
sights declare that 1t will be possible for
the artillerymen to carry on sharpshooter
work with their pieces. When the battery
is iimbered up the telescope sights will be
carried in leather pouches slung around
the shoulders of the gunners.
In addition TO the authorization of teie-
scopic sights a number OF changes have
been ordered. II is learned. In artillery and
cavalry equipment. based on the findings
OF recent ordnance board. Instead Of
black leather fittings for cavalry and artil-
leTy. russell leather will hereafter be In
order In lieu of slings for carbines. re-
course in future will be had wholly to
gun seabbard3. The sling is pronounced
superfiuous. The infantry haversack. IL Ia
understood. will be enlarged. and the in
terror viii be lined with oiled skin or
some other substance to prevent absorp-
/. tion OF grease. Bayonets WILL in future
be issued from the arsenais much sharper
than heretofore II IS proposed to furnish
an edge keen enough to permit or cutting
brush and branches On the question OF
the blanket bag no definite conclusion has
been reached By the authorities
The reports received as a result of the
last summers experience show that sni-
diers invariably throw away the blanket
bag and use the rolled blanket. At the
same time the blanket bag in peace time
II is declared, is desirable part of SOL
dier's equipment. and for that reason
should not be wholly discarded
Reports received from the Philippines b.
mail speak highly of the smoke!ess powder
in use in the cartridges OF the 45-caIib
I Springfield rifles. The charge Is twenty
two grains. as compared with seventy
grains of black powder. There is no ap-
preciable recoil- The velocity impaired Is
purposely kept down to that furnished by
[ the best grade of black powder. In conse-
quence of this there was no necessity oc-
casioned for changing the original sights
The shells employed. as well as the bullets
are the same as used with black powder
Owing to the smallness OF the twenty two
grain charge. the powder rattles about In
the shell The bullet does not rest against
the powder.
The reports further say it is learned that-
the new powder leaves little or no res
iduum. and that very little cleaning OF the
gun barrel is demanded. The basis OF the
new powder is nitro -celIulose. 1t Is man
ufactured on the eolIoid system. with
consists of incorporating the powder essen
tials in a gelatine formed by the dissoIv-
! ing of nitro-cellulose. An additional order
| for 100000 smokeless ammunition car
tridges for Springfelds has, it is said, re-
Gently been placed.
The times., 1899-05-09
DISAPPEARED MYsTERIoUsLy.
The Chief officer of the Lighthouse
Tender Missing.

Seattle. Wash. May s.-Chief Officer W.
S Hamilton of the lighthouse tender Man
zanita. has disappeared as completely as
though the earth had opened and swal-
lowed him. He left his vessel wesk aga
to go to a Seattle dentist, and since then
the officers have searched in vain for him.
his ship sailing yesterday for Columbia
River without him. He was recently mar
ried at Astoria, and was also promoted
from second mate to chief officer
Captain Gregory. of the Manzanita, says:
Hamilton had absolutely no reason
for taking his own life. and an accident or
foul play are the only solution to the my5-
terry. We cannot even find the dentist he
visited. or whether he ever got that far.
He might have been up town until late ald
lost his life getting back to the ship
The times., 1899-05-09

The report of the court of enquiry which
investigated the conduct of officers and
men OF the Seventy-first New York
Regiment during the Santiago cam
paign is In striking contrast with
the whitewashing document of the
Beef Court of Enquiry. 1t scathingly
denounces Colonel Downs, Lieutenant Col
onel Smith, Major Whittle. and Captain
Austin. saying that they failed to lead their
men into battle when the test came at San
Juan. and that they are unfit to command
soldiers. Talk of this kind shows that oc-
casionally there are Investigations which
investigate, although in the matter of the
beef enquiry there was little, if anything.
TO warrant that impression
The times., 1899-05-09
TO THROTTLE TRUSTS.
Il War to BE InauSursted by West
crn and Southern Governors


crn and Southern Governors.
Austin. Tex. May S.-Governor Sayers
will issue a call after the Texas Legisla-
ture adjourns for a conference to be held
in Austin of the Governors and Attorneys
General of all the Southern and Western
States for the purpose OF formulating some
concerted plan of action against trusts.
1t is believed the plan will meet with gen
eral approval. He received the following
telegram from Governor Stephens, of Mis-
souri,, today:
endorse your idea of conference OF Governors
and Attorneys General of Southern and Western
States relative to the enforcement OF the anti
trust laws by the sovereign States. Concerted
action will mean success / will be glad to CO.
operate with you in the movement While
may not be able to attend the conference our
Attorney General will be on hand to represent
me.
A telegram was also received from At
torney General jeff Davis, of Arkansas
heartily endorsing the movement and stat
ing that he would attend the proposed con-
ference.