The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-27
CURRENT TOPICS.

The Chicago Tribune says that the !oene-
factions of the year 1900 to educational
institutions, libraries, art museums and
galleries, charities and churches by per-
sonal donations and requests amount to
the large total Of s6O,264,G2o 10 date, or
between sl9,o0oc9O and $2o,o0r.0o3 less than
last year.
1T is in no way discouragng," the
Tribune proceeds, that the record shows
this year a falling off as compared VITA
1899, for last year was a record breaker.
Its total (S19,74g,95G) was a round fifty mil
lions greater raan the average of the pre-
cedinS ten years, and that OF the present
year is fully thirty-two millions greater,
showing that. while the wave has natu-
rally receded a little, it is still far in
advance of the total reached in any year
prior to 1899.
''Of this great sum Of $50, 2Gi GO educa-
tional institutions have received Almost
exactly one-hah, o. 530,6696l4, and more
than half o. this has been received by
thirty-sIX OF the larger colleges and uni
verslt.es. Tne smaller colleges. acade-
nl4r.. and stiltinarles have peen given
&Jv0l ,4!5 and The Methodist twentieth
century thank Offering mas enriched edu-
JzL.-onal institutions with $3,li2o32 more
Libraries and art museums and galleries
should tbe classified as educational. me
former have received sv44o,uvt Nearly
the entire amount has been given for
The building of new libraries in sixty-four
different cities and towns, and seven
teen of these are to be credited to Mr.
Andrew Carnegie, who has given $419o,00o
for this purpose during the year. For
art galleries and museums there has been
donated $g5h.0tD.
Charities and churches have received a
generous proportion OF the total benefits.
Charities havc taken Sl3,39o,l 16, which is
about $4,000 more than last year, and
the various churches and church enter
pr:ses IS, 1913, G05, which is nearly 100000
more than last year. When it is con-
sidered that these figures only represent
gifts or requests where the amount is
over $.00O in each case, and that private
subscriptions or collections, Of which no
records can be kept, are not included,
there is every reason for the pesSmist
to take courage. This worlds not half
50 bad a world as some would like to
make it. "
When one reads statements like this,
it is hard to conclude, as the pessimists
DO. that The world is growing worse, or
that are about to be undone by our
prosperity.
A remarkable case is reported from AL
bany. Under decision of Justice Nash,
of New York. Howard C. Benham, who
was twice tried on a charge of wife muir
der and on the second trial acquitted,
must again face jury on the same
charge
The theory of the prosecution was that
ne poisoned his wife to get possession
of small estate which she had willed
to him. Now Benlam's infant son has
brought suit, by his guardian, to prevent
mis- father from getting possession Of the
property, on the ground that Benham
caused the death of his wife. Justice
Nash decided that practically the only
question at issue in this case was whether
Be!.ha1n killed his wife AS this was
purely q question of fact, he was of opin-
ion that he had no right to decide it,
but that the question must so to jury.
lnaSTnuch as Renham was acquitted on
the charge OF murder he could not be
made 10 suffer any penalty, even though |
a jury should find that he did kill his
wife. Ii is said that public sentiment in |
tue localities where Benham is best !
him. If he is innocent, it is commented, !
he is an exceedingly prosecuted man.
Discussing the situation in Cuba, the |
Philadelphia Press says:
General Lee was quoted as saying in |
l. sreech in St. Louis the other day that |
Cuba would remain under American rule. |
This he has since explained as meaning !
that he did not think the Cubans could |
frame a government that would be salts
factory to Themselves That seems highly |
probable But as far the United |
States Government is concerned the |
Cubans will be given every opportunity
TO rule themselves. Not Il stone will be
put in the pathway OF their independ-
ence by our Government. The pledge
made will be faithfully carried out But
it is clear that the Cubans are not ready
for self-governn1ent, and it is still more
clear ;hat they are a great deal better
eff without it. They doing well now,
ana if they only had 4 permanent gov
arnment they would do very much bet
ter. There is greater immigration into
the country now than at any previous
time If the CubanS could put aside
their sentimental policy and look only to
the best interests of the island they would
not want independence But they will
have TO try it probably before they will
be satisfied, and in that work the United
States VIII give them every possible aid"
We do not believe that the Cubans will
hauled down.