davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1900-12-09
The Bid. for the New Navy Vessels

After long delay because Of the dis
agreement over the price Of armor. bids
were opened on Friday for the construction
Of fve battleships and six armorod cruisers
of an aggregate displacement Of l54, 900 tons.
The bids call for larger contracts than
have ever been made by the Government
at any one time. the amount involved be-
ing about s35. .000,o 900. but a more interest
Ing feature Of the affair was the increase in
the number Of shipbuildinS firms repre-
scnted among the bidders
Hitherto, besides the Government, three
companies have built the armored ships
for the navy. the William Cremp & Sons
Company. the Newport News Shipbuildng
Company. and the Union Iron Works,
this latter being the only Pacific coast
builder. These three concerns are bidders
for some Of the new vessels, as was 10 be
expected. Three new companies. however,
bid for the battloships. and two new COM
panies for the cruisers. so tlat tie COM
petition Is llveler than ever before. The
policy of developing our naval shipbuildng
is thus seen to have produced very per-
feet fruit. The new COMPANIES bidding
for the battleshirs nre: The Fore River
Engine Company Of Quincy. Mass: MORAN
Brothers 4 Co.. OF Seattle. Wash. and the
Risden Locomotive and Iron Company Of
San Francisco; for the cruisers, MORAN
Brothers d Co.. and JOHN II. DIALOGUE &
Son, Of Camden. y j.
OF the fve hattleships. three were au-
thorized by the act OF March 3, 1890, and
two by the act Of June Z. 1890. The first
three. known as the Pennsylvania class,
are TO have displacement Of about
$4,000 tons. and are to be sheathed. that is,
their hulls will be covered with wood.
The vessels authorized by the act Of June
1900. will be about the same size; as orig
inally planned they were to be slightly
smaller. These vessels will form the Vir-
cnia class. and will not be sheathed, the
absence 81 sheathing reducing the dis
Placement.
The three cruisers called for by last
years act form the California class those
called for by this years act, the Mary
land class. The latter will he unsheathod.
All the eleven vessels VIII be of the highest
class rs regards armor and armament.
Within "A few days we printed a table show
ing the armament Of these vessels COM
pared with vessels of the British Navy
most nearly approaching them in size;
in every case. our new ships are armed
much more heavily.
The bids appear to be moderate. With
the exception Of the bids from one company.
those from the Pacific coast firms are
The sun., 1900-12-09
IL Succ ssful Invasion of EngI nd
IOssibl"?

Tho demand made 10y Gen. MERCER
in the French Senate FOR an APPROXIMATION
Of funds to facilitate an invasion Of England
will doubtless provoke a certain amount
Of comment IN London newspapers. We
scarcely expect. however, that the warn
ing will be taken seriously. although almost
all the military force at the disposal of the
British Government is now employed in
South Africa or India We can but Judge
the present 10y the past. and we know that.
for many and many a decade, not only
poets and Journalists. but even sober
minded Statesman have been the victims
Of the dension that England may fairly
he described as " tho inviolatc island Of
the sage and free"
When one considers the unique useful.
ness OF history. tho ignorance Of II eyery-
where exhibited in England Il astounding.
The one island known to history which
deserves to be- called inviolate {, the Jan
anesc island OF Nippon. Since il was first
civilized. never has Il known the heel Of
an invader. 1t hurled back even the hosts
OF kUBIAI Khan. the grandson of JENouIz
and the personfication Of the avalanche
that smothered Asia and eastern Europe
England Is even less inviolate than Sicily
which. from the days Of its conquest by n
few Norman gentlemen in the eleventh
century. was never successfully invaded
until II fell willing victim 10 GAR1p.IpI's
One thousand" We do not call tho occu.
patton Of the island by CHARLES OF ANTON
In the second half Of the thirteenth century
succe ssful. because II was quickly termi-
mated by the Sicilian Vespers But
1t Is easy to show that England Aas been
repeatedly invaded with success not only
before. but since, the landing Of WILLIAM
,he Conqueror
Passing over the successive migra,lons
from the Continent Of the earlier and the
later Celts. the two landings by Julius
'IsAh and tho conquest of two-thirds 81
'he Island in the reign Of CLArpIrs. We
would point out that. during the decadcnce
W the Roman Empire in the West, the
'ouuen and southeastern coasts of Britain
were 50 exposed to rlratical incursions
.hat special officer had to be appoin,ed
LOT their defence. the Count of the Saxon
Ihore' so called because the coasts under
"'s custody were particularly exposed
W attacks from the "Saxons." the mama
uien vaguely given to the inhabitants OF
.he north coast Of Germany from Fries-
nl'oJriland Nosooner were the Roman
The sun., 1900-12-09
The Increase Of Suicide and Its Prevention.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr. Mr.. Gold
win Smiths article on Suicide and Its In
crease" printed in THE Sun OF Nov. ?j. should
be Judged from one point Of view only. That
historically and morally 1t is lamentably cor
rect there Ia no doubt. We have but to give a
cursory look TO the newspapers. to be obliged
TO admit that at no time has suicide exhibited
itself 10 the world 10 so abject a way as now.
and that it's Increase is of greater significance
than at first appears.
The numerous details which the daily papers
record regarding children's suicide and young
peoples in general are appalling. not from
the TACT that they are cold-blooded acts but
that they present no reasonable basis what
ever. A boy oftNeivc. .thw arted In a mere within.
goes and cuts his throat a young girl. still
in her teens. is denied some coveted pleasure
trip and spends the last OF her pocket money
on yrussiC acid another, out OF sheer idleness,
seeks amusement III drowning herself as one
means. at Least oi creatins a sensation ard
iaiutest glrnnler OF reason in thc-. movements
and We may NSnl Jon hands With Dante in
for such ""oenn doioross Ct hdnno p,rdnto ! ben
1t IS not ior lack of willing rciormcrs that
this syupcndous wi Of suicide is allowed TO
spread its pestilen'". Eeformers abound:
crusaders" are organized AGAINST vice and
The whole world is ny IN arms against WRONG
out hints regarding adequate means for re-
pressing such general and dccp-rooted an
evil; InrSuaSlOn, conversion, We o urged
St John the Baptist. prrat hing TO the M lii
tud"S m the desert, mad" no doubt a strong
impression. Nhltever meaning his repent
We conveyed tu the sinners minds his ucr-
sonllltv furnished the right Interpretation:
Wheel into n new centre your spiritual SNs-
tom, Reocentrc has that system been up TO
this hour: II ha earth and the earthly for lis
starting point, h"ncciorward make Il hello
centric make the heavenly its princiI lo Of
notion" ArtagoniStic forces have even inter-
f"rcd With spiritual movements, but the true
believer VIII not be .ntim.datei by thcol pgical
perIlcXities and oc' losiastlcll dissoll ton"
he believes that there j. hu~bandrv IN heaven
and that when the time IL ripe for it the weeds
are gathered and burned and corn given space
10 grow.
j. VI. chl-cot. the eminent physician and
lecturer a. the Salp"'ria-e in Paris rroclnirned
years o n n"w departure from the traditional
methods. Disease was h"nceforih 10 be treated
according TO IS psychological side. Pierre
Janet. ,harcot's worthy disciple and per-
p"tlaior of the matters doctrine has pub
lishcd a series of volumes setting forth the
great part which the mind rlays In mans dis
eascd orransm and he poin'cd out the new
movements likely TO be impaired to medical
science in France. Tho clncians of 1901 NAV,
who knows be able 10 establish the Intimate
corresr ondence existing between science and
religion and presently discover the germs
that are poisoning the unwary mind and t,riv-
ing II TO suicide. Thus a more advancd dA
agnosls may help the race toward Q higher
morally. c. r. q
CORNELL UNIVERSITY. Dec.i.
The sun., 1900-12-09
The Governor and the New York
Police,

II Is announced that n biz will be pressed
before the LEGISLATURE this winter providing
for the appointment 10y the Mayor Of New
York city of siNge Police Commissioner.
but giving TO the Governor OF the State
the absolute power of removing that officer
at will II is obvious that such a power in
the hands Of the Governor woIld suh'tan-
italy nullify the appointive power Of the
Mayor. secured 20 the latter 10y the
State Constitution. II any Mayor should
appoint Police Commissioner objection
able 70 the Governor. the State Exec
utivo could at once remove tin Mayors
appointcc. and could keep on removing
successive appointces until the office
was filled by some person satisfactory TO
the Governor
The power Of appointment and the power
Of arbitrary removal are parts OF the same
essential right or power. To give tie
Governor the power to remove the Mayors
appointee at pleasure would be virtually
TO destroy the control Of the police now
vested In our loca authorities in conformity
10 the principle of local self-government
prescribed by the Constitution.
The passage OF such bill would. clearly.
be in violation OF the spirit and essence
OF the State Constitution.
Under the existing Charter the Mayor
can remove. within six months after the
commencement OF his term Of office. any
public officer appointed by the Mayor.
and the Charter Revision Commission
has proposed to give the Mayor an arbi-
trary power Of removal at any time within
his term. The intent Of the removal Of
the present restriction Is to make the Mayor.
at all times. absolutely responsible for the
heads Of departments. and for their malfeas-
anoe or nonfeasance.
1t Is true that. under the Charter. the
Mayor Of this city can be removed from
ONCE by the Governor. for cause. after
due inquiry. but removal for cause
Is distinctly different from an arbitrary
removal. and the reason for giving tie
Governor the power Of removing the
Mayor after a trial Is that eome one
should have the power to remove
him in case OF wrongdoing. And this
power Of removal for cause Ia one which
can be exercised only upon just and r,a-
sonable grounds. and after notice to the
person charged. and the proceedings must
be instituted upon specific charges suf-
ficient In their nature TO warrant the re-
moval and such charges. unless admitted.
must be duly proven.
This new scheme to transfer the control
of the New York police to Albany cannot.
in the nature Of things. receive the support
OF the Republican party in the State, nor
can 1t expect to go scsthless from Demo-
cratic attack.
The sun., 1900-12-09
InyitInp BACK the business Men.

Tho ChicrlD ChrJp,Cls. whlcl frowael
at lr BHYhN In 1879 all smtloI upon him
In 100. has returnNi % wisdom and Is
now exporting tIn Democrats to invite 70
positions OF trust arl authority On their
county. state and Congressional com
mittces the most sagaciouS anI expert
encei bu-ine,, men who are available.
IL even bows tho knee to plutocracy and
confesse5 that II the business men are
rich 80 much tho better
This i new tune. This same Chicago
Chronicle, In cpmuDn with all the other
Bryanltc organs. gave great dca! OF
emotion. hot language and space to re-
Wiling ths Hon MAhCCs ALoSzo HANNA,
chairman of ia" Republican National
Committee, a -agacious. experienced and
rich business man. The inconceIvlbic
turp.tude. the imnel ,urabo inliIlty Of
MIR HANNA rou,ol the Bryaui'c journals
TO frenzy. They almost made para
mount issue Of him. He wL> guilty u; be-
ing rich and Of being Business man; and
business and ricl", were unnaripuabc
sins in the eye. Of the Bryanites. He was
guilty of managing tho Republican cam
pagn. AM wat an outrage against the
producing classes it wa, that rich
business man should have charge Of tho
political campaign Now the Democrats
are booking for u HNNNA Of their own.
They forget that the Hon. JAMES k, JoNLs
- somewhat of trust magnate himself.
The Chronicle recalls with regret Demo
cratic business men who have also been dis
tnguiShed Democratic politicians; mon
like HEWITT. MANNING and WHITNEY.
But they belonged to a Democracy that
waged no war with business and wealth.
There was no CONFLICT between their prin-
cipes and the interests of the communities in
which they lived Organism has tabooed the
business man, practically driven him out Of
the party in the North and made him very un-
comfortable and no well wisher to Organism
In the South IL he to come back? l.
his party to have the benefit of his judg.
ment, his exper encc and his means1 Not
till his party comes to him, repentant and
reformed. Not until il shows itself as
friendly 10 business as for four years it
has shown itself hostile. Even then, bust
ness men must look doubtfully upon party
which is SO acrobatic.
Democratic business men will have to
find out what the Democratic party pro-
poses TO do. where 1t stands and how much
or little the power and influence of Mr.
BRYAN In it are before they will undertake
TO work for IL.
The sun., 1900-12-09

The announcement that one OF the largest
starch factories in the world Ia to be erected
IN Bonner Springs. Kan. IN the valley Of the
Kaw. to take advantage OF the potatoes
grown 40 extensively In that region. shows
how modern science brings manufacture
and agriculture closer and closer together.
Nearly ten years ago Sioux City. la. with
more ambition than wisdom put up the big
gest stove factory In the country. 1t failed
and gave place to starch works. There
was abundant raw material for making starch
In the corn fields riSht at the city's doors.
This business venture paid The steady
advance OF manufactures into the agrlcult-
ural fields each into the country that nature
has fitted for It, is a foundation stone Of In
dustrlal success.
The sun., 1900-12-09
where Religious federation IN America Began.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Siry Tho
Rev. Mr. Christian OF the Church OF ST, Mary
the Virgin publicly said that religious liberation
In this country was first given by the colony
Of Pennsylvania. A Protestant correspondent
wrote to The SrN. giving the honor TO Mary
land. where. truthfully. 1t belongs. and quot
ing from Bancroft history as authority
The Rev. Mr.. Christian remains silent. but
his curate. the Rev. George ii. Hooper. says
in reply IN TIE Sun that the sermon In oues-
ton was delivered without manuscript and
II there was any mistake made in overlooking
the undoubtedly noble conduct OF the Roman
Catholics in the colony OF Maryland. II was
q mistake to correct, not one to rebuke.
Now when a gentleman makes a public
statement that Is erroneous, he frankly ad-
mits his error when II Is shown him, Shall
minister Sf The haye less Se
penance demands confession. contritlon
and satisfaction: one must confess his error.
ration by righting as far rs possible the wrong
that he has done IL may be that Bancroft's
history howaver,i Is not authority % emo enouEn @ Tor
that what Blackstone Is 70 England Kent's
Commentaries is 70 IN" United states.
mentaries IA the foundation OF law In tho
United States quote. thareiorH. from
Kent's Commentaries Vol IL. Lecture 24:
f..sIon and worship may be considered as one Of tho
absolute rghts Of individuals recognized IN our Amer,
and religious liberty generally go hand In and ADD
the suppression Of either NJ them for any length OF
time will terminate the existence of the other.
The Catholic planters Of Maryland procured 10 their
adopted county the distinguished praise 81 being
the frst ~ American States In VIII ch tOefAt.on
established by law and when the pufitsus wee per-
secuting their Protestant brethren IN New England.
and the Episcopallans retorting the severity
on the Puritans In Virginia, the Catholics, against
whom the Others were combined. formed I'm MARY
land q sanctuary. where all might worship and none
might oppress. and where even PTotesans sought
refuge from Protestant intolerance.
NEWARK. Dec l. TRUTH.
The sun., 1900-12-09
THHy nan NOR srsv rHs AIRS.
Two Great w<h who Deser,b.d Thew Aorp.
rst.iy urfore Thsy visited the Wour,ain.

ANY poe, NAV win a now tltlo 10 distinction
n 10 Il able In his yerse to please tho nust
critical reosraphefs bv the accuracy ~ hls
geographic descriptions Schiller was such
n poet
Schiller never saw tho Airs. but tho truth
fulness NJ well ~ the sIlendor ~ his dcscrip-
tons Ia Wilhelm Tell" u the Swiss mountains
save him tho now title u tho Poet Of Alpine
Land As far az tho knowledge Of his day
went sghillcr- word painting 81 tho stupen.
dons Alpine rock nn-scs with their crowns of
snow, their ace rivers. their winged and four
looted inhHhi'nnts aud their struggling nora
Ia truo to mature.
MIR Lrn,t " Her II Germany has recently
thro"n some Light uron Schlllcr'a ge"grarhio
preparation for the writing e Nlhclm Tell
ll' shows the sources from which the poet
drcw his Informal yuu and his chief dctendenco
upon the admirable Npinc writings 81 Schelch-
ger. In preparing to write his 20 m schiller
made couiou. notes from Schouchler upon
ihc nature II piHci - with their morAines.
or"vass"s and strlti'i, alton, Ike tie parallel
strata that show the annual growth Of trees"
The white mountain lily. the purple Alpine
rose. th" torrent. the various aspects Of N"
snow -'aks. the manifold phases OF Alpine
HE 4 phenomena. gil formed part Of his
gave actual truth 70 his poetic pictures With
The clear vision Of great genius he saw the
Alps az they are.
the Alps as his subject was Berghaus. tho
famous cartogra Iher. who made his great
map OF the A Alrs long before his first Pilgrim
age to the play ground Of Europe. 1t was
said 81 Rerghaus that distinguished geograph-
ers fresh from the Alps were often impressed
by the fact while taking with him that his
knowledge OF the mountains he had not sen
was fuller. deeper, clearer than their own.
To make his trip }erghaus, Of course. used
which his critical sense told him was not
WORTHY Of the utmost credence. His geo.
graphic instinct told him what tn use and
how to use IL. Finding no photographic
svm holism adequate for derctlng the noun
talns as they are he Invented H. II was said
for many wears that his great man ~ the Aims
was the clearc-t and host guide that tourists
could hu" To help them on their Journeys
through this mountain region.
The sun., 1900-12-09
The PrctcrboIrbonia ISourbOns

Tho Spanish war taught the Democrats
nothing In the last national campaign
they went before people impressed
with th" value o; trained military ser
vice and stirred by the efficiency and
valOr of the Regulars with absurd patter
about the dangers of n standing army.
The people heard them contemptuousIy
and voted them down No sooner had
Congrcs, assembled than these same Demo-
Gratis began their old poll-parrotings about
the dangers Of standing army.
II Is unjust 20 the Bourbons to compare
the Democrats TO them. The Democrats.
that ia. the Bryanites. have learned nothing
and forgotten everything.
The sun., 1900-12-09
Settlement and Crown Colony.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-sk. In yous
editorial Of Wednesday, Dec. 0. entitled who win
Guarantee the Gusrantor In relation 10 the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, you state that Sir Henry Buwer fled
at the State Department a declaration stating that
her Maiesty's Government does not understand the
engagements Of that convention " apply 20 her MAJ
estys settlement at Honduras. OF Its dependencies"
aud that Secretary Clayton. without sending that
vital amendment back N the Senate, wrote q note
saying that he, too. understood the treaty 10 that
way And then sou go on n say that at that time
her Mastys Government did no, have any settlement
at Honduras, but merely wood chopping right from
Spain Now, II that 50, that they had no settle.
ment Secretary Clayton certainly should have known
this, but a. he agreed with Lord Bulwer, made No
objection 70 this claim and wrote him to that efeoS
AMI as Secretary clayton was he legal representa-.
tive Of the United states In this matter cannot see
but that Lord buwer was absolutely rghtn thinking
that we agreed with him on the matter as 1, Is a we'll
known fact that an employer is respon sible for an
employees act. THIS was proved In the water meter
scandal In this city. and from the tenor OF your
article you seem 20 think that can break the treaty.
looks as II the United States the one that needs
suarantre and not her Maicsty's Government.
NrN YORK. Dec. G. j. W. W. STRuTHERa
Mr.. S,ruthers is wrong both as TO facts and lsv.
In Ia. hrsi place. did say tha, Grea, Britain
had 10 settlement" an the Gulf Of Honduras al The
time Of the BglweT Clayton treaty. A .sr,tlement-
based on claim TO certain wood-chopplug nights
alleged TO have been derived from SPAIN is one taing
while Crown Colony fun nedged and erected after
the convention and In violation Of Its letter IS an
other aad quite dneren, thing In the second place,
We common law as u the responsibility OF TIE EN-
ployef Tor the employees acts does not apply. 10
Is the ranned treaty that binds Secretary Clayton
had no more power to add an extraueous stipulation
70 the treaty without the conscui u u. SenA. OF "
diminish lis force by stating his own responsibility
Ills PERSONAL construction u IT, than Secretary Hay
would have 70 declare the Hay .pauro,fote tray
binding without sending IL 10 the Senate At ALL Sup
pose M Hay had Ignored the Senate and proceeded
70 e1chAnee raurcatons with Lord Pauncefut.. That
would be the OF an employee bu, would tn. we'll
Known fact that an employer Is responsible for an
employers act make the treaty valid or hlne our
Government 70 Its engagements,
The sun., 1900-12-09

higher than those from tho Eastern com
ranics, and tho new bidders are undefhid
by the older firms. II has been tho policy
of the Department to build some of ita
chips on the pacnc, and this plan will prob
ably not bo departed from now Hitherto mn
allowance Of about per cent has been
mad" In favor ~ the Western firms to
Offset the difference In price ~ labor
and materials In the west This year
the hid for hattlcship and two cruisers
made hy the Mon Iron Works ~ san
Francisco Ia actually lower than that Of any
Eastern bidder, anording another proof
OF III" value Of the Departments policy
In building w the shirbulding industry
In the West
The sun., 1900-12-09
serv'ce under the American fss was promptly
taken advantage of by the wily AorrsAfpo

Asen advantage ~ by the willy A0rtsAipo.
IL wns only n short time before tho entire
forco was under his control IL was In
this way that AoriNAfpo was enabled 20
create the disciplined force that hns been
abl" 40 long 20 cupe with our army "f
over 10000 men II costs England soii
month, Mexican, or ~ gold 20 maintain
Chinese soldier In China. Major StAMAN
says that the Chinaman or native Filipino
can be enlisted In unlimited numbers
for go month and that to pay and main
tain such troops In the Philippines need
not cost more than $500 n year for each
man. lie asserts that 1t now costa 20 main
tain troops sent from thi4 country To tho
Orient about 81 COO ycnr for each man.
The matter ~ economy therefore plays a
large part IN Major SE,MAS's plea.
Tho plan suggested by Major Seaman
for trodIcIng these native troop, INTO
our army In the Philippines "a ono inNoiV-
ing an element OF time. He would allow
one-thlrd OF each regiment Of enlisted men
to go home. and III their places with the
native troops As soon as these are trained
he would allow another third to go home
and fill their places with more native SOL
dlers. Finally he would allow the final
third Of enlisted men to go home and I'LL
up the regiment TO its full strength with
native troops. He asserts that ma
jortty OF the commissioned officers would
welcome the opportunity 20 retain their
places permanently"
The sun., 1900-12-09

There has been recently some revival OF
local complaint among Sing Sing manu-
facturers that the name Sing Sing"
when stamped on their goods prejudices
buyers against them as goods made at the
State Prison II has been proposed to
substitute Osslning. the name Of the town.
for Sing Sing. the name Of the village in
manufactured goods hereafter. but ossn-
ing 10 only an sbbreviation OF Ossingslng
of which Sing Sing is the oolloqual form.
A radical change in the name OF the village
by act of the Legislature would he the only
satisfactory remedy.