The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-28
CURRENT TOPICS.

The Chattanooga Times in a thoughtful
article on the subject Of American cleo
tons, says:
Georgia had in 1890 nearly 2S,ooO more
population than Tennessee and now her
population is much larger than ours And
Georgia's average vote in the three last
Presidential elections-1S92, 1886 and 1900
was about 10000, while Tennessee's aver
age vote was $4,000. Georgia's votes for
Governor are lOl 600 in 1856, 10000 in 1880
and so on, being merely nominal, perfume
tory registering Of State bosses DEGREES.
We say that a State, the politics of which
is thus conducted. has 10 real public opin-
ion. The Governor is determined upon in
a back office or over a private dinner ia
BILE For more than a quarter of d century
a; half dozen wealthy Atlanta politicians
dictated the Senator's, the Governors and
the rest. We say that this is a deplora-
bic State OF things. We say that it makes
OF any State that permits such CONDITION
TO exist. and go on existing, mere oil
garchy."
In another article to-day we have re-
ferre6 in general terms to the same sub
1ect Ihis state of things must continue
to exist in the South until there shall be
in each Southern State a respectable MI
nority party. 1t is Il fact which we all
must admit, reluctant as we may be to DO
so that the affairs OF Virginia are for the
most part controlled by a few men VINO
dominate the Democratic party
In discussing General Lees career IN
Cuba the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser says:
considerable Importance is attached TO
his recent utterance i'll st. Louis, in which
he declared the American flag would al
ways float over the strategic keys to the
island of Cuba. This statement has been
seized upon by those anxious to convict
the Administration of duplicity, and has
been exaggerated into unwarranted i'm
portancc. General Lee nor any one else
can say whether the American flag Will
stay in Cuba or not. In protecting
sense it will. 1t rests with the Cubans,
and not with the United States. as to
whether it remains in substance as we'll
as in shadow.
General Lee did not pretend 10 speak for
the Administration. He did nothing more
than to make a prediction, and we are
quite sure that the editor OF the New
York Commercial Advertiser believes that
bans themselves will never in our opinion,
consent to have the Stars and Stripes
hauled down.
Editor Harmsworth, of London, III DIS
cussing American newspapers, takes eX-
ception to the "hopelessly clumsy shape
of the ordinary newspaper.
with the newspapers Of the whole civ
ilized world before me- he says, leach
week | look in vain for any great and
impressive stroke of originality or daring.
We still cling to the clumsy and awkward
shane in which our newspapers are issued,
and the man who has attempted to manlp-
Mate one of them on windy day will
best appreciate the force OF my remarks
BY the use of improved machinery 1t
would be possible to issue the newspaper
of the future in what is obviously It's
proper form-a small portable and neatly
indexed publications.
Several years ago a newspaper OF the
shape which Mr.. l1armsworth likes was
started in New York and special stress
was laid on the fact that 1t was OF con-
venient size. The scumsy newspapers
were ridiculed by this newcomer, ana
every effort was made to get the people
to take hold OF the little one. 1t was a
good newspaper too, as we recail. anu
was as attractive as money could make
it but its DAYS We're few and full OF trou-
BILE. The people did not like it and would
NOT have it, and the whole project was
soon abandoned.