The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-01-11
PUBLIC OPINION.
Opinions From various Sources on
Questions of the Day.


contravention to the declaration of in
dependence and the teachings Of the
brave men who signed that document.
John Sherman.
Roberts has as clear right as had
General Henderson. who was chosen
speaker, to take the oath as a repre-
sentative and to take his seat. From
there he could be dislodged and cast
out by majority of two-thirds, ac-
cording to the federal, constitution, and
in no other way could the constitution
be satisfied. 1t is very dangerous busi-
ness, and a very demeaning business,
for one Of the houses of congress to
destroy or even to bend under the in
fluence of popular clamor the constitu-
tional protection of the rights of rep
resentation.-New York Sun (Rep.).
A nation, nominally Christian, pro-
Tossing to accept a divinely appointed
mission to a benighted nation beyond
the seas, and assuming that 1t has
providentially been called to be the
guardian of people incapable of de-
veloping its own Christian civilization,
uses, as its missionaries. beer and bull
lets, not Bibles. The Christian church
utters but feeble, II any, protest, and
appears to be blind except to visions
of military and political glory. My
protest may be without force, but I
place it on record. May God save our
nation from itself, its own worst
enemy.-Henry b. Metcalf.
Consul Oscar f. Williams, who has
recently returned from the Philippines,
pay the savage Filipinos this tribute
"The domestic life of the Filipinos
is kind happy and peaceful. They
are simple in their ways and their fur
niture is meager, but the men and wo-
men are affectionate and faithful, and
they are cleanly in their habits per-
sonally and in their homes. ] have
never been betrayed or cheated by the
Filipinos since | have been there" He
also says: They have grown, out of
their ignorance, to fear every white
man, no matter what their national
ity. y."-Springfield Republican.
Mr.. Roberts, the representative Of
Utah polygamy, will probably not get
the seat in congress to which he was
elected, but the Memphis Commercial
Appeal points out that he might seek
an island, become sultan of something,
and ask for an increase of salary"
There is a profound silence on the
part of most of the machine newspa
pers of the state regarding the expos
ures of ballot box stuffing in this city
These crimes are so widely regarded
as a part OF the machine system of
politics that the Quay organs must
keep quiet about them.-Philadelph
Press.
Though the Spanish war was but a
skirmish, as compared with the civil
war 1t has been thought necessary to
raise almost as much revenue, and the
expenditures for our military opera
tions exceeded those of the early years
of the civil war, threatening to last
for years. There is no probable relief
from war taxes, and If greater economy
is not enforced either new issue Of
bonds or higher taxation will be nee
essary before the end of the McKin-
ley administration. The economic
waste of war is one of it's most marked
features. Commercial prosperity may
lead the people to submit for time
without protest, but in the end the cost
of imperialism and militarism will i'm
press itself upon the masses of the
people, who are the chief sufferers,
since most of the rich corporations es-
cape the payment of the war taxes by
shifting the burden to their patrons,
who can only protest and pay.-Buffalo
Courier.
The English have held the enemy too
cheap. They are not fighting savases
in breech clouts. They are invading
the country of a civilized people, who
will never be conquered until they are
crushed by an overwhelming force.
The Beers are battling for their homes,
for personal freedom, for relief from
the tyrannous eXactions of an alien
country. 1t is fight to the death with
them, not a service for hire. Every
man and boy in the ranks has the in
spiration of doing his duty, with the
godspeed of wife and mother to
strengthen his courage. It will be nc
easy task to whip such foe. No won
der that the sympathy of the world
should go out to this handful Of brave
people. and that every British defeat
is welcomed as a proper visitation
Kruger has said that "the price would
stagger humanity" and England is be-
ing brought to the sorrowful realiza-
tion that she must pay her share
Philadelphia North American.
On what grounds is Roberts to be
excluded from the house of representa-
tives of the United States? Has he not
attained to the age of 25 years?" Has
he not been seven years a citizen OF
the United States?" Is he not an in.
habitant of that state from which he
was chosen? Was he not legally chosen
in a legally conducted election? The
answers to all these questions as tC
the constitutional requirements must
be in the affirmative. Then the pro-
posal to refuse him his seat is pro-
posal to defy the constitution of the
United States, to refuse their politica
rights to the people Of Utah. This II
serious matter. No matter how
worthy the people who advocate suet
a proposal, no matter how irreproach
able their moral character, the nature
of this proposal Is not changed. 1t Is
locked at in It's most favorable light, &
proposal to do evil that good may
come, and the evil Is violation no
only Of the fundamental law ordained
by the people Of the United States, bu
also violation of fundamental prin
I'LL tnh toe