The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-18
CURRENT TOPICS.

CURRENT TOPICS.
In a thoughtful article on the Clayton
Bulwer treaty the Springfield Republican
says:
1t is needless to say that the Republican
would have no sort Of sympathy with Il
lingo movement to repudiate solemn treaty
Obligations whose sole aim was to make
the istlllnian canal weapon OF war
rather than an instrument OF peaceful
maritime trade. II is true that the Gay
ton-Bulwer treaty is not altogether TO
be desired by this nation, yet the ques-
ton Of abrogation without Ensland's con-
sent has highly important moral aspects.
Our Government cannot be coerced. AS a
London paper says, the method Of COM
puson is the only one known OF indlIc-
ing . State to accept an obligation OF
which it is tired, but that method, as be-
tween England and America SIS out OF
the question:" The United States is a
great power and cam denounce its treat
les without much risk of war, if it chooses
to- But there are important moral issues
involved which it is wei! to have clearly
in mind.
All authorities on international la" are
agreed that obsolete treaties have no bind
ing force. The history OF nations is stud
ded with treaties that have grown pet
riIea from disuse under changed condl-
tons and have no more effect than feHcS
of the stone age, Notwithstanding lhat
they have never been formally ahrosated
with the consent Of both or all the con-
tracing powers. But the Clayton-Buiwer
! treaty is not obsolete. 1t is so much alive
that this administration has officially
recognized it as valid. How. then can it
be gotten rid Of unless England consents
TO its abrogation?
The Bible com1hends the man who
sweaTeth to his own hurt and changettl
not as being worthy to enter the Kingdom
| of Heaven Nations have no more right
| than individuals TO violate the obligations
of a contract.
Colonel Mergenthaler's spirit was abroad
| on Thursday night and what he did with
the types was "a plenty When it was
| written that certain incidents had been
recorded by Carlyle, the types made it
| read recalled. ''Ayatar was meta
1noiphosed into AVIATOR" When it was
written that Editor Cain combines the
cunning of De Wet with the pusnacity
| of Ney,'' the spirit III the types had it
! claims the cunning" eta gross injus-
| tice to Editor Gains well-known modesty.
Where it was written, in beautiful and
| flowing Spencerian style, that Mephsto
| Baxter seems etc: Colonel Mergenthal-
| ers mschicvous spirit made it appear
| memphis to Baxter" etc. Typographical
errors are never to be considered and
| should not be. but we hope if Mephisto
| uas any power over the shade OF Msr-
| genthaler he will restrict his liberty and
| prevent SUCH pranfs as here noted.-Iem-
| rhis Conmercial-Appeai
| The lesson TO learn from this is that all
! editors who cannot write lesibly should
| use a typewriter.
| There is good ground for the boom in
stocks Business conditions are most sat
isfactory The New York Tribune, one
| Of lie most conservative papers in the
country, says:
Encouraging signs multiply and there
| is no geographical limitation to the good
news. for the same report comes from
every section Of the country. Neither is
the Increased activity confined TO a few
branches of trade. Legitimate business
~ on a sound basis. and the feature Of
greatest promise for the opening year
Of the new century is the scarcity of
speculation IN the necessaries OF HE
Cotton stands out rather prominently as
an exception, and as Il result the market
for goods is irregular, although planters
are securing better returns Tor tAelf crop
than in any previous year. tQai IihlNs
operations have been vigorously pushed
SORT %
over St75CGD was distributed as Christ
mas, pay 10 employees in the Shamoiiin uiS-
yriet Similar payments Of unprecedented
IL large amounts in other Industries lndi-
cate the rate at Which business IS oelnS
done American concerns capture large
contracts for structural iron and steel in
British possessions, and steel rails are
bought here for an English road because
cf low prices. standard quality ana
prompt delivery.
exports OF manufactured articles ez-
pand so vigorously that the November
statement fell only $26.6Ss,t.5 behind the
preceding record breaking month, al
Though shipments of cotton decreased
SIS, S97,5So With the exception Of October,
1894 and December, 1888 last month
exports were the largest ever reported
Coming Immediately after such phe-
ncmenai month as October. The heaEN
aggregate is especially gratifying. Owing
10 imports of SG4 Sl64lS, foreign credits
r-era not increased as much as in the
same month of 1898 although lI6
was not a small balance, and exceeded the
increase in foreign Indebtedness a year
ago by SlS,1191 1876. Exports from this city
for the first week of December We're 50, So
SCI larger than in the previous week, and
only S per cent. smaller than a year ago.
while imports for two weeks fell ST. 800
behind last years figures, or about 20 per
cent. indicating another splendid balance
for the current month