davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
Fine Sh p BUILDING on the Pacific.

From the Philadelphia Times.
The success of the battle-ship Wisconsin
in her first trials bears out the reputa ton
secured to the Pacific Coast shipbuilders
who gave the oregon 10 the United states
navy. Not only has the Wisconsin made
record for speed excelling that OF any
battle-ship. but the evenness of her ma
chinery. the revolutions of her screw
varying only nineteen hundredths of a
turn per minute in all the trial steaming
shows that she is equipped In a way that
repeats In these details the value set by
her eminent predecessor. the Oregon
Ii is true that these trials are freluert-
ly entirely satisfactory In themselves. as
in the case Of the Iowa, and that sub
sequently the ship has not proven az ef-
fective as the first tests promised. On
the other hand, ship may not at first
develop those qualities which her design
and construction gave reason to expect. a.
the Texas. and later on. when the ma
chinery gets down TO working order and
new adjustments Of weights are made
the ship proves 10 be all that Is desired.
Generally speaking. however. the trials
as made are satisfactory tests and II the
ship Is given ADVANTAGES in them that The
exieency Of actual service will never Dar-
NIT her to again enjoy. a standard ~ ex-
pectation is made which In a general wav
she can always realize.
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
Two Penifentiarx Sentences

In one of the criminal courts of the
District of Columbia a few days ago a
man was sentenced to two and a half
years in penitentiary and a woman to
three years in the same institution. The
natural inference from these facts would
be that the crime whereof the latter was
convicted was 20 per cent. more heinous
than that charged and proven against the
former. Supposing the court intent upon
dealing out even and exact justice, or the
nearest practicable approach thereto,
the obligation of the man to outraged law
ought to be 20 per cent. more than that of
the woman.
The man was convicted Of having as
saulted with intent to kill his wife. The
woman was convicted of having stolen an
article worth ss7.
What is tie difference in the moral scale
between successful and an unsuccessful
assault upon the life of a human being?
We know that the statutes make a great
difference. fixing the death penalty for
one and Imprisonment not exceeding thir-
ANNh JNUie ApA OAhtis nut
citizen is quite unable TO comprehend the
reasoning on which such difference Is
based. He believes that the man or wo-
man who intends, plans, and tries to COM
nit murder but is accidentally pre-
vented from accomplishing that purpose. is
just as wicked as and probably more
dangerous to society than he or she would
have been II accident had not saved life
II seems TO us that the courts in passing
sentences on persons convicted of assault
with intent TO kill might wisely refrain
from giving them any favor that is not
compulsory under the statutes. We do not
know that three years was too heavy
penalty for the woman who stole a watch
or jewelry-we forget which ii was-but
We do know that If such a theft merits
such penalty, the citizen who gets two
and one-half years for trying to murder
his wife is not adequately punished The
two cases, taken together. do not inspire
generation for the criminal code or the
manner of its administration.
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
Labor and the Standing Army.

In his letter OF acceptance, which COW
cred wide range OF topics. Mr.. Bryan,
touching upon the interests of the work
ingmen. said: The establishment Of ar
bitration will insure friendly relations be-
tween labor and capital and render obso-
lete the growing practice of calling in the
army 20 settle labor troubles" There is
much TO be said. and said trutnfully,
against large standing army 1t is a le.
climate subjec. of discussion in exploit
ing Demoeracy's paramount issue-so-
called imperialism-and partisans on the
stump are quite naturally making the
most OF it. But when Mr.. Bryan. elabo-
rating the misleading statement in his
letter, seeks TO convince the laborers OF
the country that the army is a menace to
them, individually and collectively, and
when other partisan stampers. taking
their cue from him, so beyond this and
nercely attack our military institution on
general principles. 1t is high time TO enter
a protest And this protest Is entered
with calmness bur force in the current
issue Of the Army and Navy Register.
A service paper the Register never in
dulses In political discussion. and 1t only
inYHdrs the field now because it believes
he trend Of the campaign justIhes It. As
disinterested observer, Il frankly says
that "one side is quite as adroit In twist
ing facts and quite as Ingenious Ia the
manufacture Of campaign material as the
other party" and that there is no reason
10 suppose Mr. Bryan. as Chief Execu-
i've would regard the army as any less
o. necessity than have other Presi-
dents" But II objects. earnestly and en-
phatieslly, to a Misrepresentation Of facts
IN this campaign which is intended solely
10 excite aniagonisms toward the military
organization
Instead Of any growins practice OF
calling 10 tee army TO settle labor dis
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
Campaisn Roorheeks.

IN & letter to the New York Evening
Post, Mr.. f. L. Godkin. formerly the chief
editorial writer on that paper. reviews the
history OF the campaign spook. the raw
head and bloody-bones terror which fool.
ish or unprincipled partisans brandish be.
fore the eyes Of the ignorant and credu-
lous In order to win stupid vote. Refer
ring to the campaign Of 1854, Mr. Godkir
says:
~ was dining one evening during that year with
friend ana party composed in the main. Of
persons Of distinction. Cleveland had been elected
ent had not taken his place. The Tribune was
daily publishing lists Of the enormous suns which
would have to be paid In satisfaction Of rebel
claims the total amount Of which was. believe.
some billions Of dollars. One gentleman was call
ing attention 10 the amount with horror. when
Abram S. Hewitt. who present. said. 1 am on
the Congressional committee which has to pass
these claims. and ! can assure you that not one
Of them will be paid The effect of this on the
gentleman who had brought the subject up and
who was warm Republican wss very curious.
He was thunder-struck. and passed some minutes
in silent meditation. Well said he last. there
must be terrible lying somewhere As every one
else at the table well aware that the air was
full Of campaign lies. this drew forth shouts Of
laughter. and the subject was buried In discus
sion as to which side lied the more
Apropos Of the various gentlemen. OF
whom the New York Sun Is the chosen
organ-gentlemen who make contracts
revocable in the event OF Mr.. Mckinley 8
defeat gentlemen who call their employees
together and solemnly announce that they
will go out of business if Mr.. Bryan be-
comes observation-disclosures in all stages
Of iGiocy and all extremes of dishones:
craftsmanship. Godkin relates very
significant tale:
About the same time Q Republican friend of
mine In the country wrote to me. offering to sell
all his securities-and he was man OF some wealth
for half their face value in case Of Cleveland 3
election. ] wrote him accepting the Offer but I
never heard from him again"
The fact is that these silly and offensive
bugaboos are disgracefui to those who
disseminate them and insulting to every
American citizen of common sense and
self-respect. The men who utter them do
not believe in them. They rely wholly
upon the insensate credulity of their au-
diences. But we have already called the
attention of the Republican leaders to the
solid ground upon which they can stand
If they WILL and 1t concerns us very little.
if at all, to find them preferring the quag-
mire and the quicksand as their footing.
As long as he can keep out of the asylum,
the crazy man may be as crazy as he
chooses
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16

ties Bat TIER are much better fellows and pleas
sntsr earzranlsns thar tie small sarmsrs or ssri-
cultural sbor<rS mr. ire Fneehanlcs Of a srsss
city 70 be uisaii5asd in the same BREATH
So much for the despised farmer and
the contemplate mechanic. Later-as
lately. indeed. as on Labor Day Of ise-
he said In his Chicago speech. stiH speak
ing Of his bestowed cronies.
The hrzt tine ssef Iabsrea alongside Of thes.
and vas thrswa shts Intiasis eospAnlonship visa
Heu vho ~ere mighty nsn 81 their lands 10
the cattle esuntry 81 ths Xerhvsss. I soon grew
20 have an immense lining and respect for ny ss.
socrates. sHi as ] knew them and did not know
similar workers IN ether parts Of the county. If
seemed 70 ne that the ranch owner was a great
deal better tran any Eastern business nan, and
thss the eospaaeher stood on q corresponding alti-
tuds compared to any Of bis brethren in the East "
But the colonel has had his frolic on
the plains and has mingled freely with
the gentlemen vho indulge in weeks Of
brutal dissipation" and "too often In
deadly shooting ARRAYS" and now he is
getting back among the small farmers
and the unlovely mechanics. who. inferior
as they may be TO the Colorado and Ari-
IONA Rough Riders in everything that
goes to make man. are nevertheless
voters and possess. for the time being
at least. a title TO Roosevelt's considera-
Ton. From row on to the close OF the
campaign he will doubtless appeal to
their nobility and patriotism. which. apart
from the ballot box. he frankly Gismisses
with contempt. Ii will interest us greatly
to watch the bounding colonel az he sets
aside the prancing terror Of the dime
nelodrama and sings. as sweetly as he
can. the virtues of the law-abiding COM
mon people"
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
GAGE NAMES A NEW TRUST
Fusion Of Parties for Bryan Super.
ior TO AL MonOpolies.
Secretary Of the Treasury speaks In Con.
seefieaT. bar Avoids Makfaa aRy
Answer TO Carl ssburx-what
Bryan's Eieefisn Means.

Bridgeport. Conn, Oct. fs.-Lyman ].
Gage, Secretary Of the Treasury. address
ed large Republican meeting In this
city tonight. 1t had been announced that
he would make the meeting the occasion
of a reply to the latest criticism OF Prssi-
dent McKinlsy's administration by Carl
Schurz, but he confined himself almost
wholly 10 a discussion OF the currency
bill. passed last March. and made no ref
erence to Mr.. schurz
Dir. Gage declared that in the letter CT
their platform the parties are not at issue
on the questions concerning the Phillip
pines. Cuba, and trusts The greatest
trust in the United States, he said. was
the pooling Of interests by the Populist
Democratic, and Silver parties, with Bry-
an as the trustee. Touching upon the
former gold standard Democrats VINO
have gone back to the party upon the
plea that even il elected Bryan could rot
change the currency conditions, Mr.. Gage
said:
TO elect Bryan would almost neees-
sarily involve the election of a majority
OF his sympathiZers in the House Later
there might By some means be a ma iority
in the Senate with him. He Is p.edsed to
repeal the Dingley tariff act and TO open
the minis TO silver. Ii is my honest o2in-
ion that Bryan, With his peTverse inge-
nuity, could in few months debase the
money OF the country and destroy its
credit, even with a majority in the Senate
against him. l know OF men who say
they will vote for him and who say that
he could not restore the free coinage of
silver unless elected with a sympathetic
Senate for a second term. They have
confidence in the currency act Of March
IA, 1900, to prevent it. That law in the
hands of right-minded public officer is
good and adequate one. but il Is hard To
hold by law man who is disposed 70
break the law. read the other day of a
man who in his cell had nothing but
broomstick and two blankets. With the
broom he made key and unlock ed
the door and Of the blankets he made
rope which permitted of his escape over
the wall. Since reading that | am more
firmly convinced that IL is better TO have
the affairs of government administered by
man who loves the law than by one who
would trample il under his feet
Concerning the currency act Mr. Gage
denied the Democratic assertion that ii
was intended to perpetuate the public
debt.
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16

gress Il absolute. and do believe that the
revenue clause relating to duties ard I'm
posts applies % Porto Rico
Gen. Harrison states, az The Post has
frequently done. that whether Congress
had The right to pass the Porto Rico act
Is legal question. upon which "the final
and controlling word Il with the Supreme
Court Of the United States"
But the Times.fferaid IL wrong in Its
conclusion that this has nothing 10 90
with the lzsue OF imperialism" 1t is
the essence. the soul OF that issue. The
question whether the Constitution goes
with the flag 10 our new territorial ac1si-
sitlcns in both hemispheres Is really the
paramount issue" OF course Il IL not to
be decided by Presidential election. II
has been before the Supreme Court for
months. and that tribunal viii determine
IL. Is there the least reason to believe
that the exploitation Of that purely legal
question In this Presidential campaign
will. in any degree. affect its final 10
cision? or Is there any ground for sus-
piclon that the final determination. what
ever it may be, will not be gracefully &C.
cepted and promptly obeyed?
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
A Socialist College,

From the Boston Globe.
Forced out of the colleges and univer-
sites endowed by the rich, as they AL
lege, several leaders Of socialistic thought
In the United States and England have
determined to organize educational insti-
tutions of their own, and in connection
with them settlements are 20 be estab-
lished where the believers in the ideas 81
socialism may make their homes
Among the leaders OF the new move
ment in this country are Mayor Samuel
NJ. Jones. OF Toledo ~ o. Nelson. The st.
Louis manufacturer; Mrs. z. D. Rand.
who endowed the chair formerly filed by
Prof. Heron at Iowa College; A. VI TodT.
The peppermint king" Of Kalamazoo.
Mich; Edward Carpenter. the English au-
thor; Prof. Bemis. formerly of tho Chi
cago University. and Prof. VIII, OF Kan
sas.
Why not a socialist college as well az
any other? The thought of to-day mus.
change like all things else. and nothing
in education is likely TO remain prrma-
aent. Variety is the spice of educa zion.
Tine old gray colleges must expect healthy
competition. They will profit by II.
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
All Ewes on Roosevelt.

As Col. Roosevelt moves Eastward We
ind him gradually reducing the fury OF
nis speech and the violence of his antics.
Whether he has concluded that wholesale
abuse and lmprecetion are dangerous
tools with which 10 play-finds that his
rumpled shirt. tough trousers. and cow
boy sombrero do not fit his audiences
the buck-jumping citizens OF Oklahoma
and the Staked Plains-we cannot con-
fdently say. The fact remains. however,
that he Is tonlng down very perceptibiy.
Perhaps the colonel has RECONSTRUCTED
his opinions as to the relative civic worth
OF the eowpuneher and tie farmer. the
froniiersman and the mechanic. and has
resolved 10 say a coed word for the great
body OF American voters who uphold ~ :
Law. live decent lives. and maintain a
civilized society. Early in isss-if We re-
member aright-cOl Roosevelt ilus wrote
Of his cowboy friends In the Century
Magazine:
Peril and hardship and years Of long toll bFsksn
b. weeks Of brutal dissipation. draw hxgArd linss
their eager faces. bal dim their Tsek-
less eyes break their bearing OF ssli-esaadsaee
When drunk on The ylliainoas whisky o. the frsa-
tier tsSns. ,hsF sut mad antics riding their
horses iato the saiocRs firing their pistols rlEht
and left from boist.roas lisk,-hszfseansss rather
than from any vieisusnsss. ssd indulsius oftsn
IN deadly fhoofiBs ARRAYS. brought on either ny
ihr se-isentsi eonsscf n TIE moment. or On at
oosni Of some lons-Hsaiins sruass. or. perhaps
essssss CT ted s!ess essssss tbs la1sasx sg ess.i
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
An Honor TO the Country.

The spectacle OF Samuel l. Clemens
Mark Twain returning TO the land Of
his nativity-a land which is proud Of him
and indebted to him in innumerable ways
naturally suggests a word or two OF
comment
Some years ago Mark Twain left this
country ruined man, financially speak
ing. He had accumulated handsome
competence, but, whether OF his own in
itiative or because Of the opportunities
of friends probably the latter hypoth-
esis is the more correct-he invested
largely in various specious enterprises
and wound up as is usual in such cases.
a bankrupt and a broken man. From the
wreck Of his fortunes he emerged with
courage, inspired by every manly and
honorable purpose and set out to find the
raveled ends of his duondam prosperity
and weave them orce again into whole and
wholesome cloth. He asked no indulgence.
He rejected every prefer OF lenleacy. Past
middle age. and with his physical ma
turity behind him, he set forth in search
of-Eot the golden fleece or the treasures
OF Golconda, but the means of paying all
his creditors to the last cent. with ae-
cumulated interest
There was in the manner and the cir
cumstances OF his expatriation a pathos
which cannot be adequately described but
of which. in his writings at least, he is
easily the master. 1t Is quite conceivable
that he did not realize or even think Of the
grace and valor of the adventure he had
undertaken. He contented himself with
saying that he could not mortgage his
honor or his brains, ard he set out to
redeem them both or perish in the eff
fort. Such quests as these are not infre-
quent. There are thousand unwritten
histories of just such courage and devo-
ton. II never occurred TO Mark Twain
that he was doing anything unusual or
especially commendable He looked upon
it as a case of simple duty and took up
the burden without thought of evading
or even diluting its obligations.
Now he is home once more-free. as he
understands freedom, in his high, self
NiCtu-diu ne STATUS erect.
owing no man a cent, sure that he has
wronged or injured none who trusted
him. Ee has been for many years the
kindliest and sweetest-natured humorist
in America. He has made us laugh with
him, but never TO the pain or the humilia-
ton of any human being His wit Is de-
lightful, always without a sting, and be.
meath Ii flows a stream of noble and pa
thetic human nature that makes us love
him. We believe that no one within the
borders of this vast country will withhold
the tribute Of his sympathy and obliga-
ton. The knowledge that Mark Twain.
who for twenty years or more has touched
our emotions with a master hand, is at
last emaneipated from even the most
fantastic bonds of self-respect and con-
science comes TO all of US in the guise
OF personal delight and gratitude.
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
The British and the Beers

Mr.. Herbert Spencer. the most dis
tinguished scholar. scientist. writer. and
historian In England. ought to know
something about his own people and the
government and the policies of Great
Britain. We reproduce from Reynolds
Newspaper" England, the following re-
markable utterance:
MIR. Herbert Spencer. writing on the Gath in
slant from 5 Psrcivsl terrace. Brighton, has ad-
dressed the following letter to Mr. Leonard Court
ney:
Has there been prepared and published COM
so-called Boer oligsrehy and the constitution and
doIngs Of the English oIisarehy before the reform
bnIs
II would embrace, smeng other items:
-. England--Permsnent exclusion from the
franchise of the greater part Of the population.
though Of the same blood.
e 'Transvaal-Tsmporary exclusion from the fran
ehise OF moiety Of the population, consisting Of
aliens.
"'2. England-The corn monopoly maintained by
the whole Of the landed classes for their benefit at
the cost OF semi-starvation Of the poor.
" 'TransvsaI-The dynamite monopoly said to be
maintained by the Boer Oligarehy for personal ends
at the cost of a sprinklng of greedy capitalists.
3. EngIand-The determination of the landed
classes to maintain their monopoly. constitutional
and material. overcome only by the danger Of
revolution.
'Transvaai-The much smaller opposition to re-
form on the part Of the ruling classes in the Trans
vaaI
az. Ensland-The corruption set down In The
Black Book familiar in pre-refOrm days.
'Transyaal-The eorruptions aseribed TO the
Boar oligarchy.
1t seems to me that such comparison should
be widely dlffused and strongly emphasized. -
or course, the facts contained in this
compact ard most suggestive statement
are familiar 10 all students Of history.
We are disposed TO believe. however, that
the comparison between the British and
the Boers--as illustrated in their respec-
tive national policies-has not yet been
drawn with such accurate and convincing
SKILL
The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16

putes." the Register points cut that IN
has been called In service in labor troubles
only twIce-fsrst by Mr.. Cleveland. OF the
same party as Mr.. Bryan. when the gov
ernor OF Illinois had refused 10 avail him
self OF State troops and resisted the effort
of the President TO protect private prop
erty and the United States mails. and.
EsCond. when the governor Of Idaho, also
OF the same party as Mr. Bryan. called
upon the United States government for
Federal assistance in quelling certain min.
Ing riots. Certainly these two instances,
The only ones since the great strikes OF
ISL, do not constitute growing prae-
tice. and the Register declares IT "a false
statement, which represents the labor.ng
man as appealing for relief frcm certain
hardshlps-such as government by intunc-
;ion, the black Iist long hours, and little
pay-and getting for his remedy a large
army" IL adds:
'Thsrr H. moreover no harm intsaded for thrifty
and virtuaus labor in the fac; that army pesta
are located near cities. The economy and efncisney
Of such loca,loa Of the gasOas alone entered into
the consideration Of selecting those sitter. Ii
pity that In the heat ard turmoil Of Presiden-
tiai campaign the military service should no, be
exempt from the misrepresentation Of party
hsfsnsus. 1t viii Be more than pity Il the i'm
pressioa gains ground that the army is an enemy
Of labor or that It's main purpose is 20 defeat the
desire OF the lsborinE man for Just and equitable
treatment"
The Register speaks the simple truth in
conclusion when 1t says that there is
nothing IN past or present occurrences.
and apparently nothing in the policy for
the future. 10 Justify the charge that the
army lie antasonistie to the working man
or ever will be.