davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1903-11-29
The Congressional Building Industry.


In spite of the disorganized conditions
in the building trades, the builders in
Congress display their accustomed ao-
tivity. They are familiar with strikes,
and know exactly what will come out Of
such attempts to change the existing
conditions. They are industrious, per-
sistent, tireless. Never for q moment
since Speaker CANNON and President
FRYE raped them to order have they
ceased in their labors. All the world
knows Mr.. AoHRsoNs enterprise for a
Federal building to house every first,
second and third class post Office. Mr.
ACHEsoN is the Wholesale builder-a sort
of trust-for there are 4 1900 OF the offices
for which he wants buildings. Give
100000 for each building. and whore is
the surplus3 A large surplus is a bad
thing for the Government.
But the small fish are not inactive The
Congressman who look only to the posi-
tive needs of their districts have pro-
posed 1876 new Federal buildings. They
have had other things to occupy their
minds, too. When Mr.. CANNON and MIR.
FRYE have arrived at an agreement as
to the relative rights Of the House and the
Senate in legislation, the Senators and
Representatives will be able to devote
more time to the purchasing Of sites and
the erection Of suitable buildings for
Government use at points where the
welfare of the republic and the con-
tinued political activities Of the lawmak-
ers demand them imperatively.
The sun., 1903-11-29
BRITISH IN WESTERN TIBET.
The Adventures and Achievements Of
Capt. Deasy's Exploring Party.

The last Indian mail brings some interesting
details of q British exploring expedition that
left Leh in Ladakh In May last. to continue
the survey of western Tibet that was carried
as far as Lake Horpo Cho in 1893 by Capt.
Deasy, a well known explorer.
The party. which returned to Kashnir on
Oct. 4 last, was composed Of two British off,
GERS, Capt. Rawling and Lieut.. Hargreaves, and
Babu Ram Singh. with a number OF attend
ants and escort. They passed out OF La
dakh by the Lanakla Pass. from whers
they struck out due east for Horpo Cho,
lake which lies about two hundred and hfty
miles in direct line from Leh
Here the party separated. Capt. Ra Wiling
Lieut.. Hargreayes with the bulk oi the bag
gsh and %s 70 BY %'
deserted. and to add to their psfortunes 9 r; tsr;;
able, Lieut.. Hargreaves set out to rejoin Capt.
asSa1T eseSsa IL dons WR ses
q ;as grain That had Been buried r isSs 81 Capt.
dioatlons given was found Intact and In good
condition.
out s5o rssss al ss meek tas o ss
began the work Of trian gulatlon. The survey
was extended to longitude IS, degrees. east;
utes north and the lowest 50 degrees q
minutes; and much valuable data concerning
the topography Of the country, its minerals
new salt and fresh water lakes were discov-
cred. the largest having an area Of over sew
'"f Ike s9n 9!nhabtapts met with mostly pomsd, Cd,
with their focks, were quite friendly, but
when on their return Journey Capt, Rawllng,
party approached Thok Jalung. recently
siderable gold deposits are known to exist;
they were met by large party of armed led
manner. ad yised them TO take another route.
They we're also prevented from taking the
road through Rudok, back into Kashmr, the
see Europeans in their country, the orders
OF the Lhasa Government were very strict as
to their exclusion from certain districts. blvd.
were met with, which furnished the party with
all the meat they required during their wan
derings OF nearly five months. The nforma-
ton obtained is said to have been OF much
nolitical and military value.
The sun., 1903-11-29

smuggle cargo OF slaves to Pemba
and other islands or across the Red Sea
to Arabia; but the uncertainty and
dangers Of the traffic destroyed all
hopes Of profit and the coast trade was
entirely suppressed. The vigorous
measures applied in German East Africa
put an end to slave raiding In that large
territory some years ago. The regime
Of the Arab slavers, however, was still
extended over all the upper Congo
country between Stanley Falls and
Lake Mweru. The Arabs were told that
they might till the land In peace, but
slave raiding must stop: they attacked
the whites in defence Of the right they
claimed to traffic in slaves, and after
eighteen months Of war all were driven
from the Congo State. They have
been permitted to reoecupy their banana
and rice plantations along the Con 60,
but slave raiding has been rooted out
in all that region,
The fall Of the Mahdists and the
restoration Of civilized government in
the Egyptian Sudan have completely
extinguished slave raiding in that vast
domain. The capture Of Timbuktu
by the French put an end to the traffic
in the western Sudan, and this year
marks the close Of the atroeious busi-
ness in the States Of the central Sudan.
When c. H. ROBINSON was travelling
In Hausaland, several years ago, he
saw about one thousand slaves brought
into Kano as the result of single raid.
Early this year the British subjected
the Sultan Of Kano and a little later
ended the supremacy Of the Sultan Of
Sokoto, who profted more by the cap
ture and sale Of blacks than any other
man In Africa.
The influence Of the new mastery is
already apparent in the general COM
mercial movement which Is tending to
the Niger instead OF across the Sahara.
Sporadic troubles engendered by the
slave raiders will undoubtedly occur,
but the terrible evil is practically ex-
tingushed, and its suppression pre-
sages better days with prosperity and
peace for millions of Africans.
The sun., 1903-11-29

The dedication to-day of a new church
built by the Christian Scientists and situ-
ated at the west Of Central Park will be an
event OF much significance as an illustra.
ton OF the pecuniary strength Of that re.
ligioua cult, not to speak of its artistic cul.
tivation. 1t is specimen Of ecclesiastioal
architecture SO remarkable, the design OF
distinguished architects. Messrs. CARRfRE
4 HASTINGS, that 1t has attracted unusual
attention among the artists and critics OF
art Of the town, many Of whom visited it on
Friday by special invitation Of the National
Sculpture Society This church was built
by the Oldest Christian Science organiza-
ton in New York, at the great cost of sl,ls5,-
OOo all Of which sum has been paid in. Be-
hind the Christian Science movement there
is evidently an abundance OF zeal and OF
money also
The sun., 1903-11-29
Free Speech in the Catholic Church

Free Speech in the Catholic Church
Letters We have printed from Roman
Catholic priests complaining Of restric-
tions put on freedom of thought and
speech, more especially concerning oon-
clusions reached by modern science,
drew out very caustic rejoinder from a
Catholic layman, who related that in his
experience as editor Of Catholic paper
he suffered from no such hierarchical
interference or constraint.
That was fact pertinent to the dis
cussion and we should have been glad to
give it publication il his letter had not
contained. besides injurious reflections
on the motives Of the correspondents to
whom he replied, and if he had not de-
manded that it should be given in full or
not at all.
Now the same correspondent writes
accusing us of being partisan and un-
fair and suggesting that "the suspicion
is not without grounds that THE SUN, OF
its own motion, under the guise OF anony-
nous correspondents, is uttering views
for which it dare not assume RESPONSE
bility."
The letters against which he adverts
came to us from Roman Catholic priests
of high distinction whose superior liter
ary cultivation was made manifest in
their writing, and We printed them, as
we do letters of voluntary correspondents
generally, without assuming any re-
sponsibility in the premises. We have
also printed replies to them Of which the
tone was not offensive in its odium
theolo0icum.
The controversy is interesting and
significant, but the discussion Of so grave
a question we prefer to leave TO Catholic
priests. For that reason we must also
decline to print able letters which we
have received to-day from two Catholic
laymen, the one supporting and the other
attacking the positions of the clerical
ctitioa
The sun., 1903-11-29
PRAYER BEFORE SPANKING
Recommended as an Impressive Adjunct
to Corporal Punishment.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. was a
teacher many years before the rod was pro.
hibited and am well satisfied that moral
suasion is N. g." for reprobate boys. The
best teacher | ever had In a country school,
one who ruled the great mass OF his pupils
by tact and love- had to use the rod occa.
sionally. IL the present day schools fail 10
turn out well disciplined scholars-girls or
boys-it Is due to the absurd prohibition OF
corporal punishment
But as "Old Timer" says OF DR.. Anthon'a
discipline, II Is wise to in vest the ceremon Y
with solemnity. The rod should never be
applied in anger. That s sure to defeat the
object and no doubt IL the chief cause for
It's prohibition by law. Only in extreme
cases should punishment be inflicted on the
instant-so to speak. Make such an investi.
cation as ID necessary to be sure that dis.
cipline Is proper, and then appoint time
for 1t. at least a day later. when any passion
that the offence may have caused will be al
layed by time and sleep and when the culprit
will have no other feeling than dread Of
Of 9e the Offence 1aS the Of The
tence will promote repent tance and disarlE
needless severity. Under such circumstance
SaPT s no9ed m or IL good "s and ns
If the teacher is as he should be-. pray
and may do great good. The boy must be
a tough" indeed who, after day or two OF
meditation on his offence and the coming
prayer in his behalf-can go through it ali
and not be softened into repentance and
humility.
"Old Timer" speaks of DR.. Anthon's use Of
the rattan for bad boys. The rattan Is not
to be commended-it Is too much Ike wire.
The old time schoomasters fiat ruler,
made of oak or maple, is better. FAR better.
II the youth is not too large the best mode.
so far Us my experience goes. Is to put your
foot on stool or bench, and lay the culnrt
across your knee, and then apply the ruler
howls and kicks, no matter. The pain will
soon slibside and in case the ruler leaves an
imprint it will only be temporary. BESIDES.
the boy will not be in haste TO show II TO hls
father to arouse sympathy.nor to anybody
else. II will be "a closed incident"
0ccasIonaly boy Disciplined In this or some
teacher "when he gets big but when that
time comes he looks mt the matter IN diher-
ent light, and is more apt TO thank than to
try to lick" his old master. Such vengefu!
talk depends chiefly on the thoroughness oi
the hoggng. Few boys will indulge in II
who are thoroughly mastered by a judclons
teacher. Byron, in "Don juan" Canto lie
gives this advice:
Oye who teach the ingenious youth Of nations,
Holland. France. England, Germany or Spain
pray thee, log them on all occasions
1t mends their morals; never mind the pain
For the word "all" in the third line sub
stitute lust, and the advice Is good.
PoUGHKEEPsIE. Nov. 81. r. g.
The sun., 1903-11-29

The sum total Of the practical value Of
the auto mobile for military purposes, in
the opinion Of Capt. T. BENTLEY SCOTT. the
military attache to the American Embassy
at Paris, expressed in q paper on the SUBJ
ject in the last number Of the Outing maya
zine, Is illustrated in the long trains Of army
wagons drawn by steam tractors which
may be seen daily in Paris vending their
way to the great subsistence depots. After
all the enthusiasm, all the talk, all the ex-
periments, this convoy of meat and groceries
typihes almost absolutely" the limit Of the
military usefulness Of the automobile. So
far, ths further Use Of the machine In armies
has been more In the nature Of sport than
anything else, and it's chief advocates have
been mot so much military men as sport
ing men, That the automobile as a trac-
tor "has come to stay Capt. SCOTT does
not doubt; but after careful and special
attention to the subject In France, the coun-
try where experiments in it's m ilitary uses
can best be conducted. he concludes that in
that restricted sphere alone it will play
hereafter a part intermediate between the
railway and the draught horse This con-
clusion he reaches after an expert argument
which seems convincing.
The sun., 1903-11-29
Wanted, an In,eot.Catchins Plant.

To rHE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sf,: II Is a matter
Of record that whenever any plague or pest has
reached sufficient degree Of danger In civilized
community to enlist the intelligence OF the people
along the line Of combating It. some agency has
been found TO either stamp 1t out or reduce Us
destructiveness to a minimum.
Just now in tho cotton world there Is In progress
an organization for war against the boil weevl:
and 1t would be commendable In any one wh'
may think he has suggestion TO oner that msn'
be Of assistance In winning a victory. to do SO.
Plans and devices as to how this pest may he
exterminated or It's ravages minlmlzed are manv.
and believe have seen 1t suggested that some
plant more attractive than cotton as food might
be prontaby introduced Into the Infected districts
Ordinarily. 1t would seem that any improvement
In the nature OF what the wecv feeds on would
have tendency to Increase Its strength aud multi
plying powers. and the time would come when su'h
multiplication would he suftcicnt 10 devour all
OF the improved food and necessitaie return To
cotton to obvla,e famine.
Why not consider the reverse OF this proposition
and Try the experiment Of introducing Into the In
fected districts plan. that uRi feod on the inseG
That such a plant exists is established beyond
doubt, and practical Information concerning Il
may be had by a perussl of DarwlnS "lnsectr-
orous Plants" In This book extended reference
Is made TO the botanical genus drosfra and iN
nature and adaptation for catching and fecdlnf
on insect life. Concerning the species ,o'ln"'
nora which is indigenous TO England the following
observation Is made:
AS this plant Is extremely common In sons
districts. the number OF insects thus ANNUALLY
slaughtered must be prodlglous
The species nnfoynis, which is indigenous TO
America Is thus referred to:
This species grows In such abundance in parts
of New Jersey almost 10 cover the ground
and It Is further observed, 1t catches c1raor-
dlnary number OF small and large insects"
Further comment In the work above referred 10
on this subject Is
Is believed Include about orc
The sun., 1903-11-29
Suppression Of the African Slave
Trade.

Trade.
The news came last week that Wadai
which extends between Lake Chad and
Darfur, has finally accepted the pro-
tectorate of France. With the sub
mission of Wadai, the last of the inde-
pendent states Of the central Sudan
has been brought under the control of
Europe. The English and French are
intrenched along the southern border
of the desert from the Atlantic to Abys-
sinia, and the last strongholds Of the
African export slave trade are now in
the hands OF white men. The events
Of the past year may be regarded as
completing the doom of the murderous
traffic in human beings.
At the Brussels Congress in 1890
sixteen OF the Powers agreed to CO.
operate for suppression Of this trade.
The abhorrent traffic was then flourish
ing along the east coast for $500 miles,
from the Zambesi river to the neighbor-
hood of Massowa on the Red Sea. The
eastern markets were the islands of the
mainland, the coast towns Of Arabia,
and Persia and Turkey. where black
slaves had for centuries been in demand
for domestic service, employment in
the harems, and work in the fields. The
great sources Of supply for this trade
were the Congo State, German East
Africa, and the Egyptian Sudan.
The northern markets were the
Saharan oases, Morocco and Tripoli;
their sources of supply were the west
and central Sudan, from tho middle
Niger River to Darfur. Since the aboli-
ton Of the American slave trade these
northern markets have drained from
inner Africa an appalling number Of
negro oaptives. Ten thousand slaves
at time were sometimes centered at
Tenduf, the great slave distributing
point of the western Sahara, to be sent
in detachments to towns throughout
Moroccan territory.
The gunboats of England and Ger
many put an end to the trade all along
the east coast. For some years Arab
dhows attempted now and then TO
The sun., 1903-11-29
The Credit Of the Cuban Government.

President PALMA's message to the
present session of the Cuban Congress
promised a special message on the matter
Of the Cuban loan. That message
was sent in on Nov. 20. The cabled re-
sumo of it does not indicate the commu-
nication as either especially important
or particularly instructive.
1t would seem that Cuba has only one
string to her bow, only one banking
house which shows disposition to
take the matter up. Apparently, Mr..
PALMA does not publish either the name
Of the concern or the terms which it
offers. He does state that it will be
imperative in any case, to effect changes
in the basis of the loan as now proposed.
We have already called attention to
that necessity which the Cubans should
have seen some months ago. Nor does
Mr.. PALMA inform his Congress Of the
price upon which negotiations are being
based II he did so, the dispatches
received have been carelessly sent in
their omission Of 80 important an item.
II it should be true that the proposed
terms are below a figure which such
bonds are actually worth, if based as
they might be and should be, the Cubans
will do wisely to correct the weakness
of their proposed security and make
another effort. They ought to get bet
ter terms.
One matter has undoubtedly worked
to her disadvantage in Cuba g effort to
place her bonds for $35, 100000. This
lies in her neglect to make a prompt and
honorable provision for a previous
Issue, the validity Of which was virtually
recognized by the first Of the Transitory
Rules of her Constitution. A little more
than $2,OOO,0OO Of those bonds, issued
by the Cuban Junta, are outstanding.
They declare that cumulative interest
will be payable six months after the es-
tablishment Of Cuban Government.
Eighteen months have passed and no
step has been taken in the matter. The
recognition Of validity and the provision
therefor in the national Constitution,
and the neglect to provide even for the
overdue interest payment, leave Cuba
open to suspicion Of her financial good
faith and the fact has been quoted to her
prejudice in the money market.
Cuba has had abundant means in her
cash box to take care of this obligation.
She could do more to strengthen her
national credit by paying her debts than
she could by showing large treas
ury surplus. Good credit stands less
upon the possession of resources than
upon a prompt discharge of honora-
BILE obligations. Cuba's general credit
would be helped by an early recognition
of these bonds and the payment of the
interest now long overdue
The sun., 1903-11-29

ming after each new light and taking up
each new gospel"f They have always
been attracted by that sort of novelty.
The early centuries of Christianity were
filed with heresies and sohisms. Method
ism, in its beginning in the eighteenth
century, seemed to the usual Anglican
rector Of the period delusion Of fools ';
yet now it is the strongest division OF
Protest antism in America.
Divorces are not unlawful. They are
legal dissolutions Of the marriage con-
tract; and if they are allowed for any
cause the principle of the dissolubility
of marriage is established and inevitably
many causes are made legal. But, prac-
tically, in spite of the many American
divorces, is there another country in
Christendom where the average of dornes-
tic morality is SO high as here?
Why stop the woman takers, the
woman preachers, the woman agitators,
the clamorers for women's rights'3
Haven't they the right Of free speech?
And II you 60 back half century will
you not find that they have used 1t to
good purpose?
In happier mood DR.. DIX will reoog-
nize that things are very much better
at the close Of this year OF grace 1908
than they ever we're before. Doubtless
there will be preachers and philosophers
in 2OO3 to whom the outlook will seem
as dismal as it does now to the learned
rector Of Trinity-and fortunately for
the world. Ifmen we're not discontented
they would not be continually improv-
ing their condition; they would still be
savages.
The sun., 1903-11-29

One article In the No'fh American Rsriew for De-
cembcr nearly as important as tho subject al
which 1t treats Is Goodwin Smiths "Mr. Morley $
Life Of Gladstone" II , better biographer for
Gladstone could have been wished than John Morley
1t would have been Goodwin Smith. There are three
papers on the Panama revolution, the Venezuela
arbitration is discussed by Wayne Macveagh. and
the Congo attack BY ID. c. Boulger. Col w. c.
Church throws light on the canteen question and
Sylvester Baxter oriticises representation In tho
Senate Almost the only political article Is Mr.
Howcllss account OF Hawthorne,
The sun., 1903-11-29
Paris Students Temperance Leasue.
From the Medical Record

The students Of the Latin quarter, or at least .
certain number OF them. arc getting up an anti
alcoholic league which will form part of the French
league OF temperance. The members only abstain
from distilled liquors but drink all fermen,ed bev.
erages, such as wine, beer or cider. The fees for
admission and membership one franc for each
member and the league Intends 10 use every pos
slble means OF impressing on the public the i'm :
por,ance OF temperance, such as post cards adyer-
tisements. tracts. hospital propaganda. temperance
restaurants. and later, tho establishment Of a
journal
The sun., 1903-11-29
A Soulless Corporation.

After two weeks of holiday, enlivened
by rioting, the striking employees of the
Chicago City Railway Company went
back to work. The company agrees to
have the wage scale submitted to arbi-
tration, but on the condition that the
wage scale outside and not inside the city
shall be the basis Of arbitration. The
company insists that it gives higher
wages than any other street railway
company. The arbitration, then, may be
but cold comfort for the employees.
The company refuses to grant to the
union of its employees that control over
it which is absolutely necessary in the
view OF the leaders of the latter. 1t will
not discharge it's non-union men. 1t will
not promise to discharge no employee
without the unions consent, 1t will
continue to fix hours and routes and con-
troll and discipline the men as it chooses.
Nothing could illustrate better the
soullessness Of a corporation. II a cor
poration is to be allowed to hire and dis
charge its employees and to run it's own
business, what becomes of the most
cherished and sacred duties of the labor
boss?
The sun., 1903-11-29
False Prophecy Attributed to Tom Geary

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-.Sir: During the
extraordinary session Of Congress In 1893 Congress.
man Tom" Geary OF California expressed his fond
ness for the President Of the United States by a
prophetic declaration that Grover Cleveland was
the last man Of the East the people of the United
States would eled Is their Chief Executive. He
made the Allegheny Mountains the dividing line.
NEW YORK. Nov. 27. 1T. OpoKRs.
The sun., 1903-11-29

To THE EDITOR OF THR SUN-.Str: In your Issue
Of TO day, on the editorial page you print mum
Der Of Items under the head Of Positive Facts
About the Settlement OF America"
VIII you not inform your many readers why you
select tho facts In this single positive when
facts are generally understood TO be positve'
SPRINdFIRLD, Mass. Nov. 27. A. d.
Is our worthy correspondent unaware OF
the difference between positive facts and mega
tive facts; or, again. Of the subtle metaphysical
distinction between positive facts. compara-
tive facts and superlative facts?
Shame on Massachusetts!