The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-14
FRON OTHER PENS
THE PACIFIC FLEET.

1t is natural that the politicians of
Europe should regard the departure
of the American fleet for the Pacific
with an interest not entirely devoid of
uneasiness The incident reveals to
them clearly that the strength of the
great republic, which they have long
since acknowledged, is not merely po-
tential, but actual; that, in other
words. she can send to any corner OF
the oceans a feet completely provid-
ed with all requisites for battle. That
is a perfectly new revelation of the
formidable strength which the repub
lie can exert in any corner or the
world, and justif1es the claim of the
union to be one of the great and ac-
tive powers Of the earth. The presi-
dent may we'll look upon 1t with
pride.-London Spectator.
JOHNsONS AVAILABILITY.
1.-THE republic is opportunity" said
Garfield. Could the Democratic par
ty nominate any man for president
who more completely embodies this
vital principle of American institu-
lions than Gov. johnson Of Minneso-
ia? Is there another man whose cam
didacy would prove such an inspira-
ton to the foreign born voter who
has reached up to freedom and citi-
zenship? Not since Andrew Jackson
has the United States had a president
whose parents were born under an
other flag Not the least part of
Jackson's marvellous political strength
lay in the appeal he made to those
humble citizens of the republic who
realized that what he had done the
son of some other immigrant might
do.-New York World.
DECLINE IN LYNCHING.
The encouraging shrinkage in
lynchings during 1907 maintains the
downward tendency noted in a few
preceding years. The country has
now come down to its 1893 record, in
the sense that not since that year
have the lynchfngs been so few. Fifty
comfortable exhibit, yet 1t Is nothing
Americans can go abroad to boast Of.
What is the cause Of the welcome de-
line? The -"best people" who used to
condone the lynchings are now be-
ginning to realize that they breed an
and more felt in the communities
where such things are most apt to
occur.-Springf1eld Republican.
IGNORANCE OF SOUTH AMERICA
One of our contemporaries referred
yesterday to little Para quay" That
republic is four-f1fths as large as Ger
many. Many persons have erroneous
notions as to geographical sizes and
lengths in South America. They
nave not the slightest idea that Bra
zfl is nearly as large as the whole of
Europe, that the distance between
the north and south ends of Chile is
as great as that between the North
Cape of Europe and Gibraltar. and
that steamers ply almost straight
north and south on the Parana and
its Paraguay affluent for distance
about equal to that between New
York and Omaha.-New York Sun.
-
DOUBTS THE FEAT.
The legend in Mexico is. or was not
many years ago. that no human being
had ever scaled the ultimate pinnacle
OF Popocatapetl. 1t is not impossible
that this achievement may have been
contaminated at some time in the past.
But when We are asked to believe
buoyant press report to the effect that
two young women, presumably daush-
tiers OF this astounding nation, have
just attained the actual summit of
Popocatapetl, leaving their guides be-
hind and airfly conquering every old
fashioned difficulty, we respectfully but
firmly balk. The story is pretty It
reads trippingly enough. But it has
been told too often and too fiuently to
be true.-New York SUB