The Washington herald., 1908-02-04
AT THE HOTELS.

the administration or King Ienp0ld's ter
ritory in Africa, that the enemies Of the
Congo are absolutely unfair in claiming
they represent the missionary sentiment
as regards conditions i'm the Congo.
'Two-thirds Of the missionaries in that
country" continued Afr. Whitley, that
is. about 400 OF the 600. have put them
selves on record I'm praise Of King Leo
poids administration.
Every fair-miuded. independent travel
or who has visited the country lately has
testified to the good work accomplished
by the King. and 20 the absurdity OF
these atroeity stories. 1 refer especially
20 the opinion Of Savage Landor. Lieut.
Boyd Alexander. Of the British Rifles.
and the testimony of Prof. Starr, OF the
Chicago University, and other prominent
and truthful men.
AN Of them have spoken in the highest
praise Of the wisdom and humanity Of
King Le0p0lGs rule
This monarch has done "A great work
in opening up the Congo 70 civilization
and Christianity. lie has made it possible
for missionaries 10 carry Oh their work
-As far as he pltals are concerned,
there IS an excellent one at Le0poldvilie.
There is one at every place Of Importance
in the Congo Free State.
AS II is difficult 10 ind a place where
there are more than six white men, it
cannot be expected i'm reason that there
will be as many large hospitals for tie
natives. Wherever there IS a center
hospital is located. In every Catholic
mission there is a dispeHsary.
THE state has established manual
training schools and military institutions
Of learning. Primary education IS left
largely in the hands Of missions, which
receive a subsidy from the government
for carrying on the work. There are S3i
chapel farms, where reading, writing. and
arithmetic are taught. IL primary schools,
three advanced schools, including q large
and small seminary; twenty-oue orphan
ages. twenty-five workshops for manual
training, and hfty-0ue hospitals and
ssylums. IN addition 10 these there are
a number OF special camps for sleeping
The people who have been going
around preaching against King Leopold
first declared themselves satisfied with
this change Of government mean. the
change from a crown territory 10 d
colony. Now that this measure promises
OF fulnllmeut these sellsame people pro-
test against the transfer It seems they
really don't know themselves what they
want
THE only trouble with Alaska is that
the people of the United States do not
know what grand country it is" said
Lewis NJ. Parker. a merchant and trader
of Sitka, now in this city, Just TO see
what Congress is going 10 do with the
appropriation for an exposition along
the Pacific Coast" Mr. Parker is at
La N0rmandie.
A campaign OF education .u the United
States would add to the population of
Alaska by many thousands, and would
soon make il one Of tie great countries
of the world The possibilities OF tie
territory are beyond comprehension.
Leaving out niniHg-I0T everybody
knows that Alaska is rich iu gold and
silver and OH kinds of precious metals
the future Of the Territory wlU be-
brilliant one Of commerce, cattle raising,
agriculture, and fishing. There Is the
greatest ignorance about Alaska, Why,
some Of the rich islands Of the Territory
are larger than several 0f the small
States Of the United States.
There are ZGJ1 miles Of coast in South
ern Alaska, where the temperature IS
never below s degrees above zero. and
where il is as mild in the dead or winter
as in half the United States. Just think
Of that. Cattle and sheep raising IS
success. Only recently 1.015 sheep were
placed on Dokah Island, which IS l0j
miles long and f1 miles wide.
THE mild weather along the coast IS
caused. it is generally supposed by the
Japanese current. Whatever causes if.
however. the coast country is one OF the
most desirable spots in the world. and
before many yeaTs viii swarm with peo-
pie engaged I'm cattle and sheep raising,
agriculture, and commerce As 20 the
agricultural development Of the interior,
I don't know. except that in the sum
mer any vegetable that grows may be
raised with ease. ] have known three
crops Of radishes grown from the same
spot of ground In Alaska in one summer.
Herman Luders. an export merchant Of
Hamburg, Germany is visiting this cOun-
try on business. and is spending a couple
Of days in this city to ''sse Congress at
work"
Mr.. LuGers is at the Cochran. He spoke
enthusiastically Of the close and friendly
relations existing between Germany and
the United States, and he expressed hopes
that President Roosevelt would consent
10 accept third term.
Your President Roosevelt continued
Mr.. LudeTs has a more thorough and
comprehensive knowledge Of the trend
Of affairs in so far as they bear upon his
own country than any other President
of the United States ever had, and /
have studied and read the lives Of every
one of your Presidents Roosevelt is a
cosmopolite in the fullest meaning OF
the term, and with IL all d typical Amer
lean.
He is so courageous, SO sincere, and SD
deeply interested In the welfare OF the
country at whose helm be stands. lie IS
like our Kaiser with fun steam ahead
and never looks b8cb-always TO the iu-
ture. always ahead,
1T is but natural that man Of such
a temperament should arouse eumity.
There are people who do not subscribe 10
cutting away from preCedents no matter
how antiquated or uonsenSical they may
be It may be true. and no doubt is true.
that Drecedents are established because
time and circumstances warrant and JUS
tify the action. But times and ciTCum-
stances change. and there is no good
sound reason why preCedents should be
retained and observed when they work
against the best interests of the general
welfare.
And I understand your President
Roosevelt has smashed some of your most
cherished precedents. Good luck TO him.
he has at least the courage of his con-
victions, and the courage 10 carry into
practical operation his convictions.
The ruling passion is often strong IN
DEATH" said Lee r. Thompson, Of Nash
ville Tenn, at the National yesterday.
Il-..strc- q EttIa ..-lLa ha continued 70