The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-29
EROA 07HER PENS
REVOLUTIONS FROM THE SEA.

REVOLUTIONS FROM THE SEA.
1t really looks as if nations of Portu-
guese blood should scutt1e their ships
and quit the sea. Their navies have
never done them any good, and they
have thrice attacked the government
twice successfully Brazil has just
bowed the knee I'd The mutineers of her
batfleships, aud 0nlys. a few weeks ago
the government of Portugal was over
thrown by a revolt of the navy. Going
PACK lO or 12eyears, we see another re-
belliOn by the ships in the harbor of
Rio JanefrO. and though it was unsuc-
cessfu1, 1t was not quickly suppressed.
The trouble doubtless lies in the ex-
posed positions of the capital cities, and
in their Importance as compared with
the balance of the country. Both Lis
bon and Rio Janeiro are on the ocean,
and exposed to attack from the water.
A revolution on land is bad enough
but 1t must be sustained by a large
number of the people-probably by a
maJority-in order to be successful. On
the land. force can he opposed by force,
and II the reToiutionists have not a
force strong enough to indicate a strong
public sentiment they will fail. But
revolution from the sea, where capital
cities are exposed, and where their fate
is the fate of thet nation, can be car
ried to success by lawless men backed
by no popular demand, acting for a bad
as well as a good purpose, and govern
ed by designs little better than piracy.
Florida Times-Union.
SCATTERING A TRADITION.
Edward Douglass White is the first
associate justice of the United States
supreme court who ever became chief
justice. John Rutledge had served as
associate justice, but he was not a
member of the court when he was
appointed chief justice and his nofni-
nation was not confirmed by the sem
ate,
More curious still, White is the only
chief justice Of the supreme court who,
previous to his appointment, had even
been federal Judge. All the other
chief justiees-Jay. Ellsworth, Marshall,
fancy, Chase, Waite and Fuller-went
directly from political or private life
to that great Office.
It has been held for years that an
unwritten law forbade the elevation of
an associate justice to be chief justice.
This rule was grounded in the theory
that such promotion might excite jeal-
ousfes ON the supreme bench, and that
associate justices might be tempted in
time of great national stress to decide
cases in accordance with the wishes of
the president in order to gain his IA
yor. That theory has been destroyed
by experience. The supreme court is
guards vigilantly. After the legal
tender case Associate Justice Grier was
compelled to retire from the bench be-
cause the other justices felt that his
conduct reflected upon the court.-New
York Herald.
%
MILITARY PORK, TOO.
Just as superhuous navy yards have
been maintained because of congress
sional insistence upon the necessity of
perpetuating these pork distributing
stations in their districts so General
Woods recommendation for the adolf
ton of the small army posts and the
Encouragement of. the army upon a
more effective and more economical
system is provoking bitter congress
| sional protest for the same reason.
| General Wood and army officers
generally believe that the ideal army
arrangement Is the brigade or division
post, an argument supported by for
eign comment upon the American
army that its separation into small
posts prevented the experience of NOV
| ing and directing the larger bodies
that would be called into being in
| time of war. That 1t would be in the
interests of economy goes without
saying and that 1t would be productive
of greater contentment in the army
itself is equally assured.
/ Against these good and sufficient
reasons nothing is offered but this
petty local desire to profit from the
location of a small post in some con-
lgressional district. = Pittsburg Dis.
match