The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-01
FROM OTHER PENS
UNWORTHY ARGUMENT.

The position taken by former Presi-
dent Roosevelt in opposition to the
proposed arbitration treaty with Great
Britain is unworthy of the man to
whom was awarded the Nobel peace
prize. Mr.. Roosevelt explains his OBJ
jections with a characteristic illustra-
ton, saying: Among private indtvid-
uals the man who, if his wife is at
tackled and has her face slapped will
go to law about it, instead Of forth
with Furnishing the offender, would be
regarded with derision. In just the
same way, the United States ought
never specifically to bind itself to ar
bitrate questions respecting its honor,
independence and integrity"
This logic. if followed out, would
justify the unwritten law. IL not lynch
ing. 1t is merely the doctrine that
justifies and even requires him to
avenge blow with blow or take life for
life, and it makes him the sole judge
of his own injury and of the degree or
punishment which he should inf1ict to
redress it. This conception of right
and wrong is certainly not one on
which great civilized nations should
base their policy. Ordinary civilized
men do not need to fear that anyone is
going to slap their wives faces and
go about perpetually prepared to
avenge the insult, If it should occur.
Society has advanced far enough to
enable men to eliminate the probable
ity of such incidents from their prep
aration and guiding principles in the
struggles Of life.-Buffalo Express.
A SMALL-SIZED MELTING POT.
More than 40 per cent of the popu-
lation of Hawaii is japanese. the rest
of the inhabitants being natives. Chi
nese and Americans, with scattering
of Portuguese, Spaniards ana persons
of mixed race. The japanese element
of the population Increases far more
rapidly than any other. about ESQ chill
dren being born every month. Nearly
1000 Japanese children attend Amerf-
can public schools.
Amalgamation of the different races
or rather the preliminaries of ANAL
gamation-is proceeding in curious
ways. There are Portuguese who live
in japanese houses and cat Japanese
food Japanese and Chinese are adopt
ing western habits and customs. A
spirit of mutual friendliness is break
ing down the barriers that separate
the races.
Out of the babel of tongues a
strange new language is arising. intel
ligible no doubt. to those who use 1t,
but to no one else under the sun. In
the general linguistic mixup the noble
English speech gets rather the worst
of it.-Boston Globe.
THINGS THAT DISCOUNT.
For instance, a little matter to this
effect The federal Constitution re-
cuires that every order or resolution
or vote to which the concurrence of
the House and Senate may be neces-
sary shall be presented to the presi-
dent for his approval or disapproval.
A Joint resolution reads: Resolved by
the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes in Congress assembled" etc. A
resolution so worded must be present.
ed to the president, and is subject to
his veto.
In order to get around the interior
ence of the president. a resolution has
been concocted. in this form: Resolved
by the Senate (the House of Represen-
tatives concurring),', etc. This is called
a concurrent resolution These two
forms mean essentially the same thing,
but the latter, it is claimed. does not
require the presidents signature. 1t
was really devised in the interest of
schemes for spending the peoples
money, without giving the president
the chance to defeat them. It is plainly
In conflict with the Constitution. 1t is
dishonest.-Ohio State Journal.