Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 90, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 1898 — Page 4

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THE DAILY JOURNAL THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1808. Washington Ufflce— ISC3 Pennsylvania Avenue Telephone Culls. Business Office 238 | Editorial Rooms...A 86 TERMS OF SI BSC HIPTION. DA ICY BY MAIL. Daily only, one month I -70 I'ally only, three months 2.00 Dally only, one year 8.00 Dally. Including one year M.OO Sunday only, one year 2.00 WHEN FURNISHED BY AGENTS. Dally, per week, by carrier ...... lofts Sunday, single copy.'. 5 cts Doily and Sunday, per week, by carrier.... &? cts WEEKLY. 2*er year SI.OO Reduced Rates to Cliibc. Subscribe with any of our numerous adr send subscription to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY Indianapolis, Inti, Persons sending the Jourqpl through the infills In the United States pliouliiput on an eight-page paper a ONE-OENT postage s'amp; on a twelve or sixteen-page paper a TWO-CENT postage atamp. Foreign postage is usually double these rates. AH communications intended for publication in this paper must, in order to receive attention, he accompanied by the name and address of the writer. THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL fan be found at the following places: NEW YORK—As>tor Hours. CHICAGO—PaImer House, P. O. News Cos., 217 Dearborn street.- Great Northern Hotel and Grand Pacific Hotel. CINCINNATI— J. R Hawley & Cos.. 154 Vine street. LOUISVILLE—C. T. Deerlng, northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville Book Cos., 256 Fourth avenue. ST. LOUlS—Union News Company, Union Depot. Washington, and. c—Riggr House, Ebbitt House and Willard's Hotel. Both factions of the local Democracy are accusing each other of cheating at the primaries. For once they are telling the truth. Except in starving noncombatants, Spain has not been doing much in the way of hostilities, so that suspension would not amount to much. Spain is placing her war ships In the vicinity of Cuba, but if war should be declared they will be of little use with coal supplies on the other side of the ocean. The Democratic politicians could not give much patriotism to the Cuban troubles yesterday and will not be able to do so to-day. They have troubles of their own. The present war in Cuba is almost the oniy one that Spain has not waged on religious grounds, and it is surprising she has not claimed that even this is a holy war. American Independence is even more important to us than Cuban Independence. The destruction of the Maine by Spanish hands can never be whistled down the •wind. Spain is not nuk?’ig war. It has not fought a battle in Cuba worthy of the name •with the 200,000 men it has had there. Its chief success has been in starving men and women. Whatever shape the President’s Cuban policy may j Anally take it should aim at Cuban independence. Anything else would be an alliance with Spain to subjugate the Insurgents. The American people will never be satisfied with any settlement of the Cuban question that does not include a demand for reparation from Spain for the destruction of the Maine. Asa matter of fact, the banker who handles other people’s money and those who have money with which to speculate in stocks would be aided rather than harmed by war.

It seems that the Cuban Junto has been issuing bonds by the million, which have been sold for a few cents on the dollar, buyable at their fnce in the event of the Independence of Cuba. These bonds are held by speculators who are eager for war. In view of the opinion universally prevalent in Europe that the United States desires to annex Cuba Congress ought to pass h joint resolution declaring that under existing circumstances nothing is further from the thoughts of this government than annexation of the island. Congressman Lester, of Georgia, who was a cojonel in the Confederate army, is not in favor of spending much money in coast defenses against the Spaniards. "On the contrary,” he says, *‘l think we ought to encourage the Spanish army to land somewhere. on the Southern coast, so that we dHild get at it and wipe it off the face of the earth.” If the Sagasta Ministry, upon which President McKinley was waiting yesterday, proceeds with its usual delay and postpones response day after day, he should follow the example of General Grant when President and name a time as he did in the Virginius If it had not been made to appear that the Virginius had no right to sail under the flag of the United States, It Is probable the Grant administration would have Bent Spain off this continent In IS?3 or 1871. The Journal’s Washington correspondent stated yesterday that Private Secretary Porter, representing the President, had admitted to a number of newspaper men that "all of the peace overtures had originated In Washington and that the Madrid government had not resi>onded with any definite propositions.’’ Before wasting any more time in peace overtures the administration should consider that the insurgents utterly spurn the idea of peace on any ground except independence. Dispatcher from Washington and Madrid Indicate that Important developments in the Cuban situation will probably occur within a day or two. These may come as the result of conferences between Minister Woodford and Premier Sagasta, or of a special message from President McKinley to Congress. i .e former would probably involve proi>oa?cl concessions of . <■< .e kind by Spain and the latter anew anti more vigorous poiicy by the President. In either case Congress can well afford to wait a day or two longer before attempting to take control of the situation out of the hands of the President The constitutional convention of Louisiana has given the suffrage to men who can read and write, proof of which must be made by writing an application for registration, and those who possess property assessed at 1300 upon which all taxes have been paid, and also those who were voters Jan. 1, 1867, their sons and grandsons who are twenty-one years of age. This date is fixed because the constitutional amendment conferring suffrage upon the colored people had not been adopted at that time. Ail foreigners, whether they can read or not, who were naturalised prior to Jan, 1, ?M. can vote. Under all these conditions

the tens of thousands of colored voters are reduced to the few thousand who have learned to read and write in a State which has so few schools that illiteracy has increased in the two last decades. On the other hand, nearly every illiterate white can vote under one of the several provisions made for his benefit. If the nrnendment to the Constitution of Ixiuisiuna should be submitted to the people for ratification, as are all amendments in Indiana, it would be rejected. As in other States in which the colored vote is large, the constitutional convention adopts the amendment, and that Is the end of it. THE EFFECT OF W AR ON BUSINESS. There are many persons who, instead of regarding war as “the last resort of kings,’’ tho ultimate means of righting a great wrong or vindicating the national honor, regard it as a means of improving business. In the .war talk of the d&y one hears it remarked very often that business is very dull, trade is not what it should be, and war would make better times anyhow. The persons who make-these remarks are very apt in the next breath to denounce “the money pot#er,’’ the bankers, and brokers of Wall street, for using their influence to prevent war. These views do not consist. If war would improve business moneyed men, especially bankers, brokers and speculators, would reap the greatest harvest, and if it is true that they are opposed to war it must be because they believe it would hurt instead of help business. The effect of war on business varies according to conditions and circumstances. The effect of a foreign war would be very different from that of a domestic one, and any war would affect different interests in different ways. Our civil war revolutionized the conditions of business on account of the vast sums disbursed by the government, the interruption of production and the enormous issues of paper money. The net result in a genera! way was to put a great deal of money in circulation, restrict production, increase prices and stimulate speculation. For the time being this seemed to cause a great improve? ent in business and many persons made money very fast, either at the expense of tlie government'or of their neighbors. But most of the fortunes thus made had wings, and much of the money made in speculations verified the experience of gamblers—“easy come, easy go.” A balancing of accounts would show that in the outcome the civil war cost the country thousands of millions .of dollars. A temporary “boom” in business obtained at such a price is very costly. A foreign war. especially a naval war, would be very different. The principal expense of a war with Spain would be the getting ready. There would be no such sums expended for the equipment, transportation and maintenance of troops as there were In the civil war. Congress has already appropriated $50,000,000 for the national defense, much of which has already been expended in the purchase of ships of various kinds, in strengthening our coast defenses, etc. Probably $50,000,000 more would be all we should need to expend on those lines. In a war with Spain we would not have need of a large land force, and probably it would not be in service three months. There would be no new issue of bonds or paper money by the government, and consequently no inflation of the currency and very little chance for speculation, it is not apparent liow a war with Spain could stimulate or benefit business to any appreciable extent, even artificially or temporarily. The attempt to justify War on the ground that it would benefit business is unpatriotic and without foundation. It is unpa’ r ’!c because it would sacrifice thousands o • and brhak up the legitimate purulls of th< government and people for the ’ putpose of enabling some people tc v ake money, and It is without foundation because the benefits to business from war are artificial and short-lived. In realit: . war is the .most destructive, wasteful and expensive business in the world. Every life that is sacrificed is lost to productive industry, every gun that is tired shoots money into the air, and every dollar that is paid to officers, soldiers and sailors comes out of the pockets of producers. War is essentially waste. The apparent and temporary stimulus it may give to business is far more than counterbalanced by the great waste of lives, money and energy, and the long train of taxes it always leaves behind. The only just grounds for it are the cause of humanity or the defense of national rights and honor. War can be justified on these grounds, but not on the ground that it will help business.

GENERAL. BOOTH ASD HIS ARMY. The people of the larger cities and towns of the country have become so accustomed to seeing detachments of the Salvation Army going their way about the streets that the sight has lost the interest of novelty and attracts little attention from those who complacently classify themselves as belonging to the better classes. Bu£ with this loss of curiosity has gone also the prejudice that was at first felt toward these grotesque evangelists, or rather toward their methods. The fact lias been recognized that they reach an element that the church does not influence, and that is in very great need of regeneration, moral and physical. The fact Is realized that the emotional appeals of the sometimes illiterate speakers, the prayers spoken in such familiar colloquialisms as to seem almost blasphemous, the rude hymns sung to dance-hall tunes —that all these primitive utterances express a genuine and earnest piety which cannot have other than a good effect. The purpose of the founders was the uplifting of the churchless, the homeless, the workless and the so-called worthless members of society, and this aim the organization has kept steadily in view. The more respectable classes, while realizing the need of this work and approving it, but vaguely understand what is being done, after all. They see that a crowd gathers when religious services are held upon the street corners, and assume that now and then some poor wretch Is benefited by what he hears and is brought out of his moral degradation, but of the extent of the work they know little. An official statement issued recently puts the resu’ts of the religious labors Into definite and impressive figures. The work in this country, it seems, stands second only to Great Britain in point of numbers. During the twelve months ending December. 1897, the corps or posts in the United States have increased from 600 to 735, the officers from 2,000 to 2,450. the number of those publicly professing conversion during the year from 30,000 to 60,000. But the spiritual awakening is not the only thing sought after. It is the end ana aim of all, but General Booth and his lieutenants know that if vagabonds and outcasts, the hopeless and the poverty-stricken, are to be lifted from the mire of sin and misery and kept out. faith and prayer must be supplemented by works. And so they do not stop when they have counted up the conversions, but

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1898.

consider the material as w r ell as the spiritual welfare .of the people among whom they labor. Again the report tells the story. In 1897 thirty food and shelter depots were established in the United States, two rescue homes, ter. wood yards, five salvage brigades, five labor bureaus, sixteen slum posts, eighty-five social institutions and two small hospitals, one in Topeka, the other in San Francisco for the Chinese. A homestead colony of 500 acres in California has been established, where thirty families have been settled; a slum and maternity brigade has been organized in New York; Christmas cheer was provided for no less than 80,000 persons in the principal cities of the United States, and during the name year about 1,000,000 cheap shelters were provided for working people. During the year 400 Armenian refugees were taken care of so they did not become a charge on the public. It is to arrange for other colonies, to provide homes, temporary shelters for ?he destitute, labor bureaus and other institutions tending to lessen the sum of human suffering and sorrow and to advance the usefulness of the, army in this country generally. that the founder and wonderful organizer, General William Booth, is making his present tour. This remarkable man will visit this city for the purpose of arousing interest in the army and its enterprises, and he should meet with warm welcome and responsive spirit, for the work he is doing needs to be done-, and no other agency can do it as well. CLASSIFICATION OX THE SPANISH question. There appear to be three distinct followings in the United States in regard to the Spanish difficulties. The first of these may be styled the President's following. They believe that peace and independence, or, if not absolute independence, that which is in effect the same, can be secured without war. They claim that the Sagasta Ministry has yielded point after point to the President, and that eventually it will yield all that is demanded. It is said that the President believes that if the present suffering of the rec-oneentrados can be relieved by the United States with a cessation of hostilities all that is required for Cuba can be obtained. • The second element is made up of those men in Congress and elsewhere who fear that the President’s policy will not secure the desired results. They would not parley much longer with the Sagasta Ministry. In the Republican party these men in Congress were represented by the conference held on Tuesday. To that element/most of the Indiana delegation belong. They would accompany the appropriation of money to relieve the suffering with a declaration that the war must end within a given period. In other words, they would give Spain notice to quit, and, if she refuses, take steps to compel her to do so. There is reason to believe that this element or following is rapidly increasing. The third class is the Mason party. They want war, or what Mr. Mason calls “glorious war,” right off. They would declare it at once. They conceive that the Cuban Junto, which keeps safely out of harm's way, and the insurgents can give Cuba a model government. They would have our war ships, as Mr. Mason has declared, “proceed to riddle the forts of Havana,” which General Grant declared years ago could resist any attack from the water. They would not wait to raise and acclimate an army, but they would raise regiments and rush them to Cuba, regardless of the fact that a change of climate would cause soldiers to die of disease by the hundreds and thousands if it were a large army. This is the “glorious war” of Mr. Mason. His following is made up of the sort of people who fill the galleries at Washington to applaud Senator Mason. They are not thoughtful people, and neither Mr. Mason nor they have the faintest idea of taking a part in that war personally. Indeed, the most of these people who talk war at once have no expectation of taking the chances of dying by going to Cuba to carry a rifle. If the President’s policy were more definite, if it was not so much an expectation that Spain will ultimately give Cuba its independence an expectation which others who are quite as anxious as is he to escape the horrors of war are not able to sharemost of the thoughtful and soundly patriotic people of the country would be in accord with him.

There can be no such thing as a silver Republican, because the Republican party has always exposed free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. Yet there are those who insist on calling themselves silver Republicans. Representative Hartman, of Montana, is one, and Mr. Towne, of Minnesota, is another. If the term is to be used it should be applied to those silverites who were once Republicans and are now most violent in their assaults upon the Republican party. Some of them are interested in silver mining and others are traveling ov&r the country under the pay of a league whose funds are raised by silver mine owners. Some of them are( so violent that they have parted with their common sense, as did Mr. Hartman when he declared that the owners of Spanish bonds and the gold syndicate were controlling the action of the President. It is not probable that any Spanish bonds are owned in the United States. For many years they have not been regarded as a safer investment and have not been taken by conservative investors. Those bonds are mainly held in France, England and Germany by persons who take great risks. They are quoted below 50 cents on the dollar. In any event they are little better than dead property. Therefore, when Mr. Hartman or any other man charges that the holders of such bonds are influencing any one in this country he shows that he has parted with his sense and judgment. ■i The action of the Republicans in the House in sustaining the speaker in ruling that Mr. Bailey’s resolution recognizing the independence of Cuba was not a question of privilege was correct. It was in no sense a privileged question, and most of those who voted that it was must have known it. While it is probable that such a resolution coining fairly before the House would have been adopted by a decided majority. it is probable that it would in no way promote the interests of the Cubans. Under such a recognition the Cubans could purchase and ship from our ports the same kinds of merchandise that Spain is now permitted to purchase, but it would put an md to the efforts to relieve the starving thousands, which seems to he the duty nearest at hand. It would also give Spain the privilege of searching all our ships. This would lead to war. but otherwise it would not hasten Cuban independence. The Odd Fellows of Indiana, who number forty-four thousand, have determined to build and maintain a hospital for the care of their aged members, their wives and others who, by reason of their connection

with the order, may need relief. The organization has the means and will construct buildings which will be a credit to any city. At the present time the matter ot location is under consideration. Indianapolis, Greensburg and Kokomo have been suggested as locations. The decision depends much upon what Inducements the order and its friends in these respective cities will offer. A local committee is looking after the matter, and upon*the degree of encouragement which it receives depends the location 00 far as this cy is concerned. It is an institution which any city, can well make a positive effort to secure. The Odd Fellows in States where the membership is not so large have institutions similar to that proposed by t-he'organization in this State, and they are,regaldt** as mos * useful adjuncts of that popular order. It certainly requires a lot of good steady nerve on the part of the Spanish government to announce to our government that she iiaa 7J pc objections to our feeding the victims of her own barbarity. Any nation that would accept such terms has little room to talk about national pride and national honor. It is rumored on good authority that among those who are feeling' badly over the President's threatened clash with Congress, Grover Cleveland does not count one. He has been in the jockey business himself, * v - ; Spain talks boastfully of her national pride and national honor, and then says she will permit the United States to succor the starving victims of the barbarity practiced by the former on Cuban soil! If Minister Woodford values peace between the chief executive and Congress at home, he should bring that protracted conference with Sagasta to some sort of a close pretty shortly. Spain calls us the "money-loving Americans.” Before she is through with the present trouble she will have another and a more respeetful na.ne.for us. The burning of McKinley in effigy was not productive of any surprise,’ occurring, as it did, in the State that produced “Blood-to-the-Bridles" Waite. The fear of the people and of Congress is that justice may lean toward mercy so far that the blind goddess may lose her balance. If. in Spain, such butchers as Weyler are called conservatives, the wonder is. what would the Spanish regard as a radical? A few more war vessels sighted this way, and Congress would just as leave take that “full responsibility” as not. Senator Mason has quit “taking walks.” He simply “goes out for a drill.” This government has several men-of-war besides Senator Mason. BURBLES IN *THE AIR. Mont for Him. Timmins—l want to see a war—that is, 1 want war to be declared. Simmons—Got a lot of war poetry in view ? “Why, no; but I have about a thousand jokes left over

Same Old,Complaint. “She doesn't cook like my first wife.” The King of Mbwpka was plainly discouraged. Bsing anew widower was a sad enough affair, without the additional vexation of knowing that the by-request-de-parted-one was going to turn out tough and stringy. Not Wholly Bail. Watts—Brower, a good word for everybody; he would even speak well of Judas Iscariot. Potts—l think, myself, that Judas was not as bad as has been represented. The story seems to show pretty conclusively that he thought he was working a goldbrick game. • . 1' 'V'' Insatiate Woman. “There is no satisfying a woman.” “What’s your trouble?” “I discharged my typewriter girl and learned to do my own letter writing to please my wife.” “M-hm.” “And now she insists; that I ought to increase her allowance by the amount of money saved.” APRIL MAGAZINES. St. Nicholas appropriately celebrates the arrival of spring by opening its April number with an illustrated account of the invention and development of the bicycle. Among the readable matter in the April number of Success is an interview with Mr. W. D. Howells. A sketch of Frances Willard, an account of the Society of Colonial Dames, and a.■ little history of the Fiench Academy, with portraits of the members, are other features. The University Association, Chicago, has begun the publication of a series of American character studies which will be issued in twelve numbers under the general title, “The Patriot.” The first, written by Edward S. Ellis, relates to. Thomas Jefferson. The second will be on James Otis, by John Clark Rldpath. The American Economist of March 25 issues a large supplement, in which it reproduces from its files the cartoons of three years’ accumulation. Together they show the vigor with which protection has been championed and are, in a way, a history ot its progress. The plan of grouping them in a pictorial supplement to the Economist is the outgrowth of a demand for literature and the campaign weapons of protection frem far-off Australasia. In that country the contest between protection and free trade is in much the same condition as it was in America in 1880. As the first of a series of sketches having the same characters Mrs. Deland’s “Promises of Dorotix*a,” in the April Harper, may be unobjectionable artistically, but as a detached story it is ill constructed, the introduction reciting the troubles of the Rev. Dr. Lavender, having no relation whatever to the main incident. Not much can be said, either, for Miss Marguerite Merington’s “Miss Moffett,” as a character study, that young woman’s sudden transformation from complete selfishness ami ikiziness into an industrious, patient, self-denying person conforming in no way with the probabilities of real life. Colonial Tracts, issued monthly by George Humphrey, Rochester, is designed to offer in convenient form and at a resasonable price some of the more valuable pamphlets relating to the early history of America which have hitherto been inaccessible to the general public, although of so much importance to the historical student. The April issue reproduces a petition "exhibited to the high court of parliament now assembled, for the propagating of the gospel in America and the West Indies, and for the setting of our plantations there. Which petition is approved by seventy able English divines, also by Master Alexander Htriierson and some other worthy ministers of Scotland.” The New York Times has met the Critic, the Bookman and other periodicals of literary criticism on their own ground and is presenting a literary supplement with Us Saturday edition that must prove a formidable rival to those publications. Among other features last week’s supplement contained a London letter from W. L. Alden. a chapter of Mrs. Sherwood’s reminiscences, a sketch tinder the head “Authors at Home,” of Thomas Dunn English; an article on “Yellow Journalism in Literature," with “Quo Vadis” and its horrors for the text; a review of the week in the art world and well-written reviews ot newest books, besides a variety of literary notes and miscellaneous itioiination. Gen. George A. Forsythe adds an interesting chapter to army lore by describing the final movements of the Union troops previous to Lee’s surrender at the conference at Appomattox. Frederic Remington writes of cavalry tactics on the plains, Worthington C. Ford of the “Commercial Aspects of the Panama Canal.” and Sidney Whitman discusses the political relations of

England and Germany. Technical information about the human brain and its workings is, perhaps, of no practical value to the nonprofessional reader, but afe given by Andrew Wilson, M. D., In t.he first of a series of papers, it has a curious interest. Bicycle riders who contemplate making tours in Europe on the wheel will find much useful information in a paper on the subject by Joseph Pennell. The first number of the Newspaper Magazine fulfills all the promises made by its projector and editor. Mr. Deschier Welch. Mr. Welch, himself a newspaper man, has noted the fact that much of the best contemporary literature appears in the daily and weekly papers of the country and has but the ephemeral life of such papers. It is the purpose of his magazine to collect and present in more permanent form the best work of newspaper writers on miscellaneous subjects not treated in the monthly periodicals—at least until much later. “It will,” he says, "be a precious scrapbook jfor unusual circulation.’' The first issue contains 164 pages of the best things seen during the month in the newspapers—bright stories, thoughtful essays, good descriptive articles—something of interest for all classes of readers. It is a magazine for the busy man who yet likes to keen in touch with the literature of the day, for people remote from daily newspapers or who read but one, for all who enjey the thoughts of clever writers. The magazine is well printed and attractive in appearance. Published at 105 West Thirty-ninth street, New York. The Atlantic Monthly has for some years been giving to the public the best and most advanced thought on educational topics. In the currert issue is a paper by Mark H. Liddell, on the teaching of English, which all teachers of the language would do well to read. He complains of the prevailing ignorance of the history and structure of English, a knowledge of which he declares to be necessary to the full understanding of English literature, but to which less attention is paid in schools than to the history and structure of Greek and Latin. “What wonder.” he says, “that the ignorance is so widespread, when so little Interest is taken in the scientific study of the subject? We have now associations for the furtherance of almost every doctrine or endeavor conceivable; the collection of postage stamps lias its society, the propagation of esoteric Buddhism has its band of enthusiasts, the study of Browning’s poetry has its cultus, and hundreds of other objects and aims, trivial or serious, are thrust upon the notice of the public through the organized effort of unselfish propagandists. But there is no American society or association in existence whose sole object is the dissemination of scientific knowledge of,the history and structure of the language by which all such concerted action is rendered possible and effective. Nor are we better off in respect to special journals. Germany has two excellent ones devoted solely to the scientific study of English; America and England have none.” Dr. Theodore Barth, a member of the German Reichstag, has written for the April Review of Review's an article on “Political Germany,” which will be read wdth interest by all who wish for an intelligent understanding' of the main features of German politics. Dr. Barth outlines the party policies and national problems clearly and dispassionately, and throws a light upon conditions there which will help readers of the daily press to a better understanding of the cabled reports of public proceedings in that country. The writer, though not a member of the Social Democratic party, takes particular pains to remove the impression which he believes to prevail here that that party is socialistic or disposed to a violent change in the existing order of things. On the contrary, he declares it to be revolutionary only in aims, not in methods. He also defends Emperor William against the judgment that has been formed of him cutside of Germany mainly as a result of his own speeches. His oratory is impulsive, Dr. Barth avers, is greatly modified by the events of the moment, and is less significant of his real character and purpose than appears to those who do not know ail the circumstances. The paper is illustrated by portraits of German statesmen. Other special features of the number are a discussion of cosmopolitanism and international friendliness by the young French writer, Baron De Coubertin; a sketch of M. De Coubertin, by Dr. Albert Shaw; an account of the new gold discoveries in Mexico, by H. D. Slater; an article on “The Referendum and the Swiss Railroads,” by J. R. Macdonald, and a study of “Baecnylides, the Risen Bard,” by Prof. J. Irving Manatt. Avery realistic, and consequently harrowing, description of the suitering from thirst endured by one lost in the desert is a contribution to the Atlantic by W. J. McGee. It may have some value as a scientific study, but is hardly in place in a strictly literary periodical. John Muir, the enthusiastic scientist, or scientific enthusiast, as one may prefer to put it, writes in eloquent phrase of the wonders and beauties of the Yellowstone National Park. Henry C. Adams reviews the decade of federal railway regulation covered by the interstate-com-merce law. He concludes that the value of such regulation has not been properly tested in that time because the commission has not had adequate provision in the way of administrative machinery and Congress has not shown a disposition to uphold the dignity of the body which it created. F. Whitmore gives an account of his experience on a Florida farm which goes to show that the uncertainty of the weather in that socalled summerland makes farming nore of a lottery than is the case in northern regions. Other contributions to the number are: “The Evolution of Satellites,” by G. H. Darwin; "A Nook in the Alleghenies,” by Bradford Torrey; “Shall We Still Read Greek Tragedy?” by Thomas D. Goodell; “The Romance of a Famous Library.” by Herbert Putnam, and “Personal Impressions of Bjornson and Ibsen,” by W. H. Schofield. Regular readers of the Atlantic will be glad of the restoration of that interesting department known as the “Contributors’ Club.” The topics discussed by the contributors in this issue are "Detective Stories,” “Why Virgil Did Not Write the Aeneid,” and “Can a Clergyman be a Good Fellow ?”

Superintendent Goss and the Schools. To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal: According to statements made in the public press, the School Board may change superintendents at the close of the school year. Superintendent Goss has some faults (as who has not?), and he has some strong points, and these should not be overlooked. He has fought harder to put poor teachers out of the schools and to put good ones in than any man who has ever been superintendent of our schools, and in doing this he has made enemies. If he is to go out the public should know this, and they should know, also, that some of his bitterest enemies are members of the board who have not been able to force incompetent teachers upon the schools over Mr. Goss's protest. This is a fact, and if need be the names and details can be given It is a lamentable tact that there are a few men on the School Board who will sacrifice the best interests of the children in order to find places for personal friends. Mr. Gcss has dared to stand against this thing, apd is now in danger of losing his place for it. Would it not be better to remove some of the members of the School Board? X. Y. Z. Indianapolis, March 30. Ang'lo-Aiiierlcun t’ntty. What is the voice I hear On the wind of the Western sea? Sentinel, listen from out Cape Clear, And sav what the voice may be. •* ’Tis a proud, free people calling loud to a people proud and free. “And it says to them, ‘Kinsmen, hail'. We severed have been too long; Now let us have done with a wornout tale, The tale of an ancient wrong, And our friendship last long as love doth last, and be stronger than death is strong.’ ’’ Answer them, sons of the selfsame race, And blood of the selfsame clan, het us speak with each other, face to face, And answer as man to mart. And loyally love and trust each other as none but free men can. Now fling them out to the breeze, Shamrock, thistle and rose. And the star-spangled banner unfurl with these, A message to friends and foes. Wherever the sails of i>eace are seen and wherever the war wind blows. A message to bond and thrall to wake. For wherever we come, we twain. The throne of the tyrant shall rock and quake And his menace be void and vain. For you are lords of a strong young land and wo are lords of the main. Ves, this is the voice on the bluff March gale, ‘We severed have been too long. But now we have done with a wornout tale. The tale of an ancient wrong, And our friendship last long as love doth last, and be stronger than death Is strong." --Alfred Austin. Return of Hlnliop Hnrtsell. NEW YORK. March 30,-The Rev. Joseph C. Hartzeil, Methodist Episcopal missionary bishop for Africa, reuched this city to-day on board the steamer Teutonic, ufter an extended tour of “the dark continent."

NOT FAR AWAY END OF THE WORRISOME IXCERTAINTY IS APPROACHING. Spain Im Expected to Reply Detluitely to President McKinley's Propositions This Week. ANSWER MAY COME TO-DAY AND IT IS EXPECTED AT WASHINGTON TO IIE FAVORABLE TO PEACE. There Is a Possibility, However, that a Crisis May Be Precipitated in Spain and Trouble Follow. FRANCE AS A PEACEMAKER AMBASSADOR CAM RON TENDERS HIS COUNTRY'S GOOD OFFICES. Failure of Spanish Elfovts to Induce European Powers to Assist Either by Arms or Mediation. Associated Press Dispatch. WASHINGTON, March 30.—The vital point on the Cuban situation, namely, independence, has shifted itself from Washington to Madrid, where the Spanish government is now giving grave and earnest consideration to propositions presented by the government of the United States. On the answer to these propositions probably depends the future course of the relations between Spain and the United States. It is believed that it is now out a question of an exceedingly short time before the inevitable crisis must come. The Spanish Ministry will hold a Cabinet council to-morrow after the propositions have been submitted to the Queen Regent and as a result of that conference it is expected by the administration that a definite answer to its proposals will be received. The propositions submitted by this country contemplate a complete and immediate cessation of hostilities in Cuba, the return of the reconcentrados to their usual vocations, and the independence of Cuba, *his last feature to be secured probably cn an indemnity basis by which the island would pay a substantial sum for its freedom from Spanish rule. These propositions take a wide scope and there are many details in the alternative propositions, the purpose being to present every possible plan promising a solution of the Cuban problem so long as an end of the Cuban war and Cuban independence w r ere embodied in the ultimate result. It has been made perfectly clear to Spain that nothing less than a close of the war and the independence of the island will suffice as an adequate settlement. Such lesser methods as have been contemplated from time to time are now put aside for these more advanced and positive positions. It is now for Spain to accept or •'•eject these tenders. There is no disposition to urge one rather than another so long as the conclusion finally reached brings the termination of the war and Cuban independence. Never before until now has the Spanish government even for a moment entertained such propositions. Now, in the stress of the present emergency, with the declarations of war introduced in the American Congress, Spain has reluctantly consented to consider them. This in itself has given lively hope of satisfactory result. But it involves a grave crisis in Spain, and it cannot be foretold what the final action at Madrid will be. SPAIN MAY YIELD.

Until to-day it was believed that Spain would indignantly reject a proposition involving the independence of Cuba, or American intervention or the disappearance of the Spanish flag from the island, either through purchase by the Cubans or otherwise. There was the best of reason for the official belief that as between peace and war on these propositions, Spain would choose war, but more hope apparently is entertained here of Spain being in a yielding mood, as the American plans for solution are being carefully weighed with a view to a final decision. As stated, that answer is believed to be only a question of perhaps two or three days. When it is received the future course of this government will be determined. It is the view of the administration that the present week will shape the policy of the future, whether it is to be one of peace or one of war. Naturally this critical juncture has occasioned the greatest interest here, coupled with no little excitement, as word was passed about that the last stage in the negotiations with Spain was reached. Many representative men of Congress, senators and representatives, called at the White Glouse and corferred with the President, To the leaders in Congress he stated that definite results were expected from Madrid by Friday. This served to allay the intense feeling which had been manifested in Congress and through tho Influence of the leaden further radical action by the Sen- . ate and House was, for the time being, deferred. At the Capitol excitement was unabated. The meeting of the Senate committee on foreign relations occasioned a great deal of Interest because of the many warlike resolutions which were introduced yesterday and referred to that committee. On the House side there was an intensity of feeling After the vote on the Bailey resolution many Republicans went to the White House to confer with the President and to express to him their hope that something might he promised which would relieve the strained situation. The assurance of the President was given to these members that by Friday night at (latest, something definite cculd be expected. The Senate committee held an afternoon session at which Captain Bradford, chief of the Bureau of Equipment of the navy, presented his knowledge of tho relative strength of the Spanish and United States navies. This proved only incidental to the main subject under discussion, which was the value of the island of St. Thomas or some other point in the West Indies, for a naval static;:. The situation at the Capitol is one of waiting expectancy. Senators and representatives are willing to give the President an opportunity to carry out his plans, but there !.s impatience to have some information regal ding these plans and some assurances that they will not delay uctlon too long i-ranch, widling to mediate. It was staled to-day in a high diplomatic quarter that the Spanish government, with- , in the hist ten days, had addressed a note to the great powers of Europe, fully setting forth the pmve aspect of the controversy with the United States and at least inferentiuliy suggesting that the time was now opportune for European influences to bo exerted. It is said that this note Jed to the utterances of Premier Hanotaux in the French Chamber last Saturday, ami has

• been the cause of the activity at European capitals within the last lew days in connection with Spunish-Amertoan affairs. Up to the present time, however, no actual step toward mediation or Intervention has been taken by any of the great powers, although there Is little doubt that Franc* stands reedy to take the initiative if there is the slightest evidence that the United Stales got eminent will view such a move with favor. The French ambassador at Washington. M. Cambon, has received no definite instructions directing him to tender the good offices of France. At the same time, the ambassador taking the cue from the remarks of Premier Hanotaux, has called on Judge Day, and has said .hat if this government at any time feels that the French government can aid in averting the preseut grave crisis and maintaining peace he has no doubt that France will readily undertake to exert such good offices as will be acceptable to both powers. This, as stated, is not a formal tender by the French government, for as yet the French ambassador has received no positive instructions, but it clearly indicates the tendency and the willingness of France to act as mediator in the present emergency at any moment. It is probable that the suggestions have not taken u more formal form owing to the delicate character of such overtures. A tender of good offices is one of the last resorts of diplomacy when all other means of averting war seem to be at an end. There is additional difficulty from the fact that when two nations are involved in a crisis any external influence may be resented as an intrusion. There is reason to believe that the French authorities are fully conscious of these delicate and difficult phases, and that no step will be made unless it is clearly apparent in advance that the Uifi'ed States desires the friendly offices of er nations. NO AID FOR SPAIN. The Spanish government has earnestly hoped within the last week that some of the European powers, and more likely Austria or France, v ~ take the initiative without wailing a ult the desires of this government. s hope lias proved vain, however, ui. tt is stated to-day on high authority that recent negotiations in Europe have disclosed positively that white the sympathy of Home of > the continental powew was toward Spain, no one of them stood ready to espouse her cause by mediation or by arms. Most had been expected of Austria, owing to the dynastic relations between Austria and Spain. The present Queen Regent of Spain, Marla Christina, is an Austrian princess, being the second child of Karl Ferdinand, archduke of Austria, and a cousin of Fmperor Franz Josef of Austria. The young King of Spain, through the same genealogy, is of Austrian blood. This creates a natural tie between Austria and Spain, and it has been most influential within recent days in inducing Austria to secure the co-operation of other continental powers in behalf of Spain. Up to the present time, however, Austria has not felt ready to take the initiative alone. The reports from Vienna last night that the Austrian minister of foreign affairs. Count Goluehowski, had instructed the Austrian representative at Washington to co-operate in the steps to be taken by France are not borne out by any actual developments w’hich have thus far occurred here. The Austrian minister has not been at the State Department during the present week, nor have any suggestions in this line been received by the State Department from him. It is a passing coincidence French ambassador, the Austrian minister and the Spanish minister are more closely associated together than any other diplomats in the corps. The White House was besieged with callers to-day, including Senators Hanna, DaVis (chairman), Ffye, Cullom and Gray, members of the foreign relations committee; Allison, Burrows, Hawley, Spooner and Wolcott. Nearly the entire Michigan delegation also called, their purpose being to urge the President to take immediate and vigorous action to end the war and secure the independence of Cuba. Other senators who saw the President were Foraker, Sewall, Aldrich and Wilson. Secretaries Gage, Long and Bliss also saw Mr. McKinley. Secretary Ixmg is authority for the statement that there is no truth in the report published this morning that Consul General Dee is dissatisfied with the President's Cuban policy and has cabled his resignation to the State Department, at the same time requesting that he be relieved at once. The report was that a telegram to that effect was received from General Lee last night. Secretary L<ong said to-day in the most positivo manner that no such telegram had been received, and he had every reason to doubt the report that General Lee was dissatisfied with the present policy of the administration.

EMILE ZOLA COMING. The French Novelist Will Blake * Flying Trip After s<{o,ooo. NEW YORK, March 30.—Emile Zola, the French novelist, recently tried and convicted of libel of his government in his defense of Captain Dreyfus, has notified Edmund Gerson, of is 67 Broadway, that ha will accept the latter's offer to deiUer a series of lectures, probably fifteen in number, in the United States. One, and perhaps more, of the Heries will be heard in New York. Although Zola has not yet said so, the theme of all his lectures probably will be the anti-Semitic feeling in Europe, particularly in France, and the bitterness and unfairness charged in the Dreyfus trial and later exemplified in his own case. The famous French writer, long a struggler for the highest academic honors his country can pay a son, a seat among ths forty immortals, will receive something like $60,000 for his flying trip to America. It is more than a foreigner ever before received for a like experience, probably more than Ysaye and Hofmann combined will receive for their performances in America. A European operatic star would have to work shockingly hard for an entire season to receive as much. Just when Zola will come to America he alone knows. It was decided last Friday by the French government to allow him the formality of an appeal from the decision of the court sentencing him to one year's imprisonment. It was almost Immediately after this was made known that Zola cabled his acceptance of Mr. Gerson'a offer for a lecture tour, but he did not say whether he would come to the United States in the interim pending the result of his appeal or not. This matter is now to be decided by cable. Mr. Gerson. who has had business dealings with the novelist for twenty years, made his offer to the latter six weeks ago. Zola’s trial was then in progress and he cabled that he could not give a decisive answer until it had been finished. GRANT TO THE PRESIDENT. Hotter Written Loiik Ago Auks Appointment for (j rim (Ison. NEW YORK, March 30.—C01. Fred Grant has gone to Washington to deliver to President McKinley a letter written thirteen years ago by General Grant, his father. The latter dictated and signed the missive at his home. No. 3 East Sixty-sixth street, on a day when the doctors told him he had few hours to live. It follows: “New York, April 3, 18%. “To the President of the United States: “May I ask you to favor the appointment of Ulysses S. Grant, the syn of my son, Frederick Grant, as a cadet at West Point upon his application? In doing so you will gratify the wishes of U. S. GRANT." Having adjured his son to deliver this letter when little Ulysses should reach the ago of sixteen, the general seemed relieved. Uni. Fred Grant obtained this indorsement from General Sherman: “New York City, Feb. 1, 1887. “To the President of the United States: “It seems superfluous that any uddltion should be necessary to the above, hut I cheerfully add my name In the full belief that the child of such parents will he most worthy of the appointment solicited. “W. T. SHERMAN. General.” Ulysses H. Grant, third, who is now sixteen years oid, has shown military leanings and will he the lust to oppose his famous grandfather's wishes.