Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1889 — CURRENT COMMET. [ARTICLE]

CURRENT COMMET.

Chicago is the best representation of “American progress.” New York has grown by virtue of its situation, Chicago by virtue of its energy. Chicago ought to have the World’s Fair. A recent attempt to desecrate the grave of Ralph Waldo Emerson calls forth the most indignant and righteous condemnation, The only cause for the ghastly and dastardly deed seems to have been the enmity aroused by the activity of Edward Emerson in ferreting out and bringing to punishment local law-breakers. It would seem that of all men the gentle sage of Concord, who during his life taught nothing but peace and love to hi& fel-low-man, might be permitted to rest quietly in his grave; but local rancor and petty greed know no limits, and the only comfort is that the soul of the philosopher is out of reach of the base attacks to which his body is still liable.

China appears to have been in earnest when it threatened to expel every American residing in the Celestial Empire as a retaliation for our Chinese exclusion policy. The threat has been repeated with somewhat of a warning attached to it. If carried out, China will gain nothing by being spiteful, but will certainly lose a great deal. There are few if any American-born laborers in China, but there are several American merchants and agents on the coast, and these buy very freely from native houses and factories. To expel them would involve the loss of an enormous quantity of very profitable trade. Recently an energetic freebooter held up the mayor of Litchfield, 111., and relieved him of his valuables. But the mayor—crafty man—had foreseen the occurrence and was merely baiting the highwayman, and as soon as he had the crime fastened upon him summoned five policemen, including the chief of police, who'surrounded the robber. A general melee ensued in which the highwayman did up the entire crowd, together with the mayor, and escaped unhurt with the latter’s valuables, leaving that crafty gentleman wondering who the horse was on. But this daring free lance has at last met his match in the person of a humble sheriff, who fought him for ten minutes all over the jail corridor, down two flights of stairs, and desisted only when the robber fainted. All through the fight the sheriff had a revolver in his hand, which he refused to fire, holding that it was unnecessary to use a weapon upon an unarmed man. Would for the sake of law and order that there were more sheriffs who would dare a long and almost mortal combat sooner than shoot where they thought they were not justified.