Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1891 — Made a Bad Choice. [ARTICLE]

Made a Bad Choice.

The trouble with the great warships and great guns of European navies is that they seem to bring mainly to those who use them. An accident on board the British corvette Cordelia, by which tvro officers and four men were killed and thirteen wounded, was quite as bad a casualty as would ordinarially happen a battle, and yet it resulted from nothing more than an attempt to make a practice shot with one of the ships guns. Seemingly the problem Which the makers of heavy ordnance jare roost pressingly in need of solvmg is how to make guns that can be fired. ________________ It is said that the Senate committee on rules has agreed to report to that body an amendment to the rules which will bring about a reform in senatorial funerals. It is to be hoped this is true. Congressional funerals have become a public scandal, -both-in respect of expense and the proceedings attending them. For some years past, the average congressionc.l funeral has been little move than a picnic excursion or drunken frolic at the expense of the government. Tue whole subject calls for radical reform in both branches of Congress. Another war scare his started in Europe. The Germans have discovered that the Rusiaias have a "bigger ■force than they on the frontier between the two countries, and, of course, want these conditions equalized. Then there is indignation in France at the favor shown by England toward the tripple alliance, whileHYance is angry at the restrictions placed on her commercial travelers in Alsance and Lorraine: and on this question the Fr&ycinet Ministry has had a narrow escape from overthrow. Meanwhile, the ties between Russia and France are growing closer and closer. Russia is preparing to give a welcome to the French fleet in Russian waters; and the Czar himself is soon to pay a political visit to Paris. Still more important moves on Europe's diplomatic chessboard are also looked for at an early day. ■ It is the long-winged, not the redlegged grasshoppers that are infest, ing the Western plaius this year. The red legs are fond of a grain diet; the jong wings enjov grass, .and are now devouring it in certain regions o; Colorado and New Mexico. Jt was the red legs that ravaged Kansas in 1874, when they had traveled eastward from the Rocky Mountains, and it is the red legs that are feared there now even more than the red men were in former times. There are hundreds of cranks out West who Want to get contracts for the extermination bl thc grassTioppers, and many of them are anxiously awaiting the report of the Locust Commissioners recently appointed by the Hon. Jerry Rusk of the Agricultural Department. The grasshopper question is one of grave importance, not only to Western farmers, but also to the commercial and financial interests of the United States. The vote of the people of Switzerland in favor of extending ‘‘popular sovereignty" just comes in time to figure iu the celebration of the six hundreth anniversary of the estab lishinent of the Confederation, which

wiil take place on August 1. The new arrangement goes to a length never dreamed of in the boldest speculations of the political philosopher of any age but ours. In fact it has become possible only in these days of telegraphs, railroads and steam presses. The vote taken last week favors the idea that if 50,000 citizens so require, the National Legislature shall discuss any law brought before it for that purpose by such vote.. Tills is called the initiative, and is complementary to the old established Referendum, of which note has been made. Any law passed by the National Legislature must be. submitted to the popular vote, if so desired by 20,000 citizens. This stops, among other things, the raising of the question of the constitutionality of acts, and leaves the courts of last resort free from this perplexing and often unpleasant duty. —..— ■■ ■ ■ -

Atlanta. Constitution. Printer—The Mayor gave Colons Jones $lO or thirtv days. Editor—Which did he take? Printer—The thirty days. Editor—Just like him. Jones nrrer did know the value at money.