Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1893 — TOPICS OF THESE TIMES. [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

STRANGERS WITHIN OUR GATES. The American people are this year entertaining many foreigners o’s rank and distinction, and it is probable that so large a number of princes and potentates from beyond the seas will never again come to our shores, as guests, to look and learn. We, as citizens of the greatest Republic on earth, have fondly imagined that these, in many cases semi-civilized, rulers would be overwhelmed with our country and its institutions. But .such does not seem to have always been the case, impressed they have been by our greatness, but they do not envy us, and see much to criticise. One of these princes is Radhe'n Adnin Soekmadilago, from Java. He can trace his family tree back to the year 800. In religion he is a Mohammedan of the most rigid devoutness. but does not believe in polygamy and has but one wife. He was married when 15 years of age. In an interview with a Chicago Record reporter.he said many interesting things. To his eye the American people seem like a mountain torrent furious, fast, fearful. America, he sayskis not ‘ ‘great, ” but ‘ ‘majestic. ” He winks American women are “masculme,” and says their determined mannwr is the reason there are so many*®‘old maids.” All women marry in He finds Americans most kind and hospitable, but is sensitive and finds fault with the disposition of people to start at him as if he was an animal. Americans are not picturesque, and their manner of dress seems horrible to him. In Java all is quiet beauty. In America all is changed. “You put your flowers all in one place and your people go and view them as they view me! Something strange. The happy detail of life seems lost in the uncertain pursuit of great things.” He condemned the habit of drunkenness. In Java there is no intoxicating drinks. He “never saw a native drunk. Nor do they use any kind of strong drugs. Content with health they live quietly in an idealic world. Here the people all seem to live in the hope of some grand event, but it never comes. Like the phosphorescent light that dances over the low bottoms of my country, filling the hearts of the simple natives with fear, it eludes the pursuer. The end comes, but the prayed-for day of content has never been reached. This I have observed and tell in trembling. Tam but a humble man before God and Mohammed His Prophet. Years of this American turmoil will degenerate the race. A halt may come. Perhaps not until mental decrepitude has become a characteristic of the people. Childish simplicity is happiness. Extensive knowledge means discontent. Majestic America may some day learn it and be picturesque, contented and happy.”

Another potentate of even greater intelligence, and of far greater power and wealth, who has been viewing the wonders of the White City, is the Maharajah of Kapurthalia. In his own country he is styled the “King of Kings," and his power is absolute. He is accompanied in his tour by an extensive retinue of retainers, a cook; find on ewi fc that h e chose from his assortment of forty to sec the great world with him. His kingdom is not .arge, but has a population of about 2,000,000, and is located in northern India, and affords its ruler an income of at least 15,000.000 per annum. The Rajah is quite a young man, about twentyone. and dresses in the height of fashion while traveling. He is the head of the Sikh branch of the Hindoo religion, which is quite distinct from Budhism. The restrictions of the creed do not permit him to cut his hair or shave his beard, and for- ; bid him to eat beef or pork in any form; hence he is obliged to take a native cook with him on his travels in order to have such food as is allowed him prepared by consecrated hands. The Prince is highly educated and intelligent, and discussed various matters with the newspaper man in an entertaining way. He avers that the “Christian religion has proved a huge failure in India, and is firmly convinced of the superiority of the Hindoo creed. You teach children to honor their parents. We inculcate the duty parents owe to their children. Hindoo philosophy has become overclouded with superstitions, but will in the future emerge, and attain the high altitude that it did generations before the birth of Christ. No high class Hfhdoo will accept Christianity. If he Is an educated man he knows that his own religion has a purer system of ethics. The lower classes of India may accept Christianity, but they do so from mercenary motives, • and not one in a hundred who embrace that faith can point out wherein lies th*

superiority of his new belief over the old one. The progress of Christianity in my country is a question of no importance. The education of my people is of vital significance. An ignorant convert is not one to be proud of. The South African may to an extent be Civilized by Christianity but without material education he will not progress very far from his barbarity. The WSiiderful things that we hear of being performed by theosophical adepts in my country I have never been able to see. There may be such men, but I have never seen one, and I never saw any one who had. They are hard to find. Theosophy is a system of morals of great purity but it has degenerated. A man does more good by trying to acquire knowledge and use it for the benefit of his fellows than by shutting himself up in a solitary place and forgetting mankind in abstracted musings about supernatural wonders.” The Prince subscribes to every paper in India, and receives hundreds of new books from the European capitals every month. He reads continuously, and says: “I had to travel, whether I would or no, to gratify my longing to see the wonders of science and manufacture, as well as the customs of the countries about which I had read so much.” ANOTHER “PLAN.” Prominent Populists have promulgated and propose placing a peculiar and probably popular plan for financial salvation before the extra session of Congress now in session. They desire to have the national government buy all the railroads that want to sell, paying for them in bonds to the amount of two-thirds of their value, the balance to be paid by issuing legal tender Treasury notes. They contend that the country can absorb $2,000,000,000 of Treasury notes easily. This will relieve the financial stringency—-nat-urally. If you pour all the water into a bucket that it will hold it is bound to get full unless it leaks. The change is to be made gradually so as not to “bust” the money market with a sudden flood of currency. Transportation will then be furnished at cost and nobody will want or receive a pass. Mr. Geo. F. Washburn, of Boston, and Col. Fisk, of Denver, are the sponsors of the scheme, which was “hatched” during the silver convention at Chicago, and they are now in Washington for the purpose of bringing the matter to the attention of Congress. Bankers and bondholders, employes and passengers, everybody,, in fact, in Chicago and Denver, are reported to be in favor of the ideas which these men have given to a waiting vyorld. It is not known how Congress will act or whether such a plan would meet the ideas of the President — and there seems to be a sort of gauzy uncertainty about the plan that precludes the possibility of giving accurate information as to the possible outcome of this new crusade.