assimilated; religious dissensions never arose, and the way was prepared for the common sympathies of the Revolution. The colonial system could not endure. The Colonies were subordinated and overridden, and troops were quartered in them. Their commerce was exploited, and they themselves were treated, socially as well as politically, as inferiors. At last the passage by Parliament of the Stamp Act, and the arrival of war ships to enforce it, precipitated resistance, and the union with the other Colonies in a Continental Congress completed the preparation for revolution. Tory elements were powerful. Men like Schyler, Jay, Livingstone, and Morris took the leadership, and when the Provincial Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, put themselves on the Revolutionary side. The population was, however, divided. Washington was compelled to evacuate the city, and it remained during the whole of the long struggle in the hands of the enemy. In the decade succeeding the Revolution the political influence of New York was predominant. It was, during the period of reconstruction, to her great statesmen, Hamilton, Jay, and others, that the triumph of the Federalists and the firm establishment of the Nation are largely due. Hamilton was a statesman, but Burr was a politician and party manager, and largely by his intrigues the Federalist party was overthrown, the Democratic party and the Spoils-system enthroned, and since that day the politician has never lost his hold on the city. The predominant influence of great families came also to an end, and the picturesque colonial costumes disappeared, but on the other hand savings banks, public schools, scientific and charitable societies came into existence. With the close of the war of 1812 began the era of foreign immigration, which, increased by the Irish famine and the political disturbances in Europe, has continued to add vast numbers to the population of the city. Commerce extended itself to the remote East, and New York entered on that commercial prosperity which has since assumed such enormous proportions. The most characteristic feature of the whole period is the rapid accumulation of the colossal individual fortunes which have placed the names of Astor and Vanderbilt among those of the half dozen richest families of the world. The decade, from 1860 to 1870, was, perhaps, the worst in the city's history, disfigured as it was by the Draft riots during the War of the Rebellion, and by the frauds of the Tweed ring in the succeeding years. The rascals were, however, overthrown, and reputable municipal government restored. Noble public buildings have been erected, the Brooklyn bridge built, and parks and museums have added to the beauty and attractiveness of residence, till not only by its population of more than a million and a half, but by its rapid growth in every element of municipal distinction, it is placing itself abreast of the chief cities of the world. THE SUPREME PASSIONS OF MAN; or, THE ORIGIN, CAUSES, AND TENDencies oF THE PASSIONS OF the flesh. By Paul Paquin, M.D. 16m0, pp. 150. Battle. Creek, Mich.: The Little Blue Book Co. [This book, which touches on science, religion, morality, medicine, etc., is meant to disseminate knowledge among all classes, concerning the laws of nature, under which passions arise, and by which they may be ruled. The author's attention was first directed to the subject in the course of his study of the comparative influence of varied culture media upon micro-organisms, during which he observed that he was able to alter their shape, size, color, energies, properties, in fact all their vital attributes, by varying the kind, quantity, and quality of food material. These phenomena opened up to his mind a new line of thought: man is an aggregation of differentiated cells, drawing their nutrition from the food with which the individual man charges his stomach; the kind and quantity and quality of this food, therefore, must not merely affect his general health as an individual, but can hardly fail to affect his mental powers and moral character, by its influence upon the individual organisms composing the brain, and the secretionsin which the instinctive impulses-the passions, desires, appetites, etc.-originate. The work under notice is the outcome of his study of the subject.] IT is very evident that if the cells of the tissues of the body have individual life activities, they may, like unicellular beings, be individually altered, trained, changed in fact, from their normal condition. We will see that this is, in fact, accomplished by external environment, but first and most of all, by the nourishment contributed to the formation, repair, and sustenance of the cellular structure, producing profound changes-exaltation and perversion of the natural character and attributes of the entire being. The only object of eating, or of ingesting anything into the stomach in a normal condition, is to afford nutriment to the individual, to repair daily waste. Any other use is an abuse of the cells composing it, and a transgression of the laws of nature. The ingestion of candy, alcoholic ingredients, tobacco, tea, etc., even the ingestion of any amount of real food above the quantity, or other than the quality required for the proper nourishment of the system, is an outrage practiced upon the little beings which so faithfully perform the work of digestion, to sustain our life in its entirity, and keep our bodies in a healthy condition. They would continue constantly and pleasantly at their task, to our great comfort, if we would only let them work naturally instead of overworking them. Under civilization, which has progressed more rapidly than science, mankind, unaware of the tendency to debauchery and disease which it is nursing, has cultivated and acquired acute tastes, strong desires for quantities of food enormously greater than the body cells need, and for kinds of so-called food-substances perhaps never intended for human subsistence. Get mankind once under a safe system of nutrition, based on science; a system allowing foods only of such kinds, qualities and quantities, and at such times as nature intends for him, and fully seventy-five per cent. of the prevailing diseases and crimes will disappear from the globe, because the cause shall be no more. [The writer traces the tendency to alcoholism to the general habit of excessive and injudicious nutrition, and sees no other possible remedy than in the subjection of all the bodily appetites and inclinations by moderate nourishment, instead of the common unnatural mode of cramming exciting food into the system; temperance in all things, instead of intemperance, as is now the case. His general conclusions are summed up in the last chapter.] The body inherits the inclinations of the parents in a large measure. It afterwards becomes influenced in its propensities by the food substances contributing to the formation of its tissues, and the regeneration of each and all the cells during life. Passions of the flesh are mostly the outgrowth of natural appetites, and are intensified in various degrees by extravagant animal and other rich diets, and gormandizing. Special crimes result from the undue development of the passions thus engendered. The daily use of alcohol in small quantities insufficient to intoxicate in a visible manner tends directly to incite carnal desires, and intoxication, in various degrees, always blunts the brain sensibilities. The effect of so-called "moderate" daily stimulants is to induce general excitation on the one hand, with loss of sensibility of the nervous system on the other, thus allowing the animal appetites to rise to a supreme degree and run riot. Alcoholism is a passion of the flesh which, like other passions and vices, is the result of neglect of true dietary laws. But by means of a system of home training, public-school education, including proper dietetics, supported by moral influence, virtue would reign supreme, and vice and crime sink into insignificance, [A very interesting chapter, which want of space witholds us from digesting, is that on the simple excess of wholesome food, in which the author points out that the assimilative capacity of the organs being limited, the excess instead of passing through the alimentary canal as inert waste, is subject to a putrefactive process of fermentation, in some cases generating alcohol, ptomaines, and other poisons to the general prejudice of the organism.] A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTORY HEBREW GRAMMAR. By Edwin Cone Bissell, Professor in Hartford Theological Seminary. 8vo. pp. 134. Hartford, Conn.: The Hartford Theological Seminary. 1891. [This Grammar differs from other primary Hebrew Grammars chiefly in two respects: compactness of form and the facilities it offers for acquiring, during the study of the grammatical principles, a choice Hebrew vocabulary. All words used in the Hebrew Bible over fifty times, the most of those used between twentyfive and fifty times, and not a few of those, of connected roots, used less than twenty-five times are here found, and they are the only Hebrew words employed in the book. There are a thousand of these words altogether. The words are arranged in the several Vocabularies under their respective root-forms. They are very generally accompanied by notes and mnemonics for the purpose of calling special attention to them and fixing them in mind. They are used in the illustrations of principles; in the various tables of inflected forms; and, all of them, in the Exercises for translation. The Exercises for translating Hebrew into English are purposely placed apart from the Vocabularies in order to encourage independence of them. About six hundred of the words are associated together in the form of synonyms; and three hundred of similar form or sound are discriminated from one another. It has been found by the use of this method that without any considerable increase of the time required to master the principles of the Grammar, the student has also made a fair beginning in the departments of Hebrew etymology and synonomy; and, still better, acquired a vocabulary sufficient to enable him to read at sight in the historical books of the Bible. There is no Index, but instead, an unusually full Table of Contents. Very judiciously, the subject of the formation of Hebrew words is not treated, since the investigations now in progress by Professor Barth, of Berlin, seem likely to make necessary an entire reconstruction of what has hitherto been thought and written on the subject.] The Press. POLITICAL. Democrat, whom nearly half the Democrats | and party. A divided Democracy can hardly Mills can have the Chairmanship of the Ways Atlanta Constitution (Dem.), Dec. 17.-Mr. and Means Committee if he wants it. The DEMOCRATIC DIFFERENCES-SPEAKLouisville Courier-Journal (Dem.), Dec. 21. place will be tendered him if he shows any ER CRISP AND MR. MILLS. -The letter of Mr. Mills to the Speaker of the disposition to stand by the Speaker's adminisSpeaker's Room, House of Representatives, Wash- House is dignified, manly, and direct. Under tration, and render active service in carrying ington, D. C., Dec. 18, 1891.-The Hon. Roger Q. Mills, the circumstances, the proposal of the Speaker out the Democratic policy. But if Mr. Mills is City. MY DEAR SIR: Having been too much engaged to was a species of affront which a man of less going to sulk in his tent and remain inactive, call on you, and being now about to enter on the work spirit than Mr. Mills might have justly re-it goes without saying that he is not the man of constituting the House committees, I drop you a sented. It was at the same time a mistake for such an important Chairmanship. Speaker line to know if it would be agreeable or acceptable to which Democrats everywhere will regret. Mr. Crisp may be relied upon to keep the interests you to be appointed second on the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to such assignment to be Crisp may be assured that the appointment of of the country and the Democracy in view in appointed Chairman on the Committee on Commerce, his late competitor to the Chairmanship of the the organization of the House committees. or Chairman on the Committee on Post Offices and Ways and Means Committee is required alike work is less laborious than Commerce or Post Offices. by good party policy and the equities of the Would be glad to have a reply at your earliest conve- case. His abilities are undeniable. His claim nience, as I desire to make up and announce the com- is commanding. We still hope that the Speaker mittees in a few days. With great respect, I am, sin-will see the matter as it truly is, for he is the Post Roads, or Chairman on some committee whose cerely yours, CHARLES F. CRISP. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 1891.-The Hon. Charles F. Crisp, Speaker of the House of Representatives. official head of the party, and must have the party support, which will depend largely on this particular issue. In the event that he MY DEAR SIR: I have received your letter of the shonld not, we fear the consequences, particu18th instant, asking me "if it would be agreeable or acceptable" to me to be appointed second on the Com-larly if the connection of the name of Mr. mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to such as- Springer with this important post should have signment to be appointed Chairman of the Committee any foundation to it. For Mr. Springer, as a on Commerce or Chairman of the Committee on Post Democrat, as a man, we entertain very great Offices and Post Roads, or Chairman of some committee whose work is less laborious than Commerce or respect and all possible good will, but his selecPost Offices. Having been a member of the Commit- tion would be little short of a blunder which tee on Ways and Means for ten years and Chairman in might bring upon both very serious discredit. the 50th Congress, the reasons which have in your As we have elsewhere observed, it is our purjudgment rendered my appointment as Chairman unwise would disqualify me for service in any other place pose to give the new Speaker the frankest on that committee, and it would not be sincere to say confidence and the most loyal support. We that it would be agreeable to accept your tender. I leave to you, without any suggestion from me, to make want to see his administration brilliant and such other assignment as you, in the discharge of your successful. It is because of this that we venofficial duty, may determine. Yours truly, ture to make these suggestions and to sound R. Q. MILLS. this note of warning. In this matter more than any other is it to be decided whether Mr. Crisp is a large or small man. Dispatch from Washington, New York Sun (Dem.), Dec. 20.-Since the Speaker announced the appointment of the Committee on Rules on Wednesday, the prominent men of the party, those whose powerful influence defeated the nomination of Mr. Mills, have seen the shadow of a coming storm, and they plainly say now that if the Speaker does not abandon his determination to ignore the friends of Mr. Mills, and continue to surround himself with the unknown men of the House, he will precipitate a party row that will more than offset all the good results accomplished by the overthrow of the Free Trade candidate. The most powerful elements at work for Mr. Crisp during the Speakership canvass were controlled by such men as Senators Gorman, Brice, and These men and those who joined forces with them now find that Speaker Crisp is inclined to seek his own counsel, which bids him ignore the Mills men in the House, and reward only those who were his supporters, regardless of their ability or standing in the party. These men threw their influence for Crisp in the belief that he was the best man in the House to give the party a fair, conservative administration, one that would know no sections and no factions, and that would put the party in united and harmonious condition for next year's battle. They are grievously disappointed to learn that Mr. Crisp is doing his utmost to create two wings in the Democratic party in the House, and they, therefore, Cockrell. begin to fear that a grave mistake was made in his selection. New York World (Dem.), Dec. 21.-Mr. Mills represents one view of party policy in the matter of how best to deal with the questions at present in issue. Mr. Crisp represents a different view as to methods, though both of them and all the party are agreed as to the objects to be sought. The choice of Mr. Crisp instead of Mr. Mills for Speaker was in a sense a decision of the majority in favor of the methods represented by Mr. Crisp. The Chairman of the Ways and Means is charged with the duty of applying these methods, and it is not unnatural and surely not necessarily an affront to Mr. Mills that the Speaker has confided that work to a member of long service who shares the view of the majority, offering Mr Mills second place upon that Committee and the chairmanship of committees next in importance. It is clearly Mr. Mills's duty as a It is a Philadelphia Times (Ind.-Dem.), Dec. 21.— Nashville American (Dem.), Dec. 19.—Mr. Crisp and Mr. Springer are not the Democratic party, and Dana and Ben Butler are not even small parts of it. If an effort is made to send the tariff issue to the rear it must be met with a determined effort on the part of those Democrats who understand and respect the command of the people to push it to the front. Mr. Crisp can assign to Mr. Mills an obscure place on committees, but he cannot obscure him nor the policy for which he has' so ably and aggressively fought. The combination of Protectionists, railroads, Tammany Hall, and Sub-Treasury demagogues has won the first battle; but genuine tariff reformers owe the people a duty to keep up the fight. They can make themselves heard and felt in the House, and the House will hear from the country. New York Times (Ind.), Dec. 21.-The election of Mr. Crisp was calculated to shake the confidence of the country in the practical capacity and good faith of the party. His foolish and really outrageous course toward Mr. Mills only emphasizes the impression thus made. If Mr. Crisp goes on and puts the management of the majority in the hands of inexperienced or unfit men like Catchings and Springer, and there is a more or less open division in the party in the House, of course be still further strengthened. The ineptitude the suspicion and distrust of the country will of Mr. Crisp and the treachery of some of his chief backers may so demoralize and confuse the party that it will be incapable of presenting to the country next year a record, a policy, and a candidate that will give the party the success that was clearly within its grasp. That would be a misfortune, because it would delay a great economic reform imperatively dethe American people. But we are convinced manded by the highest and widest interests of that it would be a delay only. Those interests are too vast and too permanent, and they are every day becoming understood too clearly, to permit the friends of the reform to fear or its enemies to hope that it can now be prevented. It will come. The question for the Democratic leaders to decide is how much they will advance or hinder it, and whether they will incur the inevitable disgrace of the latter. seize the legitimate reward of the former or caucus. Springfield Republican (Ind.), Dec. 21.-It is very clear now that Crisp traded off the place to Springer in the Naturally this snubbing of Mills will stir up among his friends in the House, and divided councils threaten at bitter antagonism to the Speaker and his faction present to pursue the majority with disastrous effect. The situation is all that the Republicans could wish. Baltimore Sun (Dem.), Dec. 21.—Length of service does not always qualify a member to preside over a committee and present its conclusions in the House. Following mere routine leads sometimes to disastrous blunders. It is well now and then to have "new blood" at the head of affairs. This everyone will admit. Yet, while admitting it fully, it does not Washington Post (Ind.), Dec. 21.-On the follow that Mr. Mills was the man to make an morning of the announcement of Mr. Crisp's example of. His touch with Democratic senti- election as Speaker the New York Sun, in the ment on the leading issues of the day was exuberance of its satisfaction, called upon the amply demonstrated during the last campaign. elements that had been antagonized during the In the West, no less than in New England, his contention to flap together." It might have views were accepted as those of his party. It given the same salutary advice had the race remains, therefore, for the Speaker to demon- been won by Mills instead of Crisp; then, strate by his action that as respects his party's again, it might not. In any event it is exceedpolicy he "will take no step backward." Prog-ingly sagacious counsel, and never was it more ress is progress. It is well sometimes to rend applicable than to the present situation. If the restraints of precedent. Mr. Crisp will, the Democratic party, whose political prognoshowever, have to bear his immediate prede- ticators easily foot up a majority in the new cessor's fate in mind, and be careful not, like Electoral College, depart from the path of wishim, to rend at the same time both precedent dom and sacrifice their opportunity to the spirit of faction, it will be the most stupendous | Speaker Crisp in his letter to Congressman | ciency and mastery of details. As a stanch instance of suicide in the entire chapter of its Mills will remove the last hope of conciliation supporter of President Harrison in the last canpast blunders. Nothing can save it but a policy between the two Democratic factions which vass and an intimate personal friend of the of broad and generous compromise, from which these men represent. If Mr. Mills had been Secretary of State, he will be a most useful the rancor of defeat, the glorification of suc- given the Chairmanship of the Committee of member of a harmonious Cabinet, and will cess, the jealousies of leadership, and the Ways and Means there would probably have strengthen in every way public confidence in greed for chairmanships shall be religiously been a truce patched up to hold the party the Administration. The President's appointeliminated. Otherwise the County Democracy together through the coming Presidential cam- ments for six of the new judicial circuits are to of New York and their sympathizers every-paign. That hope now seems to have vanished, be commended as satisfactory in every respect. where may work up a nucleus exceeding in the only ground on which the two factions By selecting two eminent Democrats, Mr. magnitude their most sanguine expectations. could have worked together having been cut Putnam, of Maine, and Mr. Dallas, of PennNew York Tribune (Rep.), Dec. 21.-This away by Mr. Crisp's almost unprecedented sylvania, when he was at liberty to appoint six is not a mere quarrel between individuals; if it A bitter and unrelenting fight for the instead of four Republicans, he has given a were the Democratic party could regard it with control of the party seems to be inevitable. practical demonstration of non-partisanship indifference. It is at bottom a battle between The Democratic party has evidently arrived at which will be heartily applauded by all imparA reconciliation of tial minds in the country. opposing lines of policy. Mr. Crisp and his the parting of the ways. friends believe that the tariff issue cannot be the factions ranged under the leadership of pressed with advantage, or even with safety, Crisp and Mills does not seem possible. If a at this session of Congress. Mr. Springer broad and deep division in its ranks does not agrees with them so far that he is opposed to occur before Congress adjourns present expecthe preparation of any general tariff bill. But tations will be falsified. Mr. Mills and his friends believe that it is ruinous and treacherous to the party to push that in Southern States the Democrats can only hold their own on that question, while losing at the East. Had Mr. Mills been elected Speaker, the tariff question would have been made the only issue in the coming campaign, and the money question would have been sent to the rear. For Republicans it was much better that the Democratic party preferred to put its worst end foremost; and after some months have been wasted in the discussion of fragmentary tariff bills, it will be in order for the Democrats to explain why they have not yet made any attempt to repeal the McKinley tariff, which they profess to consider so oppressive and odious. The fact is that the measure is already much too strong to be assailed with success, and it is growing more popular every day. New York Recorder (Rep.), Dec. 22.English-born Speaker has shown himself to be short of the standard of manners of the South action. He has Dec. 19.-Looking back upon President Harrison's appointments as a whole, the candid critic will find much to commend. not in every case escaped mistake, and when it is considered that he was obliged to choose many thousand men without any personal Cleveland Leader (Rep.), Dec. 19.—So far as the Republican party and the cause of Protec-knowledge of them and solely upon the recomtion are concerned the choice of Congressman mendation cf others, it must be admitted that Springer for the Chairmanship of the Commit- wholly faultless selections in all cases were not tee on Ways and Means in this Democratic to be expected. But it appears to be the judgHouse, which now seems likely, gives no occament of the poople that the President's selecsion for apprehension. tions have been unusually and remarkably 'Bounding Bill" Springer has little more balance and much less good, and that they have resulted in a public ability than Mills, and the probability that he service as faithful,as efficient, and as honorable will be given such a responsible position is of as the country has seen under any previous itself a most striking illustration of the paucity the service is conspicuously better managed Administration. Indeed, in some departments of good leaders in the Democratic House and and better conducted than it ever has been bethe general weakness of the party. fore, as even the most prejudiced opponents of the President are ready to admit. THE ALLIANCE ORGAN ON MR. CRISP'S ELEC TION. New York Mail and Express (Rep.), Dec. 18. -The only charge brought against him [Elkins] by the Mugwump opponents of the Administration is that he has acted as attorney for persons who had important litigation with the Federal Government. This is a charge that no professional man will consider for a moment. National Economist (Farmers' Alliance, Washington), Dec. 12.-The greatest victory yet won by the Alliance was in the defeat of the Mills forces in the Speakership contest. That the victory is due to the Alliance vote is shown by the fact that seventeen Alliance votes were cast for Crisp from start to finish, and Every lawyer of distinction is open to it. No word of reproach is brought against without these votes behind Crisp, Mills could Mr. Elkins's public or private life. He has. at any time during the contest have enjoyed a boom that would have resulted in his election. been for many years conspicuously before the Why is the election of Crisp an Alliance vic-public, and by his unflagging energy raised tory, is a question every Alliance man should himself to a position of distinction in the politibe prepared to answer, because it will be de- cal world and of mark in business circles. A nied by all politicians, Republican, Democratic, university graduate, a man of mental breadth and People's party. The reasons become plain and depth, original in his ideas, rooted in his convictions, earnest in his purposes and always. faithful to his friends, Mr. Elkins has constantly been the recipient of unsought honors. He will be a positive force in the President's Cabinet, and we predict that his administraadmiration alike of political friends and foes. tion of affairs will speedily command the as the issue in the contest is understood. The issue was plain and well-defined. Mills stood THE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTEES. -The SECRETARY ELKINS, AND THE NEW JUDGES. New York Tribune (Rep.), Dec. 18.-The ern public men among whom he figures. He appointment of Mr. Elkins as Secretary of has proceeded in the style of Tammany, not in War is one which will greatly strengthen the that of "Southern gentlemen." The Anglo- Administration. He not only has wide influTammany Speaker having carried out the part ence as a party leader of unrivaled authority, assigned to him, we now hear the familiar but he has also the practical qualities and force refrain that his friends and more especially Gov- of character which are required for conducting ernor Hill think that Crisp has been just a trifle one of the great departments of the Adminisrash and really should have been a little more tration. Mr. Elkins is one of the few men in careful and politic in dealing with the repre- public life who have a thorough knowledge of sentative of Clevelandism, for whom personally the country as a whole. Born in Ohio, activethey profess much esteem. No doubt Hill ly engaged in mining and stock interests in laughs again as his emissary goes straight on the Far West, having important business conwith the execution of the plans of his cabal, nections in the East and being identified with taking the warm private applause of his coad- the development of the resources of the New jutors in full satisfaction for their mild public South, he has a comprehensive acquaintance censure. Crisp is Speaker now. Hill and with the practical requirements of every section Tammany put him in the chair. He has his of the Union. He will be in the largest sense prize and he can afford to stand a little gentle a representative of the Nation rather than of criticism while he does the work of his masters. The bargains of the bartering caucus will be carried out. The preparations of the spoilsmen to seize the National Democratic Convention will go forward steadily. any State or section. His judgment on all public questions considered by the Cabinet will be sagacious and free from sectional narrowness. His executive ability is of the highest quality, so that in the War Department he will be a Philadelphia Press (Rep.), Dec. 21.-The of-worthy successor to Secretary Proctor, who has fensive and patronizing tone assumed by left behind him a remarkable reputation for effi Cleveland Leader (Rep.), Dec. 18.-The only one of the six appointments that is likely to be criticised is that of Judge Woods, United States District Judge for the District of Indiana, who will doubtless be bitterly attacked because of his decision in the Dudley case. But those who did him the justice to read his. decision and his defense of it, know that he was indorsed by leading men all over the country, some of them prominent Democratic lawyers, and that the hue and cry in his case was groundless. Judge Woods is a close friend of President Harrison and this, like some of the President's previous appointments, will, in all likelihood, fully justify itself in time. Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph (Rep.), Dec. 17.-The appointment of Colonel Elkins to the that he is a friend of the Secretary of State War Portfolio is an excellent one, and the fact indicates no more than that the President, like a sensible man, wants harmony in his Cabinet, who will be agreeable to his brother Ministers. and, therefore, has appointed a War Secretary On the Presidential chances of Harrison and Blaine the matter has no bearing whatever. Topeka Capital (Rep.), Dec. 18.-The appointment of Mr. Blaine's particular friend as Secretary of War, when considered in addition to those other high honors awarded to the special friends of Mr. Blaine, may mean that from the first an understanding has existed between the President and the Secretary of State ana is high. that General Harrison will retire at the end of learned and able Judge his reputation in Indihis term in favor of Mr. Blaine; or it may | mean that Mr. Blaine will throw all his strength and the influence of his friends to the President for his renomination. However these things may be, it is clear that some understanding exists, and that President Harrison and Mr. Blaine will certainly not both be candidates for the nomination before the next Convention. " New York World (Dem.), Dec. 19.-This man Elkins is in no possible sense a statesman. He is not even a politician in the broader meaning of the term. He is a wire-puller and a schemer in politics and a speculator in business who carefully links business with politics and never omits to give chief consideration to the main chance.' He has no other fitness to be the constitutional adviser of the President than such as some dicker of corporate favors for National delegates or Electoral votes may chance to give him. That such a man may worm his way into high office ought not to be surprising, perhaps, in view of the almost open purchase of Cabinet place by Wanamaker and of the increase of mere money-bags in the Senate, but it none the less marks a melancholy decadence of the standards of public service and of public virtue. Indianapolis Sentinei (Dem.), Dec. 17.-The nomination of William A. Woods to the Circuit Judgeship is the most indecent act ever performed by a President of the United States. It places an indelible brand of infamy upon the Administration of Benjamin Harrison. far more scandalous and brazen abuse of the official patronage than was the appointment of John Wanamaker to be Postmaster-General. Wanamaker, being a private citizen, raised It is a several hundred thousand dollars for the cor ruption fund used by Quay, Dudley, and Clarkson in the Harrison campaign of 1888. For this immoral service Benjamin Harrison rewarded him with a Cabinet office. This was bad enough, in all conscience, and it is no wonder that the moral sense of the country was shocked. But this man, William A. Woods, whom the President promotes in the Federal judiciary, has committed offenses compared with which that of Wanamaker was venial. He has prostituted the judicial office to the basest and vilest partisanship, not once, nor twice, but repeatedly. He has violated the proprieties of the bench, outraged its honorable traditions, and perverted it from its legitimate office into an instrumentality of partisan knavery. He has, at the bidding and in the interest of the man who now rewards him, deliberately reversed his own solemn judicial rulings in order to save from the penitentiary a notorious rascal [Dudley], whose crimes made this same man President. He has sat in the high seat of justice aud wantonly turned loose to prey upon the ballot-box and debauch the electorate of Indiana, dozens of the most scurvy rascals that ever conspired against the sacred rights of the people. In committing this monstrous abuse of authority-in thus violating his oath as a Judge, and sacrificing his manhood and his honor, William A. Woods has found himself compelled, as in the Dudley case, to stultify himself, to eat his own words, to reverse his own rulings. New York Times (Ind.), Dec. 17.-In making appointments of Judges, President Harrison has been almost invariably discreet and fortunate. The list of nominations for the new Circuit Courts of Appeals which he sent to the Senate yesterday is entirely excellent and will increase the reputation he had already made in this department of his official duty. Probably the only criticism affecting the character of any of the nominees that it would occur to any one to make would spring from a remembrance of the action of Judge Woods, of Indiana, in apparently going out of his way to save the notorious "Blacks-of-five" Dudley from the consequences of indictment in IndiIt was suspected, but never proved, that this was done by request, so to speak. As a ana. " Dec. 18.—It will be assumed by the impetuous and unobserving that the appointment of Mr. Elkins is due to the influence of Mr. Blaine. But "what is the matter" with the influence of Dick' Kerens? He is the President's near and trusted friend. He sat down with the family of the President to their first Thanksgiving dinner in the White Housc, and was the only guest; and Kerens knows as well as anybody that there are good things in the War Department. We are of the opinion that there is more Kerens than Blaine in the appointment, though there is a perceptible quantity of Harrison in the mixture, as the President is not unmindful that West Virginia is a doubtful State. What an opportunity this appointment gives the Democratic House of Representatives for investigation into Blaine's advice to Secretary Foster to turn Elkins loose on the Alaskan seals! It is not often that three Cabinet officers can be caught in one drag-net, nor is there probably any uglier scandal open to Democratic inquisitors than this one. an President Harrison has once more earned the New York Evening Post (Ind.), Dec. 17.hearty commendation of the Nation by the excellence of his judicial appointments. No President in recent times has been called upon to name so many Judges in an equal period, and no President has maintained a higher level in his selections. The last Congress required him to man a new Court of Appellate Judges, and the nominations for six of the places which he sent to the Senate yesterday fully sustain the reputation which he had previously established for the exercise of uncommon discrimi nation. Boston Herald (Ind.), Dec. 19.-If Mr. Blaine wishes to have the nomination he can unquestionably obtain it, with Mr. Elkins in or with Mr. Elkins out of the Cabinet, while it is hardly likely that he will look upon the selection of his warm political friend for a place of this kind as a reason why he should gracefully retire from the contest, assuming he has made up his mind to allow his name to be presented at the National Convention. The appointment, it seems to us, has less mystery about it than common rumor wishes to attribute to it. It may seem to indicate undue sentimentality, but the regret we have is that a Republican Administration should thus honor a man whose success in life represents one of the most dangerous features in our social and political systems. The race for wealth, to be gained no matter how, is sufficiently keen without encouraging the runners by honoring in an undue manner those who have been successful competitors. tunate that in the list of President Harrison's Chicago News (Ind.), Dec. 18.—It is unfornominees for the Appellate bench there should appear one name which invites criticism-that of William A. Woods, of Indiana. The President's motive in elevating Judge Woods to the Appellate bench may have been praiseworthy; but, whatever it was, the appointment is a mistake and it may yet cause him no little trouble. Providence Journal (Ind.), Dec. 21.—If, as everybody admits, it is so commendable to disregard party politics in nominating Judges, why would it not be at least equally commendable to disregard partisanship also in other Executive appointments? If it is a good thing to have a third of the Judiciary allied with the party opposed to the Administration, why would it not be entirely safe and equally commendable to give a third or a half of the postmasterships and minor civil offices of the Government to political opponents also? In point of fact it would be more sensible on the whole, since Democratic Judges might, in certain conceivable contingencies, overturn legislative measures that a Republican President and his party would ardently desire to see maintained, but a postmaster or a customs collector could not possibly, in attending to duty, affect the Administration's political views. The train of thought naturally suggested by these recent appointments is one well worth following out. All our people seem to recognize a good thing when they see it, but some of them are very slow in finding out that nonpartisanship in appointments is one of those good things of which we could have much more without injury. NEW MEN TO THE FRONT. Boston Globe (Dem.), Dec. 22.—A New York candidate with the united backing of his own State not being obtainable, where shall the nominee be found? The West has no candidate to tender whose chances of carrying the needed Electoral votes of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, are at all good. But Massachusetts has. In the person of her gifted and everywhere popular young Governor, she offers a candidate on whom every wing of the party, South, West, and East, can be surely united with winning enthusiasm. Mr. Cleveland has had no more loyal or effective supporter, yet Mr. Hill and his friends could without feeling their amour propre at all offended, could be rallied to the last man for William heartily support him. New York's Democracy Eustis Russell, and more than half of New England's Electoral votes, including those of Massachusetts, would be certainly transferred for the first time to the Democratic column. New York and the necessary Eastern States, where the battleground really is, would be safe beyond peradventure for Governor Russell. We have asked again and again for the name of any other Democrat, East, West, or South, of whom this can be as confidently said, and no one has named him yet. He cannot be named, for he is not living. The more the situation in New York develops and the more the almost inevitable sequel of nominating any New Yorker on whom all Democratic New Yorkers are not willingly and heartily agreed is contemplated-for the sequel of such a perilous procedure can hardly fail to be National defeat, the more are we constrained to the conclusion that in pressing the wisdom and expediency of Governor Russell's nomination we are performing a most important and valuable service to the National Democracy. Chicago Herald (Dem.), Dec. 17.-John M. Palmer was not long in Washington before the discovery was made by many Eastern observers that he is a Presidential possibility of very pronounced proportions. He is a man who needs to be seen and heard to be appreciated. He does not shrink on acquaintance. He wears well. He grows upon the people. Smart politicians looking for a candidate to win with will not fail to appreciate that sort of a man. The Herald has on several occasions eral Palmer, and, without antagonizing others, pointed out the fitness and availability of Gen. has expressed the opinion that under certain circumstances he would be an ideal candidate. Now that he has passed into National view no one knowing him will be surprised at the increasing demand for his nomination in 1892. On OUR RECIPROCITY TREATY WITH GERMANY.-Publicity has been given to the official correspondence giving the details of the new reciprocity agreement concluded with Germany. The tariff concessions granted by Germany to Austria-Hungary likewise accrue to the benefit of the United States. There are substantial reductions on the cereals. wheat and rye the reduction amounts to 30 per cent., and on oats to 371⁄2 per cent. There is a reduction of 25 per cent. on pulse and of II per cent. on barley, of 20 per cent. on maize, and of 10 per cent. on malt. Bed feathers are made free. There are reductions on prepared lumber and timber of from 163 per cent. to 25 per cent. The rate on hogs is reduced 3 30 per cent., and that on butter is reduced 15 per cent., as is also the rate on slaughtered pork, fresh and dressed. The duty on mill products of grain and pulse is reduced a little over 30 per cent., and there are also reductions on game, horses, and oxen. The importance of the treaty to the United States lies, of course, in the reductions made in the duties on cereals and provisions, taken in connection with the abolition of the prohibition of our pork exports. The treaty in effect opens to the United States a market for its cereals that hitherto has been largely occupied by Russia, which has exported to Germany more than all the other countries combined.—Bradstreet's (New York), Dec. 19. would give a preference to each other's goods, | tently to the independent tariff policy, and and that if certain of the smaller traders Free Trade Great Britain. Even France, wanted to come into the combination they where reaction against excessive Protective might, the big men being fully aware that if duties is the order of the day, will find it necesthe small men took the business advantage sary to give a much more liberal application to they would never think of acting except in a her minimum tariff than her Chauvinists origifriendly way tn town politics. Unquestionably nally had in view. Clearly, Europe is entering the main idea of the treaties is to cement the upon a politico-commercial era-an era desTriple Alliance, and to hold out trade advant- tined to endure for twelve years, barring, of ages which may induce the smaller Powers, course, the chances of war-which will connotably Spain, Switzerland, Servia, Holland, trast_sharply with the era that it succeeds—in Roumania, and Bulgaria, to fall into line with which severe independent tariffs and vague "" most favored nation" clauses will be abandTHE GERRYMANDER QUESTION.-All honest Germany, Austria, and Italy. If these little citizens will agree with the President's indig- Powers once eat the salt of preferential treat- oned, and which will be based on well-connant condemnation of gerrymandering. Un-ment, they may be relied upon to stand by the ceived reciprocal concessions. In principle happily, neither party can throw stones at the Triple Alliance; for nations, like individuals, the new system will be an approach to Free Whether it will be so practically will other for this practice, but honest men of both seldom take a benefit without feeling that Trade. parties ought to unite in some method to pre- they must do something for it-there is not be determined when it is seen how far the conone man in a hundred who could take £10,000 sumers are disposed to endure the burdens that as a free gift from a friend and retain remain. One thing is certain, that the people his entire independence. The new treaties acquire economic wisdom only through hurtful mean, then, for France not merely economic experience. isolation, but a political isolation still more complete than that which has existed up till now. vent it in the future. We can conceive of no better scheme for this purpose than the President's suggestion-the appointment of an unpartisan commission by the Supreme Court for the purpose of devising such a method and recommending it to Congress, and through Congress to the people of the United States. We are by no means sure that the election of the Electoral College by districts, according to the Michigan plan, would not be better than their election by States. If gerrymandering can be prevented, such a method of election would give a truer representation of the popular judgment, and therefore better effect to the popular will. Since the President refers to the Lodge Elections Bill, the failure of which he regrets, we may add that, in our judgment, any measure which should take the supervision of Federal elections away from the State and give it to the Federal Government would create more evils than it would cure.-Christian Union (New York), Dcc. 19. FOREIGN. THE COMMERCIAL TREATIES OF THE 5. THE CHINESE SITUATION. Saturday Review (London), Dec. Whether the rebels are really formidable or not, whether their leader is a Lama or the chief of an armed band whose domestic peace has been ruined by the abduction of his wife, whether both the Lama and the chief are in the field jointly or severally, or neither of them (we decline to commit ourselves to any decisive opinion on any of these points), the danger is quite sufficiently serious for the Chinese Government. new The Continental Powers have ranged The supposition that the whole thing is deliberately exaggerated by the Chinese rulers, in order to provide themselves with an excuse of weakness if they are seriously called upon by the Treaty Powers to protect the Christians, is hardly admissible. It is difficult to understand the workings of the Oriental mind; but this game would surely be too fatal to commend itself even to the most midst of all this uncertainty, one thing at least stupid conceivable Tsung-li-Yamen. In the appears undeniable, namely, that the time has come when the Treaty Powers must make a resolute endeavor to discover what really is happening, and must make their resolution Of two clear to the Chinese Government. things, one would appear to be certain. Either there is a recrudescence of hatred of foreigners in China which the Government cannot control, or that Government is playing a very discreditable double game. It is fomenting antiforeign riots underhand, with the intention of frightening foreigners into keeping their distance. In either case the Treaty Powers have good ground for giving an intelligible warning, if not for action. The difficulty seems to be to get the Treaty Powers to act together. In France there are signs-rather suspicious, considering recent alliances-of an inclination to take the worst for granted, and to act with vigor. Germany, again, is manifestly reluctant to endanger the bones of a Pomeranian marine. United action seems difficult. We should much prefer it; but, if it cannot be obtained, we, who have more interest in China than all the rest put together, can at least act for ourselves, with a due regard, of course, for the real difficulties of the Chinese Government. CONTINENTAL POWERS. London Spectator, Dec. 12.-When Wordsworth had remarked that he walked three times around the house before breakfast, and that Achilles dragged Hector three times round the walls of Troy, he added, with his usual caution and sincerity: "That isn't a joke, but something might be made of it." In the same way the anti-Protectionist press of Germany, Austria, and Italy seem inclined to declare that, though the system of commercial treaties which has been negotiated between the central Powers is not Free Trade, something may be made of it. And though we are not inclined to be quite as hopeful about the new departure as the Continental Free Traders, we are willing to admit that something has been gained, and that the present attitude taken up by the Triple Alliance and its satellites is a great deal better than the bullethead Protectionism of France and the United States. When countries get accustomed to trading more or less freely with one or two of their neighbors, they are apt to wonder whether it would after all be so disastrous to extend the process a little further, and let in the rest of mankind. This frame of mind is the stuff from which Free Traders are made. It may seem at first sight strange that the able statesmen who negotiated the various treaties between New York Staats-Zeitung, Dec. 18.-The FRANCE AND BULGARIA. Austria and Germany, Germany and Italy, and German Reichstag is a-galloping. It makes New York Evening Post, Dec. 18.-The Austria and Italy, and those between these haste to give fulfillment to the Chancellor's French appear to be attempting a little cheap States and the smaller Powers concerned, did laudable resolution to complete before the bullying on the Bulgarians. The Bulgarian not, when they had got so far on the Free holidays the work of adopting the commercial Government has expelled a French newspaper Trade road, go a little further, and agree upon treaties, so far as Germany is concerned. For correspondent, who has, according to them, tariffs which should be revenue tariffs only. all practical purposes the treaties may be persistently abused and misrepresented them. Those, however, who are inclined to argue regarded as perfected, and if it is possible to It may seem to us a foolish thing to do, but thus, ignore the political character of the new be certain of anything we may feel sure that it probably would not seem so if we stood in treaties. Political, not economic considera- nothing stands in the way of their coming into Bulgarian shoes. What the Bulgarians see in tions played the chief part in the arrangements. operation on the 1st of February, 1892. There the assaults of the French press on them is an In truth, what the Central Powers desired to can be no doubt that before that date, which attempt to cement the Franco-Russian alliance do was to cement their own alliance by will be a decisive turning-point for politico- by depreciating the Bulgarian capacity for material ties, and to hold out induce- commercial conditions in all European coun- self-government, and thus justifying Russian ments to smaller States to join their tries, the commercial treaties will be so gener-dissatisfaction with the new State and preparcombination. It was as if a ring of big busi- ally agreed to as to unite in a zollverein ing for the Czar's possible interference. The ness men who wanted to keep the control of a substantially all the nations of Europe, except- Balkan peninsula, with its new States, is just city in their hands were to agree that they ing France and Russia, which adhere persis- now the powder magazine of Europe. If war |