Books. SAMSON AND SHYLOCK; or, A Plea for the Workingmen by a Preacher, Himself a Day-Laborer. By the Rev. John Merritte Driver. Cloth, 12m0, pp. 265., with Copious Index. The Author, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1891. [This work consists of a serious of sixteen addresses on Social and economic subjects, the Samson of the text standing for the workingman, the Shylock for the capitalist. The writer has aimed to present a broad view of the various sides of the social problem, including the Bright and the Dark side of Labor Organizations, the Friends and Foes of the Workingman, the Problems of Trusts and Monopolies, of Socialism, Communism, and Nihilism, Hours of Labor, Sabbath Observance, the place of the Bible and the Church in the Social System, etc., etc., and concludes with a prophetic address in which he proclaims America the workingmen's Holy Land, and some American city-probably Chicago-as the New Jerusalem. But while the author prophesies that a social millenium is coming, and that right speedily, he by no means looks for its inauguration without adequate cause. The author is judicious and temperate in his condemnation of the abuses of the forces of both the Samson and the Shylock of his parable. That the writer is animated by the loftiest motives is beyond question; his suggestion of a complete federation of labor as the lines on which the battle is to be fought, point him out as a labor-leader of considerable generalship; and he appears to have no doubt that if Shylock be compelled to concede to Samson all the latter's just demands, the millenium would be at once inaugurated. That Mr. Driver is a speaker of very considerable force, a man well calculated to arouse the enthusiasm of his hearers will be gathered from the following abstract of his address on The Industrial Revolution—What Next and How? I THINK no argument of mine is necessary to prove that we are in the midst of the greatest social and economic upheaval that the world has ever witnessed. I am also of opinion that no argument is necessary to prove that Labor is on the eve of reaching the goal, for which it has been striving so many long, weary, and disheartening centuries. The virgin hemisphere, and the people's government, are to beget the economic Saviour of the World. America is to be Nazareth and Eden in one. The Workingman of Holy Writ is going to join hands with all His brother workingmen, and help them regain the Golden Age. The United States is to be the workingman's Holy Land, and some American city-Chicago, perhaps-is to be the New Jerusalem. Standing in the watch-tower, interested in men as well as in angels, anxious to help humanity as well as heaven, I am proud to note progress all along the line. Nor is the progress glacial—an inch in a thousand years. During the past years it has been almost cyclonic, not only in the growth of Unions and Federation, but notably in the growth of public sentiment among the people not directly interested. In revolutions, as Macauley says, men live fast; the experience of years is crowded into hours. Lincoln, traduced over all the North even, when Sumter was fired on, suddenly became "On Fortune's crowning slope, The pillar of a people's hope, Men ripened rapidly in that tremendous revolution. And now the boundless rapacity of great trusts, monopolies, and corporations, and the heartlessness of congested wealth have stirred the very souls of the people in behalf of the toiling, trudging, and, sometimes, trembling millions. The revolution is on, and millions of eyes are turned towards this gathering to-night, while millions of hearts are stirred with the same transports that thrill your hearts and mine. But how to complete the revolution, to gain the victory, to reach a glorious consummation, happy, just and permanent, is now the supreme ques tion. But a There is indeed one central star in the firmament toward which all turn, but there are other stars in the firmament of labor which are not to be despised. The Revolution demands thought. The great problems of Capital and Labor must be thought out before they can be wrought out. You must know what you want, and remember there is great power in a rallying-cry to arouse enthusiasm. rallying-cry is impossible without a clearly defined purpose, easily grasped by the masses, and having an intense conviction behind it. Another thing. Keep your finger on the public pulse. One night at Carlaiville, an anti-slavery man made a speech which so enraged the people they threatened to mob him. Lincoln followed him with a still stronger assault upon the "divine institution" and closed with a tumult of applause. Lincoln had his finger on the public pulse. Great and conscientious as our leaders are, good men and true to the core, they have not always correctly interpreted the will of the people. Washington alone was preeminent in our first Revolution. He felt every heart-throb of the people. Our great need is a Washington, who can rally all the people until the yoke of industrial bondage shall be thrown off, and every workingman shall feel that the world at last recognizes that, A Workingman's the noblest work of God, and with the Rock of Ages beneath him and the everlasting heavens above him he can reap his just dues in every field of endeavor. Another thing; we need to create public sentiment. You cannot wage war with Capital without inconveniencing the public; and the reason so many of your battles have been lost is, public sentiment has not been sufficiently toned up to stand behind you. To this end the press must help, but there is no enginery like the Christian pulpit. Turn our 25,000 Methodist Preachers loose on this problem. They are all on the workingmen's side. Then rally the other Churches. In addition to this there must be solidarity of labor, carefully organized, and a world-wide federation of labor, and when the clash comes we must act on General Grant's lines and make war as terrible as possible, and if Capital harden its heart, fold your hands and do nothing. Then every Capitalist except the one that provokes the strike will rally to your standard; not because they love you, but because the strike hurts them. Thus organized, and using your power righteously, the gates of Hell cannot prevail against you. [Ia Dreams of the Dead the author presents the claims of Spiritism, Theosophy, Buddhism, and Occult Mysticism, in a connected story, as matters of personal experience, both in his corporeal and in his astral form. The work is given to the world by Edward S. Huntington, along with an Introduction in which he makes a disclaimer of authorship, in favor of the mythical Edward Stanton, "the secret of whose personality" Mr. Huntington "does not feel at liberty to disclose." In the closing part of the Introduction, he says: "One final word: I believe that the moral effect of Dreams of the Dead ought to be most excellent, whatever shall be the individual opinions of its readers as to the occurrences parrated." This opens up the very grave question of the truth of the pretensions of spiritism. The moral teaching of the work is in line with the most advanced views of moral science, its tendency per se is to elevate and purify, but the moral effect of accepting this code on the authority of a supernatural religious system intimately interwoven with it will depend very much on whether the religious system is a true or false one. In spiritism as here presented we have a new religious system, a new code of dogmas, crystallizing around a moral code in harmony with man's most developed grasp of his ethical and spiritual relations. Spiritism has nevertheless thecharm of novelty, it professes to give authoritative explanations of the phenomena of suggestion, thought-transference, etc.; and in the doctrine of Karma, which it has incorporated into its system, it teaches a profound view of the consequences of conduct, of the chain of cause and sequence running through the Ages in the realm of morals as well as in the world of physics. The work is attractive in style, and may be read with profit by persons of healthy mental constitution. The following remarks concerning the Theosophical Society are given on very high authority.] THIS HIS sect was startled by a truly wonderful woman, who was aided by a few of our occult brothers. Helena Petrovina Blavatsky, with all her outward faults of illusionary manifestation, was the most extraordinary woman of any time. Her last incarnation previous to the one just finished, was in the person of the Grecian Aspasia. As founder of the Theosophical Society, there was great danger that a personal worship of her followers might divert attention from the great truths she revealed, to a blind adoration of her personal character, so, with her own consent, her lower earthly personality was led to perform many deeds unworthy of her higher self. The Society, with its noble motto, "The Universal Brotherhood of Humanity," and the accompanying epigram, "There is no religion higher than truth" has a grand future before it. Resting on the basic doctrines of Reincarnation and Karma, an eclectic theosophy, embracing the everlasting moral truths of all the great world-religions, is to be the ruling faith of the coming humanity. It is one of the mistakes of the Society that it neglects the grand, imperishable works of the old Hebrew prophets, while giving extravagant praise to the sacred Indian writings. But the Society will eventually be guided by its masters. The mystic brothers know the truth that Christianity, with all its faults, with all the cruelties that have been committed in the name of Jesus, contains the highest moral teachings ever sent from the mind of the Eternal, and they know that Christ, the lowly Carpenter of Nazareth, offered in His own person the most perfect example ever given to man. The Theosophical Society, when it ceases to be a temporary fad, taken up by men and women of sensational mental habits, will become a powerful instrument for good. That day rapidly approaches. In the meantime, the advocates of the new doctrines should remember that Abraham, Moses, the Egyptian teachers, the Druids, Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, all came as messengers from the one Supreme Ruler, to the different branches of the fifth race. Each gave the divine teaching in the form best fitted for its reception by the character of the people to whom the revelation was sent. Mahomed, whose influence for good over vast numbers of the human race, has been incalculable, would have come in vain to a people with different physical characteristics. [The following remarks on social matters by a graduate of the mystic Sciences, who instructs our author on Socialism, and whose life is mainly spent in missionary work among the low and degraded of the great city, will indicate that the new system covers the whole field of active life.] I asked if in these labors any occult means were employed. Certainly, was the reply. The majority of members of this reform company is composed of graduates in the mystic Sciences. Our chief implements are the powers we possess to impress the minds of worthy human instruments. You must have noticed the immense change in human sentiment on social questions within the last few years; so great a change as to affect even the old political parties in every civilized country of the world. All the writers in the reform literature of this present age, whether that literature take the shape of essay, novel, or serious treatise, have been urged to their task by the hidden mental impress of some member of our band. [In the Master's prediction concerning the Coming Race, views are advanced which cannot fail to command the respectful attention of at least a majority of the race that is to say, of the gentler sex, whose true place in the social system is indicated in the following paragraph:] Throughout all past ages one fatal thought has vitiated every attempt of man on this particular planet to establish a civilized state. On some other planets, in this, and in greater systems of worlds, larger truth was earlier given. This destroying thought has been the wrong interpretation of sex. The male has assumed that he was the lord of life, whereas the opposite fact was nearer the truth; for if there is any distinction, the female element is the higher. The Genesis of genESIS; A Study of the Documentary Sources of the First Book of Moses in Accordance with the Results of Critical Science, Illustrating the Presence of Bibles within the Bible. By Benjamin Wisner Bacon. With an Introductory by George F. Moore, Professor in Andover Theological Seminary. 8vo, pp. 352. Hartford, Conn.: The Student Publishing Company. 1892. " [It is the opinion of many persons that what is called the "Higher Criticism" of the Bible, is something which concerns Biblical scholars and technical investigators alone. Such is not the opinion of the author of this volume, who believes that a clear explanation of the general principles involved in the Higher Criticism, of the nature rather than the details of the argument, can be easily apprehended by those whom President Lincoln so often called "the plain people." Moreover, Mr. Bacon thinks that the general public wishes to be informed, in general outline, of the method pursued by the critics and the results propounded. We apprehend the author to be quite right, and that his book, to use an overworked phrase, "supplies a long-felt want." His attitude towards the Higher Criticism is that of one in sympathy with its theory, at the same time that he acts as an expositor of it and not an advocate and special pleader. One must be wholly lacking in a sense of humor not to derive some amusement from finding in the same volume the unanswerable proofs by Mr. Bacon of the absolute need of critical analysis to determine what the component parts of each book of Scripture are and the deliverances of a learned Professor and Fellow of Princeton Theological Seminary to the effect that there is no need of critical analysis, an opinion founded on the assumption that there is no presumptive evidence of various documents in the Pentateuch, or, at least, in the Pentateuchal Code. The book is divided into three parts. The first part contains three chapters, treating respectively of "Higher Criticism and the Science of Documentary Analysis"; "The Science of Historical Criticism;" "The Documentary Theory of To-day." The first two are intended principally for unlearned readers, the third will interest scholars most. The second part gives the text of Genesis in the Revised Version, presented in varieties of type, to exhibit the Theory of Documentary Sources; with notes explanatory of the " phenomena of redaction," and critical marginal references. The third part comprises what are called the Jahvist, Elohist, and Priestly Documents, separately restored in a revised translation, with textual emendations of good authority. These Documents, part of the sources from which Genesis is believed to have been subsequently compiled, are thought to have been written respectively, 800, 750, and B.C.. There are besides Up to the time of the publication, in 1883, of the extremely ancient Christian document entitled The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, the eminent German critics, Bickell and Gebhardt, had concluded from their studies of the so-called Apostolic Constitutions and Apostolic Epitome that some more ancient document underlaid those writings. In 1882 appeared the work of Krawutzky, “in which he undertook to recover and reconstruct the imbedded earlier and simpler document." When, in 1883, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles was brought forth from its hiding place of centuries in a neglected convent library of Constantinople, and given to the world, the close correspondence of it with the document conjecturally reproduced by Krawutzky, by the processes of 'documentary analysis,” demonstrated the latter to be " a success of the most pronounced and brilliant character." Tatian, one of the earliest Christian Apologists, who died not long after the year 172, wrote a work called the "Diatessaron," believed to be a Harmony of the Four Gospels," which was supposed to be irretrievably lost. In 1881, the German scholar, Zahn, reconstructed the work of Tatian by means of a Latin Harmony of the sixth century and an Armenian commentary on it by Ephraem Syrus. Subsequently the long lost Diatessaron was found, and in 1888, Ciasca edited it from two codices. Then it was discovered that in all the main points the restoration of Zahn was entirely successful. The work, it was ascertained, is not a harmony, but a composite gospel made up of edited extracts from the four canonical Gospels. Professor George F. Moore in an article in the Journal of Biblical Literature in 1890 shows how every process attributed by the critics, to the Redactor, or assumed compiler and editor of the Pentateuch, is paralleled and more than paralleled by those applied by Tatian to the material taken by him from the four canonical Gospels. That which in the analysis of the Hexateuch has been ignorantly denounced as a crazy patchwork" is seen to be more sober, more credible by far, than the process actually applied by Tatian to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, to make his "Diatessaron." Many doubtless will continue to cling to the tradition of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, as men long clung to the Davidic authorship of the Psalms. Those, however, who have witnessed the quiet superseding of this now obsolete idea by that of historical criticism, presenting the Psalm-book as a conglomerate which unites in one collection fruits of the religious thought and feeling of Israel during many centuries, have no excuse for regarding the exactly analogous treatment of the heterogeneous elments of the Hexateuch as necessarily subversive of religious faith. Rather let us, with the genuine faith in Divine revelation of the late Dean Stanley, see in the results of criticism a discovery of "Bibles within the Bible," a discovery which testifies to the continuous operation and guidance of the Spirit of Truth in the history of spiritual life in Israel, exactly as the geologist's strata, layer upon layer, bear witness, with their imbedded fossil survivals of a pre-historic age, to the continuous work of the Creator in the sphere of physical life. For here also are "tables of stone written with the finger of God"; here, also, are "prophets which have been since the world began.' " ELINE VERE. (Holland Fiction Series.) Translated from the Dutch of Louis Couperus. By J. T. Grein, with an Introduction by Edmund Gosse. Cloth, 12mo, 312 pp. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1892. [The special interest which attaches to this book is that it is the first production of the new Dutch school, the Sensitivists, presented to English readers. The origin and history of the new school is given in Mr. Gosse's Introduction from which we glean the following particulars:] Appendices, one on The Great Flood Interpolation in the Jahvist Document, WITHIN the last seven or eight years, a great revolution has taken the other containing some "Hebrew Notes." We give a statement of the nature of documentary analysis, with two splendid instances of what it has achieved, and the concluding remarks of the author about historical criticism.] IT T is not well known to the general public that a science exists, and has existed for more than a century, with definite method and rules for going beneath the surface of ancient writings, and, so to speak, examining the material of their foundations, and tracing thereon the masons' marks, and that many important results of this science have already secured universal acceptation among those competent to judge. At present the trustworthiness of the science in its general methods and results can be best exhibited by illustrations drawn from patristic literature, since thus we shall not raise the mooted question of the documentary theory of the Pentateuch. place in Dutch taste, which has escaped the notice of the outside world. There exists, however, at this moment, a group of young writers, most of them between twenty-five and thirty-five years of age, who exhibit a violent zeal for literature, and repudiate, sometimes with ferocity, the rather sleepy Dutch authorship of the last forty years. The inaugurator of the new school was Jacques Perk. He wrote, in 1880, a Mathilde for which he could find no publisher; presently died, and began to be famous on the posthumous issue of his poems. These sonnets were the heralds of a whole new poetic literature. The young writers started De Nieuwe Gids, a rival to the old Dutch Quarterly De Gids. In this review, which has maintained and steadily improved its position, have appeared the principal productions of the younger generation. Sensitivism, the prevailing characteristic of the new school, is interpreted as a development of impressionism grafted upon naturalism. The Press. POLITICAL. THE FREE COINAGE ISSUE. New York Times (Ind.), Feb. 12.-The Bill that Mr. Bland has got his Committee to report to the House, and which he wishes to make a special order for next Wednesday, is as bad as by any possible ingenuity it could be made. It provides for free and unlimited coinage of silver at the present legal ratio of 16 to I. That is to say, that any owner of silver bullion (to the coinage value of $100) no matter what its source may be, may take his bullion to the mints of the United States and have it coined into dollars of the legal weight, which are made by the law full legal tender for all debts, public and private. Or, if the holder prefer, he may receive in place of made the efforts to demonetize silver." time. Chicago Herald (Dem.), Feb. 12. The [Bland] Bill provides, we are told, for the conversion of all silver certificates, all the notes issued in payment for silver bullion, and not only these, but "all gold certificates," into "coin notes redeemable in coin.” These "coin notes "would in reality be silver notes, should not like to be answerable for the conse- | justice of the free coinage of silver. The Bill the standard dollars" coin notes" of the same New York Evening Post (Ind.), Feb. 11.Mr. Bland's Free Coinage Bill differs so widely from any measure heretofore proposed by anybody that we can hardly give it serious consideration. The proposal to make our standard of value depend upon the standard of another country, and to have all of our silver Denver News (Dem.), Feb. 11.-There are dollars recoined on a new ratio in the event that 200 free coinage Democrats in the House who that other country does something, is altogether will vote for the measure. It will be passed outré. There are 349,000,000 of standard silver triumphantly by them and later it will be apdollars in the Treasury. Of this sum $320,- proved in the Senate. At such a time of cheer 000,000 belongs to the holders of silver certifi- and promise the friends of silver in Colorado cates which are in circulation. Is the Govern- should be alert. None but words of encour-been to put the silverites in a good humor by Cleveland Plain Dealer (Dem.), Feb. 12.— The Committee on Coinage has done well in framing and reporting the Bill. Now we hope there will be no obstacles placed in the way of speedy action. There should be no cowardice in this matter. Charleston News and Courier (Dem.), Feb. 11.-The idea of Mr. Crisp, or rather of the plotters whose tool Mr. Crisp is, seems to have giving them the Coinage Committee and then their power to a more convenient season. Mr. cajole them into putting off the exercise of Crisp and his set of politicians, who regard politics simply as a game, to be played with the people as the pieces to be manipulated and the offices as the stakes to be won or lost, do not understand the crank politicians like Mr. Bland, who have one idea in their heads and who are in dead earnest about having that idea carried out and who cannot see anything except in connection with that idea. The only way to deal with such poople is to fight them from the start, not let them get any influence or power that can be kept out of their hands, and continually expose their fallacies to the public mind and insist that they are not to be ment to seize upon these standard silver dol-agement should be spoken. Aid for the cause If the Democratic party goes into the cam- Indianapolis Sentinel (Dem.), Feb. 11.-The The lowest pre New York Herald (Ind.-Dem.), Feb. 11.Silver has just sold in London at 41d. an ounce, the lowest price ever known. vious price in the memory of man was in May, 1888, when the metal sold at 41%d., but it recovered at once, and the average for that month was 42d. Great uneasiness is being caused abroad by the decline, particularly as the President's declared hostility to free coinage and the vigorous opposition of the Senate Committee on Finance may lead to a still further fall. Europe has been hoping against hope that we would open our mints to unlimited coinage of silver and drive out of this country the gold which they so sadly need over there. When it is demonstrated that we are going to do nothing of the kind there will be a wholesome change of sentiment abroad on the question of an international agreement. Let it be understood once for all that we are not going to make the egregious blunder of opening our mints alone to the free coinage of silver, and we shall no longer find it necessary to occupy the position of a suppliant-going | about hat in hand begging one nation after another to meet and talk over the matter. It is only necessary to look at their financial status to see that they are in a much worse plight than we are, and the burden of initiating the reform will be thrown upon them. Detroit Free Press (Dem.), Feb. 12.-The attitude of Mr. Bland and his free coinage friends in the House is a bold one. They are certainly showing the courage of their convictions. It may be, in one aspect of the case, everything that is admirable. But it certainly is not politics. The coinage measure can in all probability be carried in the House. It may possibly be carried by a small majority in the Senate, though of this there is great doubt. There is no doubt whatever that if passed it will be vetoed by the President; and so far as any practical results go, the victory in House and Senate will amount to naught. It is not within the possibilities that it can be passed over the Presidental veto. Quite as certain as the Presidential veto is the dividing of the Democracy, if the party goes into the coming campaign committed-as the passage of the coinage measure would commit it-to free silver. A majority of the party numerically is probably in favor of it; but the majority is not so located as to carry the weight it needs in a Presidential contest. New Orleans Picayune (Dem.), Feb. 12.— There has been a strong effort made to sidetrack the free coinage measure, avowedly in the interest of Democratic harmony. With this purpose in view, an agitation in favor of the holding of an international bimetallic congress so as to bring about an international agreement has been started, but the Coinage Committee declined to consider that plan, deeming it merely a scheme to gain time and prevent the consideration of the silver problem by the present Congress. Party lines cannot be very strictly drawn on the silver issue. The adherents of both great parties can be found as well in favor of the measure as against it, but there is little doubt but that the preponderance of Democratic sentiment favors free coinage. Boston Journal (Rep.), Feb. 13.-There is no longer any doubt about the determination of the free silver people, or their vigor or fertility of resource. A free coinage measure is now certain to pass the House of Representatives, and it is probable that the mischief will be done within a fortnight. The handful of honest money Democrats have been frantically hoping that Hill and Brice and Gorman might intervene, and, through the Committee on Rules, head off the impending legislation. But that idea will now have to be abandoned. It Engineering and Mining Journal (New York), Feb. 13.-The political newspapers are fighting over the question because it very greatly affects the prospects of the political parties in the next campaign. The question of most importance is the effect this Free Coinage Bill necessarily has upon our commerce and industries, wherever it is taken seriously as an indication of what we are actually going to do. The Engineering and Mining Journal has frequently pointed out, citing as proof the best statistics that have been compiled, that the reason for the decline in the price of silver is to be found in the overproduction of the metal. The cost of pro Chicago Inter-Ocean (Rep.), Feb. II. The be said of their leaders upon the tariff or Free Inter-Ocean fully concurs in all that Mr. Bland Trade issue. says in favor of bimetallic paper. It is precisely what this paper has advocated for years. would be glad to see all Government paper money which is based on one particular metal, whether gold or silver, taken up as fast as could be without disturbing the volume of currency flowing in the channels of trade, and so far as the Bland Bill goes in providing for carrying out that policy we approve it; but we protest against the misrepresentation of the act of 1890 and the evident desire to raise a false issue. Possibly Mr. Bland did not know any better. If the Democrats really wish to go before the country next fall on the issue raised by the Bland Bill the Republicans will put no obstacle in the way. When the question is which shall get the benefit of the margin be-ducing silver has been reduced and there are a sufficient number of producers who can tween coin and market value of silver, the profitably supply the world's demand at prices Government or the silver kings of the Rockies, below those which are even now ruling. The we have no fear of the popular decision. mere fact that one or half a dozen countries have adopted free coinage does not increase the gold value of the metal in the open markets of the world. Free coinage in Mexico, in India, and in many other countries has no effect upon the London price of silver, neither would free coinage in this country affect it except adversely, and that because it would take away the only large purchaser of silver who is willing to buy it with gold or its equivalent. Toledo Blade (Rep.), Feb. 11.-The entire bill is a mistake. Its passage would be infinitely disastrous to the country. Every honest man should raise his voice in protest against this scheme, which has not one sound reason for its enactment, but every possible reason against it. Every Representative in Congress who supports it should be retired to private life this fall by his constituents. Minneapolis Journal (Ind.-Rep.), Feb. 10.Mr. Bland's Bill has the curious provise that when France opens her mints to free coinage at the ratio of 15% of silver to one of gold, the ratio of this country shall be changed from 16 to 1 to 151⁄2 to I, and our silver dollar shall consist of 400 grains of standard silver instead of 4122. So far as France is concerned she has no inclination to resume free coinage. She tried it once and stopped it. If she tries SENATOR HILL. From a letter from Senator George G. Vest, read at the Democratic banquet at Denver, Feb. 9.—I have never wavered in my earnest desire for the election of Mr. Cleveland, although recent events have satisfied me that the chances for his nomination are greatly diminished. It that I should frankly give my reasons is proper it again she will stop it again in self-defense. for this opinion. When in New York last fall Mr. Bland says he doesn't care about an inter- during the State canvass I was impressed by national ratio, but inserts this clause to accom-leaders would abandon their opposition to what I saw and heard that the Tammany modate certain people. The absurdity of per- Cleveland, and would support him for the Prespetrating free coinage without any internaidential nomination. That impression has been tional agreement is apparent. It will make it utterly impossible to give silver anything but a fluctuating value. The Bland measure cannot force silver to parity with gold. The vast increase of silver currency will never do it. St. Paul Pioneer Press (Rep.), Feb. 12.—' Detroit Tribune (Rep.), Feb. 11.-' -When it Cleveland Leader (Rep.), Feb. 11.-About the only difference between the present Bland Bill comes to putting the party squarely on record and his measure of 1878 is that this one creates in favor of free coinage by the passage of a bill, coin certificates instead of silver certificates we doubt whether 150 Democratic members and that they are payable in either silver or will be found who will vote for such a bill, gold. Its essential feature is the establish- even if they are given a chance by the ComAnd if the latter does not ment of free coinage, authorizing the silver mittee on Rules. mine owners to have seventy cents' worth of concern itself with the fate of a free coinage their metal coined into pieces which the people bill, free coinage is doomed. There is a strong In Democratic anti-free coinage minority, and will be expected to accept for one dollar. the Senate the silver spell is losing its power. this minority, together with the Republican The Senate Finance Committee, on Tuesday, side of the House, can and will prevent any decided by a vote of 7 to 4 to report adversely free coinage legislation. the Stewart Silver Bill and three Democrats voted with the Republicans. The light seems to be breaking through some of the chinks and crannies of the " hopelessly divided" Democratic House, but it has not yet reached Bland and his cohorts and probably will not strike their vision until the House is shattered into fragments and its occupants buried in political ruin. Lewiston Journal (Rep.), Feb. II. The boomerang is a toy compared with the free silver issue as a Democratic weapon of political enterprise in the year 1892. Let its friends beware of it. Omaha Bee (Rep.), Feb. 12.-The free coinage Democrats in Congress have the courage of their convictions, and that is more than can entirely removed by the Speakership contest The by 50,000 plurality, has the confidence of both factions, and is a safe, reliable, and popular Democrat. If the controlling element of the New York Democracy persists in forcing Governor Hill upon the party and will accept no other conclusion, it seems to me our candidate should come from the West. In that event, my personal preference would be for that tried and faithful Democrat, William R. Morrison, of Illinois, but Palmer, Carlisle, Gray, or Boies | apply to his less skillful opponents as to so New York Herald (Ind.-Dem.), Feb. 11.The reason why he [Hill] wanted the State Convention to meet on the 22d of February is plain. Heaven only knows when the silver question will bob up in Congress. Like Banquo's ghost, that is a problem which will not down." The Senator is bound to vote and he is pretty sure to vote for free silver. If before that emergency arises he can manage to get the New York State delegates pledged to him it will remove from his path a very serious obstacle. On the contrary, if he should find it necessary to say Aye on the silver bill before the Convention can be held, he might excite serious opposition in this section. It is a shrewd move on the Senator's part, but not even the seventh son of a seventh son can tell what will happen in American politics during the next six months. Cleveland Plain Dealer (Dem.), Feb. 12.One thing that makes Grover Cleveland the idol of a large element in the party is the bold and clear expression he gives to his views on all questions before the people. His declarations are ever full and unequivocal-so free and frank and fearless that, while his judgment may be frequently doubted, his sincerity is beyond question. There are other such men in the party than Grover Cleveland. If David B. Hill is among them he cannot too soon make that fact apparent. If he really favors a positive step forward in tariff reform and secretly longs to see the free coinage of silver, he has nothing to lose by taking the people into his confidence. His place in the Senate is a good position to put himself on record. Let David B. Hill act, that the people may know what sort of stuff he is made of. 12. can nomination, but the boys will spend all the money for him that he chooses to squander in trying to get it. New York Sun (Dem.), Feb. II.-What is this about Gen. Russell A. Alger of Michigan as a Republican candidate for President on a platform of Patriotism and Pensions? The various biographies of General Alger dwell more in detail upon the beginning of his military services than on the end. He was Major Boston Journal (Rep.), Feb. 13.-Harper's in the 2d Michigan Cavalry, General Sheridan's Weekly, in its number for the current week, old regiment. On Oct. 16, 1862, he was protalks to the anti-Hill Democrats with whole-moted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th some plainness. It tells them that their move- Michigan Cavalry. Subsequently he was ment is four or five months too late, and that transferred to the 5th Michigan Cavalry and "when the party friends of Mr. Cleveland in became its Colonel. In September, 1864, New York strove vigorously to secure the suc- Colonel Alger and his regiment were, in the cess of the Hill-Murphy-Tammany combina- Shenandoah Valley taking part in Sheridan's tion in the election of Mr. Flower and suc- great campaign against Jubal Early. About ceeded, they apparently defeated the nomina- the first of that month Colonel Alger applied tion of Mr. Cleveland." This is directly in for ten days' leave of absence, The apline with the position which we took last fall, plication was disapproved and returned by when the leading Cleveland organ in this city his division commander, Gen. Wesley Merwas professing to believe that it was a great ritt, because of the active operations then compliment to Mr. Cleveland that he was in progress. Upon the return of his apcalled to take the stump for Flower. We told plication for leave disapproved, Colonel Alger our Democratic friends at that time that this left his regiment and went to Washington was simply the immolation of Cleveland upon without leave. There he procured a detail on the altar of Tammany, and that the effect of it court martial duty in that city. This fact was would be to strengthen the very forces in the reported to General Merritt, who reported it in Democratic party which hated Mr. Cleveland turn to General Sheridan, who brought the and would do everything they could to com- matter to the attention of the War Department, pass his defeat. The triumph of Flower, the recommending that Colonel Alger be dishondefeat of Mills by Crisp, and the absolute sub-orably discharged from the service for being jection of the Democratic State Committee in absent without leave. In consequence of that New York and all the Democratic leaders to recommendation from Philip H. Sheridan, Senator Hill have verified this prediction. Col. Russell A. Alger was discharged from the service on Sept. 20, 1864. The record does not read that he was dishonorably discharged." The punishment recommended by General Sheridan was softened, and he was merely discharged. The incident terminated his military career. After the war was over he procured in some way the brevet of Brigadier-General and Major-General of Volunteers. These facts are not stated in the current biographical sketches relating to Gen. Russell Absent Alger. Minneapolis Journal (Ind.-Rep.), Feb. 11.The New York Sun sneers at the opposition to Hill; but there is no doubt that it is having its effect upon the Democracy of the West and Northwest. The demand is for a Western Democrat as the Presidential candidate, and it begins to look as if the Hill-Murphy-Croker combination of New York will suddenly discover that, while it is comparatively easy work to gag a State, it is somewhat difficult to gag national convention. PREDICTIONS. a New York Evening Post (Ind.), Feb. 12.The Democrats of the country are making it very plain that they have no doubt about the bogus quality of Mr. Hill's Democracy. In fact, the flood of condemnation which has been pouring over him and his pretensions for the past week has removed all possibility of serious consideration of him as a candidate by the National Convention. Chicago Herald (Dem.), Feb. The rumpus in the Empire State inay serve a valuable purpose. It should teach the Democrats in the South and West the folly of expecting longer that the head of the ticket may be taken from New York this year with a certainty of success in the election. If present conditions in that State continue, and they threaten to become even worse, the nomination of either Cleveland or Hill will be extremely dangerous. New York Sun (Dem.), Feb. 16.-Will Hill The next Democratic candidate for President be nominated by the Democratic National Convention?"Nominated?" said one of the shrewdest of Republican politicians the other day. "Why, he will be nominated by acclamation. No other candidate will be thought of." This seems rather surprising, doesn't it? But if it should turn out so, no genuine Democrat will utter a breath of sorrow. But the he will be elected, sure. best of it is that if Hill should be nominated, He knows no such should come out of the West. New York Sun (Dem.), Feb. 15.-It is satisfactory to observe that the great majority of protests against, the nomination of David B. Hill are backed with the declaration that the kickers intend to support the Democratic nominee, Hill or no Hill. New York Commercial Advertiser (Ind.), Feb. 12.-To say it frankly, we have not the smallest doubt that these very same gentlemen who are opposing Mr. Hill for calling the convention in February would have been just as angry with him had he called it for the last day of May. And that, we think, Senator Hill fully understands. May it not be, then, that this smiling tactician is not only amused but profited by their wrath? Is it not possible that one of his objects in precipitating the Convention was to draw their fire early in February and leave them without ammunition during the months of April, May, and June? By the day the Convention arrives, perhaps, they will be so weary of the contest that they will make no sign. They must not forget that this wicked politician is an agriculturist whose knowledge of political farming is unexcelled. He is quite aware that midwinter sowing, according to rule, seldom yields good November crops, but he thinks that this rule is at least as apt to word as fail. [Mr. Alger telegraphed to the Sun an indignant reply to this editorial. He said that his absence was due to sickness, and that the recommendation for his discharge came from General Custer, who (he intimated) was animated by malignant motives. In conclusion he requested that it be ascertained how it happened that this piece of secret history was permitted to leak out of the War Department.] Mr. Steve Elkins is Secretary of War. Mr. St. Louis Republic (Dem.), Feb. 13.-Now, Elkins is a member of the Anchor-to-Windward contingent of the Blaine following, and the New York Sun is the confidential organ of that contingent. Mr. Alger wishes to know who gave out the record from the War Depart ment, of which Mr. Elkins is Secretary. No doubt Mr. Alger reasons that thirty years ago he was one of several thousand Colonels, and that Mr. Dana's memory would not have charged itself thus with what was then a very unimportant event. And he is not likely to be deceived by the ridiculous false pretence that the Sun is a Democratic newspaper. A Democratic partisan having such evidence as the Sun claims to have on Mr. Alger would have held it until after his nomination and then as the candidate of the sprung it on him Republican party. Hence, Mr. Alger is much ONCE AGAIN THE ALGER BOOM. interested in finding more about the exact conDetroit Journal (Rep.), Feb. 12.—The can- nection between the War Department and the Mr. didacy of Gen. R. A. Alger for the Republi- editorial rooms of the New York Sun. can nomination for the Presidency has been Alger, doubtless, has his theory. The Republic formally announced since the declination of has a constantly increasing number of facts, all His numerous friends all going to show that the Anchor-to-Windward James G, Blaine. over Michigan are responding with the same gang is running the Harrison Administration, enthusiasm which characterized them in 1888, and it intends to renominate Harrison at all rience and their favorite's wider circle of ac- Alger's fifth political rib at present, and the and now, having the advantage of more expe- hazards. There is a knife sticking under Mr. quaintance to aid them, it is safe to predict initials on the haft are J. G. B." that they will make a vigorous campaign. If General Alger should succeed in winning the great prize, it would be a high honor to the State of Michigan. St. Louis Globe-Democrat (Rep.), Feb. 12.— " Detroit Free Press (Dem.), Feb. 12.-But for his [Mr. Alger's] own statement as to the fact of a recommendation being made for his discharge, nobody in Michigan would pay much heed to the story of the Sun, or to any story put forward on its authority. In the |