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The Press.

THE NEW ADMINISTRA

TION.

The three features which during the week have caused the most general comment by the press on the policy of the new administration, are the following: (1) the appointment of exSecretary of State Thomas F. Bayard, Ambassador to England; (2) the appointment of John E. Risley, Minister to Denmark; (3) the changes made in the fourth-class postmasters by the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General, Maxwell.

OUR FIRST AMBASSADOR.

of the State Department being that he was in-
clined to go more than half way in his negotia-
tions with foreign Powers.

Philadelphia North American (Rep.), March
31.-Altogether the appointment was a befit-
ting and appropriate one and will command
the approval of the public.

INDEPENDENT APPROVAL.

Petersburg (Va.) Index Appeal (Dem.), April 1.-The appointment of Thomas F. Bayard as Ambassador to the Court of St. James, is one of the best Mr. Cleveland has made or can

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make.

JOHN E. RISLEY.

The appointment of Mr. Risley has called forth wide-spread condemnation. This is due The Independent (" Mugwump") press are to charges made that during the war he beunanimous in praise of the appointment. longed to and embezzled funds of the secret New York Times (Ind.), March 31. Mr. order known as Knights of the Golden Circle, Cleveland has made an admirable choice in an organization formed in the North to aid the Mr. Bayard for the English Embassy. As Secretary of State Mr. Bayard did not seek Southern cause. The Democratic press has the popularity accorded to some who have but little to say, as yet, in regard to the apheld that office. But the record of the Depart-pointment, but the Independent and Repub. ment under his charge is one with which Amer-lican press strongly condemn it. icans can be honorably satisfied.

Philadelphia Times (Ind.), March 31.-His The appointment of Mr. Bayard gains in in-wide knowledge and long experience in public terest from the fact that Great Britain has affairs, his legal learning, his intellectual culraised the rank of her Minister to the United ture and attainments, and, above all, his stern integrity and unfailing dignity of character, States to that of Ambassador. Mr. Bayard, in have placed Mr. Bayard, by common consent, return, is appointed as Ambassador instead of in the highest rank of American statesmen. Minister, being the first American diplomat to Leaving aside the President and the ex-Presihold that title. The criticisms by the Repub- dent, it can be no exaggeration to speak of lican press are, as a rule, rather mild, though United States now living. him as the most distinguished citizen of the there is vigorous denunciation in some cases, as the first two of the following extracts show.

REPUBLICAN COMMENT.

New York Commercial Advertiser (Rep.), March 31.-It was while Mr. Bayard was Secretary of State and under his instructions that the infamous extradition treaty was negotiated with Great Britain by the terms of which Irish patriots who had sought an asylum in the United States were to be turned over to the British Government. From which it will be seen that Mr. Bayard cannot fail to be persona grata at St. James, where he will masquerade under his absurd title of Ambassador to the intense gratification of the deluded Irish supporters of his party in the United states.

Boston Journal (Rep.), March 31.- Four Democrats out of five hereabouts will receive Mr. Bayard's appointment to the Court of St. James with downright indignation. His unfortunate handling of the fishery question is not yet forgotten in the New England States. It was sharply condemned here at the time by some of our oldest and ablest Democratic

leaders.

New York Evening Post (Ind.), March 30.The charges against John E. Risley, the newly nominated Minister to Denmark, are taking tangible form. Several of the newspapers this morning had interviews with citizens o! Terre Haute, importing that they were members of Sons of Liberty, a Society organized in Indiana, to aid the South during the war, that Risley was a member, and that they intrusted money to him to buy arms for them which he never bought, and that he kept the money. A letter from Risley has been unearthed, fers to this or dated August 8, 1864, which evidently resome other traitorous or66 our friends." One of the ganizations as witnesses, evidently a man of some importance, as he has been county clerk and county commissioner, says that he was a member of the Sons of Liberty, that Risley was a member, and that the latter brought a lot of the rituals of the Order to Voorhees's law-office, where they were seized, and that Voorhees fell under Springfield Republican (Ind.), March 31.- accusation in consequence. The same witness To high intellectual ability is joined a spotless says that Risley took the money to buy arms, record in public life, and to these are added went to New York with it, and never came the culture of a finished gentleman and unfail-back till twenty-eight years afterwards, and ing social grace. Finally, no one knows bet- never returned either money or arms. He says ter than Mr. Bayard those questions of diplo- that when Risley did come back, twenty-eight macy that are pending between this country years later, he [the witness] refused to speak and England. to him or recognize him. This testimony,

is now placed in a position which adds to the
Boston Herald (Ind.), April 1.-Mr. Bayard
many honors he has received, but it is really
one upon which the country is fully as much to
be congratulated as is he. He succeeds a line
which includes Adams, Lowell, Phelps, and
Lincoln in its later representatives, and there
is no question on any hand that he is worthy
to do so.

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Indianapolis News (Ind.), March 31.-The with a good deal more of the same kind, which title Ambassador gives its bearer precedence is published simultaneously, makes it imposof all Ministers of lower rank; just as a Lieu-sible, as it seems to us, that Mr. Risley should tenant-General takes precedence of all army represent this country in Copenhagen. Our officers of inferior title. So long as ears are already tingling with one scandal at we do have Ministers, we should stand on an that place. This would be a far greater one. equal footing with the other great Powers of the world. Congress at last came to this view; and ex-Secretary of State Bayard is a worthy choice to be first to bear the new title.

DEMOCRATIC COMMENDATION.

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The Democratic press are equally unanimous in endorsing the appointment, making claim similar to the following:

Pittsburgh Times (Rep.), March 31.-Thomas
Francis Bayard has the honor to be the first
Chicago Herald (Ind.), March 31.-The
man nominated as an American Ambassador.pointment will receive general approval.
While that word appears in an Act of Congress
of 1856 relative to the diplomatic service, this
country has not until recently either received
or sent diplomatic agents of that rank. The
reason was, Ambassadors are accredited to the
person of the sovereign of the country to which
they are sent as well as to the State, and can
require audience of the sovereign at any time. Philadelphia Record (Dem.), March 31.-
An Ambassador in Europe has precedence Yet the entire diplomatic service of Europe
next to the persons of the blood royal. As the might safely be challenged to match the states-
United States had no sovereign, no Ambassa- man whom the Senate has confirmed as Am-
dors were accredited to it, and none were com-bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
missioned by it. The rank was created by the Great Britain.
last Congress in return of the compliment paid
by England in raising her Minister at Wash-
ington to that rank. There was a fitness in
conferring the honor on Mr. Bayard which
perhaps no one will deny.
In his
character and bearing he will worthily repre-
sent the country in his office as Ambassador.
How he may serve it as a diplomat experience
must determine. Even his best friends will
not claim that his career as Secretary of State
was brilliant, while impartial observers have
held that he gave less lustre than any other
member of the Cabinet to Mr. Cleveland's last
Administration.

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Charleston

(S. C.) News and Courier (Dem.). The highest honor in the diplomatic Troy Times (Rep.), March 31. The ex- service of the United States has been bestowed Secretary has something of a reputation as a on the man most worthy to wear it and best diplomat, the only criticism of him as the head fitted to perform the duties which it involves.

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said that years ago he embezzled funds enProvidence Journal (Ind.), March 31.-It is trusted to his care and that he was guilty of fraudulently gaining possession of money awarded to Alabama claimants and turning it to his own use. Now if these charges are true. and they have not been disproved, we might, perhaps, be willing to forgive him as a man, in view of a subsequently honorable career, and we might even be willing to see him elevated to political office at home. But to send him to represent us at a foreign court is another matter and may result in subjecting us as a nation to bitter humiliation.

Boston Herald (Ind.), April 2.-There are two very serious charges against Mr. Risley. The one is that he was a Copperhead during the war, the other that he had betrayed a trust in the appropriation of moneys that were not his own. The Herald has been among the foremost to deprecate the continuing of the old prejudices and antipathies of the war, but it is disposed to draw the line at the Northern Copperheads. They were in the loyal portion of the Nation in its struggle only to embarrass those men who were trying to save it and to plot for its destruction. We may try to forget this record, and not unnecessarily refer to it in public, but we cannot regard them as citizens fit to be honored by the Nation. When to this is added the charge of personal dishonesty, a very clear case seems to be made of a citizen who should not be sent abroad as a representative American.

New York Morning Advertiser (Rep.). April 1.-Senator Voorhees has been singularly un

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Chicago Inter-Ocean (Rep.), March 27.-
President Cleveland wisely intends to reform
He desires that this
the Consular service.
country shall not be represented abroad solely
by poor relations who are well rid of at home.

why Mr. Cleveland is not breaking his rule
Brooklyn Eagle (Dem.), April 2.—The reason
to appoint no newspaper men and to appoint
no former officeholders under him"
is very
simple. He never made any such rules.
newspapers made them for him, but he never
made them for himself.

The

fortunate in his efforts to defend his brother-in- | lower us in the eyes of the world, but constitute | ascertain what a locality wishes from some law Mr. John E. Risley, whom Mr. Cleveland | a menace to the existence of the Republic. other source. This we emphatically declare, has appointed Minister to Denmark. The It has been found possible to put the clerical in our opinion, to be inconsistent with the press dispatches in the Morning Advertiser of service of the departments and of the larger theory of our whole fabric of government and yesterday contained Mr. Voorhees's reference to governmental offices throughout the country most dangerous in its tendencies. the official record of the trial of Bowles, Milli- on the decent basis of merit and good behavior, gan, and other accused members of the Sons of It has been found possible to keep them there Liberty or Knights of the Golden Circle to through three successive Presidential terms. prove that these treasonable conspiracies were Now, why may not the fourth-class postorganized after Risley had removed to offices be dealt with in like manner, beginning New York, and that Mr. Risley was not a with an equal or nearly equal division of them member thereof. In the same column ap- between the two parties? Under such an peared a dispatch from Terre Haute giving an arrangement Mr. Maxwell's axe might have extract from the record referred to, showing free swing until one-half of these offices are upon the sworn testimony of William Harrison, filled by Democrats. Thereafter, if any rethe Grand Secretary of the Grand Council of movals were made, the places should be filled the K. G. C., that John E. Risley was a mem- by members of the same political party as the ber, and in August, 1863, two or three months one removed-vacancies occurring by death or before he came to New York, assisted in initi- resignation to be filled on the same principles. ating him, the said Harrison, into the Order. It also appears that at that same August meetNew York Tribune (Rep.), March 31.Houston (Texas) Post (Dem.), March 31.— Who but Mr. Cleveland, veritably a man of ing Risley was elected Temporary Grand SecConsidering the rush for office, and the retary of the Grand Council of the State. Mr. pressure which has made him [the Presi-destiny," could announce that he would conVoorhees must ask leave to amend. The evident] and his Secretaries look haggard al-scientiously and designedly ignore personal ready, it is not astonishing that he has services in his behalf and regard appointments made some appointments which have noth- of his active friends to office as in the nature of a bargain and trade, or corrupt reward out of ing except partisanship to excuse them, and some which nothing can excuse. It is susthe treasury? It may be pure political philospected by many, and already suggested publicly it remains to be seen whether it is first-class ophy and commendable political morality, but by some of the silver extremists, that the policy. President is laboring to placate with especial favors some of the Senators who are in position New York Press (Rep.), April 1.—President to thwart the policy he wishes to pursue. Cleveland appointed 117 ex-Confederate soldiers to diplomatic and Consular stations and Brooklyn Eagle (Dem.), April 2. metaphor in political language has only thirty-two Union veterans during his first Presidential term. come to stay. As a fact Fourth Assistant Post-federate side is still more strongly marked this His leaning to the Conmaster-General Robert A. Maxwell is not ap- time. His most important appointments in pointing postmasters so rapidly as the resig- the past three weeks have been: nations of postmasters are creating vacancies. Yet the ordinary and orderly conduct of his office is called "swinging the axe," "the descent of the axe," "the thud of Maxwell's

dence he admits proves the case against him. Brooklyn Times (Rep.), April 1.—Mr. Risley, if he ever belonged to these treasonable associations, has at least the grace to be ashamed of it, and his boyish folly may be forgiven; but of all men the aggressive Copperheads of Indiana and elsewhere are the last who should be forgiven for their actions during the war.

Syracuse Journal (Rep.), April 1.-There are few men now living who want it known that they were Sons of Liberty or Knights of the Golden Circle, as the secret society in Indiana in the war time, for the extending of aid and comfort to the rebels in arms, was known. Risley is one of these, but the shirt of Nessus sticks to him irremovably.

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GENERAL COMMENT.

The

Mobile Register (Dem.), March 31. Senate's confirmation of the nomination of John E. Risley, of New York, to be Minister to Denmark, may be taken as disproving the charges that have been made against him in connection with the Alabama claims. Mr. Boston Journal (Dem.), March 31.-PresiRisley was able to produce documentary evi-dent Harrison was accused of “ muzzling the dence to prove that he had accounted for all press" and subsidizing the newspapers," but moneys received by him, and that the suit if his strong liking for the journalistic profes. against him for an accounting was in the line sion was a fault, then his Democratic successor of blackmail. is an offender of the blackest variety. Here is a partial list of the newspaper writers "subsidized " muzzled" by Mr. Cleveland up to date:

SECRETARY MAXWELL'S "AXE." The changes made by Assistant Secretary Maxwell in the fourth-class post-offices have been so rapid as to arouse protest from the press regardless of party, as the first three following extracts, one from a Democratic, one from an Independent, and one from a Republican journal, will show:

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the Interior.
HOKE SMITH, of the Atlanta Journal, Secretary of

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RICHARD OLNEY, Attorney-General, on the fence.
J. STERLING MORTON, Secretary of Agriculture, on the
fence.

THOMAS F. BAYARD, Ambassador to England, anti-
Union.

JAMES B. EUSTIS, Ambassador to France, Confed-
erate.

PIERCE M. B. YOUNG, Minister to Guatemala and
Honduras, Confederate.
JAMES D. PORTER, Minister to Chili, Confederate.
JOHN E. RISLEY, Minister to Denmark, Knight of the
Golden Circle, Copperhead.
GEORGE D. DILLARD, Consul-General to Guayaquil,
Confederate.
WADE HAMPTON, Railroad Commissioner, Confed-
W. H. SIMS, First Assistant Secretary Interior, Con-
federate.

erate.

Judge Gresham, whose appointment was a political reward, and Mr. Runyon are the only men with good Union records whom President

DANIEL S. LAMONT, Secretary of War.
SAMUEL F. MORSE, of the Indianapolis Sentinel, Cleveland has thus far favored.
Consul-General at Paris.

GEORGE F. PARKER, of New York, Consul at Bir-
mingham.

JOSEPH H. SENNER, of the New York Staats Zeitung, Superintendent of Immigration on Ellis Island. Of the thirty or forty important appointments thus far made by Mr. Cleveland, including his New York World (Dem.), April 1.-The Cabinet, no less than five are those of editors. point of greatest difficulty in efforts to get rid of the spoils system is the post-office. SomeBurlington (la.) Hawkeye (Rep.), March 29. thing has been done for reform, so far as postalTaking his appointments, as made up to clerkships are concerned. But why should we date, all together as a class, it must be said not eliminate the great multitude of postmaster- that they are commendable, and that the selecships also from the list of spoils offices? tions of the men show careful consideration for Why should not the people of every town their qualifications and the places they are to elect their own postmaster as they elect their occupy. other local public servants? They are much more interested than anybody at Washington can be in securing a capable man for postmaster. They know better than any President can find out the respective qualifications of the various aspirants. Why should not they select their postmaster, reëlecting him if he gives good service and turning him out if he fails to do so?

New York Evening Post (Ind.), March 31. The ghastly work of beheading fourth-class postmasters goes on at Washington, and we are promised a repetition of the career of Clarkson as headsman in that of Mr. Maxwell just begun. We shall speak of Maxwell just as we did of Clarkson, if he does the same things. We shall insist, too, upon a change in the law, whereby the Nation may be spared these quadrennial massacres, which not merely

Sacramento Record-Union (Dem.), March 25. -We believe that the new President is thinking more deeply of a policy that will insure the highest efficiency in public service than of a policy of distribution of political rewards. It seems, indeed, from all he says that he has made up his mind to face a hot contest with his party, if need be, on this question.

Die Rundschau (Ind.), Chicago.-How fairly and independently the President goes to work in his appointments, is shown by a little episode with a Western Congressman. This gentleman pressed the appointments of one of his constituents on the grounds that he was not only a sound Democrat, but also a relative of the President. "That settles it" said Cleveland, "I will not appoint him. His relationship is against him.'

St. Louis Tribüne (Rep.).—A knowledge of the language of the country is in Mr. Cleveland's opinion indispensable for all applicants for Consular appointments. This principle is undoubtedly right, but will the Irish Democratic Brigade be satisfied with it?

The Kölnische Zeitung (Liberal), Cologne, Germany.-President Cleveland battles bravely against those people who try to make the Government subservient to private interests. But the power of the Trusts is too firmly established in America to be moved by the efforts Richmond Times (Dem.), March 28.-The of a single man, and they will certainly prevent Congressman should be supposed prima facie, all revision of the tariff. And Boodle politics to be the authentic spokesman for his district, have so long held sway that the merit system and that there should be some special reason is not easily applied to any service. Even for his losing this place before his recommen- with the most cordial assistance of the people's dations are left unheeded. But, as we under-representatives the President cannot hope to stand the theory now prevailing at Washington, accomplish the great reforms at which he aims, the Congressman is at a discount in these mat- and purify the Government. He will have to ters, with a general notion pervading the at- be satisfied with the old saying: "In magnis et mosphere that the President rather prefers to │volnisse sat est."

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POLITICAL AND SOCIAL.

THE POLITICAL FUTURE.

to the requirements upon it and upon them as
its faithful adherents.

New York Tribune (Rep.). There are
more loyal Republican voters in New York
than ever before, but they are not now in
fighting condition, and the sooner this unpleas-
ant truth is realized the better. The rank and

Incompetent men have acquired leadership in
some quarters; they should be replaced.

The relations assumed to exist between President Cleveland and many of the Democratic leaders, especially the antagonism be-file are demoralized; new recruits are needed. tween him and the free-silver Democrats in the Senate and the House, have, together with the condition of the Republican Party since its two successive defeats in 1890 and 1892, aroused speculation as to the future of parties and candidates. There is some third-term talk "in the air," and the dinner given in Canton, O., in honor of Governor McKinley has been taken to signify that he will be put forward for a

Presidential candidate.

1

If the women, following Mrs. Cleveland's example, all take to hair-cloth instead of hoops, the country can be said to have made a hairbreadth escape.-Kansas City Journal.

WOMAN AND THE STATE. of Kansas have enjoyed municipal suffrage Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.-The women since 1887, but hitherto have taken but little interest in the municipal elections. This spring, however, they propose to take a hand in politics, and the prospect is that they will prove an important factor in the elections to take place April 4. The registration just closed has been remarkably heavy all over the State. In Kansas City 3,482 women have registered, in Leavenworth 3,245, in Topeka 4,000, in Wichita 2,464, and a proportionate number in the smaller cities of the State. Indeed, in the majority of the cities and towns of the State the women hold the balance of power, and if they can consolidate their vote can determine This feminine activity is not confined to any special class, but women from the elections. every grade of society and of every age are engaged in the campaign, and good results are expected as the women generally have selected for their support the candidate regarded by them from a moral standpoint as

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Hartford Courant (Rep.).. We are informed that the President's fellow sailorman and chum, Mr. E. C. Benedict, recently told New York friends that more than one-half of the office-seekers now besieging the White House are at pains to say to Mr. Cleveland they expect to have the privilege of voting for him again at the next Presidential election. We are further informed that Mr. Cleveland never makes any reply to remarks of this kind, and "what he Elmira (N. Y.) Gazette (Dem.).-Imagina- that nobody knows "for certain tive writers are crediting President Cleveland thinks of them. These ridiculously premature with the intention of inaugurating a new party. cratic Party. At the tariff dinner" out in performances are not confined to the DemoThere have never been in this country but two parties, the Democratic Party and the other Ohio, Wednesday evening, the toastmaster fellows. The notion that there can be any went through the motions of nominating Govother division is absurd and impossible. Mr. ernor McKinley for the Presidency, and we Cleveland may desire to bring the best ele-read in one of yesterday's papers that the Govments of the Democracy to the front, but he ernor is the only and inevitable Republican cannot be charged with a disposition to supercandidate in the next campaign. The sede his party. Any shuffling within the party William McKinley in their coffins. No man ity of a married woman for a note given by her next campaign may find Grover Cleveland and Boston Globe. In a case involving the liabilis not to be confounded with party destruction or reconstruction. can foresee the events of the three years that in payment of her husband's debts, Judge The Democratic Party will live, and President Cleveland will animate stretch out between us and. that campaign. Arnold, of Pennsylvania, decides that she is reand invigorate its life. When he has passed They may change the whole face of our poli- sponsible therefore. Such a decision means from the scene the same division will remain-tics. They are sure to modify, in ways not volumes in the cause of woman's emancipation. the Democratic Party and the other fellows. now predictable, the present political condi- Married women were once under an actual as tions. The one thing we know with certainty well as legal disability to make contracts. Boston Herald (Ind.). Mr. Henry Cabot about the United States of 1896 is that it will 'Exemption from liability," in the old familiar Lodge appears to have thought the question not be the United States of 1893. language of the courts, was only another way as to whether the Republican Party of the NaNorfolk (Va.) Landmark (Dem.). The un-moval of such disabilities the opportunities of expressing legal disability. With the retion shall now drop out of existence serious enough to call for his elucidation in the current written law of which we hear so much does not which men have been known to utilize of denumber of the Forum magazine. He discusses preclude Mr. Cleveland's candidacy in 1896. frauding their creditors behind the non-liability the probabilities in this respect, and reaches So far as we know that law relates to more of their wives will disappear, and it is unlikely than two successive terms for the same man. that, on the whole, just and progressive men He bases his opinion on the fact that there Mr. Cleveland will not have served two terms will find any reason to complain of the present always have been two parties in the country, in succession in 1896; he comes in now as a drift of things as to woman's legal status. and, on the reasoning deduced from the same, new President, just as if he had never been that there always will be. He adds to this that elected before, and whatever force there is in these parties have, respectively, comprehended the two-term tradition must, we take it, be certain characteristics, which characteristics applied only after he has served two successive have remained, although the names of the terms. We shall not, therefore, be surprised parties have been changed at different times. to learn at the proper time that Mr. Cleveland We are not inclined to differ very is willing to serve his country another term, much with Mr. Lodge on this point, but making two in succession and three in all. it must be evident that this argument has an ominous feature for the future success of the Republican Party, whether under its present name or any other. The peculiarity of the party which has existed in opposition to the Democratic Party is that for fifty years before the year 1860 it was, as a rule, defeated in the election contests of the country. Under two different names-those of Federalists and Whigs-it was so badly defeated that it thought it prudent to abandon the field to its opponent, and to go out of existence altogether. It revived in the period of which 1860 was the culmination, but under new prinProf. Garner is said to be succeeding in his ciples, as well as under a new name. The efforts to master the monkey language. When feature which distinguishes the opposition to he gets that down fine it is hoped that he will the Democratic Party in the only time in experiment with some fond mother's baby talk. which this opposition has ever had more than-Chicago News-Record. the most transitory success, was its abandonment of the principles which distinguished the Federal Party, the Whig Party, and, we may add, which distinguish the Republican Party of to-day, and the taking up of an entirely distinct issue.

the conclusion that it will not take this course.

in

Cincinnati Times Star.-The statement h been made frequently in opposition to the proposition to have women as members of school boards that Mayor Hewitt, of New York, appointed two or three exceptionally intelligent, earnest and conscientious New York ladies to membership in the school board of that city, and that they accomplished nothing. Because a hopeless minority did not succeed in bring ing about a revolution in the New York publicschool system, men who are credited with beTennessee's new plan of caring for her con- ing capable of reasoning fairly have had the victs bids fair to be a perfect success. The lease system is gradually but surely disappear-proof that after all women in school boards are presumption to offer this New York case as a ing.-Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union.

EDITORIAL BRIEFS.

The name of Charles Stewart Parnell wasn't mentioned at the great Home-Rule meeting in New York, save by a man who interrupted the regular speakers.-Boston Herald.

ciphers. . The fact is that wherever women have been allowed the control of schools, as they have been in some parts of Pennsylvania, the results have been eminently satisfactory both to parents and pupils.

STRUGGLING AFTER GREATNESS. The Brooklyn Eagle reports Hugh McLaughlin as saying that the Democratic machine in that city intends to defeat the Greater New York Bill, no matter how amended or in what The cruiser New York's twenty knots an hour show that this country is not only getting shape presented. There is nothing sura navy, but that it's getting it fast.-Philadel-solidation, of course.-New York World. prising in this. The machine is hostile to conphia Times. Just as we thought; John Chinaman's fight nexation, and "the greater Pittsburgh The first step towards consolidation, anagainst the Geary law is to be a purely legal been taken by the appointment of a councilone. To say that Washerman John would undertake to resist it by physical force is flat-manic committee of conference. The concludirony.-Brooklyn Citizen. ing step will be taken sooner or later as the ultimate accomplishment of the undertaking is inevitable.-Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.

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Pittsburgh Times (Rep.).-Those who are inclined to believe that the Republican Party is dead and its mission ended should carefully peruse the speech of Governor McKinley and the letter of Senator Sherman which appear Brevity is not a characteristic of the "briefs" the report of the protective tariff celebration in the Bering Sea sealing arbitration case. held at Canton, O. Not only the wise words They fill fourteen volumes.-Troy Times. of these great leaders, but the enthusiasm with which they were received, accentuates the fact that the party's work is far from being completed, and that its members are ardently alive

Now that convictions in the Panama Canal scandal are about over in France, when will the investigation begin in this country?-St. Louis Republic.

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The Greater Newark idea is bound to catch Our neighbors may not like at first to give up their individuality, but they will soon see that that way lie progress, growth, economy and municipal development in its best phases.-Newark (N, J.) Advertiser.

INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

THE ANN ARBOR DECISIONS. The decisions on the Ann Arbor cases were rendered by Judge Ricks, of the U. S. District Court, and Judge Taft of the U. S. Circuit Court, last Monday. These decisions refer to three points, namely: (1) The right of Chief Arthur, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, to issue notice to the engineers of the Lake Shore Railroad, to refuse to handle freight from or to the Toledo, Ann Arbor, and North Michigan road, on which latter road a strike was in process; (2) the right of employés of the Lake Shore road (while still in the employ of the road) to obey this notice; (3) the right of employés to leave the employ of the Lake Shore rather than handle Ann

common service is reached every individual | which makes strikes practically impossible.
servant has below him some persons or person This must open the eyes of all to the fact that
to whom he gives orders, and upon whose obe- nothing but force can serve them. Some brave
dience his own efficiency and security depend. fellows are said to have already attempted to
It is illogical to say that one part of the organ- wreck a train carrying the director of a lead-
ism can at its pleasure disrupt the whole withing line. If the railroad magnates do not
impunity, while another part must discharge its change their policy they will hear of more such
special functions uninterruptedly.
cases. It is easy enough to get at the railroad
fellows.

How

New York Times, April 5.-The com-
ments of some of the labor leaders on the de-
cisions at Toledo in the Ann Arbor cases show
either a strange incapacity to understand legal
distinctions or a perverse disposition to mis-
construe the meaning and application of the
decisions. They relate only to labor in the
employ of common carriers engaged in inter-
State commerce, and are based upon specific
provisions of a United States statute.
ever broad the underlying principle may be
and whatever judicial application it may be
susceptible of, these particular decisions have
nothing directly to do with the right of work-
deny the right of any man to leave off work at
cotts," in ordinary occupations. They do not
will, or question the right of combination for
any legitimate purpose.

THE MINNESOTA "COAL COMBINE."

The developments brought out by the legislative investigating committee several weeks ago in reference to a combination of the shippers and wholesale dealers of coal, is a topic of continued interest in the Minnesota papers. An appeal has been made by the Legislature to other States to take up the fight now waged against the combination in Minnesota. As the following extracts indicate, the combination is

Arbor freight. The decisions are against the men to "strike," or even to institute "boy-without any defenders among the journals of

employés on the first two points, and in their favor on the third point.

New York Sun, April 4.—The Judges say not a word which implies that an engineer or a fireman or any other railroad servant, may not give up his place whenever he chooses. They decide only, that so long as he continues in his employment he must not attempt to prevent his employers from doing what the Inter-State Commerce Act requires them to do, and may be restrained by injunction from interfering with their performance of their duty. At present it looks as though the Lake Shore Company had won a victory which their employés can nullify by simply resigning their situations.

New York Herald, April 4.-We find nothing in the decisions rendered yesterday to deny the right of engineers or other employés to organize and coöperate for the protection of their interests-nothing to deny their right to strike whenever and for whatever cause they please. It was the boycott feature of the present controversy that was condemned-the

and other roads to prevent such lines from

Philadelphia Press, April 4.—It will be impossible for railroad corporations to invoke the public responsibility of their employés to enforce the discharge of their duty and maintain the opposition to public supervision urged by some railroad men on the ground that the inner working of railroad corporations is private business with which the public has no concern.

SOCIALIST AND ANARCHIST VIEWS,

The mouthpieces of the labor organizations and the Socialist journals are weekly papers, and comments by them on the decision cannot therefore be ascertained before we go to press. The following comments refer to the preliminary decisions rendered in the same cases, and to the recent decision of Judge Billings, of New Orleans.

and correct.

the State:

St. Paul Globe (Ind.-Dem.), March 30,-The successful attack of the Minnesota legislature upon the iniquitous coal combine is the talk of the Nation, and the press from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Canadian line to the Gulf of Mexico, is applauding with one voice. The investigations of the committee have met with an unparalleled success. And these are to be followed by a measure which must be most effective in throttling the octopus.

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It is a grand movement, for it means the deathblow to the combine. More than that, it is a step which must lead to the destruction of the entire system of trusts.

St. Paul Pioneer-Press (Ind.-Rep.), March 26.—While the legislature is in hot-footed pursuit of the coal combine, in which avenging raid all right-minded citizens encourage it and wish it success, it is a good time to remember that this is but one of a veritable army of combinations in restraint of trade and industry that are fettering the liberties of this people and eating the very life out of honest independence. Wherever there is a secret union of individuals

to interfere with the liberty of others, to change prices and oppress the public, to coerce members into joining it, and punish them, if they make an infraction of its rules, with an ostracism that means business ruin, there the infamous principles of the coal barons' con

combination of the men on the Lake Shore That Judge Billings, of New Orleans, like Chicagoer Arbeiter Zeitung (Socialist). hauling Ann Arbor freight. It is announced Judge Ricks, applies the Anti-Trust Law to that an appeal will be taken to the United the laborers' organization is perfectly logical States Supreme Court. By all means this But that the Judges cannot understand that the capitalist trust and monopoly should be done. The principles involved are should be treated in the same manner, and of wide-reaching consequence. It is of prime that they cannotį divide their personal interest importance that they should be passed upon from their judicial duties, is a fair illustration Spiracy are in full force, no matter under what

and settled by the highest court of the Nation. Philadelphia Ledger, April 4.-The principle laid down by the Court, that the observance of a boycott against the traffic of one railroad which prevents a connecting road from performing its obligations under the Inter-State Commerce Act is illegal, will be very generally accepted as sound, both in common sense and law. Any organized effort, deliberately planned, to injure or destroy capital or busi

of the injustice of those who should protect
the working people.

Vorwärts (Socialist) (New York Edition).-
The railroad employés should certainly not
submit to such a decision. If they bow before
the power of capital, if they give up the
strikes and allow their organization to be
broken up, then their case will be as hopeless

as that of the coke-workers in the Connellsville

fair name and colors such an association is sailing.

St. Paul Dispatch (Rep.), March 31. — It is nected with the movement now in progress in not the least remarkable circumstance conthis State for the suppression of the coal combine and the punishment of its representatives that very little interest is manifested in that movement outside of the limits of the State.

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The chord in the public conscience

ness should be enjoined by law, no matter who District, whom Frick held under his thumb. which one would naturally expect to respond

those guilty of it are. If the boycott is, as Mr. Powderly, a competent authority, declares it to be, "death to capital," it certainly should neither be tolerated nor countenanced by the law.

New York Tribune, April 4.-The president or the general manager of a railroad has a perfect right to resign and retire. He has no right to retain his place for the purpose of injuring his employers and breaking their contracts with the public and with individuals. The engineer or the switchman is endowed with the same right and constrained by the same obligation. Moreover, the employés who are called officers and the employés who are called employés are to a great extent vested with powers which are similar in kind, though different in degree. The great majority of them have subordinates over whom they exercise authority. Instructions are not transmitted from high grades to low over the heads of intermediates, but from every grade to that immediately under it. The whole system is interlocked, and until the lowest grade in a

Starvation wages and unlimited working hours
will be the lot of the locomotive engineers.

The People (Socialist), New York. It is
Judge Ricks and his capitalist masters, not the
workingmen, who are on trial. The tactics
show that the men as men, free born or adopted
called for at this critical juncture should be to
free citizens of this Republic, had a right to
is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander;
work or quit work, as they choose; that what |
its whim, so can the men work or not work as
that if the company can employ and dismiss at
they please.

Freiheit (Anarchist) (New York Edition).Of late years the organized laborers have not been soft-headed enough to believe in a possible reconciliation between labor and capital. But there are exceptions to this rule, and the chiefest among these fools were the so-called "better-class railroad employés under Arthur's leadership. But they have a strike just now. And what happens? Those judiciary flunkies of the shareholding rascals, the men who are misnamed judges, give a decision

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to the present movement gives no sign what-
ever of having been touched.
Our
State officials should continue, however, in the
course they have marked out for themselves.
The State of Minnesota will at least have
charged its entire duty, and the onus must lie
entitled itself to the distinction of having dis-
elsewhere for the continued operations of the
country.
coal barons in this and other sections of the

excitement attending the efforts of the Legis-
St. Paul Trade Journal, March 25.-The
lature to get at the facts as to the existence of
an organized combination to destroy all com-
petition in coals has been and is deep-seated
and increasing. The Trade Journal reserves
its opinion until the facts are fully ascertained,
but feels that if such a combination is allowed
to control the supply of heat, light, and power
for St. Paul, that those who are trying to
develop her manufactures and improvements,
are going to carry a heavy load for the benefit
of those who are not only of no use, but of
direct injury to the community.

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

that sooner or later the Ministry must suffer | witness stand and defend himself and incident-
defeat, whenever the question of the renewal ally the Government. But the people were not
of the "
Crimes Act" came before Parliament. satisfied, and when ex-Prefect of Police An-
Mr. Gladstone, however, was too shrewd to drieux promised to produce in Paris the lobby-
allow a Government defeat on so important ist Arton, the public cried out, "Produce him
an issue, and contrived to secure a triumph of by all means!" and then the Cabinet perceived
the opposition on a liquor-bill amendment, just that the credit of the country demanded its
as in the present instance.. In much the same immediate resignation. Arton, it is said, is
way the Ribot Ministry, taking a leaf from Mr. the custodian of some terrible secrets.
Gladstone's book, seems to have pursued
similar tactics.

...

THE CRISIS IN FRANCE. After surviving the Panama Canal tumult, the French Ministry went to pieces, March 30th, on the budget. The Chamber of Deputies had incorporated certain changes, among them one reforming the liquor laws in the budget (bill of expenditures and income). With these Baltimore American, March 31.-M. Conchanges the Senate refused to concur. The stans has been laboring for some months to budget with the changes omitted was returned overthrow the present ministerial combination. to the Deputies, who insisted on the changes. He and his friends have conceived the idea, The Ministry promised to present the changes not was at the bottom of the former's defeat, perhaps with good reason, that President Car. in separate form, but the Deputies, jealous and they are determined to repay this debt with probably lest their authority in matters of ex-interest, even to the extent of precipitating a penditure be infringed, insisted on the reten- Presidential crisis, if it can be done. tion of the changes in the budget, denying the One thing is very certain, that President Carnot will not summon M. Constans to his aid so request of the Ministry by a vote of 247 to 242 long as he can avoid it, and he may prefer to on the liquor-law amendment. Minister Ribot's form a business Cabinet to tide over the interresignation followed. On April 1st M. Meline val, and dissolve the Chamber for an appeal to endeavored to form a Cabinet. He failed, and the people. In some repects, M. Constans would be the very man for the crisis. M. Dupuy was requested, April 3d, to do so. He is able, prompt, and fearless, and there has The American press, in commenting on the never yet been reason to question his patriotevent, seem to be generally agreed that Presi-ism, but he is not scrupulous in the means emdent Carnot will be compelled to call M. Con- ployed to effect his ends; and at a time when stans, his rival, to form a Cabinet, or to dis-official corruption, such a man might become a the Republic is convulsed by exposures of dangerous foe to liberty, if given supreme power.

solve the Chambers.

New York Sun, April 2.-The point at issue was whether the Senate should be permitted to amend a money bill by striking out a clause affecting the taxation of the liquor interest. The Chamber of Deputies has always contended that its acknowledged right of initiative with regard to money bills cuts off the Senate from the power of amendment, for the reason that to amend is virtually to initiate. As a rule, too, French Ministers, owing their places to the confidence, not of the Upper House, but of the popular branch of the legislature, have sustained the pretensions of the latter body. In this case, however, M. Ribot and his colleagues backed the Senate in what the Lower Chamber has always regarded as an act of usurpation, and the wonder is, not that they were beaten, but that the majority against them was so small.

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Chicago Mail, March 31.-This last Cabinet has been running things about eleven weeks. May the new one last as long!

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Philadelphia Times, April 1.-The very fact that he [M. Constans] has kept so completely in the background through all this turmoil is an evidence of his judgment and skill. He is unquestionably the strongest, shrewdest, and most forcible politician at present available in France.

VIEWS OF A FRENCH EDITOR.

Courrier des Etats Unis (New York), April 3. -The rumors of a dissolution of the Chamber are not confirmed. . . It is agreed on all hands, however, that whether the general elections take place this spring in consequence of an approaching dissolution of the Chamber, or whether they are delayed until September or October, no disagreeable surprise is in reserve for the supporters of the Republic. Since the enemies of existing institutions began the Panama campaign, there have been seven elections, legislative or senatorial. All the candidates chosen at these elections have been Republicans. That, however, is not the only more significant is that in all the seven no reacnoteworthy feature of these elections. What is tionary candidate has dared to offer himself. During the last three months the MonarchicoBoulangist coalition has been trying to demonstrate that it was the Republic which prevented the Panama Canal from being made, that the Republicans in office divided between themselves a billion and a half of the people's small savings, that they have offered each other checks in the same way that men offer each other cigars, and yet the electors have insisted on electing Republicans. It is easy to foresee that the same result will ensue at the general elections, unless it be said that at partial elections the electors are pastmasters in the art of In a concealing their game. This is what has been effected by a coalition of the Royalists, the Bonapartists, and the Boulangists. When it comes to presenting themselves before the country, not one of the coalitionists dares show the tip of his nose. The partial elections declare that the country has had more than enough of those who are prolonging the scandal and who, in prolonging it, injure the good name of France.

Boston Herald, April 1.-The condition of
the French Republic, in view of the repeated
ministerial crises, might be looked upon as
desperate if it were not for the inability of its
enemies to take advantage of the opportunity
which the demoralized state of public affairs
affords. Up to the time of the Boulanger
episode the Royalist Party in France was a
political factor of great significance.
negative sense, General Boulanger may be to-
day the saviour of the French Republic, for if it
had not been for him the pretensions of the
Count de Paris would be a serious menace,
and it is by no means impossible that before
this he would have been the acknowledged
King of France.

New York Press, April 1.-The incident should not cause any serious disturbance in the affairs of government, and can afford no Philadelphia Press, April 1.-A month ago, ground for exultation to the enemies of the Re- in the heat of the ill-feeling and irritation public. On the contrary, a nation whose rep-aroused by the Panama disclosures, the Chamresentatives are so jealous of their constitu- ber of Deputies added to the budget heavy tional rights is all the more likely to cherish the Constitution which created and which guarantees those rights.

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taxes on the operations of the French Stock
Exchange and changes in the taxes on distilled
spirits, altering both their extent and their in-
cidence. Both these amendments were fruits
of a growing determination apparent in the
Republican majority of the Chamber to deal
ruthlessly with capital and with sundry vested
interests on the Stock Exchange and elsewhere.
M. Constans is the only Frenchman
left with reputation, personal force, and politi-
cal backing.

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Pittsburgh Times, March 31.-There used to be a joke in France to the effect that a stranger taking lodgings in Paris required that he be awakened at a certain hour each morning and informed of the kind of government established over night. The joke would fit the changes of administrations under Carnot.

New York Times, April 4.-It is evident that the difficulty in France has much exceeded the difficulty of an ordinary crisis. There is no choice except between statesmen who think they have a future, and who will not join a makeshift Cabinet and statesmen who have too much past and who cannot be invited to join it. A dissolution and an appeal to the Minneapolis Journal, March 31.-The ostenpeople form the obvious way out of the dif-sible cause of the Ministry's defeat was the This way may be taken, happily, purpose of the Chamber to keep a liquor-law fear of the stability of the Republic amendment on the budget, which hit the liquordealers under the fifth rib; but it is intimated that the Ministry was really afraid of certain frauds, by the notorious Andrieux.

ficulty. without any itself.

Boston Advertiser, April 1.-The situation

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BRANDES'S EXPULSION. The expulsion of Brandes, the German newspaper correspondent, for statements alleged to be false in regard to the connection of high French officials with the Panama Canal scandal, arouses considerable feeling among Germans. It is quite possible that this feeling is being ex

in France is not altogether unlike that which promised revelations as to the Panama Canal aggerated in Germany for the purpose of influ

attended the defeat of the Gladstone Ministry

in England less than a decade ago. The New York Herald, April 1.-Mme. Cottu's Egyptian and Afghan questions having pre- sensational testimony had shaken public confiviously weakened the Government and the dence in the Cabinet. M. Ribot and his colHore-Rule question leading to irreconcilable leagues knew it, felt it. Minister Bourgeois was differences in the Cabinet, it was evident compelled to resign, temporarily, to go upon the

encing the passage of the Army Bill, and in France to distract attention from the Panama Canal scandal.

Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Conservative), Berlin.-The French Government un

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