Gambar halaman
PDF
ePub

Quay, M. S.. campaign against (see Pennsylvania
above); bill to incorporate National Association
of Manufacturers, 490.
Roosevelt, Theodore, to a lying yellow journalist,
215-Reciprocity halting, 1, agreement -with
France, 415.

South Carolina, lynching of colored postmaster at
Lake City, 158, inquest ignores perpetrators, 236
-Secretary John Sherman resigns, 314-Anton
Seidl deceased, 237-Southern opinion on ne-
gro enlistments for war in Cuba, 335, Southern
practice of treating chaplains of negro regu-
lars, 335-Supreme Court on absolute control
of Congress over Territories, 434, on citizen-
ship of children born in U. S. foreign depen-
dencies, 451-Sealskin garments, importation
prohibited, 1, annoyances, 20-Selgniorage,
coining the, 333, 334.

Tayler, R. W., on Washington's restraint in Ge-
net's case, 215-Taxes of civil war available
for Spanish war, 255-Tea, Tillman's motive
in clapping tax on, 451.

Virginia officers colored troops with negroes, 470-
Vermont Republican convention and platform,
490.

Woodford, Gen., creditable Brooklyn speech, 414-
Patrick Walsh on disgraceful consular appoint-
ments, 236John Wanamaker's speeches ex-
posing Quayism in Pennsylvania, 255, 256, 415
-G. W. Wingate on condition of militia, 293-
Wool and Cotton Reporter on the good spirits
of foreign manufacturers, 81-Wages reduced
in cotton and shoe factories, 1-Wheat prospect
fine, 452, Leiter's speculation does not affect
price of bread, 470.

√GREAT

ABROAD.

GREAT BRITAIN:-Salisbury's trade of Madagas
car for Zanzibar, 3-England's interest in free
trade in China, 3, asserted by Sir M. Hicks-
Beach, 41, 61, reinforced by Sir R. Webster,
101, concessions obtained, 217, coal in East
bought up, 237, self-restraint of English press,
257, Wei-Hai-Wel acquired, 277, Russian play
with Lord Salisbury leading up to it, 355-
Chamberlain's plan to relieve West Indies, 61,
denounced by John Morley, 81-England's profit
in sugar from Continental bounties, 121-Cham-
berlain's proposed alliance with U. S., 375,
John Morley thereon, 453-Irish ultimatum to
Liberals, 120, new Irish local-government bill
satisfactory to all, 159-Talk of Govern-
ment wheat granaries, 375-Gladstone
ceased, 395, tributes in Parliament, 435
-Capt. Younghusband on the Russian ad-
vance in Mantchuria. 197-Admiral Colomb
on Dewey's Manila exploit, 413-London County
Councils election, victory of Progressives, 217-
Oakey Hall's suit against James Bryce dis-
missed, 100, other trumpery libel sults dis-
missed, 101, 177, bill to protect newspapers,
217-British army and navy mortality, Improve-
ment in, 434-Movement to reduce shipping
charges for lighthouses, 435-Introduction of
gold standard in India, 491.
FRANCE:-Trial of Count Esterhazy in connection

de-

with Dreyfus affair, 21, rioting against Zola
and Jews, 41, 61, row in Chamber, 81, Zola's
handicapped trial, 101, menace to public secu-
rity but for army, 121, beginning of judicial
reform, 141, Government persecution of army
leze-majesty, 159, Brunetière sides against
Zola, 237, rebuked by M. Duclaux, 395, Zola's
second trial begun, 453-Hanotaux on the rela-
tions of Spain and U. S., 235, French press un-
favorable to U. S., 315, but veering, 375,
"Temps" recommends Spain's yielding, 471-
Settlement of Niger dispute with England, 453
-Elections imperil ministry, 435-Protection
fury against professors of political economy,

Editorial and Miscellaneous

Articles.

[blocks in formation]

au-

ownership of railways, 197.
ITALY:-Crispi's connection with bank scandals,
commission's report, 315.
GREECE:-Turks at last leave Thessaly, 415.
SPAIN:-McKinley's interchange with Sagasta re-
vealed in London "Times," 334, Cuban
tonomy less than Canadian home rule, 3, illu-
sory quiet, 81, Sagasta will not arbitrate for
Cuba, 158, "Nacional" proposes sale, 175, politi-
cal motives for war with U. S., 215, Bank of
Spain's loans, Spain's liabilities on account of
Cuba, 235, Sagasta's majority in new Cortes,
235, F. Silvela on the situation, 294, Govern-
ment's memorandum of concessions to U. S.,
313, Minister Woodford leaves Spain, 313, Gen.
Polavieja on Cuban pacification in 1892, 334,
Spain's interest-bearing obligation to U. S. by
treaty of 1834, 335, domestic disorders and
cabinet changes succeeding Dewey's stroke at
Manila, 353, ecclesiastical tyranny in the
Philippines, 353, Cabinet reconstructing. Cortes
votes supplies, 373, run on Bank for silver, 433,
collapse of power in the Philippines, 471, con-
dition of Bank of Spain, 471, Cortes dismissed,
491.

GERMANY:-German editors in Jail for leze-ma-
Jesty, 3, including "Kladderadatsch." 121, in-
direct fun-poking. 141-German argument for
big navy with expanding commerce, 21, Naval
bill passed without opposition, 257-Assent to
open ports in China, 61-Imports of American
wines, 101-Reichstag ends subservient, 395-
Gains of Clericals and Socialists in elections,
471-Prussian attempt to muzzle the Privat-
docenten, 121-Dr. Barth on Spanish-American
war, 313.

RUSSIA:-Specle payments and gold standard at-
tained, 121.

EGYPT:-Mahdi's zeriba rushed by British column,
277.

INDIA:-Government to issue gold notes, 41, gold
standard to be set up, 277.
CHINA:-Occupation of Kalo-Chau and Port Ar-
thur by Germany and Russla respectively, 3.
Navigation concessions to England, 217, Wel-
Hal-Wel yielded, 277, reform movement of pro-
gressive Chinese, 471-Chief-Justice Hannen
arbitrates Cheek case, 435.
SIAM:-Cheek case arbitrated, 435.
CENTRAL AMERICA:-Revolutions in Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, 101, difficulties of American
canal surveying party, 141.
CANADA:-Railway contract (for Yukon district)
rejected by Senate, 257-Goldwin Smith
Anglo-American alliance, 414.

Notes.

[ocr errors]

Announcements, 10, 28, 48, 68, 89. 108, 131, 147,
167, 185, 205, 224, 244. 264, 283, 302, 322, 341,
363, 381, 404. 422, 441, 460, 478, 499-F. A.
Aulard on "tutolement" in the French Revolu-
tion, 480-American Literature, 1815-1833,
Cairns's, 365, "American Weekly Mercury" re-
print, 444-Armenia, Turkish peasants' part in
slaughter. 207-"Atene e Roma" founded, 500.
Bismarck monograph, Heyck's, 383-Bradford's

Journal, omission in Mass. Hist. Society's MS.
сору, 13-Bacteriology, Muir and Ritchie's
Manual of, 344.

Cairns, W. B., American Literature, 1815-1833, 365
-Henry L. Clinton's Celebrated Trials, 92-
Francis A. Channing's Truth about Agricultural
Depression, 110-Cunningham's Allen Immi-
grants in England, 267-Western Civilization
in its Economic Aspects, 424-Carlisle MSS., 285
-Copp collection of household relles, 323-
Christ portraits in British Museum, Torr's, 169
-Corsica, movement to suppress brigandage
through public schools, 383-Cambridge (Eng.)

[blocks in formation]

University Grace Books, 304-Canadian Histo-
rical Publications, Prof. Wrong's annual review
of. 267. Canadian West, MacBeth's making of,
480-Chinese, diffusion of cheap science and re-
ligion among, 170-Cornish survival of invoca-
tions, 227-Campus, an Americanism, 285, 424-
Cross, The, and its Tradition, History, and Art.
Seymour's, 424-Clerical Directory (Am. Church),
Lloyd's, 207.
Dickens rag-gathering, 'Old Lamps for New,' 149--
Donne, Jessopp's Life of, 227-Drakoules, Platon
E.. Neohellenic Language and Literature, 30-
Dutch Indian novels, 110-Death and the Poti-
cary, 461.
England. Cunningham's Alien Immigrants in, 267,
English Oxford Dictionary, 49. 405, English
Dictionary of National Biography, 324, English
Agricultural Depression, F. A. Channing on,
110-Egyptian Lexicon under way, 247-Eccle-
siasticus, Hebrew text translated, 50-Eclipse
preparatory weather observations in the South,
71-Evidence, Law of, Prof. J. B. Thayer on
the future of, 444.
Fukuzawa's multifarious works, 149-Formosa,
Wirth's History of, 481-French attention to
German literature, 365, French novels, three
translations of, 500, 501.
Grimm, Herman, 60th birthday and republished
'Novellen,' 70, 71-Brothers Grimm's Deutsches
Wörterbuch revived for completion, 424, 425-
Goethe album of drawings, 132, 133-Germany,
progress of university extension, 149. German
Oriental Society projected, 208, German techni
cal schools overrun by "foreigners." 406-
Greek, Modern Language and Literature, Dra-
koules's, 30.

Hale, E. E., blundering reminiscences, 284-E. T.
W. Hoffmann's influence on French literature,
366-Harvard College Observatory report, 30,
contention over suffrage for Overseers, 132, 461,
latter-day patriotism, 461-Historical Atlas of
Modern Europe. Poole's. 30. Historical MSS.
Commission Am. Hist. Association, first report,
207, historical instruction in secondary schools,
committee of seven, 303.

India, peculiar functions of post-office in, 247.
Jessopp's Life of Donne, 227-Jesuit Relations, vol.
X., 70, xi., xil., 110. xiil.. xlv., 246, xx., 461.
Kittredge, G. L. identifies Sir Thomas Malory,
132 F. G. Kitton's 'Old Lamps for New'
(Dickens), 149.
Lloyd's Clerical Directory of American Church, 207
-A. Lefèvre's Historic Evolution. 324-Latin
Inscriptions, W. M. Lindsay's, 70-Lung ca-
pacity and high altitudes, 406.
Menander papyrus edited by J. Nicole, 110, 111-
Sir Thomas Malory identified by Prof. Kit-
tredge, 132-J. M. Manley's Pre-Shaksperian
Drama, 227-Motley's Dutch Republic abridged
by W. E. Griffis, 285-Macedonia, multiplication
of Christian schools in, 383-Metlakatla threat.
ened by gold-seekers, 227-Mohammedan En-
cyclopedia. 247-Mars, Antionadi on its canal
illusions. 324-Magazines for January, 12, 13,
February, 91, March, 186, 187, April, 266. May.
343. 344. June, 443, 444.
Newcomb, S., on recent astronomical progress, 226,
227-Jules Nicole's Menander papyrus. 110. 111
-Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals, 208-Nica-
ragua Canal, Sheldon's Notes on, 169-New
York City Finances. E. D. Durand's, 304.
Poole, Reginald N.. Historical Atlas of Modern
Europe, 30-Plato's Republic, Adams's, 461.
Philebus, Bury's. 461-Pre-Shaksperian Drama,
Manley's. 227-Patriottentijd, Colenbrander's,
366-Peruvian investigation of effect of high
altitudes on buman body, 406-Pennsylvania
system of taxation, Eastman's, 285-Prussian
Government's attitude towards higher educa-
tion of
A.
women, 461-Pamphlet Library,
Waugh's, 187. 406.
Rousseau and his Philosophy, Hoeffding's, 133-
Ramabai's mission in India. 345.
Savonarola celebrations in Florence, 247-Stend-
hal's Red and Black, 383-Sainte-Beuve, Har-
per's, 50-Ferdinand von Saar, Anton Bettel-
heim on. 324-Spain, Northern, Huntington's
Note-book in, 500-Smith College, "Much Ado
about Nothing" at, 480-Surgeon-General's Of
fice. Library Catalogue, vol. ii., 92-Solar
eclipse on January 22, preparations for. 50.
Topelius, Zacharias. deceased, 246-Tai Wen Kun,
Korean statesman, deceased. 267-Tarrytown
and Sleepy Hollow. Bacon's Chronicles of, 169-
Thee and thou in the French Revolution, 480.
Verbeck. Guido Fridolin, deceased, 304-D. W.
Voorhees's 'Forty Years of Oratory,' 365.
Wordsworth's Poems edited by T. Hutchinson, 110
-D. F. Wilcox's Study of Civil Government.
70-Wisconsin's jubilee year improved by State
Historical Society, 149-Westchester Home-
stead, Pryer's Reminiscences of, 169-Women
recommended to foreign universities by Associa-
tion of Collegiate Alumne, 303, 459, women's
higher education in Prussia, Government's atti-
tude towards. 461.

Zola

trial, orthographic habits compared. 187.
effect on book-trade disastrous, 228, on sale of
his 'Paris,' 383.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

200

French Press, Troubles of

[blocks in formation]

or Indepen-

French Progress

359

King George, King Matthew.

218

[blocks in formation]

178

Gladstone Deceased

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Gold, Tyranny of

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

64

[blocks in formation]

6

63

London Municipality

179

Bill

239

Death to Harmony

44

Hawaiian Phase, Latest

42

Love of Country

83

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

102

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

.....376, 396
160 Importation of Books under the
Farmer and the Wheat Crop.... 417 Copyright Law

142 Imperial Policy

Mississippi Disfranchises a Race.

398

456

Monetary Commission, Report of.
Municipal Advertising

4

240

[blocks in formation]

Fifty Millions, Grant of

[blocks in formation]

198 Intervention in Cuba, What Af-
238
ter?

199

Municipal Corruption, Morals of. 297
National Character, Test of

142

[blocks in formation]

....... 358 Isolation, Olney on the Policy of. 319 National Hysteria

297

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Magle (Hopkins's)

76

Pensées (Margival's Pascal's).

285 265

Stepmother (Xenopoulos's).
Story of an Untold Love (Ford's). 135
Story of a Red Deer (Fortescue's) 185
Story of Language (Hutson's)
Story-Teller's Pack (Stockton's).
Stowe, Harriet B., (Fields's) Life
of
Strategy, (Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen's)
Letters on

74 74

Spanish Maid (Quiller Couch's). 446 Speculum Perfectionis (Sabatier's) 466 Spinning-Wheel at Rest (Jenks's) 427 Statement of Stella Maberly (Anstey's)

ERRATA. Page 88, col. 1., line 3 from bottom. For "Charles the Great" read "Charles the Bald."

[ocr errors]

Page 90, col 11., line 36 from bottom. For "Löwenstein" read "Löwen stimm."

136

Page 104, col. 1., line 19. For "legislation" read "legislatures." Page 152, col 11.. line 27 from bottom. For "nine" read "fifteen." Line 24 from bottom. For "seven" read "twelve."

"

74

152

Maidens of the Rocks (D'Annunzio's)

[blocks in formation]

Mammalian Anatomy (Jayne's)... 499 Mangan, James C.. (O'Donohue's) Life of

sen's)

186

346 Students' Standard Dictionary. 69 Subconscious Self (Waldstein's).. 155 Suffolk County, Early Long Island Wills of

Page 154, col ., line 27 from bottom. For "1781" read "1861." Page 232, col. ill., line 31. For "senses" read "sexes. Page 244, col. 1., line 13. For "wall" read "work.

329

[blocks in formation]

Mann, Horace (Hinsdale's).
Mantrapatha

Marching with Gomez (Flint's)... 252
Martha's Briefe an Marla
(Heyse's)

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to

442

Himself (Rendall's) ...... 870

233 148

382

Philip II. of Spain (Hume's)..
Pianoforte Study (McArthur's).
Place à la Femme (Macé's).
Place, Francis, (Wallas's) Life of 410
Platinum Group, (Howe's) Biblio-
graphy of
Poems (Mathilde Blind's)
Poems (Brennan's)

54

[blocks in formation]

75

442

Tales from a Mother-of-Pearl Casket (France's)

74

Tales of the Home Folks (Har

ris's)

406

186 209

Taquisara (Crawford's)

52

Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow

427

(Bacon's)

169

Page 325, col 1., line 7 from bottom. For 1829" read "1629." Col. ill. line 28 from bottom. For "1841" read "1848,"

Page 326, col. 1., line 4. For "literal" read "liberal."

Page 843, col. 1., line 19 from botton. For "Franklin" read "Frank lin B. Dexter's."

Page 406, col. 11., line 33 from bot tom. For "sufficient" read "In sufficient."

NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1898.

The Week.

The scores of thousands of operatives in New England cotton mills who received notice of a reduction in wages just before the end of 1897 were not the only class of working-people in that section to whom such a holiday gift was made. The employees in a great shoe factory at North Brookfield, Mass., have just been informed that their pay will be cut down with the new year, and the operatives in similar establishments elsewhere fear that the example thus set will be generally followed. The only reason assigned by the manufacturers is that they are losing money, and cannot continue the business unless they reduce the wage account. The company in question has always enjoyed a good reputation for fair treatment of its hands, and they are more disposed to accept the claim that the cut must be made in order to keep the shops going than is sometimes the case when such an aunouncement is made by an employer. A local newspaper says that "the people of North Brookfield hope that the peace and general good-will will not be interrupted by the present unpleasant situation."

Why do shoe manufacturers find that they cannot pay as large wages hereafter as heretofore? Has any change in the conditions of the industry occurred during the past year? There has been one change, which is of great importance. A tax has been put by the Dingley law upon the raw material used in making shoes. The new tariff imposes a duty upon hides. This duty was imposed against the earnest protests of shoe manufacturers, who insisted that it would seriously injure their business. Six months have not passed since the law went into operation, and already a reduction of wages is found to be inevitable. Such a showing cannot be a pleasing spectacle for Republican Congressmen who promised prosperity as soon as a Republican tariff should go into effect, and who must meet next fall the interrogatory of a host of workingmen why prosperity involves smaller pay for them.

The wheels of the reciprocity chariot are tarrying unconscionably. One brake on them is the fact that we cannot

surrender a dollar of revenue, in the interest of reciprocal trade, without still further embarrassing our Treasury. How can we remit any part of the duty on sugar when we need the whole and more than the whole? The second great ob

great execution already in the ranks of the enemy, and they may be made to do service as long as deficits continue.

stacle in the way of reciprocity is the
fact that the men who moved heaven
and earth to get a high duty put on
their products do not now propose to
surrender a fraction of 1 per cent. of it.
It certainly does look like interfering
Commissioner Evans fully confirms
the worst that has ever been charged
with vested rights, and we know what
an awful thing that is. Take the lum-
against pension attorneys as a class. He
bermen, for instance. They lobbied
points out that during the past thirteen
through a duty of $2 on white pine,
years $13,000,000-a full million a year-
which, as they boasted, meant $6,000,-
has been paid to such attorneys, a large
000 clear to them, and now are they to proportion of the vast sum for really
be asked to give up any part of that
trifling services. He shows how unscru-
honest profit for the sake of reciprocity
pulous agents persuade veterans to en-
with Canada? Why, the very sugges-
ter claims against the Government which
tion fills them with disgust; and they
the old soldiers would never think of
have their secretary notify Reciprocity
presenting if left to themselves, and
Commissioner Kasson that nothing of make combinations with incompetent or
the sort must be attempted. All they are
conscienceless medical examiners to put
asking is a protection of 20 per cent.,
through absolutely fraudulent applica-
while they are cheerfully paying 40 or 50
tions. In many cases the old soldier is
per cent. on other people's goods. Does
illiterate, and a shrewd attorney pre-
Mr. Kasson want to rob them of their
pares almost any kind of affidavit that
little all? Reciprocity must be had, of
he wants, and directs the soldier to sign
course it is in the platform; but the
it, which the latter does in ignorance of
lumbermen never did think much of re-
what it contains. Commissioner Evans
ciprocity with "nations in the same
reports that the Bureau unearths sharp
temperate zones as our own." Reci- practice of one kind or another by these
procity they thought to be well under-attorneys every day, and he sees no hope
stood as a matter only for the tropics
and Dagoes-something far off, anyhow,

and with no relation to lumber. And
that is what they all say: Reciprocity
to the top of your bent, but touch our
duties if you dare!

We unite with our protectionist
friends in rejoicing that at last the Ding-
ley tariff has made both ends meet dur-
ing a single month. It is true, the De-
cember "surplus revenue" of $1,714,831,
reported on Tuesday by the Treasury,
leaves a net deficit of $44,376,663 for the
six completed months of the fiscal year. It
is true, also, as Dingley and his friends
reluctantly confess, that a heavy deficit
in January is inevitable, which will re-
move still further from the domain of
legislative sanity Mr. Dingley's estimate
of $113,000,000 increase in the revenues
of the fiscal year. Still, a surplus is a
surplus, and no true-hearted protection-
ist need now hang his head. When the
wicked jeeringly refer to the "Dingley
Deficit," all that is necessary is to point
to the December surplus, and ask by
what right such a tariff as that can be
called a deficit-maker. Meantime, if in-
ternal revenue receipts increase as they
have done in the past six months, seven
millions over the corresponding period
of 1896, let it be remembered that this
increase must be ascribed to the customs

schedules of the Dingley law, while any
general shortage in revenue during the
next few years must be set down to
"anticipatory importations." The poly-
syllables involved in this explanation
have done, we can ourselves testify,

of a reform except by Government oversight of the business. With this change

in methods the pension bureau would have direct control of the attorneys, whose business it would be to see that all honest claims were promptly and intelligently presented; and if one of them should fail to do his duty or should be found incompetent, it would be an easy matter to remove him. It is a great thing to have a Commissioner who realizes the abuses of the existing system so thoroughly as Mr. Evans bes, and the McKinley Administration will be entitled to great credit if it shall carry through the reforms which he advocates.

When the bill prohibiting pelagic sealing was on its hasty passage through Congress, the whole stress was laid on our duty to do what we asked other nations to do. We were asking the Canadians to give up pelagic sealing, and yet were open to the taunt that Americans were not above taking seals on the high seas. Let us make the nefarious business unlawful for our own citizens, and then our "moral position" will be much stronger in calling upon other nations to abandon it. That was the argument before the bill passed. But no sooner had it passed than it was found to contain a clause absolutely prohibiting the importation of sealskins or of articles made of sealskin. No sealskin muff or purse, no article of wearing apparel in which sealskin is even a part, can pass through our customhouses without being ripped to pieces to see if the pelt carries the proper

stamp. No lady going abroad can safely take a sealskin coat along without a "certificate of ownership" from the Collector of the port; otherwise, this, too, on her return, will be torn open for examination. That is to say, while ostensibly passing a bill to prohibit pelagic sealing, we were really making a law to prohibit importation of sealskins. Incidentally we were giving an absolute monopoly of the sealskin trade in this country to the North American Commercial Company, which leases the Pribyloff Islands and is entitled to bring in its skins as before. Thus is our moral position made strong. Thus is a customs law again made to wring the soul of the foreigner and to cause the native to pay more for his clothes.

After weeks of hard labor, the Navy Board, headed by the Assistant Secretary, has finished its bill for the reorganization of the service, and transmitted it to Secretary Long, accompanied by a very long explanatory report, written by Mr. Roosevelt. As was expected, the bill provides for the union of the line and the engineers, promotion by selection, increased pay for the officers. and a retired list for the enlisted men, and is therefore the most radical measure ever prepared in regard to our navy or any other navy. It requires not only that each graduate of Annapolis shall be

some of the most persistent seekers after and wielders of political influence in Washington, of late years, have been captains, commodores, and admirals, and they will probably continue to be, unless human nature changes or most stringent regulations are enforced. Furthermore, the voluntary or forced retirement each year of a number of ablebodied and-if the general standard is high-mentally qualified officers will add to the retired list fifteen or more members each year. If these men are employed on shore duty, it will be tantamount to an increase of the active navy; if unemployed, the Government will find itself with a new class of able-bodied pensioners, quite capable of earning large salaries, on its hands. Mr. Roosevelt lays stress upon the fact that the proposed increase will augment the pay of the navy "only" $600,000. That will be true this year, but not in 1899, and still less as the years go on and the retired lists of officers and men steadily grow, for the present one has largely increased from year to year during the last decade. That 180 more officers have been asked for is no surprise. Fifteen years ago the cry was, We must have new ships, and plenty of them, to keep our officers busy. Now, having built more ships than are needed by so fortunately situated and peaceably disposed a nation as ours, we must have more

an infantry drill-master, a hydrograph-expensive officers. It is only a couple

er, an electrician, a navigator, a naval tactician and strategist, and an ordnance expert, acquainted with the handling and making of guns, powders, torpedoes, armor, and projectiles, but that he shall also be fully able to care for and direct the intricate machinery of every kind to be found on board a manof-war. Whether, in these days of necessary specialization, one officer can become expert in all these scientific matters, is a question that can be decided only after the system has been put in effect, for in no other service of to-day has it been thought of. Indeed, the only analogies that Mr. Roosevelt can draw are from the times of the Spanish Armada, of Blake, and of Nelson. It is well that the bill provides also for a body of warrant machinists, who will not be called upon to do "deck" duty, and upon whom the responsibility of the engine-room will mainly rest, as it does upon the engineers of to-day.

The proposal to regulate promotion by selection-that is, by having a certain number of the least able officers forcibly retired each year in order to promote their subordinates-is open to two very serious objections. The danger that these retirements will be largely affected by political and social influence Mr. Roosevelt himself recognizes, but seeks to minimize by having the weeding out done by officers of the highest rank. It is unfortunately true, however, that

of years since the number of enlisted men was increased, and now there are calls for more of them, and will continue to be as long as there is any chance of aping European countries and heaping greater and greater burdens upon our

own.

The factional opposition to Hanna in Ohio has proved to be more widespread and persistent than was anticipated, and the Foraker wing has detached from the machine enough members to carry its point if it can hold its men. At this writing it has won the first skirmish at Columbus by securing the organization of the Legislature, but the real fight over the senatorship is still to be fought. The opposition have the advantage temporarily, by reason of controlling the patronage of the Legislature, but they are suffering from the lack of popular support. They are repudiating all the obligations of partisanship, and yet they are unable to show that there is any patriotism or principle in their course. In this situation the champions of regularity are supported by public opinion, and it remains to be seen whether the bolters can stand out against the popular demands that they shall abide by the action of the party organization. The Republican opponents of Hanna are also embarrassed by the difficulty of making terms about the senatorship with the Democratic members of the Legislature, who are inclined to drive

a hard bargain. As the voting for Senator will not begin for a week, and may drag on for a good while, the country is going to have a thorough exhibition of Ohio factional politics at its worst.

The method of selection which has been followed in regard to the men who are to operate the machinery of Greater New York is a totally new thing in the history of civilized government. Mr. Croker has been engaged for two months, mainly at Lakewood, New Jersey, in the task of choosing these men. Who have been his advisers in this great task? Has he taken counsel with our leading authorities on municipal government, our most eminent financiers, our successful merchants, our chief lawyers and professional men? Have any of these been to Lakewood and had audience at the Croker court? Not one of them has been seen there. If any of them had gone, he would have been given short shrift by the Boss, who has made it known to the world that he has no use for the advice of such citizens. Not only has he spurned the counsel of men of success in all walks and professions of private life, but he has confined his selection of men for office under the new government to persons who either have no private business, or so little of it that they are willing to abandon it on becoming public servants. This is right under the Boss system. Any other plan would have been absurd. Hugh J. Grant promised us in 1888, that he would make his appointments from the "highest order of citizenship that the county affords." The present Tammany boss has "moved farther into the wilderness" since he was restored to power. He openly spurns the highest order of citizenship and constructs his government from the lowest. The results of his policy will furnish material for thought to the students of government throughout the world.

It should be said of the new Police Board that we have never had a more complete embodiment of the bi-partisan idea than it presents. It is headed by Barney York of the Borough of Brooklyn, who is on it as "Boss McLaughlin's man." Its Treasurer is Tom Hamilton of the Borough of Manhattan, who is on it primarily as "Gibbs's man," but fundamentally as Platt's man, the information that he was Platt's selection for the place having convinced Croker that he was the man for it. He represents on the board the first instalment of the debt which Croker owes to Platt for the gift of the government of the city. The next man on the board is Johnny Sexton of the Borough of Manhattan, a Tammany district leader who is known as "Hugh J. Grant's man." The fourth and last member is Billy Phillips of the Borough of Brooklyn, who is known as "Willis's man," Willis being one of the

« SebelumnyaLanjutkan »