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| "China, the Cake of Kings and Emperors," French cartoon. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 31, 1900.
POWERS READY TO GRAB.
Two Powers Said to Have Greedy Eyes on China.
PEKIN DIVIDED FOR POLICING.
The feature of the Chinese situation which chiefly puzzles Europe is the absence of all authentic accounts of the attempts to seize the legations during the two months that they were practically cut off from communication with the world. There can be no doubt that silence on the part of the correspondents who are now sending news of the day-to-day events in Pekin is compulsory. It is not easy, however, to understand the reasons why the allied Commanders have forbidden the transmission of news which, more than anything else in the recent history, appeals to the world's interest.
Anxiety as to the policy of the respective powers, or rather two of them, increases as the prospect of expensive military operations diminishes. Russia and Germany are, of course, the nations whose attitude or possible attitude arouses apprehension. The Continent perhaps would say that Great Britain is the only legitimate object of suspicion, but it can be said without hesitation that no power which hasn't great and rapacious ambitions of its own in the Far East has any reason to fear the English policy. In other words, Great Britain has no selfish designs whatever in China unless the time comes when she will be unable to prevent the dismemberment of the empire. In the latter case England will try to get all she can, and it useless to deny that she is making certain preparations for that contingency.
Another element of the situation has developed which is causing uneasiness in Great Britain. It proves unfortunately that the death of King Humbert is likely to have an important effect on international policy. It threatens indeed to place the Italian foreign policy in the virtual control of the German emperor, and this may have far-reaching consequences. King Emmanuel III regards his great ally as the personification of wisdom and will, there is reason to believe, follow him blindly. William is aware of the young king's hero worship and will utilize it for the good of Germany and incidentally, no doubt, for the benefit of Italy where the two interests do not clash.
It is known that Field Marshal Count Von Waldersee, when in Rome, delivered to the king a letter from the emperor in which the Kaiser was good enough to set forth what he thought should be the course of the powers in China. The king accepted the letter as a delicate compliment and is subsequently reported to have made these remarks:
"Germany is the only power which has a definite determined policy toward China. For the moment the German programme contemplates no new enterprise necessitating the dispatch of further armed forces. If Germany should at any time decide it to be necessary to augment the troops or naval force in China we will follow her example. That is Italy's safe and proper policy."
The world will have to wait for events to develop the emperor's policy, but it may be regarded as certain that it includes the determination not to allow Japan, as a yellow power, to obtain substantial advantages from the Chinese. Russia has already got Manchuria and the Kaiser is not likely to interfere with an accomplished fact, but there he thinks territorial aggrandizements should stop. He hopes that within a year order will be re-established in China, and pending this, he thinks that certain well defined areas should be occupied by the international forces, but he does not see any necessity for Japanese troops remaining in China, and he disputes almost fiercely England's claim to paramount influence in the Yang Tse Valley.
Interesting Letter From Manila.
The following extracts from a letter received by Mrs. Geo. Madole of Mt. Roderick [Cortland County, N. Y.] from her brother at Manila, of date June 3, will be found entertaining reading:
"I am working in the officers' ward at the hospital, there being seven patients here at the present time. The work is very hard, as we are obliged to carry water, linen, meals and everything that is required in the ward up stairs. This is a large hospital, with fine grounds, being a convent at one time. It is enclosed by a high stone wall. All told, there are about four hundred patients in the hospital, and over three thousand in the city, all sick and wounded soldiers.
''There are some of the most beautiful sights in this city that I ever saw. To see the old moss fortification, with its rusty old guns and the walled city with its ancient churches and convents when the sun is setting is a grand spectacle, one of the most beautiful pictures one sees in a life time.
"Just outside of the walled city, on Luneta, one of the regiment bands play every night, and thousands of people come out to hear it, many of them riding in hacks and two-wheeled carts drawn by little ponies not more than three or four feet high.
"On the night of May 18 the troops were called to arms. When the trumpeter sounded the call hundreds of soldiers were on the Luneta, and they all scattered and ran for "the barracks in quick time, civilians and natives in wagons running over each other, making an exciting scene. The alarm was caused by a skirmish on the outskirts of the city, in which one lieutenant and five privates were killed, besides several wounded.
"We had a very pleasant trip across the continent, stopping at Gibraltar two days, Valetta, Malta Islands, two days. The latter city is very ancient, and is surrounded by a large stone wall, with only one gate by which to enter. It is spoken of many times in the Bible. A tarry of three days was made at Port Said, which is at the entrance of the Suez canal. This is a two-street dirty little town, with nothing in sight but water and sand.
"Passing through the canal one sees nothing but a desert of sand for 90 miles. We saw two or three pack trains of camels, which were crossing the desert from Cairo to Syria, and ostriches were to be seen quite frequently.
"The run from Port Said to Columbo took seventeen days, and the trip from New York to Manila consumed 53 days."
PAGE FOUR--EDITORIALS
Lives and Treasure Wasted.
According to the reports of the treasury and war departments the war in the Philippines since its initiation early in February, 1899, has cost the United States $186,678,000 beside the lives of 2,394 soldiers. It is also reported by the war department that 2,073 American soldiers have been wounded. Thousands have been stricken with disease, and the number who will live out their lives as physical wrecks as a result of the Philippine campaigns cannot be numbered by any statistician of the present day.
These millions have been wrung from the taxpayers of our country; this dark record of deaths and men incapacitated by wounds and diseases, represents desolation and suffering in thousands of American homes.
The Filipinos desire an independent government. They desire freedom. The United States, which is seeking to crush out the demand of this people for liberty, is not the United States of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln; it is the imperial government of Hanna and McKinley. It is along the policy of an administration which is disregarding American traditions of century, which overrules the constitution and which has outgrown the sacred principle of the declaration of independence. The course of the McKinley administration in regard to the Philippines is a long step on a new and dangerous national pathway. It indicates a future policy diametrically opposed to the thoughtful and patriotic one of American statesmen like Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, Clay, Lincoln, Blaine, Cleveland and Harrison, under [whom] the United States has grown to be the greatest Republic in the history of the world.
William Jennings Bryan is pledged to turn the course of the United States from the strange fields of Empire back to the safe and peaceful one of a true Republic. Bryan has the courage and stamina to save the United States from Imperialism.
The defection of German voters from the Republican party and policy continues.
We have not heard of a Cortland county Democrat who supports McKinley, but many Republicans are out for Bryan.
In health the American citizen pays tribute to a hundred trusts; stricken by sickness he is taxed by the Drug Trust; if he dies the Coffin Trust wrings tribute from his widow.
The Stove Trust is capitalized for $100,000,000 and the Coal Trust for $150,000,000. A man has the alternative of freezing during the cold months or paying one Trust's price for a stove and the other's exorbitant rate for coal.
The Trusts controlling food products alone are capitalized for $967,000,000. A dozen monopolies make up the aggregate of nearly a billion dollars in stock. They all pay big dividends by taxing the hungry stomachs of the American people.
The Republicans have completed a canvass of the entire state of Indiana and their own figures show it to be Democratically inclined by over 18,000 majority! What a hole the Indiana state managers will make in Hanna's already too small barrel of funds to try to turn the tide.
What a hard time they are having, trying to keep Roosevelt from talking in this state. But beware, he will talk here and they will have to let him—for which we are duly thankful, for he makes some Democratic votes every time he opens his mouth.
The national committee of the People's party has accepted the resignation of Charles A. Towne as vice-president and their candidates are Bryan and Stevenson. It is time the work of organizing Bryan and Stevenson clubs was begun throughout the country. We ought to have one in every town. Talk it over.
Every nation declares that it will demand indemnity for the lives of their citizens sacrificed in China. Who can place a price upon human life and to what purpose will the money sought be devoted? If the limitations of the prices to be demanded are in any manner authoritative the entire resources of the Chinese empire will have been exhausted long before half of the proposed claims will have been satisfied.
Republican papers are trying to make campaign material out of the present agitation in the Democratic party as to who shall control the coming state convention. Be it [former Governor] Hill or Tammany, the result will be the same so far as united efforts for success in November are concerned and it is to the credit of the Democratic party that it is not in the power of any one man with an office at 49 Broadway, or any other old place, to call the convention and thrust his own tools on it as candidates.
POLITICAL NOTES.
Seeing that the old Republic is in danger, never fear for a moment that the American voter will not do his full duty.—St. Louis Republican.
The truth is that Roosevelt is so apt to fall into indiscretions of speech that he is liable to give a sharp and resourceful antagonist many points of advantage. We have not so much confidence in Governor Roosevelt's effectiveness on the stump as some others have.—Boston Herald.
The Democratic party, as Mr. Bryan pointed out in his Chicago speech, is not concerned with the Filipino, but with the American citizen. Its opposition to imperialism is based on its belief that imperialism in that American government is a menace to all liberty, and an especial menace to Americans themselves. It is on this line that the battle of 1900 is being fought.—St. Louis Republic.
There is already abundant evidence that the administration has lost ground in its deliberate exploiting of Montague R. Leverson of Fort Hamilton, N. Y. The publication of his stuff by the Republican committee, acting in conjunction with the Washington authorities, was evidently planned to offset the effect of the liberty Congress at Indianapolis. None supposes for a moment that the sitting of the one and the publication of the other was a merely accidental coincidence. But no thoughtful man can fail to perceive the weak silliness of attempting to associate such men as Governor Boutell of Massachusetts; General Beatty of Ohio; Judge Hough of Indiana, and Judge Decker, of Colorado, with a poor old crank such as Leverson is easily shown to be.—Manchester Union.
The silence of Thomas B. Reed is causing great anxiety in the Republican ranks. If Mr. Reed would only sign a contract not to speak at all it would be a great relief, but the fact that the fuse is ready to be lighted up on some unexpected occasion and shoot off the greatest gun of the campaign where it may not do the most good is inexpressibly annoying. Mr. Reed has been known for some time not to fully indorse the policy of the administration and it is well known that he is a man who not only thoroughly believes what he says, but does not always stand on the order of his saying it. Perhaps Reed in his silence may prove mightier than the thunders of Roosevelt or the cunning of Hanna.—Boston Globe.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
The Greatest Success In the History of the Ass'n—Winners of Special Premiums.
The county fair which closed last Friday was a success from every point of view. The crowds were there, the exhibits were there, the satisfactory entertainments were there, good nature was there, and every one returned home satisfied. This in brief gives the history of the Cortland county fair for 1900, and its prestige will carry it to success again next year, especially if the directors use wisdom in selecting as they have for the past two years such hustling managers.
The contest over the special premiums was in many cases spirited, and well they might be, as their value made them very desirable. The elegant chamber suite given by Beard & Peck, who do as much to foster the county fairs as any firm in this section of the state, to the lady harnessing a horse and driving around the track the quickest, was a most elegant premium, and was won by May B. Muller of Dryden, with Mrs. Fred Sherman of Como, second, and Mrs. L. C. Weaver of Cortland, third. The winner met with a mishap which delayed her a brief time, the horse turning from the track and upsetting the wagon. Miss Muller quickly righted matters and won the race.
The Mahan piano was awarded to Myron E. Medes, who resides at No. 41 Fitz-ave., who is employed by the Cortland Wagon Company. His many friends are heartily congratulating him upon his good fortune.
Glann & Clark's special premium of a pair of "Queen Quality" shoes was awarded to Mrs. W. H. Barto of McLean, her guess being 60,050 pairs, the exact number being 60,754.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Burgett of Homer feel proud of their baby, Rea Ardell Burgett, who was declared the handsomest on exhibition and took a handsome dinner and tea set, given by the Fair Store.
The silk dress given by Palmer Bros. for a ladies' driving contest on Friday was won by Mrs. H. H. Hovey of Homer, and the $8 skirt by Mrs. Ray Sexton.
The Imperial Red Cross range given by F. D. Smith for best display of all kinds of baking was awarded to Mrs. Patrick O'Neil of Cortlandville.
W. Miller of Spafford secured the rubber tired top buggy offered as a special premium by Keator, Wells & Co.
The Hobo Nuisance.
As the D. L. and W. railroad is at certain seasons of the year one of the chief thoroughfares for hobos or tramps, these knights of the highway having already become numerous in Cortland, the action taken by the D. & H. road in regard to tramps will be of interest to our readers.
Chief Detective Goodrich and a force of men have been engaged during the past two weeks gathering in hobos that patronize the road. Chief Goodrich has men stationed at various points along the line, and from ten to twenty tramps are taken up every day. Recently half a dozen men were captured at a station along the line of the D. & H. The chief detective and several officers were on hand and arrested the sextet, taking them before a justice of the peace. All of the men told hard luck stories and evidently the justice felt sorry for them. Two he gave 10 days in jail and the other four were taken from the court room and furnished a good meal, after which the justice and the constable of the place drove them out of town. The same four were arrested the next day about ten miles distant, and were sent to the penitentiary for six months.
Detective Goodrich intends to have the D. & H. free of the tramp nuisance by the first of the month.
He believes that the hobo question is one which the railroad companies will have to take up one of these days in a more forceful manner than at present. It is difficult to estimate the great number of depredations that are being committed along railroad lines by the knights of the road, and the stealing by tramps aggregates many thousands of dollars in the course of a year.
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| M. F. Cleary in fireman's uniform. |
HERE AND THERE.
Three new boilers for the Wickwire shops arrived Wednesday.
Political banners will soon be in order, and Cortland is expected to be in line.
Messrs. Spragne & Stearns have begun the erection of their new coal pockets.
The Cortland State League team will play two games with Binghamton this afternoon in this city.
Miss Mae A. Fuller has been engaged to teach in the Central school in place of Miss May Knapp, resigned.
The interior of the Schermerhorn-st. school building will be painted by Loucks & Petrie, their bid being $89.50.
The Cortland Standard, either through mistake or from remorse, recognized McGrawville last Friday afternoon.
A new time-table goes into effect on the Erie & Central New York railroad Sunday, which will be found on our eighth page.
The Cortland Home Telephone company is distributing its poles along Groton-ave., that they may be set before paving begins.
Tuesday and Wednesday were great days for the Lackawanna railroad, several special trains bring necessary to convey passengers to the State fair.
Two of a kind—girls—at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Bristol. They arrived yesterday morning. "Tom," is passing cigars in packages instead of the customary singles.
The Broome county fair at Whitney's Point will open next Tuesday and last four days. The secretary informs us that this will be one of the best fairs ever held on those beautiful grounds.
The fall term of the Cortland Business institute will open on Tuesday next. The managers propose to make this one of the best institutions for teaching business methods in Central New York.
The Cortland Savings bank will receive and forward contributions in aid of the India famine sufferers. The committee of one hundred with headquarters at New York make an urgent appeal for help which is needed very speedily.
Next Sunday at 2 o'clock James H. Jacobs of Blodgett Mills will give a free talk at the corner of West Court and Main-sts., the Randall corner. His subject will be ''Fair Play for the Bible'' and he extends a special invitation to lawyers to attend.
A meeting of the Tioughnioga club will be held next Wednesday evening, Sept. 5, for the election of five directors in the place of five whose terms of office expire.
The concert given in the Homer-ave. M. E. church Wednesday evening by the Vesta quartet was very pleasing and the attendance was large. It was one of the best entertainments ever given in that church.
While in bathing with two companions Wednesday afternoon near the Wickwire stock farm, Floyd W. Stoker was taken with cramps, and was rescued with considerable difficulty. He had sunk three times when reached by his companions.
Mrs. Harriet Parker and her daughter, Miss May Parker, entertained a large company of ladies at a reception at their home, corner of Church and Port Watson-sts., last Saturday afternoon. Several smaller companies have been entertained by Miss Parker this week.
A civil service examination will be held in this city on Sept. 26 for the positions of clerk and carrier in the postoffice service. The age limitations are for clerk, not less than 18 years, and carrier between 21 and 40. Randolph H. Miller is secretary of the postal board, with whom all applications should be promptly filed.
The Dryden fair premium list this year is ahead of all its predecessors in many ways. Typographically it is a credit to the printers, the Dryden Herald. As a fair premium list, it embraces everything and the premiums offered are very generous. Yon will be sure to find some class in which you will wish to make entries.
The following from the Binghamton Herald is respectfully referred to M. F. Cleary: It is alleged that Cortland has the oldest active volunteer firemen in the State, but the man who makes the allegation has never heard of one Andy Slosson, the man who invented the order of Volunteer Firemen thirty years before the war of the Revolution.
Forty-two bicycles stood on the south side of Railroad-st. Tuesday evening while their riders, reinforced by many who came on foot, surrounded Charley Sanders cigar store awaiting news from the Cortland-Elmira ball games. That shows the interest Cortland takes in its state league team.
The Warren-Scharf Paving company is pushing the excavation of Groton-ave. and it will not be long before the work of laying the curb will begin. The tracks of the Cortland Homer Traction company extending from Homer-ave. to Main-st. have been removed, and that line is now a thing of the past.
Binghamton will send quite a contingent to the Cortland Normal school next week, certificates having been issued to the following: Martha Louise Marsh, Helen E. Cary, Kittie L. Davidson, Lucy F. Harder, Bessie I. Howard, Katherine DeLaney, Nellie M. Haggerty, Ella T. Grace. Mabel B. Munson. Grace E. Rogers. Maud C. Saxton, Ethel Golonor.
