Work of Note

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1901

Senor Buencamino, of Manila, is actively pushing the anti-friar movement in the Philippines. He declares that the inhabitants of the islands must “choose between the church and friars, or the new freedom of thought,” and is openly advocating Protestantism as a remedy for many of the evils of which the people complain. Protestant missionaries in the islands state that they are receiving many letters from the provinces inquiring about Protestantism, and asking for preachers. There seems to be an awakening in the islands, and the people seem to be approaching a religious crisis. Both the political and the religious elements are showing remarkable activity. About 5,000 residents of Manila and Malibay have joined the Methodist Church in a body, and now hold services in Catholic Churches. The Presbyterians also are carrying on successful missionary operations in the province of Cavite, and have a considerable following in Central Luzon, Panay, and Negros.

There is a general movement of the Boers toward Cape Colony, and large numbers are reported to have actually invaded the colony. General De Wett, according to late reports, is now in Cape Colony with a considerable portion of his immediate command, preparing to strike an effective blow. Lord Kitchener is making extensive preparations to capture the burghers, but no effective operations against them have been reported for some time, owing to scarcity of horses. The British post at Meddersfontein was captured by the Boers on February 4, the British relief column failing to arrive in time to assist the garrison. The Boers have entrenched themselves and established a base of supplies in Cape Colony. A general movement of large bodies of British troops to the eastward is reported from the Cape, which is regarded as an attempt to surround the invading Boers.

Reports from China indicate that the famine in the provinces of Shansi and Shensi is one of the worst in the history of China. It is estimated that fully two-thirds of the people are without the necessities of life, or the means of obtaining them. The weather is cold, and adds to the misery of starvation. For three years the crops have failed in both these provinces, and numerous instances of cannibalism are reported. Men have even sold their wives and children in order to obtain food, and young children are being killed by their parents. Men and women hunt for food in savage bands. In the province of Shensi the dowager and her court have taken refuge with many thousands of soldiers, thus adding to the misery of the population.

The German field marshal in China has announced to the Chinese envoys that the Chinese Government must give evidence of good faith and of its ability to carry out the provisions of the agreement before the foreign troops in China will be removed from Peking. The protection which the Chinese are to give to the Christians must be satisfactory to the representatives of the powers. February 4 was the date set for a joint meeting of all the envoys to consider the present conditions in China, arrange for the punishment of the guilty Chinese officials, and enter upon the real work of establishing peace. In the meantime everything is working toward the end of continued occupation of China.

Mrs. Carrie Nation and her followers are continuing their work of warning and wrecking the saloons of Kansas. She has been arrested several times, but the law can not hold her for destroying what it has pronounced a public nuisance. Her work is stirring up a new interest in the saloon question in Kansas, and in several instances has resulted in undoubted good. Some who are selling liquor in violation of the law, have closed that branch of their business, and officers of the law are being awakened somewhat to the duties of their office. A formal notice has been sent by these women to the saloons of Chicago.

A company of the 34th U. S. Infantry was ambushed on the island of Cebu, on February 31, losing five men killed, four wounded, and two prisoners. The Americans were re-enforced and drove off the Filipinos with considerable loss. General MacArthur has suppressed the Diario, a Manila newspaper which was established in 1848, because of its attacks upon the Federal party and the policy of deporting Filipinos to Guam. He has also ordered the imprisonment of the editor, one of the brightest writers in the islands. America’s boasted liberty of the press and freedom of speech are suffering a severe blow in her subject colonies.

The first orders issued with reference to carrying out the provisions of the new Army Bill were those that order the discontinuance of the army canteen. After reciting the anti-canteen provision of the law, the order proceeds: “Commanding officers will immediately carry the provisions of this law into full force and effect, and will be held strictly responsible that no exceptions or evasions are permitted within their respective jurisdictions.” This should effectually close all saloons on all military reservations of the United States at home or abroad.

The Government of France has recently issued a pamphlet showing the amount of real estate held by the Catholic monastic orders, which forms the basis of the present agitation against these societies. According to this pamphlet, the value of property held by these orders amounts to $220,000,000, over half of which has been accumulated within the last twenty years. In order to avoid payment of taxes on this property much of it has been made over to “men of straw.” It is the purpose of the government to compel the real owners of this property to pay the taxes on it.

Harvard College is to have a Semitic museum, illustrating the life and thought of Semitic peoples, ancient and modern, with the Hebrew-Palestinian, so called, as the nucleus and central feature of the whole. It is designed to assist in the instruction given in the Semitic department of the college, and as an aid to serious Bible students everywhere. The collection of literature and other objects has been going on for some years. The building which will be devoted to this museum is now in process of construction, and will cost $60,000.

Chicago contractors have been notified that they are the successful bidders for the work of raising the battleship Maine from the waters of Havana harbor, and also the Spanish transport Alphonso XII., which is beached on the shore near the Maine. This firm raises the wrecks for the salvage there is in them, paying the government three per cent. of all proceeds, and returning all personal property of the officers.

A large and representative body of Porto Ricans have sent an earnest petition to the Senate of the United States, praying for the annulment of the revenue law which was rushed thru the Porto Rican Legislature during the last hours of its session. The insular press, and the people generally, are in opposition to the new revenue law, and a commission will be sent to Washington to oppose it.

The threatened outbreak of hostilities on the part of the Creek Indians, of Indian Territory, seems to have been forestalled by the arrest of eighteen of the leaders. Chief Crazy Snake, who was the leader in the trouble, was among the first arrested. The Indians desired to return to their tribal laws and customs, and force the whites out of their territory.

The Prussian authorities in the Polish provinces have discovered the existence of secret societies among the Poles, whose object is to bring about a revolutionary rising. It is charged by the Poles that there is much unfair discrimination against them by the authorities, and letters addressed to Poles would not be delivered by the postal officials.

Several engagements have recently been reported between Mexican troops and the Indians of Yucatan, known as the Mayas. The reports indicate that the Indians are being pressed back by the government troops to the vicinity of their stronghold. In a battle, January 31, the Indians lost 50 men killed and a large number wounded.

The Ship Subsidy Bill is again engaging the attention of Congress, and there is some indication of an extra session, in case the passage of the bill is not voted upon before the close of the present session. Senators having this bill in charge have given notice that there will be night sessions held until the bill is passed.

A scientific expedition is planned to observe and investigate the strange phenomenon of the “silent city of Alaska,” a mirage which is visible on Mount Fairweather from the middle of June to the middle of July. The mirage is said to be an exact picture of the city of Bristol, England.

The officials of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union have decided to send circulars to all medical journals, hospitals, and medical colleges throughout the country, petitioning all physicians connected with these institutions to refrain from prescribing alcohol for medical use.

The White Star Steamship Company has contracted for the building of a transatlantic steamer, which will be 3,000 tons heavier than the great Oceanic. This vessel will therefore exceed 20,000 tons burden, and will eclipse the Kaiser Wilhelm, now building.

A bill has been introduced in the New York Legislature to regulate the size of type used in the newspapers of the State, and in books of fiction. The one who introduced the bill states that the fine print used in this class of literature is ruining the eyes of the people.

On January 29 a Chicago firm purchased of a Kentucky brewing company, 6,000 barrels of whisky in one lot to be delivered at once. This is the largest whisky deal ever recorded, and it is an indication of the growth and power of the liquor interests.

As an instance of the superstition of the sea, the owners of the schooner Slade, of Tacoma, Washington, were unable to secure a crew for that vessel until the customary ceremony of breaking a bottle of wine over her bow had been performed.

The report of the Post-office Department shows that during the year 1890, 7,536,150 pieces of mail matter were sent to the dead-letter office, and that these contained $1,136,645.50 in negotiable paper, and over $44,000 in actual cash.

Hawaii’s representative in the House of Representatives at Washington has been accused of being a traitor to the government, and a sympathizer with the Filipinos, and an attempt will be made to have him excluded from the House.

Secretary-of-War Root, in reply to an inquiry of the Senate, on February 4, admitted that 32 Filipino leaders had been exiled to the island of Guam, among whom was Señor Mabini, declared to be the ablest native in the islands.

On February 4, 250 Chicago saloon-keepers were arrested for keeping their places open on Sunday. This action is said to be the forerunner of what is in store for all saloon-keepers who keep their places open on that day.

The murderers of the Paterson, N. J., mill girl have been sentenced for their crime. Three of them receive 30 years in the State prison at hard labor, and the fourth, 15 years’ imprisonment at hard labor.

On February 4 the last honors were paid to the remains of Queen Victoria, when her body was placed in its final resting-place beside that of the prince consort in the mausoleum at Frogmore.

The twentieth annual convention of the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor, which was in session at Portland, Maine, closed on February 3, with a union meeting of the various churches.

On February 2 the transport Warren arrived at San Francisco from the Philippines with 465 sick and disabled soldiers, 52 discharged soldiers, and the bodies of 107 dead.

General MacArthur, in a despatch bearing date of February 4, reports the death of 6 men in action and the wounding of 12.

A disastrous fire occurred in New York City on January 31, causing a property loss of $1,500,000.

The first session of the Legislature of Porto Rico closed on February 1.

Anti-Jesuit riots are reported from Valencia, Spain.