NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 13.

FOREIGN.

—M. Raggoneau, a French scientist, has discovered a process by which a plant may be made to grow from the seed in thirty minutes as much as it would under ordinary circumstances in as many days. The solution which he uses in the soil is 5,000 parts of water to one of formic acid, so he says. The scientist says this is the secret of the Indian jugglers in their celebrated feat of causing the rapid growth of a plant.

—Cuban affairs remain practically in statu quo, altho the situation is slightly relieved by the news that in the battle of Candelaria, which the Spanish reported as a great victory for themselves, the Spaniards really suffered loss of 423 killed and wounded, besides losing several field guns and ammunition. The government in Madrid has called for 30,000 recruits to stand in readiness for active work, and has ordered 120,000 Mauser rifles from the factory.

—Advices from Nicaragua state that the revolution bids fair to continue several months. It is represented as being more serious than generally reported, and liable to draw in other Central American states. Corinto is reported to be in the hands of the rebels, and regular passenger steamers give the port a wide berth. On March 17 the government forces captured Matapa, the stronghold of the insurgents, after a severe fight, in which it is reported 1,000 men lost their lives.

—The barkentine Tropic Bird brings word from the island of Raiatea that serious trouble is threatened between the natives and the French. The natives are resisting the French protectorate, and have rallied 4,000 strong to resist the rule of the latter. They are partly armed with rifles. Thus far France has not used extreme measures in her advances; but the French authorities, who have present in the vicinity two war ships, are awaiting instructions from the home government as to the next step. France's history in similar situations leaves hardly any doubt as to the move that will be decided upon.

DOMESTIC.

—A powder mill at Rifton, N. Y., blew up on the 18th inst., killing five men. Four men were killed in a similar explosion in the same mill a year and a half ago.

—The Publishers' Weekly gives a total of 5,469 new books and new editions in the United States during 1895. The greatest gain over the output of the previous year was in works of fiction.

—It is announced that Cardinal Satolli will leave this country for Rome in May, probably not to return. The presence here of Archbishop Averardi suggests that functionary as his probable successor.

—Retailers and purchasers of lumber on the Pacific Coast are expecting to pay higher prices for that commodity in the future. This is due to the great combine of lumbermen of the coast, incorporated as the Central Lumber Company, which has already used its power to advance prices.

—An attempted train robbery near Tulare, this state, on the night of March 18, resulted in the killing of the chief bandit, who unexpectedly found officers instead of plunder. Two deputies were wounded in the encounter. Since the attempt, four men have been arrested as accessories.

—On March 10 the United States Treasury at Washington received a bill of exchange from London for $14,650, the same being a “conscience” contribution. It was sent through the vicar of the church of St. Giles, Cripple Gate, London, by some unknown party. This is the largest amount ever received by the treasury from troubled consciences.

—An immense rabbit drive, in which 8,000 people of Fresno County, Cal., were represented, took place in that county on March 21. It is estimated that 25,000 rabbits were destroyed. Farmers of that section are happy, as the rabbits are very destructive to vineyards and grain, it being estimated that three rabbits are equal to one sheep in point of consumption.

—The House of Representatives on March 20 passed a vote of censure on Ambassador Bayard, our representative to England. This action has been under way for some time, in fact, since August, 1895, and is induced by various remarks of Mr. Bayard at public gatherings in England. These remarks are construed as criticizing the independence of the American people, and of the party principle of protection. The English press thus far is inclined to look upon the view the House of Representatives takes of the matter as exaggerated, and suggests that Mr. Bayard will hardly resign at a time so near another presidential campaign, as the election of a new President will quite likely result in a change of foreign ministry. Mr. Bayard has doubtless been free in expressing his opinions, but it requires a very sensitive political nature to see in his conduct a transgression meriting such severe censure. It is beyond question that his diplomacy has succeeded in bringing about the present tranquil condition of Venezuelan affairs between the three countries that have been laboring over the boundary question.

—The New York Observer's Washington correspondent says that the Catholics of that city have bestirred themselves since the adverse treatment of the charity appropriations bill by Congress, and have organized a “Catholic Charity League” for the purpose of raising funds for their charitable work in the district. Money will be solicited also throughout the country, doubtless, to carry forward Catholic work among the Indians.

—The Legislature of Kentucky has been passing through a stormy session, characterized by free fights, attempts by partisans to keep by force members from the floor, and the calling on the state militia by the governor to preserve order in the Senate. It has been a bitter sixty days, and at the end the task of electing a United States senator is not completed, and necessary financial legislation has been neglected. Deliver us from politics.

—The Geographical Society of the Pacific has, at the request of the minister of Sweden and Norway at Washington, sent notice by a whaler to the natives of Northern Alaska, British Columbia, and Siberia of the proposed balloon voyage by Professor Andree, and asking them to be on the lookout when the gentleman lands. Professor Andree is now making preparations in Paris, and expects to start on his trip in search of the North Pole in July. He will leave land at Spitzbergen.

—Representative Boatner, of Louisiana, has been unseated, altho the face returns of his election showed a majority of nearly 10,000 votes over his opponent, who takes his place. Of course frauds in the election are alleged. Mr. Boatner was a member of the House Committee on Pacific Railroads, and the only member who has shown opposition to the funding bill. Whether this has had any influence upon his unseating is not known, tho it is hinted at quite strongly in some quarters.

—A strike involving some fourteen hundred painters is on in San Francisco. The union demands $3.00 a day for eight hours' work. The trouble threatens to involve the Building Trades Union, and if a general strike is ordered, 7,000 men will be out of employment. Threats against non-union men have already resulted in violence offered to one lather, who has died from the injuries received. Seven of his assailants, who were arrested on charge of battery, are now in jail to stand trial for murder. This is the legitimate outcome of the strike principle.

—The trial of Rev. Dr. C. O. Brown, pastor of the First Congregational Church of San Francisco, for various acts of indiscretion leading to his paying money levied by blackmail, has been concluded. The church council by whom he was tried acquits him of the more serious charges, but censures him for discourteous treatment of a member of his church, and, altho there is lack of positive proof that he was guilty of the other charges, yet the council confesses its inability to understand his motive in paying the money. The pastor says this was done to secure evidence against the blackmailers, claims the council has ignored his testimony to that effect, and consequently he refuses to accept its verdict. So far as trials are concerned, they are at an end, but there still exists a strong feeling for and against the pastor, which may yet result in a division of the church. All of which, of course, is deplorable in any professed church of Christ.

—Recently Baron Garofalo, an Italian professor, stated that Italy unfortunately showed a larger murder record than any other civilized country. In 1895 there were 4,000 murders, or 1 about every two hours. The ratio in France is one-tenth that of Italy, and Denmark one-thirty-fifth. He attributes the good showing of Great Britain and the United States to the growth of religious instruction. But evidently the baron is not so familiar with foreign statistics as he might be, for in 1895 there were in this country 10,500 murders, or 1 every 50 minutes. If there are 4,000 murders in Italy, the proportion was about 1 to every 7,500 inhabitants, while in the United States the proportion was about 1 to every 6,600 inhabitants. Unfortunately, the United States takes the lead. The Examiner (San Francisco), which calls attention to the foregoing, adds the information that we have about eighty murders to every legal execution. Without doubt there is a great fault in the court methods to account for a large share of this shameful record. A very recent case is cited where a murderer pleaded guilty, and the plea “was agreed to” by his counsel. At this point a lawyer interfered, objecting on the ground that the prisoner might wish under some possible circumstances that he had plead differently. The objection was sustained, and a plea of “not guilty” entered. Thus a great expense will be incurred by the state or municipality in proving guilty a self-confessed murderer and one who gloried in his crime, with a very plausible chance that the case may be continued for this or that reason until justice at length be defeated. There is something radically wrong somewhere. The prophet Isaiah tells what it is: “Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter.” Isa. 59:14.