p. 15 | NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1896

NEWS AND NOTES

FOREIGN.

—A resolution has been passed by the House of Commons, at Ottawa, assuring England that Canada is still loyal, and in case of war will do all in her power to aid the mother country.

—John Hays Hammond, the American who has been imprisoned by the Boers at Pretoria, has been released on heavy bail, because of sickness, but the despatch which brings the news states that a guard keeps close watch upon him.

—An article in the Independent of January 23, evidently correct as to its facts, presents as strong an indictment against the Boers in their dealings with the natives as the news from the east presents against Turkey in its dealings with the Armenians. Humanity without God (mere profession is nothing) is all of one piece.

—Chile has just negotiated a £2,000,000 loan of the Rothschilds at six per cent. interest, but the national good feeling over the good credit of the country has given place to a different feeling when it shortly developed that a German syndicate had offered to loan £6,000,000 at four per cent., free of all charges. It is very evident that a good fat sum was pocketed by the middlemen.

—The patriarchs of the Greek or “Orthodox” Church have replied to Pope Leo’s jubilee letter, inviting all Christians to return to the Roman Church; and while the eastern patriarchs recognize the benefit of union, they frankly say, and clearly prove, it is said, that Rome is the schismatic, and has added to the ancient faith. But on the part of neither does there seem to be a desire to return to the word of God.

—A despatch from Rio Janeiro states that the British Government has notified its minister in Brazil to recognize the sovereignty of Brazil in the island of Trinidad. If this information is reliable, the little war cloud that has hovered over that desolate island will blow away. Quite probably Brazil will now turn about and grant England a coaling station on Trinidad, and a landing place for a cable as well, if she desires.

—A circular document has been sent out by Ecuador to the republics of America calling for a conference of powers for the purpose of coming to a clear and definite understanding as to the Monroe Doctrine, as well as for the discussion of other topics. The meeting is called at the City of Mexico by August of this year. This call leaves the United States free to accept the invitation without being accused of a desire to assume a dictatorship over a federation of American states. Probably much good would be accomplished by such a meeting of the representatives of the republican governments of the western hemisphere.

—The charter of religious liberty forced from the sultan in 1856 by the demand of the powers reads as follows: “Every distinction or designation tending to make any class whatever of the subjects of my empire inferior to another class, on account of their religion, language, or race, shall be forever effaced from the administrative protocol. The laws should be put in force against the use of any injurious or offensive term, either among private individuals or on the part of the authorities. As all forms of religion are and shall be freely professed in my dominions, no subjects of my empire shall be hindered in the exercise of the religion that he professes, nor shall be in any way annoyed on this account. No one shall be compelled to change his religion.”

—Spain has made prompt reply to the note of the United States asking her to conduct war against the Cubans in the manner recognized as “civilized” by the world of the present. The assurance comes that a perfectly humane system will be followed, even as that laid down by Campos. In the meantime Campos has returned to Spain, and was hissed and hooted as he passed through the streets of Madrid. A riot ensued, and one man was shot by the police. From Cuba the report comes of inhuman methods of the Spanish under Marin. The Cubans claim more adherents than ever, and the end is not in sight. Probably the greatest sufferers from the war are the sugar merchants and planters. Incidentally, the city dwellers are also cut off from supplies. When we consider that the greater share of sugar used in this country comes from Cuba, we may foresee some of the results of the wholesale destruction now going on in that island. A writer in the Independent says the United States will lose at least $40,000,000 in revenues alone, and a letter from his friends in Havana, the capital, states that milk and vegetables have been omitted from their table list for weeks. Indeed, a postscript says, “You will be surprised to learn that on some days we are obliged to go without anything to eat.” These are some of the inside lights of war.

—Hon. Theodore Runyon, U. S. Ambassador to Germany, died at Berlin, January 27.

—A “Life of Cardinal Manning,” by E. S. Purcell, has come out in London, and its appearance, according to reports, has been the signal for unstinted execration of the compiler by all Catholics. What appears to hurt is that Mr. Purcell’s statements are all fortified by proof or argument. The biographer is accused of having robbed the public of an ideal, which of course is regrettable if the poor public has no other ideal. Too, Mr. Purcell was intrusted with the cardinal’s own papers, and in publishing the relation between the Church of England and the Church of Rome, as revealed in those papers, as well as printing many other church secrets, the author has induced severe criticism from Catholic dignitaries, as might have been expected. The executors of Cardinal Manning are talking of compiling a new “life,” but the world at large will presumably be quite well satisfied in seeing the man as others saw him and knew him, not as he might be made to appear.

DOMESTIC.

—A mining company has been formed in Butte, Mont., to mine under that city, where it is known rich ore exists.

—Professor Loisette, the inventor of the well-known memory system which bears his name, died on February 5, in San Francisco.

—Governor Rickards, of Montana, has demanded of Secretary Olney that the national government remove the Cree Indians, as they have spread scarlet fever and diphtheria, and now smallpox is threatened. Negotiations are under way for their removal to Canada.

—Litigation over property generally pays the lawyers and depletes the purses of the litigants. A case in Los Angeles followed the rule, where a $20,000 estate has just been settled after running in the courts twenty-five years. There was left for the heirs just forty-two cents.

—Bound Brook, N. J., on the Raritan River, has suffered almost total demolition by flood and water. On February 6 the river suddenly rose, sweeping houses from their foundations. The water in the main street became over ten feet deep. Fire added to the wreck, the latter alone causing $100,000 damages. Other places on the river also suffered.

—The American liner, St. Paul, which ran ashore off Long Branch two weeks ago, has been floated. It is not thought that the actual damage to the vessel is great. The chief item that will now confront the underwriters is that of salvage, and it will be interesting to know what sum—which shipping men say will be heavy—will be allowed for towing her off into deep water.

—A bill to prevent prize-fights in territories has gone to the President for his signature. It is rushed through at this time to forestall, if possible, a fight announced to take place in New Mexico. While the prize-fighters are determined to fight each other, the lawmakers are trying to stop them by law, and it does look as tho no place will be found for exhibitions of this manly(?) art.

—On the night of February 4 a man in Chicago chloroformed his entire family, consisting of six persons, after which he shot them, ending the terrible job by shooting himself. He had been out of work, but the sad scene was discovered by friends who were bringing him employment. There are many sad things in this world, but no sadder object can there be than a human being so blinded by Satan as to commit such a crime as this of laborer Richard Klattke.

—The sealed bids for the popular loan of new government bonds, were opened February 5, per announcement. Several thousand bids were received, but the successful bidders number only 781. About one-third of the issue of $100,000,000 goes to J. P. Morgan and his associates at 110.6877, while the balance goes at figures slightly higher. There is no trouble in placing a “popular” loan, and this was fully shown when bids for over $550,000,000 were counted. The most of them, however, fell below 110.

—Two boys, seventeen years of age, have been arrested in this city, and have confessed to being the perpetrators of thirty-five burglaries and robberies, including safe-cracking, in this city, Alameda, and Berkeley, during the past few weeks. In these cities, principally the first, there have been since January 13, 6 safes cracked, 4 robberies, and 32 burglaries, reported to the police. Instead of the old hands believed to have committed the crimes, it now seems that two mere lads, born and raised here, have been guilty of nearly the whole list.

—A large fire occurred in Philadelphia, on the morning of February 2, entailing a loss of probably $2,000,000. Among the buildings destroyed was that of the Baptist Publication Society, and the Hazeltine Building, which contained the celebrated Hazeltine collection of paintings and pictures, valued at $400,000. The paintings were not insured. The fire is believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion among oily rags in the basement of the Hazeltine Building, thus again demonstrating the danger in allowing such material to accumulate and remain long undisturbed.

—The President has addressed a short message to Congress recommending immediate action to furnish relief to the families of the killed and wounded Italians, who were victims of the riot in Colorado, March 12, 1895. It is reported that several families are in destitute circumstances.

—Three Boston hotels recently drew the color line on Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett, of Wilberforce, O., who was called to that city to deliver a lecture before a prominent society. Now Rev. Samuel M. Crothers, university preacher of Harvard College, who was to address the South Middlesex Unitarian Club at its next meeting, on “True Americanism,” refuses to do so if the club calls the meeting at any hotel in which the color line is drawn. The president of the club assures him that the organization agrees with him.