NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 31, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 43.

SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE.

FOREIGN.

—A large filibustering expedition from the United States to Cuba was seized by an English war vessel in the Bahamas a few days since.

—The Economiste Francais, a French paper, says that the French nation pays taxes to the amount of twenty-five per cent of the income; that while there are fifty Germans to thirty Frenchmen, France maintains an army larger than that of Germany, and her expenditure for the navy is nearly as large as that of Great Britain.

—The pope’s physical condition is an ever interesting topic of discussion by news gatherers, and periodically the statement appears that he can not live long. However, more has been heard of late concerning a successor than before, which of course is an indicator of the feeling about the Vatican. It is now apparent, and is consequently so finding its way to the public, that the struggle for the succession, with attendant cabals and intrigues, has already begun.

—Latest advices from the hospitals of London, Paris, and Berlin concerning the serum treatment for diphtheria state that the number of deaths among children from this disease have been cut down one-half. Although the complete success of the treatment seems to be far off, it is believed the terror of the disease will be abated. It is noteworthy that no ill effects have followed its use. Its main effects seem to be the clearing of the pharynx and the reduction of fever.

—It is announced that France is likely to follow the example set by most of the states of this country in providing for temperance education in the public schools. A commission appointed by the Ministry of Public Instruction has recommended that a circular be sent to schoolmasters urging them to use their utmost influence to impress on their pupils the evil of alcoholic habits, and it is suggested that a temperance manual be prepared to guide schoolteachers in preparing lectures on the subject. Lectures on alcoholism are also to be given by physicians in high and normal schools.

—A late visit of King Leopold, of Belgium, to Paris, is looked upon as strongly pointing to a proposition by him to dispose of the Kongo Free State to France. The state is practically the personal possession of the king, who has spent his private fortune upon it. At one time it looked as though it would be annexed as a Belgian colony, but the proposition was lost. The financial situation is at present such as to favor the purchase by France, which nation would be in a position to make the improvements and changes necessary to establishing a prosperous condition.

—The report of an eyewitness to the recent massacres in Constantinople, as published in the New York World, makes the occurrence worse than the first news outlined. He says the government did absolutely nothing to prevent the slaying of Armenians, and places the number butchered at not less than two thousand. The general attitude of the Turkish authorities is one of indifference to diplomatic interference. The idea is advanced that nothing but force will have any effect, and this is doubtless true. The day can not be far distant when the Turk must go. At present the powers are watching each other jealously, afraid to strike, yet not willing that the prize shall be taken by any single nation.

—This is preeminently a time of rumors of wars, although the actual battles are by no means wanting. According to the latest advices, the far eastern question has been resurrected with formidable proportions by an act of Russia. It is reported that a fleet of fifteen Russian war vessels is on its way from Vladivostok to either Fusan, the Korean port nearest Japan, or Port Arthur. Although the latter place has not yet been evacuated by the Japanese, it is stated that the late treaty between China and Russia permits the latter power anchorage grounds in that harbor, and it is hinted stronger than ever that the eastern terminus of the great Siberian railroad will be at some open port in China or Korea. This news has set England afire, and war talk is the leading topic. That power and Japan are ready, it seems, to block Russia’s move to control affairs in the Orient. Thus the nations are threatening each other with one hand and proposing diplomatic adjustments with the other. What will be the end?

DOMESTIC.

—S. G. Millard, lieutenant governor of California, died at Los Angeles, October 24. Mr. Millard was ill at the time of his election, and has since been unable to occupy his official chair.

—Articles of incorporation have been filed in this city by “The First Church of Christ, Scientist.”

—A movement is on foot at Chicago to form a national prohibition church. Attempts to do this in other places have come to naught.

—A fire on the morning of October 20 in New Orleans destroyed over one hundred houses, at a loss of $150,000, and made 700 people homeless.

—The application of electricity to a motor for towing canal boats was successfully shown in a trial on the Erie Canal at Tonawanda, N. Y., recently. The mule must go.

—Thirteen prisoners escaped from the Sacramento County jail on the night of October 26. A door was opened with a skeleton key, and a rush made. The presence of a guard prevented the escape of about forty more.

—The proposition, which has been hinted at for some time, of conferring the title of primate on the presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country, was voted down in the convention at Minneapolis.

—The Cumberland Presbyterian Synod of Pennsylvania has formulated a pledge which it asks its members to sign, by which they will agree to cast their votes in accord with the resolutions of the church concerning the liquor traffic. “The general assembly adjures members to exercise their franchises against drinks.”

—Officers of the Pacific Coast Survey have just succeeded in locating and marking a dangerous rock in the entrance to the Golden Gate, known as Pinnacle Rock by navigators who have run afoul of it. The rock is within thirteen feet of the surface, but, strange to say, it has been the object of search by hydrographers for ten years.

—The National W. C. T. U., assembled in convention at Baltimore, has passed a resolution inviting Catholic women and Hebrew women to send delegates from their annual conventions to those of the W. C. T. U., and to establish white ribbon societies among themselves. Miss Willard has been re-elected to the presidency of that organization.

—It is estimated that of the 50,000 newspapers published in the world last year, 20,169 were issued by the United States and Canada. Should the effort that is now being made by the chief paper producers of this country toward forming a trust be successful, a serious blow would undoubtedly be given to cheap newspapers, magazines, and books, which form such a powerful factor as public educators.

—With the various boundary difficulties must be classed the dispute between this country and Great Britain over the Alaskan line between that possession and British America. The eastern boundary line of the main portion of Alaska is the 141st degree of west longitude. The line of division of the long strip of land extending south is supposed to be ten marine leagues from the coast line. This line has been run by English and American surveyors, and as usual the dispute lies in this feature of the case, the claim being made that improper surveys have been made by the English so as to leave in their possession valuable mining properties. From the reports, the feeling is quite intense in Alaska, and a speedy decision is demanded.

—Church union is a matter that has been long talked of among the various Protestant sects, as well as argued often by the pope. As contemplated by the latter, however, the ultimate object is the recognition of the pope as the divinely appointed representative of Christ on earth. The former union is urged for purposes of harmony in evangelical work. An impetus has been given the movement by the triennial council of the Congregational Churches at Syracuse, which has provided for a standing committee on denominational unity. In inviting others to such a union it is proposed to unite on certain common phases of doctrine only, leaving to each “the right to maintain their conscientious varieties of faith and order.” The call is made for a federation which shall define a common purpose and aid the general efforts to establish “the kingdom of God in the world.”

—It now appears that the dismissal of Professor Bemis, lecturer on sociology and university extension at Chicago University, was due to his denunciation of the private ownership of railroads, lighting plants, and other kindred interests. The professor advocates government ownership of these things, and his reference to certain interests was believed at the time of withdrawal from the university to have been offensive to certain capitalists who have made large gifts to that institution. This belief is proved beyond a doubt from the published statements of President Harper and Professor Bemis. The principle clearly acted upon was, It is better to sacrifice even a good teacher than to run the risk of losing financial backing. Doubtless from a purely worldly business standpoint this is true, but the incident nevertheless shows the power wielded by money, and more particularly money concentrated in the control of the few, which is the tendency in these times. See James 5.