Editorial Notes by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 42.

Editorial Notes

By Editor

An interesting letter from Dr. M. G. Kellogg, of the Pitcairn, appears this week in “Our Work and Workers” department. We are sure that it will be read with interest.

ACCORDING to the New York Voice, there is already a “trend of certain efforts” in the Prohibition party to make prohibition a secondary issue in that party’s politics. Well, such is politics at best; it is only a race for power; principles are only stepping-stones, and platforms, in the language of a once prominent politician, are “molasses to catch flies.”

Down South philanthropists say, “If the Southern negro were not a voter he would not be murdered by Southern white men.” In California they say: “If the Chinaman were a voter he would be as welcome as any other foreigner. He is despised because he cannot be used at the polls.” Which proposition is correct,—either, neither, or both?

OUR second article in a series which we promised at the beginning of the volume appears in this number, entitled “Christ the King-Priest.” We hope that these articles will receive a wide reading. But one more will appear from the pen of the editor. These were written to meet an emergency. We believe that the consideration of the truth presented in this series of articles will settle the reader on the question of religious legislation. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES during the rest of the year should receive a wide circulation. Will not our brethren and sisters help us?

A CURIOUS specimen of injustice is presented by the pretended investigation of the murder of the two Swedish missionaries at Sungpu, China, heretofore mentioned. Li Taotai, of Hankow, investigated the murders. The result was to hold the few natives who rendered any assistance to the missionaries responsible for the whole affair. Li Taotai reasons that if natives had not assisted them they could not have been in Sungpu, and if they had not been in Sungpu they could not have been killed there; therefore the friendly natives are guilty of their death. These few natives, however, have all run away, so that Li has been able to lay hands on only one, a poor coolie who acted occasionally as messenger and water carrier to the missionaries, and who considered himself secure in his insignificance. But Li laid hold of him, and, after giving him 1,200 blows, locked him up for future use. The poor fellow may lose his head for the crime of carrying water to a missionary.

“GEOGRAPHICAL SPICE” is the title of a forthcoming book by Eliza H. Morton, author of the “Potter Geographies.” It contains authentic items of real interest in regard to places and things which serve to make the study of geography more interesting. It will be of especial value to teachers, for it will place at their hand ideas and incidents which will greatly help them in holding the interest of their class. This work will not tell one the oft-repeated anecdotes of geographies, nor the oft-told stories of natural history, but it presents to those who teach and study geography, to the instructor at home and in school, spice which has not lost its flavor. Send for circular giving specimens, or order the book. Tastefully bound and neatly printed. Price, postpaid, 75 cents. Address the author, Eliza H. Morton, North Deering, Me.

RELIGIOUS journals are making much ado over the assumption that Sunday opening of the World's Fair failed because “it didn't pay.” In fact, it was all the time the closing that caused the short attendance on that day. While the gates were opened and full admittance charged, the machinery and three-fourths of the exhibits were closed. Of course people would not attend under such circumstances. Had there been an actual rather than a merely nominal opening of the Exposition, the result would have been far different. The idea that the slim attendance on Sunday was due to a “Christian sentiment” against so-called “Sunday desecration” is sheer nonsense. The current complaint of ministers and religious journals of the popular misuse of the day, even among church members, is a sufficient denial of the Sunday sentiment theory. The sentiment of the masses was against paying their money to look at closed buildings and closed exhibits.