Religious Liberty Issues and National Affairs
By Editor
We would continue to call attention to the advertisement, on page 15, of the six religious liberty special issues of this paper. We still have a number of them on hand, and while they last they will be furnished at the prices named, but we are not planning to print any more. As suggested last week, our readers will find them a splendid document for reference, and to lend among their neighbors, to place in reading-rooms, and the like. The National Irrigation Congress is to convene this year in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 30 to October 3. There is a wide-spread interest in the congress this year, because of the discussions that will take place on the subject of the water rights to the Rio Grande River. Texas is especially interested in this feature, and is preparing to send a whole train load of delegates. Colorado and other near-by states are also sending very large delegations. The super-dreadnought battle-ship, the Pennsylvania, authorized by the last Congress, is to be the largest ever built. She is to cost $15,000,000, and to have 30,000 tons displacement. Her length is to be 630 feet, and her beam 95 feet 2 5-8 inches. This is just about three times the displacement of the greatest battle-ships of fifteen years ago; and when the improvements in fighting power are considered, good naval authorities warrant us in saying that it is not far from 1,500 times as powerful. This will serve to give something of an idea of the terrible progress the nations are making in preparing for the great battle-field of Armageddon. A very distinct earthquake shock was felt here and throughout Northern California on the morning of September 12. It is interesting and also a little curious to note how real estate men and others interested in various local affairs will try to keep accounts of storms and earthquakes out of the papers. But each section of the country is now coming to have its full share of disasters of some sort, and hence no locality has whereof to boast over another. And we will see that storms, earthquakes, and other violent phenomena of nature will continue to increase and to become more and more violent. And as we see these things coming on, we should not become terrified about it, but seek to know the meaning of it, and be ready for the event it portends. Mexican rebels have been very active along the United States border during the last few days, and some American property has been destroyed and a number of Americans have lost their lives. A Southern Pacific passenger-train was destroyed in Mexico, and one bridge burned up, and a general threat was made that if the railroad company did not cease carrying supplies for the Madero government the rebels would destroy all the rest of their bridges and their property generally. A popular tumult in Mexico City stormed the Mexican Congress on September 14, shouting, "Death to Madero!" and "Long live Porfirio Diaz!" The demand was very urgent that Madero be dragged from his position, and that the aged Diaz be recalled from his retreat in Europe. Because of the conditions, which grow more and more threatening, the United States is under the necessity of concentrating large numbers of troops on the borders, ready for any emergency.