The German emperor has decided that an officer in the army who will not fight a duel when insulted, will no longer retain his rank in the army. This has led to very much criticism in the various journals, and some strong protests from Christian papers. But the Western Watchman (Roman Catholic) defends the emperor's act, and says:
"We think the German emperor is perfectly right. An army is only a weapon to be used in defense of the nation; anything that weakens or mars that weapon must be eliminated. We like blessing of banners and guns; but if holy water interferes with the efficiency of a gun, then eliminate holy water, or make all the guns immune. If the German army loses its morale by refusals to fight a duel, then eliminate the refusers. Better still, change the army and make it immune from the hara-kiri. But that is an affair of the Reichstag."
Of course fighting of duels goes fairly well along with war. Neither one is Christian. But the Roman Catholic Church is the church militant with weapons not spiritual. The idea that because two men differ, or one feels himself insulted, there must be an attempt made at each other's lives, is the sheerest sort of nonsense.
Yoshihito, the new emperor of Japan
Mutsuhito, who was for forty-four years emperor of Japan, died on the night of July 29. His son the Crown Prince Yoshohito, according to the formula provided by the Japanese constitution, has been proclaimed emperor instead of his father. The long reign of the late emperor was a period of great advancement and prosperity for Japan. During that time the "Sunrise Kingdom" has advanced to the position where it is taking its place along with the great civilized powers of the world. Western ideas and Western civilization have been brought into Japan largely through the late emperor's desire to keep abreast with the advancement of the times. It is to be hoped that his son will emulate the example of his father, and continue the good work.
"Underground Waters for Farm Use," by Myron L. Fuller, connected with the United States Geological Survey (Water Supply paper, No. 225), is the title of a very valuable government document. The document has been so much in demand that already three editions have been printed. It sets forth the great dangers from typhoid fever that are lurking in wells. It is now a well-established fact that typhoid fever is contracted either from the water we drink or the food we eat, and in the most of cases it comes from drinking-water. It is well to secure the document, and make a study of the conditions that surround your premises, to see whether or not you are endangered from typhoid fever.
The United States Geological Survey estimates that they have discovered nearly ten billion tons of gypsum in large beds in Utah. This is a very valuable deposit, but nothing can be done with it until transportation facilities are provided.
Among all the religious persecutions with which almost every page of modern history is stained, no victim ever suffered but for the violation of what government denominated the law of God.—United States Senate Report, 1829.
