Catholic Influence and Colossal Fortunes
PERHAPS the interview that Cardinal Gibbons had with the President at the White House on September 20 was a kind of prelude to the remarkable conference that the chief executive had with Archbishop Chapelle on October 21. We should keep close watch of the influence that the Catholic power is gaining over this government, for it is fulfilling prophecy. This is no time now to cling to cherished dogma, and thus allow prejudice to blind our eyes to the light of truth. Every one, as he prizes the rewards of eternity, should be studying the Word of God for himself, so that he may know what the Lord has to say concerning the thrilling events of these times. God has spoken distinctly through His Word. Let all the world give heed. OCTOBER 2 was the first day for paying taxes in the Greater New York. That day was made memorable by the amount of taxes paid by sixteen men. The one of the sixteen whose taxes were the highest paid $406,895.96; then follow four others who paid over $250,000 each, and seven more who paid over $100,000 each, while the remaining four paid from $36,000 to $75,000 each. When men have to pay such large taxes what must be their vast wealth? But the great hoarding of wealth in these times is only interesting as we view the subject in the light cast upon it by the prophets. Have you ever studied the scriptures that so clearly predict the piling up of these colossal fortunes in our times? A YOUNG man attending the California University, while practising at the Rugby game of football a few days since, had his neck broken, and died soon after. It is a slander on barbarism to say that Rugby football is barbarous. Every year furnishes its record of promising young men who are either killed or crippled while playing at this game. There are many ways of getting both exercise and recreation without taking the risk of being killed. Then why not choose the methods that are devoid of danger? A NAVAL battle on the Magdalena River was fought between the government forces and the rebels of Colombia on October 24, in which about 200 men were either killed or drowned. The rebels had hastily transformed half a dozen river steamers into war ships, and they were repulsed, after a fierce battle of four hours' duration, by the government war ships Hercules and Colombia. Colonel Nevaro, a rebel leader, was killed. A NUMBER of women were arrested a few days since in New York City for keeping a pool-room. It is to observed that the betting and racing craze of these times has taken possession of the women quite as fully as the men. A YOUNG man from St. Louis was drowned a few weeks ago while submitting to a preliminary ceremony preparatory to being initiated into the Kappa Alpha Fraternity of Cornell University. VICE-PRESIDENT HOBART is believed to be upon his death-bed. There seems to be no hope of recovery from his present sickness. THE New York World since last July has been calling attention to a big railroad combine that is being formed, that will include all the roads of the Eastern and Middle States. The pool, or trust, when formed will represent a capital of $2,186,614,294. What fabulous proportions these big combines of wealth are reaching! And how literally are they fulfilling prophecy. Read what is said in the fifth chapter of James in regard to the heaping together of treasure in the last days. ENGLAND'S preparations for her war in the Transvaal place her on the greatest war footing that she has occupied since the stormy days of Napoleon. And there is the melancholy prospect that her army and navy will never be lessened, but rather that they will be increased more and more. And all the other nations will feel that they must increase their war strength; and so the work will go till the battle of the great day of God is reached. FREDERICK WEYERHAUSER, one of the greatest lumber merchants of Wisconsin and Minnesota, has just purchased a million acres of timber land on the Pacific Coast from the Northern Pacific R. R. Company. He says he has purchased the land merely as an investment. He believes that there will be a big advance in the price of timber on the coast and that he will reap a handsome profit from his deal. IT has been decided by the War Department, so says a despatch, to begin the manufacture of the high explosive thorite for use in the Philippines. It is too bad that these poor heathen are to be treated to such frightful materials of slaughter. It is certain that men can not be under the banner of the Prince of Peace while they are using their utmost abilities to kill their fellow-men. THE Filipino Congress has elected a commission of native priests to proceed to Rome to explain to the pope the abuses and iniquities of the friars and ask for corrective intervention. Aguinaldo, in a recent speech at Tarlac, characterized the friars as intriguers and abusers of honor, law, and morality, and declared they compassed Spain's downfall in the Philippines. A BOY eight years of age living in Virginia, attempted to commit suicide by pouring kerosene over himself and setting it on fire. The fire was put out, but there is little hope that the child will recover. He gave as his reason for the deed that his parents were unkind to him. When the suicide mania strikes the children, it shows an alarming condition of things. SIX men who call themselves the "prophets and evangelists of the Catholic Apostolic Church," have been holding meetings in New York City recently. The burden of their teaching is that the second coming of Christ is right at hand. There can be no doubt but that they are right upon this point, whatever may be their teaching upon other themes. THE New York World gives an itemized list of expenditures, showing that Sir Thomas Lipton expended $950,000 in building his yacht, Shamrock, and carrying out the race with her for "America's cup." It is only in the times of colossal fortunes that such vast sums can be so incidentally spent by single individuals in their favorite sports. CERTIFICATES of incorporation of the Anglo-American Rapid Vehicle Company of New York have just been filed in Delaware. The capital stock of the company is placed at $75,000,000, and it is formed for the purpose of combining the most important English and American automobile companies. THE United States Army, according to General Corbin's recent report, now numbers 99,160 men. Of these there are now 32,315 in the Philippines, and enough more are ordered to go there at once to make the American Army in those islands 65,725 strong by December 1. THE New York Journal says that some fears are entertained of an epidemic of typhoid fever in Elmira, N. Y. "An investigation has disclosed that the wife of a milkman, on whose route six cases of the disease have developed, is ill with the fever." Six thousand six hundred and nineteen American soldiers were killed in action or died from wounds or disease in camp between May 1, 1898, and June 30, 1889. THE national debt was decreased $2,766,199 during the month of October.