p. 9 | Worldly Confederacies

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 29, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 35.

Worldly Confederacies

Worldly Confederacies.—No wonder the Lord has warned His people to avoid the "confederacies" of the world. They lead only to strife and bitterness between man and man. In this city the mill-workers demanded an eight-hour day, giving five months' notice, and in reply they were locked out. The president of the union says, "We are in this fight to stay." He also claims the support of the Building Trades Council, and this describes the complication:—

"As to the importation of men to take our places, I do not think that will work well. Even if the millmen have finished supplies on hand it will do them no good. They can not use the stuff. The carpenters will not handle it; the bricklayers will not have anything to do with it; the plasterers will not touch it; the lather will not touch it; so there will be no use in trying to place it on the market."

The prospect from the employers' side of the controversy is given by a representative man in this way:—

"I think this will be a long strike. In Chicago a union man can not get a job, and 20,000 men, in consequence, have left the city. There the material men have notified contractors who employ union men that they will be expected to pay cash for whatever they get in the way of supplies, without the customary discount for cash. It will be the same way here."

Time is too short (if there were no other reason) to justify the followers of the Prince of Peace in connecting with any confederacy or controversy that can only engender strife.

IT is reported from South Africa that the Boers have captured the Elands River garrison. A plot to shoot all the British officers in Pretoria and carry off Lord Roberts was discovered on August 9, just before it was to have been carried out. The leaders in the plot were at once arrested. General Methuen is following the Boers under General Dewet, whom several British generals have been trying to entrap, but has only succeeded in bringing about rear-guard actions. On the other hand, General Delarey has given considerable heart to the Boer cause by repulsing and closely pursuing General Carrington. These two generals, Dewet and Delarey, are the principal obstacles to the British in the Transvaal just now. A British press correspondent, who declares that he is telling the truth, sends out a harrowing tale of the hunger and privation forced upon the British soldiers in South Africa through incompetency in the commissary department in transporting food to the men. He says: "The men are absolutely starving. Many of the infantry men are so weak that they can barely stagger along under the weight of their equipment. They are worn to shadows, and move with weary, listless footsteps."

IT has recently been brought to light that in 1896 the Russian Government proposed to the United States that they "corner" the world's crop of wheat, in order that the price which the farmer received for his wheat might not drop below $1.00 a bushel. Secretary Olney refused to consider the proposition, but the Russians still hope to carry their plan to a consummation. Such a price, it is estimated, would have increased the American farmer's returns by about $350,000,000. At the same time, the increased cost of bread would have added to the misery of the poor throughout the whole world. It may not be generally known that Russia and the United States together produce about ninety per cent. of the surplus wheat of the world.

SINCE Spain has relieved herself of the government of islands which cost her in the neighborhood of $100,000,000 a year, she has shown a strong disposition toward getting on her feet again. The people had been taxed to the limit of endurance, and internal improvements were not thought of. Now the government's application for a popular loan of $200,000,000 has been subscribed by the people three times over. Internal improvements are multiplying, factories are being built, electric traction is being introduced in the more important cities, and business is said to be reviving.

A CABLE from London states that the British War Office has been engaged for several months investigating the preparedness of the Australian and Canadian colonies for war. The investigation has been completed, and the scheme of defense is being prepared. This is to consist largely in the establishment of a large, consolidated militia organization, partly by volunteer methods and partly by conscription. A scheme is also to be devised by which war ships can be taken into the Great Lakes.

THE Chinese question grows more and more complicated with each passing day. While the allied forces are pushing on toward Peking, and are, at this writing, reported to be within sixteen miles of that city, the clashing of international interests increases. The British, in spite of the protests of France and Germany, have landed marines at Shanghai, the ultimate design being to control the Yang-tse Valley; and each of these countries is threatening to land as many marines as England does in this locality. But England has for a long time considered this her particular "sphere of influence," and will no doubt press and defend her claim. A despatch from Shanghai states that Li Hung Chang has been appointed to negotiate peace with the foreign powers, but the governments approached either ignore the peace propositions, or insist upon the safe delivery of the ministers as a condition precedent to any negotiations. America's answer to China is particularly emphatic in this regard. The Russians have captured Newchwang and evacuated it again, and the allies have driven the Chinese from their positions along the Pei Ho River. The losses of the allies up to the present time in killed and wounded is placed at 5,000. It is stated that, according to the present plans of the powers, there will be in China within six weeks a foreign force of 230,000 men. The latest despatch from Minister Conger states that the legations are again under fire from the Chinese troops. America has suggested to China that a foreign escort be allowed to enter Peking and conduct the foreigners to the coast; but China shows no disposition of acting upon the suggestion.

THERE is a strong movement in English cities toward the operation of all street railways by the city government. According to the latest government returns, 46 per cent. of the street railways in England are now owned and operated by the city corporations. In Glasgow, where the street-car service was taken over by the city six years ago, these net results are officially reported:—

"Fares reduced 25 per cent., and now the lowest in the country; still lower rates given to working people, mornings and evenings; employees' hours of labor reduced from twelve to ten hours per day and their wages increased 15 per cent., with a sick fund and pension system attached; traffic increased 100 per cent. in six years; and at the same time an increase of 150 per cent. in the gross profits."

THE Boxer movement has spread to the vicinity of Swatow, and the viceroy remains deaf to the appeals of the Christians for aid. All the missions at Yung Chun have been destroyed, and the native Christians stoned to death. A report from the province of Pechili states that 10 foreign missionaries there have been murdered, and that 3,000 native converts have suffered the same fate. A despatch from Shanghai states that at the city of Pao Ting, east of Peking, 7,000 Chinese Christians have been massacred. The French naval commander in Chinese waters reports that the Christians on the line to Hankow are in great danger, that point being entirely outside the sphere of the allied operations.

REPORTS from Porto Rico show that great distress exists in many parts of the island; that in some places the people are starving to death. The inhabitants have not recovered from the effects of the great tornado, and the destruction of their sugar and coffee crops has left them destitute. They do not understand general cultivation of the soil, but depend on the returns from their sugar and coffee to purchase food. A deputation of one hundred laborers, with their families, marched into San Juan on August 13, begging for employment. The government has decided to open a road between Caguas and San Lorenzo, as a sort of relief work to give employment to the inhabitants of that district.

THE ameer of Afghanistan is reported to be mobilizing forces of infantry and artillery for an advance on the Russian frontier. The English Government seems apprehensive that this action may be directed against the Indian frontier, and Indian Government officials have been watching the ameer closely. There is a very troublesome situation in this part of Asia, as it is expected that at some time the Jehad, or holy war of Mohammedanism against the rest of the world, will be proclaimed in this part of Asia or in India. The Mohammedans are expecting it, and any such movement as this of the ameer's is always looked upon with dread.

AN appeal is being made to the English public, through the daily press of London, for £20,000, which is to be used in paying the expenses of organizing the electorate "so as to influence the general election" to prevent the Episcopal Church reverting to the principles and practises of the Church of Rome. "Mass and auricular confession," says the advertisement, "are openly advocated and forced on Protestant children in churches under the shelter of the Episcopal vote." Canvassing is going on in nearly every constituency in England, and already half the amount desired is said to have been secured.

THE Boston Journal gives the following interesting item in reference to the strength-producing qualities of a vegetarian diet: "In India, China, Japan, and adjacent countries are about 400,000,000 people, strong, active, and long-lived, who eat no meat. The Turkish porter, on a daily ration of rice and dates, will jog along with back bent under a load that would crush a Western man. Darwin tells us that the Andean natives do a day's work of 500 foot tons, nearly twice the work of an ordinary laborer, on a diet of bananas."

THE heat wave which has prevailed through the Eastern and middle States began to be dispelled on August 12; but many heat prostrations and deaths occurred on that day. The persistent high temperature has greatly increased the death rate all over the Eastern and middle States. Children under five years of age have suffered most, and the city hospitals have been filled with heat sufferers of all ages. The heat was so great in Washington on August 12 that an egg was fried on the asphalt sidewalk in ten minutes.

THE bishop of Havana is seeking restitution of the income from church property in Cuba; but the committee appointed by General Wood to investigate the merits of the matter has refused to act. The Spaniards in 1842 seized all the church property, but allowed the church $400,000 annually. This revenue was stopped at the time of the American occupation of the island, and now goes into the island fund.

THE summary of the appropriations made by the last Congress has been published by the committees on appropriations. The total amounts to $710,150,862.88, showing an increase over that of last year of $35,169,841. The appropriation for the army amounted to $114,222,000; for the navy, $65,140,000; for pensions, $145,245,000.

THAT Nicaragua canal company which is known as the Eyre-Cragin Syndicate has been informed by the Nicaragua Government that its concession has been forfeited by its failure to deposit with that government $400,000 in gold. This leaves Nicaragua free to act independently with the United States in canal matters.

HUNDREDS have been rendered homeless in New South Wales, Australia, by the recent heavy floods, while the loss of property in the flooded districts has been enormous. This being the winter season in Australia, the cold has added to the hardships of the flood.

THE British troops in the country of the Ashantis, Africa, are continuing the work of punishing the natives who have taken part in the rebellion. Several camps of the black men have been captured, and their losses have been heavy.

DURING maneuvers of the French fleet off Cape St. Vincent, on August 11, the battle-ship Brennus collided with and sank the torpedo-boat destroyer Framee. The latter carried a crew of fifty-six men, of whom only fourteen were saved.

MOUNT AZUMA YAMA, in Japan, was the scene of a subterranean explosion late in July, which destroyed a sulphur factory, with most of its occupants, and covered the ground for miles around to a depth of several feet with débris.

THE director of the United States Mint places the amount of gold coin and bullion in the United States at substantially one billion dollars. This is considered to be by far the largest stock of gold ever held by any one nation at one time.

A BUS loaded with persons returning from a funeral was struck by an engine at a railroad crossing near Slantington, Penn., on August 12, and fifteen of the occupants were instantly killed, and nine seriously injured.

A SIEGE battery of the Seventh Artillery has arrived at San Francisco for service in China. These guns are of formidable type, and are designed for use in battering down heavy walls and fortifications.

A FEDERAL judge of New York has issued an injunction against the governor-general of Cuba carrying out certain contracts entered into by the city of Havana.

THE burial of King Humbert, of Italy, took place on August 9. On the 11th his son, Victor Emmanuel III., took the formal constitutional oath before Parliament.

THE heat wave which has dominated the central and Eastern States for many days is now hovering over England, and the heat is oppressive there.

BARON RUSSELL, of Killowen, lord chief justice of England, died in London on August 10.