True Liberality

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1904

True Liberality.—The Examiner (Baptist) says truly: 'There is a kind of 'liberality' that belittles one's own faith in order to exalt the faith of others. But this is a spurious liberality. The truly liberal soul freely concedes the right of others to hold their own opinions, but claims the same right for himself, and acts upon it.'

A terrible conflagration has eaten out the entire business portion of the city of Baltimore, licking up the great stone and brick 'fireproof' buildings as tho they had been made of wood. All the water that could be poured on the flames by three hundred lines of hose seemed to have no appreciable effect. Building after building was dynamited to stop the progress of the flames, and firemen and fire-fighting apparatus were hurried to Baltimore on special trains from New York, Philadelphia, and Washington; but human efforts seemed utterly futile against the destroyer, which, for more than twenty-four hours, swept through the city. Twenty-five hundred buildings were burned, and the loss is placed at more than a hundred millions. Reports state that about 25,000 employees have been thrown out of work. This is the most disastrous fire that has ever visited Baltimore.

A bill has been introduced in the Legislature of the State of Iowa, providing for the punishment of those physically able to vote, who do not go to the polls, and exercise that privilege. The bill defines such neglect as a misdemeanor, and proposes, as a penalty, disfranchisement at the two following elections. Opinions have been expressed to the effect that the provisions of the proposed bill are constitutional.

Wu Ting Fang has memorialized the throne of China, asking that the province of Manchuria be declared open to the trade of the world, the consequence of which would be that Russia would hesitate to make enemies of the powers by opposing such a course. The empress is reported greatly pleased at the suggestion, and has promoted Wu Ting Fang for making it.

A Brooklyn physician has announced the discovery of the fact that lemon juice will kill the germs of both pneumonia and the grip. The germs of pneumonia have been killed by this simple remedy in culture tubes, and the virulency of the above-named diseases has been materially lessened by its use. Lemon juice has long been used as a germicide in typhoid fever cases.

The great ship-building trust, known as the United States Ship-building Company, against which suit had been brought by bondholders, is now undergoing reorganization, which will take it out of the courts. The peculiar methods of the concern have been the subject of much comment throughout the world.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations has authorized a favorable report on the Urgent Deficiency Bill, which includes in its provisions a loan of $4,600,000 to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in return for which the government is to be given a lien on the first receipts of the exposition.

A violent break in cotton prices occurred on the New York exchange on February 2, as a result of the dissolution of an extensive cotton syndicate, known as the Sully Pool. The organizers of the pool are said to have made millions by the manipulation of the market.

British soldiers in South Africa found a new intoxicant. The form of smokeless powder known as cordite was dissolved in their tea or eaten by itself, inducing intoxication. When this was followed by drinking beer, it resulted in inciting 'almost demoniacal actions.'

The German forces in South Africa are believed to be in great danger from the blacks, who have risen against them. Some of the German settlers have been murdered, and it is feared that at least a portion of the relief forces are surrounded by the negroes.

Resident Commissioner Degetau, of Porto Rico, has taken advantage of the enlarged powers granted him by the House of Representatives at Washington, and has introduced a bill 'expressly to declare the citizens of Porto Rico citizens of the United States.'

The German emperor, according to report from Rome, has requested the pope to appoint another cardinal for Germany. The request is in line with the recent acts of the emperor in cultivating closer relations with the head of the Catholic Church.

It is feared that the recent severe weather in the eastern part of the United States has caused serious damage to next year's fruit crop. In many places the tree trunks have actually been split by the severe cold.

Officials of the express companies who have aided in the violation of the prohibition laws of Kansas and the prohibition counties of Texas are being indicted by the Federal Government.

The last of the Cuban fortresses has now been turned over to the officials of the Cuban Government, and the last American forces in Cuba have sailed for the United States.

Former Governor Taft, of the Philippines, took the oath of office as Secretary of War, at Washington, D. C., on February 1, the office for some time held by Elihu Root, of New York.

The co-operative agricultural interests of the Mississippi Valley are planning a farmers' trust, and a meeting to establish the organization will be held at Omaha on March 1.

Dollar wheat was a reality in the Chicago markets on February 3, the highest price paid for wheat since the Leiter wheat corner of 1898.