World News: Nicaragua, South Africa, Samoa, Berlin
By C. M. Snow
International.—There is grave prospect of trouble between the United States and Nicaragua over the course the Nicaraguan Government is taking toward American merchants. The American Minister has been ordered to give protection to all Americans, and the cruiser Detroit is now in Nicaraguan waters. .... The $20,000,000 which America agreed to pay to Spain as an indemnity for the cession of the Philippines was paid to the French ambassador at Washington, acting in the behalf of Spain, on May 1, the anniversary of the sinking of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay.
All signs seem to point to a conflict in South Africa between England and the Transvaal republic. The Boers are arming themselves and building forts, and England is concentrating troops in Cape Colony. The London Mail, in commenting on the situation, says: “President Krueger’s sands are fast running out, and the hour is approaching when England must take action.” .... Advices from Samoa report continued fighting between the natives. In a recent engagement the forces of Mataafa are said to have lost about one hundred in killed and wounded. .... There seems to be no indication that any of the three powers holding the protectorate over Samoa care to increase the complications arising out of the recent trouble in the islands.
On account of the unchecked growth of Socialism in Berlin, Emperor William is planning to abridge the self-government of that municipality, so that he can deal more directly with the Socialist problem. ...... President McKinley has given his sanction to a German-American cable project. The cable is to be landed at New York, and is not to touch any territory belonging to Great Britain. President McKinley and Emperor William have exchanged messages of congratulation over the conclusion of the negotiations. .... As dog flesh is common food in Saxony, Germany, a committee appointed by the Reichstag has decided that dogs intended for human food must be subjected to an ante-mortem and post-mortem examination.
One of the most important items of news for the week is the agreement between Russia and England in regard to their spheres of influence in China. England recognizes Russia’s ambitions in Northern China, and agrees to respect them, and Russia covenants to recognize and respect England’s ambitions in the valley of the Yang-tse-kiang. This will, for a time, put an end to the wrangling of the two powers over port and railway concessions, but it gives an impetus to the work of parceling out China. This compact is considered by many as the death warrant of the Chinese Empire as such. .... All the high-class schools of Russia have been closed on account of the prevalence among the students of sentiments inimical to the government. Large numbers of these students have been arrested, and the prisons of St. Petersburg are overflowing. On April 27, 230 girls in the Women’s High School were ordered by the police to leave St. Petersburg within forty-eight hours.
Casualties and Calamities.—A terrible hail and wind-storm swept over a portion of Nebraska on April 26, causing great damage to property. The hail covered the ground to a depth of two inches, and many of the hailstones were of very large size. ...... The island of St. Augustine, one of the Caroline group, was partially swept away by a great tidal wave during the past month, and a portion of the inhabitants lost their lives in the flood. ...... A cyclone visited Kirksville, Missouri, and other places, on April 27, cutting a path through the village a quarter of a mile wide. Four hundred buildings were destroyed, and it is reported that forty persons were killed, while a greater number were more or less seriously injured. ...... Letters from the famine-stricken province of Kazan, Russia, tell a harrowing story of distress. That province is in the center of the famine district, and 123,000 of its inhabitants are being fed by the Red Cross Society alone. Members of that society report that the peasants run after them and beg for food on their knees in the snow. A Russian paper, speaking of the famine, says: “Crime, mortality, and the number of still-born children are on the increase, and scurvy and typhus are devouring the population like a conflagration fanned by the wind.” ...... Sixty-two miners were killed by the collapse of a shaft in a gold mine near Troizk, Russia, on April 29. ...... Five men were killed by the explosion of a powder press at Carney’s Point, N. J., on April 29. ...... About one thousand striking miners completely wrecked the Bunkershill mine mill at Wardner, Idaho, on April 29. The mill cost $200,000, and was blown to atoms by a ton and a half of dynamite. Troops have been ordered to the scene to preserve order, as the local authorities are powerless to deal with the mob.
Domestic.—The United States cable steamer Hooker sailed for Manila from New York, on May 1, for the purpose of connecting by cable all the principal islands of the Philippine group. ...... There is still much distress among the poorer inhabitants of Porto Rico, and plans are being devised for their relief. ...... The Navy Department now has in process of construction forty-eight ships, involving the expenditure of $50,000,000. ...... American exports of manufactured articles for the month of March amounted to $1,400,000 per day, the highest record ever made. The entire American exports of manufactured articles for the year ended March 31, amounted to $242,883,645. ...... The report of the Walker Canal Commission has been completed and handed to the President. The commission reports that the building of a canal across the isthmus is entirely feasible, the minimum cost being $90,000,000, tho the expense of the undertaking may reach as high a figure as $135,000,000. ...... The Court of Inquiry which was appointed to investigate the food supplied the army during the late war has completed its work and filed its report of findings with the President. It is reported that the court will declare that the food furnished the soldiers was wholesome, and will censure General Miles and other officers for neglect of duty. ...... San Francisco and places within a radius of seventy-five miles were quite severely shaken up by an earthquake on April 30, tho no serious damage is reported. On the same date earthquakes visited the States of Indiana and Ohio, and considerable damage was done. Slight earthquake shocks have been frequent throughout the country during the week.
Cuba.—Several railway mail cars have been added to the Cuban mail service. ...... The laws regulating criminal trials are being changed to correspond with the American laws, with the exception of the jury feature. Persons suspected of crime are not to be held “incommunicado” as heretofore, but are to be informed on their arrest of the charge made against them, and will have the privilege of hearing all the testimony in the case. ...... It is reported that the military governor of Cuba has extended all mortgages for two years.
Philippines.—A statement prepared by the War Department shows that 168 American soldiers were killed in the Philippines between February 4 and April 28, and that 1,111 have been wounded. ...... Steps have been taken to effect the release of the boat’s crew of Americans captured by the Filipinos. Prisoners held by the Americans will be exchanged for them. ...... The Filipinos have been driven from Calumpit by General McArthur’s division of the army, and General Lawton is also driving the natives before him. The loss of their stronghold at Calumpit has disheartened the Filipinos, and they have entered into negotiations with the Americans for the termination of the war.
C. M. Snow.
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Government Action Against Edward Atkinson's Anti-Expansion Pamphlets
Recent Actions of the United States Government officials in regard to certain pamphlets that Mr. Edward Atkinson, of Boston, has written, so it is alleged by the newspaper reports, have virtually accused him of treason. These pamphlets discuss the expansion policy of the United States in very vigorous style, but the greater part of the matter is made up from speeches in Congress that were reported through the Congressional Record and other public documents emanating from Washington. Mr. Atkinson’s pamphlets are not forbidden circulation in the United States, but the postal authorities have given strict orders that none of them be allowed to reach the soldiers in Manila, lest they incite sedition among the troops. One of the corner-stones of this government has been freedom of speech and freedom of the press. But there is more than one indication that this freedom is departing. And do not be surprised to see a censor of the press in this country, and that, too, at no distant day. You may pooh-pooh at such an idea now, but be sure that you are not at the same time among those who are helping to bring it about. Strange things are transpiring in these days, and most ominous indeed is the outlook. Don’t fail to understand the meaning of it all. When political freedom is abridged, religious freedom will be trampled upon at the same time. The two go together, and the densest darkness of the Dark Ages is that into which such principles would again drive the world. But “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh,” and how thankful we should be that He will cut short all this wicked work!
“THE SOURCES OF CROKER'S FORTUNE.”
The Mazet committee that was recently appointed by the New York Senate to investigate the reported corruption in the government of New York City, are not finding any difficulty in establishing the correctness of the reports. Richard Croker, a political boss that has been very successful in gathering to himself an immense fortune, comes in for a large share of the investigations of this committee. A recent editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle gives a brief survey of some of the work that this Mazet committee is doing, particularly as it relates to Boss Croker. The editorial is as follows:
“The question of ‘Where did he get it?’—meaning his fortune—is one that Richard Croker has often declined to answer himself, but the truth is being ferreted out by the Mazet investigation committee. The Lexow inquiry of four years ago traced plenty of money through the dives, saloons, and gambling hells to Tammany Hall, and left it to be inferred that Croker got his share. But it did not bring out the financial connection of Croker with politics so clearly as its successor is beginning to do.
“The Mazet committee has not gone deeply, as yet, into the taxation of vice, but it is doing such good work in showing up the taxation of industries and the corrupt manipulation of contracts and franchises by Croker and his pals that the other matter may be fairly permitted to wait. It has been shown, for example, that certain manufacturers of material used in making fire-proof floors and partitions could not do business in the city of New York until they had elected a son of Boss Croker secretary and made him a large stockholder. When that was done an order of the Department of Buildings excluding their processes was rescinded and they were able to make heavy contracts. There was also testimony to the effect that persons desiring the favorable opinion of a commission which is making regulations concerning the construction of buildings, were obliged to employ a young nephew of Croker as attorney, by the payment of enormous fees. It is developing, too, that Croker belongs to a guarantee company which compels all municipal employees to go to it for bonds. This company is managed by one Friedman, a chum of the Tammany boss, who pays over to the latter a sum which is believed to exceed $25,000 per year. Friedman himself gets $15,000 per annum as salary.
“How many companies the Crokers have broken into and then built up in their own interest with either public contracts or the withdrawal of blackmailing hindrances, and how many companies they have formed for such purposes, will probably be counted up before the inquisitors get through with their task. We think so because every business man who has keenly suffered from this sort of competition is likely to take the stand as a witness. Many have already done so. But enough is known now to supply clews to where Croker gets his fortune, and to put the boss on the defensive in all his business operations. Incidentally, it may be relied upon to defeat his scheme for municipal ownership of the New York gas system, which is but another name for a conspiracy to give him a chance to enrich Tammany in general and himself in particular with the profits of the business.”
The foregoing simple statement of facts gives but a mere glance at the fearful political corruptions in New York City. And even Dr. Parkhurst, who was the instigator of the Lexow investigation that New York had but a few years since, says that the great city is worse now than it was then. And in many respects Chicago is as bad if not worse than New York. Some of the recent “hold-ups” in the great City of the Lakes, and that right in the open of broad daylight, are an evidence of the lawlessness that is allowed to prevail there on account of the collusion of the police with the criminals. Reports of a similar character are coming also from the principal cities all over the world. Such widespread and such deep-seated corruption and general criminality are truly appalling. What will be the end of it? There is but one solution. Do you know what it is?
The God of heaven will be required to take the matter in hand very soon. He has given several striking examples of what He will do when driven to it by the terribly base corruptions and injustices of men. The divine arm is even now raised against the unblushing criminality of this time. The stroke can not long be delayed. The blow of the Infinite One will crumble this old world into desolate ruins, and all who cling to their sins will go down in the general destruction. But all who receive it may have deliverance. And we have no time to lose, for the great and final day is right at hand.
CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.
Poetry.
For All, C. F. Ladd . . . 5
The Face of Christ, Martha Wintermute . . . 9
Heaven, Mariah Berkham . . . 12
General.
Departure from God . . . 1
Christ Glorified, Mrs. E. G. White . . . 1
Wireless Telegraphy, C. M. Snow . . . 2
Studies in Galatians (Gal. 6:1-10), E. J. Waggoner . . . 4
Outlook.—“For They Have Filled the Land with Violence”—The English Dumdum Bullets—The Significance of the Political Boss. . . . 8
Missions.—The Gospel of Industry, W. A. Alway—Our Work and Workers—Pacific Press Publishing Company, C. H. Jones . . . 9, 10, 14
International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons. . . . 10, 11
The Home.—Jem’s Mother—Co-operation with Divine Power, David Paulson, M. D. . . . 12, 13, 14
News and Notes . . . 14
Publishers . . . 15
Tornado Destroys Kirksville, Missouri, and Surrounding Country
By Editor
A tornado, terrible in its destructiveness, swept through the town of Kirksville, Mo., and adjacent country, April 27, leveling buildings, uprooting trees, and destroying life. Fuller details will be given next week, the Lord willing, with illustrations from photographs taken on the very spot. This of itself will make our next issue of special interest.
Circulation Goals for the Signs Special Numbers
By Editor
115,000.—Of the Resurrection Number of the SIGNS there was sent out 115,000; and now orders are in for papers which we can not fill. There ought to be 100,000 more circulated of the Progress Number. And the Midsummer Number of July 4 should have a circulation of 200,000. And yet the matter in every number is worthy of this circulation.
Studies on Galatians
By Editor
Studies on Galatians.—Our readers will see that the excellent studies on Galatians, by Dr. E. J. Waggoner, are soon to end. We know that many have been helped and instructed by these studies. But continue them tho the articles cease. He has opened the mine; dig and prosper. Use the same principles in the study of other books. Other articles of interest by various writers will follow. The best of the year's SIGNS is yet to come.
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Change of Date.
THE date of the Progress Number of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will bear date May 24. Its issue has been postponed one week. Copy from the East made necessary the change from May 17 to May 24. The paper will contain, besides general matter of interest, an article on “The Publishing Work,” by Uriah Smith, for so many years editor of Review and Herald; an article on “Education,” from Prof. E. A. Sutherland’s pen, president of Battle Creek College; and a third one from Mrs. E. H. Whitney, editor of the Medical Missionary, on “Sanitarians, and the Health Work.” The paper will contain between thirty and forty illustrations. Retail price, 5 cents.
