OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 10041, 25 June 1896, Page 4

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

■ »i t KjBOKUK (loWft, U.&A*)/ j , May 14,1808. SOME NO*ABM) tOUtUiAJt AND i First in importance will bo the National Republican Convention mooting at St. Louis on June iO. It is of first importance because it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the nominee of this Convention Will be the next President of the United States. If all the delegates to that Convention are obedient to the instructions given them by their constituents, Major M'Kinley will be nominated on the first ballot. [Our correspondent's anticipation has been realised.— Ed. E.S.] That means, of course, that the people are demanding the restoration of the policy represented by what is now very familiarly known as the M'Kinley Tariff Bill.

The National Democratic Convention will be opened in Chicago on July 7 in the great Coliseum building, which is large and convenient enough to comfortably house the great party for their forthcoming feast of love. The Administration Demoorats, under the leadership of Mr Carlisle (the Secretary of the Treasury), are doing their utmost to hold the party together; but Unless all signs fail there is going to be a serious split on the currency question. The Administration following, whioli represent the Eastern States and seaboard cities, stand for an unequivocal monometallic gold basis, while those of the South and West are committed to the free coinage of silver at the ratio of "Bixteen to One," without waiting for the action and co-operation of any other nation on earth. If the free silver men are numerous enough to control the Convention, exGovernor Boers (of Iowa) or ex-Congressman Bland (of Missouri) will very likely be the nominees. If the monometallism are able to control the Convention, Mr Secretary Carlisle stands the best chance to obtain the prize, and next to him stands Mr Cleveland to be placed in a position to succeed himself. The Populist and Silver Party's National Convention will be opened in St. Louis (Missouri) on July 22. The action of the first two conventions will go very far towards determining the course of this party. If Mr M'Kinley should be the nominee of the Republicans at St. Louis there will certainly be a split of the Democratic party at Chicago, the result of which will be an extreme gold party and an extreme silver party. There are some Republicans who would prefer to support Mr Carlisle on a gold platform to Mr M'Kinley on a compromise plank, and there are still others who would rather support ex-Gover-nor Boies of lowa on a free silver platform than Mr M'Kinley or any other Republican who may be nominated at St. Louis on a compromise platform. The Populists, by waiting, hope to gather up all the disaffected ones of both parties and surprise the nation by eleoting their ticket. It has been hinted that all the free silver forces could be united on ex-Senator Cameron of Pennsylvania if he could be persuaded to accept the nomination. It is not, therefore, impossible that in the break-up of party machinery we may have the choice of at least four formidable tickets this fall. But to my thought and observation there is a strong undercurrent clamoring of the people for Mr M'Kinley and the principle that he represents that makes his election a foregone conclusion.

The National Prohibition Convention is summoned to meet at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on May 27. This great party will mußter probably 1,200 delegates. Many from the West will favor a broad platform, covering many reforms—political, social, and industrial. The Eastern wing of the delegation will favor combined action on the liquor traffic alone, while those from the South will be ripe for anything. From the present outlook there does not appear to be any excuse for the existence of this party other than to finish a tail-pieco fop the Democratic Populist hite. The Grand Army of the Republican order, eompo3ed of the veterans of the late war, will hold au annual encampment at St. Paul, Minnesota, commencing on September 3. This Grand Army are being rapidly thinned out, and the time is hastening on towards a point when there will be none to assemble around annual camp fires, to tell wonderful stories, sing the old-time war songs, and discuss the incidents of marches, camps, and battlefields. Hence to provide for such a contingency an order of " Sons of Veterans " is organised, composed of the sons of the soldiers of the late war, numbering 100,000 strong, under a semimilitary bystem, and drilled in the use of guns, who will meet in annual encampment at Louisville, Kentucky, iu July. The United Confederate Veterans, an organisation oomposed of the veterans who wore the Southern grey during the late war, will assemble iu annual convention at Richmond, Virginia, on June 30. I understand that a movement is an foot to organise the Bona of these veteraus into a body similar to that of the Federal Army. It is bub proper to state that the objects and aims of these societies are highly unmmend. able and every way patriotic The Govern, meut have nothing to fear from them, bub regard them as a substantial re-enforoement of our national militia, subject to call at any time of need.

The annual meeting of the National Eduoational Association is announced to be held in Buffalo, New York, commencing oa July 7. Representative teachers in our public schools from every State of the Union, and accredited visitors from Canada, Great Britain, and some European countries will be in attendance. The programme of the meeting is not yet announced, but I understand that business of unusual interest will be transacted, and teachers of every grade will bear testimony to the solid and profitable discussion of vital educational questions, as well as the pleasure attending these great annual convocations. Professor N. C. Dougherty, of Peoria, Illinois, is to be president. I would suggest that some of your representative teachers should' put themselves in communication with him, and obtain copies of the proceedings of the. Convention.

The quadrennial General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church is now in session at Cleveland, Ohio. It is composed of 600 delegates, a majority of whom are ministers, representing over two million and a-half of communicants in 115 conferences, and will be presided over by the bishops in the order of seniority. There are also in attendance fraternal delegates from Methodist churches in England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia, 1 New Zealand, and the Methodist Episcopal Church south of our own country. The statistical reports presented show that this church has made a gain of 386,000 communicants during the last four years, making a total of membership in this country of 2,796,656. During the same period it added £2,800,000 to its wealth in church property, and '280,000 pupils to its Sunday schools. This ia certainly a hopoful exhibit for the moat conservative of the Protestant denominations.

The Methodist Ohurch i 3 not the only religious organisation that indicates undiminished aotivity on the part of the forces of Christianity. The religious statistics of the last census, as compiled and compared by Mr H. K. Carroll, of the 'lndependent,' and published in the May ' Forum,' show that, while there appears to be forty-three distinct denominations, the great mass of Christian people in the United States are fonnd Jn twenty-seven bodies. "A more divided front in appearance than in reality." According to the census for 1890 there were in all the churches* 20,618,307 members. The statistics, of 1895, as compiled by Mr Carroll, show that the aggregate has been increased to 24,646,584 a gain of 4,028,277. In the same period there has been a gain ,of 23,075 churches and 21,646 ministers. It requires an annual expenditure of £30,000,000 to maintain these churches, and'the whole of this money is raised by voluntary contributions. The spiritual and financial affairs of the ohnrches are not the only hopeful features'of Chris; tian progress. The line of demarcation between the denominations is becoming each year less distinct. Doctrinal barrier*! are being brushed away. Liberalised a.nd. broaqened by the catholicity of modern 'thought, the churohes, one in Christ, are compact, aggressive, and successful. ' , N , The burning question before this Methodist General Conference was the admission of women to seats as delegates. ■ Four womeu were elected to seats in that august body, among them being Miss Frances J2.. Willard, LL.D. The question was settled

i&r of the Committee mMtt&b\jm£yflm said that, the (question > |>e !tjbe "l^wlega^ I*' 1 *' for ''laymenj" §s now. Mil need to be referred baottojltt annual/conferences, and twill require* tfhWfourthi votejto secure its passagej then'it ohist receive- a two-thirds vote of the following General Conference before it becomes law. And so the dear women have to wait* The General Assembly 6f the Presbyterian Church-will Convene at Saratoga, New York, i oh the 2lßt This gathering will attract the usual large numbers of Presbyterians from every part of the country, and visitors from all parts of the world. Of late, there has been much discussion about the real funotion of the Assembly. It is agreed that it is ill-fitted to be a legislative body, and it does not <tlftim to be an executive body. On this point one of their leading organs said recently:—"Thus the Assembly need only to have before it the work of general supervision, hearing and approving, giving suggestions here and direction there to its great agenfties, equalising the resources properly and proportionately to each, considering every new exigency that may arise, upholding the. hands of the ministers, the missionaries, and educators, and encouraging and unifying- the people in the bonds of peace." The May anniversaries of the Northern wing of American Baptist Churches wilt convene this year at Asbury Park, New Jersey, commencing on May 19. The first will be the Woman's Home Mission Society, followed by the Publication Society, then the American Baptist Missionary Union. The anniversaries of the Southern wing of this church are in session at the moment of writing at Chattanooga, Tennessee. This constituency covers tne largest body of Baptists in the world. It comprises 17,803 white ohurohes and a membership of 1,431,041. The Baptist Congress is an organisation which meets every autumn to discuss various general and social questions. The meeting for this year is called for Nashville, Tennessee, on November 10. Among the topics announced for the occasion are ; 1 Christianity and War,' • The Problems of the Country Church,' * The Relation of the Baptist to other Denominations,' and ' The Pastor as a Soul-winner.' These congresses are found to be very helpful in keeping the Baptists abreast with the spirit of the age. The annual convention of the Congregational Home Missionary Society will meet this year at New Haven, Connecticut, on June 2. General 0. O. Howard will preside, and Justice Brewer, of the United States Supreme Court, is announced for an address. The National Women's Christian Temperance Union will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, commencing on November 13. The programme is not yet announced, except that Lady Henry Somerset, of England, will be present and deliver an address.

The Roman Catholics of this country have taken a now departure in the line of education by opening a summer school on Lake Champlain, opening this year on July 12 (the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne) and closing some time in August, with special courses of study to be pursued during the year. A very interesting but somewhat heavy programme is announced. Four lectures on Christian arcbajology will be given by the Rev. J. Driscoll, D.D., of Montreal ; four lectures on ' The Philosophy of Literature' by Dr Condi B. Pallen, of St. Louis; and four lectures on 'The Evolution of the Essay' by Richard Malcom Johnson, of Baltimore. The buildings and grounds are being put in readiness. £IO,OOO will be spent on them this year. Another Catholic summer school was begun last year at Madison, Wisconsin. A second session is announced for this year, to open on July 19. Among its list of lecturers and orators are a number of eminent Catholic names. Bishop Spaulding (of Peoria), Rev N . J. J. Keam (Rector of the Catholic University at Washington), Cardinal Satolli, Archbishop Ireland, and others will delivers lectures. The young people of the Catholic Church in this country are becoming so well educated in the public schools that they are hungering for more. The Hierarchy finds that something must be done toehold them; the young American Catholics are getting away from the old infidel sentiment that "ignorance is the mother of devotion." Hence these summer schools. The people of the United States are glad to weloome them, and congratulate the young Catholics. The church will require more of such schools.

FERE JACQUES MARQUETTE AT WASHINGTON,

The State of Wisconsin presented a statue of Marquette to the General Government at Washington, to be placed in what we are pleased to term the National Pantbeon—tiio rotunda of the Capitol building, It has become a custom' for each State to present to the Government in this way a statue of its most distinguished hero or representa* tive. Marquette was one of the great Frenoh explorers and heroes whose devotion to his oouutry and to his religion make him a worthy pattern for our youth well worthy of perpetuation. Bub there is a small storm of opposition raised in Congress, and, a resolution to rejeot the gift has been inspired by what is known in this oountryas the A. P. A. Society. Marquette was but a humble priest, a member of the Order of Jesus, whose aspiration was to make the Cross known to an ignorant and heathen people. In the faithful pursuit of this mission he travelled through the forests and over the prairies from the shores of Lake Michigan across the State of Wisconsin, discovered the Mississippi River, and was 'enabled to present a new world to France, his country. That Power could not hold it, but that iu no way detracts from the merit of the man, his motive, or his work. His statue in the American Pantheon is worthy of the man and of the State of Wisoonsin; only the small, mean soul could object to the gift.

THE COPESTONE OF REFORM,

President Cleveland has completed the work of Civil Service reform begun tentatively by General Grant in 1872, but interrupted by a hostile Congress, and renewed again by a sweeping Act in 1883, when 14,000 employes were included in the classified service. Before Mr Cleveland's last order the number had risen to 55,736. He has just issued another order adding 29,000 more to the list, bringing the total up to 85,135. This gives the benefit of the merit system to au General Government employes except laborers, postmasters, and mich officials as are appointed by the President subjeot to the concurrence of the Senate. That there will be some grumbling and unkind criticism goes without saying. Indeed, we'can hardly charitably explain his delay to the very end of his term, when probably 80 per cent, of the persons benefited are of his own political faith. But the resentment will pass. No Congress-man who values his reputation will dare to advocate a return to the old system of filling Government offices with party hacks, and reducing the Presidential contests to a scramble for jobs. The Civil Service of this country has been elevated above the corrupting influence of the ward bummers, and now offers au honorable career for men and women who have the ability and energy for the work. The public will hot tolerate a single step backward.

THE CONGRESS

Congress will adjourn iu a short time now, in order to give the Presidential candidates opportunity to *" repair their fences" and "saw wood," as the s.aying goes. It's work this 'session can be reviewed very easily. Everybody and the newspapers are finding fault because of failure to provide constructive ■) legislation and to lift the burden of depression from the Government Treasury and. from the industrial and commercial interests of the country. The critics seem to forget that the Government, in the different departments, have a divided allegiance. In one branch the Republicans have a majority, in the other no party has control; the fopulists hold the balance of power, while the Democrats have the executive. No Congress,can be efficient under such Then, in addition, the ojt .the'JPresidential. canvass prevents the adpptiw of a decisive policy. The short session which convenes after this elee. tion-will be with passing the necessary Appropriation Jills,; and nothing, of importance the way of iconstructive-legis-lation heed b? exjpeo|ed froni this Congress.

: ■.;,..' ACTBOBSASOTBEISHEBS. ' A »° w phase of the time-honored war between author and the publisher is now apparent■ i'iin: ,tl&; country. About 200 membera of jbha Amerioan Authors' League

hetdf meeting in New' York » lew week» kgp, andHye Bin»Juniounced the formatioft ] Of a stock balled The Associated Author*' Publishing Company, whose motto may be interpreted "Every man his own publisher." Afc'kSt the down-trodden author, despised and rejected of publishers, is to be freed fiJom his thraldom. No longer will his cherished manuscript be buffeted about irom pillar,to post, flouted by sceptical publishers; lid returned to waste its wit and wisdom in some musty pigeon-hole. The publications of the new company are to be " limited to the approved works of its stockholders." That word "approved" may be a sticker. What if the associates withhold approval ? Why, the author is to have leave to publish at his own expense. Mr Robert Buchanan has recently followed the example of Mark Twain by becoming his own publisher. He declares the ordinary publisher to be " a barnacle on the bottom of the ship of literature, yet presumes to criticise the quality of the cargo in the hold." The authors now purpose being their own. barnacles. Among the incorporators are such names as General Jas. Grant Wilson, Frank R. Lawrence, David Banks Sickles, Cortland S. Van Rensselair, Mr John Elderkin, and others. This new mntnal concern cannot fail to inspire hope and confidence. The motto of the new company should be Aprea moi hj dttuge. Without the remotest idea of defending the publishers' trust, which the mute, inglorious authors consider odious, it may be doubted whether the floodgates of ihe great unpublished are to be thrown wide open by this new concern. It will cost from £6O to £6OO to print a book, and somebody must take the risk—as the public won't —and be anathematised in consequence. The stockholders may learn how it feels to be a publisher, and I hope that the name will become as popular as that of the Associated Press.

THE CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTION.

The Bowell M'Kenzie Ministry of the Dominion of Canada split upon the Manitoba rock, and have resigned. The following despatch announces the new Cabinet formed by Sir Charles Tupper:—President of the Council, A. R. Angers; PostmasterGeneral, L. 0. Taillon; Marine and Fisheries, John Costiman; Railways, John G. Haggart; Finance, George E. Foster: Public Works, A. Des Jardines; Minister of Jastice, A. R. Dickey; Militia, Lieutenantcolonel Tisdale; Agriculture, W. H. Montague; Interior, Hugh John Macdonald; Secretary of State, Sir Charles Tupper; Solicitor-General, Sir C r H. Tupper; Trade and Commerce, W. B. Ives; Controller of Customs, J. F. Woods; Controller of Inland Revenue, Lieutenant-colonel E. G. Prier. Without portfolios—Frank Smith, Donald Ferguson, Senator Ross (Speaker of the Senate). Des Jardines and Angers will run for Commons. T. C. Casgrain will likely be Premier in Quebec

Ulysses.