OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 11663, 23 January 1902, Page 2

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

EDUCATION. The report of the Commissioner of Education is always interesting—specially to teachers and raemben of boards of education. In this report ho devotes some space to commercial education, oe the latest innovation in univorsity training. Originating with the University of Chicago les3 than ten years a,<o. (be idea commended itself so warmly to (kinciitors that schools of commerce arc now established iu the Universities of Ohio. California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and in Dartmouth College. Columbia is exnected to fall in line with a full course of instruction in commerce and finance. Tho establishment of schools of commerce in such auick succession in. so many of our popular universities takes it out of the realm of educational " fad." There are now many of our young men who prefer commercial and business pursuits to the learned professions or scientific work; as a consequence numbers of capable young men discontinue thj'.r stndies on receiving their high school diplomas. Tf the universities desire to help such young men, and gel. for them which an energetic- student body always gives, they must provide for them the opportunity to st-mlv the things in which the class are interested. This new feature, then, is a sensible adaptation for our educational system to the needs of our American youth. Among all the activities of the Philippine Commission none is more interesting or more characteristically American than the attention which is given to the organisation of the pubhe schools. Seventy-five thousand children are enrolled as pupils, 75,000 more are awaiting accommodation, 800 teachers have been imported from the United States, and 600 more are being trained in a normal school in Manila. This is a beginning which is, 1 think, highly creditable both to the insular Government and to the nation which it represents. There is a curious contrast betwecu the policy of the Americans toward iho Filipinos and that of the early Spanish explorers toward the Indians. Then tho oi.icial propaganda was religious; now it is educational. Then the soldier was followed by the priest; now it is the school-teach•■■*. Wherever Spain went she planted the Cross, and claimed that the conversion of the natives was among its chief objects. Wherever America goes she plants schoolhouses, and the instruction of the native peoples is proclaimed to be an important part of public duty. What has been found to make good American citizens is expected to make good citizens in tho Far East.

THE SAMPSON-SCHLEY CASE. A Naval Court of Inquiry has been goin? on for some time, composed of Adminl Uowcy (at preaidetrt), Rear-admirals Be iham and Ramsay (associates), and Captain Lamley (as judge advocate). The prosecitinn arose from Admiral Sampson, Schley's superior officer, who was nine miles away when the Spanish fleet came out of the harbor at Santiago do Cuba and attempted to run away. Admiral Schley promptly assumed comrannu of the blockading fleet, and smashed the Spanish fleet to smithereens. Admiral Sampson, in the cruiser New YorK, came up just as the last shot was fired and the last vassel (including Admiral CV - vera's) had surrendered to Admiral Schlev. Aitniral Sampson insisted upon making nil the reports, and claiming all the glory and the prize-money as the ranking officer. No >:•!'-respecting officer would quietly submit to nieh conditions. A Court was detailed to in-,-:nir.i into Schley's conduct as commander of i he flying squadron from the beginning of the !-Banish War up to and including the naval battle at Santiago, all of which, with the exec ptiou of the great battle and splendid victory, spoke for itself. The rescript ■ f charges and instructions to the Court prepared at tho Naval Department at Washington, and were simply bosh—a cloud of dust employed to cover up envy and jealousy. The Court made two reports. The majority were unfavorable to Schley, whilo that of the minority (signed by Admiral Dewey) wis commendatory in most particulars. The gallant admiral makes the point that Schley was in command in the battle of Santiago, aud is entitled to all the honor and glo v there is attached to the deduction of Cervcra's fleet. This has been a nasty controversy, on account of the passion, vindict : •> ness, and meanness developed at the trn.l. Public opinion stands with Dewey. This ease will now, in all probability, be brought before Congress. If it should, then the resignation of Secretary Long, of the Navy Department, will soon follow. INTOXICATING LIQUORS AND OPIILd IN THE ARMY. President Daniel Starr Jordan, of Stuford University, and President Eli M'Lish, vf our University of the Pacific, have signed an appeal for an Act of Congress which shah prohibit the use of intoxicating liquors anil opiums in the rnilitary service, and providing libraries, reading rooms, and schools for the military and naval forces of the United States. Th:: reasons set forth in the dorment containing the appeal are of general interest:— First. —At the time of enlistment a majority of the men do not use intoxicating liquors. Second. — At the expiration of the time of enlistment a large majority of the men ha c acquired the habit of using intoxicating liriuars. many of them becoming drunkard.. Third.—The enlisted man upon leaving the sorvico is not in as good condition to take up the business of making a living as he was at the tome of enlistment. Fourth.—-in the Post Office Department the postman or post office employe leaves the Service in better condition than when he entered it. The employe in the Custom Sirvice likewise. The employes in any other branch of service for the United States aiso leave the service better men than when tb v entered it. Fifth.—Service for a railway company, a street car company, a telegraph companyin fact, for all the great industrial coinpanVs —dees not decrease a man's efficiency for earning a living after he has completed sue j service. Sixth.—Many industrial, railway, aud stre>t car companies now absolutely forbid their men from drinking intoxicating liquors and entering saloons while in their employ. Seventh.—All refuse to employ men who habitually use. intoxicating liquors. Eighth.—All refuse to retain in their em ploy men who habitually use intoxicating liquors. Ninth.—lt is not good policy to place newiy enlisted temperate young men in the company of other enlisted men who habitua'iv drink. Tenth.—Such association contaminates and leads the new recruit to get into the same habit. Eleventh.—lt is not good policy for the United States miltary service to produce one drunkard. Twelfth.—lt is not a help to patriotism when at the call of country a father and mother give their darling boy to the military service, to have him returned to them a few years later with the drink habit (irmly fixed in him. Thirteenth.—lt is not good policy for the United States Government to be compelled' to say to the fathers and mothers who give their sons into its military service: "We received your sons as nobte young men, wit.t soiwid bodies and pure lives. We retu-n them to yon with impure lives, unsomsl bodies, and fixed evil habits. We do this became we permitted bad men also to eal : --t and become their associates, because we permitted bad associates already in the mi' - tary service freedom to continue their bal habits while associated with your sons. W" permitted bad associations to snrrouud yo »r sons while we deprived them of the pure influences of your homes. W T e did not ■ squire their idle time to be spent in reading and study, but they were free to spend 'it in saloons. "We took your sons as a solemn trust. We return them to you and confess with shame that we have violated thai sacred trust." There were grave fears that an effort would be made- to repeal the anti-canteen law, and restore the Ikiuor-shops at every army post, but I learn upon excellent authority that the present law will stand at least another year, to test its efficiency aa a reform measure. Since writing tho above the following clipping tells its own tale:—Secretary Root has saved Congress from a erusado for and against the anti-canteen law, which was enacted during the last session of Congress. Much telief has been manifested in consequence. Senators and members welcome the suggestion from the Secretary of War that the anti-canteen law be given the test of another year. Officers of the array, or a large majority of them, it is believed, favor the establishment of the canteen, and object to present conditions resulting from its abolition. Many quires of good Government paper have been covered in their reports to the War Department. Thcso dwell upon the drunkenness, riot, and disorder which follow each pay-day at amry posts, with the statement that they were unknown prior to the enforcement of tho present law against tho canteen. On the other hand, temperance organisations have taken tbo keenest 'interest in the, working of the law. Leading workers in these societies have visited army posts in different parts of the country, and made a thorough investigation from their standpoint. Distrustful of the statistics collected by army officers, they have compiled records of their own. Information at the War Department indicates that the mass of testimony collected will fill several large tomes. Members of the Military Committee

have shrunk from the task of going into it, as well as from the long hearings and arguments which the "White Ribboners ' would undoubtedly demand if a change in the law were in prospect. Secretary Root suggests, in his annual report, that the anti-canteen law be given the test of another year. Members of Congress are only too glad to accept his suggestion. The successful fight which Congressman Littlefield, of Maine, carried on last session, resulting in the anti-can-teen restriction, is now recalled. His success at that timo was as much » surprise to him as to those who opposed it. There was a gathering of W.C.T.U. women in Washington at jrhe time, and on the day when the anticameen amendment came, lip they filed into one of the public-houso galleries. They mado a picturesque assemblage. There were a few young and attractive women, but perhaps the majority were stern-faced and beyond the prime of life. Crimped grey hair was gathered close about the temples of many of them, and covered with silk "grandmother" caps. It was from this assemblage that Congressman Littlefield took his inspiration, and, turning toward tho public gallery, he mado the "sledge-hammer" argument and carried on the vigorous fight which forced the House to adopt the anti-canteen provision. A MIDWINTER EXPOSITION. The twentieth century is opening in a way that, promises to be au easy record-breaker in the number, size, and quantity of industrial expositions. If tho exposition fervor continues unabated among tho civilised nations, wo may expect that tiie number for the next two decades will show an exposition for each Hardly had the " barkers " on the Pan-American Slid way deed diedawav before the people of tho West were invited to visit the Inter-State and West Indian Fair at Charleston, South Carolina. To the Northerner, who habitually seeks a resume from the rigor of our winters, the Charleston Fair will afford unique opportunity and instructive diversion. While the north is under a mantle of snow and ice, flowers will bo blooming in the streets of Charleston, and their fragrance delightful. Charleston is the port of shipment of Sea Island cotton, tho iiiiess cottou grown in the world. South Carolina grows the finest rice in tho world, has the purest granite in tho United States, and holds the record of tho largest yield of co n to tho acre. The only tea farm in the We reni Hemisphere is within twenty miles of Charleston. Its position as a strategic point on the South Atlantic coast, its large and safe harbor, led to its being seiccted by the General Government as the site of ono of the largest navy yards in the United States. Charleston, tho Palmcto City, which was settled over 200 years ago by English colonists, is rich in attractions of historic interest. In 1861 she ftrcd the first gun of (he rebellion by an attack upon fort Sumter. This oxposition will demonstrate the progress that lias been mado under conditions of freedom, the wonderful resources of the Southern States, Porto Rica, Cuba, and die States of Central and South America. NOBLE CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

Christmas, 3901, will long he remembered for tlie splendid gifts to educational institutions in this country, which have been mate. public in the last few days. During the present 5 ear 140 institutions of \earning have been given sums ranging from £I,OOO to millions. At the head of the. 10r.!,' list stands Leland Stanford University, of California, which two weeks ago was enriched by £6,000,000 from Mrs Jane L. Stanford, with the ir-como of which thai, university will be able to repel the wolf. In add.tion to this, Mrs Stanford gives outright to the imivcrsity £3,600,000 in "bonds :ir.d sto-.fc, which the lato Mr Stanford had set aside for the same purpose, but which had not beer transferred. This gift perfects the largest endowment an American, university has over received. Mr Andrew Carnegie has ofered the National Government the sum of £2,000,000 for the foundation and maintenance of a university extension organisation, to be known as tlie " University *of the United States," to be located at "the national capital, and to bo devoted to post-graduates and special instruction, by supplying the opportunity for post-graduate" work by the students of all colleges, as well as facilitating the use of Government resources for research, and enlarging the scope of its advantages. Some objections to accepting this gift were made in Congress because of the character of the securities offered, and because it would be regarded as a bribe against any action Congress might take to regidate " mists." In talking the matter over with President Roosevelt the other day, Mr Carnegie said that I.e. would convert the securities into cash, anj make hi* donation £5.000.000. With these two donations the total for the year foots tip £16,233.044. What other country in the world can equal this record? Congress has adjourned for the holidays. It has made a good beginning. The Isthmian Canal Bill' was given the right-of-way each day until .'ts pas-age. 'Die Dingley Tariff Bill was made to applv to Porto Rico and the PluTippiatis, but 'a!! (he revenue is to bo returned to the local Governments for their benefit. Cuba is elainc-ring for concessions, but Congressional coii".iituents are warning their representatives not to be partial, tliai Cuba proposes to be independent, and is therefore not entitled H> special favor. In conclusion, I wish the readers aud staff of the 'Star' the compliment? of the season. Ulysses.