TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3957, 24 January 1900, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

VERY BUCOLIC WIT. The “Manawatu Farmer” is responsible for the following tragic story; A very sad affair is reported from Shannon. A young lady, whose friends reside in Wellington, came up by train last week, and being desirous of getting a • ride l on horseback, she was accommodated, and started alone in the direction of Tokomaru. As she did not reum when expected, her Shannon friends- went in search, and met three labourers, who said they had discovered the skeleton of a horse and a human being between Makerua and Tokomaru. The whole party went to the spot, and found as it was said. Fortunately there was a clue to the identity of the human skeleton by a. silver brooch, on'which the letters “S.A.” were, inscribed. This was worn by the young lady when she left Shannon. , It is said* that not a scrap of clothing, nor even the •saddle, could bo found, and the bones had been eaten to whiteness. The mosquitoes are very thick in this locality, and it is supposed that in the twilight’ they assailed the young lady and her horse and devoured them;

AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES. In th© course of his message to Con,gress, President McKinley made some references to the situation in the Philippines, - which ought to be noted. He pointed out that when the troops now en route arrived in Manila, the Amen-; can forces in the Archipelago would consist of 2051 officers and 63,482 men. President McKinley, after reciting known facts in connection with the war, says that Aguinaldo’s claim that independence was promised by any United Stales officer is unfounded. The most he hoped for when lie returned to Manila was the liberation of the islands from Spanish control. The prompt accomplishment cf this by the Americans, gave him other ideas and" ambitions and insidious suggestions irons various quarters perverted the purposes and intentions with which he took up arms. “The future government of the Philippines,” the President adds, “rests with Congress, They cannot be abandoned. The suggestion that we cduld renounce our authority and give the islands independence, while retaining a protectorate, I am sure will;.not be found worthy of the serious consideration of Congress’. It is undesirable I should recommend now anv specific and final form of government.” After considering the - advisability of the return of the Commission or such members of it as can be procured to aid the existing American -authorities, the President favours at first municipal governments, provincial, and then a central govemrnent. “The truest kindness to the insurgents,” the President concludes, swiftrand effective defeat of their leader. The hoar of victory

will be the hour of clemency and reconstruction. No effort will he; spared to build up waste places, made desolate by war find long yours of misgovernment. Wo shall continue in every way to make there people feel it. is for their liberty and welfare that we are seeking entrance.”

franc;*: as a naval power. A new book which is making some stir in naval circles is M. Lockroy's “Defense Navale,” The writer’s recent sojourn at the Rue Ho vale, as Minister of M arino was attended by some daring reforms, which were severely criticised by a certain school of admirals as unpractical and visionary. Time will show whether the sailors or the civilian aro right. M. Lockrov’s latest work throws a. sinister light on the French preparations for war last November. Mary of the coast batteries could not have been manned for lack of men. In several eases two guns out of thre.e would have been left idle, owing to the dearth of artillerymen. This was the case in every one of the naval arsenals. Doubtless reinforcements would have been hurried to the coast in course of time if the Fashoda. incident had actually led to war, but the numerical weakness of the garrisons is a serious danger to- France, even in time of peace. The glowing demands of the colonies have reduced the home Raid aliens of the marine to mere skeletons. The writer insists on a settled plan of campaign, completed in the minutest detail before war is declared, as an essential element of success. Haphazard decisions as to broad lines of strategy, taken on the spur of the moment, he considers lo be an invitation to defeat. Speaking of the African ports, lie considers (hat Bizerta. in insufficiently provided with puns, that it is subject to sudden attack from Sicily and Malta, and that the harbour is little more than li “mouse-trap.” Although a shelter to the French fleet, the narrowness of the entrance renders it extremely easy to blockade, as the America ns found in a similar case at Santiago. It is worthy of notice that Brest is approached by a narrow channel of the same nature.

A PREACHER OX WAR. Canon Harper, of Christchurch, delivered a sermon dealing with the war in South Africa iji the Cathedral last. Sunday evening. The text was—“ For nation,.shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,’’ and in the course of his remark;) Canon Harper observed that it was a. remarkable thing that soldiers figured largely in the Gospel. Not a. word was to ho found in discouragement of the military profession, and .had Christ felt that, supposing war was .an. evil thing, He might have told these, men- that it would be well for them to forsake their warlike profession. Yet we do not find anything of the sort. The Christian religion, however, is Having this effect upon, statesmen and politicians to-day, that it is making those who are responsible for the guidance ol their country hesitate very seriously before they enter upon a war with another country. The mere existence of the Ponce Conference, the proposal of the Czar, and the legislation and the forbearance on the part of Lord Salisbury, Mr Chamberlain and others, to obviate this war with the Transvaal, were evidences, surely, that the Christian religion was beginning to make itself felt. In pre-Christian times, U the same provocation had been given there would have been no hesitation whatever. A good deal might he said tp show that after all something was to be said for war. It might be said that it called up the spirit of duty and self sacrifice, as it had done in many young men to-day in this country and elsewhere; that it prevented people thinking only of making money, and that it sometimes had the effect of elevating a nation up to higher views of life and nobler aims. Still it was more in accordance with the Christian religion thav there should bo peace rather than war, and it was the fluty of cacti one to cultivate the spirit of peace.