Current Topics.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9025, 24 March 1898, Page 1

Current Topics.

M. Maurice de Fienry's work, L'lntroduction a la Me leoine de l'Esprit, contains a chapter on tobacco smoking, in which Zola is quoted as saying: "I have no definite opinion on the question. Personally I gave upsmoking ten or twelve years ago on the advice of my medical attendant, when I believe! myself to he affected with heart disease. But to suppose that tobacco exercises an influence on French literature raises a question of such magnitude that the most rigid scientific proof alone could dispose of it- I have known great writers who smoked without stint, but their iitellects were not one whit less acute. If genius be neurosis, then-why seek to cure it? Perfection is such a very tiresome thing that I very often regret having broken myself- of the tobacco habit."

Two distinguished Americans (says the 0.1). Times) have been expressing opinions about the future of the United States. They are Bishop Potter and Mr Chauncey Depew. Tl • former is one of the ornaments of the American Episcopal Church, one of the most beloved and trusted of its dignitaries, one of the most eminent citizens of New York, and in the best sense a man of the world. Mr Depew hardly needs description. Politician, orator, diner-out, story teller, con* fidential adviser to the Vaoderbilt family, he is one of the best known of Americans. The keynote of Mr Depew's remarks is material prosperity. He points out that the American people have been too exclusively occu pied in their internal industrial policy They have devoted great energy to the development of great resources and have brought about an era of over-production and exceeding cheapness which has produce'! distress, provocative of unrest, despair, and the rapidly closing conditions for the eager seeking or acceptance of war. "But a change has come almost in a night. That change will make the United States of the twentieth century stand for peace. For the twentieth century the mission of the United States is peace—peace that it may capture the markets of this world; peace that it may find the places where its surplus products, not only of food, but of labour, can meet with a profitable return. President McKinley has struck the keynote of this expanding policy of our country, and recognised that our mission has changed from internal development purely to external commerce, in the note which he has sounded so loudly and so clearly for peace." Strange to say, Mr Depew, who is a Protectionist, is advocating a policy which can only be carried out completely by Freetrade. Mr Depew is also attached to the American Jingo school of politicians, but that he should advocate peace even on trade grounds is something. ,•

IfMrDepew appeals ouly to thelower motives, Bishop Potter appeals to the higher, and pleads for a better national life. Speaking ot civic duties, he says: "We shall find that they caunot be taken in the usual bappy-go-lucky American style. They require the deepest study, To this country it is fast growing to be more thaii . serious. Government in this country has become a huge mechanism. Purity of Government, integrity, efficiency, and pure-miudedness—the essentials that should be in every official—are often lacking. Americans have not the same vigilance and interest in the Government as the English have. In England every man is interested in the Government; and what is tl?« result ? Is there a better governed - country in the world that England ?'* These' are the boldest remarks heard in New York for some time. - - -