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About Savannah weekly news. (Savannah) 1894-1920 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1897)
2 TIMES WEEK I THE MORNfNG NEWS. ) \T () I / 4 i Established 1850. - -Incorporated 1888. > ’ • I J. H. ESTILL, President. \ DAMNATION- IN DISSIPATION. TALMAGE SOUNDS A CRY OF WARN ING TO THE TIPPLERS. The Dirge That Lnrki in the Son* of the DrnnknrdH a* Illustrated in Bihlicnl History—The OrNibkard's the Costliest Son* on Earth—-It I* a Multitudinous Son*—lt Is Aiwo a Suggestive Son* and Badly Learn cM—Once Began It Is Contin uous. Washington, Jan. 10.—This discourse of Dr. Talmage, is from a most unusual standpoint, an arousing call to reforma tion from dissipated habits, and must do wide good. The text was Psalms 89:12: “I was the song of the drunkards.” Who said that? Was it David or was it Christ? It was both. These Messianic Psalms are like a telescope. Pull the in strument to a certain range, and it shows you an object near,by. Pull It to another range, and it will show you objects far away. David and Christ were both, each in his own time, the song of the drunk- • arda. Holiness of doctrine and life always did excite wicked merriment. Although David had fully reformed and written a psalmody in which all subsequent ages 'have sobbed out their penitence, his ene mies preferred to fetch up his old career, and put into metric measures sins long before forgiven. Christ, who committed no sin, was still more the subject of un holy aong, because the better one is, the more iniquity hates him. Os the best being whose voice ever moved the air or whose foot ever touched the earth it might be said: The byword of the passing throng. The ruler’s scoff, the drunkard’s song. The earth fitted up for the human race, incongratulation the morning stars sang a song. The Israelltlsh army safe on the bank of the Red sea and the Egyptians clear under the returned water, Moses sang a song. One of the most Important parts of thia great old Book Is Solomon’s song. At the birth of our Lord the Virgin Mary and old Simeon and angelic prima donnas in hovering clouds sang a song. What enrichment has been given to the world’s literature and enjoyment by the ballads, the canticles, the discants, the ditiies, the roundelays, the epics, the lyricfs, the dithyrambs. But my text calls atten tion to a style of song that I think has never been discoursed upon. You sometimes hear this style of music when passing a saloon, or a residence in which dissipation is ascendant, or after you have retired at night you hear it coming a out pf the street from those who, having long 'it their are on t'eir , vt-y home—the ballad of the Inebriate, the serenade of the alcoholized, *or what my text calls the Song of the Drunkards. For practical and saving and warning and Christian purposes I will announce to you the characteristics of that wellknown cadence mentioned in my text. First, I remark that the Bong of the Drunkards Is an old song. Much of the music of the world and of the church Is old music. First came the music of percussion, the .clapping cymbal, which was suggested by a hammer on an anvil,and then the sighing of the wind across the reeds suggested the fiute, and then the strained sinews of the tortoise across Its shell suggested the harp. But far back of that, und nearly back as far as the moral collapse of our first parentage is the Song of the Drunk ards. That tune was sung at least four thousand two hundred and forty-three years ago, when, the deluge past. Noah came out of the ark, and as if disgusted with too much prevalence of water, he took to strong drink and staggered forth, rfor all ages the first known drunkard. He sounded the first note of the old music of iuebrlacy. An Arab author of A. D. 1310, wrote: "Noah, being come out of the ark, ordered each of his sons to build a house. Afterwards they were occupied in sowing and in planting trees, the pippins and fruits of which they had found In the ark. The vine alone was wanting, and they could not discover it. Gabriel then Inform ed them that the devil had desired it, and indeed had some right to it. Hereupon Noah summoned him to appear In the field and said to him: 'O accursed! Why hast thou carried away the vine from me?’ 'Because,’ replied the devil, ‘lt belonged to me.* ‘Shall I part It for you?’ said Ga briel. 'I consent.’ said Noah, 'and will leave him a fourth.* 'That is not suttieient for him,' said Gabriel. ‘Well, 1 will take half.* replied Noah, 'and he shall take the other.’ 'That Is not sufficient yet,’ re sponded Gabriel. 'He must have two-thirds and thou one, and when thy wine shah have boiled on the fire until two-thlrds arc gone, the remainder shall be assigned for thy use.' *' A fable that illustrates how the vine has been misappropriated. Benhadad and thirty-two allied kings, rioting in a pavilion, took up the same bacchanal. Nabal was rendering that drunkards' song when his wife, beautiful Abigail, came back from her expedition to save her husband. Herod was sing ing that song when the daughter ot Herodias wheeled in the dance before him. Belshazzar and a thousand lords renewed that song the night the hand writing came out on the plastering of the wall and the tramp of the besieging host was heard on the palace stairs. Ahasuerus sang that song when, after seven days of carousal, he ordered Vashtl to come Into the presence of the roaring guests with out her veil on—a January storm trying to command a June morning. Oh, yes! The aong of the drunkards la an old sons. King Cyrus boasted that he could drink more wine than his brother. Drunken ness was so rife among the Lacedaemoni ans that Lyeurgua had all the vines of the vineyards destroyed. Paul excoriates the Corinthians tor turning the communion of the Lord's Supper at church into a carou sal. Isaiah mentions the drunkards of Ephraim. So much were the Athenians given to wassail that a law was passed * giving a man double punishment for crime while intoxicated, the first punishment for the crime, and the other for the In toxication. It was a staccato passage in that song when Alexander the Great arose from a banquet and struck a spear through the heart of GUtus while putting up the curtains, and horrified at wha.t was done, withdrew the sword from the dead body and attempted to take his own life Jn the lime of Oliver Cromwell the evil wa* so great that offenders were com pelled to wear what was called The drunkard's cloak." namely a barrel with *. o*e end ot tl knocked out and a hole in , th** opposite end. the arms thrust through holes at the aides of the barrel. Samuel Johnson made merry ot his own inebriacy. Oh, thia old song! All the centuries have Joined Im Among the first songs ever sung was the Bung of the Drunkards. Again, thia Hong of the Drunkards is an expensive Mor.g The Sonntags and the Ft repa Ttossa and NI aeons and the other randerrra of elevated and divine solos re- 111 c thin BgMmrowi. GE o R i ceived their thousands of dollars per night in coliseums and academies of music. Some of the people of small means almost pauperized themselves that they might sit a few evenings under the enchantment of those angels of sweet sounds. I paid $7 to hear Jenny Lind sing when it was not very easy to afford the $7. Very ex pensive is such music, but the costliest song on earth is the drunkard’s song. It costs ruin of body. It costs ruin of mind. It costs ruin of soul. Go right down among the residential streets of any city and you can find once beautiful and luxurious homesteads that were expended in this destructive music. The lights have gone out In the drawing-room, the pianos have ceased the pulsation of their keys, the wardrobe has lost its last article of ap propriate attire. The Belshazzarean feast has left nothing but the broken pieces of the crushed chalices. There it stands, the ghastliest thing on earth, the rem nant of a drunkard’s home. The costliest thing on earth is sin. The most expensive of all music is the Song of the Drunkards. It Is the highest tariff of nations—not a protective tariff, but a tariff of doom, a tariff of woe, a tariff of death. This evil whets the knives of the assas sins, cuts the most of the wounds of the hospital, makes necessary most of the almshouses, causes the most of the rav ings of the insane asylum, and puts up most of the iron bars of the penitentiaries. It has its hand to-day on the throat of the American republic. It is the taskmaster of nations, and the human race crouches under Its anathema. The Song of the Drunkard has for its accompaniment the clank of 'chains, the chattering teeth of poverty, the rattle of executioner's scaffold, the creaking door of the deserted home, the crash of shipwrecks, and the groan of empires. The two billion twenty million dollars which rum costs this country in a year, in the destruction of grain and su gar, and the supporting of the paupers and the Invalids and the criminals which strong drink causes, is only a small part of what Is paid for this expensive Song of the Drunkards. Again, this Song of the Drunkards is a multitudinous song—not a solo, not a duet, not a quartette, not a sextette; but mil lions on millions are this hour singing It. Do not think that alcoholism has this field all to itself. It has powerful rivals in the intoxicants of other nations; has heesh, and arrack, and pulque, and opium, and quavo, and mastic, and wedro. Every nation, barbaric as well as civilized, has Its pet Intoxicant. This Sons of the Drunkards is rendered in Chinese, Hin doo, Arabian, Assyrian, Persian, Mexican —yea, all the languages. All zones join it. No continent would be large enough for the choir gallery if all those who have this libretto In their hands should stand side by side to chant the International chorus. Other throngs are just learning the eight notes of this deathful music which is already mastered by the orches tras in full voice under the batons in full swing. All the musicians assembled at Dusseldorf, or Berlin, or Boston Peace Tublb,v. rendering symphonies, requiems, or grand marches of Mendelssohn or Wagner or Chopin or Handel, were Insig nificant in numbers as compared with the. Innumerable throngs, host besides host, gallery above gallery, who are now pour ing fourth the Song of the Drunkards. Years ago, standing before a bulletin board In New York on the night of a presidential election day, as the news came In and the choice of the American people was finally announced, there were people in the streets who sang roysterlng and frlvilous songs; but in the street one man, in deep, strong, resonant voice, started, to the tune of "Old Hundred,” "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,” and soon all up and down the street the voices joined in the Doxology. May God speed the day when the song of res cue and salvation shall drown with an overwhelmglng surge this mighty Song of the Drunkards! Again the Song of the Drunkards Is a suggestive song. You hear a nursery re frain, and right away you think of your childhood home, and brothers and sisters with whom you played, and mother, long since gone to rest. You hear a national air, and you think of the encampment of 1863, and the still night on the river bank, and the camp-fires that shook their re flections up and down the faces of the regiment. You hear an old church tune, and you are reminded of the revival scenes amid which you were brought to God. Nothing so brings up associations as a song sung or played upon instrument and the Drunkards’ Song Is full of sug gestion.* As you hear it on the street quite late some night, you begin to say to your self, "I wonder if he has a mother? Is his wife waiting for him? Will his chil dren be frightened when he enters the front door and staggers, whooping, up the stairs? What chance is there for that young man, started so early on the down grade? In what business will he succeed? How long before that man will run through his property? I wonder how he got so far astray? Can any Influence be wielded to fetch him back? He must have got into bad company, who led him off.” So you soliloquise and guess about this man whose voice you hear on the street under the starlight. Notice that the second noun of my text is in the plural. Not "Drunkard,” but "Drunkards.” It would be dull work to sing that song solitary and alone. It Is generally a chorus. They are in groups. On that downward way there must be companionship. Here and there is a man so mean as always to drink alone, but generous men, big-hearted men, drinking at bar or in restaurant or in club house, feel mortified to take the bever age unaccompanied. There must be some one with whom to click the rim of the glasses, some one’s health to propose, some sentiment to toast. There must be two, and still better if four, and still better if six, to I give zest to the Song of the Drunkards. | Those who have gone down could mention I the name of at least one who helped them ' down. Generally It is some one who was a little higher up in social life or in finan | cial resources. Our friend felt flattered to have an invitation from one of superior name. Each one drank not on.y when he ! felt like it, but when the other felt like It. Neither wanted to seem lacking in social ity when he was Invited. So a hundred thousand men every year are treated into hell. Together are they manacled of evil I habit, together they travel toward their ' doom, together they make merry over the j cowardice of puritanical sentiment of those who never indulge, together they join their voices in the Song ot the Drunk i ards. If the one proposes to stop, the j other will not let him stop. When men i are getting down themse.ves they do not ‘ want their associates to turn back. Those who turn back will be tne scoff and cari cature of those who keep on. and there | will be conspiracy to bring them back to their old places and their old environ ment, and so have them renew the Song of the Drunkards. There was a tragedy in New York. Sep:ember, 1845. A man of marvellous natural gifts had, af ter arriving from his home in Eng lang. fallen into dissipated habits. And being a fine singer as well as im | personator, entertained many a bar I room group at Newburyport, Boston, and SAVANNAH, MONDAY, JANUA New York; but by the grace of trod and the kindness of one Joel Stratton, had been rescued and took the platform for temperance, and moved vast audiences to ward a better life. “Destroy him!” said some of his old associates, and they set a trap for his feet. “How do you do, Mr. Gough?” said some one on the street in New York. He pretended to be an pld acquaintance, and said, “I suppose you are so pious now and have got to be so proud that you will not drink a glass of soda water with an olid shipmate.” "Oh, yes,” said Mr. Gough, “I will drink a glass of soda water with anybody. I will drink a glass with you.” They went down Chambers street to Chatham street, and into a place where “Best Soda” was an nounced at the door. After some delay there was handed to him a glass of soda water said to be flavored with raspberry, but alas! it was rum, that flew to his brain and sent him through the street an insane man, and weeks passed before he came to himself and implored the pardon of the Christian church that he had joined, and resumed his wondrous career of God and righteousness. , But all the grogshops and places of dissipation rang with merriment at the temporary downfall. All the grog shops and wine-cellars of America took up with new voice and new gusto and new enthusiasm and new diabolism the Song of the Drunkards. There looms up in my memory one of the best and noblest friends I ever had. He had been for thirty years a consistent member of the church. I knew not that at about twenty-one years of age he had fol lowed the sea and habits of inebriacy had been fixed upon him. But converted to God he began a new life. Yet it was a thirty years’ war against the old appetite; but about this struggle I knew nothing until he was dead. While absent during my summer vacation I received a telegram announcing his death and asking me to come and officiate at his obsequies. I ar rived. at the moment the service was to be gin, and had not much time to make in quiries -about his last hours. In my re marks, without any ligiltations, I extolled his virtues while living and spoke of the heavenly raptures into which he had en tered. Afterward I found that he had died of delirium tremens in the hospital, be cause he was so violent he could not be sufficiently restrained in his beautiful home. He had been seized in the street with violent pains of body, and went into an apothecary store to get medical relief. Something there given him set on fire his old appetite for strong drink, and utterly irresponsible, he went from liquor store to liquor store, until, a raving maniac, the officers of the law bound him and took him to the hospital, where he died. Some time after I said to the doctor in the hos pital, “Os what did he die?” and the an swer was, “Congestion of the brain.” I said, “Doctor, I want to know the bottom facts, for I was his pastor and he was one of the best friends I ever had. Was it delirium tremens?” and the doctor re sponded, “Yes.” Did I regret that at his obsequies I had extoiled his virtues and spoken pf the heavenly joys upon which Tie had entered?'Ne. 1 do nos think that my friend wks any more responsible for the mode of his taking off than a typhoid fever patient in delirium is responsible for leap.ng out of the fourth story win dow. But while we were heart-broken about his going away, I think that In the saloons, to those who heard of his mem bership ot the church and the tragedy of his departure, he became, as did the David and the Christ of my text, the Song of the Drunkards. Again, the Song of the Drunkards is easily learned. Through what long tnd difficult drill one must go to succeed as an elevated and inspiring singer. Emma Abbott, among the most eminent canta trices that ever enchanted academies of music, told me on ocean ship’s deck, in answer to my question, “Whither are you bound?” "I am going to Berlin and Paris to study music.” “What!” I said, “after all your world-renowned successes in mu sic, going to study?” Then she fold me through what hardships, through what self-denials, through what almost killing fatigues she had gone in order to be a singer, and that when, in hpr earlier days, a great teacher of music hall told her there were certain notes she could never reach, she said, “I will reach them,” and through doing nothing else but practice for five years she did reach them. Oh, how many heroes and heroines of musical achieve ment! There are songs which are easy to hear but most difficult to render. When Handel, with a new oratorio, entered a room where a group of musicians had as sembled, and said: "Gentlemen, you all read music?” They said, “Yes, we play in church.” “Very well,” said the great com poser, “play this.” But the performance was so poorly done Handel stopped his ears and said, “You play in church!” Very well; for we read the Lord is long-suffer ing, of great kindness, and forgiving of iniquity, transgression and sin. But you shall not play for me.” Pure music, whether fingered on Instrument or trilled from human lips, is most difficult. But one of the easiest songs to learn is the Bong of the Drunkards. Anybody can learn it. In a little while you can touch the highest note of conviviality or the lowest note of besottedness. Begin mod erately, a sip here and a sip there. Begin with claret, go on with ale, and wind up with cognac. First take the stimulant at a wedding, then take it at meals, then take it between meals, then all the time keep your pulse under its stealthy touch. In six months the dullest scholar in thia apollyonio music may become an expert. First it will be sounded in a hiccough. After awhile It will be heard in a silly ha! ha! Further on it will become a wild whoop. Then It will enable yod to run up and down the five lines of the musical scale infernal. Tben you will have mas tered It—the Song of the Drunkards. The most skillful way is to adopt the modern theory and give the intoxicant to your children, saying to yourself, “They will in after life make tlie intoxicants everywhere, and they must get used to seeing them and tasting them and con trolling their appetites." That-is the befit way of teaching them the Song of the Drunkards. Keep up that mode of edu cation, and if you have four boys at least three of them will learn the Drunkards’ Song and lie down in a. drunkard s grave, and if I ever laid a wager. I would lay a wager that the fourth will lie down with the other three. Or it the education of the children in this music should be neg lected, it is not too late to begin at twenty one years of age. The young man will find plenty of young men who drink. They are in every circle to be found. Surely, my boy, you are not a coward, and afraid of it? Surely you are not going to be hin dered by sumptuary laws or the prejudices of your old father and mother? They are behind the times. Take something. Take It often. Some of the greatest poets and orators have been notorious imbibers. If you are to enter a parlor, it make you more vivacious and Chesterfieldian. If you are to transact business, your cus tomer is apt to buy more if you have taken with him a sherry cobb.er. If you are to make a speech it will give you a glibber tongue. Gluck could compose his best music by having his piano taken into the midst of a meadow, and a bottle of cham pagne placed on each side of him. The earlier you begin to learn the Song of the Drunkards the easier it is; but none of you are too old to learn. You can begin at fifty or sixty, under prescription of a doctor for aids to digestion or breaking up of infirmities, and close life by rendering the Song of the Drunkards so well that all pandemonium will encore the perform ance and want it again and again. Furthermore, the last characteristic of the Drunkard’s Song is so tremendous that I can hardly bring myself to mention it. The Drunkards’ Song is a continuous song. Once start that tune, and you keep it up. You have known a hundred men destroyed of strong ..drink. You cannot mention five who got fully started on that road and stopped. The grace of God can do anything, but it does not do every thing. Religion saves some. Temperance societies save some. The Bowery Mission saves some. The Central Mission saves some. But one hundred thousand who are annually slain by strong drink are not saved at all.. I have been at a concert which went on for two hours and a half, and many people got up and left because it was too long; but 95 per cent, of those who are singing the Drunkards’ Song will to the last breath Wings and the last beat of their hearts keep on rendering it, and the galleries of earth and heaven and hell will stay filled with the astound ed spectators. It is such a continuous and prolonged song that one feels like making the prayer which a reformed ine briate once made: “Almighty God! If it be thy will that man should suffer, what ever seemeth good In tfiy sight impose upon me. Let the bread of affliction be given me to eat. Take from me the friends of my confidence. Let the cold hut of pov erty be my dwelling-place and the wast ing hand of disease inflict its painful tor ments. Let me sow in the whirl-wind and reap in the storm. those have me in derision vrho are younger than I. Let the passing away of my welfare be like the fleeting of a cloud and the shouts of my enemies like the rushing of Waters. When I anticipate good, let evil qnnoy me. When I look for light, let darkness come upon me. Let the terrors of death be ever be fore me. Do all this, but save me, mer ciful God! Save me from the fate of a drunkard. Amen.” You see this sermon is not so much for' cure as far prevention. Stop before you start, if you will forgiye the solecism. The clock of St. Paul’s cathedral struck thir teen one midnight, so saved the life of a sentinel. The solaiei’ was artested and tried for falling asleep at his post one mid night; but he declared that he was awake at midnight, and in proof that he was awake he said that he had heard tne un usual occurrence of the clock striking thir teen instead of twelve. He was laughed to scorn and sentenced to death; but three or four persons, hearing of the case, came up in time to swear that they, too, heard the clock strike thirteen that same mid night, and so the man’s life was spared. My hearer, if you go ou and thoroughly learn the Drunkard’s Song, perhaps in the deep midnight of yo"ur soul, there may sound something *that will yet effect your moral,. ans eternal... a risky “perhaps;” It is exceptional. Go ahead on that wrong road and the clock will more urobably strike the twelve that closes your day of opportunity, than that it will strike thirteen, the sound of your deliverance. A few Sabbaths ago, on the steps of this church, a man whom I had known In oth er years confronted me. At the first glance I saw that he was in the fifth and last act of the tragedy of intemperance. Splendid' even in his ruin. The same brilliant eye, and the same eourtly manners, and the •emains of the same intellectual endow ments; but a wreck. I had seen that craft when it ploughed the waters, jjUJ sails set and running by children, and friends on boaqj, himself commanding in a voyfiie that frfe expected would be glorious, putting into prosperous harbors of earth and at last putting into the harbor of heaven. But now a wreck, towed along by low appetites, that ever and anon run him into the breakers—a wreck of body, a wreck of mind, a wreck of soul. “Where is your wife?” “I do not know.” “Where are your children?” I do not know.” “Where Is your God?” “I do not know.” That mtyi is coming to the last verse of that lofig cantata, that pro tracted threnody, that terrific Song of the Drunkards. But if these words should come—for you know the largest audience I reach I never see at all—l say if these words should come, though at the ends of the earth, to any fallen man, let me say to him: Be the exception to the general rule, and turn and live, while fc recall to you a scene in England, where some one said to an inebriate, as he was going out of church where there was a great awaken ing, “Why don’t you sign the pledge?” He answered, "I have signed it twenty times, and will never sign it again.” "Why then,” said the gentleman talking to him, “don’t you go up and kneel at that altar, amid those other penitents?’?- He took the ad vice and went and A'ftMr firwhile a little girl, in rags arid soaked with the rain, looked in the church door, and some one said, "What are you doing here, Utile girl?” She said, "Please, sir, I heard as my father is here. Wby, that Is my father up there, kneeling now,” She went Up and put her arms around her father’s neck, and said. "Father, what are you doing here?” and he said, “I am asking God to forgive me." Said she, “If He forgives you will we be happy again?” "Yes, my dear.” “Will we have enough to eat again?” “Yes. my dear.” “And will you never strike us again?” “No, my child. ' “Wait here." said ahe, /‘till I go and call mother.” And soon the child came with the mother, and the mother, kneeling be side her husband, said: "Save me, too! Save me, too!” And the Lord heard the prayers at that altar, and one of the hap piest homes in England is the home over which that father and mother now loving ly preside. So, if in this sermon, I have warned others against a dissipated life, with the fact that so few return after they have once gone astray, for the encourage ment of those who would like to return, I tell you God wants you to come back, every one of you. and To come back now, and more tenderly and lovingly than any mother ever lifted a sick child out of a cradle, and folded it in her arms, and crooned over it a lullaby, and rocked it to and fro, the Lord will take you up and fold you in the arms of his pardoning love. There’s a wideness in God’s mercy. Like the wideness of the sea. There's a kindness in hia justice, Which Is more than liberty. FIRE IN A HACKING HOI SE. Flour Mill Narrowly Escape* Destructioa. Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 10.—Fire at 10 o’clock this morning totally destroyed the packing house of the Anchor flour mill, owned by the Plllabury-Washington Killi ng Company. The loss is <3)0,000, fully insured. The flames originated in the third story of the building from an un known cause, and for a time the fire threatened the destruction of the entire mill. A fire wall, however, prevented further damage. the independent party action herein pro posed. “Shall we march to victory under our own banner, or continue as stragglers un der another? George F. Washburn.” In commenting upon the appeal Mr. Washburn gives the following reasons for its publication: “I believe the silver dem ocrats, silver republicans and populists, constituting the allied forces, will decide to work separately, but on parallel lines during the next four years. In this way each party will gain a momentum, which, if combined four years hence, will give an impetus to the campaign which It would lack, if the three worked together during all that time. We have other issues of greater importance than the free coinage of silver, though it will remain a part of our platform. "Then, again, should other questions oc cupy public attention or should the re publicans secure some form of interna tional agreement, it will leave the demo crats stranded high and dry and we do not propose to be caught in such a predica ment." "Does this proposed action,” Mr. Wash burn was asked, “meet with the approval of the populist leaders?” “Yes, I have corresponded with the lead ers in every section of the country, and 11 indorse this idea, including our na ional chairman. The president of the Re- | orm Press Association has written n:e i hat that organization will meet in Mein •his Feb. 22, and will strongly indorse the •lan, and if this appeal meets with general cceptance, I believe it will be officially ndorsed by the national committee. “This is not the result of any friction •etween the two national committees, as hey worked in perfect harmbny through out the campaign, and I have only the lighest praise for the honesty, sincerity tnd integrity of Senator Jonts and his as. sociates. When the silver question was iiscussed in congress the populists led the ight in its defense, and not only forced he issue upon the country, but compelled he democrats to support it. Now, in like nanner, when the discussion of the retlre nent of the greenbacks and the govern nent ownership of the Pacific railroads re precipitated on congress it will in* olve the whole question of government aper money and government ownership f railroads, which will become the ab orbing subjects of discussion by con ress, the press and the people. It would, therefore, be folly for the populists to try c force the silver issue when the whole ountry is to discuss another. This move n the part of the populist party is good eneralship and will place it at the head of he column of reform when the democrats re protecting the rear.” "What do you think the silver republi ans will do?” was asked. “It was noticeable that while the rank ind file blended well with the populists luring the campaign, they would have nothing to do with the democrats, and I believe if they decide to merge with any party it will be with the populists. I be lieve that our defense of the greenbacks, the soldiers’ money, will win thousands of republicans and democrats to our ranks. “Mr. Bryan is far ahead of his party and is often spoken of as a populist, and should the issues we raise become the dis cussion of the whole country and Mr. Bryan should champion them as he has silver, it is easy to predict the result in .900.” INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION. t Opens To-morrow and 500 or COO Delegates Expected. Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 10.—The mone tary convention will open at 2 o’clock next Tuesday afternoon in Tomlinson hall. It s expected to continue three days. The lames of 370 delegates to the convention lave been reported to the local executive ;ommittee, and the latter says fully 200 lelegates have been chosen by boards of rade and commercial organizations, vhose names have not been reported, and hat the representation Will be between iOO and 600. The committee rooms in the Denison ho :el presented a busy scene yesterday. Over of the prominent business men of the. city eaniS to the rooms, said they had been appointed members of the various committees, asked where they were to re port for work and were supplied with tickets of admission to the hall and with blue silk badges bearing the words, "Re ception committee,” stamped on them in gold. These committees will begin work early Monday morning, when it is ex* pected that delegates will begin arriving lin force. The tickets bear the words, “Indianapolis Monetary Convention, Tues day, Jan. 12, 1897.” The executive committee is trying to ar range it so that all strangers coming into town to attend the convention will be taken care of. In response to letters from delegates the executive committee has engaged rooms at the leading hotels. W. F. Golt, who has been appointed ser geant-at-arms for the convention has ap pointed eleven assistants to guard the doors and take care of the sessions. In addition to this Supt. Colbert of the police department has detailed six policemen to guard the place and maintain order. The chairman of the executive committee will call the meeting to order and will nomi nate B. O. Standard, ex-governor of Mis souri, as temporary chairman. Jacob W. Smith, acting secretary of the commit tee, will be the temporary secretary, it is understood that Evans Woolen will be pressed for permanent secretary. Mr. Standard will have some remarks to offer, and this, together with the completion of the organization, will consume most of the first session. GOV. DRAKE DEFIES THE COURTS. If Convicted of Contempt He Will Pardon Himself. Des Moines, la., Jan. 10.—Gov. Drake must commission John R. Prime as briga dier general in command of the First Bri gade of the lowa National Guard or an swer for contempt of court. In case he is brought up for contempt the govern or’s attorney has stated he will pardon himself, and the interesting spectacle will be presented of the executive and judicial departments in direct conflict with each other. Nearly a year ago Prime was elected by the first brigade as its commander. Adjt. Gen. White had befriended James A. Guest, his opponent, and declined to admit Prime’s election. He ordered a new election and again Prime won. Then the vote was so canvassed as to throw out a large number of Prime votes. Guest was declared elected and was commis sioned. Prime sued for a madamus to compel the governor to commission him. The case has been pending several months and yesterday Judge Spurrier decided It. He held that Prime was elected; that only personal spite actuated the adjutant and governor in refusing and the governor vnust commission him. The mandamus will issue to-morrow. The attorney gen eral represented the governor at the trial. He declared the governor’s author ity as commander-in-chief of the guard paramount to the court, and said he v(ould not obey its orders. If committed for contempt he would pardon himself. The defense will appeal at once, and an early hearing is expected. Prime will commence a proceeding to oust Guest as commander of the brigade, and some sen sational features are expected, as the governor is expected to refuse to obey the court's orders. NEBRASKA’S ELECTORAL VOTES. It Is Said There Will Be Six For Watson and Two for Sewall. Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 10.—Nebraska’s eight presidential electors, selected on the Bryan and Sewall-Watson fusion ticket, met yesterday at the state capltol and or ganized by electing a chairman and secre tary. The formal vote of the electors for President and Vice President will be cast to-morrow. It is reported that instead of being four and four for Watson and Sewall as agreed upon, there will be six for Watson and two for Sewall. ( WEEKLY 2-TIM3S-A-WEEK $1 A YEAR ) XT/X Q J 5 CENTS A COPY. J. 11 O, I DAILY, M 0 A YEAR. f MONDAYS AN THURSDAYS CHILE TO SETTLE THE CLAIMS. INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION TO BUS REHABILITATED. Seventeen American Claims and Two Claims by Chile Remain to Be Settled—They Were Left Undis posed of When the Previous Six Months Term of the Commission Expired add It Has Been Impossi ble Until Now to Have the Com mission Reappointed. Washington, Jan. 10.—Secretary omejr and the Chilean minister have practically reached a successful conclusion to the long negotiations for a rehabilitation of the Chilean claims commission, which ended its existence by limitation nearty two years ago without completing its labors, and it is understood that the commission will assemble in this city next October and consider the remaining cases, of which seventeen are American claims against Chile, and two, including that for the cap ture and detention of the Italia, support ed by Chile against the United States. These constitute the sole causes for fric tion between the two countries, which have been notably cordial in the profes sion of friendship for the past year, and it is believed the settlement will dispose of any lingering animosity which resulted from the Baltimore affair and other inci dents which led the Chileans to the verge of war with this country. The present visit of Admiral Bearslee in the flagship Philadelphia to Valparaiso is thought to have contributed considerably to this re sult. When the six months’ existence of the last commission, of which the then Swiss minister, Alfred de Claparede, was presi dent, came to an ehd, after having dis posed of twenty-five cases, every effort was made by Secretary Gresham to in duce Chile to extend its term, but a cabi net crisis occurring in that country just at that time, it was found impossible to accomplish anything in that direction. At the instance of this government, however, negotiations were resumed and eventually Chile proposed an arrangement for the pro rata settlement of the remain ing cases by the payment of such, amount of the face of the remain ing claims, as the aggregate amount awarded by the commissioners on claims they had already settled bore to the face amount of the claims left over. Chile pointed out that England, France, Spain and other countries had found this method satisfactory with their claims, but the administration insisted tnat every claim, had to be examined and settled on its merits.by a commission. Chile then sug gested, a lump compromise and when tljn t was also rejected, 1 that government of fered to agree to another commission, provided it sat at Santiago, as the claim ants W’ere mostly Americans, and on con dition that the claim of the North and South American Construction Company should be ruled out. Secretary Olney declined to consent to either of these propositions and sought to have the old commission rehabilitated as far as John Goode, the American mem ber and Senor Gana, the Chilean member, were concerned with a new president in place of M. de Caparede, who had gone home, 'and that the proceedings should continue from the point at which they were interrupted after twenty-five cases had been adjudicated. Fortunately a year ago it was found possible to get rid of the North and South American Construction Company as an impediment, and by a compromise, Senor Gana paying Secretary Olney $150,000 on Jan. 15, last, this was set tled permanently. With this out of the way it is understood that Chile has at last consented to resuscitate as early as pos sible the old commission,and have it com plete its work next fall. SHAM OR ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. Dr. Ry der Resorts to Fire and Water Unsuccessfully. Columbus, Ga., Jan. 10.—Dr. W. L. Ry der, under sentence for the murder of Miss Owens at Talbotton, and confined in. Muscogee jail for safe keeping, attempt ed to kill himself in a curious manner this afternoon. There was a bucket of water in Ryder’s cel! and by some means he se cured a match, with which he set fire to * pillow and old shirt, attempting to suffo cate or strangle himself by breathing the hot smoke and alternately holding his head in the bucket of water as long as he could without breathing. When discovered by the jailor Ryder was apparently dying. Dr. Mansfield was hastily summoned and revived the wretch ed man, but slated he would have been dead had he reached him a few minutes later. ■* Hyder was sentenced to be hung this month, but his case will go to the supreme court, deferring his execution. Counsel for Hyder declare him insane and point to his attempted suicide as confirmation. Others say it was only a bluff to strength en the insanity theory, and suggest that if Ryder had really meant to kill himself he could have done so easily by setting fire to his bed and his clothing. Ryder’s crime was one of the most shocking in the criminal annals of the state, he having entered .the parlor of the residence of a respected citizen of Talbot ton and shot to death the beautiful Miss Owen, as she sat talking to State Senator Gus Persons. Ryder was in love with Miss Owen and she had rejected his suit. « MORE Cl HAAS BUTCHERED. The Spanish Troops Keeping Up the Work of Massacre. Tampa, Fla., Jan. Id—Advices from Ha vana per steamer Olivette tell of renewed butcheries of Cubans by Spaniards. It is asserted that Thursday night at Guanabacoa, Spanish troops under Col. Fondaveilla killed thirty men, women and children and burned many houses. In Plnar del Rio Spanish troops are ac cused of ravishing many Cuban girls. DETECTIVE A SUICIDE. Blown Ont His Brains Without Ap parent Cause. Kansas City, Mb., Jan. 10.—Thomas G. Conkiin, resident superintendent of the Pinkerton detective agency, committed suicide in his office this afternoon by blowing out his brains with a colts re volver. No motive is known for the sui cide- He was 35 years old, has a wife and three children and came here from Phlia , delphia about four years ago.
