is not impossible that the trouble with the English pure beer, which did not meet approval, was that it had not been stored in reserve long enough, but had been sold when it was still green. However this may be, it is not improbable that the agitation in Great Britain may lead to a larger use of light wines, and a smaller use of the artificially and chemically constructed beer.

war.

In a speech last Mr. Gage on Financial Needs week before the bankers at New York City, Secretary Gage of the Treasury called attention to the increasing intimacy between the affairs of the United States Treasury and those of general business. Such an intimacy did not exist at the close of the Under the financial exigencies of the war, said Mr. Gage, we learned to take up people's goods by giving them an indefinite promise to pay, endowing that promise with the power to discharge the obligations of private contract. Having discovered the greenback to be a powerful help in time of war, the Secretary showed that many were led to believe in it as a blessed agency in time of peace. The present situation is reflected in the facts that we have (in circulation among the people and as a reserve fund in the banks) $346,000,000 of Government notes-an enormous public debt payable on demand. We also have substantially six hundred million dollars' worth of silver or paper representatives of silver, the parity of which with gold value the Government is bound to maintain. The ultimate measure of this obligation is the difference between the commercial value of the money metal and the face value at which it circulates, a difference not far from three hundred millions. As to bank-note currency, contended Mr. Gage, we have a system the volume of which is but faintly related to the needs of the community which a properly constructed bank currency would economically serve, but which is now controlled as to volume only by the price of interest-bearing United States bonds. The trouble is that "the Treas ury absorbs the circulating medium when active business most requires its use, only again to disburse it when falling revenues, the effect of industrial dullness, bring about an excess in expenditures." His

cure for this evil, namely, the issuance of currency against bank assets instead of as at present against Government bonds, has been already explained to our readers. Mr. Gage declared that the system in vogue abroad of a few large banks with a multiplicity of branches would probably be impracticable for this country because we are too afraid of centralized power and authority, but in any event such a system would antagonize the spirit of our institutions. institutions. Our political system is representative, said he, beginning in small units: the townships, associated by representation, constitute the county, the counties in like manner the States, and from the States the General Government, an indissoluble federation. Secretary Gage then should excite general interest-namely, the establishment on these lines of a banking system: the individual bank an independent unit; these then associated in the district clearing-house where "the surplus strength of the strong might support the exposed position of the momentarily weak;" finally, an association of these clearing-houses, constituting a National clearing-house. In this way, he claims, we might secure in the field of banking what we enjoy in our National life—both individual freedom and associated strength.

made a recommendation which

Roger Wolcott

In dignity and efficiency as a public officer Massachusetts has had few, if any, in her long list of memorable Governors who surpass Roger Wolcott. He was by descent and tradition a typical New England man ; one of his ancestors was prominent in the famous expedition against Louisburg in 1745, another was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, another took an active part in the famous “Boston Tea Party"-two of those just referred to were Governors of Connecticut—while still others were honorable actors in prominent New England and Revolutionary events. Mr. Wolcott rose to the position of Governor through a series of services in minor offices, such as membership in the Boston Common Council, membership in the Legislature, Lieutenant-Governorship, acting Governorship (after the death of Governor Greenhalge), and was first elected Governor in 1896; he was twice

re-elected. Although a Republican and a party man in the best sense of the word, Governor Wolcott's fair-mindedness, absolute devotion to the interests of the Commonwealth as a trust, and invariable courtesy won him the respect of men of all parties and of all classes. It has been well said of him that his standard of life was high, and that in every relation he was true, manly, and upright. His death follows an illness of only two weeks, and breaks in its fifty-fourth year a life which appeared to have the promise of much further usefulness.

China

By far the most important event in China last week was the signing of the preliminary note to be presented to the Chinese Plenipotentiaries, Li-HungChang and Prince Ching. The Powers probably realize that the present is the most favorable compromise to be reached, unless negotiations are to be drawn out to a perilous length. Negotiations must be closed so that a Chinese government may be reinstated in the provinces of Shantung and Chili; thus, it is hoped, avoiding a further increase of the unrest in those provinces, owing to the absence of any form of native government. The British condition that the occupation of the provinces is to continue until China has complied with the terms of the agreement will hardly affect the status of the United States Government. We have already informed the other Powers that American forces will not be employed in China for the purpose of occupation. In future we shall maintain a Legation guard only. As to the retention of the word irrevocable" in the note, The Outlook hopes that the objection of our Government to the use of that word may have prevailed with the Powers rather than that our Minister has been authorized to sign the note as first drafted. It is evident that the use of such a word in connection with detailed demands may lead to war, in case there is failure to execute any one of the demands, as, of course, the signatory Powers would have committed themselves to enforce the whole list. It is impolitic to enter upon negotiations with China supporting peremptory demands from which we cannot recede. At all events, the signing of any agreement relative to China

will bring with it one satisfaction-the checking of the Chinese Government in a trick which it has in common with the Turkish Government-that of playing one foreign Power against another. That the Government of China, however, has been forced to be less inimical to foreigners may be seen from the fact that last week an imperial edict authorized the opening of the large city of Wuchang, opposite Hankau on the Yangtse River, to foreign trade. Wuchang is already the center of important commerce and is the site of the terminus of the proposed railway from Canton to the Yangtse River, a concession granted to an American syndicate. A particularly cheering sign of civilization is the decision of the French Government to return to China the loot taken from that country by French soldiers. We hope that the German Emperor will not allow himself to be outdone in humanity, and that he will issue a similar edict.

The Boer War

The title "Swamp Fox," applied to the American General Marion a century ago, comes to mind in noting the cunning and speed with which the craftiest of Boer officers has thus far eluded his British pursuers. From friend and foe alike, General Christian De Wet has evoked cordial admiration for his consummate tactics. The story of his dash through the British cordon describes the most daring exploit of the

war.

Save for the loss of twenty-five prisoners and a fifteen-pounder, its success was complete. Later fighting between Boers and British has been mostly in favor of the latter. The principal engagements were at Thorndale in the Transvaal, where the respective losses were fifty to fourteen, and at Houtkraal in Cape Colony, where the losses are as yet unknown. Several thousand Boers have now crossed the Orange River at three points into Cape Colony. The authorities at the Cape promptly proclaimed martial law in twelve districts of the colony where the Dutch element preponderates. This action indicates the serious view taken by the Government of the Boer invasion; fears are entertained that Dutch sympathizers may join the movement. It is rather amusing to note that the Boers arrived within a few miles of Colesberg, where

trials for treason were taking place. There was a hasty removal of records, judges, and prisoners alike to Cape Town. The London " Times" hails the extension of martial law with lively satisfaction, believing that the Boers invaded Cape Colony in response to rebel overtures. That colony demands remorseless firmness on the part of the constituted authorities, it says. Though no fear is felt in England as to the ultimate result of the war, much indignation is expressed at the lack of a sufficient number of mounted troops in South Africa. Accordingly, to meet the new demand, Mr. Brodrick, the British War Secretary, announces that eight hundred mounted infantry will be immediately despatched thither, to be followed by two cavalry regiments. In addition to the normal supply, three thousand horses are to be shipped. The strength of the colonial police is also to be doubled, thus raising it to ten thousand men.

Mr. Kruger and

An important event of Mr. Stowe Mr. Kruger's sojourn in Holland was his visit to Amsterdam last week. At a crowded meeting in the Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church) he declared that Great Britain had sold her birthright for a handful of gold, and that the Continental Powers would forever bear the brand of Cain unless they intervened in South Africa. Subsequently Mr. Kruger visited the Palace of Industry, where five thousand school-boys welcomed him with a choral. In his speech at the Town Hall he said: In 1884 we obtained our independence, but that honorable action has been obliterated. The invaders are ten against one, but we await the day when God will make known his will. We rely on his help more than on emperors and princes. I have not come as a fugitive, but by order of my Government, with the object of terminating a war in which the British employ women and children against us. To which it might be replied that in 1884 the Boers did not obtain full independence, this is the crux of the whole situation. Mr. Kruger's reference to princes was probably inspired by the refusals of the monarchs of Germany, Russia, Austria, and Italy to receive him at this juncture. The more liberty-loving Switzerland, France, Holland, and Belgium, despite popular clamor, are not interfering in his

behalf, though he pleads that, in addition to the moral rights of his cause, the Boer forces, if not so large numerically as a year ago, are better disciplined and proportionally more effective than at the outbreak of the war. They have plenty of ammunition, he adds, and they replenish their stores constantly from British convoys, and have captured enough Lee-Metford rifles to arm all the burghers now in the field. Contradicting Mr. Kruger's repeated accusations of unchivalrous conduct on the part of the British, we have the testimony of Mr. Stowe, United States Consul-General at Cape Town, who has just arrived in this country. He says that, from the fifteen thousand Boer prisoners whom he has visited, he has yet to hear the first complaint concerning their treatment by the British. Four-fifths of all this number he claims have had enough of war and want peace. Concerning the charges of unnecessary farm-burning, Mr. Stowe said that he knew of none burnt by the British in any town, except those from which British troops had been fired upon or in which ammunition had been found.

Dr. Cadman

Very significant of the tendency of public opinion is the simultaneous call of Dr. Cadman to two churches, one a Congregational, the other a Presbyterian, the first in Brooklyn, the second in Chicago; the first possessing the general reputation of being conservative in its theology, and especially in its view of the authority of the Bible; the second belonging to a denomination which has recently expelled an eminent Hebrew scholar from its pulpit for holding the view of modern scholars respecting the Old Testament, and has practically compelled the withdrawal from its communion of another equally eminent Greek and historical scholar for holding the same views respecting the New Testament. For Dr. Cadman is not a Calvinist, but an Arminian in theology and a Methodist in his membership; how far he agrees in detail with Dr. Briggs and Dr. McGiffert we do not know, but he has made it very clear by his public utterances that he is not restrained by any traditions or any fears, personal or ecclesiastical, from following modern scholarship wherever his own convictions of truth may lead him,

He is the pastor of a church far removed from that not too sacred Mount Zion in New York City, between Fourth and Sixth Avenues and between Forty-second and Fifty-ninth Streets, where the wealthy churches abound. His ministry has not only filled his "Temple" with a large congregation, but has made of it at once an institutional and an inspirational church; and he has demonstrated that the evangelical spirit is neither inconsistent with progressive scholarship on the one hand nor with philanthropic and educational work on the other. The simultaneous call of such a man to two such churches is a curiously convincing demonstration of the fact that laymen care very little about ecclesiastical and theological theories, and a great deal about practical common sense, a liberal mind, and capacity to lead, coupled with and inspired by a genuine faith in Christ and his Gospel as a living and life-giving power.

A picturesque and venDr. Cyrus A. Bartol erable figure has passed away from the life of New England. Cyrus Augustus Bartol was, moreover, the last representative of that particular phase of thought and life which we know as transcendentalism—a phase representing an extreme trend towards individualism, whether in Church or in State. The transcendentalists cared not for organization, and among these Dr. Bartol may be described as a reverent radical, standing aloof with his church from all ecclesiastical entanglements. His particular church was the West (Unitarian) Church of Boston, of which for over half a century he was minister, during half that period being the colleague of the Rev. Charles Lowell, the father of James Russell Lowell. Though classed as Unitarian, this church consistently held throughout these two pastorates an independent attitude; its proper title was the "Independent Congregational Society." The fiftieth anniversary (1887) of Dr. Bartol's Boston ministry was celebrated by a remarkable service in which Phillips Brooks, James Russell Lowell, the Brahmin Abu Mohini Chatterj, Governor Ames, and the Rev. Drs. Cyrus Hamlin (Dr. Bartol's college mate), Collyer, Gordon, Hedge, Miner, and Ellis took part. Dr. Bartol was one

of those distinguished Bostonians whom every one wanted to see and to know. Born in 1813, his life embraced the heroic days of the great literary, philosophical, and theological giants. He was a man of many and precious friendships, of which that with Horace Bushnell is historic. The Bartol house in Chestnut Street is one of the oldest and quaintest in that thoroughfare. It was a fit setting for the slim figure, the kindly, intelligent, rather Yankee face, with its fluttering white wisps of hair. Dr. Bartol's intense radicalism was reflected in the manner of his conversation and of his preaching, his voice being rarely well modulated, either dropping into a kind of rhythmic chant or being raised into shrill tones; but in his every mood one might have applied to him his own words concerning Starr King: "He tasted the joy of constant mental activity, the sweet surprise of swift-springing thoughts from neverfailing fountains."

Colorado's Burden

Under this title the State Executive Committee of the Colorado Young Men's Christian Association has published a leaflet in aid of the "Health Farm" for consumptives in that State, which was the subject of an editorial paragraph in The Outlook of March 31. From this it appears that that paragraph attracted the attention of a reader in Hanover, Germany, Dr. Edward P. George, who began a correspondence with the Committee at Denver, resulting in his giving for the proposed object a piece of improved real estate in that city, worth some thousands of dollars. With this in hand the Committee is much encouraged to hope that its benevolent plan can be carried through. It will require about $100,000. We regard this as a matter that appeals to the whole country, from every section of which persons in the incipient stage of tuberculosis seek the Colorado highlands, thereby overcrowding the avenues of self-supporting employment and overburdening the resources of local charity. The proposed relief is both sensible and feasible—a large market-farm with moderate outdoor employment and sanitary regulation and medical supervision. The Committee's Secretary is Mr. W. M. Danner, of Denver.