that the growth of humanism is more rapid than the progress of industry? The most amazing advance of the last century is the evolution of the sense of brotherhood, though this may sound strange to one whose attention has been occupied with our marvelous material progress. Mr. James' gloomy prophecy has no sufficient justification in contemporary conditions, but is rather the fancy of a morbid mind. The present troubled state of the social body is not the sign of dissolution but of growth, which in every organism is accompanied with pain and disintegration. FRANCIS L. FERGUSON. VI. THE PANAMA CANAL. STRAITS are defined to be narrow passages of water communicating from one sea to another. If ever completed, the Panama Canal will be such a passage; and the rules of international law which govern the navigation of straits in general will apply to the navigation of this artificial strait. The only modifications will be such as may be necessary to the recognition and protection of individual or corporate rights, incident to proprietary interests. It is a rule, then, that when the navigation of the two seas is free, the navigation of the channel by which they are connected ought to be free. And this is true although the connecting channel be bounded on both sides by the territory of some sovereign, and so narrow as to be easily commanded by cannon shot from both sides. In such cases, the territorial jurisdiction of the sovereign is modified by the right of other nations to pass from sea to sea. But this right of other nations to pass from sea to sea is limited by the inherent right of the sovereign State through whose territory the channel passes, to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to its safety. And this may, in certain cases, amount to positive prohibition. Thus, although the passage must remain free to private merchant vessels, it may, as a matter of right, be declared closed to all public armed vessels. And since this is a right incident to its sovereignty, the State owning the territory through which the channel passes may enter into alliances to enforce it. Another rule is, that the State owning the passage may exempt its own citizens, and those of its ally, from all tonnage or other dues, without thereby invalidating its right to withhold like privileges from the citizens of all other nations. Thus, the Republic of Colombia, which owns the Isthmean Transit, has guaranteed "to the citizens of the United States all the exemptions, privi"leges and immunities .. which are now enjoyed, or may hereafter "be enjoyed" by its own citizens; the consideration being the efficient guaranty of the neutrality of the transit, and of Colombia's dominion over the territory through which it passes. [Treaty 1846, art. 35.] The Colombian Republic, in the legitimate exercise of its sovereign right in the premises, has even gone beyond this. In the treaty referred to, it " guar"antees to the Government of the United States that the right of way or tran"sit across the Isthmus of Panama, upon any modes of communication that now exist or may be hereafter constructed, shall be open and free to the Gov "ernment of the United States." No conditions whatever are imposed. With respect to the United States Government, the right of passage is absolute; and the only condition as to its "citizens" is, that they pay the same dues, etc., as do citizens of Colombia [Ib. Id.]. If, therefore, our Government should claim the exercise of the right thus conferred, by claiming the absolute freedom of the canal for its war vessels, is is difficult to see upon what grounds a reasonable objection could be raised. And if, in virtue of this treaty right on the one hand, and of Colombia's inherent right on the other, the two nations should declare the canal closed, as a matter of right, to the war flags of all other powers, upon what principle of public law, or according to what international precedent, could European powers object? It is wholly improbable that any formal protest would follow; because it would be not only an unwarrantable intervention in the affairs of the American Continent, but an open violation of European precedent. No two principles are more permanently incorporated into the public law of Europe than the one which excludes foreign war ships and the one which admits foreign merchant vessels to the waters of straits. This is illustrated by the diplomatic annals of Europe during the past half century. The Treaty of Adrianople, of 1829, distinctly proclaimed it. Russia, and the powers at amity with her, were admitted to the navigation of the Black Sea, while the entry of all foreign war vessels into the Straits of Constantinople and the Dardanelles was prohibited. By the Treaty of London, in 1841, the entry of foreign war ships into those straits was again prohibited, although the waters of both were declared open to merchant ships of all nations. By the Treaty of Paris, in 1856, when the Black Sea was made neutral, it was declared open to merchant vessels of all nations; but its waters and those of the straits leading to it, were declared closed to all foreign war vessels, except those of the allied powers. And again, in 1871, when this treaty was modified by the London Conference, “the principle of the closure to war vessels" was "maintained," and "the right of the allied powers to agree to the harmless use" of those straits by war vessels of other nations was conceded. Nor would the exercise of this right by Colombia and the United States conflict with any vested rights of the Canal Company. In her concession to that company Colombia nowhere assumes an obligation that war vessels of other nations shall be allowed to pass the canal. It is merely stipulated that when such vessels are allowed to pass, the company may fix the rate of tolls; and it is competent to Colombia to declare that "when." [See Concession of 1878.] But suppose the contrary were the case, and that Colombia had obligated herself to the company to allow such vessels to pass, the grant would necessarily conflict with a prior concession to the United States, and would be, for that reason, simply null and void. [See Treaty of 1846, New Granada and the United States, art. 35.] Again, our obligation to maintain the neutrality of the canal implies the right to the use of all the means necessary to that end; and this implies the right to establish naval stations and dockyards contiguous to the termini of the canal whenever, in the judgment of the two allied powers, that shall be necessary. If, therefore, in contemplation of emergencies likely to arise, Colombia and the United States should enter into a supplemental agreement whereby the former shall cede to the latter, for a valid consideration, suitable sites for the purposes indicated, the transaction would be clearly within the scope and meaning of the existing treaty. This treaty (of December, 1846), whereby we guaranty the neutrality of the Isthmus and the sovereignty of Colombia over it, was entered into by the United States with great reluctance. We were then in our national infancy, and fears were entertained by some of our ablest statesmen of that day that it might involve us in some vexatious international complications. So deep-seated was this feeling at one time that, even after the treaty had been ratified, the Executive Department, at the instance of the Panama Railway Company, committed the blunder of asking European powers to join in the guaranty. Fortunately, however, the proposition was rejected; nor is it likely ever to be renewed. Lord John Russell, speaking for the English Government, declared "the sole guaranty by the United States ample for any emergencies likely to arise;" and a similar expression was elicited from the French Government. If, therefore, our sole guaranty was deemed ample for all practical purposes thirty years ago, when our population and material resources were little more than half what they are now, it ought to be deemed ample still. These are understood to be some of the salient points heretofore contended for by the United States Government, with respect to a water transit of the American Isthmus. They accord with European precedent in like cases, and are deemed essential to our safety against possible enemies. They are in perfect accord with our earliest traditions, and are supported by the concurrent interests and desires of our sister Republic of Colombia. We ought, therefore, to be fully prepared to maintain them at whatever cost. WILLIAM L. SCRUGGS. LOTTA AND HER MOTHER. A newspaper reporter recently passing along Broad Street, in Philadelphia, overheard the following dialogue between two coachmen, sitting in their coach boxes, whips and reins in hand, at the curb in front of the Lafayette Hotel: "Did you see that little woman jumping into that coupé ?" "Well, what of it?" "What of it? Why, that is the great Mrs. Crabtree, mother of the famous actress, Lotta!" This brief conversation led the reporter to look in the direction of a vehicle rapidly moving along the center of the street, when a smile and nod of recognition came from the lady, to whom an introduction had once been given, but, without knowing the relationship or anything more of her than her name the name had almost been forgotten. Now, there was a suggestion of a newsy article in the dialogue just listened to, and a call was at once made on one of the hotel attachés-one of the courteous kind-who, knowing many people and many things of interest about them, are always willing to communicate. Questions, the reporter's privilege, developed a series of facts of interest to the public, chief of which was that Mrs. Crabtree is a thorough-going business woman, and that her ability as a manager has been one of the chief factors in the phenomenal success which Lotta has attained. She is a lady of wide culture and intelligence, and, having spent much of her time in travel, she has broad views of men and things. Mrs. Crabtree is a woman of great wealth; she invests her means in all parts of the country. Just now she is investing a large amount of money about fifty miles from New York City, in the beautiful Highlands of New Jersey. The mansion and grounds are calculated as the home for Miss Lotta and her nother when they shall retire from public life. The long, low, rambling edifice is to be called "The Ranch," and will be furnished regardless of cost, every article to be of American manufacture. Lotta and her mother are devoted to each other, and they are each other's almost inseparable companions. They are great favorites among all the people about this hotel. As to Mrs. Crabtree's knowledge of the stage and its demands, she counsels with no one but Lotta, making good the reverse of the adage, "What is everybody's business is nobody's business." Her tactics are calculated to attract the attention of the public at all times in ways it least expects, and so she is constantly investigating new fields to further her work. One of her cardinal beliefs is that health leads to prosperity and wealth. When Lotta was indisposed, about two years ago, it was through the researches of Mrs. Crabtree that she was taken from her physicians in New York and brought for treatment to Philadelphia. She often speaks of the wonderful restoration of Miss Lotta, which prevented disaster to her company and a great pecuniary loss to themselves. Thus much and more the reporter gleaned at the Lafayette Hotel, when the thought came, Why not go direct to Miss Lotta herself, and have a talk with her, for whatever she may be willing to say will at any time be welcomed by the newspaper-reading public, especially in this city, where she is a great favorite? So a call was at once made upon the little lady. This was excusable for the reason that it had been a two years' wonder to the amusement-loving public how Lotta could be so sick that while one of the theatres where she was engaged was compelled to close for one week, at the end of that time she was well enough to resume her play of Nitouche. More than this, it had been noticed that her voice had acquired fresh volume, and that in Nitouche, which is a singing play, she could be heard in ensemble as well as in solo. It was at the residence of Mrs. James H. Heverin (wife of the eminent counselor-at-law) that the little lady was found. She was spending the day there with Mrs. Heverin, who is one of her special friends. A cordial welcome was given, and in the presence of her hostess, after the usual formalities of a visit were complied with, the subject of her health and the means of its restoration were broached, and she was asked to tell the story. "Oh! yes," she responded, "most gladly. You may remember the terrible sore throat I had two years ago-that it baffled the skill of my New York physicians? After burning my throat, and positively prohibiting my appearance before an audience for an unlimited time, I was promised great things if I would try the 'Compound Oxygen,' so I immediately came to Philadelphia, and put myself under the care of Drs. Starkey & Palen." "Did you experience relief immediately?" "It was evident from the first inhalation that I had done the right thing, for the Treatment seemed to bring the whole trouble under immediate control." "Then you do not favor burning the throat or any of the methods usually resorted to?" "No. I think it a harsh and cruel treatment, and it cannot be long before Compound Oxygen will come to the rescue of all the profession." "Drs. Starkey & Palen claim that the health obtained by the Compound Oxygen Treatment is as genuine and permanent as one's original health. Does your experience confirm that opinion?" "Yes, it most certainly does. I have not been sick an hour since I used the Oxygen. My mother has also been greatly benefited by the use of the Oxygen, and is as great an enthusiast as I. It seems to invigorate the whole constitution, and imparts fresh life to every part of the body. In my profession I am always studying from nature. I observe the expressions, gestures, and ways of the various people with whom I meet, and find that my power of observation has grown more acute and discriminating since my treatment with the Oxygen. In the voice alone there is a most perceptib'e gain. Long and sustained notes have become easy, and whether talking or singing I find it now no labor, Persons who sing cr talk much on the stage or platform feel a certain amount of exhaustion at the end of the season, and to them the use of the Compound Oxygen would be of great value. I wonder these gentlemen have not brought it to the notice of the acting profession before. It is just what we all need." "Do you think it would have the same effect on the system as change of climate?" "Yes, and without the disadvantages of long journeys in pursuit of health, such as the loss of home comforts and the interference with regular business pursuits." "Did you have any unpleasant sensations while taking the Oxygen?" "No, on the contrary, the sensations were pleasant." "Do you give your full consent to make this interview public?" "I certainly do. You are at liberty to say I said so." Among all the gifted ladies who adorn the stage Lotta is decidedly the pet and favorite. Her intense vitality, her beauty, and the versatility of her talents, and, above all, her nobility of character, draw all classes to see her. She is modest about her own merits. She believes the test of talent is public appreciation. Surely no one has passed this test with greater éclat than this gifted lady. Her wide travel and facilities for learning of the latest results of scientific research in the healing art make her judgment and her experience of the merits of Compound Oxygen a valuable guide to others who may need like aid. Some may wish to know something more of this new remedial agent, and may care to read what the physicians who administer it have to say about it. We find the following statement of the theory and mode of operation of Compound Oxygen in one of their recent publications: When the life-blood has made the circuit of the arteries and veins-before re-entering the heart, to be started on its circuit anew--it spreads over the surface of the air-cells of the lungs-a surface greater in area than the exterior covering of the body. Here the air inhaled by the lungs meets it, changing its color to crimson, and imparting to it new vitality. Here kindly Nature has been ever a Healer and Repairer; here modern science finds the proper place to help Nature in the most effective way. Taking the fact that the usual proportions of the mixture of the clements of the atmosphere are the proportions exactly adapted to the needs of the average body in health, and seeing that an extra effort is needed for the sick to repair the waste of vital force in the blood, a different proportion is made in a mixture of the atmospheric elements-a lesser quantity of Nitrogen is put with a larger portion of Oxygen. When this Compound Oxygen' is used, the blood enters the heart with increased vitality. That organ receives a portion of that vitality from the blood in its passage, and sends it forth with more force and less wear to itself; the vital currents leave on their circuit new deposits of vital force in every cell of tissue over which they pass, and return again to the lungs for a new supply. This simple statement is a rational explanation of the greatest advance that medical science has yet made." "Compound Oxygen-its Mode of Action and Results," is the title of a volume of nearly two hundred pages, published by Drs. Starkey & Palen, 1529 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa., which gives to all inquirers full information as to this remar able curative agent, and a large record of surprising cur wide range of chronic cases-many of them after bein doned to die by other physicians. It will be mailed fre address on application. ACCIDENTS are always happening to those who "DON'T TRAVEL MUCH" as well as to those who do. THE QUIETEST PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN are as liable as any others to the thousand hazards of life, from morning till night, at home or abroad. To such, an Accident Policy Costs but $5 per Year for $1,000 Insurance, with $5 Weekly Indemnity. ISSUES ALSO THE BEST and CHEAPEST LIFE POLICY in the WORLD! Indefeasible, Non-Forfeitable, World-Wide. |