Foreign.—The Peace Conference, or the conference of representatives of the powers for the purpose of discussing the possibility of limiting the amount expended in the future for navies and armies, will meet at The Hague, on May 18. . . . It is reported that the rebellion in Venezuela has been practically killed. . . . Recent developments in Germany tend to show that the power of the Centrists (Catholics) in the Reichstag is rapidly increasing, and that now they are really the ruling party. . . . A report from South America to the State Department at Washington states that 600 were killed in the battle which closed the rebellion in Ecuador, and that several hundred more were mortally wounded. . . . Severe fighting has taken place between the Turkish troops and Arab tribesmen at Shalil, Arabia, in which the former lost 160 and the latter about 300. An insurrection against Turkish authority has been in progress there for the last ten months.
England's immense expenditures for military and naval affairs have occasioned a deficit of $20,000,000, which will have to be met with additional taxation. . . . The English Government is planning to send a sufficient force to the Soudan to effectually dispose of the Khalifa, and operations to this end have already begun. . . . Germany is introducing a new experiment in the field of taxation. She proposes to create a discriminating tax upon stores. The larger stores dealing in several lines of merchandise will be compelled to pay a larger tax than the smaller ones. Rent, the number of employees, and the number of different lines of trade engaged in, will determine the amount of this tax. In some cases it will go as high as twenty-five per cent. of the profits of an establishment. . . . The strike of Russian students is assuming alarming proportions. The most influential universities, academies, medical schools, art and mining schools, and institutes of engineering are in the strike, and are upheld by their teachers. The disturbance is spreading to the provinces, and so serious is the strike considered by the Russian Government that a council of ministers has been held to consider what steps should be taken. . . . It having been reported that the Japanese Government has planned to adopt Christianity as the State religion, Japanese officials are taking pains to state that Japan contemplates nothing of the kind, but that all religions shall be on an equal footing in Japan so far as the government is concerned.
Italy has decided to send three more war ships to influence the Chinese in reference to her demand for San Mun Bay. This will make eight war vessels despatched for that purpose. The Italian minister has renewed the demand of Italy, presenting it virtually in the shape of an ultimatum. Italy has recalled her minister, evidently on account of dissatisfaction for the way in which he conducted these negotiations. . . . The British minister at Peking has warned China that Great Britain will not permit her to repudiate her railroad contract with English subjects, and at the same time assures China of England's support in the event that another power should attempt to compel her to repudiate such contract. . . . Reports from the northern part of India state that Russia is pouring troops into her posts on the Murghabi River, between Chinese Turkestan and Afghanistan, for the purpose of seizing a large portion of territory which has not been closely delineated in boundary settlements. It is expected that the seizure will bring about complications between Germany and Russia. . . . The Russian Government is continuing to pour troops into the Liatong peninsula, stationing them at Port Arthur, Talien-wan, and in the adjoining districts, which is supposed to be the prelude to a further seizure of Chinese territory. . . . The Italian minister of foreign affairs has announced that Italy's course in China is supported by England and Japan. . . . Professor Falb, a well-known Austrian scientist, whose predictions in regard to earthquakes, tidal waves, and heavy storms, have had remarkable fulfillments, predicts for the last of the present month earthquakes and destroying hailstorms; for July and August, a tidal wave, destroying the eastern coast of the United States, and that Florida and California will at that time become islands, from a submarine earthquake. He predicts that on November 13 the earth will come in contact with a comet, and will be partially if not wholly destroyed.
Domestic.—The heaviest storm in the history of the snow belt was reported from Michigan on March 12. Eight feet had fallen, and all trains were blocked. . . . . Damage claims have been filed against the State Department at Washington amounting to $21,000,000, on the score of losses sustained by American citizens in Cuba during the war. Such of these as are legitimate will be paid by the United States Government as provided in the Paris peace treaty. The United States transport Meade sailed for Cuba on March 11, having on board the $3,000,000 to be paid the Cuban troops. The weight of the metal is forty-eight tons. . . . Two miners near Denver, Colorado, were imprisoned by a slide in the Bon Air Mine on March 9. Food, water, and an electric light were lowered to them through a ten-inch water pipe, and a shaft through 400 feet of solid granite is being sunk to release them. The work will take two weeks. . . . A new rifle has been tested by the government representatives at Washington, and is said to have given entire satisfaction. It is a magazine rifle, and is so arranged that the whole magazine can be emptied by one pull of the trigger, or it can be fired as slowly as desired. . . . Dr. G. K. Huber, of Ann Arbor University, Michigan, has made the important discovery that the blood-vessels of the brain, as well as of the rest of the body, are controlled by the nerves, and he has discovered the nerves which control the brain's blood supply. It is expected that this discovery can be made of practical use in preventing headaches. . . . Five Indian "sisters" of the American Catholic order of Sacred Heart have been ordered from Cuba by Archbishop Chapelle, the papal representative recently appointed by the pope to investigate Catholic affairs in Cuba. The expulsion of these women is declared to be due to the fact that they belong to an order which is purely American in its ideas and management. . . . The village of Henson, Colorado, is being terrorized by a mob of Italians who have broken into the National Guard armory and appropriated the arms and ammunition. Six of their number were being held prisoners without bonds for blowing up a schoolhouse, in the attempt to kill the teacher, who had jilted one of them. . . . The United States Government has announced its intention of maintaining a "disinterested neutrality" in reference to Italy's course in China.
Casualties and Calamities.—Five persons were killed and forty injured in a railway collision between two excursion trains near Rakaia, New Zealand, on March 12. . . . A terrific hurricane recently swept the Northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and reports bearing date of March 13 state that 400 colored persons and 11 whites lost their lives. . . . The new Atlantic steamer Castilian, from Portland, Maine, for Halifax, N. S., was totally wrecked off Yarmouth, N. S., on March 12. Her crew and passengers were rescued. . . . The following statement has been issued at Washington, showing the total number of deaths reported to the War Department from May 1, 1898, to February 28, 1899: "Killed in action, 329; died of wounds, 125; died of disease, 5,277; total, 5,731." . . . . A storm and tidal wave which recently swept the coast of Corea, entailed the loss, it is reported, of fully 2,000 lives and an immense amount of property. . . . A mass of rock overhanging the village of Rucuerja, Spain, fell on March 9, destroying many houses and killing eleven persons. . . . Evidence has been found to show that the terrible explosion at Toulon, France, reported last week, was the deliberate work of unknown assassins. Dynamite cartridges of a foreign make have also been found in close proximity to other large magazines. . . . The tug-boat Bowen was lost off the coast of Virginia on March 8, with a crew of twelve men. . . . Nine persons were drowned by the capsizing of a pleasure yacht at Brest, France, on March 8. The party included five French military officers. . . . In the recent storms on the Atlantic it is believed that ten freight steamers have gone down. They have been practically given up as lost, with their crews, amounting to over 300 persons. These vessels and cargoes are valued at $2,500,000.
New Trusts.—Strong efforts are being made to effect a combination of the big boot and shoe manufacturers of the country, and also a combination of the shoe leather interests. . . . The cast-iron trust, foreshadowed some time ago in these notes, is now an actuality, the biggest concern of the country in that line having pooled their interests. The capital employed is $30,000,000. . . . Several of the large railroad companies have formed a kind of trust in order to free themselves from the domination of the car-building trust, and are planning to build their own cars hereafter.
Cuba.—It is reported at the War Department that the deaths for the month of February in Havana are fifty-one per cent. less than for the same month last year. . . . There is considerable trouble in Havana, occasioned by the course taken by the Cuban Assembly in repudiating General Gomez and declaring him a traitor for accepting the payment of $3,000,000 from the United States for the Cuban soldiers, and agreeing to disband the army. The people, disgusted with their Assembly, are indulging in loud demonstrations favorable to General Gomez.
The Philippines.—The transport Grant has reached Manila, having on board General Lawton, with one regiment and one battalion of regulars. . . . The American soldiers were received with friendly demonstrations by the inhabitants of the island of Negros, when they landed and took possession of that island on March 4 . . . . An advance move was made by General Wheaton's division against the Filipinos on March 13, in which the latter were driven back upon the village of Pasig, which was captured by the Americans on the following day, with the loss of three men killed and fourteen wounded. The Filipinos lost thirty killed . . . General Otis has forbidden the Spanish in Manila to continue negotiations with the Filipinos for the release of the Spanish prisoners. Aguinaldo demanded $7,000,000 for their release, and the Spaniards were planning to pay a large sum for this purpose. General Otis's reason for stopping the negotiations was that this money would be used by the Filipinos to strengthen their opposition to the Americans. . . . The town of Pateros was taken by the Americans on March 14, and destroyed. There was considerable fighting, and some loss on both sides.
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WONDROUS LOVE
This beautiful piece of music which first appeared in the Centennial Number of this paper is now published in sheet form. An attractive cover has been added, and the price placed at twenty-five cents post-paid.
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AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
By Editor
JUST FROM THE PRESS
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279 PAGES
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AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
A profusion of unique illustrations makes this book very attractive at first sight; and the interest thus aroused is maintained by the intensely absorbing subject matter of the volume, until every page is read. Social conditions as therein depicted must be a revelation to many readers, and effectively verify the prophecy of our Saviour, "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
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The Desire of Ages
By Editor
A Most Wonderful Book
It is a surprise and delight to all. It has been, and is, a blessing to every home that it has entered. In it are to be found wisdom, strength, and great spiritual blessings. Here the child of God will find help for the perilous days that are before him. You can not afford to be without it.
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"THE TRUST DISEASE."
UNDER the above caption the New York World says:—
"In the course of a discussion of the trusts from the Wall Street or purely financial standpoint in the Evening Post on Saturday these statements were made:—
"That the output of new trust stocks and bonds last year was upward of $1,000,000,000.
"That for the first two months of this year the output was $1,106,300,000.
"That the indications are that the total output for this year will be six times as great as it was last year—upward of $6,000,000,000.
"That as a typical illustration of the rapid growth of monopoly and the rapid decline of individual enterprise, Chicago had no more business firms in 1897 than it had in 1870; tho in those twenty-seven years its population had been multiplied by eight.'
"The trust, therefore, is undermining the financial as well as the political health of the nation."
The foregoing are among the astounding facts that are before us to-day. If any man had said ten years ago that men could combine such vast amounts of wealth into large trusts before the end of this century, he would have been laughed at. It would have been thought out of the question altogether. And yet God ventured the prediction nearly two thousand years ago that in the last days men would heap treasure together. Read the fifth chapter of James and see how clearly and how literally it tells what is now to be seen all about us in the great amassing of wealth.
Take My Heart, O Christ My Saviour.
3 Lord, my sins are nigh o'erwhelming,
Yet thy promise is for me,
And my heart I lay before thee,
Let thy blood now make it free—
And thy Spirit stealing o'er it
Makes e'en my poor heart to shine:
Take, O take it, Lord, and keep it;
Make it holy, Lord, like thine.
Copyright 1899, by C. A. Smith.
4 Take my heart, O Christ, my Saviour,
Let thy Spirit's mighty power
Make it fit to witness for thee,
Every day, yes, every hour:
Let thy Spirit brooding o'er it,
Firm thine image there impress,
Till my every word and action
Tell of Jesus' righteousness.
Can't Be Elected without It
Can't Be Elected without It.—There have been various attempts at reform legislation at the California capital this winter, but there are some bad things that can not be spared yet. One of these is the custom of treating during election campaigns. Mr. Caminetti introduced a bill making it unlawful for a candidate for office to "treat" any one by buying or giving away any cigar or intoxicating beverage. In the language of one reporter, the bill was "buried deep under a shower of disapproving votes." One prominent senator said he would not respect such a law if it were passed. Others declared the measure idiotic; but the climax of opposition came when one senator said there were districts in the State where no man could be elected unless he spent "treat" money among his constituents. So, despite the claim that "this is a Christian nation," King Alcohol maintains his influence in the distribution of official honors.
THE GOOD WORK GOES ON.
By Editor
THIS morning's mail (March 14) brings us orders for 5,876 copies of the resurrection number of the SIGNS. We received orders for several thousand yesterday. This is what we like to see. Let them come.
Make up your mind at once to have a part in the work of circulating this valuable number of the paper. Order a supply at once if you have not already done so. Single copy, 5 cents; sent in quantities to one name and address in lots of 5 to 24 copies, 2 cents each; 25 to 99 copies, 1½ cents each; 100 copies or more, 1¼ cents each.
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The Gospel of the Kingdom
"This Gospel of the kingdom," that the Lord says "shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24 : 14), is the pure Gospel. It is not a man-made gospel, nor man-devised theories about the Gospel. But it is "this" Gospel, that is, it is the Gospel that Christ Himself preached. Indeed, there is no other gospel aside from the one that He taught and that He still teaches to-day through His Word. The Lord's Gospel is a Gospel of power, and it can be carried only by the mighty power of God. It does not need to follow in the wake of armies. It needs no political machinery to bolster it up, or to lend it power, or to open the way for it. "The Gospel of Christ" is of itself "the power of God unto salvation." Rom. 1 : 16. Then, since the Gospel of Christ is power, if there is not enough power in the gospel you have, it is because it is not the Gospel of Christ.
Resurrection Number for Friends
By Editor
Any one desiring to have the resurrection number sent to five or more names may send the names to us, with pay at the rate of 2½ cents each, and we will send the papers to each address, post-paid. This gives an excellent opportunity of placing this valuable number of the SIGNS in the hands of your friends at a distance. SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Reviewing Our Past Hours
'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to heaven.
—Young.
CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.
By Editor
Poetry.
Father's Voice, MRS. B. A. WILSON . . . . . 2
Alone, A. F. BALLENGER . . . . . 5
Through Peace to Light . . . . . 5
Who Calls for the Children? . . . . . 9
The Sabbath . . . . . 2
General.
Memories of Galilee, GEO. A. SNYDER . . . . . 1
Mystery Series, No. 4, JOHN ORR . . . . . 2
The Angel's Promise, ELIZA J. BURNHAM . . . . . 2
"The Lord Knoweth How," J. E. EVANS . . . . . 3
Studies in Galatians (Gal. 4:7-31; 5:1), E. J. WAGGONER . . . . . 4
The Inconsistency in Church Life, E. P. COBURN . . . . . 5
Outlook.—Christianizing Influence—"Three Runaway Boys in the Potrero Arrested on a Charge of Burglary"—Nearly a Billion in a New Trust . . . . . 8
Missions.—For Childhood's Sake, MRS. E. A. CHAPMAN—Gospel Openings from Loving Ministry, DAVID PAULSON, M.D.—Hindu Life and Character—Our Work and Workers . . . . . 9, 10
International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons. . . . . . 11
The Home.—A Revival at the Rilldale Church, A. SMITH 12, 13
News and Notes . . . . . 14
Publishers . . . . . 15
God Makes Saints from Sinners
"God . . . has made apostles and saints out of men and women that the world would have thrown away as rubbish. Why, the whole New Testament is just a record of that: Peter, the weak and wayward; Mary Magdalene, the defiled; Zaccheus, the worldly; Thomas, the despondent; Paul, the persecutor and blasphemer. What God could do in the first century He can do, He is doing, to-day."
