The papers to' hand by the last American mail' devote many columns to the terrible disaster which took place last month at the entrance to Long Island Sound, New York, when the excursion steamer, the General Slocum, was destroyed and many hundreds of lives lost. The realistic details, so pathetic and so harrowing, donot make very pleasant reading. It is pleasant, however, taread of several heroly and unselfish acts on the part of some who were involved in the common danger, and who, unfortunately, have not been spared to know how' much their conduct is appreciated, The " Evening Bulletin" of Philadelphia, under the heading of "A Hortor and its Lesson," says The first emotion aroused by the frightful disaster which has apparently caused the sacrifice of half a thousand lives at the entrance of Long Island Sound is that of horror and pity. But while sympathy for the victims and their families should go forth in generous measure, mere expressions of sentiment, however sincere, will have little effect unless they are followed up by rigorous practical "measures to ascertain the causes of the calamity and to prevent similar crimes against humanity in the future. The word crime is used advisedly, for nothing short of criminal negligence or niggardliness could have brought about the transformation of a huge oxcussion steamer, laden with more than a thousand people, into a blazing structure of torture snd death without means of prompt relief or rescue. Somewhere the Tosponsibility for this exists; and it is first of all the business of the authorities to find out where it is and hold whoever is guilty to strict account. The next thing' to be done is to take measures to insure a greater degree of safety in the future. "Each summer, from every American city situated on a harbour or a great river—and this includes Philadelphia as well as New York—excursion steamers depart daily loaded down with human freight: In many instances these craft are old, if not obsolete. Some of them are of flimsy construction. Often they are crowded to the utmost limit by a happy, laughing throng, largely made up' of women and children—as was the case with the General Slocum. It is manifestly out. of the question to expect a holiday multitude to examine carefully into the safeguards provided if an accident happens. That is the duty of Federal, State, and municipal officials. The General Slocum had lately been i spected. Yut everything indicates that the towering three-decker' was no more thanva floating tinder box, and it is as-inserted that the life preservers' were of Morocco have been potent enough to induce him to assent td the terms demanded by the brigand, 'Raisuli,' and that the such a cheap description that they were virtually worthless, aren-where the persons endangered had presence of mind enough to put them on. Thorough investigation is required to establish the facts. But it will be a disgrace to the country if this tragedy does not result in jthe issuance and rigid enforcement of official orders which will bring and keep careless or stingy steamboat owners up to the mark. It is better to condemn dangerous craft by the dozen than to run the risk of another wholesale slaughter, The "Chicago Chronicle " calls the ill-fated: vessel" a "floating fice-trap," and uses very severe language in its reference to the tragedy. Woe take the following from its leading article It is obvious that if the New York excussion steamer General Slocum had been properly built, efficiently managed, and adequately supplied with fire-extinguishing and life-saving devices, and had not been dangerously overcrowded, the appalling disaster would not have occurred. The remarkable thing about these fearful tragedies is that the causes are apparent te everybody after the fact. Few even atrong the officers of government whose business it is to take notice of such conditions call attention to existing dangers in time to prevent catastrophes, and even such warnings as are given are likely to be unheeded. Less than six months ago nearly 600 lives were lost in Chicago in a fireproof theatre. Whatever lessons were drawn from that horror were applied only to places of public assemblage, whereas it, is plain enough that they applied with even greater force to tinder traps holding an equal number of people in equally close quarters that were designed to float on the water. Excursion-boats intended to carry thousands of people should be as carefully safeguarded against fire and panic as a theatre.
Another matter that was being much discussed in the States was the seizure by brigands of Messrs. Perdicaris and Darley, the two wealthy Americaa citizens, who have long resided in Morocco. Generally speaking, it was agreed by the Press that the situation, from an international point of view, at least, had been cleared up by the Sultan's acceptance of Rai conditions regarding' the rel two subjects. The question is discussed as to whether the Sultan was most moved by the presence' of the U. S. Squadron at Tangier, by the two unarmed marines sent ashore by Rear-Admiral Chadwick, or by diplomatic pressure from "Great Britain and France; probably: all three hud something to do with the result.
The "Evening Bulletin" of Philadelphia makes the following reference to the subject To-day's dispatches assert that the influences brought to bear on the Sultan of latter has agreed to release Ion Perdicaris'
and his stepson if this country will join with other European Powers in guaranteeing that the bargain, which is said to include the payment, of a ransom of: $55,000, will be kept. It is stated that this request will be promptly' refused by the Administration on' the ground that -it is tio part of our business' to insure either immunity or recompense' to subjects of Morocco who commit rages on Americ tizéns. Another' feature of the news is the announcement that. Admiral Chadwick has landed a force of marines in Tangier, not to protect American interests, but to safeguard the Belgian Legation' which had requested-our help." The latter move may be upheld as an example of international comity, but it seems a risky thing to.do in view of the hatred which the ical Moors regard foreigners and lity that it may be interpreted a deliberately hostile act against Morocco, As for the' refusal' of the State Department to act as the Sultan's guar-anter, no other course would have been permissible under the circumstances. To have assumed even partial liability would have been a gross blunder.
From the leading-article on the subject in the "Chicago Chronicle" we take the following short extract 'The pending trouble with Morocco over the kidnapping of an' American. citizen and of a British subject by Moroccan brigands is said to be unique in history in being the first time the United States have ever been more prompt than *Great Britain in sending warships: to. do. what: might be possible for the protection of citizens in another State. Some of the critics of the Government have been making fun of the impotent exhibition of warships blustering along the coust: when' the endangered: persons "are" many miles away in-inaccessible mountains' and in the hands of' irresponsible robbera: does look like an absurd Procesding on its face, yet if the Government had done nothing. it would': have been' roundly abused by these. same critics.' Ne doubt the astute thing to have done when these sume people were seized would have' been to pay the ransom demanded: by the robbers and then to have sent the warships with a demand on the Sultan to repay the money on pain of having a city or two tumbled about his ears by the guns of the floot. If we resort to reprisals now the. first effect would be, quite certainly, the murder of the prisoners.
Some of the papers have been druvring 8 contrast between Morocco and Colorado in view of the condition of anarchy in Which that State is plunged and in the r cording of which the appropriate heading is chosen of " The Civil War in Colorado The point is made that while Ws ashington
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.