The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1904. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 265, 12 November 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1904. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

By the vote of an overwhelming majority of the people of the United States Theodore Roosevelt enters upon a second term of occupancy oi the White House. The election for this, the highest gift in the power of tho State to bestow, is now practically completed, and on ■this occasion the election of the President and Viee-Presidenit holds for us more titan tine passing Interest attaching to an ordinary election taking place in a foreign country. '• The domestic politics of the people of the United States of America have at the present time an interest land a significance that did not belong to them, in our estimation, even a very few years ago. But the unexpected and rather surprising obtrusion of the Government into the domain of world-wide politics, consequent on the recent war with Spain, the remarkable personality of the President now at the head of affairs, and, above all, the friendly attitude both of President and people to ourselves, have drawn thei two great English-speaking nations together in a remarkable degree. The unparalleled economic development of the States, very much accentuated of late, has also directed our attention I to our kinsmen, and many commissions and independent observers have inquired into their industrial and educational methods, with good effect, both in the learning of many , good lessons, and in the promoting of good and neighbourly feeling. Of the rival candidates, Theodore ' Roosevelt, the present holder of tne high office, is pretty well known, even to the most casuul reader, having by » circumstances and character impressed himself deeply upon the pages . of history. A comparatively young man of 47, his early career was of a kind to givo him not only a good insight into politics and administrative Government, but also experience of useful and vigorous country life. This somewhat raro combination for an American enabled him, with great credit, to go to the front, when the war broke out with Spain, as colonel of a corps of Rough Riders, which did excellent service in Cuba, and then placed him at once on his return from the war in the important position of Governor of the State oi • New York. Not a long time elapsed before he was elected Vice-President, with William McKinley, who was chosen President oy the Republican party in November, 1900, four years . ago. The assassination of McKinley by Czolgoz at Buffalo, in September, 1901, placed Roosovelt unexpectedly ' at the head of affairs, and a few short years have •ufliced to bring him into tho front rank of contempor- ' aneous public men as an administrator of rare ability. His opponent, Alton B. Parker, quite an unknown man outside a small circle oi lawyers end New Yorkers, is 52 years of ago, and for twenty years hasl reposed as Judge in the quiet precincts of the New York State Court of Appeals ut Albany, 150 miles from the city of I New York. Mr. Parker also effects a country life, having a farm on the banks of the Hudson River, where he spends much of his leisure time. But lie is chiefly supported by the Democratic party -because he has no political history, just as Rutherford B. 1 Hayes was in 1876, and the others before and since,—a negative quality that often, as in the case of the present Pope, places an almost obscure man in the highest and most coveted position. Tho election of tlie United States President and VicoPresidwit is a proceeding very mysterious to us, founded as it is on the very remarkable provisions of the Constitution, carried out by highly organised party warfare, i n a mun- _ nor equally remarkable. The result however, of this organisation of purl ties is that when the election time comes there are practically only tlie nominees of tho two great political parties to choose from, so that when the final result is known, in the present case it can only be Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks, of Indiana for President and Vice-President, on the one hand, and Parkei- and Henry . 0. Davis, of West Virginia, for the - same offices, on the other. It is a remarkable tribute to President -Roosevelt that lie should have been again returned to high office, in s spite of the objections, 0 n principle g of many Americans to a second-term 1 resident. However, we are satisfied that the country will be worthily represented. It is a matter of'note that In a country remarkable for iu- » stances of flagrant municipal corruption the high offices „f the Stale and above all, the important office' o President, have he™ filled invari- - ably with men of the highest public integrity and unblemished private character. Such a ,-ecold durinjr periods of great political upheaval and stress is a fine augury of future good government, and shows how broadly and deeply the Englishspeaking elements of the United Mates have laid foundations of their great Republic, and how, in the exf callent years to come these elements 5 will tend to friendly a nd ■harmonious relations with their progenitors. NOTE AND COMMENT. The Daily Chronicle has a long article on the terrible THE DRUG evils of tho drug HABIT. habit in its various forms. Cocaine and • - morphia aro apparently still the ' popular poisons, though physicians I are constantly being called upon to deal with new und perhaps more • insidious drugs. Brain workors are ' especially addicted to the " needle ■ habit," as it is called, but this is, comparatively speaking, an arlsto-

cratic vice. The abuse of chlorodyne is more widely spread. In every case the effect is the same. The drug is taken at first to ease pain, hut it ia merely a palliative, not a cure. The lirst dose leads to the second, and in time the victim cannot exist without his soothing "medicine." Nervous and physical breakdown is inevitable, and moral degeneration follows in a grfut number of cases. Among society women, says the writer, arsenic is in great vogue, largely on account of its "beautifying" effects. Those who are more concerned with brilliancy of conversation than of complexion give the preference to sulvolatilc ami ether. Ether drinking as a secret drug habit is especially popular in London, and during the season large quantities of the mixture are sold. The rapid exhilaration produced by either compounds, and the transparent complexion of the arsenic taker are paid dearly for by the physical ailments that ensue. Another addiction is the ginger habit. Essence of ginger is a formidable preparation ; almost double the alcoholic strength of ordinary brandy or whisky. Many whose digestions have been already impaired by alcohol find the effect of this fiery mixture curiously soothing. Yet while it deadens the gnawing pain and promises relief, it is all the time aggravating the morbid condition. A comparatively new drug habit, which is becoming frequent among harassed brain-workers is chloroformlsm. The drug is slowly inhaled, and the dreamy forgetfulness, the sense of pleasant languor begotten, followed by complete oblivion, has a wonderful fascination for those suffering from insomnia or worry, Sickness and depression are the immediate penalties exacted, and if the habit is persisted in an inflammatory condition will supervene which ends in death. The writer strongly warns the public against, the use of coal tar derivatives, such as antipyrin, phonacetin, and sulphonal, which arc taken to combat headaches or insomnia. They should be sold as poisons, he thinks, and should be used only on the direct instruction of a medical man.

It is more than two centuries since the little Spatjish THE PORT OF port of Vigo last VIGO. attracted worldw id e attention, and, ominously enough, that was when Admiral Rooke's fleet attacked and utterly crushed a Spanish squadron. History relates that in 1702 the War of Succession was in progress, and for four years Spain had dared to trust her American treasure fleet on the high seas, which were patrolled by tho British and Dutch war vessels. At that time, however, Spain depended very largely upon the mines of tho New World for the means of Maintaining her empire, and it became imperative that money should bo obtained, and the treasure fleet was therefore ordered to sail from the colonies under French convoy. It was on Sept. 21, 1702, that it slipped in Vigo Bay. There are two harbours at Vigo, an outer ■und an inner one. The inner harbour is reached from the outer one by a comparatively narrow channel. The galleons were is the inner harbour. Across the narrow channel between two points a boom barricade, made of chains and trunks of trees, was stretched, and on the two points there were weak forts. For u month the treasure-laden galleons lay in safety, while the Spanish authorities of Cadiz wrangled with the authorities of Vigo as to landing the treasure. Cadiz claimed the right to handle royal treasures from America, and the Madrid Government ordered ihe landing of the gold and silver to be stopped. Finally, on Oct. 23, the combined British and Dutch fleets sailed into the harbour, landed 4000 men, and captured the forts, broke through the boom barricade, and caplured nine galleons. The rest of the treasure fleet the Spanish burned, succeeding in landing only a small pant of the treasure, most of which was stolen in the confusion. One of the British prize galleons went on the rocks and sunk while she was being taken out of the bay. The value of the treasure that was on board the twenty-Oiree galleons is variously estimated, but the gold and silver now at the bottom of the sea is said to be worth twenty-eight million sterling. The money value is certainly not so much. The whole cargo was probably worth £10,000,000. Of this the Spaniards secured perhaps £1,250,000, while the Dutch and British fleets took away about us much more, leaving treasure to the value of £8,000,000 at the bottom of the bay. Attempts have been made at various times to raise this sunken treasure, and a French company, in 1868, managed to raise a small quantity of gold and silver ingots, and at the present time a British company is endeavouring to recover the treasure. It was reported some months ago to have raised one galleon, containing silver to the value of fieQtOOO.

ON THE FOURTH PAGE. Cricket. Commercial. Theatre Royal. Divine Services. Magistrate's Cotirt. Ki'iuberley Siege Babies. Waitara West Road Board,