"WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT."

"WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT."

Several newspapers are working themselves up to longwinded editorials as to the wickedness to Eli Sutton because he is giving away ex-Senator Holbrook, who is charged with a serious crime, which alleged crime aided in bringing about a miscarriage of justice in the case of Col. Sutton. These longwinded editorials have been inspired by the discovery of the failure of the old adage that there is honor among thieves. It is true, of course, that Eli Sutton has shown himself a man devoid of honor, but his peaching on Holbrook is not the principal factor in making up this count. His chief sinning is not against Holbrook. He had no honor left long before he told on Holbrook. And just why men engaged in the crooked business charged against these two men, and established against one of them, should expect any manifestation of high honor as between themselves is difficult to understand. When a man commits a crime like Holbrook is charge with to aid another criminal to escape the results of his crime, he is not entitled to the very great consideration. He places himself in the power of a criminal and becomes one himself and consequently if he is found out has little to complain about. And least of all, it would seem, has the public or the newspapers anything to complain of when scoundrels give each other away and criminals are thus brought tot book. Of course an honorable man would not do what Eli Sutton has done, but Mr. Sutton is not numbered in that class. But there is something in the old saw that when thieves fall out honest men get their dues. The officials of Ingham county seem to be availing themselves of this condition of things to aid in securing a measure of justice for an outraged public, and public journals and public sentiment should not disourage them.

It is reported that the democrats in congress will oppose a canal treaty with the new so-called republic of Panama. But such a stand will probably avail little from any point of view, except possibly the satisfaction of trying to do as they would like to be done by. Nothing is more certain than that the American people have become stricken with the disposition to be very exacting as to the means. They want the Panama canal and it is probably true that a majority are entirely willing that this nation shall set up an opera bouffe republic on the isthmus or take most any other means necessary to secure the canal. Probably Colombia, left to herself, would have found means to pacify her revolted territory, but she is afraid of the United States and can do nothing. She is not to be permitted by the United States to do anything. Of course the Washington government will recognize the de facto government of Panama as the de jure government and ultimately the Panama siste will become to all intents and purposes United States territory. The state could not maintain itself a week left to its own resources. Stripped of all verbiage, the situation is simply this, the United States has suddenly found an opportunity of furthering their own interests and they are going to make the most of the opportunity. The people undoubtedly sustain the government in its easy morality on the subject.

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The Colombians seem to have scored once at least on Washington. The president instructed our naval commanders to stop the embarkation of Colombian troops at any of the ports of Colombia - troops destined for the Isthmus. The carrying out of this order would have been an act of war against Colombia. Colombia is reported to have engaged some British vessels to  convey her troops. Washington suddenly awakened then to a condition and not a theory. The orders were thereupon changed and our commanders instructed, it is said, to use moral influences and if the troops sail for the Isthmus to follow and prevent their being disembarked in the vicinity of the Panama railroad. The first orders were of course honest and honorable in intent, but possible complications with a powerful European nation aided apparently in discovering the error that had been made. Of course all the actions taken in this Panama revolution have been strictly moral and taken solely with the intention of carrying out our treaty obligations, still, sometimes, the discovery of some other than the particular dog we expected to find in the manger, leads to a closer study of the international law involved, with a resulting advance in that science.

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The Michigan delegation in congress is reported divided pretty nearly in the middle on the Cuban reciprocity treaty question. Half of the members are said to be frightened by the bogyman and created by the greedy manufacturers, who like most other manufacturers, want the taxpayers to aid them in making a larger profit. These people declared, some years ago, that unless the legislature gave them two cents a pound they could not make beet sugar and all the money would be lost that had been put into sugar factories. The legislature gave them a cent a pound and the supreme court knocked this out, but beet sugar factories continued to increase and multiply in Michigan, notwithstanding. One of these days Cuba will be annexed to the United States and then we shall have free Cuban sugar. Does any one honestly believe this would ruin any U. S. sugar interest? The treaty gives a duty of $1.35 a hundred pounds or 68 per cent of protection, but this is not enough to satisfy the greedy ones. But if the nation keeps faith with Cuba as it is honestly bound to do, no one need except to see any diminution of sugar beet growing in Michigan or elsewhere.

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Republican opposition to the Cuban reciprocity treaty apparently has failed to muster anything like a majority in either house and consequently will lie down and let the treaty become law, it is said. This acquiescence in the inevitable is not because of any deeper desire than heretofore to keep the national pledges with Cuba, however. The radical protectionists who place their pound of flesh before every other consideration would exact it now if they had the votes. They are too much in a hurry to get rich out of taxes on the people rather than by means of legitimate profits to care very much for the honor of the nation. But seemingly the president is to prevail and a measure of our pledges to Cuba is to be granted and it is well.

Since Lant K. Salsbury has served his time for his crime against Uncle Sam, he has evinced a disposition to tell a few things about the Grand Rapids waterworks scandal and it seems this scandal is likely to outscandal St. Louis. It is said that confession is good for the soul. Sometimes it is good for the cause of justice also and this may be the case at Grand Rapids.

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It is said the authorities of Colombia are now ready to give any kind of a guarantee for the passage of the canal treaty if the state of Panama will only reconsider her stand and come back to the union she has deserted. The answer returned is that it is too late, it might have been but it is now too late. So far as Colombia is concerned she is entitled to little consideration in the matter.

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It is reported that Speaker Cannon, who for years has fought against the decadence of the house of representatives, through its subserviency to the senate, has determined, now that he is in a position where he has the power, to reassert the independence of the house and insist upon its taking the place in legislation it was designed to occupy. If these reports are true, then Speaker Cannon's ambition is a praiseworthy one, and it is to be hoped he will succeed.

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The will of William Bowers, late of Sharon township, has been filed in the probate office. In it he devises all his personal and real estate, after the debts are paid, to his wife during her life, she to care for and maintain their invalid daughter, Alice. After the death of the widow the estate is to be divided, $2,700 to the daughter, $500 to his son Elmer and the residue to be divided between the sons Elmer and George equally. Myron Pierce is named as executor.