Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1892 — Page 4

fftelemotratic Sentinel RENSSELAER, INDIANA. J. W. McEWEN, ... Publisher.

Da Pakkuubst says he believes !n fighting the devil with fire. The difficulty with this plan is that whichever side wins the public is equally in danger of harm from the victor. A day oh two ago the steamer Jay Gould was injured in a collison at the mouth of the Chicago River. If it fails to get even with the other boat some time and in some way it is •wrongly named. The Italian Government reports a shortage of 70,000,000 lires this year. If Humbert isn't too particular about his spelling and pronunciation this country probably will be able to help him out as soon as the campaign fairly opens. _« Go past any house these evenings and you will see the mother sitting on the front porch alone, rocking her baby to sleep. No one knows what would become of the world if the women should exercise their right to go down town after supper, the same as the men. When Bismarck levied his tribute on France he was accused of heartless rapacity. But Bismarck represented a victorious foreign invasion, and when he reads of the tribute levied on the coal consumers of this country by Railroad President McLeod, he may exclaim, with Warren Hastings, that he is astonished at his moderation. The output of petroleum is to be reduced, it is said, and this right on the eve of a campaign when thousands of children of various ages want to go about the streets by night with flaring torches. Here is another illustration of the grinding nature of the Standard Oil monopoly. Meantime the output of oratory is liable to increase at a rate frightful to contemplate. Soaps and cosmetics are coming forward as subjects of sanitary regulation by law. The Vienna Congress of Analytical Chemists discussed the question with reference to public baths and publicly advertised toilet articles. Whether any public regulation be practicable or not, there should be, as with baking powder, public government tests to enable the people to choose between the evil and the good. The courts decide that when Lillian Russell contracted with Manager Duff to appear on the stage in three ounces of raiment and a chaste smile of ingenuous innocence, she entered into a binding agreement and must perform, even though she is compelled to throw in certain blushes that will start a dispute on the front row as to their genuineness. Her allegation that such habiliments are contra bonos mores doesn’t go in the courts of New York.

One of England's famous admirals has just laid down as an ultimatum before Parliament the statement that England should always have a naval reserve of fifty thousand men, twenty battleships, forty cruisers, and a torpedo fleet ready to go to sea. This, be it understood, In addition to all Great Britain’s numerous fleets scattered arounfl the globe. It is evident that if Uncle Sain means "to keep step with John Bull in naval matters, he has a great deal to do and a large amount of money to spend. An Engliish clergyman recently astonished his congregation by declaring that he should feel less hurt to have one of the congregation rise in his place and declare himself insulted than to have him sit smiling in his seat. “Don't smile,” he pathetically pleaded. “That is what knocks the heart out of the preacher. Don’t pretend you like the preaching if you don’t. Don’t get up a sickly smile Over your face, and try to smile as if you were just mad. Let the madness out, and, if you like, throw a hymn-book at my head.” If there was no one present who desired at that point to take the preacher at his word and throw a hymn-book at his head it must have been because there is no sense of humor in the English breast.

There is small doubt that Palacio may be now spoken of as the ex-Pres-ident of Venezuela. The revolution in that war-worn country seems to have completely triumphed, leaving the defeated government leader in as bad a plight as Balmaceda was left in at the end of his downfall. Let us hope that Palacio will not take his own life, as the disheartened Chilian did, and that he may succeed in escaping the wrath of his enemies. It is true that he is charged with having emptied the national treasury for his own benefit, and of having forwarded his booty to foreign parts, but it will not make matters better to put him to death, as many of the revolutionists would like to do. They have gained the day, and what they should now think of is not vengeance, but the necessity of taking prompt and wise measures for the restoration of peace and prosperity to their suffering land. In the financial statement of the Yh^JtoQia&ol I team much encouragem«Jtl%?gffen to educational efforts In rap oofiafcry. It appears from the punished report that the team has a handsome surplus of $17,543 as a result of the year s work. This is estimated to be sufficient to supply the needs of the team for the next year, and that branch of the curriculum is provided for without encroaching up-

on other funds. The managers of the team are congratulated upon the result of their efforts. During the coming year there will probably be an effort to set aside a portion of the annual gains for the purpose of educating free of expense a certain number of ambitious students who might not otherwise be able to acquire proficiency in this branch of scholastics. The people of France have always been regarded as thrifty and temperate. It is painful therefore to learn, in the Paris correspondence of a London newspaper, that “drunkenness has so much increased in France of late years that this country, once so sober, is now sorely puzzled to know what to do vyith its habitual topers.” The same writer adds that the quantity of spirits consumed in France has increased enormously. The cheap bars for the working classes which have sprung up in all parts of Paris during the last year or so are undoubtedly doing much to increase the evil here. They are generally crowded, and the quantity of absinthe that is drunk in these places at all hours of the day is quite sufficient to explain the alarming increase of alcoholic madness. ” From this it appears that Paris, too, is menaced by the saloon question, and that the country of cheap wine is rapidly becoming demoralized by cheap bars. Mr. Henry M. Standby, the African explorer, who is the Unionist Parliamentary candidate for North Lambeth in the city of London, will need all the assistance which M*s. Stanley can give him to win in that peculiar constituency. The sitting member, Gen. Fraser, is a Tory. He won the seat in 1886 by a majority of 412 over Walter Wren, a popular candidate. He carried the seat in 1885 also, but only by a majority of 206. Fraser, however, was an exceptionally strong candidate and made a great canvass. It is related of him that he used to be on Westminster bridge at 5 o’clock every morning for three weeks before the election to exchange greetings with the Lambeth artisans on their way to work. Mr. Stanley will hardly do that. It is probable, too, that Fraser retired from the contest because the Liberals have gained in the constituency. They carried it at the City Council’s election in March. Mr. Stanley does not seem to have the capacity of making friends with the working people. The Tories sent him to Pembroke to woo the sailor votes there, but they would have none of him. He failed also to make a good impression in Sheffield. The Tories of Lambeth took him because they could not find another. The contest will be decided week after next. It may be that Mrs. Stanley can win the seat for her husband, but the chances are the other way.

A railway ride of twenty miles for 2 cents! That is the prospect held out by the London County Council to overcrowded Londoners who have their eyes bent longingly toward the green fields of the country. Mr. William Saunders, one of the radical members of that rather radical body, is the proponent of this scheme, which, in addition to the cheap fare, embraces another novel feature. It Is proposed that the railway, upon which the motive power is to be electricity, shall be paid for on the “betterment” principle, or, as we say here, by special assessment. In New South Wales some lines of railway have been constructed at the cost of contiguous property, but the pending project in London is the first of the kind in England. And there is as much to be said in favor of resorting to the betterment plan in the construction of a railway as in making a street or laying a pavement. The principles involved are identical. It is not likely that the Conservatives of the County Council will look with approbation upon Mr. Saunders’ proposal. They have already been horrified by certain progressive features of the Liberal and Radical programme, and t;he pending proposition will add alarm to the feeling of distress which has oppressed the Tories ever since the remarkable victory of the Progressives in March last. But the Tory minority is so feeble that its opposition to the Saunders scheme will be immaterial, and it is likely to be undertaken and pushed to success. It will certainly command the enthusiastic support of the labor element, and on that account the Liberals will find it convenient to give the project their approval and assistance. And in that event the dream of cheap fares over a railway owned and operated by the people of London will be very near a realization.

Bacchus.

The ancient Greeks always represented Bacchus and the Bacchanalians as vise-crowned. The ancients, men and gods, appear as if they could not enjoy their liquor unless they were “crowned” with some sort of flowery or vegetable coronal. Garlands of leaves and flowers were outward and visible signs of merriment and rejoicing. People liked to “dress themselves up” when they were happy with anything of this kind, just as children do now. Chaucer describes one such—“A gerlond hadde he sette upon his head, As gret as it were for an ale-stake.” This habit of crowning the alestake with leaves and flowers—putting a “gerlond” on top of it, in sort —was the first public-house sign. In many parts of Belgium, France and Germany it is the only outward sign of a drinking-house to this day. Even when modern pretentiousness has caused the host to adopt some other high-sounding name for his “hotel,” the green branch, bush or “gerjond” hangs in front “Good wine needs no bush,” says the old proverb, in alluding to this ancient custom.

A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE

BY LULU JAMISON

CHAPTER I. MARGARET. On the afternoon of a day early in April two ladies were driving along a level country road. One was evidently a stranger to the place and its surroundings, for she observed the scenery with curious interest, and frequently questioned her companion about the persons and residences they passed. The other, who drove the handsome bays with an unmistakable air of proprietorship, was an old resident. She had found her way to this small but pretentious town some years before, and, building a handsome homo, had since devoted her energies, supplemented by the magical influence of money, to gaining an entree into its exclusive society. Both were deep in conversation, when a turu in the road brought them face to face with a young girl riding. Mrs. Downs was in the act of checking her horses, but the newcomer, as though quite unconscious of aDy such intention, nodded indifferently and rode on. “The proud piece,” commented the slighted lady, endeavoring to hide her chagrin. “Who is she?” questioned her companion, glancing after the rider with some curiosity. “Miss Leigh. You remember I pointed her home out a few moments ago.” "Ah! Then she’s the heiress?” “Yes, an heimess now, though a year ago 6he was poorer than her own cook. I never could tolerate her, but I manage to keep up a show of friendship. She’ll be one of the leaders of society here when she gets rid ol' her mourning.” The speaker concluded this remark with a very visible frown. She was forcibly reminded of her own doubtful position and her inability to disregard any person or thing that could contribute to her social advancement. Annexation was indeed a burning question with her. and while she found her dollars an important ally, her lack of a presentable grandfather was decidedly a drawback in the furtherance of her ambitious aspirations. “A graceful rider and quite a pretty girl," remarked ‘her companion, breaking in upon these unpleasant reflections. “Where did she get her money?” “From her uncle. The case is altogether peculiar. It seems that her father was disinherited for marrying contrary tb his father's wishes, and her uncle, being the only other child, came in for all the property. A fortunate thing for him, as you say, though, apparently, he had some scruples about enjoying his good fortune, for his father was scarcely buried before he began to search for his brother. “Yes, he found him dying, I believe, in some obscure California town. Miss Leigh came to Elmwood. That was five years ago, and now she has inherited all of her uncle’s money. He died last October, and his son ” “His son! Youdon’ttell mo he has a son.”

“He certainly has. lam not surprised : at your astonishment. It seems almost impossible that a father could enrich a niece at the expense of a son, yet that is what Mr. Leigh has done. “The young man gets something, of course. Two thousand a year, I believe. A small sum in comparison with the whole.” “A very unusual case. Pei haps he intends the young people to marry.” “Perhaps, but as they have never seen each other, the result is scarcely probable. The son has liecn in Europe for the last five years. He was considered quite wild, I am told, and lie and hi 6 father quarreled frequently. No doubt, that fact had some connection with the terms of the will, but, I think there was undue influence somewhere ” With this broad accusation the subject was allowed to drop. Meanwhile the object of these remarks was pursuing her way homeward. Mrs. Downs’ companion had called her pretty, but the word scarcely did her justice. Her face, while lacking perfection of feature, was singularly winning and attractive. If the mouth were a trifle broad, the full red lips with their expression, half pleading, half imperious, made ample compensation. If the nose deviated from the straight and perfect line, the fault was forgotten in the clear contour of the beautifully molded brow, the liquid depths ot the clear gray eyes, and the sweet personality beaming from the expressive countenanco. Absorbed in thought of an unpleasant character, as evidenced by her very perceptible frown, she rode on, quite lost to her surroundings, until her horse, through force of habit, rather than the guiding hand of his mistress, turned into a broad elm-lined avenue, and she looked up in some surprise to find herself at home. Ten minutes later she had divested herself of her riding habit, and made her way to her sitting-room. A bright, cheeiful apartment whose tasteful furnishing revealed something of the individuality of its owner. “I was sure I should find you here,” she said, approaching the old lady established before the;glowing fire, and laying her cool hand against the warm, smooth cheek. “I’m afraid I shall have to assert some authority. You should be enjoying this delightful weather, Miss Hilton.” “I dare say I should,” was the agreeable reply, “but you see I’m lazy, my dear. I’ve had a nice nap. Did yo'a ride alone, Margaret?” “Yes. except for my thoughts. I had a whole host of them for company. Really, I’m as cross as a bear." “I am sorry to hear it. What have you been thinking of?” “Oh, everything. Papa, grandfather, and yes, and this' hateful money. ” “Hateful, Margaret? Then you don’t share the world’s opinion of that useful article.” Margaret drew a chair close to Miss Hilton, and seated herself upon it, as she replied. “Not the world that Mrs. Downs represents. I met her a while ago. She wanted to stop, of course, but I just rode on. Awfully rude, wasn’t it? I couldn’t help it. I detest her. She wouldn’t care a snap of her finger for me if I were poor, but simply because Oh! I hate such people! Thadk heaven, I’ll soon be away from them for awhile. I told you I was cross, Miss Hilton." “I see it, my dear,” was the half grave response. “Have you quite decided to

go to that outlandish place?* “What a doleful expression. If that outlandish place means Siasconset, I'm afraid I must plead guilty to such a dreadful decision, and t think I shall find my experience both novel and delightful. 1 mean to do just as I please. Take another name and forget Margaret Leigh entirely. I'm tired of her.” “Poor Margaret Leigh. I fear you don’t appreciate her; and since you are quite determined to go to that land’send of creation I suppose the best thing for me to do Is to hope you won’t regret it.” Margaret laughed at this view of the matter. “You see, lam not looking for beaux," she said, with mock gravity. “I’ve always liked old men better than young ones. I’m sure those delightful old fishermen will suit me immensely. Besides, I’m tired of civilized life and shams generally, so I welcome something genuine for a change. I suppose you think I have a very carping disposition, but I do so want to air my grievances. If it were not too undignified I should like to lie on the floor and scream. ” “Don’t do so, my dear. The doctor is right. You do need a change. I don’t recognize my old Margaret. ” “A flattering way of expressing an unflattering opinion,” laughed Margaret, giving Miss Hilton’s hand a rebuking little pat. “I am growing degenerate, am I not? I feel outrageously reckless to-day. I have a most overpowering desire to shock this prim and severely proper neighborhood. Don’t look so reproving, Miss Hilton. You couldn’t, scold if you tried, and I’m afraid I take advantage of that knowledge. You* expression reminds me of Mr. Webb. He was dilating on my grandfather’s virtues this morning—to me, of all people, mind you!—when I stopped his eloquence, and horr.fled him In the bargain by saying if my grandfather was a specimen of the good men, I preferred the bad. I do, too. I don’t believe that because a man goes to church every Sunday and occasionally puts his name to a subscription list, where It can be seen and read by the neighborhood, that he is entitled to any admiration on that account. “Don’t scold me, please, Miss Hilton. I know such feelings are neither kind nor just. I try so hard not to have them, but when I think of papa I ” She paused abruptly, her face and voice filled with emotion. Miss Hilton stroked the bowed head with an infinitely tender caress. “I would be the last to blame your loyalty to your father,” she said gently, “but I wish you could forget." “How can I forget?" was the tearful answer. “How can I forget the poverty and want that embittered my father’s life and caused my mother’s death? If you had known papa as I did,” she continued, more quietly; “if you had understood his hopes and ambitions; if you had seen how his sensitive nature shrank from hi 6 uncongenial surroundings, or guessed how his heart longed for the sweet peace and restful influence of home, you would be unforgiving too. His father deprived him of all that made life worth living. I can never forget that. The time has been when I felt hard and bitter to all the world, because one man had been so cruel to him. The money I enjoy now would have made his life so different. It is so bard for me to think of this. I know I shall regret all my life that uncle found us too late. All these thoughts rush over me when I think of my grandfather, and then I feel inclined to express my opinion strongly. “You can’t understand my bitterness because you are always easy and gentle. I don’t believe you could be angry if you tried; but I have a very Are of passion in me, and it flares up on occasion. “Let us talk of something else. Did I tell you of my letter from Cousin Brian? No? I intended to. It came after luncheon. I wonder he cares to write to me. Ye 3, I know I wrote to him first, but I felt called upon to do that. I was so unhappy over the will that I wanted him to know how I rebelled against it with all my soul. You remember what a candid, generous letter he wrote in answer. This letter is equally characteristic. He tells me he is coming to America soon. Do you know, I am really anxious to see him. ” “I am sure you will like him,” pqt in Miss Hilton, with suspicious haste. “I confess I always had a tender place in my heart for Brian. He has some excellent traits, despite his shortcomings. He lost his mother when he was very young, poor boy, and his after training was left in the hands of servants, and »as not very judicious, as you may imagine.” “He and uncle quarreled a great deal, didn’t they?" asked Margaret, after a thoughtful pause. “Yes, quite often,” was the answer. “Brian spent money more freely than his father approved. Your uncle once remarked to me: ‘lf Brian were not sure that I would pay his bills he would be less industrious in making them.’ I think he was rather anxious for him to marry and settle down to the practice of his profession. He could not tolerate a man with no occupation. ” “I agree with him there,” returned | Margaret quickly. “I perfectly abominate a man without ambition. If I had a husband of that disposition I’d make h’m do something or I wouldn’t have i him around me.” “Still,” she added more thoughtfully, “uncle need not have disinherited him |on that account. Such a course seems to be a peculiarity in this family. It j humiliates me to fed that my coming ] here had anything to do with it.” “I am sure your mere coming had not, 1 Margaret. Your uncle evidently had j some good reason for his action. I think he believed that leaving Brian an in--1 come sufficient only for the necesities of j life would morally force him to use his | own exertions to secure the luxuries he prizes. You can see the force of such an argument.” Margaret shcok her head unconvinced. “The argument and reason may be ; good,” she agreed, “but I don’t care to j be the instrument for the working out of the benefit. It makes me feel responsiI ble for my cousin’s inconvenience, and j I hate it.” “You allow pride 1o blind your judg--1 ment. Your regret is quite ineffectual. You couldn’t, if you would, return the money to Brian, unless ” “Unless what?” Miss Hilton hesitated. “Unless you marry him.” Margaret flushed at these words. “He is not the kind of a man I admire,” she returned after a thoughtful pause. “Indolence and want of ambition ure not commendable characteristics. I i fear I should become disgusted, or he would, which would amount to the same | thing. Try to think of some other plan, j Miss Hilton; and while you are puzzling your dear old brain, I’ll answer some letters. And do forget the things I’ve said. I’m always repenting of something I’ve said or done. I can’t afford to lose your good opinion. ” With these words Margaret left the room, and Miss Hilton’s eyes followed j her with a very loving glance. “Dear Margaret,” she said gently. i “Dear, dear child.” |TO RE CONTINUED.]

M’KINLEY AND MARS.

THE MAJOR WILL ASK THE MARSARIANS QUESTIONS. .Enormous Profits or tho Sugar Trust— Precarious Labor Situation— Bitter Reciprocity Prult—The Tariff Tax on Sugar Is Downright Robbery. Mars to Be Interviewed. Apropos of the announcement by Edison that it may be possible to converse with the inhabitants of Mars, when that planet in August approaches to w.thin about 40,100,1)00 miles of our humble sphere, Major McKinley has prepared a set of questions which he hopes tho inhabitants of Mars will kindly answer in time' for campaign purposes here this fall. McKinley’s absolute faith in “protection.” with its reciprocity safety valves, as the promoter of N civilization and the forerunner of the millennium, coupled with the fact that the Marsarians, because of the age of their planet and the engineering feats apparently accomplished there, are supposed to have evoluted past our present stage of development and to have settled certain scientific, moral and political questions that are now tormenting our little immature minds, has led him to attempt the novel plan of going to Mars for campaign material. The following are some of the questions now ready to Are at the unsuspecting Marsarian statesmen: 1. 1 am Major McKinley, author of the McKinley tariff bill—of course, you have protective tariffs thero? Yes. 1 supposed so, I wish to ask a few questions in regard to protective tariffs. 2. Are those big marks which cross the surface of your planet at right angles at intervals of every few hundred miles really canals to facilitate communication and commerce, as our free trade astronomers suppose, or are they immense tariff walls to obstruct trade and foster home industries? 3. Do you make your tariff walls strong, high and absolutely prohibitive, or do you leave reciprocity holes in the back door for the benefit of foreigners, who will open similar “oat-holes” in their walls? 4. Do you put a high duty on wool to make it dear, and on tinned plate to make it cheap? 5. Do you take duties off of sugar because they are taxes upon the consumer and leave them on steel rails because they are taxes upon the foreigners? 6. I suppose each division on your planet lets in a few foreicn goods—just to give foreigners an opportunity to pay its taxes. Can all countries get rich in this way? What ones can? 7. Do you ever admit that the consumer pays any taxes at all? 8. Do you encourage manufactures ! by putting a duty on raw material. 2. Are your manufacturers grateful i tor the protection they get, or do you | have to “fry the fat” out of them every ] campaign? 10. Have you a “Fat Fryer’s Guide”— that is, a list of protected millionaire . manufacturers like our New York Trib- ; une has published to aid in raising cam- I paign funds? 11. Do you not find that competition will lower prices faster when restricted to small countries than when spread over the entire planet? 12. Do your protected manufacturers ever form combines or trusts to prevent competition, restrict production, raise prices, lower -wages and bring your whole protected system into disrepute. 13. Do these trusts, then, begin to sell goods twenty-five or fifty per cent, cheaper to foreigners than in your “protected home markets,” depending upon the tariff to prevent home consumers from reimporting these goods? 14. Do you ever aid manufacturers in ! selling cheaper to foreigners by paying drawback duties—i. e., refunding duties paid on raw materials, when such materials are being exported in a manufactured form? 15. Can you keep the farmers in line by giving them all of the bogus protection and shoddy reciprocity they want, while their farms are declining in value and are mortgaged to death? 16. Do you succeed in getting the people to believe that you are making nearly all of your own tinned plate and employing thousands of American workmen, when you are really only making one per cent, of all, anil this mostly frofn imported plates and by imported woAmen? 17. Do you keep men on the free list and succeed in making laborers believe i that they are protected by a tariff on what they consume? 18. Why is it that labor in unprotected industries always gets better wages and has steadier employment than labor in protected industries? 19. Here in the United States we have protection against the pauper labor of j Europe; but, strange to say, in Europe : the low-wage countries all have protec- : tion against the high-wage country— England. Have you got a good argument to explain away this apparent inconsistency? Do you have the same trouble on Mars, or do the facts there fit the protective theeory? 20. Is cheapness a curse? 21. How do you make it appear consistent to encourage inventions to make things cheap and protection to avoid the curse of cheapness? 22. Wouldn’t it be better to destroy machinery, railroads and ships in order to prevent cheapness and to provide more employment for labor? 23. Is it possible that trade is beneficial—that is, to both parties? 24. What is your remedy to prevent 1 wage-reductions, strikes and lockouts in protected industries in the midst of a Presidential campaign? 25. Have you ever increased the num- ! ber of your millionaires more than 10,000 per cent, in any thirty years of protection, as we have done? Getting there, aren’t we? 26. Do you allow any but millionaires in your Cabinet and Senate? 27. Do the: poor there really make laws or only obey them? Some of these questions may seem trivial or even silly to your advanced minds, but pleasedo not neglect to reply promptly on that account, for we want to enlighten the free-traders here before November, and some of them don’t yet understand first principles such as protection taxes the foreigner.

Sugar Trust Profits.

■ If there is one duty more than any other that is at present utterly without any reasonable excuse for existence it is the duly of one-half cent per pound on refined sugar. Th's duty is producing no revenue to the Government hnd serves only the one purpose of increasing the profits of the sugar trust, which even without it would be enormous. Nowhere can sugar 'be refined more cheaply than in the United States. The cost of refining sugar is about onehalf cent per pound. Keeping these facts in view it is easy to see that the sugar trust is making as great profits now as it did before the duty on refined sugar was reduced and the duty on raw j sugar abolished. The following from ] the New York Daily Commercial Bulle- i tin of June 21, 1892, explains the situa- I tion: “The capitalized sugar trust is Dot engaged in the production of raw sugar; it is a refiner only. Its profits, therefore, must be made out of the difference between the price at which it sells refined sugar and the price which it pays for the raw material. When this differtao<» increases the profits of the trust

increase. There are three ways of increasing this difference: by depressing the price of raw sugar, or advancing the price of refined, or by both depressing the price of raw sugar and advancing the price of refined. What plan has been pursued? “In 1886 and 1887 there was active competition between the refiners of the United States. In the latter part of 1887, however, the trust began operations. A comparison of the situation in those years with that prevailing now will show how the trust operates. Excluding the amount of, the duties paid upon raw sugar from both the price of raw and refined, we find the following results: The prices for 1886 and 1887 are the yearly averages. * Present 1886. 1887 prices. Cents. Cents. Cents. 96 centrifugal, per lb 3.948 3.120 3.125 Granulated 8.856 8.715 4.37 S Difference 608 .596 1.250 “These figures show that'in 1886 and in 1887, when competition was free, consumers paid less for refined sugar, after deducting the tax paid to the government on account of the duty than they do now under the domination of the sugar trust. ” Supposing that the cost of refining sugar wai average 6-10 cent per pjund, after allowing a fair profit, it is seen that the trust is now making sixty-five hundredths cents on every pound of sugar refined. As the per capita consumption of sugar in the United States is between sixty and seventy pounds, the trust’s extra profits exceed $20,000,000 per year—more than $15,000,000 of which is directly due to this absurd tariff on refined sugar. It is said that in this case it is political cowardice in both the House and Senate that prevents the removal of this unjust duty. Whether true or not the charge is being made that the Republican Senate would not pass a free sugar bill because it would then lose the heavy contributions which the sugar trust is expected to make for the coming campaign; and that the Democratic House dare not pass such a bill because it would only be pigeonholed in the Senate, and give the Republicans an excuse for demanding an extra large campaign fund from the sugar trust, and also that it might cost them the loss of Louisiana's Presidential electors. The people will accept no such flimsy excuses, but will hold both parties to a strict accountability of the trust which rests upon them.

Bitter Reciprocity Fruit.

One hundred years ago Thomas Jefferson declared for “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations—entangling alliances with none.” It is probably due to the observance of this principle that the United States has had almost continual peace with the rest of the world. Recently, however, there has been a departure from this maxim. The reciprocity clause, engrafted into the McKinley bill, gave our President the extraordinary power to declare discriminating duties in favor of certain countries. It was pretended that this reciprocity clause would open new markets for farm products, but as the President is practically restricted in his reciprociiy negotiations to the agricultural countries and islands of the western continent, it is evident that no important benefit from such treaties can come to the American farmer. Moreover, no benefit can possibly be given by it to the American consumer, because the President is not authorized to reduce taxes on any article, but only to levy taxes on tea, coffee, sugar, and hides. While, therefore, no benefits can accrue to our people from such reciprocity treaties, it is possible and even probable that great harm will be done to trade and commerce by the retaliation almost certain to occur from nations discriminated against. Indeed, this unamerican reciprocity tree is already beginning to bear bitter fruit. Our trade with Canada exceeds our trade with all the other countries on the western continent, and our privileges of transportation over Canadian soil and through Canadian canals are almost invaluable. According to the treaty of 1854 the citizens of the United States have had the same privileges of the Welland, St. Lawrence and other canals in the Dominion as the inhabitants of the Dominion have had. Since the United States has discriminated against Canada in favor of certain South American countries and has refused to negotiate reciprocity treaties with Canada-, the latter has shown her Western spunk by compelling United States vessels to pay heavy tolls when they pass through the canals and water-ways of the Dominion. President Harrison, smarting under this sting of retaliation, has now sent a message to the United State* Senate virtually asking that he be authorized to further discriminate and retaliate against Canada by having the power to suspend and to prohibit the right of free passage through the St. Mary’s Falls Canal, so far as it relates to vessels owned by Canadians or subjects of other Governments discriminating against the United States. A bill has already been introduced in the Senate authorizing the President to levy tolls upon freight passing through this canal, not to exceed $2 a ton, and upon passengers not to exceed $5 each. Such spiteful maneuvers as these remind us of times not entirely past in half-civilized countries, when nations made war against each other because of the personol quarrels between their kings or other members of their royal families. But the fun has only just begun. We will more fully appreciate the benefits of reciprocity and retaliation when our commerce with Canada has been entirely suspended and our army has been called out to protect “our rights” upon Canadian waters.

Wage Redaction in Iron Mills.

The following from the Iron Age, of Juno 23, 1892, will give some idea of the enormity of the wage reductions proposed by the iron and steel manufacturers and presented in the form of an ultimatum to the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers: The pfice for bar rolling and heating, 2,240 pounds to the ton, has been cut down from 70 to 50 cents on a 2-cent card; for boiling from $5.50 to $4.50; for rolling common iron on plate mills, from 72 to 50 cents. Put in tabular form some of the reductions appear as follows: HEATING SLABS AND SHINGLING. Shingling, 2,240 pounds. Card Rates— Old rate. New rate. 2c bar iron (re-hammered) $0.75 $0.50 3c bar iron “ .91 .65 2c bar Iron (charcoal) .82)4 .62)4 3c bar iron • “ l.oi .82)4 Heating 2,240 pounds 2c bar Iron $0.75 $0.50 3c bar Iron 1.00 .70 GUIDE, 10-INCH HOOP AND COtTON-TIE SCALE. Sizes— Old Rate, New Rate. 7-32 rounds and squares. $7.63 $5.70 9-32 “ *• “ 6.15 3.15 6- half round 9.50 4.35 94 and )sQval 8.50 3.20 NUT I BON. Old Rate, New Rate. 27-64x)4x1-16 $12.50 $6.63 27-C4X9-64 10.00 4.80 15-32XK 4.70 3.60 19-32XM 4.25 3.10 CHANNEL IBON. 2 Inch and upward, base $2.90 $2.18 9ixs-16 and lighter 7.70 3.50 94x5-16 and lighter 9.50 4.30 T IBON. l’v and upward $3.20 $2.40 1)4 4.70 3.50 CLIP AND WAGON STBAP. 94 $3.20 $2.30 7- 4.10 2.55 5-16 7.09 3.40 TEN-INCH HILL. 94 oval, $3.50 $2.47 94x3-16 and heavier 8.20 2.18 There are 300,000 blind people in Europe.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

As an example of the extent to which tipping prevails on the Continent.it is interesting to learn that porters in Swiss hotels are not only paid no wages but themselves pay a rental to the innkeepers. They make their living, and a good one, exclusively from the tips given them by guests. The “water kings” of Montana are not the creations of fairy fancy. They are real men who have got possession of the springs and make fortunes out of irrigation. General Dyrenforth, with hi 3 patent rainstorms on the cloud-rob-bing plan, wouldn’t be a drop in a, bucket compared to the bosses of high springs on the hillside. Sooth Africa has been scourged by a locust pest, and considerable damage is still being wrought. A swarm of locusts crossed over one place in a column over six miles wide; clearing pretty much everything before them. The mealie crop in the Orange Free State has been destroyed by the locusts, causing a loss of over $1,000,000. “The State of Massachusetts,” says “Our Dumb Animals,” “has spent over SIOO,OOO in trying to exterminate the gypsy moth near Boston. All of which might have been saved by a proper protection of our birds. The moth is not exterminated and we may yet be compelled to ask the English sparrows to aid us as they did years ago.” A man living at Burke, Yt., has saved all the maple sugar he has made in the past fifty years, having now on hand a considerable quantity of the boiling of ,1842 and his entire crop of every year since, the whole aggregating 10,000 pounds. It is all stirred sugar, and has kept perfectly. Nobody knows why he hoards the sugar, and he offers no explanation. The amenities of French political life were recently illustrated in the Chamber of Deputies on a proposition that the funeral of the late. Deputy Madier de Montjau should be at the public expense, when Deputy Cassagnac expressed a desire to have all of his Republican colleagues disposed of the same way and Deputy Doumer declared that they wereanxious to vote a public funeral for Deputy Cassagnac.

Some very eminent physicians hold that cancer is caused by grief, anxiety or disappointment. The disease is frequently linked with insanity. All thisgoes to show that the mind very largely controls the body. When the mind suffers tho body is affected. Napoleon’s, cancer of the stomach is supposed todate from his disappointment at Moscow, when he realized that his campaign wasan utter failure—an irreparable disaster. The Duke of Portland, who is one of the richest noblemen in England, has. just added 20,000 acres to his shootingpreserves. The Duke has, now 80,000’ acres, or 125 square miles, reserved solely for the use of his gun. He believes in doing things on a large scale. His town-house extends along nearly the entire side of Cavendish Square, and “Welbeek,” his seat in Nottinghamshire, is said to be the finest woodland domain in England. Australians have had bitter experience of the mischief which rabbits arecapable of doing, and now they seem likely to have trouble of a similar kind from the introduction of foxes. An Australian journal, says that foxes have already spread over a wide area, and aremost destructive both to lambs and poultry. They attain greater size and strength in Australia than in England, and the mild climate is highly favorableto the increase gs their numbers. “It must be very disheartening,” says the writer, “to all who have stock of any kind to lose, to find themselves confronted by some new enemy introduced by thoughtless or selfish persons. If some energetic steps are not soon taken, nothing can prevent the spread of foxes over the whole continent.” A railroad manager who hopes someday to see a secretary of railways in the National says “I believe that there is as mueh public need for a department of that kind in the executiveadministration as there is need of a post-master-general or a secretary of agriculture.” This idea carried out would put such a secretary above the railway commission, and the railway manager’s idea is that the president would appoint a mau of national reputation and great ability in railway affairs as his secretary of this department. All complaints of shippers, railway passengers, and matters winch could not be adjusted _in traffic associations could be finally appealed tothe department of railways before being taken to the courts. With the 175,000 miles of railway penetrating every section of the country, citizens are about as closely related to their railroads as they are to their post offices, and this, asserts the Boston Transcript, would give them the same kind of administration for both. A remarkable illustration of what can be done at a pinch in the way of rapid shipbuilding has just been fumnished by the well-known firm of Y T arrow & Co. of Poplar, London. The French Government was in urgent need of a light-draught gunboat where with topunish the rebellious Dahomeyans, but none of the home ship-yards would contract to build one in less than threemonths. The Poplar firm undertook the job, and in twenty-three days designed, built, launched, and fitted out th* Opale, a steel craft which is described as a model of simplicity and completeness. A hundred feet long and eighteen feet beam, she carries on a lower deck, forward, a wood-consuming locomotiveboiler, her engines aft driving two powerful paddle-wheels fixed astern. Quarters for the crew, and half-a-dozen holds for stores and munitions, complete this part of the vessel, which is strongly braced amidships and along the whole length with iron stays. On the upper deck are the Captain’s and officers’ quarters, and on both decks are stands for seven quickfiring guns of the mitrailleuse class. At her official trial the vessel made over ten miles an hour without any perceptiblevibration. She is flat-bottomed, draws only eighteen inches of water, and is capable of carrying 400 troops.

Currant Leaves for Tea.

Currant leaves were extensively used in the South during the war as a substitute for tea. The leaves were picked from the bushes, Vere rolled up by hand and dried by a slow heat, and, and, when mixed with a small proportion of genuine tea, made a passable substitute for the real article. Some persons used the currant tea without mixing it, and it was said to have some of th 4 pleasant effects of the genuine leaves, but that it could not have been entirely satisfactory was demonstrated by the quickness with which it was dropped when the war came to an end. —[St. Louis Globe-Democrat. - Buenos Ayres, Argentina, is going extensively into the manufacture of agricultuxal in> pieman ts.