Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 October 1889 — Page 4

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL,- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1889.

THE DAILY JOURNAL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1860. WASHINGTON OFFICE 013 Fourteenth 8t P. S. nriTn. Correspondent Telephone Calls. Umlneo Offlce 238 1 ElltorUl Room 243 TERMS OF SUIISCRITTIOX. DAILY. BY 1IL, One year, -without Fnn&ay $12.C0 One year, with Sunday.... 14.00 Blx months, without Snnrtay H.OO Ptx month, with hunrtaj-... . 7.00 Tbree months, without Sunday 3.00 Three month, with fcuoday 3.60 One month, without fundaj.. ........... ....... l.OO One month, with Sunday 1.-0 DellTered by carrier In city, 25 cents per week. WIKKLT. Per year.....; tl.00 Reduced Rate to Clubs. Pnbflcrlbe with any ol out numerous agent, or aend iubcnpUoiii u Uio JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY, itoiaxapous, IM). All communications intended for publication in Oii paper must, in order to recette attention, be accvm pan ied by the name and address of the writer. THE rMJlAJSAFOLlS JOURNAL Can be found at the following places: LONDON American Exchange In Xurop, 449 Strand. PABrs AmTlcn Exchange la Part, 35 Boulrrard oee Capncinea. KEW YCBK OiIey lloue ana Windsor Hotel. PHILADELPHIA A. pTKemble, 8735 L&D carter avenue. CHICAGO Palmer Rouse.

CIK CTKXATI J . P. Ilawier A Co.. 154 Vine treat. LOTJISVILLE-C. T. Deerin. northwest corner Third and Jefferson atreet. BT. LOXJIsTjnlon Newi Comptaj, Union Depot and Southern iiotei. WASHTNGTOIT, D. O Biggs Rouse and Ebbltt House. "Now that I am back, and am your leader again, I promise you myeteffort, and If yon will stand by me as before, I promise yoa thiat when the a moke of battle roll away we shall again be found triumphant." Sim Coy to the local Democracy, in. his speech accepting a renotninalion for Council. Huebah for the Indiana man at home, In tho White House, or in the North west! The result in Montana will bo to make the Australian ballot law more unpopu lar than ever in the Democratic party. And still tho organ of personal holi ness neglects to say that the saloon tax "will not be repealed should its ticket bo elected. The stench of the last Democratic ad ministration of city affairs compels both of the present organs of Democratic re form to hold their noses. The one thing in the coming election that would make tho Evening News un happy enough to go out and commitharakari would bo the defeat of Sim Coy. Tiie Australian ballot law works a lit tle slowly in Montana, but as tho later returns add to the Republican majori ties there is no good cause for complaint. TnE Republicans and decent Demo crats of tho Eighteenth ward should spare no effort to defeat Coy. His reelection would bo a disgrace to the city. Secretary Blaine makes a pretty good speech, too. Tho ability to say the right thifag in tho right place is one of the admirable characteristics of this ad ministration. Indianapolis has never had abetter Mayor than Denny. General Coburn' will make fully as good a one, and his best friends could hardly ask for higher commendation. TnE efforts of the News to identify Sim Coy with the Republican party re semble the violent contortions of a very jtmall insect tugging at a very large chunk of carrion. Montana democrats claim tno gov ernorship; but with a Republican Con gressman and tho Legislature safe no one will grudge them one little tidbit in tho four new States. Havtxq distinguished itself by a vio lent attack on those chief Democratic strongholds, the saloons, subsequent events relating to tho election interest tho Sentinel no more. The Sentinel washes its hands of the city campaign, and tho Democratic committee wash their hands of the Sentinel. It seems to be a kind of hand-washing arrangement all round. Iris whispered that Judgo Sullivan would be quite well pleased with tho South Side if it were not for tho people there. He drove through in a close carriage, and rather liked tho looks of the streets. Editor Fkexzel has sufficient influence with the News to prevent it from jumping on to him for acting as a member of the school board arid voting on contracts with a corporation from which he draws a large salary. That Mississippi Senator who proposes to introduce a bill making Wgroes ineligible to State ot3ces is wasting his time. This ineligibility is already unwritten law, sternly enforced at the muzzle of tho "Winchester. Tue News lifts up its little head again long enough to shriek that President Harrison did "pardon" Coy from corrupt motives, although it insists that editor Holliday's motives in signing Bernhamer's petition wero white as snow. Bah! Colored people are pretty numerous in this part of Indiana, but an inspection of the State Auditor's tabulated statement of voters shows that there is room for more. And, by the way, the fewest are found in counties where the Republican vote needs to bo increased. TnE evening organ of Democratic reform advises the Democrats of tho Eighteenth ward, who nominated Coy, to disappoint "the Republican gang" by defeating him. At the same time it says the Republican gang is opposing Coy's opponent, Mr. Shufclton. Funny, isn't it! Tiik Democratic record on the question of increasing the saloon tax is not much better ip the Legislature than it is in tho City Council. Out of fifty. 6even Democrats in tho House, thirtyeight voted against the bill, while every Republican in the House voted for it. A number of Democrats voted for it, fully expecting it to bo defeated in tho

Senate, as it came near being. It passed

the Senate on the last day of tho session, only six Democrats voting with the Republicans for its passage. The Democrats filibustered against it as long as possible, and camo near killing it. After it had passed, Green Smith attempted to make a defect in the title, and Democrats are Bt ill assuring saloon-keepers that the law will bo held unconstitutional. They wero bo ashamed at a few members of their party voting for a just and right eous measure that they have been apolo gizing for it ever since. SPECIAL TAX LA-SAND CITY EEVENTJE. Since the enactment of the 00 cent tax limit the city has been hard up for rev enue. That law has been in force twelve . ... . . years, bince it was passed tho valuation and assessment of city propery have been greatly reduced and its revenue in proportion. At present the total revenue from property tax is only about $400,000 a year against 775,000 be fore tho 90 cent limit law was passed. With this greatly reduced revenue and tho city constantly increasinginextentand population, ithas been very diflicult for it to live within its income. Tho problem for years has been how to meet current expenses and make necessary improvements and repairs with the greatly reduced revenue. That this has been done and very valu able improvements made is greatly to the credit of those who have had tho management of city affairs. In recent years the meager revenue and the impossibility of increasing the tax rate, which on tho whole has proved a wise and beneficial provision, has suggested efforts to increase tho revenue from other sources than property taxa tion. One of these much discussed is special licenses. In many other cities this is made a sourco of considerable revenue, special license taxes being imposed on various occupa tions and lines of business, on vehicles, etc. From licenses alone Boston gets 025,000 a year; New York city, $1,000,000; Brooklyn, $500,000; Buffalo, $203,-. 900; Chicago, $2,000,000; San Francisco, $465,000; Detroit, $175,000; Milwaukee, $250,000, Kansas City, $152,000; Omaha, $247,000; St. Paul, $90,000, and many other cities in proportion. Some of these returns include saloon tax, while others do not. They . all include special licenses, vehicle tax, etc. Mayor Denny, in a message to the Council in January, 18S8, after discussing tho tax rate, said: It is hoped that the General Assembly, which meets one year from this time, will pass some special tax laws that will materially aid the city daring the coming year. The question of passing a bill irnposinga higher tax on saloons will, of course, be one of general interest and effect throughout the State, and it will pa98 or be defeated without reference to what you or I may say. But there is a statute much needed which, I believe, you can materially aid in securing. I refer to a law authorizing you to impose a special license or tax on vehicles, to be used iu repairing our streets. The law as it now stands neither imposes such a tax nor authorizes you to do so. except on the few that carry passengers and freight for hire. A strong ellbrt was made by tho Mayor and other olilcials of this city four years ago to secure the passage of such a law, but it met with no favor among our members. I beliove those who wear out the streets should at least keep them in repair after the abutting property-owners have once built them. W ith a vehicle tax sufficient to keep our streets in repair, and as much more to go into the general treasury derived from some other ppecial source, tho city could probably get along without au increased property tax for years to come. Just before tho meeting of the last General Assembly tho Mayor invited the Marion county delegation (all Democrats) to meet the legislative committee of the Council and Board of Aldermen to discuss this and other questions relating to city affairs. They did so. Tho principal matter discussed was an increase of revenue by means of a special license law. The necessity of a vehicle tax was especially urged. City Attorney Taylor said it would yield about $20,000 a year. Other features of such a bill wero discussed, and it was thought a favorable impression had been made on the members-elect of the Legislature. But if any impression was mado it was very fleeting. It ended then and there. The Marion county delegation spent their time in political wrangling, and tho special-tax bill was never even introduced. They could not be induced to give the subject any consideration. They were too busy attending Democratic caucuses and working up political schemes. At present they are all engaged in abusing the city government, and shouting for Democratic reform. A QUESTION 0P $40,000 A YEAR. The Sentinel says tho Democracy aro not in favor of a repeal of tho saloon tax. Perhaps they aro not in favor of an entire repeal. of. tho tax, but they are in favor of putting it back to $100 a year. Every Democratic member of tho Council voted against increasing tho tax to $250 a year, and a majority of tho Democratic candidates aro pledged to voto for a reduction if elected. The repeal of tho present ordinance and the reduction of the tax to $100 a year is one of tho main objects of the present campaign. Saloon-keepers who havo paid the tax, and who have also been assessed for tho Democratic campaign fnnd, so understand it. Tho managers of the Democratic campaign 6o understand it. Mr. John P. Frenzel, financial director of tho campaign, supervisor of assessments and dfsburser of funds, so understands it. Tho Democratic committee, who compelled the Sentinel to relieve them from all responsibility for its attack on the saloons, so understand it. Everybody who knows anything about the Democratic plan of campaign knows that tho reduction of tho saloon tax is an assured fact in tho event of the Democrats getting control of tho Council. It is on tho basis of this assurance that the Democratic managers have assessed tho saloons for a campaign fund, and it is with this understanding that the saloons are paying it. The reduction of the tax to $100 would deprivo the city of about $40,000 a year revenue. There are about 850 saloons in the city. Tho old tax of $100 yielded a revenue of say $35,000 a year. At $250 tho number of saloons would bo reduced, probably, to COO, and that number would pay $75,000 a year. A reduction of the tax to the old figure would therefore bo throwing away $40,000 a year. This money would bo a gift to the saloons and a virtual robbery of the city treasury. There is not another city

in tho United States of tho size of Indianapolis that imposes as small a saloon tax as $250. Many impose $100 and $500, and some go as high as $1,000 a year. Owing to Democratic opposition, it has taken a long time to get the tax here up to $250, and now the Democracy propose to cut it down again, depriving the city of $40,000 a year, which it sorely needs. This is the meaning of the present campaign. ' THE DEMOCRATIC EVENING ORGAN. . Can anything be more ridiculously inconsistent than the recent course of the Evening News! There is hardly a man or a measure that it now opposes with all the vigor and venom at its command that it has not, in times past, heartily in

dorsed and approved. It opposes the election of Gen. John Ccburn, denounces him as the creature of a gang, and cries aloud for his defeat. The record i3 pulled on it, and it is discovered that on the occasion of his very last appearance in public life it fairly deluged him with glowing encomiums on his high character, his ability and bis public and private orth, going to the extent of advising all Democrats to honor him with their votes. Not a word that ho has uttered, not an act that he has committed in tho interval has given occasion for this change of front. He is tho same honorable citizen, the same public-spirited, high-minded, worthy man now that he was when he made his race for Congress. To characterize him as the creature of a gang in any part', and to hold him up to public contempt and criticism as tho agent and tool of corporations or individuals, is an outrage that would bo committed by no other newspaper than this same Evening News." It howls itself into hysterics over the candidacy of John R. Pearson, and couples his name with that of ex-convict Coy; ascribes to him all sorts of improper and venal motives, and, in short, all but calls him a criminal. The record is drawn again, and it is discovered that in previous campaigns tho News has indorsed him in highest terms, and heartily commended him to his constituency. Ho was the superintendent of tho gas company then as he is now, and not one vote that he has cast impeaches his integrity or warrants tho scandalous abuse of this chronic scold. It fairly goes into convulsions over tho fact that certain people signet! tho petition to remit Sim Coy's fine, and ascribes to each and all of them none but impure and improper motives. The record is again resorted to, and the fact disclosed that tho editor of the News himself signed a similar petition for Bernhamer, who was con victed for exactly the 6amo offense as Coy, at the same trial and by the same jury of twelve. It brazenly asserts that Mr. Dougherty 'was created chief of the fire department in order that that limb of tho public service might be subverted to partisan ends, the Democratic members of it dismissed, and the department made nothing more than a political machine. And what does tho record prove! That just two men have been dismissed from the service since this stupendous outrage of the News's discovery was committed, and these for notorious violation of tho rules and open insubordination. It says in one breath, "Wo have always regarded Street Commissioner Do Ruiter as an honest man," and in tho next says, by innuendo and indirection, that he is the accomplice of , and has been robbing the city of its. operty to advance the interests of the Democracy's chief exponent. It rushes to the support of Mr. W. W. Woollen in the Ninth ward, whom it characterizes as a "clean" candidate, and almost immediately, through its city columns, insinuates that the money of certain Republicans for whom it entertains a hearty hatred is being used among tho saloons and with the bummer element to compass tho defeat of Councilman Long. And so on for quantity. Truly, the News is consistently honest and continuously holy! . , BOARDS OP PUBLIC WORKS. One of tho most amusing features of tho Democratic city platform is the ar raignment of the city authorities for not submitting to the Curtis and Bighara bills, and for testing their constitutionality. These bills wero a part of the Democratic "good schemes" of tho last Legislature. They attempted to enforce a complete abdication of authority by the city government, and a surrender of tho police, fire and street departments, and all the property appertaining thereto, to a board of three persons appointed by tho Legislature, who had almost unlimited authority to do as they pleased, without any supervisory or advisory power in any department of the city government. Tho tendency of recent times is towards metropolitan executive boards, and it is tho opinion of tho best informed advocates of municipal reform that such boards,properly organized, and with their powers and duties properly defined, will prove a valuable feature o city government. In no case, however, has it been held that the members of such boards should bo appointed by the Legislature which creates them. If tho last Legislature had created a board of control, and given to the Mayor, as executive head of tho city, tho power to appoint its members, subsequent members to be appointed by subsequent Mayors, the law would have been sound in principle and probably beneficial in practice. But the law as passed was a violation of the Constitution and a gross departure from 1 the principles of good government.'' Tho city authorities very properly refused to recognize the authority of tho legislative board until the constitutionality of tho law had been tested, and they were right. The Supremo Court held the law unconstitutional. Now tho Democrats arraign the city authorities for refusing to obey a law which is no law. They attack Republicans for daring to question the constitutionality of a law which has been held unconstitutional. The Democracy were bound to tako some position on this question by tho excellent declaration of the Republican convention in favor of "such legislation by tho General Assembly as would authorize the Mayor to appoint a nonpartisan board of public works." They

were forced to say something, but they need not have made fools of themselves bv denouncing the Rpnnhlienns for test-

in th rnnstitntinnnlirv nf n. law xvhich has been held unconstitutional. THE CAMPAIGN OP PURITY. That the managers of the campaign being waged in the interest of the professionally "clean and eminently respectable" candidates of Sim Coy's party have been squeezing the breweries for contributions to their campaign fund is known to bo a fact. It has been charged again and again, and in the face of the charge the morning and evening organs continue to conduct a "holy" warfare against the Republicans. Why should the brewers be asked to contribute their money for the election of Judgo Sullivan and the Democratic ticket! If the Democracy proposes to retain tho saloon tax, how is it that the breweries aro heavily assessed in the party's interests! A well-known brewer having made the statement that money had been demanded of him, a Journal reporter receives from his own lips a confirmation of the report, and the assessment was for hundreds of dollars, too. . Tho voters havo a right to know these things, and tho Journal takes pleasure in calling their attention to them. We should like for tho News and its contemporary the Sentinel, to-ex-plain for what purpose tho managers of Judge Sullivan's campaign are soliciting contributions from this quarter. THE ATTACK ON MR. PEARSON. Tho following is from the News of yesterday: This is the law: No member of the Common Council, or other ofliccr of such city shall, eitner directly or indirectly, be a party to or in any manner interested, in any contract or agreement with such city for any matter, cause, or thing, by xvhich any liability or indebtedness is in any way or manuer created against such city. How can the superintendent of tho Gas Company, as member of tho Council, vote fora contract with the Gas Company by the city? He certainly is interested in every contract that the Gas Company makes. As councilman, he uses all necessary time, all the inliuence he has, and his voto to make contracts for the city with his gas company on the most favorable terms possible to the company, and, correspondingly, the most unfavorable to the city. The attack is a reflection on Mr. Pearson's personal and official integrity. The city attorney has already stated that tho provision of law above quoted does not apply to Mr. Pearson's case, and no good lawyer, or fair-minded person, can tako a different view. Mr. Pearson is not a stockholder in the Indianapolis Gas Company, as some members of the Council are in the Consumers' Trust. He does receive a salary from the Indianapolis Company for his services in a certain capacity, as Mr. Frenzel, member of tho Sohooi Board, does from the Trust Company. Mr. Pearson has no interest, direct or indirect, in any contract between the city and tho Gas Company. He has been in the Council ten years, and held the same relation to the Gas Company before he was first elected and ever since. The News supported him year after year when he held the same relation to tho company that he does now. Four years ago it said: Two years ago tho Fifth ward Democracy made no nomination against Councilman Pearson, and he had a clear sweep. This . fact seems to have exercised considerable inliuence, and Air. Pearson, during his present term, has proven a very acceptable conncilman o all classes, and probably no one member of the Council exercises moro inliuence, nor has oftener been found upon the right side, than he. The Democracy are expected to make a nomination to-night, hut unless they can name an abler man. the suggestion comes rrom several quarters that they give Mr. Pearson the same indorsement he received in his last race. Again, two years ago, the News said: John R. Pearson, who happens to bo a Republican, representing a Republican ward, has attended to the interests of his district without partisanship, and brings to the admmistratiou of affairs acquaintance and long experience. Mr. Pearson then held the same relation to tho Gas Company that he does now. He has done nothing to forfeit public confidence, and has never cast a vote not in the interest of tho city. If he was deserving of indorsement four years ago, and two years age, he is equally deserving of it now. The plain truth is the News's opppsition to Mr. Pearson is personal, malignant, blind and unreasonThe organs of free trade are having a stony road to travel with their pet bugaboo, tho wool tariff. They've been telling us all summer that tho woolen manufacturers of New England had turned free-traders, and wero clamoring for free wool. When the . manufacturers' committee met in Boston, a few weeks ago, and adopted resolutions favoring the protective principle more strongly than ever, tho organs received a severe shock. But they finally recovered, and came up smiling with the information that tho committee was "packed" by Republican managers, and if we would only wait until tho general association met in New York we would seethe committee sat upon, and hear 6uch a clamor, for free wool as would make ghosts walk. They held their breath, Wednesday, while tho association met in New York and unanimously adopted the resolutions presented by the committee. The organs might have been spared this awkward and humiliating position had Mr. Cleveland announced earlier his remarkable discovery that "party honesty is party expediency." The malignancy with wiiich the Dcm-V ocratic evening organ starts a falsehood, and the fiendish gleefuluess in which it is repeated until the orgau actually believes it itself, is apparent in the charge that Republicans aro boldly working for Sim Coy's election to the Council from tho Eighteenth ward. Every sano man in Indianapolis knows tho ward is strongly Democratic, and that if the Republicans wanted Coy back in the Council tho only .thing necessary to secure that result would be for Mr. Shufclton to stop making a vigorous canvass, which ho is not likely to do, no matter how much the News secretly desires Mr. Coy's election. The mugwump press has endeavored to convey the impression that the delegates to tho Inter-American Congress were enticed to the United States on false premises, and with a purpose to involve them in a commercial alliance from which their respective countries would derive no benefit. The applause

which greeted Mr. Blaine's remarks on the common interests of American states and the desirability of closer Personal

and commercial relations seems to indi-' cate that these visitors are fully awako to the advantages of such union on their own part, and are moro than willing to come half way in bringing it about. The confidence-game bugaboo that the anxious mugwumps aro scaring themselves with has no terrors for them. No baser or more contemptible lie was ever uttered than is told by the Sentinel when it says that the Metropolitan police force of this city is being used as a political machine and in the interests of certain Republican candidates. Of tho eighty-four members of the force, fortytwo are Democrats, appointed as such by John P. Frenzel, John W. Murphy, Thomas Cottrell, Sterling R. Holt and William Henderson, and upon the recommendation of Thorn as Taggart, John E. Sullivan and other Democrats, whose names on the candidates petitions aro an absolute guarantee of their party loyalty. Never in the history of the board has a Republican commissioner interfered, by word or act, with the prerogative of their Democratio colleagues. Judge Pendleton of Hancock county, Ohio, has rendered an opinion of great interest to owners of lands in the gas territory of Indiana. Ho held that an oil or gas lease did not -carry with it absolute control of the premises, and that it only gave the lessee control of so much of tho surfac of the land as was necessary to develop the gas or oil in tho interior. Tho suit was brought by the Standard Oil Company to restrafn a lessor from giving right of way to a railroad through territory leased to the petitioners. An appeal was taken. TnE evening free whisky organ occupies most of its space with mysterious conundrums which some gentleman of leisure might take tho trouble to answer if he could find out what they meant. While engaged in building up its rebus department the organ has of course no time to explain to anxious outsiders why it wabbles so in the support of its own candidates. What, for instance, has tho Democratic candidate of tho Ninth ward done that he should be lauded ono day and kicked the next! Of tho eighty odd members of tho Indianapolis Fire Department, thirty are Democrats, and this, too, at the end of twelve consecutive years of Republican control. Is there a fairminded man, of whatever politics, who will say that had the Democrats had control for a corresponding period there would be a Republican in tho department! Ono by ono the campaign falsehoods of the Democratic organs are exploded. .The EveningNews is extremely bitter against certain Republicans who did not vote on public measures as it dictated. It vilified these men at every opportunity, attributing all kinds of vile motives to them. But if anyone should insinuate that the cause of this abuse is opposition to a corporation in which tho News is financially interested, what a howl would come from the depths of Phariseeism. An unenlightened outsider would suppose this to be an "off" year in Indiana politics. It is true there is no President to elect, no State officers, and no Legislature,but there are municipal elections to attend to, and it is the duty of every citizen to do his part toward securing good local government. In Indianapolis he can do this by voting for General Coburn and a Republican Council and aldermen. The holier-than-thou organ is at it again. It practically says: "The Republicans in their platform advocate a policy and measures that are unexceptionable, but their motives in so doing are corrupt. Only tho News is virtuous. Follow us 'into the Democratic camp and voto for a party that has promised none of these things." Peofle who attribute false motives to others should first see that they aro above suspicion themselves. Tho News says tho Republicans are seeking Coy's election so they can use him again as a campaign target. By the same token, the Democrats desire the election of certain candidates so they may be used as targets by their evening ally. TnE campaign of holiness and purity is progressing. Tho "cottage prayermeetings" in tho saloons of tho Ninth ward are held nightly, and tho Democratic committee "taxes" - representatives of the beer-brewing interest hundreds of dollars each in behalf of reform. Uxdeu the new election law tho legitimate campaign expenditures cannot be extravagant, yet tho Democratic ci ly committee is "taxing" the representatives of the brewing interest at the rate of several hundred dollars each, to bo used in securingthe election of Sullivan. The evening organ of Democratic reform says the election of Sullivan would be a signal and token of reform. If Sullivan should be elected it will bo because of tho money contributed by saloons and breweries, and the "reform" will be of the sort they dictate. When each representative of the beer-brewing interest is assessed or, as one of them puts it, "taxed" in tho interest of reform and pure government, it is not difficult to guess the variety of reform that will prevail in the event of Democratic success. The election of Sullivan would be a rebuke to gang politics. News. In view of the fact that Coy's ward and tho slums of the city all instructed for Sullivan, could there be anything funnier than this! TnEitE is no flaw in General Coburn's record, either in his civil or military career, and a man more worthy of popular support has never been presented by any party The New York Independent announces that Mr. Maurice Thompson has become a member of the editorial staff of that paper. His especial duty will be to review current

novels, poetry and beUcs-lettrc. but ho l continue to contribute articles in hit own name as heretofore. Some of Mr.

Thompson's best work has appeared in the Independent, a series of essays on the ethics of fiction having attracted especial attention. In securing his services as editor of its book department the Independent, which ranks high among literary periodicals, at once compliments his ability aud benefits itself. The author of "Hoosier Mosaics' is well qualified for the position. Civilization and modern inventions are havingabard timo in conquering superstition in China. In no ether Pagan country would the people havo thought to resist a government measure by destroying tho chief place of worship, and then attempt to prove that it was an omen of displeasuro from the gods against tho innovation of railways in their land. Tho burning of the Temple of Heaven and the subsequent disclosures will tend to civilization by opening the eyes of the people to the density of tho superstition that surrounds them. TnE British Medical Association has lately published an extensive statement of tho influence of alcoholic drinks on the duration of human life. Tho commission in charge, after examining carefully 4,H cases of death, reported as follows: Total abstainers live fifty-one years twenty-two days; habitually temperate drinkers, sixtythree years thirteen day s; careless drinkeis, fifty -nine years sixty-seven days; free drinkers, fifty-soven years fifty-nine days; decidedly intemperate drinkers, fii ty-threa years thirteen days. That hidden dangers lurk in a bunch of old love-letters has received fresh verification in tho case of the young girl who went to tho roof of a hotel in the City of Mexico with the intention of burning her packago of missives. The girl succeeded in her errand, but during the operation her dress caught fire and she was terriblv burned. If she lives and gets another lover his letter will probably be destroyed one at a time. The wife of a deputy sheriff in Minnesota has set an example to those of her 6isters who are wont to lavish attentions on certain classes of prisoners. She took a fancy to a yonng highwayman in her husband's care and liberate I him, and to make suro that his future would bo looked after, went with him, first taking her husband's revolver and money. The woman was forty years of ago and the highwayman t wenty. The opening of the medical colleges with a prospect of an increased attendance would be alarming were it not remembered that former crops of medical graduates have not devastated the country. In fact, they mysteriously disappear, and, with few exceptions, are not heard of more. Tho question of what becomes of the doctors will havo to go into the list of unanswered conundrums. W. II. writes the Journal to tho effect that if James Clarence Mangan, a young Irish poet of tho earlieryears of tho present century, had not written his little poem "Karaman the world would never have heard of "Maryland, My Maryland," which, he says, is siinplj' a parody of Mangan's production. "Xaraman" can be found in Prof. Cummock's reader and speller. Southern counterfeiters havo adopted a new method of putting their bogus money in circulation. A Methodist minister, who was arrested at Birmingham, Ala., recently, for passing spurious silver, proved that tho coins had been taken up in the regular Sunday collection. Out of eight pieces of silver in the contribution-box, seven were coun-. terfeit. i Charles S. Pratt, a confidential bookkeeper at Mcriden, Conn., who was arrested V 1 i i . ' ior emuezziemem ana coniessca, put a wonderful amount of truth in tho words: "It is the same old story of living beyond one's means. I am a thief.' Tho world would hear less of defalcations andliko oil'enses if Mr. Pratt's warning was heeded. t The Democrats of Montana talked protection on the stump. This explains why they fared considerably better tliS their 1 brethren in Ohio and Iowa can hope to in the coming elections, but they evidently took no stock in the sincerity of Cleveland's suggestion that "party honesty is party expediency." MR. MAURICE THOMPSON has been made associate editor of the New York Independent. Thus, one by one, the members of the Western Association of Writers are being recognized and brought to the front. THOMAS H. CARTER, Congressman-elect from Montana. is a talented young Irish Republican, and people who know him pre diet that he will make a valuable member of the national legislature. RAriD internal transit would do more toward the gTowth of Indianapolis in a year than all other agencies put together havo done in the last decade. - A New York paper casually remarks: "Monuments are becoming plentiful as medals." The paper is evidently ble6&cd with far-sightedness. ABOUT PEOPLE AND TI11XGS. Zola has strict notions about tho proprieties of dress, and always wears a lacefrilled shirt and lace culls when writing. A cairn, surmounted by a small American flag, has been erected on Pike's Peak in memory of Lucy Webb Hayes. It was suggested and begun by Miss FieM, a Topeka school-teacher. Miss PnasnE Couzins, who has been a long time out of the field on account of ill health, seems likely, before many months are past, to resume her labors for woman's ballot and the temperance reform. - Queen Victoria has been enjoying the cold weather at Braemar very much. During a recent blinding snow-storm sho drove through Braemar at 7 r. M. on the return to l'almoral. Tho ladies in waiting looked very cold and miserable, and evidently did not enjoy it as much as their royal mistress. Lord Salisbury's health is again causing considerable anxiety to his friends and colleagues. The belief, which gains ground daily, that ord Salisbnry may have to relinquish the cares of otlice is connected with the extraordinary activity displayed just now by those who favor tho formation of a new National party. Alma Tapema is described as the least, imposing object in his studio. He looks andisalittloover fifty. He is bort and strongly built, and most energetic in his movements. He looks at you through a Eair of large round spectacles, and his Lt gorn hat, with a wide brim, is now and then pushed backward and forward on his head in a careless kind of way. TnE Czar had a bad fall from his horse at a recent review, but the matter was hushed up, and ho seems to be all right now. Ho was very much pleased with General Butteriield. who has been visiting in Russia, and he took him to luncheon oueday with ail the grand dukes and the membcru of tho imperial staff. General Buttcrlield is consequently proud as a hen with one chicken. Hkrr Hotel, a wonderful tecor, is fascinating tho audiences at Krall Gardens, Berlin. .He was a coachman notions ago. and his rise to fame has been romantic la its details. He must rind oprr.i niucing more remunerative and apnahle than driving horses. At a recent Sunday uigbS rendition of a popular opera lio wut