Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 27, Number 48, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 July 1878 — Page 2

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THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 17, 1878.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17. The Georgia delegation, in the next congress will be solid democratic The colored vote in Georgia will be largely democratic

At the close or a bloody shirt harrangue in Iowa, th band struck up "The Rogues' 'March." Nothing in the whole ranee of tunes could have been more appropriate. It is reported that Grant is growing thinner. Grant never enjoyed better health than when he was clerk in a Galena slaughter house. The tmell of olood helps his appetite. Asother Chinaman has tried to become an American citizen, but couldn't qnite get in. A Chinaman is Just a little inferior to the negro, according to the decisions of the supreme court. Senator D. W. Voorhees will open the campaign at South Bend, Indiana, in a speech on July 27, at 2 o'clock. Let' John Sherman and other hard money sharks stand from under. Zack Chandler and. General Logan know something about the Louisiana frauds, and -want to testify. Both of these distinguished admirers of Grant will give Hayes some triphammer licks, if tbey get a chance. A year and a half of prison life for lien Noyes. That isn't much, to be sure, but it Is better than nothing Exchange. Ben Noyes helped to swindle an insurance company and goes to the penitentiary, while another of the Noyes tribe helped to steal the presidency and goes to France as minister. Such are rewards and penalties. The Indiana democracy must make n right for the legislature. A democratic legislature means the election of the Hon. I. W.Voorhets to the United States senate. Cincinnati Enquirer. It is creditable to the Enquirer that it has at last got its eyes open, and if in future it -can manage to abridge its aid to the radical party in Indiana it will exhibit more common sense than has hitherto ma'rked its course in regard to Indiana politics. Voorhees is the only United States senator who ever rose in his place and gave outright encouragement to communist, tramps and destroyers of Improved machinery, lie ought never be allowed an opportunity to repeat tils incendiary utterances. Madison Courier. The Courier, like the Indianapolis Journal, can not forgive Senator Voorhees for being a "bigger man" than MartDn, but it ought to have the manliness to tell the truth about the distinguished democratic senator, whose great speech upon finances and the condition of business tok the country by storm, and was applauded by honest republicans as generously as by democrats. The treasury experts estimate that "there 'are now two millions of counterfeit coin in 'circulation, and that the amount is constantly increasing. Beside3 the process of 'actual counterfeiting, the tracks of 'sweating' and filling are resorted to. As much 'as two dollars, Fays the Scientific American, 'la stolen from a $20 gold piece. What there 'is left of the metal is genuine, and the im'print, especially of the sweated piece, re'mains sharp; after filling the coin is rebur'nished. Another process is known as 'split'ting by which as much as 15.50 can be 'taken from a single $20 gold piece. The 'two halves are then hollowed out and the 'hollow filled with an alloy of silver and 'platinum. The parts are joined with gold 'solder. Another process is to bore holes in 'the edge, fill with silver, cover with gold 'solder and re-mill. Chinese rogues are ac'cused of sending the coin, to China to ba 'thus debased and bringing it back for circu'lation. The amount of value thus abstract'ed is from $3 to $7.50 from $20. The coun'terfeits, pure and simple, are almost invari'ably below weight But there is a counterfeit $5 piece which is one of the most dan'gcrous. It is full weight, 129 grains, com'posed of gold and silver, and yet worth only 'from $2.70 to $3.40. It is thicker than the 'genuine." i CiOYERXHESTS. Democrats charge that republicans are in favor of "a strong government," and are trying to make political capital by this kind of talk. It is in keeping with the demagoguery of a party which panders to communism and Advocates every scheme that tends to weaken the foundations of society. What do democrats mean by saying that the republican party Is In favor of "a strong government?" Do they moan it as a thing of reproach? Will iney dare to say mat tney ravor a weak government? or will they undertake to show why a strong government is not desirable? They dare not say the former, and can not show the latter. We think we speak the sentiinentsof Intelligent republicans when we say they are not disturbed by this charge of favoring a strong government. A between a weak government and a strong one, they prefer tne latter. If democratic demagogues and communixis favor a weak government let them say ho; the republicans will meet them on that Issue a soon as they dare to make it. Journal. Tht dish rag organ of the national thief party admits the charge made against it by the democratic party that it is in favor of a "strong government." It could not well deny the charge for the proof is overwhelming, and is written on every page of the record of the party since it came into power. The organ of the national thief party asks, ''What do the democrats mean by saying that the repulican party is in favor of a 'strong government? Do.they mean that it is a thing of reproach? Will they dare to 'say they favor a weak government? or will 'they undertake to show why a strong government is not demanded?" The charge made by the democratic party against the radical party, that it is in favor of a "strong 'government," means that the radical party is opposed to a constitutional government, and in favor of a centralized despotism; that it Is in 'favor of exalting the military power above the civil power; that it is in favor of a large standing army, and of bulleta rather than ballots, of bayonet rather than arguments in governmental affairs. It is these things, with' all of their collateral infamies, that democrats mean when they charge the radical party with being in favor of a "strong government." The radical party in the full noon of its power struck down constitutions, bayoneted legislatures, placed its despotic heel upon prostrate states, used the army as sv machine for carrying on and carrying out Its despicable policy, and give evidence con- ' tinuslly that it was willing and anxious to' overturn the whole superstructure of conjatitutional government and of erecting

upon its ruins a despotic government, in which the will of the few should effectually silence the will of the many. The '"strong government" the radical party favors is like that of Germany, of Austria, and of Russia and other European countries, where immense standing armies obey the will of one man; where free expression upon matters of public importance Is not tolerated; where the press is suppressed, and where the people are to all intents and purposes slaves. What the Journal is pleased to term a "weak government" means a constitutional government, the foundations of which were laid by Washington and his compatriots,

and which found full expression in the constitution of the United States. Of such agovernment democrats dare to say they favor. They dare to say they are in favor of a government by the people, of the people and for the people. In favor of the militia instead of a standing a . . 1 . , 1 A I - M! . army, ana or me avu insieaa oi tne military , power to carry on the government and to j carry forward all the grand enterprises of j the age. Such a government is not a "weak" government and it is not a despotism. It is a government of popular sovereignty, a government of law, a government in which the will of the people the uncrowned sovereigns is supreme, such a government as the radical party opposes and would overthrow if it had the power, and establish a government that effectually wipes out state lines, dethrones state sovereignty in all regards and consolidates all power in the hands of the president The Journal may now understand that what it is pleased to call a "weak government," such as democrats favor, is a constitutional gov; ernment with all the checks and balances which the constitution provides a government strong enough for the peace, proepsrity and glory of the country a government which won the admiration of the civilized world until the radical party obtained power, and Grant, with his army of thieves, sought to destroy. MONEY. Of late years everybody discusses the money question. No subject relating to business affairs has been so thoroughly investigated, and, strange to say, the more it is diicusaed the more antagonistic become the views of those who have assumed the prerogative of enlightening the people. It seems quite impracticable toobtainan agreement as to the functions of money, what should be its quality, or the quantity required to meet business exigencies. It may be as?rted, however, that the difference of opinions is not so sharply defined as it was some years since. The popular mind has laid hold upon certain fundamental truths, evidencing a purpose to discard fine-spun theories injected into the discussion for the purpose of obscuring the real issues and of misleading the people. A paper published in the July and August number of the "Western," by Robert Moore, takes the right vitV of the functions of money. Starting out with the declaration of Adam Smith that the division of labor is one of the chief causes of national wealth, Mr. Moore proceeds to discuss the necessity of exchanging the products of labor, and of the necessity of advancing from the simplest form of exchange, that of barter, n the intervention of some "middle thing," some object of universal desire, "for which 'every other thing could be obtained in ex'change." "This middle thing," says the writer, "is what we mean by money, and it 'may be any commodity whatever of univer'sal desire. Thus we are told by Adam 'Smith that in early Greece and R?me cattle 'and sheep were used as money. He also 'mentions, as different kinds of money, salt 'in Abysinia, shells in some parts of India, 'dried cod in Newfoundland, and 'tobacco in Virginia. It will be 'seen-, therefore, that the prime function 'of money is always the same, namely to 'facilitate exchange of commodities and over'come the difficulties of barter." From the prime function of being a medium of exchange money "becomes a common measure 'of value, all things being exchangeable 'for money come to have a price, or a money 'value, which then becomes the most convenient method of comparing things with 'each other." We might further draw upon the writer m the "Western" with regard to the functions of money, such as being a "standard for deferred payments," a "store of 'value," etc., but the prime function of money being to facilitate the exchange of all commodities we pass to notice the quality of money and the quantity desirable to effect exchanges in th.3 country. As O ouality, we now have gold, silver, nickel, copper and paper. Of these we have va3tly more of paper than of all other descriptions combined. In fact, the paper money of the United States as a medium of exchange has quite displaced all other descriptions of money, and this, too, while it has been irredeemable. 1$ would bo a waste of time to discuss here the intrinsic value of paper money a compared metalic money. It is admitted that as mere com modi tes, gold and silver, nickel and copper, possess a value that does not belong to paper, but when the fiat of the government stamps paper as money, and makes it a legal-tender for all debts, it becomes at once the most desirable medium of exchange, and business goes forward prosperously, though every dollar of metalic money may be. locked out of circulation. Such has been the history of paper money In the United States for the past sixteen years, and the people fully comprehend the fact. When the United States had the largest volume of paper money business was the most prosperous. The people were employed and the division of labor had the widest possible range. As a consequence national wealth steadily augmented. With the reduction of the quantity of paper money there was less division of labor, and' national wealth, instead of increasing, decreased at a rate that brought about wide spread bankruptcy ani such a demoralization of labor as was never known in any country. The quantity of money required has, therefore, become a leading question of discussion throughout the country. It Is well understood by the advocates of metalic money that a sufficient quantity ot gold and silver can not be had to perform the exchanges of the country. They know also that if the quantity of paper money simply duplicates the comthere will still be such an insufficiency as will em

barrass business and arrest the development of the resources of the country. It is not tnerefore surprising that the quantity of money required by the business interests ot the country is a leading feature in financial discussions. It is shown by the July statement of the treasury that on the 1st of the month there was in the treasury and in cir culatlon

Legal tender notes Krac'ional currency-. Outstanding silver coin...... National bank circulation. ....f3H.fWl.01fl 1,647,78 ..... 3S,0o7,08t H5!,i.i0 197,415.1X2 Coin Total ".. 1 822555 This statement conveys an entirely erroneous idea as to the amount of currency and coin afloat as a medium of exchange, as there are important deductions to be made as follows: Special deposit of legal tenders for redemption of certificates of deposit.... ... f l(5,75o,000 Special reserve for redemption of fractional currency .. 10,000,000 Reserves of banks, estimated as for 1S7 ...A..,..... 43,UUU,Uw Coin held for redemption of greenbacks 197,415,132 Held for the purpose of re'irlng notes of Insolvent bunks, as in 1877 . 12,500,000 Due disbursing otiices and to retire bank circulation, as In 177........... 27,000,000 Total... . :J38,70,12 The amount in circulation stands as foi" lows: Currency and coin as above-...,......5922,3V,39 Deductions... 3.$S,tTO,l3J Amount in circulation....-...... fot3,0S5,227 Here then we have approximated the amount of money, gold, silver and paper, with which to transact the business of t lie country. Let us see how It comparas with the financial situation of the three leading countries in Europe: Popu- CurCountries, lation. rency per Volume. capita. France.. 6,(00,000 S 00 11,328,000,000 German empire... ...4i.ooo.ax) 2i oo i,0K6,nm,uio Great Eritaln,E.O"U,wrj 1 oo 7;.0UM0U United 8tates.4o,ogo,OUO 13 00 fc&VJ0J,000 In view of the depressed condition of business of every description growing out of the tact, mainly, that the currency has been contracted under radical rule, from $37 per capita to $13 per capita, the democratic party of Indiana demands that legal tender notes of the government "shall be issued in 'such amounts as the sound business inter 'esfs of the country may from time to time require." With $37 per capita the count ry was fabu'ously prosperous, and still the amount was below that which France keeps in circulation. The contraction of the circulation to $13 per capita has led to almost unirersal bankruptcy. More currency is therefore imperatively demanded. The democratic theory is "that the right to issue paper 'money, as well as coin, is the exclusive pre 'rogatlveof the government," and it demands that more greenbacks shall be issued, thst the business of exchange may be facilitated and that the "division of labor" may agf.in advance the national wealth. THE IXDIAN WAR. There is no longer any doubt in regard to the Indian war. It is now fairly under headway, and the indications are that the "hostile!," will include the Sioux, the Pin tes, the UteS and the Bannocks, in all between five and six thousand fighting men. To these are to be added the braves under Sit, ting Bull, who number about as many more giving a total army of about twelve thousand stvages cn the war path, devastating the the fairest portions of Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The present war bids fair to be the most bloody known, to the country for many years, and the people will be anx ious to know the causes that have led to the outbreak. When the facts are known, if any amtbentic account is ever give,n to the pub lic, the country will be convinced that the war could have been avoided. The Brooklyn Eagle in reviewing the subject says: It is true that the leading tribes of the north are In revolt, and true that this outhreak at this time is due to the ill treatment vouchsafed the Indians rather than to any innate yearning on their part to be on the warpath. The outrage perpetrated upon them by agents of the government can be revenged in no other wuy, and hence thereasoH of the general desertion of the reservations and the gathering of many of the tribes in the fastnesses of the mountains of Idaho and ( tregon. Some time when the history of the Indian bureau Is written if the country ever exhibits a determlna Ion to have its recorl published It will be seen just how little real necessity exists for lighting tne Indians or having them fljht, ami yet how impossible it is to govern t iein under present conditions in peace. Its policy has been a disgrace from which the nation will never recov. r; to Its present adherence to that policy must be attributed theunlortnnate and al-rnitng condition of affairs on the plains to-day. Two hand red years of association with the Indian confirms us in the fact that he is our enemy, and alter the waste of millions of dollars aud an expenditure of human life that can not be named without amazement and indignation, he is to day driving nis iron pointed arrows into the hearts of the settlers or dealing death with the white man's gun through the ranks of the soldiers. By such a processor mismanagement as would and has disgusted baroarUDS, tiie government bus brought upon itself the dishonor of another war and the indiscriminate sUuguterof pioneers whom It' induced, by lair promises, to settle- In the west. The result ot all this can be foretold without prophetic vision, and the old scenes enacted over and over again, and repeated to some extent yearly, are to be rehearsed again and again, until the Indignation of the people of the country is kindled. And it would be kindled speedily if the real situation of affairs were undeistood by the masnea. Evidently the Indian policy of the government is a failure, and as a consequence the Indians have always bsen in a state of unrest, and inclined to go on the war path. But in the present instance the war is not so much the result of a policy as of the knavery of a few Indian agents of the stealing and swindling radical type. These radical rascals commenced the game- of cheating the In di ids as 60on as they got possession of their good, and continued It so long that at last the savages revolted, and are now seeking revenge in true savage style. This war furnishes reason why the radical party saould be exiled from power. It has robbed the government, it has robbed the negro, and it has robbed the Indian. It is the national thief party, and every consideration of public interests demands its over throw. THE POTTER FARCEi To read some of the radical organs one might be led to conclude that radicals generally are having a glorious time of it in laughing at what they are pleased to call the 'Potter committee farce." When a big fraud Is unearthed they applaud vociferously; when some damning perjury is dragged forth to squirm and hiss like a serpent a jolly laugh goes round and the exhuberance of the conspirators and their friends is almost boundless. Such things, they declare, help the party, make it popular with the people and Insure its success. The New York Herald, in commenting upon a. Washington letter from an "occasional correspond-

ent," In which the whole story of fraud is reviewed, says' He appears to ns to have overlooked one notable fact namely, that the witnesses examined by the committee are all republicans. Ho far as we remember the committee has not had before It a- single witness of the leat lrafortance who was not a member, and a promnent member, of the republican party. When it Is said, therefore, that the committee's witnesses are a pack of liars and perjurers an assertion which Is not far from the truth this melancholy fact remains, that they are all southern republican politicians. These are the men on whose he half the northern voters were in 1S7 besougat to stand by the old flag: they were the heroes and martyrs, the loyal citizens, the 'gallant upholders of human rights, the southern unionists, to protect whom eminent republicans in the last geoeral election waved the bloody shirt In every northern ttate. To day they are denounced, and Justly, as a set of perjured, unscrupulous and vulgar political tricksters, and their own sworn testimony, if it proves nothing else, shows conclusively that they used their rower over the

electoral votes ot norma ana ixuisianasoieiy to get themselves ' taken care of," and were ready to bargain with both sides and to give the electoral votes to the highest bidders, preferring the republicans only, it seems, because they had less confidence in democratic prom ises. That much at auy rate is proved: and we wish we could say that here the 6candal stopped. Unfortunately It goes further, ftr it nas been aiscoverea mat almost every man thus disreputably connected with these elec tion a Hairs hai wen actually lewarued witn a federal office. Our correspondent gives a long list of their names, and confesses that as to Louisiana he has not by any means completed the tale. This Is one ot the most unpleasant features of the whole aloiniunble and disgraceful business. It Is not easy to read with pattence this list of rogues stuffed into public ofllces. Granted that President Hayes believed that the count in Florida and Louisiana M as honest as the day, these men still bad no claims for "reward;" there was no reason for "taking care or them," and their own course and all the recent developments show that they were conspicuously unfit for public honor and office under any decent system of ap pointments. If there is anything in all of this to laugh at, or. anything likely to strengthen the radical party before the country, the conspirators are welcome to it If there is anything in all of the terrible disclosures of fraud that reads like a "farce," the people have not been able to discover it. Such . a record of crime was never made before by any party undr heaven. It stands out clearly defined the most haggard piece of depravity the world has ever witnessed. RADICALIStliX THE SOUTH. The conspirators dislike exceedingly to give up their hold upon the southern states Under Grant with carpet-baggers and loaded muskets the radicals were able to control the elections, and place their tools in power. This is all changed now; still a desperate effort will be made to carry several congres sional districts where the negro vote is large As we have remarked old things have passed away. Grant and carpet-baggers are no longer in power, and federal- troops are subjected to the degredation of protecting ballot-box stuffers for the success of the rad ical party. The .New York Herald takes a sensible view of the matter, and says: While the republicans possessed the state governments and were able to call for federal troops, the negroes werj pliant tools in their hands; but even then it w as notorious that the colored vote required tnat peculiar manipulation which In the southern tepublicau slang was called "organizing." The "organizer" was an important functionary, usually a custom houxe or other petty federal official of the caliber and oftenest of th elm racier of the uojW notorious Anderson, who was sent int a county with instructions t collect the leading negroes, promise them such local ollires and other pe'.tv ratifications n they desired, and with their help hold barbecues and other public meetings, hi which the blacks were told tnat tieuerai Grant or General But ler or some other great and good mm wished them to vote the "stralaiit republican ticket," and see to it that everybody e'.se did so too. In Ixmlsiana it was usual to send a band of music with the "organizer." In Alabama it occurred to one brilliaut organizer to send handbills throueh his county, signed with General Grant's name, ordering the blacks to vote the ticket under penalty of being dealt with by the district attorney, aud the vote was very f"il at that election, in a Louisiana parish in 18ri ,he colored voters were Minnioned to a barbecue and admonished to vote straight "by order of General Butler," and they all turned out without delay, everywhere tney were assure! that their liberties d9pended on the predominance of the republican party in tne state, and that, no matter what promises the democrats made them, they really meant to re-enslavc them. Under the stlmu'us of this assurance, and wltti the fart tier assurance that federal tioops were at hand and that the president was the Intimate friend of the local republican leaders, the negroes became ardent politicians, and did not hesttata to threaten any of their color who should vote the. democratic ticket with death, or what was almost equally serious to the blacks, excluslou from church ana female society what among the whites was called "ostracism " Fortunately for the colored people acd lor the country this unscrupulous manipulation ol Ignorant voters is no longer possible. It would be absurd in republican politicians to tell the negroes that a democratic success will re-enslave them, lor they have been living tinder democratic rule and see that it has in many important ways been a blessing to them, and that they aro entirely safe in lite, liberty and property. Further, as the southern stale governments are in democratic hands the republicans lack power to send out ofllclal "organizers," and to !eguile the colored leaders and preachers with promises of office and pickings. Evidently if the radical party has a majority in the next house of representatives it will be compelled to obtain its recruits outside of the southern states. WORK AND WAGES. The condition of working people in Europe is really deplorable; still it has been kaid in this country that American laborers must expect to be reduced to European prices. It might as well be said that we must expect to have a change of government, fO that working people here, as inking cursed Enrope, shall have no voice in public affairs. The theory proclaimed in America has been that working people are not to be set aside in matters pertaining to their well being. This outrage the radical party has been guilty of, and the effort to reduce American labor to the level of European prices has not only been successful, but it has, in thousands of instances, deprived workingmen of employment at any price. Since it has been the purpose of the radical party to increase the gains of Shylocks and the burdens of labor, and bring American working people to the European level, it may be Interesting to know what that level is. "In Germany the pay for agricultural labor varies greatly, ac'coriing to the proximity to or remoteness 'from manufacturing centers, and ranges 'froai 50 cents a day in the 'neighborhood of Bremen to 31 cents 'a day in the Lower Rhine valley, 'and as low as 13 cenls in parts of Silesia. 'At Bremen, Crefeld and Dusseldorf car'penters. coppermiithis, plumbers, machin'.'sts and wagonsmiths earn from 51 to 75 'cents daily; saddlers and shoemakers from' 47 to 52 cents daily; bakers and brewers, 'with board and lodging, from $1.42 to $2.14 weekly, and without board from 60 cents a 'day to $4.23 a week; farm hands are paid 'from $107 to $215 yearly, with maintenance; 'railway laborers from 56 to 83 cents per 'day, and as high as 95 cents daily for 'piece work on tunnels; silk weavers can 'earn from $2.15 to $2.85 a week per loom; 'factory women, $2.15, and children '$1 a 'week. Easiness and wages are very low. The cost ol the neceisaries of. llfeasiu-

'creased some fifty per cent In thirteen years, 'although now it is but little higher than 'five years ago, , A man and wife, with two

or three children, can live - in two or three 'rooms in a poor and comfortless manner for '$275 a year, and to support such an establishment all th members have to work ten or twelve hours daily. For a family of six 'persons the cost is about $7 a week an 'amount that few families can earn, as the 'depression of trade and the reduction of 'time allows few to do a fall week's work. 'although wages are nominally a trifle higher 'than five years ago." Just what is to be gained by reducing the working people to starvation prices has never yet been set forth, and though in Europe poverty may aid in keeping the people in subjection, such a state of things is not desirable in the United States. Work for all at remunerative wages is the democratic theory, and if judicious legislation can aid in bringing in an era of prosperity, the people may be assured that it will be had as sDon as the democratic party obtain full con trol of the government ' Under the caption of ''The Labor Commun'ists" the Chicago Times labors through a column article to make a consummate ass of Itself. In its usual unfair way of discussing any question of public importance it quotes from a Sentinel article on "criminal labor," and attributes the sentiments we published to Senator Voorhees, and after devoting several "stickfuls" of mud to the Sentinel article admits our theory of the subject fully by saying: That honest free labor can not successfully compete agalDst compulsory prison labor controlled by the mighty power of the state i a proposition beyond any possible dispute. In carrying on the prisou labor system, the state Is therefore an agency of wrong and Injustice against the honest free laborer. Though the wrong may be magnified by the complainants, the character of the wrong is stated truly. To the extent tha t the state, by the enforced labor of convicts, supplies a demand for labor. It prevents honest free labor from supplying that uemanu.anu tnu tioes unquestionably pre vent honest hibor from earning honest bread The Sentinel did not attempt to suggest a remedy for the wrong of placing criminal labor in competition with honest labor. We sought to call the attention of the public to what is regarded as a growing evil. The Times goes off into conniption fits about supporting "convicted criminals" in ldlenesj and similar bosh, and then says There are two M-ays in which society can protect Itself against criminals. One is to keep them within Us own body; the other Is to expel them from its own body. It the former be pursued, they must be imprisoned, and 11 lm prisoned they m ust ei ther be com pelled to earn the cost of their supttort, or they must be sup ported oy a i-ix on tne earnings ot tne people they have wronged. If the latter be pursued, they must either be exterminated or banished. Civilization has rejected extermlnat on as a mode of punishment for any but the greatest crimes. Banishment, then, is the only mode of dealing with criminals which can be'offered as an acceptable alternative for the present prison system of this country. Reason as well a the experience of older na tions conm;nds this mode or dealing with criminals as, all things considered, the best. The transportation of convicted rogues to a penal colony beyond the limits of the society which has sutlered from their crimes, and Riving them in such new locality the perfect 11 oerty oi ctioice oet ween living or flying, ac cording as they shall choose to work ror a llv Irjg or not, Is the most rational, the most hu mane and the most efficient of all methods vet devised for the punishment of criminals that are in any npect lit to live. If the labor philosophers would propose to aooiiKn every state prison in America, ana that the national government should acquire treaty with the government of the Handwich islands the light of transporting all felons to the island ci Hawaii, each convict there to have the use of a tract of land sufficient to produce the means of his subsistence in return for his labor, they would propose a practical remedy ror tne evil ot which tuoy complain, which would receive favorable consideration by the most enlightened men, aud which would undoubtedly, in time, be adopted. . We are quile willing that criminals shall be transported to the Sandwich islands and set to work for their own support, though such a movement might depopulate Chicago. It is s' om by tbe returns from the mines of America and Australia that the gold sup ply is steadily decreasing. Tbe San Franciso Chronicle, in commenting upon the sat ject, pays that "the gold product of the 'American mines for 1378 will be little, if 'any, less than that of last year, but with the 'Australian mines the case is different Their 'product is decreasing to an extent that will 'make the gold product of 1878 $85,000,000, 'or $5,000,0 00 less than .that of 1877. The following shows the gold supply since 1318: Year. Supply.- I 1848.. t7t6Uu,(XKl 1819 . 87,000,110 lSVi S):,20U,IJUU 1S31 120,000,000 1S52 l'j:i,70l,lW lSW lo5,iD0,iaX) 181 127,UO0,0u( isiv . i:i",U!U,oou lSVi.........,. H7,ti0,000 1S57 IS'1 300.000 l.jS 144,000,0110 Year. Supply. mi fl 13,0i m,000 1805 130,7(10.000 IKriO 122, 00,i)UO isi7 . lU.oim.iiuo ISO-..... . 1(,700,0U0 IK09 100,200.000 i870.... 100,900,000 171. ... 107.UKl,U0O 1872.., !W,OU0.(IO0 V7 ,200,000 90,800,0110 1873 1874 1875...1SS9 144iO,(IOOi 97,60U,W0 90,000,000 IKMUMIOO 6o,0U0,000 1800.....'. 119,300,000 1876., lXOt 11.1,800,000 18 7 Iti2 1I7,80U,000 IS78 1803 107,000,000 "The present rate of production is not half 'that reached in 1832. The population and 'business of tbe world and the demand for 'gold in the arts have increased much more 'rapidly than the supply of gold has de'creased, so that the proper relation of 'gold to business was being impaired m both 'directions at the same time." 'W ith a re duced proJuction of gold the value of silve is certain to advance, and its remonetization is likely to take place in all countries where only gold is the standard com. Kcssia finds out after posting her booki t'jat her little unpleasantness with Turkey has cost !J88,000,000 roubles, which Is about $G00,0O0,0)0. Now, then, what does she get for this round sum? In fact she eta nothing at all. "Slis gains," says the Brooklyn Eagle, "not a foci of European Turkey, not a single 'addltionU privilege in the Dardanelles, and 'nothing in Asia that adds to the strategic 'importance of her military position, but on 'the contrary she finds two states when there 'was but one interposed between the Pruth 'and the Balkans, and the strongest of these 'states has developed an antagonism to her 'pretenses that will not be easily allayed. 'Moreover, har natural enemy on the Dan'ube, Ac stria, has. made a great gain, and 'has been so strengthened by the acquisition 'of Bosnia and Herzegovina that any move'ment njalnst Constantinople by Russia in 'the futu -e must be hopeless unless atetted 'by Austria. Moreover Turkey.while deprived 'of these provinces by the action of the con'gress, is not necessarily weakened as a fight'ing power. On the contrary, the lost prov'inces hate for half a century been sources 'of weakness. It must also be noticed that 'Russia has become distinctly pledged to 'England and the other European powers 'never again to advance her frontiers in Ar'menia. All this may be esteemed unfortu'nate for cIyilization,but that it leaves Ros&ia

'with a meager reward for the sacrifices made In the war can hardly be denied. The czar 'will be able to point to Bessarabia and say: 'We have received the strip of territory taken 'from us by the Crimean war, but he will 'not care to mention the fact that he received It neither from Turkey nor from any of her

'Crimean allies, but from the brave little 'state of Roumania, who so gallantly turned 'the tide of battle In his favor at Plevna A. 'good many Russians will hesitate to believe 'that there has been anything gained by sac'rificing the friendship of Roumania to ob'tain possession of a piece of Turkey smaller 'than Long Island, and which enhances in 'no degree the streng.h of any Russian mili'tary position. Was Bessarabia worth a billion roubles and two hundred thou-and 'lives? If it was not, where is Russia's return 'for the outlay of the war?" The republican uartv is not as a mass frier il ly to the south, though there were inoividual members enough in both houses of liberal and Irlendly disposition to have parsed ea-dly all the measures of interest to ns had the v been allowed to come up by our so-ca'lt-d friends. j ne uemocratic party or the north is theoretically friendly to the south, but a bitter experience has shown that it is always readv to sac

rifice our interests in favor of its own, and a reasonable presumption is that it will continue to do so as long as we patiently submit to such treatment. When we demand a leve Dill we are tendered instead a beautiful and sympathetic set of resolutions passed in conventions, and the dodge will be continued as long ts we send representatives to Washington who are weak and foolish enough to accept such chafT in lieu of our just aud solid demands. The - south does not need an alliance with any party, but it should be a party by itself so far as Its material interests are concerned, whatever may be the general principles it espou.ea in national matters. It should be the purpose of members of congress to legislate as if there were no south, north, east or west In all matters 1 relating to the public welfare, sections ought not to be considered. If the north sends men to congress to antagonize the t south, if the east seeks by cor.gresiional action to cripple the resources of the west; if, in a word, this sectional warfare is to be kept up, it is safe to say that the whole country will suffer. The arguments in favor of building the levees of tbe Mississippi river have been such as to create popular favor, and the same may be said wiih regard to the Southera Pacific railroad. But it will require time to place measures of such commanding magnitude fairly before the minds ot the American people, and criminations and re- . criminations between the south aid the north will not help matters. Mr. Congressman Ellis has been interviewed by the Xew Orleans Democrat upon the defeat of tbe levee bill, the Brazilian mail subsidy, and the Texas Pacific bill. He said : It Is the suprernest folly to attribute to northern demociats alone tne failure of these measures. We have as many small, narrow minded men in congress from the south as from any Other section of the Union men who are democrats and southern men ready to vote millions to improve a court house or mill creek in their own districts, but who are unwilling to vote a dollar for works of national importance and national necessity for fear f t the cry of "subsidy." 1 have found much lioerality of fueling among northern representatives of both parties towards those great measures to which you refer, and I regret to say I have found much of tbe spirit of meanness and illiberality toward them on the part of some southern members. Such men, wnen cornered. Htielter themselves behind he old democratic doctrine ot "strict construction of the constitution," and the "lack of constitutional authority to grant aid" to these great measures. Thej forget two facta: First, that even under the old regime, when the constitution was strictly construed, no one ever doubted the power of congress to grant aid to works of national importance and character, or to measures promotive or commerce. The levees, the Pacific railroad and the Brazilian line or' mail ship are measures national In Importance and character, and tending to promote our domestic and foreign commerce; and secondly, they forget that the war and its result changed the character of the federal constitution in this regard. It is gratifying to note that Mr. Ellis does not regard the failures of his favorite measures as evidence of hostility to the eoath, or as being regarded as sectional questions at all. The right of the government to expend money in a way that Mr. Ellis favors is doubted by a good many men who are not "narrow minded." They prefer to go-' Blow when millions of the people's money U asked for, and their hesitancy upon such propositions will not make them unpopular.

The Kisa of Peace. London Globe. Fishwives and other maket women have long enjoyed a reputation for truculence of speech and manner, not only in England, but in mo6t parts of the world.- A Russian colonel, who has lately been appointed chief police master of one of tbe most populous towns of one of the Baltic provinces, has hit upon a very novel, but truly oriental plan for the civilization of these irritable dames. He knew tbat preaching a moral homily would be of no use whatever where tbe hearers were two women who were cursing one another at the rate of 120 words a minute, and who were only prevented from tear- " ing one another's faces by the strong arm of police. ''You must be locked up in one and the same cell until yon have kissed each other." This was invariably the sentence of the new magistrate in every case of female broil which was brought before him. He knew very well that although kissing one another is a habit with male Russians, it is not much In use with the women of .Mcs covy, least of all with the fishwives. The excited ladies were hurried off, railed for a time louder than ever, protested that they would die sooner than give this humiliating sign of reconciliation, and then, after a few. boars' confinement, called the jailer, and informed him that they had "kissed." A the conciliatory act was effected In the dark for the sake of procuring liberty, and without the presence of witnesses, the fishWives were informed that they must repeathe kiss publicly in the open market place. " A small fine was then taken from each, and they were marched out into the mercantile areopsgus, and were then Compelled in the -midst of their sisters in trade to kiss each other three times, and to give a public promise of future peaceableness. At the end of six weeks, daring which period this curious penalty was frequently imposed, not a single outbreak, of a market wife battle occurred within the jurisdiction of the humorous police master. A Urewt Landholder Selling Oat. san Francisco Chronicle. . J. McM. Shaffer, one of the greatest land ab:orbers in California, has signified his intention to dispose of his immense tracts in Marion county in small sections. The benefits resulting from such a course can not be overestimated, and if other landholders would follow Shafter's example the general welfare of California would materially ira-1' prove. He evidently reads the signs of the times aright, and thinks that it is not unlikely that a constitution will .be franledl which will impose tht. burden of taxation upon the rich landowners. In such an event millions of acres of land at present held m large tracts would be forced into the market and cause a shrinkage. Mr. iShafter wants to get into the market ahead of the other heavy landowners. The male bipeds of Fort Wayne spend! their extra nickels for rides upon the street I cars. Lafayette hasn't any street cars, conj sequently her men folks have the more I money to spend for beer.j