Ligonier Banner., Volume 32, Number 41, Ligonier, Noble County, 13 January 1898 — Page 3

A CLEW BY WIRE § - Or, An Interrupted Current. =

BY HOWARD M. YOST. | Copyright, LBQﬁ.vh‘y J. B. Lippincott Co. AARAARBARARRAARAARRAZAR RAARARAARRARRAARS

- CHAPTER XIII.—CONTINUED. - " .My old nurse insisted on'my rémaining at her house for dinner, and left me seated on the porch while she went inside to prepare the meal. : From my seat I could see the station far down the hill, through the trees. Two men were moving about on.the platform, but the distance was. too great to allow distinction of anything but their forms. - ‘ Remembering then ‘that my field~glass had been left here at Sarah’s house on the morning of my arrival, I -called in to have her bring it to me, - which she did. | o Taking the glass from the case I adjusted it to my eye and then turned it toward the station. - My sight had not deceived me even in the momentary glimpse of the'face at the iindow. i The face was Horace Jackson's; and there the fellow was now, standing on the edge of the platform,speaking most earnestly, judging by the vehement . gestures, to the station agent. .

CHAPTER XIV.

~ The rest of the day was spent at Sarah’s house. lere at’ least were quiet, calm” and peace. No uncanny mysteries, no disturbing influences ‘marred the restfulness. The old nurse herself was a certainty; no doubts.and fears wére' produced by her society. By her absolute’ faith in me, by the many little expressions of devotion to my best interests, a feeling of security was_ inspired, so that when 1 started on the homeward journey the'influence of Sarah’s peaceful abode went with me. "“The sun was hanging low, and a cool breeze had risen. I insisted * upon walking, mmreh against Sarah’s wish. But the horses had had.a hagd day in the fields, and I would not allow them to be takén from the cool clover patch. Reminding the good-hearted woman of her promise to drive over té Nelsonville early in the morning, I started up the goad toward home. The dust had been laid by the heavy shower of the ‘morning; the air was bracing; the last éong of the birds was sotnding; the patches ‘'6f woodland throug};h which L passed were resplendent in the rays of the dying sun, which shot golden shafts through the leafy masses; over all were-calm and peace and solitude. My spirits answered to the influences of mature, and in a happy reflective mood T proceeded on my way. In my mind one beautiful aobject * predominated—Florence. - With the lovely phases of the peaceful evening appealing. to the sense, it seemed natural for my thoughts to turn to the beloved one—to dwell on her- goodness, her faith, her love for

- Anticipation of future happiness, when my darling should be always at my side, should be'in my life, rounding it out in the fullness, of.content, en: grossed my mind. There were no cruel forbodings, no"vforeczrsting Jof dire events, no warnings. Even the sight of the station agent, "Skinner, cutting across the fields toward Sunset Hill, caused only -a temporary relapse from my happy mood. 2 If Skinner’s errand was with the Morleys, Florence would undoubtedly refuse him admittance after what I had toldther..” = | 4 e " By the time I arrived at my house the sun had falen behind the mountains, and only the golden rays remained in the western sky and fired the edges of the single cloud. g ~ Going up through the yard, T noticed the door to the coo¥ house was unlatched. . I had .been umnable, in my explorations of cherished spots of intérest in boyhood days, to gain entrance to the cook house.. The door had been locked, and I had not considered it of sufficient importance to ask Sonatag for the key. : “Wondering why the place should now be unlocked, I pushed the door open and

entered. L : - The recollection of a deep, dark apartment underneath, which had . been used as a root cellar during my grandfather’s time, was brought to mind by seeint that thedoorleading to thestaiyway wa partly open. Obeying a sudden impulse, I entered, and, standing on the landing, gazed down into, the impenetrable - gloom. : o Now, there was no reason-why I “should go down into that cellar; nevertheless a strong impulse urged me on. As. I cautiously proceeded a thrill came over me, samething like that which; a child feels when, impelled by curiosity ﬁquafiﬁed by fear, it is about to venture into some unknown place. 1 would probably have gone to my room and procured a candle had not this fear 4 some sensation come over me. Ilaughed at myself for experiencing it. . Testing every step before trusting my whole weight upon it, lest the timbers rotted by the dampness might give way“and precipitate me headlong to the depths below, I went slowly " down into the Egyptian darkrmess. My hand rested on the rude balustrade all ‘ the way, and when it came to the end I knew I was standing on the last step. I am probably no more of a coward than most men, and had never been ‘afraid of darkness; -but this was the’ blackest night T had ever been im-mersed-in. XReally fthere was a lesser | degree of durkness when I closed my ! eyes, for then the sensations of the glowing western sky still lingered.. - I Standing there on the bottom step,an unaccountabie fear came over me. . Probably it has been perceived from “this history that impatience regarding things which seem to have a bearing on the supernatural is one of my char: acteristics./ To feel a sensation of fear. when' there is no apparent reason for it, ‘causes disgust at what ‘I consider an unpardonable weakness. h So then I determined to chastise my cowardiee by keeping on and exploring that dark hole. ‘1 'would not allow myself to beat an ignominious retreat simply because a sensation of fear in--clined me to such a course. ;. - T took the last ‘step, aniemy feet, . rested, on ‘what seemed to, be a loose. plank, which gave wuy a few inches under my weight. From the feeling of insecurity ‘this brought to me, I hraih ows s doch b ekl ey e S e e

Before I could take a step forward, however, from somewhere in that tomblike darkness, in deep, solemn tones, sounded a vcj},ei }

“Another step means death. Pause before you take it!” 2 S

To say that I was simply startled would not be true. 1 was paralyzed with fear. My hair bristled up, my heart began a trip-hamrfier action, and the blood surged to my head in a fierce tide. e

“Back, for your life!” again sounded the voice, this time-ir sterner tones. “Back, for—"| I v ~~ But I stayed not to hear more. Never had that stairway been-ascended in greater ‘haste. I fairly tumbled up, using' my hands as well as my feet. Pausing mot to close the cook-house door, I made a wild rush for my.room, intent on the one only purpose of escaping from the }mknown terror of that ho rible voice. T closed my bedroom door after I had entered, and bolted E Then I threw myself into the nearest chair and covered my face with my hands. . : Fol‘[ J(Y)me ‘time I remained so, limp, powerless and completely unnerved. The night had fallen when I again looked up, and ‘my room was shrouded in gloom. Darkness was horrible; so, Etaggiﬁing to my feet, I fumbled about for some matches, and in feverish haste lit th(fz two lamps and the candle which|were in the room. }The window was open. 1 closed the shutters and Abolteduthem. The door leading into the ‘parloxf.where my grandfather’s body had reposed in the coffin. waiting for burial, so -many years ago, was also open, fand in my wrought-up imagination specters of the dead seemed to pass before it. There was no bolt to this door guf, not feeling satisfied in having it simply latched, by great-effort 1 ‘sh’ovel] a tall chest of drawers against it.

Even' thus barricaded-thére was no fceling of safety,- There was no knowing what fearful mystery might come up through the floor from the walledup cellar beneath. . ‘ - The experience just passed through was ino:ugh to frighten anyone. DBut it was not that alone which caused sucli a con‘plete demoralization of my nerves and iﬂo absolite a terrorism of all my faculties.” There yas 'something more 3 | - 3 ", a than [ the demonstration just encoun_teredi‘ something from within myself.

! :Looking back to the time now I realize. how true it is that often coming events cast their shadows before.

. Af:ﬁr awhile I began to realize more ‘and more that the intensity of the fear which had swept over me was mnot wholly _ caused by the sound of the voice ‘ox the attendant circumstances. I scouted all idea of a supernatural origin; Lﬂllt,,tllen,.\\'llat wasit? ’ ; The season of the year had arrived when| the farmers had abolit completed .» \l/{; ) i :'fl;k’ $ i & : %;\ Q'%\\’\_i) . N PR | > = | \"'?\“"’-'-"-“f~“wl- A t ’ , PR ] | At R Lok : RN ’\ - g RS / gl '\s \} ¢ b ’/(////’ )\\\\\ :/'/ | s B i 5 g 3 e\ 8 oo Q| | 'M\ / ‘ Jk. ik 1\ ““Back for your lite!” e the garnering of an abundant harvest, and therefore a feeling of content abounded. The countryside was overrun by tramps, the members of the dusty fraternity well knowing that food was i‘:;ever denied a hungry man by the well-provisioned farmers. Perhaps the cook-house cellar was a rendezvous for a number of tramps. I was so eager to arrive at some explanation of the event which would have a wholly materialistic bearing that the absurdity of a man seeking a resting-place in a damp foul cellar, when a much more comfortable bed might be secured out at the barn amid the hay and straw, did not strike

Then, too, the place would undoubtcdly lose a degree of horror if a. light was introduced. So, seeing that my pistol was in; my pocket, and taking the candle and some matches, I again made for the cook house. Having resolved to descend again into the mysterious gloomﬁl, I did nov allow myself to pausa and think; that would mean perhaps a return of my fright. Imust plungeinto the mystery suddenly, or not at-all. 1t ij like taking a cold-water bath; the longer one waits the harder to make thé ‘plunge. L e Inside the cook house I iit the candle and, taking the pistol from my pocket, approached: the stairway. About again to descend, the recollection of my first experience came to me in aq the force of its unearthly qualities, and I was seized with a trembling fit. My knees smote together, and my hand shook so that the flame of the candle was nearly extinguished. - The return of my fear, however, made me a}l the more resolved to go on. I gritted my teeth, and, advancing my pistol .in readiness, slowly began the descent. Not a sound greeted my ears save That made by my own footsteps. After reaching the-bottom step I held the cimdle aloof and gazed expectantly aroudd. , o

The room was about 20 feet square; the flat stones with which it was paved and the surrounding walls were slimy with meisture, and here and there reflected back the light of the candle. Thateﬂvas all. No human being was'in sight, not a sign of one having been ..herej ko )

At my feet a part of the stone pavement had been removed and a plank inserted. Lying near the edge of the plank was a paper with some printing on the outside, like that on a bond or deed. I stepped down upon the plank, and again noticed that one end sank under my weight. Stooping down. to pick up the paper, my ears were again assailed by the solemn admonition seeming to come from the o#aposite side of the cellar: *‘Another step means death. Pause before yout&keh!" boe xS i e ‘. Gr%bing the paper, I quickly resumed an upright position, and, holding the candle above me, gazed intent1y in the direction of the volce. There

was nothing but the walls around me. With cautious tread I took the forbidden step. i , “Back, for your life! Back, for your life!” The words were hurled at me in fiercer tones than before. ‘ I advanced another step, and still lived. Waiting a few moments, with attention strainéd to fix the.spot whence the voice sounded, and being given no further warning, I began by the light of the candle to search the place closely with my eyes. Where could the voice have come from? No possible hidingplace appeéred; nothing but the bare walls. : '

Moving the candle about, it struck me that there was a space in the wall opposite which did not reflect back the light, which did not have over it the dank green ooze. When I approached nearer, two cracks running parallel perpendicularly, and about two fect apart, became apparent. Iran my hand over the intervening space, and found it smooth. A close examination revealed to me what seemed to be some kind of a wooden door, rudely painted to represent the surrounding stone walls. But there was no sign of bolt, latch or hinge. If this was a door it must close with a spring lock which was on the other side., But then how was it opened? Rapping upon the wood produced a hollow seund. Undoubtedly there was some kind of apartment behind it.

What was it used for, and where did it lead to? Was there a passage way behind the door leading to the walledup .cellar under my bedroom? This was probable, as the door was in the wall nearest the main building. Some one had gone through the door on the night of my arrival, and, startled by the pistol shot at my reflection, had allowed it to slam.

Stahding before the place and reasoning thus to myself, I noticed a small hole between fwo stones at about the height-of my chest. Resting one hand on the edge of the door frame, T stooped down-to examine it more closely. ,

Immediately there was a blinding flash right in my eyes, a hot flame almost burning my cheek, a loud report, then total darkness. The candle was shattered in my hand. There was the smell of burnt powder, and my lungs told me of the smoke which filled the cellar. Half stunned, I groped about for the stairway, but it was some time before I located it and ascended.

The soft, pure air outside partly re\'i?ged me, and I managed to drag myself across the yard to the mainbuildingand so to my room. On the first occasion, terror had lent fleetness to my feet; now they seemed weighted with lead. A numbed indifference to my surroundings was over me. I was heavy-head-ed and drowsy, so much so that I fell asleep. i ': I awoke suddenly, with a start that brought me to a standing position. A glance at my watch told me it was past nine o’clock, and that I had slept two hours. When I put back my coat for the purpose of réplacing the watch in my vest pocket, a rustling of paper attracted my attention. -

_ This brought to my mind the piece I had picked up in the cook-house celi]ar and hasti?ly"thr-ust into my coat.pocket. I took it out and examined it. ! . Among the securities lost by the bank in -the robbery was a batch of Morgan county refunding bonds. There had been 100 of them issued, each of $l,OOO denomination, and the bank had purchased the entire issue.

The paper picked up in the cookhouse cellar, and which I now held in my hand, was one of those $l,OOO bonds.

CHAPTER XV

How did the bond which was stolen from the Safety Security company over a year ago get into the cellar of an old country house belonging to a formgr employe of the bank? Who coulﬁgﬁave dropped it there, and where were the rest? Was a trap laid for me? Sonntag, Skinner, Jackson, the unexplajined and curious relation between these three, the walled-up cellar, the underground passage undoubtedly leading to it, and so safely guarded—what could’ it all mean? Was it possible that my old house was the receptacle of the stolen property, and [Sonntag, Skinner, even Jackson, the gang, or a portion of it, had perpetrated the robbery .= i g o If this was true, then there was an attempt being made to furnish some proof which would throw conviction upon me. ° |

- Was -this the mystery which surroundéed me? Single-handed, how ¢ould I hope to cope successfully with it?

Jake Hunsicker and his wife were to be depended upon as far as their judgment and ability went. I thought of Mr. Morley, who; being a -trustee of the bank, would naturally be interested in the affair. But that gentleman’s own evident troubles, and the unwillingness to add a greater load to the already overburdened man, turned me from the idea of aid from that direction. !

There 'was anothér one, and the thought had no sooner come into my head than I proceeded to follow it up.

Stealing cgutiously from the house, I went out to the barn'and sad%:d the horse, mounted, and was soon ®aring down the Sidington road.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

Consanguineous Marriages.

The results -of consanguineous marriages have been differently regarded by various authors of note. Esquirol attributed to them a predisposition to insanity among the descendants. Meniere asserts that in. the majority of cases deaf mutes owe their infirmity to the ties of relationship between their parents. Lucas thinks that these marriages are a cause of degeneration in the human race, producing mental dullness, brutality, insanity, impotency, ete. Liebreich states that consanguinity is frequently the. cause of pigmentary retinitis among the descendants. Rayraud ranks it among the conditions which may produce albinism. On the other hand, some authorities have explicitly declared themselves in favor of such marriages, and assert that they are not at all injurious, and that generally they give good results. In the faee of such extreme opinions it is perhaps not astonishing that there are to be found names of equally high repute among those who affirm that these marringes are productive of both good and evil results, depending on whether or rot aAnmy oonstimonal disease affects eithe= party.—N.-Y. Tribune. In the parlance of the soldier in the regular service, field musicians are “rind falmera®. . . o

THE LATEST FASHIONS.

Plaid Silk Umbrellas Are Carried by the Lady of Fashion. ,

Gown for the Sleepers—Solution of the Problem Which Has Always Confronted the Woman

Traveler,

fl§ y;u, wish to be recognized as a lady of fashion, carry an umbrella of plai e ‘ , ella of plaid

If you are a traveler and find your umbrella continually missing, get one

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The three ideas mentioned above are the newest in umbrellas. With the umbrella of plaid silk should be carried a tiny purse of the same material swinging from the handle. Many plain umbrellas, too-good to lay- aside, are brought up-to-date by means of homemade covers of plaid silk. e

Dresden handles are little used. Old ivory, shading from white to brewn, is popular, as well as natural wood. Many of the wood handles are made from imported materials, inlaid with gold. Shafts of mother-of-pearl, traced with gold or silver filagree, appear‘on some of the handsomest umbrellas: Be sure that the handle of your umbrella is small. .

.. The true lady is always supposed to present herself with two letters of introduction—neat shoes and well-cared for gloves. Added_tb them, however, should be an equally important item—the handkerchief. ) .

For the true lady.doesn’t carry any but a linen hardkerchief, if she can

0 3 é/“%’/‘ ﬂl‘“'t N S 2eO i ; "'.’}k v s b 6AT \ L .. 'L;',:‘ .&L’ng ';"f‘?i';’: \.‘ N 4 s T 2 '/I‘q,} S N - 2By Ty B, AN féﬁ;ﬁ%’«f%fcs"- s S - 5 (&"03 > I]'! % \ =N dﬁ % \ v}-..~ /7 10 é’—,@. N AN G 5 O : N ' ' N fj{,, Y ﬂﬁf 4 RN, N, & g : M"t ; : r&‘.\, e : A% ?ﬂ e 1200, B . P ( ) THE LATEST HANDKERCHIEF. ‘help it. And she can, no matter how poor she is, with a little extra trouble. ‘A yard of fine linen, cut in squares and E neatlyghemstitched -at-home, will make quite as many handkerchiefs as the the same money would buy in readymade ¢coiton ones. : :

"Colored borders are never used. For a dressy occasion a handsomely embroidered or a lace handkerchief may be used, but for ordimary wear nofhing more elaborate than one fancifully hemstitched or trimmed with a simple valeuciennes edge must be carried. : Monograms are ‘not popular, since they are usually too heavy for the delicate linen used in the up-to-date article. Single letters'are preferred, very small. Sometimes three initials are set in a row, but when so used they must not be more than three-eighths of an inch in height. ' Many New York girls are making their own handkerchiefs, even for the most dressy occasions. These lacey bits of work lie in a basket, where they are easily picked up, and often furnish occupation for the fingers while a caller is being entertained. The new .woman is every day encroaching upon. old/ and conservative ideas. Tight shoes and corsets fell before her rational suggestions: the bicycle was adopted by her and brought greater freedom of gown; fashions for rainy weather were assailed and practical garb introduced. ‘ She has now gomé one step further and offers a costume torelieve the woman traveler from many of the horrors of the sleeping car berth.

For years women have wrestled with this problem. Those who traveled little rarely disrobed entirely in the sleeper. The best they could €do was to discard their gowns, loosen their underclothing, put on a.mnegligee waist, and attempt .to sleep. without any attention to toilet or comfort. - i

The' frequent traveler found herself more able to cope with the situation, but even she ‘was much handicapped, and embraced with open arms the new costume adopted in England.

. It comnsists of a loose Dblouse and bloomers made of some delicate striped flannel. The blouse has a tucked yoke and a low, turndown collar. My lady dons it, removing all‘clothes beneath. She then throws about her a long, circular cape, made of some plain color, and betakes herself to the washroom, where her toilet may be arranged quite as comfortably as at home, now that outdoor apparel has been abandoned.

To be in the swim the fashionable

woman must- have a sash on her new gown, whether it be for indoor or outdoor wear. Even the tailor-made gown has a sash—of plain silk tied in a four-

i ' (~ o i W 7 \‘aﬁ | &" U A & ﬂ ] s ug'v/ G\K‘ 7 g : ; \ "" 25 ' @'\ 7"’ 3 N 7 X\ "_‘ i ‘ / - (T, 4 Y 4 ¥ % ) \‘ grAN BY 8 oeN AN 0 [A\ER '/ D bl R R /i (Bl / i L P s /! , = A i x‘ ' ) L\ =] | A NEW UMBRELLA HANDLES. in-hand knot at the left side, and hanging with fringed ends to the feet. | If you arne a possessor of a genuine Roman sash you are indeed to be envied. These sashes are more highly prized thanm any other, The colorings selected areé very vivid, bright greens, blues, yellows and reds. The more delicate colors,/pink, pale blue and cream, are not popular. . E Among the daintiest sashes are those made of mc?usselin-e de soie, with belts of the samg material shirred at intervals. The sashes themselves are edged with lace, a{]d have broad, rounded ends that taper toward the belt. Other favorites are of silkk, in ex--quisitely ﬂ,o'wered Dresden designs. They are usually very delicate in tone, and have ryched velvet edges, in some rich cclnriﬁﬁ. Sashes for evening dress are long and broad.enough to cover the entire traizi. ; THE LATEST. ; In the Same Position. Little Da}xghter—-—Papa, you know how you hgld_me on your lap and tell me-stories? - 2 Papu——Yet, dear. ’ - Little Daughter—Well, sister’s beau was telling her some last night.—N. Y, Journal. } ; : - Truths of Scienece, . “Science has discovered that the human body possesses the qualities of a locomotive engine.” ! - + “Of course; my husband is always either colliding with somebody or

SILVER DEMONETIZED. - What Its Effect Has Been Upon ‘ Labor. o In attempting to answer this question we have at least two propositions to take into account. 1. Has the demonetization of silver in any way contracted the volume of the national basal on redemptive money? 2. If so,” has it embarrassed the wage earners-of our country ? L There can be no doubt in the mind of any intelligent observer that if onehalf of a nation’s, or the world’s, redemptive money is destroyed, the remaining half will appreciate in value and become more difficult to obtain. IHence all commodities used in the exchange for the limited amount of money must.be increased in a corresponding volume: L This has "been recognized' by both politicians and business men. Mr. James Dobson, in an address before the Manufacturers’ club, in Philadelphia, said: “We are now presented with a condition, not a theory; a condition SQ‘ far reaching that unlessa change takes place in the near future it will bank- | rupt’one-half of the producers of the)i wealth of the” country; a condition wherein the seller sells under. fear: i the buyer buys without confidence, and | the creditor apprehends a loss on his principal. This condition of affairs is due, "in my judgment, to other than natural causes. I allege that itis due ‘to the demonetization of silver, to the contraction of our currency, to making one dollar do the purchasing power of two.” . i :

John Sherman, in a speech in 1896 touching the effect of the demonetization of silver in Germany, said: . “THe erroneous effect of the law I suppose is felt by every man, woman and child who buys or sells anything. There is no act of any parliament that has had so wide-reaching effect as this act of the ‘German parliament. The amount of coin in the world is estimated by Mr. Seyd and other: technical writers at $3,200,000,000 of silver and $3,500,00,000 of gold. A struggle for the possession of the gold at once arcse between all the great nations, because everybody could see that if the $3,200,000,000 of silver was demonetized and $3,500,000,000 of gold coin made the sole standard it would enormously add to the value of gold.” Mr. Sherman ought to have taken this into consideration when he aided the men of Lombard and Wall streets in the demonetization of our silver. : :

Economic "writers in all ages have recognized -that a contraction of the nation’s money supply has‘a tendency tc paralyze trade and cause a fall in the general level of prices: On the other hand, anh increase of the money supply will check a decline in prices, and, if sufficient, cause them to rise,

John Sherman said in 1869 before s‘ilver was demonetized: “The contraction of the currency is a far more distressing opeﬂation than the senators suppose. Our own and other nations have goine through the operation before. It is not possible to take that voyage without the sorest distress. It means the ruin of all dealers whose debts are twice their business capital, though one-third less than their actual property. It means the fall of agricultural production, without any great reduction of taxes.. What prudent man wvould dare build a house, a railroad, a factory or a barn with this constant fact before him.” L 8

John G. Carlisle, ex-secretary of the trgasury, said, in an address February 21, 1878: ‘“‘The conspiracy which seems to have been formed here and in Europe to destroy by legislation and otherwise from three-sevenths to one-half the metallic money of the world is the most gigantic crime of this or any other age. The condition of such a scheme would ultimately entail more misery upon the human race than all the wars, pestilences and famine that have ever occurred in the history of the world.” Yet this man at a latter date used his influence in helping rivet these fetters on the limbs of American enterprise and labor. ; Hume, one of England’s ablest and most. reliable historians, says: *“We find that in every kingdom into which money begins to flow in greater abundence than formerly everything takes on new face, labs® and industry gain life, the merchant b¢comes more enterprising, the manufacturer more diligent and skillful, the farmer follows his plow with greater alacrity and attention. A nation whose money decreases is weaker and more unable than another nation which possesses mo more money but is on the increasing hand. Falling pricés and misery and destruction are inseparable companions.”

That the demonetization of silver has lessened the volume of our redemptive money and contracted the volume of our currency is @ fact without an interrogation point and that there has been a fall in the general level of prices is algo apparent. As labor must necessarily ‘e paid from the profits of what it produces from the soil, the mines and the shop, a lessened price for these products will carry into the hands of labor a lessened amount of wages. A decrease in wages takes away. the akility to purchase goods. This reduces consumption and consequently lessens the demand for the products of labor. ‘lHence the army of the unemployed enlarges uitil it threatens the peace. of the state and becomes also a menace to those still having employment. ST

Employers knowing that their em-. ployes cannot be independent except so far as théy are protected by unions the wage scale is forced down even farther than it would be necessary’ from the natural fall of prices, distressing the wage earner more and more as the level of prices descends the scale. - g . ISAAC W. HIGGS. False Promises of Republicans. When the New England cotton mills first -began to feel the competition of the south the republican politicians asserted shamelessly that it was foreign competition. They told thé thousands of cotton workers in New England that the Wilson tariff was harming them; that when it was repealed they would be prosperous; that Mr. McKinley’s election meant increased wages for them. Mr. McKinley is now nominally president, the Wilson tariff has been replaced by a republican, measure; the cotton mills o New England have their protection. Yet the wages of the employes are to be reduced ten per cent. on New Year’s day. ' More cuts are: promised in the next few months. Worse still, the dmm’&mm to be permemeiity - 000

HOW FREE SILVER WOULD WORK, Adliiil_q!onh of the Indian Govern- " ment on This Poinft. <7 The British government has published the “Correspondence Respecting the Proposals on Currency Made by the Special Envoys from the United States.” The answer of the gofernment of India to the proposal to open the mints at the ratio of 151, to 1 is that it would re-sult-in a rise of prices in the present gold-price countries, and a fall of prices in India and in the silver-price countries. Prices in India are about midway between the silver prices and gold prices, that is to say the closing of the Indian mints in 1593 was to keef the average of prices -on a level with the gold prices of England, and as the gold level has sunk about 25 per cent. the Indian level of prices has fallen correspondingly.” s As to the effect of the fall in pricesin ladia should bimetallism be es.ablished at 16 to 1 the government of Indiasays: “It is enough to kill our export trade, for the time-at least. ¥ * * We presume that France and the United States contemplate with equanimity the possible effects of the c¢hange of prices (rising priees) upon their trade and produetion generally, while it“is manifestly impossible for us, affécted as we are in the opposite direction, to take the same view, ¥ ¥ % i _ “There is.no doubt that the effect would be to throw some branchesof theexport -trade of India and the industries connected therewith (the planting industries, for example), into the most depressed condition for some time at least. The period of depression might be long or comparatively short, thougth ‘there are authorities who are inclined to attribute a permanently disastrous effect to sueh a large and suddenTise in exchange, and to apprehend that Indian commerce might be utterly shaken by the change. * * * ,: “The anticipated fall in prices'is one that will adversely affect both our rev‘enues and the general condition of the agricultural classes in the country.” -_’ﬁhgii‘eadex‘ will observe that the Indian government admits the eclaim of bimetallists of the United States. namely, that for us to entef upon the free coinage of silver at 16 to 1 would cheek the exports from silverzusing countries and stimulate our exports in a eorresponding degree. -Among the exports of Tndia ate wheat and cotton. The exports of ‘these has been stimulated and is being stimulated by gold prices falling while silver prices inlndiaremained stable or slightly rose. For us to enter upon the free coinage of silver would ‘reverse these conditions, namely, check India’s export trade and so tend to raise the gold price of wheat and cotton, and at this higher price we would supply.our-wheat.and cotton. . The question is, have farmers and the other producers of the United States the intelligence to recogmize the importance of the admissions of the government of India? And the Indian government spéaks from experience, for.in 1890, when the United States increased ‘her silver purchases and so increased the value of silver, the result in India was that"“the falling prices which they experienced checked her exports and stimulated imports into India. Such is thie statemrent,in Appleton’s:Annual for 1891, title India. * - .

GEORGE H. SHIBLEY.

POINTS AND OPINIONS

' _Hanna’s friends are confidént he will be returned to the senate by a fair majority. ‘At least, what Mark checks off gs a fair figure.—N. Y. Journal. '

" ——The Dingley robber tariff organs ought to explain the reduction in the wages of cotton mill workers in New England.—lllinois State Register. = ——The reputation of the ,country wotild not be injured so much by the resignation of Secretary Sherman as by the election of Mark Hanna. The fewer Ohio republicans there areinm oifice-the léuder the American eagle will be entitled to scream.—-Kansas City Times. ‘——Qhio.republicans again show evidenee of conscientious scruples against, continued subservience to Hanna. But~ Hanna smiles and pats what he thinks i the actual working conscience of lat-ter-day Ohijo republicanism strapped down in his pocket bill-book.—N. Y. World. .~ > , ——The tactful Forakerites have Mr. Hanna at their mercy. They can either defeat him or let him in if he will,pay a large enough ransom. This is the exact situaticn Mr. Hanna is in. If he is bpads en it will be because money wouid not save him. If he is elected it-will be Lecause he corrwpted his enemies.—Columbus (0.) Press. : . ——Another blessing of the Dingley bill! . |As this measure makes the neces- - saries of life higher than heretofore the Fall River cotton operators have about decided -that they can’t afford to strike and will: probably accept the proposed cut in wages. So we are still within the limits of -the peace and prosperity - zone.—lndianapolis- News. - e —__President McKinley has been pardoning bank wreckers at the rate of one every three weeks ever sinde he Lias’ been in office. The theory of these aces’ is that the president must have material at hand for some more “persiual appointments.” The supply of unconvicted scoundrels appears to be inade-q;'late:.—-l\ﬁnhea_polis Times. - ) .—,——FThe"T:average‘»ad valorem preteetion on cotton manufacturers under the : Wilson law. was 43.75 per cent. The Dingley law -increased it to 52.23 per cent:, which is almost: prohibitory. Thus the duties on cotton have gene tn nine per cent. and the wages of the cotton operators go déwn 11 per ceut. Pro{ection may protect something or scanebody, but it doesn’t protect laber.— Rochester (N. Y.) Herald. - = -

- — ' Hanna’s Tow is a hard one, iu the ‘hoeing of avhich his hand wiil be sus-. tained by the president of the United States,” who plumes himself upon being ~a champion: of the merit system. Ris hand will also be sustained by Grosvenor, who plumes himself upon beinyg “an opponent of the merit system. Asto ‘Haana bimself, he is for any systém ar ~no system.that will make him seunstor of the United States from: Ohio.—(Chi“eago Chronicle. : . . ——Hanna and his lieutenants appear - to have awakened at last to the situation in Ohio. - They no longer eclaim Hanna's election as assured; they admit that he lacks two votes of eleetion now, and although they assert their ability te whip the recalcitrapts into line, there is an absence of the tone of assurdnce so eonspicuously marking ‘Hanma claims just after election. Meun‘time Kurtz is saying nothing, but his woodpile grows apace.—Albany Argug,