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McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, IL), 21 Dec 1887, p. 3

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K','! lifflEiTWlBE TK« Maine Statesman Sweeping in Hjs Opposition to the President's Manifesto. "He Thinks It Extraordinary, bnt Fa- roru Repeal of the Taxation V ; on Tobacco. Fartifleatiana He Believes Necessary, ant Would Spend Money "77 on Them. The New York Tribune prints a long in- ' terview with the Hon. James G. Blaine on President Cleveland's message. It was taken in short-hand under the direction of the Tribunes Paris correspondent and sent by cable. It is as follows: "I have been reading an abstract of the PresU dent's message, and have been especially in­ terested in the comments of the London pa­ pers. Those papers all agBinrr? to declare the message as a free-trade manifesto, and evi­ dently are anticipating an enlarged market for lEnglieh fabrics in the United States as a conse­ quence of the President's recommendations. jPerhaps t'uat fact stamped the character of tne message more clearly than any words of mine "can." "Yon don't mean actual free trade without duty?" queried the reporter. > "No," replied Mr, Blaine, "nor do the Ixjndon papers mean that. They simply mean that the President bus recommended what in the United States is known as n revenue tariff, rejecting the protective feature as an object, and not •even permitting protection to result freely as an incident to revenue duties." "I dout know that I comprehend that last point." said the reporter. "1 mean," said Mr. Blaine, "that for the first time in the history of the United States the President recommends retaining the internal tax in order that the tariff may be forced down even below the fair revenue standard. He rec­ ommends that the tax on tobacco be retained, .and thus that many millions annually shall be 'levied 011 a domestic product which would far better come from a tariff on foreign fabrics." "Then do you mean to imjily that you would favor the repeal of the tobacco tax?"" THE TOBACCO TAX. "Certainly--I mean just that," said Mr. Blaine; "I should urge that it be dome at once, oven before the Christmas holidays. It would In the first place bring great relief to growers of tobacco all over the country, and would, moreover, materially lessen the price of the article to consumers. Tobacco, to millions of men, is a necessity. The President calls it a luxury, but it is a luxury in no other sense than tea and coffee are luxuries. -It is well to re­ member that the luxury of yesterday becomes a necessity of to-day. Watch, if you please, the number of men at work 1 n the farm, in tho coal mine, along the railroad, in the iron found- ries, or in any calling, and you will find ninety- five to one hundred chewing while they work. After each meal the sami proportion seek the solace of a pipe or a cigar. These men not •only pay the millions of the tobacco tax, but -pay on every plug and every cigar an enhanced price which the tux enables the manufacturer and retailer to impose. The only excuse for 8U0h a tax is the actual necessity under which ~the Government found itself during the war and the years immediately following. To retain the tax now. in order to destroy the protection which would incidentally flow from raising the tame amount of money on'foreign imports, is certainly a most extraordinary policy for our Government." THE WHISKY TAX. "Well, then, Mr. Blaine, would yoa advise the repeal of the whisky tax also?" "No, I would not. Other considerations than those of financial administration are to be taken Into account with regard to whisky. There is a moral side to it. To cheapen the prioe of whisky is to increase tho consumption enor­ mously. There would bo no sense in urging the reform wrought by high license in many States if tno National Government neutralizes 4he good effect by making whisky within reach of every one at 20 cents a gallon. Whisky would be everwhere distilled if the surveillance -of the Government were withdrawn by the remis­ sion of the tax. and illicit sales could not then be prevented even by a policy as rigorous and searching as that with which Kussia pursues •he nihilists. It would destroy high license at once in all the States. Whisky has done a vast deal of hurt in the United States I would try tto make it do some good. I would use the tax to fortify our cities on the seaboard. In view of the powerful letter addressed to tho Demo­ cratic party on the subject of fortifications 'by the late Samuel J. Tilden in 1885, I am amazed that no attention has been paid to the subject by the Democratic administration. Never be­ fore in the history of the world has any govern­ ment allowed great cities on the seaboard, like Philadelphia. New York, Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans, and San Francisco, to remain de­ fenseless." "But," said the reporter, "you don't think we are to have war in anv direction?" "Certainly not,"said Mr. Blaine; "neither, I suppose, did Mr. Tilden when he wrote his re­ markable letter. But we should change a re­ mote chance into an absolute impossibility. If •our weak and exposed points were strongly for­ tified ; if to-day we had by any chance even suoh a war as we had with Mexico, our enemy could procure ironclads in Europe that would menace our great cities with destruction, or lay them under contribution." "But would not our fortifying now possibly look as if we expected war?" "Why should it, any more than the fortifica­ tions made seventy or eighty years ago by our grandfather? when they guarded themselves against successful attacks from the armaments of that day. We don't necessarily expect a burglar because we lock our doors at night, but if by any possibility a burglar comes, it con­ tributes vastly to our peace of mind and our sound sleep to feel that he can't get in." "But, after the fortifications should be con­ structed, would you still maintain the tax on whisky ?" "Yes," spid Mr. Blaine, "so long as there is whisky to tax I would tax it, and when the Na­ tional Government should have no use for the money I would divide the tax among the Fed­ eral Union with the specific object of lighten­ ing the tax on real estate. The houses and farms of the whole country pay too large a pro­ portion of th.< total taxes. If ultimately relief could be given in that direction it would, in my judgment, be a wise and beneficial policy. Some honest but misguided friends of tem­ perance have urged that the Government should not use the money derived from the tax on whisky. My reply is that the tax on whisky by the Federal Government, with its suppres­ sion of all illicit distillation and consequent enhancement of price, has been a powerful agent in the temperance reform by putting it beyond the reach of so many. The amount of whisky consumed in the United States per capita to-day is not more than 40 per cent, of that consumed thirty years ago." After a few moments' silence Mr. Blaine added that in his judgment, the whisky tax should be so modified as to permit those who use pure alcohol in the arts or in mechanical pursuits to have it free of tax. In all such eases the tax could be omitted without danger of fraud, just as now the tax on spirits ex­ ported is remitted. "Besides your general and sweeping opposi­ tion to the President's recommendation, have you any further specific objeotion?" THE DUTY ON WOOL. "Yes," answered Mr. Blaine, "I should seri- . ously object to the repeal of the duty on wool. To repeal that would work great injustice to many interests, and would seriously discourage what we should earnestly encoura.-e, namely, the sheep culture among farmers throughout the Union. To break down wool-growing and be dependent on foreign countries for the blanket under which we sleep and the coat that covers our backs is not a wise policy few the National Government to enforce." "Do you think if the President's recommen dation were adopted, it would increase our ex­ port trade "Possibly; in some few articles of peculiar construction it might, but it would only increase our import trade tenfold as much in the great staple fabrics, in woolen and cotton goods, in iron, in steel, in all the thousand and one shapes in which they are wrought. How are we to export staple fabrics tu the markets of Europe unless we make them cheaper than they do in Europe, and how are we to manu­ facture them cheaper than they do in F.urope, unless we get cheaper labor than they have in ... Europe." "Then yon think that the question of labor Underlies the whole subject? "Of course it does," replied Mr. Blaine. "It is, in fact, tho entire question. Whenever we can force carpenters, masons, iron-workers, and mechanics in every department to work cheaply and live as poorly in the United States as similar workmen in Europe we can, of course, manufacture just as cheaply as they do in England and Franoe. But I am totally opposed to a policy that would entail such re­ sults. To attempt it is equivalent to a social and financial revolution, one that would biing * untold distress." "Yes, but might not the great farming class be benefited by importing articles from Europe Instead of buying them at a higher price at borne?" "The moment," answered Mr. Blaine, "you begin to import freely from Europe you drive our workmen from mechanical and manufac­ turing pursuits. In the same proportion they • become tillers of the soil, increasing steadily the agricultural product, and decreasing stead­ ily the large home demand, which is constan ly enlarging as home manufactures enlarge. That of course, works great injury to the farmer, glutting the market with his products, and tending constantly to lower prices. "The foreign demand for farm products would be increased in like ratio, would it not?" "Even suppose it were," retorted Mr. Blaine, "bow do von know the source from which it will be supplied ? The tendency in Kussia to-dn Miii in the Asiatic possessions of England is toward a large increase of the grain supply the grain being raised by the cheapest possible labor. Manufacturing countries will buy their biesd8tn&s whore they can get them cheapest, mi the enlarging of the home market for tne American farmer being checked he would sesrnh in vain for one of the same value. His tonign sales are already checked by the great competition abroad.' There never was awme when the increase of a large home market was so valuable to him The best proof is that the farmers are prosperous In proportion to (h* nearness of manufacturing centers, tal a pro­ tective tariff tends to spread manufactures. In Ohio and Indiana, for example, though pot classed as manufacturing States, the annual value of fabrics is larger than the annual value of agricultural products." "But tlioee holding the President's views," re­ marked the reporter, "are always quoting the great prosperity of the country under the tariff Of 1816." "That tariff did not involve the one destrno- tive point recommended by the President, Inameiy, the retaining of direct internal taxes jin order tg abolish indirect taxes levied on for­ eign fabrics. But the country had peculiar ad­ vantages under it by the Crimean war involv­ ing KnsJand, Franca and ltussia, and largely impairing their trade. All these incidents, or accidents, if you choose, were immensely Stim­ ulating to trade in the United States, regardless ipi the nature of our tnjriff But mark the end of this hurorean nxperience with the tariff of which for a time gave an illusory and de­ ceptive oh< w of prosperity. Its enactment was immedintely followed by tho Mexican war; then in 1 -48 by the great convulsions of Europe , then in 18Kt and succeeding years by the enor­ mous cold yield iu California. The Powers made peace in 184^, and at the same time the output of gold in California fell off. Immedi­ ately the flniincial panic of 1857 came upon the country with disastrous force. Though we had in these vesri mined a vast amount of gold in California, every bunk in New York wae com- I polled to suspe nd S|>ecie payment. Four hun­ dred mill'.ons in gold had b«en carried out of tbo country iu eight years to pay for foreign coo ls that should have been manufactured at home, and we had years of depression and dis­ tress as an atonement for our folly. It is re­ markable that President Polk recommended the tariff of 1840 on precisely the same grounds that President Cleveland recommends a simi­ lar enactment now, namely, tho surplus in the Treasury was menacing the prosperity of the country. History repeats itself. "By the way," Mr. Blaine added, after a mo­ ment's reflection, "It is worth notice that, Mr. Poln insisted on omptying the Treasury by a free-trade tariff, then immediately rushed the country into debt by borrowing $15i>,000,0u0 for the Mexican war. I trust nothing may occur to repeat so disastrous a sequnl to the poliay rec­ ommended by President Cleveland. But the uuiform fact has been for fifty years past that tho Democratic party when it goes out of power always leaves an empty treasury and when it returns to power always finds a full treasury." "Th< n. do you mean to imply that there should be no reduction of the national reve­ nue ?" BEPEAL THE TOBACCO TAX. "No; what I ha ve said implies the reverse. I would reduce it by a prompt repeal of the to­ bacco tax. and would make here and there some changes in tho tariff, not to reduce protection, but wisely to foster it," "Would you explain your meaning more fully?" I mean," said Mr. Blaine, "that no great system of revenue like our tariff can operate with efficiency and equitv unless the changes of trade be closely watched, and the law promptly adapted to those changes. But I would make no change that would impair the protective character of the whole body of the aws. Four yor.rs ago, in the act of 1883, we made changes of the character I have tried to indicato. If such changes were made, and the fortifying of our Bea coast thus undertaken at very 'moderate annual outlay, no surplus would be found after that already accumulated had been disposed of. The outlay of money on fortifications, while being of great service to the country, would give good work to many men." "But what about the existing surplus?" ' "The abstract of the message I have seen," replie I Mr. Blaine, "contains no reference to that point. I, therefore, make no comment further than to indorse Fred Grant's remarks, that a surplus is always easier to handle than a deficit." •The reporter repeated the question whether the President's recommendation would not, if adopted, give us the advantage of a large in­ crease in exports. "I only reiterate," answered Mr. Blaine, "that it would vastly enlarge our imports, while the only export it would seriously increase would be our gold and silver. That would flow out bounteously, just as it did under the tariff of 1816. The President's reoommendation en­ acted into law would result, as did an experi­ ment in drainage of a man who wished to turn swamp into a productive field. He dug a drain to a neighboring river, but it happened, unfortunately, that the level of tho river was higher than the level of the swamp. The oon- sequence need not be told. A parallel would be found when the President's policy in attempting to open a channel for an increase of exports sho'ild simply succeed in making way for a deluging inflow of fabrics to tho destruc­ tion of home industry." "But. do you think it important to increase our export trade ?" Undoubtedly; but it is vastly more impor­ tant not to lose our own great market for our own people in a vaiu effort to reach the impos­ sible. It is not our foreign trade that has caused the wonderful growth and expansion of the Hepublic. It is the vast domestic trade be­ tween thirty-eight States and eight Territories, Of each Other business as may be there pr*. eleotoia in the several States and _ without regard to past political affilia­ tion, difference, or action, who believe in the American prln. pie of a protective tariff for the defiui ind dovtlopmfBt of homd and tbe elevation of home labor; who «ooM> reduce the national taxes and prevent the ao- cunMUatfam of the surplus in the Treasury in hujRMny with this principle; who era opposed to qMjtfemptt new more openly avowed than ever Before, te establish a polioj whioh would strike down American labor to the level of the underpaid and oppressed workers of foreign lands; who favor a system of naval and coast defenses which will enable the United State* to conduct its international negotiations with self-respect; who gratefully cherish the defenders of the country; who condemn and resmt the continued and unjust exclusion of rapidly growing Territories which have an in­ disputable title to admission into the sister­ hood of (states; who are in favor of free schools and popular education ; a free and honest bal­ lot and a fair count; the protection of every citizen of the United States in his legal rights at borne and abroad; a foreign polioy that shall extend oar trade and commerce to every land and clime, and shall properly support the dig­ nity of the nation, and the promotion of friendly and harmonious relations and intercourse be­ tween all the States, ore cordially invited to unite under this call in the formation of a na­ tional ticket. ' Each State will be entitled to four delegates- at-large, and for each Bepcesentative-at-large two delegates, and each Congressional district, each Territory, and the Distriot &t Columbia, to two delegates. The delegates-at-lirge shall be chosen by popular State conventions, called on not less than twenty days' published notiee, and not lees than thirty days before the meeting of the Na­ tional Convention. The Congressional district delegates shall be chosen in the same manner as the nomination of a member of Congress is made in said districts. The Territorial delegates shall be chosen in the same manner as the nomination of Delegates in Congress is made. The delegates from the District of Columbia shall be chosen at a convention constituted of members elected in primary d, strict assem­ blies held under the call and direction of the Republican Central Committee of said District. An alternate delegate for each delegate in the National Convention, to act in c&se of the ab­ sence of the {delegate, shall be elected in the same manner and at the same time as the dele­ gate is elected. All notices of contests must be filed with the National Committee in writing, accompanied by printed statements of the grounds of con­ tests, whioh shall be made public, ^'reference in the order of hearing ana determining con- PASTIMES, The Bt Xkrais Club's Qtaek Pitcher Win Play in Brooklyn Kext •; * K Season. with a population of perhaps 60,000,000 to-day. The whole amount of our export and import trade together never, I think, readied $1,000,- 00J,000 any one year. Our internal home trade on 130,000 miles of railway along lS.Ou:) miles at ocean coast, over the five great lakes and along 20,000 miles of navigable rivers, reaches the enormous annual aggregate of more than S10,- 000,000,000, and perhaps this year 850,000,0J0,000. It is into this illimitable trad®, even now in its infancy, and destined to obtain a magnitude not dreamed of twenty years ago, that Euro­ peans are struggling to enter. It is the herit­ age of the American people, of their children, and of their children s children. It gives an absolutely free trade over a territory nearly as large as all Europe, and a profit all our own. The genuine free-trader appears unable to see or comprehends that this continental trade-- not our exchanges with Europe--is the great source of our prosperity. President Cleveland now plainly proposes a policy that will admit Europe to a share of this trade." "Bnt you are in favor of extending our foreign tiade, are you not?" "Certainly I am, In all practical and advan- fageons ways, but not on the principle of the tree-traders, by which we shall be constantly exchanging dollar for dime. Moreover, foreign trade is often very delusive. Cotton is manu­ factured in the city of my residence. If a box of cotton goods is sent '200 miles to the Province of New Brunswick, it is foreign trade. If shipped 17,000 miles round Cape Horn to Wash­ ington Territory, it is domestic trade. The magnitude of the Union, and tho immensity of its internal trade, require a new political econ­ omy. Treaties written for European states do not grasp our peculiar situation." How will the President s message betaken in the South?" 1 don't dare answer that question. The truth has been so long obscured by certain local Questions of unreasoning prejudice that nobody can hope for industrial enlightenment among their leaders just yet. In my view the South, above all se< tions of the Union, needs protec­ tive tariff. The two Virginias, North Carolina. Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia have enormous resources and facilities for developing and handling manufactures. They cannot do anything without protection. Even the progress so vast as some of these States have made may be checked if the Presi­ dent's message is enacted into law. Their Senators and Representatives can prevent it, but they are so used to following anything labeled 'Democratic' that very probably they will follow the President and blight the prog­ ress alleady made. By the time some of the Southern States get free iron ore and coal, while tobacco is taxed, they may have occasion to sit down and calculate the value of Democratic free trade to their local interests." "Will not the President's recommendation to admit raw material l,n 1 strong supporters V "Not by wise protectionists in our time. Per­ haps some greedy manufacturers may think that with free coal or free iron ore they can do great things, but if th y should succeed in trying, they will, as the boys say, catch it on the rebound. If home trade in raw material is destroyed o» seriously injured, the railroads will be the first to feel'it If that vast interest is crippled in any direction the financial fabric of the whole country will feel it quickly and seriously. If any man can give a reason why we should arrange tho taritt to favor the raw material of other countries in competition against our material of the same kind, I should like to hear it. Should that recommendation of the President be approved it would turn 100,000 American laborers out of employment before it had been a year in operation." "What must be the marked and general ef­ fect of the President's message?" "It wilt bring the country where it ought to be brought--to a full and fair contest on the question of protection The President makes it the issue by presenting no other in his mes­ sage. I think it well to have the question set­ tled. The Democratic party in power is a stand­ ing menace to the industrial prosperity of the country. That menace should be removed or the policy it foreshadows should be made cer­ tain. Nothing is BO mischievous to business as uncertainty ; nothing so paralyzing as doubt." tests will be given by the convention in ac­ cordance with the dates of filing of such no­ tices and statements with the National Com-, mittee. B. F. JONES, Chairman. SAMUEL, FESSEHWRN, Secretary. Washington, D. C., Dec. 9,18B7. , A tOTE FEIST. A Notable Gathering of Republicans at the National Capital. (Washington telegram.] Probably the most notable social gather­ ing of Republican loaders ever held in this city assembled at the chib-house of Iho Republican Nation il League on the oc­ casion of the reception tendered by the league to the National Republican Com­ mittee. Almost all the Republican mem­ ber? of both branches of Congress, as well as many ex-Congressmen and well-known Republican politicians, were present. The members of the National Republican Com­ mittee and the members of the visiting delegations here in behalf of their respective cities were in attend­ ance to a man. Flowers, national flags, and portraits of prominent Republicans abounded in all tne rooms, and placards bearing mottoes of Republican doctrines were displayed throughout the house. The main idea contained in the latter was pro-: tection to American industry and enter­ prise, and this was the keynote of all the speeches delivered during the evening. The speakers assailed the President's ut­ terances on the tariff in his recent message Chicago's Hew and Wealthy Tobog« r , . (U Oub--Othejc tie*. v f . ' • ' • ' r [CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.] Bebert Carruthers, the famous pitcher of the Browns, has returned to Chicago from St. Louis, bat at last accounts bad yet not signed a contract to pitoh for Brooklyn next season. When asked by a Chicago re­ porter, however, which dub he would probably play with next season he said: "I think with Brooklyn." "Would yoa rather go there than to Cin­ cinnati?" "No. My preference is Cincinnati, bat Ton der Ahe will not release me to Cin­ cinnati." "How do yoa know?" "He told me so. He said that he would refuse any offer Cincinnati might make, and that $20,000 would be no inducement. •^Then you will go to Brooklyn?" "Yes. I think 1 will sign there within the next three days. 1 would have signed in St. Louis had it not been for my moth­ er's strenuous objections, and I, of course, could not disregard her wishes." . "Why does she object to your going to Brooklyn?" U1 guess she thinks the company down there is a little too fast for my health. You know 1 am far from strong," said Bob, with a print "Von der Ahe won't have much of a team left, will he?" "Oh, yes. He showed me a list of the men that he expected would make up his regular team next year. They are King, Hudson, Knouff and Devlin as pitchers; Milligan and Boyle, catchers; Comiskey, Nicholson and Latham on bases; Robinson at short; O'Neil, Mann and Helliday in the outfield. Then he has two or three good new men." "What show will St. Loois have next season?" "Not the walk-over we had this year. It I could go down to Cincinnati I think Mul- Aitor, the ehief owner and beir of the great Astpr estate, w hioh is estimated at tlOO.OOu.OOO. Mrs. A&tor, who wis a Ilia* Gib be, was remark­ able for her intellectual attainments and for a eoDseientions fidelity to duty. Mrs. Astor was a very generous hoeteea, caring more for intellect and character than for there fashionable posi­ tion. although she had a proper sense of the., dignity of her salon She always entertained the distinguished visitors to New York (as the President and his wife, the foreign Ministers, and the English and French aristoenu-y). She was a very good linguist and muslciau, plnve<l the piano like a master, and spoke and wrote JFrench, German, and Italian, bhe was a deli­ cate little woman with a very high-bred oar- Irtage, and wore her splendid diamonds as if She were the daughter of a hundred Earls. "She was devoted to good works and was fond of going to read to the patients in the Woman's Hospital. She was remarkable for her choice of language, being somewhat scholarly, and had the old-fashioned manners of the ' old school. Bhe was an admirable custodian of a large fortune and an eminently religious, good woman. The only noticeable extravagance in her habits was tho purchase of diamonds. Bhe had a passion tor the precious stones, In whioh she had invested to the extent of S&O.QOS. THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Senator Cutlom Is Satisfied with the Interstate Commerce Law. >me Amend* lents Introduce to Make It Clear- Other Ke^ra, • • ftfaebington telegram.1 Senator Cullom says thnt he intends to introduce a bill at the first opportunity amending the interstate commerce law in some important particulars, I asked him what he'thought about the report of the commission. "1 have read it carefully," he replied, "and in the main its findings are sound. 1 think the commission has shown itself to be more capable than the public antici­ pated it would be when it was first organ­ ized. The decisions of the Commissioners have been about as near right as the de­ cisions of courts ordinarily are, and I am satisfied that they are more in the interest of the people than they would be if the question involved in them had been de­ cided by ordinary judicial tribunals, for the reason that the Commissioners are not re- , u ~ .u j ,» " 1 stricted by rules of evidence from getting lane, bmith aud myself could do our share ftt truth." toward making the rest of them hustle to keep up with Cincinnati. Bnt I guess I won't be there. If Byrne sticks to the $5,000, Von der Ahe sticks to his expressed determination not to let me play in Cin­ cinnati, and my mother gives her consent to my going East, 1 will put my name to a Brooklyn contract before many hours." , A question of growing importance among professional base-ball clubs is that of se­ curing good and capable umpires. It is being demonstrated more and more every year that the Bmeoth progress of a game depends more upon the manner in which an umpire renders his decisions and en­ forces the rules than upon any one else connected with the game. Several base­ ball men were discussing this question the other day in Spalding's Chicago store, and among them was Harry Palmi-r, the Chi- oago base-ball writer. "The position of an umpire," said Palmer, "in a championship game between clubs of such reputation ana importance as that enjoyed by those of either of the big organizations is without doubt the most important to be filled upon a ball field. A competent man can handle to Congress, and advocated protection to 1 almost any class or grade of players in such CHICAGO--JUNE 19, 1888. The OSelal Call tor the National Bepub- lican Convention. Chairman Jones, of the National Repub­ lican Committee, has appointed the sub­ committee to look after the details of ar­ ranging for (he National Repnblican Con­ vention next Jane. In addition to himself and Secretary Fessenden it is composed as follows: J. S. Clark son, Iowa, P. Clayton, Arkansas, C. Leland, Jr., Kansas, Howe, Nebraska, A. L. Conger, Ohio, Garrett A. Holbert, F. W. < unuv, Texas, Kew Jersey. The following is the official call for the convention: To the Republican electors of the United States: In accordance with usage and obedient tothe instructions of the National Republican Con­ vention of 1814, a national convention of dele­ gated representatives of the Republican party will be held at the city of Chicago, ill.. Toes- day, June 10, 1 -«s, at 1*2 o'clock noon, for the purpose of nominating candidates for Presi­ dent and Vice fresidentto be supported at the next national election, and for tne transaction American labor. At times the enthusiasm ran to a high pitch* Speeches were de­ livered by Senators Cullom, Stewart, of. Nevada; Allison, Hawley, and Evarts; Mr. Mnrat Ilalsted, of the Cincinnati Commer­ cial-Gazette; Delegate Plummer, of Da­ kota, and Representatives Cutcheon, of Michigan; Morrow, of California; and Mc- Comas, of Maryland. Breaking the Solid South. The party status to be developed by the message may be defined as follows: The Republicans will tacitly evade or avoid the negro alliance in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. They will prac­ tically eliminate the negro from politics, and on this line of action will strike out ta capture the white rote pronouncedly op­ posed to the President's theories. They will proceed after this method for two reasons. First, they have no cause to expect a change in the visible negro vote if it be true, as thqy allege, that no matter how cast it is never counted, save to one end. Next, should the Republican party be able to enlist the local support of the whites to any considerable extent, these woald of themselves demand the free vote and fair count of the ballots of the negroes. It may be thus readily perceived that the Republicans woald not count it a loss to suspend their traditional sympathy with the negro for their own and the negro s good, ihat this movement will be made by the Republicans there can be no doubt. QThe Democratic masses of the Union will repudiate Mr. Cleveland's theories. They reflect the peculiar conditions of New York City, whose interests demand free trade. They are opposed to the overmastering interests of the peo­ ple of the interior. The course of the President will disorganize the Democracy, and for the reasons stated it will revolutionize the policy of the Re­ publican party in the South. The decisions of the Supreme Court on the Virginia bond case, the Kansas prohibition case, and tbe Illinois anarchist cases have incalculably affected the Southern people. These de­ cisions have established the theory of State rights, and they emanate from a Repub­ lican court. These facts, taken in con­ junction, will be all the more decisive of a disruption of party ^ scipline, and all the more conducive t6 a fall and 'free discus­ sion by the people of the great paramount questions of the day.--Birmingham (Ala.) Age (Dem.). Sizing Up Lamar. I presume Mr. Lamar will be confirmed, as he in no worse than many other appoint- ments the President has been compelled to make in tbe interests of his party in the South. Mr. Lamar has been intimately and prominently connected with politi al affairs for nearly thirty years. He never has been admitted to practice at the bar of tbe Supreme Court, lie was only classi­ fied as a lawyi. nerrer having seriously en­ gaged in the practice of the profession. In Congiess before the war he was the most violent, truculent and malevolent of all the secession leaders in his violent hostility to the Union and his advocacy of the consti­ tutionality of slavery and secession. Hav­ ing been the confidential triend of Jef­ ferson Davis, and the diplomatic agent of the Confederacy, at the elose of tbe war he disappeared from public affairs and' became identified with a provincial institution of learning in Mississippi as nominal protessor of law. It is not known that he ever appeared in court in the interval between the death of the Con­ federacy and his re-entrance into pnblio life, except to defend murderers and as­ sassins who were charged with violating the election laws and overthrowing by blood and riot the political rigl ts of the freedmen of tbe South. Mr. Lamar en­ tered the Senate as the beneficiary of the most brutal and inhuman conspiracy which ever disgraced humanity. It was subsequently known as the Mississippi plan, and was the invention of his quondam colleague, the pre ent Senator, Mr. George. Mr. Lamar's political sincerity is illustrated by his declaration in the Senate that Jefferson Davis would occupy a ni he in history by the side of John Hampden and George Washington, and fcis intellectual dexterity is evident by his eulogy of Charles Sumner in the North and John C. ( alhoun in the South. H« represents everything bad in the past, dan­ gerous in the present, and ominous in the future.--Senator Ingalls, of Kansas. THOUGH years bring with them wisdom* yet there Is one lesson the aged seldom learn, namely, the management of youth­ ful feelings. Age is all head, youth all bout; age resrnas# l oath is under the do­ minion of br manner as will insure tbe smooth progress ' of the game, while an incompetent, rattle­ headed, or unscrupulous man can create chaos, disorder, and disgraceful quarrels at will. "One thing that makes me hot," con­ tinued Palmer, is the failure of club man­ agers to back up and sustain the action of umpires in demanding respect from play- •ts and enforcing the rules upon the field. I believe that there was many a fine im­ posed last year which was never collected or heard from afterward. A player who receives anhigh salary and plays an impor­ tant position may get the big head, for in stance, and once he attains that degree of mental deformity it is safe to bet that he never loses an opportunity to bluster and bully and make a spectacle of himself tor the benefit of the grand stand--and, I may add for the information of these fellows-- much to the dinguat of the grand stand 'Me?' he will say to the umpire; 'Ale? Jess wait till de game is over, cull, an' I'll set­ tle wid you.' Now, if I was an umpire would fine a man so fast and heavy that he would shut up and crawl back to bis position with mighty little of his bluster left if he gave me any such talk as that. More than that. I would tell the club manage ment that if they did not sustain me in my action they could have my resignation, and after that I would lose no time after the game in hunting up my man and giv­ ing him all the chance he wanted to 'settle wid me.' I am in favor of giving the um pire absolute control upon a ball-field. Let there be no appeal from their decisions by any man on either side--captain, or any one else. Make it compulsory for the um­ pire to fine a man not less than $10 nor more than $25 for questioning a decision, and put it out of the power of the club to remit that fine, save where it can be proved beyond all doubt that it bad been unjustly administered. Of course, any player would have the ri^bt to appeal and the right to de mand investigation, after the game was fin it-hed, but under no circumstances should he be permitted to open his lips in protest of a decision while a game is in progress." The firm of A. G. Spalding & Bros, last week gave the largest order for bicycles ever given by any house in America. Their order was for 1,500 Victor bicycler, valued at $195,000. Chicago is to have the wealthiest and toniest toboggan club in this country or Canada. A party of millionaires have just organized the "Onawny Toboggan Club," and will ereot a magnificent private club slide near the north end of Lincoln Park The slide will be the finest ever built in America, and will be 1,500 feet long, with handsome club-houses, lookout-houses and waiting-rooms adjoining. Thr e hun dred members will be admitted. The club costumes will be especially rich in de­ sign and color, and the famous "Star" to­ boggan will be used. NEWS NOTES ANDCCMlIENr. Charles Snyder, the veteran catcher of the Cincinnati Club, but now with the Cleveland^, has returned to his home in Washington to spend the winter. He looks the picture of health. U mpire Phil Powers has written a letter to President Young declining to officiate as a League umpire next season. Powers states that he is pleasantly situated in Lon­ don, Ontario, and that he will manage an In­ ternational League Club there. He also states that he could not umpire for the League any way next season, except at in­ creased salary. He closes by wishing that tbe League staff may be made of good men, who will do all in their power to pro­ mote the national game. ^ After a prolonged struggle of many weeks' duration. Thomas J. Ester rook again appears in the base-ball arena with renewed vigor. Practically he has been in retirement for a season, and many teams have been figuring with him. A telegram from New York announces that this prince of eccentricity has signed to go with In­ dianapolis, and another source of worri- ment to base-ball officials is ended. It is understood that President Soden, of Boston, has written to a friend and agent, asking him to receive from the C n- cinnati Club a figure upon Elmer Smith s release. It is further understood that the epistle stated that Soden stood ready to pay $12,000 for the privilege of buying the great left-hander. Tbe bean-eaters be­ lieve that Smith is the coming pitcher, and would like very much to see him in s Boa- ton uniform. DEATH SETS ITS SEAL. On* of Kew York's Best Known Women Passes Away. A New York dispatch announces the death, after a long illness, of Mrs. John dbcob Astor, in tbe 62d year of her age. #he <sad wn--n was tho wlflsci Jaoob Then you are satisfied with the results of the law as far as it has gone?" Yes, the value of the Commission haj been demonstrated beyond controversy, a* well as the importance of the law, and its defects are not so great as I anticipated. It was merely an experiment, but, though I am an interested observer, I judge that it has been generally satisfactory. I knew it was not a perfect bill, and had a great many misgivings when it passed, but it has run easier and been much more effective than I anticipated, which, it is only fanr to say, was largely due to the industry ox the Commission and the common-sense applt cation of its provisions. It has not proved oppressive, but has been as bencticial to the railway companies as to the public." liEGUIiATlNG IMMIGRATION. There seems to be a very strong senti­ ment in favor of restricting immigration, and half a dozen or more bills have been introduced into the Senate for that pur­ pose, nearly all of them being in the line as that proposed by Senator Palmer. Among others was one from Mr. Farwell, of Illinois, which provides that every im­ migrant coming to the United States, bo- fore he is allowed to land, shall produce a certificate of good character from the United States Consul of the district from which he comes, as evidence to show that he is capable of self-support It looks very much as if some such bill would be­ come a law at this session, and it is cer­ tain to be passed by the Senate, although it will meet with greater opposition in the House. MR. FARWEIiL'S BANK Dltili Mr. Farwell has introduced a bill, which has already been published and widely commented on, authorizing national banks to deposit railway, State and municipal bonds instead of United States bonds to secure their circulation. Speaking of this bill and the criticism upon it, Mr. Farwell said that he believed it proposed the only "method by which the country can have a circulating medium after the payment of tbe public debt, and that the safeguards thrown around the bill are unquestionably sufficient, because tbe committee to pass upon the bonds furnished as a security for circulation will oonsist of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Treasurer of the United States and the Comptroller of the Cur­ rency." Mr. Farwell has also introduced a bill to remove the tax on oleomargarine and to require the manufacturers of that article to place upon every package a label showing its character. Mr. Farwell introduced another bill to repeal the tax upon domestic and the duty upon imported tobacco; also to repeal the duty on sugar and give a bounty of 1-5 to 2-5 cents per pound on cane and beet sugar manufactured in the United States. Another bill introduced by Mr. Farwell provides for the recalling and recoining of the standard silver dollar into a coin con­ taining 541 grains. The holders of silver bullion may have it coined on the same terms that gold bullion is now coined. TO DISTRIBUTE THE SURPLUS. Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island. hM introduced a very important financial meas­ ure, which is the result of several confer-, ences between the Secretary of the Treas­ ury and himself. This bill is intended to distribute the surplus in the Treasury, and gives the Secretary absolute authority to expend the surplus both by tho purchase of United States bonds at market ratos and by the anticipation of interest on bonds al any time. With such authority as this the Secretary of the Treasury would be able to relieve any stringency in tho financial mar­ ket by opening the doors of the cash-room. EUGENE HIGGINS WILL OO. Mr. Eugene Higgins, chief of the ap­ pointment division, says that the report that he will shortly rolire from the public service is true. He will shortly tender his resignation to Secretary Fairchild, but has not as yet fixed upon the exact date. He wanted it distinctly understood, however, that his retirement was entirely voluntary, and was in no way due to tbe efforts of people who have shown so much dissatis­ faction at his retention in office. The principal reason for the proposed step, Mr. Higgins said, was bis desire to better his condition in life by going into business for himself. While not desiring to pose as a mortyr, it was a fact that he retained his present office at a personal sacrifice much longer than he intended. Another reason why be had not resigned before was that he was being assailed on all sides, and he could not bring himself to retreat under fire. All the statements made by Mr. Higgins as to the voluntary nature of his retirement are confirmed by those officials who are in a position to know, and it was added that the Secretary is entirely satisfied with his management of tbe appointment division, and has never had cause to regret his ap­ pointment. INDICTING TIMBER THIEVES. Northern Pacific *tui rurnt People Brought to Book. Information has been received at the General Land Office in Washington that the United States Grand Jury in Montana has found indictments against Thomas T. Cakes, J. M. Buckley, E. L. Bonner, A. B. Hammond, and L. J. Hathaway for un­ lawfully taking timber from the publio lauds of the United States and shipping the same out of the Territory. Oakes is tbe Vice President and General Manager of the Northern Pacifio Rai road Com- £any, Buckley is the Assistant General [anager of the same company, Bonner is a timber agent for it and President of the Montana Improvement Company^ Ham­ mond is a timber agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and General Manager of the Montana Improvement Company, and Hathaway is Assistant Gen­ eral Manager of the Montana Improve- aent Company. A Phase of Political Indepsmfran ̂ The fact that party managers and public officials show themselves so re­ sponsive to the vilest elements of society indicates great activity on the pariof these vilest elements. Their number is not large, but their zeal is hot and their purpose is strong; what they lack in weight they make np in velocity Their demands are incessant and insist­ ent ; their pressure upon the political leaders is never lightened. The betfesr classes make no such demonstration of their purpose ̂ There is little political activity among them; their numban and their weight give them little force, because there is little movement. Tiw vilest prevail over the best because they are so much more positive in their demands. They gain advantage, also, in another way. They are much less intense in their partizanship. One who watches the munioipal contests in a city where tbe two great parties are pretty evenly balanced will see that the disorderly and vicious classes are by no means we lded to either party. Their vote goes, almost solidly, first to one party and then to the other--always to the candidates that are the most satisfac­ tory to them. Their political princi­ ples are precisely those which one of our prominent capitalists has so hu­ morously avowed, and for the same rea­ son. They are no bigoted partizans, not. they. Consequently they manage, in a good many of our cities, to have things largely their own way. If the supremacy of the vilest in our municipal governments is explained by the facts just mentioned, the way oi overthrowing that supremacy is clearly indicated. A great increase of political activity and a corresponding abatement of partizanship on the part of the best citizens is urgently called for. The latter is the simpler, and perhaps the more effective, remedy. If the upper half of each of the great parties were as fearlessly independent as the lowest quarter of the party is, the rule of the vilest would speedily cease and deter­ mine. It is the confidence of the bosses that the better citizens will be steadfastly loyal to their party obliga­ tions, that encourages them to truck and ' dicker with the rabble. The knowledge that they were in danger of losing the support of the reputable people would lead them to withdraw from that alliance. The effectiveness of this remedy has already been demonstrated in several of our large cities. In these cities there is a great gain in the personnel of the government, and in the vigor and pu­ rity of the administration. The same remedy is within reach of the votera of all our cities.--The Century. Modern Progress. Our advanoe appears to be very slow, and it is only by a survey of the paal that we can at all realize the progress we have made or how largely we are indebted to new knowledge for om present degree of comfort and happi­ ness. Five hundred years ago we were without what we now consider to be many of the necessaries of life. We consumned neither tea, coffee, cocoa, potatoes nor tobacco; without these even the poorest persona would now consider themselves unable to live. Hut few medicines had been discov­ ered; pharmacy was very imperfeot. The aits of medicine and surgery were not much developed. Chloroform and quinine had not been found. Sanitary appliances were not invented. Chlo> rine, disinfectants, deodorizers, and an­ tiseptics were unknown, and we were subject to epidemics and plagues. In consequenoe also of there being no tele graph, or quick means of conveyance, multitudes of persons were starved during famine before food could be ob­ tained. No longer ago than the year 1871, through all of these causes, thousands of persons were starving in Persia, while in some of the Western States of America corn was being burned in, stoves in place of coal. Be­ ing without books or newspapers our intellectual enjoyments were few, and ignorance, with all its evil consequenoes of immorality, etc., was prevalent. In those "good old times" the weak were robbed and oppressed by the strong, crime was rarely punished and men lived more like the beasts in the lield. Ever since that period knowledge has continually increased; it still continues to grow, and every year it adds to our material comforts, our mental enjoy­ ments and our ability to act right.-- Qpw Court. Strainer's Poverty. Mr. Sumner always lived withfn his income and never incurred a debt that he had not the means of paying at the time it became due. Within his inoome he was first just, then generous. Dur­ ing his first term in the Senate he was dependent upon his pay as Senator and a little copyright money for his support, although during a portion of that time lie added somewhat to his income by lectures. In his latter days, however, he was rendered somewhat easier in circumstances by a small fortune that came to him from the successive death of several relatives. For much of his life he was a poor man in straitened circumstances, but ha would never be obliged to any one for anvthing but kindness. He would not allow another to pay any expenses that he incurred, not even a horse-car fare. In stump­ ing during the Presidential election he would never allow the Congressman in whose district he spoke, and who was to be benefited most by his efforts, to pay even his railroad fare. He was no gift-taker; he would interchange gifts as w-ell as kind offices with others, but the balance of the obligation was never allowed to remain on his side. His generosity to the servants of the house in which lie lived was proverbial. Sam Ward said that he lived like a pauper but he gave like a king. No ono can wonder that the servants even tempora­ rily in his imploy were attached to him when his consideration for, as well as his generosity to them, is fully un­ derstood. But with all he kept within his income, barely, it may be, but still within. He was scrupulously consci­ entious, and never took a doubtful dol­ lar.--Arnold Burges Johnson^ in th* Cosmopolitan. An Undeveloped Bonanza. The chief plant products of West Africa having a present economic value are, according to a new hand-book by Captain Alfred Moloney, palm oil, ground nuts, india-rubber, coffee, dye- woods, caca*, cotton fibers, and tim­ bers. Palm oil is obtained from a plant covering immense areas, and is imported to England to the value of nearly $5,000,000 yearly. A new pro­ duct is the "white African rubber," from Landolphia owariensis, in which the trade has risen during the last four years from almost nothing to nearly $180,000. Many plants yield valuable gums, and many have important medio* inal properties. There is besides, a wonderful botanical wealth whose pos­ sible practical value is not known.-- drkansaw Traveler. IS IUJMHS STATE N3WSL --Charles Dickens. Jr.. will probably visit Dceatur before xetnrning boons. --Arran&imento aae being miia for tb» organization of • stMk compnry to estab­ lish a la*g» breoa» lasto^y at Meant Yer- non. -A depth of thirteen hundred feet ban been reached by the artesian well diggers at the Pontiae Refonm SchooL He water has yet been founds --Sister Jarleth, aged! 30 yearSyanmaber of the Dominican Older, died recently al the St. Clara Academy, near Galena. Her worldly name was Julia Addason, and bar home at Oshkosb* - --Some five or six faarafies in the Stew­ art neighborhood, northwest of Yandalia, have from two to five members fit each down sick with diphthesifc. Two died re­ cently from the disease. --James Borke, a Chisago sudbaggar, sentenced for twenty years to tbe Joliefe Penitentiary for Bandbagsing E. Wilkos- key, of No. 133 West Harrison street, Dec. 29,1881. died recently of consumption. --Mrs. P. B. Bryant,, an old and in­ spected resident of Centraiia for thirty years past, died recently of heart disease. Three minutes before her death she was conversing and laughing with her friends. --According to the Hon. William I. Bow- ditch one-tenth of all tho taxes in Massa­ chusetts are paid by the women. In Rock- ford the women pay two-thirds of the taxes. In some towns the percentage is laxge, bnt for all of that these very women are not bj law citizens, and have no voice fat tbe ad­ ministration of public affairs. --For some time past diphtheria ban been prevalent at Belleville, and the au­ thorities in looking about for the causa have decided that the disease originated from the foul odors that come from Rich­ land creek, which wasv recently dammed up. The citizens are now demanding that the dam be removed. The water is stag­ nant and filthy. --Jacksonville has been sued by a matt who seeks to recover damages eatised by a runaway horse, which, be says, was fright­ ened by a bicycle. He claims that the city was guilty of neglect in not preventing tho use of bicycles on the streets. The City Attorney is in consultation with leading wheelmen and officials of the Wheelmen's League, who ate giving him points for tbo defense. • --Pensions: Sophia, widow of Isaso Saylor, Chicago; Josephine, widow of Alex­ ander W. Berry, Chicago; Margaret, widow of Andrew J. Taylor, Sanborn; H. M. Thompson, Chicago; Joseph McFloyd, Collinsville; Jacob Martin, Mi-Leansboro; John Hess, deceased, Beardstown; George Bundy, Walnut Hill; Isaae McPherson, Neoga; Thomas Ramsey, Golconda; Hen­ ry C. Gruhlke, Chicago; Samuel B. Sher- rer, Quincy; Joseph C. Williams, Decatur? Isaac Thompson, Ipava; James English, Macon; Gideon W. Shrum, Rural Hill; Alfred N. Gall, Ridgeville; Martin Steele, Steeleville; Joel Warner, Big Rock. t--A lady residing on South Main street, Jacksonville, arose from her bed in re­ sponse to the appeals from her daughter, who was suffering with rheumatic pains, to give her a vigorous application of some effective liniment which the family had been in the habit of using on such occa­ sions. The fond mother rubbed Der daughter's limbs and applied the remedy without stint. The pains soon disappeared and the daughter slept well until morning, when she discovered that nearly fifty cents* worth of cough medicine had been wasted on her rheumatism. Her pains returned as ' ̂ quickly as they had disappeared. --Algernon .Granville, who was lately sppointed court reporter and stenographer for the connties of Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt, has gone to Columbus, Ohio, where be has been indicted for complicity in the famous election frauds in that city in 1885. t , Granville is a young man of good f family who has lived in Decatur . nearly a year. He alleges that be was not the chief offender in the fraud ; that was practiced, but that he protested against the commission of the crime. Ho , has been afraid to go into Ohio, and does ~ so now for the sake of his family and to have the stigma removed from his name. ' His wife and child are now in Chicago. <--Hon. John Y. Eustace, Judge of the • Circuit Court for the Thirteenth Judicial District, died recently at his home in Dix­ on. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., ' Sept. 9, 1821. He was educated in Phila­ delphia, graduating from the State Uni­ versity in the summer of 1839. His family then moved to St. Louis, where he entered the law office of Charles D. Drake, as a law student. He located at Dixon in 1843, to practice law, and was elected Judge in 1857, which he lesigned, and was appointed Pro­ vost Marshal for the district in 1861, and served until the close of the war. In 1877 he was again elected Ci cuit Judge, serving until his death. In lb7G he was the candidate for Attorney General, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. --The horns of the cattle in this vicinity are dropping very rapidly, says the Lexing­ ton Review. The dt horning fever has struck our farmers and stock-raiseis, and but a few herds will escape the saw.' Lou Fieseher, of Gridley Township, dehorned one hundred head for Noah Franklin last week, besides numerous small herds fear ether parties in Money Creek Township. He has dehorned twenty-two for William Killian, nineteen for A. S. Scrogin, twen- ty-four for William Koch, for y-five for William Honseupiller, twenty for D. Daw­ son, and still the work goes on. The cat­ tle seem to suffer but slight pain during the operation, and in almost every in­ stance go to eating as soon as the work is completed. --Henry B. Thompson, a veterinary sar- geon of Onarga, became angry at a negro boy who tad called him hard names, and in bis rage Thompson rushed in\o bis house, grabbed a shot-gun, and shot the boy dead. Thompson's trial at Watseka resulted in a life sentence to the Joliet Prison, where be has just been taken. Thompson is said to be an excellent horse doctor and will probably spend, the re­ mainder of his days taking care of tbo su k mules belon ging to the prison. Joseph Smith, another life convict from Wauke- an, has just taken up his residence at loliet. There are now fifty-six life con­ victs in the prison, the oddest of whoss 'eter Zower, sentenced Irom Fr**' . > c. 16, 1868--nearly nineteen years be < ontimeut from Chicago nuarff*' even dote*,-.. . T* iiyi I

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