* * * *
PHANTOM SHIP * * * * *
*
*
-OR
The Flying Dutchman.
.
-BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT.
CHAPTER XXII. ( Continued. )
The Utrecht sailed with a flowing
sheet , and was soon clear ofthe Eng
lish Channel ; the voyage promised to
bo auspicious , favoring gales bore them
without accident to within a few hun
dred miles of the Cape of Good Hope ,
when , for the first time , they were be
calmed. Amine was delighted ; in the
evenings she would pace the deck with
( Philip ; then all'was silent , except the
splash of the wave as it washed against
the'sldes of the vessel all was in re
pose and beauty , as the bright south
ern constellations sparkled over their
heads.
When the day dawned , the lookout
man at the mast-head reported that he
perceived something floating on the
still surface of the water , on the beam
of the vessel. Krantz went up with the
glass to examine , and made it out to be
ta small boat , probably cut adrift from
( gome vessel. As there was no appear
ance of wind , Philip permitted a boat
to be sent to examine it , and after a
long pull the seamen returned on
board , towing the small boat astern.
: "There Is the body cf a man in it , "
jsald the second mate to Krantz , as he
gained the gangway ; "but whether he
is quite dead or not , I cannot tell. "
Krantz reported this to Philip , who
was at that time sitting at breakfast
twith Amine , in the cabin , and then
tproceeded to the gangway , to where
Jthe body of the man had been already
\ ( [ handed up by the seamen. The sur-
igeon , who had been summoned , 'de
clared that life was not yet extinct ,
and was ordering him to be taken
below , for recovery , when to their as
tonishment the man turned as he lay ,
[ sat up , and ultimately rose upon his
I 'feet ' and staggered to a gun , when ,
[ after a time , he appeared to be fully
[ recovered. In reply to questions put
{ to him , he said that he was in a vessel
( which had been upset in a squall , that
Ihe had time to cut away the small
'boat ' astern , and that all the rest of
[ the crew had perished. He had hardly
made his answer , when Philip , wuu
Amine , came out of the cabin , and
Iwalked up to where the seamen were
[ crowded round the man ; the seamen
tretreated so as to make an opening ,
when Philip and Amine , to their as
tonishment and horror , recognized
heir old acquaintance , the one-eyed
pilot Schriften.
"He ! he ! Captain Vanderdecken , I
believe glad to see you in command ,
and you , too , fair lady. "
Philip turned away with a chill at
his heart ; Amine's eye flashed as she
surveyed the wasted form of the
wretched creature. After a few seconds
ends she turned round and followed
Philip into the cabin , where she found
him with his face buried in big hands.
"Courage , Philip , courage ! " said
Amine ; "it was indeed a heavy shock ,
and I fear me forbodes evil ; but what
then ? It is our destiny. "
"It is ! it ought perhaps to be mine , "
replied Philip , raising his head ; "but
you , Amine , why should you be a
partner "
"I am your partner , Philip , in life
and in death. I would not die first ,
Philip , because it would grieve you ;
tut your death will be the signal for
mine , and I will join you quickly. "
"Surely , Amine , you would not
hasten your own ? "
"Yes ! and require but one moment
for this little steel to do its duty. "
"Nay ! Amine , that is not lawful
our religion forbids it. "
"It may do so , but I cannot tell why.
I game into this world without my
own consent ; surely I may leave with
out asking the leave of priests ! But
let that pass for the present ; what will
you do with that Schriften ? "
"Put him on shore at the Cape ; I
cannot bear the odious wretch's pres
ence. Did you not feel the chill , as
before , when you approached him ? "
"I did I knew that he was there
before I saw him ; but still I know not
why , I feel as if I would not send him
away. "
"Why not ? "
"I believe it is because I am in
clined to brave destiny , not to quail at
It. The wretch can do no harm. "
"Yes , he can much ; he can render
the ship's company mutinous and dis-
uffected ; besides , he attempted to de
prive me of my relic. "
"I almost wish he had done so ; then
must you have discontinued this wild
search. "
"Nay , Amine , say not so ; it is my
duty , and I have taken my solemn
oath "
5 "But this Schriften you cannot well
5I I put him ashore at the Cape , he being a
company's officer ; you might send him
home if you found a ship there home
ward bound ; still , were I you , I would
let destiny work. He Is woven in with
ours , that is certain. Courage , Philip ,
and let him remain. "
"perhaps you are right , Amine ; I
may retard , but cannot escape , what
ever may be my Intended fate. "
"Let him remain , then and let him
do his worst. Treat him with kindness
who knows what we may gain from
him ? "
"True , true , Amine ; he has been my
enemy without cause. Who can tell ?
perhaps he may become my friend. "
"And if not , you have done your
tluty. "
The Utrecht arrived at the Cape ,
watered and proceeded on her voyage ,
and , after two months of difficult nav
igation , cast anchor off Gambroon.
During this time Amine had been un-
ceasing in her attempts to gain the
good-will of Schriften. She had often
conversed with him on deck , and had
done him every kindness , and had
overcome that fear which his near approach
preach had generally occasioned.
Schriften gradually appeared mindful
of this kindness , and at last to be
pleased with Amine's company. To
Philip he was at times civil and courte
ous , but not always ; to Amine he was
always deferent. His language was
mystical she could not prevent his
chuckling laugh , his occasional "He !
he ! " from breaking forth. But when
they anchored at Gambroon , he was on
such terms with her that he would
occasionally come Into the cabin ; and ,
although he would not sit down , would
talk to Amine for a few minutes , and
then depart.
The Utrecht sailed from Gambroon ,
touched at Ceylon and proceeded on
her voyage in the Eastern seas. The
ship was not far from the Andaman
Isles , when Krantz , who had watched
the barometer , came in early one morn
ing and called Philip.
"We have every pospect of a ty
phoon , sir , " said Krantz ; "the glass
and the weather are both threaten
ing. "
"Then we must make all snug. Send
down top-gallant yards and small sails
directly. We will strike top-gallant
masts. I will be cut in a minute. "
Philip hastened on deck. The sea
was smooth , but already the moaning
of the wind gave notice of the approaching
preaching storm. The vacuum in the
air was about to be filled up , and the
convulsion would be terrible ; a white
haze gathered fast , thicker and thick
er ; the men were turned up , every
thing of weight was sent below , and
the guns were secured. Now came a
blast of wind which careened the ship ,
passed over , and in a minute she
righted as before ; then another and
another , fiercer and fiercer still. The
sea , although smooth , at last appeared
white as a sheet with foam , as the
typhoon swept along in its impetuous
career ; it burst upon the vessel , which
bowed down to her gunwale and there
remained ; in a quarter of an hour the
hurricane had passed over and the ves
sel was relieved ; but the sea had risen ,
and the wind was strong. In another
hour the blast again came , more wild ,
more furious than at first ; the waves
were dashed into their faces , torrents
of rain descended , the ship was thrown
on her beam ends and thus remained
till the wild blast had passed away , to
sweep destruction far beyond them ,
leaving behind it a tumultuous , angry
sea.
sea."It
"It is nearly over , I believe , sir , "
said Krantz. "It is clearing up a little
to windward. "
"We have had the worst of it , I be
lieve , " said Philip.
"No ; there is worse to come , " said
a low voice near to Philip. It was
Schriften who spoke.
"A vessel to windward scudding be
fore the gale ! " cried Krantz.
Philip looked to windward , and in
the spot where the horizon was clearest
he saw a vessel under topsails and
foresail standing right down. "She is
a large vessel ; bring me my glass. "
The telescope was brought from the
cabin , but before Philip could use it a
haze had again gathered up to wind
ward , and the vessel was not to be
seen.
"Thick again , " observed Philip , as
he shut in his telescope. "We must
look out for that vessel , that sire does
not run too close to us. "
"She has seen us , no doubt , sir , "
said Krantz.
After a few minutes the typhoon
again raged , and the atmosphere was a
murky gloom. It seemed as if some
heavy fog had been hurled along by
the furious wind ; nothing was to be
distinguished except the white foam of
the sea , and that not the distance of
half a cable's length , where it was lost
in one dark-gray mist. The storm-
staysail , yielding to the force of the
wind , was rent into strips , and flogged
and cracked with a noise even louder
than the gale. The furious blast again
blew over , and the mist cleared up a
little.
"Ship on the weather beam close
aboard of us ! " cried one of the men.
Krantz and Philip sprang upon the
gunwale , and' beheld the large ship
bearing * right down upon them , not
three cables' length distant.
"Helm up ! She does not see us , and
she will be aboard of us ! ' cried Philip.
"Helm up , I say ; hard up , quick ! "
The helm was put up , as the men ,
perceiving their imm'inent danger ,
climbed upon the guns to look if the
vessel altered her course ; but no
down she came , and the headsails of
the Utrecht having been carried away ,
to their horror they perceived that she
would not answer her helm and pay
off as they required.
"Ship ahoy ! " cried Krantz , on the
gunwale , waving his hat. It was use
less down she came , with the waters
foaming under her bows , and was now
within pistol shot of the Utrecht.
"Ship ahoy ! " roared all the sailors ,
with a shout that must have been
heard ; it was not attended to ; down
came the vessel upon them , and now
her cut-water was within ten yards of
the Utrecht. The men of the Utrecht ,
who expected that their vessel would
be severed in half by the concussion ,
climbed upon the weather gunwale , all
ready to catch at the ropes of the
other vessel and climb on board of her.
Amine , who had been surprised at the
noise on deck , had come out and had
taken Philip by the arm.
"Trust to me the shock " said
Philip. He said no more ; the cut
water of the stranger touched their
sides ; one general cry was raised by
the sailors of the Utrecht they sprang
to catch at the rigging of the other
vessel's bowsprit , which was now point
ed between their masts. They caught
at nothing nothing there was no
shock no concussion of the two ves
sels the stranger appeared to cleave
through them ; her hull passed along in
silence ; no cracking of timbers ; no
falling of masts ; the foreyard passed
through their mainsail , yet the canvas
was unrent ; the whole vessel appeared
to cut through the Utrecht , yet left no
trace of injury not fast , but slowly ,
as if she were really sawing through
her by the heaving and tossing of the
sea with her sharp prow. The strang
er's forechains had passed their gun
wale before Philip could recover him
self. "Amine ! " cried he , at last ; "the
Phantom ship ! My father ! "
The seamen of the Utrecht , more
astounded by the marvelous result than
by their former danger , threw them
selves down upon deck ; some hastened
below , some prayed ; others were dumb
with astonishment and fear. Amine
appeared more calm than any , not ex
cepting Philip ; she surveyed the vessel
as it slowly forced its way through ;
she beheld the seamen on board her
coolly leaning over her gunwale , as if
deriding the destruction that they had
occasioned ; she looked for Vander-
decken himself , and en the poop of
the vessel , with his trumpet under his
arm , she beheld the image of her
Philip the same hardy , strong build ,
the same features , about the same age
apparently ; there could be no doubt it
was the doomed Vanderdecken.
"See , Philip , " said she ; "see your
father ! "
"Even so. Merciful heaven ! it is
it is ! " and Philip , overpowered by his
feelings , sank upon the deck.
.The vessel had now passed over the
Utrecht ; the form of the elder Vander
decken was seen to walk aft and look
over the taffrail ; Amine perceived it
to start and turn away suddenly ; she
looked down and saw Schriften shak
ing his fist jn defiance at the super
natural being ! Again the Phantom
ship flew to leeward before the gale ,
and was soon lost in the mist ; but
before that Amine had turned and
perceived the situation of Philip. No
one but herself and Schriften appeared
able to act or move. She caught the
pilot's eye , beckoned to him , and with
his assistance Philip was led into the
cabin.
( To be continued. ) '
Snppljinjr Stationery by the Ton.
The supply department of the postal
service is an immense business in
itself. Over six tons of stationery ,
blanks , books , twine , scales , etc. , are
mailed every day from the department
at Washington. Facing-slips put
around letters and pack'ages numbered
550,000,000 last year ; blanks , over
90.000,000 ; lead pencils , 200,000 ; pens ,
13,700 gross ; sealing wax , over five
tons. The wrapping paper cost as
much as the president's salary. De
spite rigid economy , $90,000 worth of
twine was called for. Paper by the
ton , blanks by the thousand , ink by the
barrel till figures grow weak and un
satisfying. The division of supplies
occupies a building .formerly used as
a skating rink. One room contains
supplies of every blank used in every
postoflice in the country , another room
is filled with wrapping-paper and
twine , another great room has thou
sands of the 217 different articles of
stationery for first and second-class
offices.
Cinderella of Ancient Ejjrpt.
'
"Cinderella" is not entirely the
product of fiction. Princess Rhodopis
of Egypt was the first Cinderella. She
was bathing in the Nile , and a bird ,
which Strabo calls an eagle , flying
past , picked up one of her slippers , or
sandals , flew away with it , and
dropped it on the lap of Prince Psam-
meticus , who was holding a court of
justice in Memphis. He was so struck
by the dainty manufacture and small
size of the sandal that , being then in
search of a bride , he at once vowed
that he would only wed the maiden
whose foot fitted the sandal. There
were two elder daughters of the first
marriage who greatly envied her good
fortune and here we have all the es
sentials of the story.
Tarnod Down.
"I came to ask you for your daugh
ter , " said the young man who has noth
ing but what he expects to earn , "but
I can't express myself. " "Express
yourself ! " sneered the plutocratic
parent. "You don't even need to go
by freight. Walking is expeditious
enough in this case. Don't forget your
hat. " Detroit Free Press.
An Explanation.
"I would be thought more of , " Mr.
Dismal Dawson explained , "if people
only understood my nature more bet
ter. I am that kind of a guy that
never gives up when he has once
started to do somethin' . That's the
reason I've always been afraid to start
in at anything. " Indianapolis Journal.
Not n Volunteer.
"Do you go to school.my little man ? ' '
asked the smiling visitor. "No , "
drawled the hopeful , "I'm sent. " The
Rival.
France is burdened with 400,000 prb-
Hc officials , costing the state 615,000-
OCO francs a year.
WHERE THEY THEIVE
TRUSTS FLOURISH IN FREE-
TRADE BRITAIN.
Any Attempt to Cimpplo tilth Combines
by tbe Abolition of Protection In the
United States Would 1'rovo Dangerous
to Domestic Industries.
San Francisco Chronicle : Under the
caption , "The Growth of Monopoly In
English Industry , " H. W. Macrosty , In
the March Contemporary Review , fur
nishes some interesting Information re
specting trusts In Great Britain ,
which deserves to be attentively stud-
led by those misguided writers who as
sume that protection is responsible for
the movement In the direction of in
dustrial combinations so prevalent in
this country at present.
Mr. Macrosty furnishes abundant evi
dence that the phenomena is not con
fined to protective countries , and shows
that the movement is as far-reaching
in free-trade England as in the United
States. Speaking of the growth of
combinations In the United Kingdom ,
he says :
"Single amalgamations , while not
entirely excluding competition , control
the screw , cotton , thread , salt , alkali
and India rubber tire industries. In
other cases a formal agreement of mas
ters fixes prices ; thus , in the hollowware -
ware trade ( metal utensils ) prices are
arranged by an informal ring of a dozen
Birmingham firms. Similarly there is
no open market In antimony , nickel ,
mercury , lead pipes , fish supply and
petroleum. Steel and iron rails are con
trolled by an English rail ring , which
so manages matters that It is under
sold by American , Belgian and German
competitors. All the largest firms in
the newspaper making industry have
just consolidated their interests into
one large combination. In the engi
neering trades twenty-four-firms have
a subscribed capital of 14,245,000. In
1897 Armstrong & Co. absorbed Whit-
worth & Co. , raising their capital to
4,210,000 in the process. Vickers
Co. , the armor plate manufacturers
are another example of a very large
amalgamation. In the spring of 1897
they bought up the Naval Construction
and Armament company , and later
they acquired the Maxini-Nordenfeldt
Guns and Ammunition company. Now
they boast of being the only firm ca-
p.able of turning out a battleship com
plete in every respect. The most note
worthy examples of combination , how
ever , are to be found in the Birming
ham staple trades and in the textile
industries. "
This condensation is supplemented
by extended details showing that slow
ly but surely the British organizer is
bringing every possible plan of money
making within the field of his opera
tions , and that England is rapidly be
coming the home of trusts. Here is
his summing up :
"We thus see in British industry a
steady movement toward combination
and monopoly , a movement which is
the natural outcome of competition.and
therefore not capable of being prevent
ed or undone by law. "
The keen critic will not fail to note
that this admission is fatal to the as
sumption that protection is responsible
for the creation of trusts. If trusts
are the natural outcome of eompe i-
tion , as Mr. Macrosty avers , then the
evil cannot be attributed to a policy
which has the effect of restraining the
area of competition. We may add that
this view , that competition is respon
sible for combinations , has found ex
pression in the works of such distin
guished free traders as J. Thorold
Rogers , and that it is only the
"feather-weight" economists , fighting
under the Cobden banner in this coun
try , who have sought to fasten the re
sponsibility for the evil on protection.
Not only is protection not responsible
for the trust evil , but it may be claimed
that it offers the only remedy for its
suppression. We venture to say that
no protectionist will assent to the prop
osition that combination is "not capa
ble of being prevented or undone by
law , " but it is natural enough for a
free trader to assume that the evil is
irremediable , as Mr. Macrosty does in
his closing sentence , in which he says :
"Nevertheless , with the weapon "of
state control in hand , combination may
be welcomed , and if control proves in
sufficient , state purchase and public ad
ministration remain behind. "
Protectionists , accustomed as they
are to the idea of regulation , will not
hesitate to resort to the most drastic
measures if they find it necessary to dose
so in order to stamp cut the evil. By
carefully limited the area of competi
tion to their own country the states
men of a protective nation can con
trol trusts , but that will be found an
impossible achievement in a free-trade
country , for the simple reason that the
attempt to prohibit combination in a
land with wide-open trade doors will
prove destructive to domestic indus
try.
TIio Triumph of Intelligence.
A communication recently sent from
London to an American commercial pa
per contains the following :
"Practically all the equipments of
new London electric railways , includ
ing elevators , are brought from the
United States. There are many outward
signs of this American invasion. A
large proportion of things advertised in
papers and magazines the Americans
recognize as home products. One big
hotel in the commercial quarter has a
whole wing given up to sample rooms
of American drummers. They show
machinery , novelties and manufactured
articles of all kinds. Nor do these ad
vance agents of Yankee prosperity con
fine themselves to one hotel. Some of
the pioneers are reaping a harvest.
Amerlcan shoes sell at CO per cent over
New York prices , and bicycles and
other articles are also well up. An
outcome cf this movement , already ap
parent in some quarters , Is that Great
Britain Is urged to impose a tariff to
save her home market from her new
est rival. "
This state of affairs goes to show that
the cheapest products , considered as to
their selling prices , are today , in a
large number of cases , the products of
the highly paid and intelligent labor
employed in the protected industries of
America. We are now having a prac
tical realization of the protectionist
claim that protection will , In the end ,
mean cheaper production than would
be possible under free trade , because
protection means intelligent labor. As
President McKinley once said :
"A revenue tariff cheapens products
by cheapening men ; a protective tar
iff cheapens products by elevating men
and by getting from them their best la
bor , their best skill , their best inven
tion. "
Satan Kcbuklns Sin.
What did the Democrats ever do
when they were In power to restrain
the developments which they now af
fect to deplore , but at which they se
cretly rejoice , recognizing , as they do ,
in them a possible chance of salvation ?
They never did a thing. On the con
trary , it was while the Democracy was
in office that the seeds of the growth
we see going on were planted. The
great sugar trust , which was one of
the first to be formed , was little less
than a Democratic organization. Its
contributions had assisted Grove/
Cleveland's election , and it is an open
secret that by way of reward it was
permitted to dictate the sugar sched
ule in the disaster-breeding tariff bill
to which Professor Wilson gave his
name. The Democracy denouncing
trusts will be strongly suggestive of
Satan rebuking sin.
The position of the Republicans is
much better. The only anti-trust law
upon the federal statute books , the so-
called Sherman law , was a Republican
measure , and in the anti-trust legisla
tion of the states it Is the Republican
states which have consistently taken
the lead. If the Democrats cannot find
any other issue upon which to unite
than one upon which all politicians of
whatever allegiance are agreed , their
straits must indeed be desperate. Ex
change.
Too Good a Thing to Drop.
John Bull Now that we're getting to
be such warm friends , isn't it about
time to drop that foolish tariff of
yours ?
Uncle Sam Thanks , Johnnie , for
your assurances of friendship , but that
foolish tariff has proved too good a
thing to drop. Why don't you try it
yourself ? There's millions in it !
Yearninsj for Soup House roller.
Two hundred day laborers of the
Mount Vernon Car Manufacturing
company have received a 10 per cent
advance in wages. The works were
closed down much of the time early
in the nineties for want of orders , but
now it has contracts for building 1,700
new cars , in addition to those upon
which the men are at work. Business
men , farmers and others in that vi
cinity claim that local conditions are
improved by the expenditure of thou
sands of dollars of wages , monthly , in
the city , but others who earn nothing ,
build nothing , pay nothing , and do
nothing but talk and long for the re
turn of the soup-house policy party to
power , are not happy at the outlook ,
and bear upon their forlorn visages the
unspoken prayer of "give us calamity
or give us death. " Carmi (111. ( ) Times.
The Goieminent Cunlil 1'siy.
McKinley solil 3 per cent bonds to
the people ; Cleveland sold 4M ; per cent
bonds to a syndicate of bankers. The
total of our public debt is a mere baga
telle compared with our wealth and re
sources. The continuation of the Re
publican party in power , which would
mean continued prosperity , would en
able the government to pay it off in ; i
few years. Western ( Neb. ) Wave.
"Will > 'cctl the Doctor.
The balance .of trade in favor of the
United States is at the present time
fifty-four million dollars a month. Un-
Jer the Wilson bill and the Cleveland Pi
administration it was less than seven Piei
millions a month. A little argument of eiP
this kind will make a Democrat sick ir
enough to call In the family physician. fc
Lawrence ( Kan. ) Journal.
U
A In ays True to Its lu
The business and finances of the nation ill
illA
tion always have been in satisfactory A
shape when the management of gov-
srnment affairs is intrusted to the Re iff !
publican party , the only national or cr
ganization which ever has demonstrat cr
ed its capacity to conduct them success tn
fully. Springfield (111. ( ) Journal. to :
of
How easy It is for some people to
idvise others hew to conduct their af W
fairs when their own show a lameut- tr ;
ible want of attention. tb
THE BRITISH WAY.
tfpon the Workingman Blust Toll the
Cost of Increasing Competition.
The Duke of Devonshire , in an ad
dress delivered a short time since be
fore the shareholders of the Furness
railway , referred to the fact that , as
he put it , "even the most enterprising
of English firms , with well-equipped
works expressly put down at the coast
for export trade , have been under
quoted in their own country by Amer
ican-made rails , " and said : "Excessive
care must be taken not to demand
overmuch In the way of increased
wages or lessened hours , lest produc
tion be made so dear that the for
eigner can cut in below our country
men. "
Americans have no quarrel with this
attitude on the part of English states
men , especially so as the policy advo
cated is not likely to result in the
shutting out of American rails. We
are more than willing to let the Eng
lish manage their own affairs. Yet
one cannot but marvel at the eco
nomic bigotry which prefers to secuse
the home market by having laborers
"not demand overmuch in the way of
increased wages or lessened hours , "
rather than to hold it by putting a pro
tective tariff on competing products.
We have had considerable experience
with that same kind of economic big
otry on the part of free traders in this
country. Fortunately for the interests
of the country , the great majority of
American workmen have not been de
ceived by the false ideas of "cheap
ness" advanced by these bigots , and
have insisted on a policy -which gives
protection to American labor and
makes good wages sure. It is not past
belief that English workmen will some
day wake up to their own interests and
demand protection for their labor and
their wages.
In Five Southwestern States.
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat , in
the course of a review of the industrial
conditions of five southwestern states ,
published in a recent issue , said that
the four years of depression had been
quickly followed by a business revival
never equaled in the history of this
country ; that this improvement hai
continued for two years , and that evi
dences of renewed prosperity were in
creasing daily. It continued as fol
lows :
"New industries have been estab
lished , having a capital of at least S14-
753,150 , and the plants are valued at
$13,230,600. The value of the annual
output of these new industries in round
figures is $76,592,456. These plants give
employment to 16,436 persons , and pay
out annually in wages $10,156.s01.
Those totals , large as they are , are
small compared with the aggregate
which a complete showing of th * com
mercial expansion in all lines would
present. There is no doubt but that
the figures would reach into the hun
dreds of millions were it possible to
ascertain' the exact amount invested 4a
commerce , manufactures , agriculture ,
and mining during the past two years
in the states thus partly covered In tie
reports received from the fifty-four
towns making up this enumeration. "
With such a showing as this , there is
little chance that these states will be
found again in the ranks of free trade.
The citizens will not be in a hurry to
give up their prosperity through cling
ing to an exploded theory.
Protection ami the Farmer.
The report of the agricultural de
partment showing the increasing ex
tent to which foreign countries were in
1S9S purchasers of the agricultural
products of the United States presents
some interesting facts illustrative of
the wisdom cf an economic policy
which promotes the foreign trade aad
domestic trade at one and the same
time. Domestic exports of all kinds
in 1S9S exceeded imports of all kiatis
by the enoromus sura of $594.242.259.
which was more than double the excess
of the preceding year , the largest re
ported up to that time. Agricultural
exports for 1S9S amounted to 78.93 per
cent of the whole , being a gain of near
ly 25 per cent over 1S97. There was.
on the other hand , a marked decrease
in 1S9S of purchases of foreign agri
cultural products as contrasted with
the fiscal year 1S97. when under th *
free wool provisions of the Wilson law
we imported $53.243.191 worth of for
eign wool , against less than sevoateea
millions' worth under the Dinglev tar
iff in 1S9S.
The American farmer had much th
best of the situation in the first eleven
months of restored protection , as fcis
sales to foreign countries mor * than
doubled the value of our imports f
foreign agricultural products , the ex
cess amounting to $314.216.14 $ . Alto
gether , the agricultural export and im
port figures for 1S9S show well for pro
tection and its benefits to the Americas
farmer.
llixrtl to Cot Oor.
A tribute to the effectiveness of th *
protective policy In adding to the g a-
eral welfare of the United States Is
paid : in a recent report of the Gorman ,
imperial commissioner at Bremen , as
follows :
"The strong tendency toward tUt
L'nited States. In spite of immigration
liaving been rendered more difficult ,
rtnds an explanation in the fact that
American Industry hns largely ilev l-
jped In consequence of the DIngley tar
, and that the demand , for o.\iv rl-
nced artisans has therefore greatly In-
reased. Moreover. Gemma manufae-
Lurcrs have. In order to save the cu -
ems duties , established branch lionets
their works.in the United Stntos , "
Facts like these are. like a bnrhttl
vire fence , "hard to get over. " Fro-
ra'le writers don't nUompt to got ovtr
.hem. They dcilge and Ignore them * .
