THE BIG &ERQUESTION GRAVE ISSUE INVOLVED IN THE PUERTO RICAN PROBLEM. It I Whether Oar Newly Acquired rot eislan Are or Ara Not Already In tegral Purl of the Ilepubllo llepuu lloana Are Klght. "Keep the real Issuo In sight, and lot the president and tho party bo judged by that," Is tho wlso conclusion of a very ablo nrtlclo In tho Soattlo Post Iutolllgencer on tho Puerto Itlcan ques tion. Obviously this excellent editorial treatment of a much discussed eubject Is tho product of somo kuowlcdgo and Bomo thinking. Unfortunately tho samo cannot bo said of a vast volumo of matter that has found Its way Into print relative to tho Puerto Itlcan topic. No writer has stated tho Issue more clearly or more Intelligently than It Is stated by tho I'ost-Intclllgencer thus: "It Is not a question whether wo ought to Impose n duty of 25 per cent or ono of 15 per cent or nono at all upon commerco between that Island and tho United States. It Is whothcr this government has constitutional power to lovy such a tax under any circumstances; whether Puorto Rico la territory to bo governed as all othor torrltory added has been, by tho dls poBltlou of congress, or whothcr Us people acquired by tho treaty of Paris, constitutional rights within tho United States that compel recognition by us nnd Icavo us no cholco but to acknowl edge tho now possessions as un Integral part of tho nation undor the constitu tion, and finally to admit them as states." Rightly" tho Post-Inlelllgonccr In sists that tho contest Is not waged on tho question whether Puerto Rlcan trade should bo frco or untaxed. Tho opposition to tho pending bill Is basod upon no such consideration. It enrcs nothing about tho question olthor of tariff or revenue. Englncorod by clov er frco-trado and antl-lmpcrialist strategists, tho movement, intended solely to "put tho administration In a nolo," has secured tho adhesion of a considerable number of Republicans who seem to bo unablo to discover tho uso that Is being mado of them. Thoy nro apparently blind to tho fact, so clearly pointed out by tho Post-Intelll-.gencor, that "Tho constitutional quostlon Is tho veal bone of contention. Tho Republic an party cannot abandon Its position upon that without reversing nil our precedents and destroying tho practi cal possibility of building up n mighty commerco in tho far cast by exchang ing for tho open door In tho Philip pines tho open door in tho vast portion of Asia under Europoan control. "Wo beltovo that thoso who havo dlfforod honestly from tho party's poli cy in this particular will agrco with It when they como to soo what la in volved; and how cunningly tho advo cates of retirement from tho Philip pines havo sought to mako that neces sary by a pretonded flgty over tho Puerto Rlcnn tariff." If only tho array of dlasontors from tho policy of tho Republican adminis tration and tho Republican party could onco grasp tho Idea that a much bigger and moro pretentious question than that of 25 per cont, 15 per cont, or no tariff at all Is Involved In tho Puor to Rlcan proposition, it would mighti ly help to clear up tho situation. MUST STAND BY PROTECTION. Wanted, a Kinging Declaration In Fa vor of the American Volley. A danger signal which may well bo heeded by thoughtful Republicans, in contemplating tho approaching presi dential campaign, is tho unfaithfulness of many Republicans to tho protective principle. Thero aro many Republican papers and not a few prominent mou who soora to seize every opportunity .to discredit tho policy which has car ried tho party to victory in tho paBt and which lifted tho country out of the slough of despond of business depres sion as tho result of tho .Republican triumphs of 1894 and 1890.' "Speak well of tho brldgo that car ries you safe over," ualth tho old ad age; but tho Republicans to whom we refer, while, as a rule, supporting tho tariff plank of tho Ropubllcan plat form in national elections, do and Bay everything in tholr power botweon times to undermine protection to American industries. How eagerly, tor lnstanco, they solzo upon tho complaints against tho trusts to domaud tho abolition of tho tariff upon trust manufactured Roods over looking tho fact that thoro aro trusts In frco trade England ua well as In tho United Btatos. And thon in tho Puorto Rlcan discussion thoy havo glvon unlimited aid and comfort to the political enemy demanding tho defeat of tho policy recommoudod by the vuBt majority of tho Ropubllcan mombora of congress. If tho Ropubllcan party dosorves well ot tho country as a business party It is largely pocauso ot its consistent roc ord'upon tho tariff. In showing a dl vision ot sentiment now upon that Is sue It 1b playing into tho hands ot tho Democrats. It tho Ropubllcan party la to ceaee to bo u consistent protec tionist party it will loso its hold upon . cue eicmont wuicn lias heretofore gly en It its chief strength. It la time to draw tho linos. Tho next Republican national convontlon must make a clear and ringing dec laration upon tho subject of protoction to American industry, and thoso who cannot indorso tho prilncipla should ccaso to bo active in tho party's affairs, For every vote lost by such a doclara tlon we beltovo two would bo gained from men whoso exporlonco ot tho benefit of protection during tho past three or four years has convinced them that it Is tho only policy upon which tho general prosperity of this country can bo maintained. Minneapolis Tribune. A DIRECT RESULT. Why Wage - Have Ineraaieri Bo Knor moiuly In the United State. In tho current nows of tho day occur two announcements of moro than ordinary significance. In a dispatch from Charleston, S, C, of March 25, we nro told that "Tho York cotton mills of Yorkvlllo, this state, yesterday announced that they would on next pay day chip 3 per cent from the annual dividend nnd add It to tho wages of operatives. Tho wages of some of tho employes had recently beon Increased 33 per cent. Theso wcro not Includod In tho In crease yesterday. President Asho saya: " 'Wo cannot help forcseo that thero must bo an end of tho prcsont boom somo day, and If wo ever get back to tho depression of a few years ago, Just as wo voluntarily lncrca&o wages now wo will bo compelled to rcduco them then.' " On tho same dato tho followlngstnto mcnt Is mado In a telegram from Philadelphia: "In accordance with their notice posted shortly after Jan. 1, 1900, prom ising an advance to tholr employes, to tako effect April 1, 1000, tho Borwlnd Whlto Coal Mining company today notified nil their miners of a general average advance of 20 por cent. Tho miners aro now placed upon a basis of CO cents por gross ton, and all day la bor Increased accordingly. This ad vance will make tho wages paid tho highest during tho past thirty years, end In some Instances the highest that havo ever existed by nearly? per cent." This Is what Is aimed at in tho sys tem of protoction to American labor and Industry namely, that thoso who work for wages shall bo tho galnors through tho profits accruing to tholr employers. As a direct result of tho great prosperity which has come to tho country slnco the election of Will iam McKlnley, and tho consequent re instatement of tho thoroughly Ameri can policy of first taking good caro of Americans and of regarding the for tunes of foreigners as a secondary con sideration, wages and employment have Increased enormously In tho United States, and tho general rato of wages Is In nearly all lines of indus try tho highest evor-knowm THE RISINQ TIDE. A Futaoua Pol toy. That something is needed for tho re habilitation of our merchant marine has been evident for a long tlmo, and grows moro alarmingly evident as our needs of commercial expansion be come moro pressing. In 1873-4 our morchant marine, though ridiculously small, represented a little more than 11 por cont ot tho steam tonnago ot the seas; last year It represented a very little moro than 4 por cent. In tho samo spaco of tlmo tho steam tonnage ot Germany has rlBen from about 4 per cont to moro than 8 per cent. Within the last century tho steam ton nago ot Europe has increased in theso proportions: Norway, 1,410 per cent; Germany, C93; Italy, 305; Great Brit ain, 311; Franco, 200; Spain, 275; Russia, 430; Holland, 399. Tho In crease ot tho steam tonnago of the United States in tho samo period has beon but 65 per cent, though our in crease ot exports and imports has beon phenomenal. Tho United Statos now pays moro mouoy for tho transit ot goods across tho seas than any othor nation, Great Britain alone excoptod, and Is pressing hard upon that coun try In tho race for commercial su premacy. But we alone, of all trading countries, havo boen negligent of tho obvious economy of paying our own countrymen for tho shipment of our own goods. Tho fatuous policy should bo roversod at onco, nnd tho bill undor contemplation provides for Its ro- versal. Chicago Inter Ocean. The Fully of It. Wo can understand on American tar Iff, but nolthor wo nor our lawmakers can predict tho effect of tho lntrlcato system of Individual trcatlea which, if ratified, would bo a reversion to tho commercial methods ot tho middle ngos. Tho American ppllcy haB hither to boon tho cnactmont ot plain and uniform laws for tho Amorlcan people to which all doing buslnoss with us must conform. Wo have prospered under this Bystom and it Is utter folly to dopart from It. San FrauclBco Chronicle. Ono of the Kuentlat. Tho manufacturing Jowolors ot tho Unltod States aro Btrongly for protcc tlon. This Is amply jlrovod by tholr protests against any lowering ot pro tectlvo rates on tholr goods. In fact, among nlnu-tonths ot all practical Americans protection Is considered one of tho essentials of business pros porlty. THE PRESIDENT IS RIOHT. Common-Seme View of the True In- ward nc of the Puerto Rlcan Matter. Tho men who havo rushed wildly Into criticism of tho administration and tho Ropubllcan party becauso of tho Puerto Rlcan tariff bill, Including somo Republicans who spoko beforo tho facts wero all within their knowl edge, aro commended to tho expression of opinion by President McKlnley. It Is identical with the editorial view ot tho question taken by tho Post-Intelll-gencor, and is absolutely unassallablo In principle and In fact. Mr. McKlnley prefers, as tho Post Intolllgencer prefers, cntlro freo trado botweon tho Unltod StateB nnd Puerto Rico. Ho has not changed his mind on this subject nor havo we. Wo do not regard tho difference between freo trado with our new possession and a duty of 15 per cent of tho rates carried by tho DIngloy ncts vital either way. It will mako no great dlffcronco to us nor to tho Puerto Rlcans, except that It will put money Into their treasury and none Into ours. But free trade be tween us is tho Ideal condition. Tho party In tho houso was forced from this position by tho radicals on tho other side, re-enforced by a few ot Its own extremists. By the speeches of theso men another Issue than expedi ency was Introduced. It was contended by them that Puorto Rico must havo absoluto frco trade, not In fairness, but as a legal right. It was held to bo tho duo of thoso people under tho con stitution; and acquiescence In this doctrlno would have bound us for all time to como with refcrenco to tho Philippines as well as to Puorto Rico. It was Impossible to ratify this the ory. Yet tho courso ot tho debato and tho attitude ot tho prcs3 wero such that thoro was only a cholco left bctwoon two extremes. Either wo must Imposo somo trifling duty, or wo must an nounco that all territory acquired camo within all of tho provisions of tho con stitution as applied to tho states ot this union, revorso tho policy nnd precedents ot a century, nnd tlo our hands In tho important work that wo havo to do In tho far cast. This Is tho argument which constrains President McKlnloy, as It has constrained us, to agreo to tho Imposition of a slight tax to vlndlcato a general principle rather than to hold free trado with Puorto Rico at tho prlco of conceding tho now false and fatal theory of tho constitu tion which tho Democratic party havo bound up with it. It is still possible that tho senate may And a way out of this cholco be tween evils. It would seem practicable to amend the house bill by abolishing tho duty, if there wero Incorporated' In it a clause denying in tho strongest terms any constitutional compulsion, and asserting the unimpaired right of congress to lcglslato at Its will on alL matters relating to now torrltoy. Or, if this la not done, a decision ot tho Supremo court will sottlo tho quostlon presently, nnd the Puorto Rlcan tariff may bo repealed without danger. As mattors stand today, however, tho president Is right and bo is consistent. Wo suggest that thoso Republican newspapers In the Btato of Washing ton that have complained of his courso and tho policy of the party before all tho facts wore clearly stated should study tho subject anew In tho light ot his utterances and of tho explanations that havo appeared in our columns. Seattlo Post-Intelllgencer. Fault-Finder and Oronler. Tho Democrats aro Klvlncr thnm. solves a great deal ot unnecessary un easiness over tho alleged Republican differences as to a tariff for Puorto Rico. Tho Republican party thinks for Itself, and usually to somo mirnnnn and with the result of settling fniriv and satisfactorily tho groat questions witu which It has to deal. When It gets through with Puerto Rico tho peoplo of that Island will havo no reason to complain. Tho Domocratlo party, which never yet enacted a ploco of constructlvo legislation, is occupy ing the usual position of fault flniinr and growler in general, with not a practicnl Idea to suggest. Trov fN. Y.t Times. Howling Uryanlte Free-Trader. In 1896 Bryanttes yowled and screeched that Drlccs wero too low. and that If Bryan wero elected higher prices would most surely prevail. But If McKlnley wero oloctcd tho prices ot everything would fall and business and tho nation would bo ruined. Yot now that prices aro higher, but mostly becauso higher wages prevail and everybody can havo work, tho Bryanltes aro howling llko wolvos about high prices. Nothing on earth can over satisfy Bryanlte freo traders oxcopt low prices of forolgn goods for centeel Idlers, with ono or two million wago earners looking in vain for Jobs whllo our cod. fish nrlstocrncy can buv thlncH nwfni cheap, and everything will bo as nlco as can do, uon'tciier know? , He Ducked. While speaking In Now York tho othor night Mr. Bryan said: "A dollar that rises In purchasing power Is Just as uisnouest as the dollar that falls In purchasing power. Wo want a stablo dollar." A gruff voice In tho back ot tho hall asked: "Well, how do you think you're going to got It?" Mr. Bryan failed to answer. Ho ducked. His gas bag was punctured. Tho ad mission that tho Bllvor dollar falls In purchasing powor was fatal to Bryan's argument. Bonton (111.) Republican. Senator Fettlgrerr Athamed. Senator Pettlgrow doolares that he la ashamed that ho wns born In Now Eng. land. Provldenco Nows. And Now England, by tho way of reciprocity, Is thoroughly nshamo? I that Pettlgrow was bori at all. PUERTO RICO TARIFE IT INJURES SPANISH OPPRES SORS OF LABOR Who ITave Ileen Piling Up Large Stock of Prodncte Awaiting Free- Trade With This Conntry A Clear State ment of Facta. An important point in tho Puerto Rlcan question still seems misunder stood by a large numbor of people. Three-quarters of tho land In Puerto Rico Is owned by Spanish grandees and othor European aliens, and who live in Europe, whero all of tho not earnings from tho products of their lands aro sent. This Is a system that has Impoverished tho Islanders, and brought thorn to tholr present unfor tunato Industrial and social condition. From 15 to 20 cents a day Is tho aver age pay of laborers in Puerto Rico, and three-quarters of tho population If not more are laborers who culti vate tho lands and harvest tho crop3 for their European owners. Two and a half years ago, when our relations with Spain wero becoming acute, theso Spanish and European owners of tho lauds In Puerto Rico foresaw a probable war, tho early with drawal of Spanish authority, and evontual free trado between tho Unit ed States nnd Puerto Rico. They there fore havo been warehousing their staplo crops of sugar and tobacco, so that now vast quantities are In store and accumulating, ready for shipment undor freo trndo with tho United States. To soma extent Amcrlcnn sugar and tobacco trusts havo financial Interest In, or complcto ownership of, these crops. Of this thero can bo no doubt; tho Puerto Rlcan working peoplo have nothing to loso by tho Imposition ot tho duty upon tho products of their Island entering tho United States. Their work ba3 been dono and paid, for at the prevailing rates of wages for labor from 15 to 20 cents por day. Tho protests against tho tariff that come from Puerto Rlcans wore from those who represented tho owners of tho lands nnd tho warehoused crops. Tho protests aro not coming from tho la boring peoplo ot tho Islands who will bo the beneficiaries of tho act. Tho imposition of this tariff creates a fund of several million dollars which Is drawn almost entirely from aliens or American trusts. This money goe3 backto Puerto Rico for tho employment of Puorto Rlcans by our government In the permanent Improvement of tho is land. Tho wages our government will pay will bo higher than those paid by tho land owners, and will tend to raise tho rates of wages all over Puerto Rico. This would bo Impossible under Im mediate frco trado, so, It must bo plain, freo trado would only benefit thoso whoso oppression of Puerto Rlcan labor would remain undisturbed, and who could thus nil tho hotter compete with the products of Amorlcan labor In tho samo articles. Immedlato freo trado could ouly benefit nllens and trusts. Tho temporary tariff .benefits nil Amer icans and only Injures aliens and trusts. A couplo of years of this, and tho Puerto Rlcans will bo In receipt of wages approximating to tho30 paid to tho laborers on tho sugar nnd tobacco plantations In tho United States, from 75 cents to a dollar n day, and at the end of tho two years In which tho tariff Is to remain In forco tho frco ad mission, of Puerto Rlcan products Into tho United States will not havo a dis turbing effect upon thoso products of tho mainland with which thoy will compete It Is impossible, In view of theso facts, which aro confirmed- by official reports from tho officers ot the United States stationed In Puerto Rlco.for any sincere or Informed person to point out where the Imposition of tho tariff upon tho products of Puorto Rico for two years will Injure olther Puerto Rlcans or Americans. On tho contrary, It Is n distinct benefit to all whom the Unit ed States desires to 'benefit. Tho moro this subject Is studied the moro this will become apparent. This Is a caso whore expediency Is synonymous of Justice to our fellow countrymen in Puorto Rico and at homo. That is our first duty, and tho tariff performs it. FOREION TRADE OAINS. March Figure Show Hi porta Moro Than Doubled Since 1H03. Total exports ot Amorlcan products nnd manufactures In March, as shown by tho figures of tho Treasury Bureau of Statistics, wore $134,313,348, against $104,559,689 In Mnrch of last year, $75,574,185 In March, 189C, and $66,- 510,571 In March, 1893. Thus last month's exports wero moro than dou bio thoso ot March, 1893 and 25 per cent greater than thoso of March of last year, and larger than thoso ot any precodlng March In our history. Tho total exports in tho nlno months ending with March, 1900, wore $1,053,- 832,675, against $947,019,405 In tho cor responding months of last year, $925, 905,326 In March, 1897, and $515,499, C35 In tho samo month of 1886, hav lng thus doubled In fifteen years and Incrcused over 53 per cent since 189S Exports of agricultural products aro about tho samo as last year, the nota bio lncroaso ot mora than 100 million dollars In tho nlno months In question being largely In manufactures. It Is apparent that tho total exports ot tho fiscal year 1900 will exceed thoso of uny preceding yoar In our history. Im ports also show a marked Incrcaso over last year, tho principal gain bo lng In manufacturers' matorlals, while manufactured articles for ifso In tho mechanic arts ulso show an Increase Thus tho return to n protective tariff system has boen followed by enormous gains In our exports, as well as by in creased activity in our manufacturing Interests nt homo with a consequent Increase of employment and wages. GOVERNOR AS A WITNESS. Democratic Execntlre of Idaho Teitlfled Agalnat Miner. A petition endorsing the actions ot Governor Steuncnborg of Idaho and re questing that the federal troop3 bo continued In Shoshone county, whero tho mining riots occurrod, and which was signed by 1,388 reputable business men and citizens ot tho Cdour d'Aleno district, was kept from tho records of tho Investigating commlttco of tho houso of reprecontntlves by tho votos of tho Democratic members of tho committee. The Investigation is sup posed to determlno whether tho troops havo been kept thero contrary to tho constitution, nnd contrary to tho wishes of the peonlc. Nothing could have had more direct bearing upon tho subject thnn this petition, yet tho Democrats by their action In keeping it out have demonstrated that It Is po litical capital, and not facts pertinent to tho labor trouble, which thoy nro looking for. The motion to admit this evidence was made by Mr. Capron of Rhodo Island, seconded by Col. Dick, of 'Ohio. In tho absence of Chairman Hull and ono or two others of tho Re publicans tho Dcmocrnts wero enabled to cause a tie voto and defeat tho mo tion. Witness Honry E. Howes, n mer chant of Wallace, was badgered by Representatives Lentz nnd Sulzor, who endeavored unsuccessfully to compel him to reveal matters which had como to his knowledge ns a grand Juror, nnd which ho had taken solemn oath never to reveal. Objections wero made to theso unprofessional questions. which wero sustained by all ot tho committee with tho exception ot tho two members asking them. On ono occasion after Col. Dick had Interposed nn objection to the charac ter of Mr. Sulzer's questions, tho lattor roplled, rather warmly, "You are try ing to protect tho witness." To this Mr. Capron rejoined: "No, wo aro try ing to save you. You need some ono to keep you from asking n witness to dlvulgo something which ho has sworn not to divulge. I am trying to savo you who profess to bo a lawyer." "It is not against organized labor, but against organized crime, that tho state of Idaho has been waging war." This was one of tho strong state ments made by Governor Steuenberg at the hearing In tho Coour d'Aleno riots by the military committee of tho houso of representatives. Marked si lence and attention wcro distinctly no table as tho governor told of Innum erable cases of anarohy, crime, riot and lawlessness that had somotlmes led up to murdor and assassination. Earnestly and quietly ho stated his facts, . and so convincingly that thoy must oven have Impressed Representa tive Lentz, who has beon endeavoring, but fruitlessly, to show a misuse of tho United States army and of tho power of tho president. "Covert threats," said tho Democrat ic govornor, "aro constantly boing mado by those ongagod in tho riot of April 29, which resulted In tho de struction of somo $250,000 worth of property and the assassination of two men, that ns soon as tho troops wero removed they will gratify their re venge upon thoso citizens who have been induced to assist the state in its attempt to ferret out crime. In tho beginning of tho present prosecution upon tho part of tho stato a groat many good citizens wore Induced to testify and give evidence upon the rep resentation that they should be pro tected, and I havo no doubt but that each and every one ot theso would bo compelled to leave the country and sacrifice their homes, and property should the protection which was as sured them be taken away by the re moval of tho federal troops. "This Is not a conflict betwoen la bor and capital or n question ot wages, but it Is a conflict between tho state of Idaho and certain criminal organ izations which seek to cloak them selves under tho cover of labor organ izations." Btenntnuerg for Governor. The ludicrous feature of tho Idaho situation is to bo found in tho fact that the Democrats out thero want to renomlnato Governor Steunonborg In order to tako advantngo ot his popu larity nnd socuro tho electoral voto for Bryan. It Is evident that tho po litical capital sought in the Washing ton investigation was not for Idaho consumption. Mr. Cleveland's Attitude The announcement that Mr. Cleve land will not support Mr. Bryan was by no means unexpected. However, In caso tho Democratic party should do cldo to take up a new candidate, Mr, Cloveland would bo prepared to glvo It tho address ot a good and largo man. Democintlo Force Dills. Tho Democratic party has forover clamored against so-called force bills Yet It was tho Democratic party that Innoculated Kentucky with Goebollsm and fastened tho Nesblt law on Mis bouri. Democratic) Disappointment. The collapso ot the Chicago ma chlnlst strike was a serious dlsan polntment to tho strlko department ot tho Democratic campaign manage ment. Valne of Merchant VeieU In Wnr Time When In 1S98 tho United Statos bo camo involved In war with Spain, ono of tho first things tho govornmont found it noccssary to socuro waa mor chant ships. It was found that tho growth of our coastwlso trado had brought Into exlstcnco a considerable numbor ot vessels In mnny ways adapted to various military and naval uses for which merchant ships aro re- quired In time ot war, such as for scout work, and tho llko. In tho latter ser vice tho ships of tho Prairie class woro conspicuous. These vessels, of whloH thero were but four, had belongod to tho Morgan line, and ran between Now York and Now Orleans, connecting at tho latter point with tho Southern Pa cific Railway. They woro of about 6,000 tons register, oach capablo of steaming sixteen or seventeen knots an hour. Thoy woro furnished with guns, manned by tho Naval Militia, and a numbor of times wero undor tho enemy's fire, from which thoy emerged with records alike credltablo to tho ships and to thoso who manned them. All of theso ships were built In tho United States, our laws over having provided that none but American-built vessels may engago in our domestic commorco. Of courso, if this trado had been open to tho ships of all nations, as has been suggested at times, they would havo been of no uso to our gov ernment In time of war. But tho num ber of theso vessels that wcro capablo of being transformed Into govornmont uso wns altogether too few, and bo re course was necessarily had to our ocean-going vessels. Hero tho lack ot American ships was sharply accentu ated, much to the pcoplo's surprlso and humiliation. It was found that the four "crackorjack" ships of tho American line, In tho transatlantic trade tho St. Paul, tho St Louis, tho Paris and tho Now York of 11,000 tons register each, and each capable of steaming at tho rato of 21 knots an hour, wcro ot Incalculable value to tho United States. They woro immediately Impressed, thdlr crews voluntarily en tering Into tho nation's service, they wero quickly provided with formldablo guns for which they wero equipped, and swept tho Atlantic from tho Grand Banhe to the Bahamas. But ships wero needed for a great many othor purposes, such as carry ing troops to Cuba and Puerto Rico, also for supply and hospital needs, for colliers, and for a number of othor rea sons all directly connected with the war. Having practically stripped our coast of all its avallablo ships, and having exhausted everything Amorlcun that was avallablo In our forolgn trade, our government was at last obliged to resort to foreign shlp3. None could bo chartered, as that Is contrary to tho rules of war. Neutral powers are ex pected to see to It that their merchant ships are not used for military or naval purposes, by either belligerent. , After tho government had chartered, or purchased every available American' craft that could bo utilized, no less than 70,509 tons of forolgn merchant steamships wero bought for tho war department, and 56,309 tons of forolgn merchant ships were bought for tho navy department, making a total of 126,818 tons of foreign morchant steamships thus purchased by our gov ernment for uso In a war that ceased within thrco months of its inaugura tion. Whllo it is impossible to chartor for eign steamships, it was quite difficult to purchase thoso of tho higher type3 and of tho greatest utility theso could not be purchased at any prlco from their foreign owners. Tho consequonco was, tho government was forced to tako the best it could get, and In fact some ot the purchases made wero of a character that would never have beon looked at, had It been possible to se cure first-class ships. Had American ships been doing the bulk ot our car rying thoy would have beon nt tho Im mediate command ot the government. Somo ot the wealthiest and, moat powerful steamship lines in our for eign trado actually sold somo of their vessels to Spain for use against tho United States tho vory vessels our trade had created woro turned against ust Had tho onomy beon a powerful marltlmo nation instead of weak Spain not only would our own available sup ply of merchant steamships havo been entirely Inadequate, but even the pur chase of foreign steamships would havo been an impossibility. It is now found that only 8 por cent of our Imports and exports aro carried In Amorlcan ships. Tho foreign ships carrying tho balanco earn, It is conser vatively estimated, $200,000,000 a yoar, at the expense of the American peoplo. In flvo years this means u billion dol lars, and In a quarter of a century flvo billions, for our ocean transportation account, sent out of tho country to pay forolgn shipowners. Tho magnitude of tho subjoct, from an Industrial and economical as. well as from a naval and military point of view, Is manifest. No wonder, In theso circumstances, con gress feels tho need of legislating at tho present session for an American merchant marine. rroape.lt Not Hectlonal, Tho south Is participating in tho wavo of prosperity, and thus Is tho chargo that Ropubllcan legislation Is on sectional lines tucked away, To the nnbbera ltooat. Mr. Crokor, who has been In Eng land for tho benefit of his health, is coming homo for the benefit ot his finances, The Millionaire Agnln. Tho Chicago imivorslty has heard from tho millionaires again. This tlmo the Institution of learning gets $4.-000.000.