CHINA'S PERIL.
Danger to Its Capital Daily Grows
Greater.
Cautions Advance of the Japs English
Cabinet Discusses the Situation Peking
Is Relnjc Oradually Surrounded
by Hostile Troops.
LosTdon, Oct. 9. A dispatch to the
Times from Tien l'sin dated Saturday
says that the Japanese are advancing'
cautiously toward Moukdenand avoid
ing1 any dashing enterprises. Their
cruisers are closely watching1 the
Chinese fleet in the gulf cf Pe Chi Li.
The Japanese army advancing on
Pekin is said to have many Koreans in
its ranks. Tbe recent announcement
that American officers had entered the
Japanese army has been rectified. It
now appears that Gen. Ruggles and
neveral other American officers were
readily permitted by the Japanese gov
ernment to follow the campaign, but
solely as spectators.
Will Allow No Plundering.
The Japanese government has in
structed Field Marshal Yamaga to in
form the diplomats at Seoul that he
will not allow the Japanese army to
plunder Pekin in case that city is
taken. This assurance will probably
induce the diplomats to stay in Pekin
even should the emperor leave the
capital. They will, at any rate, at
tempt to negotiate a peace by asking1
Japan to be moderate in her demands.
The emperor's palace in Pekin is now
guarded by Mantchu troops only.
A dispatch received at New Chwang,
gulf of Liac Ton, says that the Chinese
are in full retreat from Moukden.
which is threatened by the advance
of the Japanese troops from Corea
and the Japanese force said to
have been landed near Possiel bay.
THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
This magnificent structure has Just been completed at a cost of something like S2.50C.00a
Though now second in size, it is still first in rank nmon; the libraries of America. It was es
tnblihed In Ihoi. though projected in 1C4I. The library now comprises over too.ooo volumes.
Over alnillion books are taken out every year for home circulation, and over 700.000 periodicals
re rend in th3 reading rooms. The new library was borun in IHSi. The style of the new edifice
Is the Koman. and the SL Genevieve, the gr at library of Paris, was taken as the type. The
edince expresses in its exterior the organic character of the structure as formed by Its internal
tomposltion and arrangement, as well as its purpose as a great library. The entire building
has rooru for at least 2.U0O.0UO volumes
not far from the Russian territory bor
dering on Corea and the Chinese prov
ince of Manchuria. Another report
from Shanghai says it is believeda t
the latter city that the Chinese
forces which have been defend
ing Moukden have been hastily
summoned from that place in or
' der to oppose the projected Jap
anese landing either in the gulf of
Pe-Chi-Li or in the gulf of Lao Ton.
The Chinese have been hurriedly add
ing to the fortifications of New
Chwang in anticipation of a Japanese
attack upon that port or a landing in
its neighborhood.
Another I tat tie.
London". Oct. 11. It is believed that
a decisive battle has been fought be
tween the Chinese and Japanese
armies on the plains north of the Yalu
river, about 50 miles south of Mouk
den, one of the objective points of the
Japanese invaders. When the last
authentic advices were received the
northern wing of the Japanese army
had just crossed the Yalu and a battle
was momentarily expected.
Chee Foo Captured.
At the same time news comes that
the southern wing, operating on the
western shore of the Yellow sea, had
surrounded and captured Chee Foo, a
large town on the bay of Pi Chi Li. In
this successful attack the army was
aided by the Japanese fleet, which had
been cruising in Pi Chi Li bay for sev
eral days. Chee Foo is a treaty port of
China, on the Shan-Toong promontory.
It has a population of over 30.000 and a
good harbor.
A third division ot the Japanese
army is reported to have effected a
landing on the shores of Leaotong
gTiif, which is to the north of Chee Foo
and between it and Moukden.
Thus Pekin is being encircled with
a net of armed men without, while re
bellion against the Tartar emperor
and bis dynasty rages within. If, as
reported, the battle at the Yalu river
resulted in favor of the Japanese, it is
almost certain that Pekin will be
captured within a week.
Chinese Demoralised.
Xondox, Oct. 10. A dispatch received
here from Shanghai says that a second
Japanese army is reported to have
crossed the Yalu river and to be ad
vancing upon Moukden, which, it is
believed, will soon fall, as the Chinese
are reported to be in s state of demor
alization. Wt Ju Occupied by Japs.
London, Oct. 12. A dispatch from
Tokio says that a detachment of Japa
nese cavalry and infantry has made
an attack upon and routed a force of
2,000 Chinese at Wi Ju and that the
place remains in the hands of the
Japanese. It is reported to the Japa
nese officers that 10,000 Chinese troops
occupy the north bank of the Yaiu
river, where they have completed eight
batteries and are building more.
Field Marshal Count Yagamata has
established his base of operations at
Ping Yang-, which is near the sea and
easy of access to the supplies. It is
generally hoped that the Japanese will
be in possion of Moukden by the early
part of November. Other important
military operations are under way, but
their objects are as yet kept secret.
Early results, however, are expected.
China has been formally notified of
the surrender and dispatch to Nagas
aki of the steamship Tenkyoroaru, to
gether with her European and Chinese
crew. A state of siege has been de
clared in the district of Hiroshima un
der article 14 of the Japanese constitution.
THE DISPENSARY ACT.
South Carolina Supreme Court Says It Is
Constitutional.
Columbia, S. C, Oct. 10. The dispen
sary act of 1893 was declared to be con
stitutional Monday by Justices Gray
and Pope of the supreme court. Chief
Justice Mclver dissenting. The case
upon which the decision was rendered
is known as the "'Aiken case," which
originated in the town council of
Aiken attempting to fine the
local dispensers for selling liquor
without license. The local dispenser
applied to Circuit Judge Aldrich for
an injunction restraining the town
council of Aiken' from fining him.
Judge Aldrich on a technicality grant
ed the injunction against the town
council of Aiken, bnt held that the act
of 1S93 was null and void, as tbe su
preme court of the state had already
so declared an act passed in 1S93 al
most identical in wording and identi
cal in effect with the act of 1893. An
appeal was taken to the supreme court
from that ruling of Judge Aldrich.
The question as presented to the su
preme court involved principally two
questions the decision of the lower
court and the constitutionality of the
act of 1893. Since the rendering of
the decision declaring the act of 1S9J
unconstitutional the complexion of
the supreme court has been changed.
Justice McGowan has been retired and
Mr. Eugene B. Gary, formerly lieuten
ant governor under Gov. Tillman, has
taken his place. !
Justice Gary was known to be fa
vorable to the dispensary law when
he was elected to succeed Justice Mc- '
Gowan. Immediately upon his taking
his seat on the bench Gov. Tillman re- :
opened the dispensaries throughout
the slate. lie had closed them im
mediately upon the rendering of the i
adverse decision on the act of 1892. i
The acts of 1S92 and 1S93 are identical
in purpose and effect and only differ .
in title and minor provisions. !
Justice Gary writes the decision of
the court in the Aiken case. The court ;
decides that the former decision was
not the proper one; that the dispen
sary law is not unconstitutional, and '
that it is a proper exercise of the police ;
power of the state in controlling1 the !
liquor traffic.
FOES TO DRINK.
Chicago Temperance Organizations Honor
Father .Matthew's Memory.
Chicago, Oct. 12. The birthday of
Father Matthew, the originator of
total abstinence societies, was cele
brated here by a grand parade com
posed of Catholic and Protestant
temperance organiz p ions and Cath
olic and public school children.
After marching southward on Mich
igan avenne to Eighteenth street the
procession turned and marched north
ward to the Auditorium, where it was
reviewed by Gov. Altgeld. Mayor Hop
kins, Bishop Watterson, of Ohio, Eev.
Dr. llenson and others. In the even
ing a large meeting1 was held at the
Auditorium theater which' was ad
dressed by Bishop Watterson, of Ohio,
and others. -
Army Rifle Kecord Broken.
Chicago, Oct. 13. The largest score
ever made by a United States cav
alryman was recorded during the day
in the army shoot at Fort Sheridan.
Sergt. Charles Karsten. D Troop, First
cavalry, performed the remarkable
feat of making a score of 47 points out
ot 50 on the 500-yard range. This is
the largest score ever made in any
army competition at that distance.
Karsten shot with the regular army
carbine.
Whisky In a Ulaxe.
Lebanon, Ky., Oct 13. The bonded
warehouse of Biair & Ballard at Chi
cago, in this county, burned Thursday.
The house contained over 1,000 barrels
of whisky, all of which burned. The
loss will amount to over $00,000.
TWO BIG HAULS.
Masked Train Robbers Are Well
Paid for Their Trouble.
They Loot Kxpress Trains In California and
Virginia of Sums Amounting to
SSO.OOO in Each Instance,
and Escape.
Richmond, Va., Oct. 13. The north
bound passenger train on the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg & Potomac rail
way which left here at 7 o'clock Fri
day night was held up near Quantico.
The engineer and fireman were forced
from their engine and the engine was
cut loose and sent ahead. The ex
press car was then entered, the
messenger covered with pistols and
forced to open the safe. The runaway
locomotive was stopped at Quantico by
obstructing the track. It is stated
here that there was an unusually
large amount of mouey on the train,
probably $50,000. The robbers, seven
in number, were masked. The rail
way company has offered 1,000 reward
for the arrest of any of the robbers.
The express messenger, B. F. Crutch
field, and his helper. 11. Murray.barreci
the doors of the express car, but these
were blown open with dynamite.
After the robbery the thieves made off '
with their booty in the direction of '
the Potomac river, where it is sup
posed they had a boat in waiting to
take them to the Maryland side. None
of the robbers entered, the passeuger
coaches.
The operator at Brooks, C miles from
Quantico, discovered that the engine
was ""wild" as it passed his station,
and telegraphed to Quantico, where a
switch was thrown so that it was
brought into collision with two loaded
freight cars and wrecked. Had the
locomotive been permitted to pass
Quantico it would have collided with
the south-bound passenger train.
San Francisco, Oct. 13. The bandits
who held up a Southern Pacific over
land train a few .miles west of Sacra
mento late Thursday night and looted
the Wells-Fargo company express car
secured over $50,000. They seem to
have eluded the officers and escaped
with their plunder, Which was nearly
all in gold coiu, and consequently a
heavy burden. The astounding suc
cess of the hold up was not known un
til Friday afternoon. Earlier reports
of the robbery gave the amount of
money taken at $1,500.
The truth came out, however, when
the Southern Pacific issued a circular
offering a reward of $10,000 for the ar
rest of the two robbers and the recov
ery of the plunder. In this circular,
it is said, the bandits plundered the
express car of over $00,000 'n gold.
The circular announces the Southern
Pacific company and the Wells-Fargo
company will pay 2,500 for the cap
ture of each robber and $5,000 for the
recovery of the money, or a proportion
eat amount of any part of the whole.
The robbery was a daring one. Four
sacks of coin were secured from the
express car, and Messenger Paige
barely escaped with his life. Three
hundred pounds of coin were taken.
Engineer Bill Scott, of the Oregon
Overland, and his fireman were forced
at the muzzle of a revolver to carry
coin sacks from the express car to the
engine. There the robbers uncoupled
the engine and rode off with their
booty.
WORK OF LIFE SAVERS.
Their Kecord During the Lata Storms
Highly Creditable.
Washington. Oct. 13. The record
made by the life-saving service during
the recent storm is most creditable,
there having been not a single loss of
life where the wrecks took place with
in the range of life-saving stations.
The following is a list of the wrecks
and the number of persons saved from
each by the life-savers as far as re
ported: Norwegian bark Ogir. wrecked near Cape
Fear. N. C. crew of eleven all saved.
Schooner Lorana Keed. wrecked near Ocean
City. X. J., crow of three all saved.
Schooner Maria Louisa, wrecked at Highland-,
N. J., crew of tea all saved.
Schooner Leoncssa. wrecked near Narragan
sett pier, crew of Ave all saved.
Two scows wrecked near N&rragan&ett pier,
crew of five saved.
Schooner Lauraooy. wrecked near Cape Kliza
bcth. We., crew of six saved.
Schooner Rosa and Adria, wrecked near Cape
Elizabeth. Me., crew of six saved.
Steamer Columbia, perilous position near
Fairport, O., crew of seven taken oft in life
boat at 10 o'clock at night.
Schooner John Wesley, waterlogged off Sagi
naw bay, crew of seven saved.
Three schooners, names unknown, off Jerry's
point, vessels and crew of eighteen saved
Total wrecks reported. 13; lives saved. 78;
lives lost, none. Nearly all the rescues were
effected at night.
READY TO QUIT.
China Said to Have Begun Peace Nego
tiations with Japan.
Shanghai, Oct 13. A rumor is cur
rent here that the Chinese government
has commenced negotiations with
Japan for peace. China, it is said, has
offered to acknowledge the indepen
dence of Corea and to pay a war in
demnity to Japan.
St. I'ktkusdui'.g, Oct. 13. It is semi
officially annoiiMeed here that Great
Britain is doing its best to induce the
powers to join in an attempt to secure
a cessation of the war between China
and Japan. It is considered certain
that Russia will not permit Japan to
permanently occupy Corea. In this
Russia is sustained by Great Britain,
and the other powers are not suffi
ciently interested to do otherwise than
acquiesce.
Will Meet Next In Detroit.
Milwaukee, Oct. 13. The Amalga
mated Association ot Street Railway
Employes of America has adjourned its
third annual session. The next meet
ing will be held in Detroit. Mich.,
which city will be headquarters dur
ing" the next year. President W. D.
Mahon was reelected, and W. G.
Moore, of Detroit, was elected secretary-treasurer.
Striking Spinners Accept a Cut.
Fall Rivek, Mass., Oct. 13. The
striking spinners at a meeting voted to
accept a reduction of 10 per cent, and
return to work Monday.
STATE OF TRADE.
The Situation as Leading- Commercial
Agencies Find It.
New York, Oct. IS. R. G. Dun &
Ca's weekly review of trade says:
"Business Is still waiting for the develop
ment of retail trade. There Is a little better
demand In some industries, but not so good
In others. Wholesale dealers in nearly all
branches are halting because business does
not yet show distinctly what It is to be. Lower
prices for the great farm staples and lower
wages in some establishments, hinder
purchases for consumption, while polit
ical interest and uncertainty also have
some retarding influence. Meanwhile large
Imports and small exports of merchan
dise, with Inadequate employment for
money here, are raising the rates of foreign
exchange so that possibilities of gold exports
somewhat affect the stock market. The halt
ing attitude for the moment is disturbing to
those who have looked for continued gain,
though rightly considered it is the natural con
sequence of conditions which were to be ex
pected at this season.
"The government crop reports are not great
ly trusted and yet have an influence and actu
ally exaggerate the tendency toward lower
prices because they are supposed to report
all tbe crops too low. Men calmly reckon
that if the government report indicates
over 400.U00.00O bushels of wheat the
crop must be over 500,000,000 bushels and
the price is slightly lower. Corn has been
strongsr, for receipts ore hardly a quarter and
exports barely an eighth of lust year, and the
question is whether the actual yield, if above
the government estimate, may not prove lower
than has been supposed.
"The iron Industry records larger produc
tion in September than in any other month
this year, but as prices are gradually weak
ening because of insufficient demand for Un
lshed products, some works are preparing to
close or shorten time.
"The woolen mills still have numerous be
lated orders for fall goods, but the demand for
spring does not Increase, though in nearly all
the lower priced products domestic makers ap
pear able to command most of the business
that exists.
"Failures for the week ending October 4
show liabilities of 11,714.276. of which J805.885
are of manufacturing nnd (M2.3&1 of trading
concerns. There have been 231 in the United
States, against 303 lust year, and 43 in Canada,
against 42 last year."
Bradstreet's says:
"An accentuation of favorable features Is re
vealed in the telegraphic reports this week.
While advices as to the most marked improve
ment come from the west and south, there are
some encouraging features also reported from
the east, and the net result of the week's busi
ness has been further progress in the
direction of enlarged distribution. In New
Kngland. although demand is classed as only
moderate and a conservative trade is doing
the industrial situation improves, owing to the
ending of the great cotton mill strike. Iron
production is very large, and this has impaired
values and manufactured product quite notice
ably. Cooler weather has improved the dis
tribution in seasonable lines at a number of
western and northwestern points.
"At Chicago business in staple lines is large,
though a slackening from previous weeks is
noticed. Weakness in iron is causing concern
at St. Louis. Plates are active and orders are
being placed abroad for black plates, owing to
tbe shut-down of American works. Export
trade is active at San Francisco. A number of
prominent southern points report increased ac
tivity. Cotton receipts are large, but the price
tends downward. First of new crop sugars
at New Orleans sold at the lowest
price paid for many years. Southern lumber
men anticipate higher prices. Notable price
changes of this week have been the decline ot
1-5 cent in cotton and raw sugar. 25 cents in
pork and 50 cents a ton in steel billets. Sales
have not materially changed for the week.
PARLIAMENT OF LABOR.
Something About a Coming Important
Event.
Chicago, Oct, 13. The parliament of
labor which has been called by the
Civic federation to meet in Chicago
November 13 promises to be a most
notable gathering. Replies to the cir
cular letter of invitation have been re
ceived from a great many men of prom
inence as thinkers on economic sub
jects, or as employers or leaders of la
bor. There is a striking consensus of
opinion in favor of making the confer
ence as practical as possible. The sug
gestion comes from all sides that the
employers of labor and the represen
tatives of labor, as the ones best know
ing the actual conditions to be met,
should be brought to the front in such
a discussion.
The plan of the parliament is mod
eled on that of tbe parliament of re
ligion, so successful last year. There
is to be nothing in the nature of con
troversy. Each speaker is to present
his own views, not to antagonize or
controvert those of others. There is
to be the utmost catholicity of
tolerance and every speaker is
expected .to respect this tolerance.
Differences of opinion are not to
be allowed to appear ' as hos
tilities of thought. Into this
parliament is to be poured the re
sult of the thought and investigation
of the individual thinkers and investi
gators of the country. It wii form,
as it were, a comparative exhibit of
all that has been accomplished along
the lines of the prevention and settle
ment of labor troubles and labor dis
turbances. It will be a collation of
the work of many men striving for the
same end by different means.
From this aggregate it is hoped by
the Civic federation, and particularly
by its committee on labor and arbitra
tion, that some practical plan may be
formulated by which labor troubles
may be averted, or at least settled, and
the great inconvenience to the public
as well as loss to both workingmen
and employers be avoided. This is not,
however, expected to be accomplished
by the parliament. This is to be the
forum for the presentation of thoughts
and views on the subject.
Among others who are expected to
discuss various topics are the follow
ing: Prof. E- A. R. Gould, of Johns Hopkins uni
versity; A. H. Walcott. of the Massachusetts
board of arbitration; D. J. Ryan, of the Ohio
board of arbitration: Carroll I). Wright. United
States commissioner of labor; Mrs. Josephine
Shaw Lowell, of New York: Archbishop Ire
land, Felix Adler, Washington Gladden.
Gov. Peck. Aldace P. Walker, Marvin Hughitt,
P. M- Arthur, F. P. Sargent, Congressmen
Springer. McGann and Tawney, Chances M.
Depew, T. V. Powderly and Samuel Gompera.
Sugar Men Ileaten.
Washington, Oct. 13. Judge Mc
Comas, of the district supreme court,
has denied the applicaiion of the
Miles Sugar Manufacturing com
pany of Louisiana for a mandamus
to compel Secretary Carlisle to
appoint inspectors to ascertain the
Eugar production of the company. The
object of the suit, it is understood,
was to test the legality of the recent
repeal of the sugar bounty provision of
the McKinley law and also to lay the
foundation for an appeal to congress
for payment of bounty for the current
year.
CONSUMERS BENEFITED.
The New Wool Tariff Alone Makes an An
j nasi Net Difference of 8113,000,000.
If the benefits of taking the duties
off wool are as great as the advocates
of free raw materials, with moderate
duties on manufactured goods, expect
them to be, we shall not have to wait
long for free coal and free iron ore.
We think it well to .all attention to
the actual prospective results of the
change in the duties on wool and
woolen goods. During the year end
ing1 June 30, 1893. which is the latest
period for which the full statistics
, have been completed, the total value
I of raw wool imported into the
United State was $18,416,884.92, on
which were collected duties to the
amount of S3, 159,453. 49. The duties
w'-ich have been abolished varied
from 10 cents per pound to SO cents
per pound, and there were no less than
fourteen different rates applying to
the various grades of raw wool. As a
consequence of making the imported
wool absolutely free to the manufac
turers and relieving them of the pay
ment of over SS.000.000 per year, the
duties on manufactured goods have
been somewhat reduced, and we pre
sent herewith a statement prepared by
Deputy Appraiser Schoenhof, of New
York, which will enable our readers to
understand what reduction may be
looked for in the cost to the people
of the principal articles of wearing ap
parel, carpets, etc., while duties aver
aging 45 percent, protect the American
manufacturer against any danger from
injury by reason of lower-wag-es paid
to the operatives in European coun
tries: ie-oi
Imports of manufactures of wool.... f.'t.993.0r0
Duties 30.44i.ooJ
Import value, duty paid...... 72,441 ,00J
lhh'J-SiO.
Tpnsus year, domestic manufactures:
Woolen goods il33 5r.Oi0
Worsted goods. 7w.H4.u00
Hosiery and knit
goods 867,241,000
Leduct cotton
hosiery 17.OJO.000
50.141. 000
Carpets 47.770.0uO 810.782,000
Value of domestic manufactures 884.223.000
Add 33 S per cent, to cover whole
sale and retail prollts 128.074.000
Cost of wool manufactures to con
sumers 512.SO7.O0O
Cost of wool manufactures under
senate bill on same amounts:
Importations i3o.903.000
Duty. 45 per cent 10 6tS.O0J
53.C5S.0J0
Value of domestic manu
factures S310.0O0.0M0, re
duced from an average
of 100 per cent, duty to
45 per cent.rate as a re
sult of free wool 224.525,000
278.183.000
Add S3S per cent, as prof
its 9S.728.000
370,911.000
Amount saved to consumers on the
woolen schedule only under ten
ate bill S141.3H5.000
If these figures are accurate, and
they are the most trustworthy that
can be obtained, here is a proposed and
possible saving of S2 for every man,
woman and child in these United
States. According to this calculation
the account with the people is as fol
lows: Reduction of duties on raw wool.. SS.159,453 49
Reduction of duties on woolen
manufactures 13.7S3.O0O 00
Total loss of revenue $27,942,453 49
Reduction in price of goods to
consumers $1 il .:'.r,.ono 00
Net savings to consumers 11:;. 14 i.i4o 51
Hartford Times.
A DEMOCRATIC ALLY.
McKinley Sounds the Keynote of Dfmo.
cratlc Success.
"What we want, democrats or re
publicans, is plenty of work and
wages." These were the words of
(lov. McKinley at Indianapolis, and
the little Napoleon must be credited
with having in these few words made
a better democratic speech than any
other man of national repute has yet
offered to the listening people of the
country. The common verdict will be
that even the eloquent ana logical ef
fort of Senator Voorhees, which briefly
preceded that of the Ohio governor, was
a weaker appeal for the principles of
democracy thanwas that embodied in
the single sentence above quoted. It
is the concise statement of a great and
impressive truth.
When the republican party found its
way back to power in there was
plenty of work and wages were good.
There was an abundance of money in
the United States treasury; business
was flourishing and general prosperi
ty pervaded the affairs of the country.
But immediately afterwanl the Mc
Kinley bill became a law and the in
evitable results of its practical opera
tions manifested themselves in a ret
rograde movement all along the line.
Business was prostrated and the de
pressing effect extended , to every
branch of industry. The contents of
the treasury were dissipated in extrav
agance, and popular indignation
showed itself by restoring democracy
to power in 1S92.
As the direct "result of this move
ment the iniquitous McKinley laws
were repealed, despite the power of
centralized wealth to uphold them,
and at once the revival of all our ma
terial interests set in. Idle factories,
mills and furnaces started up. Busi
ness is revived. The evils springing
from pernicious legislation have been
largely overcome. The conditions
which afford "plenty of work and
wages'" are restored. They were
brought about despite the most stren
uous efforts of republican statesman
ship; a fact that no one understands
better than does Gov. McKinley him
self. Detroit Free Press.
Every pretcctive measure direct
ly invites to speculation before it be
comes a law, while it is pending in
congress. Witness the recent specula
tion in sugar and whisky. It encour
ages speculation after it becomes
a law. It puts certain indus
tries on a false and artificial basis. It
first puts up prices and then stimulates
to excessive and unbalanced produc
tion, which necessarily ends in col
lapse of prices and panic. Chicago
Llerald.
McKinley professes to create
wealth by interfering with the owner
ship of labor's fruits by taking from
one man and giving to another. St.
Louis Republic
RETURNING PROSPERITY.
Improvement tn Uusiness Since the Pas
sage of tho New Tariff Bill.
Special reports from the most impor
tant industrial and trade centers of
nine great states west of the Alle
ghanies all concur substantially in
saying that there has been a decided
improvement in business since the
tariff bill assumed its final shape and
became assured.
In some localities the drought has
affected trade rather seriously, but the
people know that the democrats are
not to blame for that, whatever re
publican stumpers may say. From
most points the reports are decidedly
favorable, from others they are only
moderately so, while from some they
are positively rosy. About the only
case of blues is reported from South
Bend, Ind. Even there the worst that
can be said is that industrial inactiv
ity is anticipated after a busy summer.
The story is told in one sentence:
"While nearly all of the larger fac
tories have had big forces at work all
summer, it is understood that in sever
al instances these forces are not as
large now and the prospect is that
they will be smaller by the beginning
or middle of winter."
This is the very worst reported from
any point by correspondents who were
specially cautioned to state facts with
out bias or coloring. From some points
of great importance, St. Louis for in
stance, the reports are that business
has not been better at this season for
years. Taken all together, the re
ports show, to state it very moderate
ly, that from Pennsylvania to Colorado
and from the Ohio river to Canada
business has already improved, the
volume of trade is larger, and indus
trial establishments are doing much
more than they were from four to six
months ago. There was no such im
provement in so short a time after the
panic of 1S73, when there was no tariff
reform and the republicans had things
all their own way.
And the clearing house returns con
firm for the whole country the reports
of correspondents for this great cen
tral group of states. Outside of New
York the clearings were greater in
both August and September than they
were in the same months last year, av
eraging about sixteen per cent, greater
for the two months. They were less
than in 1891 and 1S92, it is true, though
not so very much less than in 1891.
But those were the boom years pre
ceding the panic, when speculation
ran high, credits were greatly ex
panded and clearings were consequent
ly large beyond precedent. The vol
ume of business as indicated by the
clearings is already up to the average
for some years before the speculative
boom.
In the above statement the New York
clearings are not considered. There
there is still a much smaller volume
apparently than there was a j'ear ago.
But that is due in part to a smaller
volume of stock transactions, and in
part to the fact that the clearings of
these transactions are now made
through the stock exchange clearing
bouse and do not appear in the regular
bank clearings. 1 here is reason to
believe that the volume of strict-mercantile
business is increasing in New
York, as it is in most other cities.
There is no room at all for doubt
that the country is once more on the
upgrade and making rapid advance
on the road to prosperity. No such,
early and rapid recovery from panie
depression has occurred since 1S57 and
lKoS, when the country was nearer to
free trade than at any time since the
first decade of the century. Chicago
Llerald.
COMMENTS OF THE PRESS.
The trouble with McKinley is
that he doesn't realize that lie is run
ning several years behind his emer
gency. N. Y. World.
Western workingmen are being1
informed by Gov. McKinley that as
long as the McKinley law, so-called,
was in effect they always had some
thing in their dinner buckets. So they
did it was the bottom and was readily
found. Chicago Times.
It will be borne in mind that the
big boom in Argentine wool, owing to
our new tariff laws, means a cor
responding increase in the demand for
American wool, as we do not produce
the quality of wool sent us from that
country and import it chiefly for mix
ture with native wools Detroit Free
l'ress.
Gov. McKinley is making anoth
er blunder. The pecple like leaders
of positiveness and conviction. He
should be one thing or another as to
the silver question. He has been on
all sides of it, as the popular wind
seemed to blow. To go no further back
than last summer, be was then mak
ing speeches denouncing the president
for not calling congress together soon
er for the purpose of repealing' the
Sherman law, the same law for repeal
ing' whi.h he is now denouncing con
gress. Louisville Courier-Journal.
Gov. McKinley need expect no
sympathy from the "western laborers"
whom he piteotisty represents as
"robbed of employment" by the dem
ocratic party. The western laborer is
very largely the farmer, and if the
farmer has any less employment or
worse prospects, on the whole, than in
1892 it will remain for Mr. McKinley
to point them out. And in addition to
these things tho farmer is now prepar
ing to enjoy the cheap and "nasty"
clothing and other necessities of iifo
which McKinley affects to despise so
much. Kansas City Times.
There are the usual shrieks from
the McKinley organs concerning the
banquet of the London chamber of
commerce, where Chairman Wilson
was the guest of honor. The fact that
the guest warned bis hosts that the
American people were lowering the
tariff wall about our country not so
much to let foreign trade in, as to let
their own trade out and to get access
to the markets of the world, is some
thing that the McKinley brethren en
tirely ignore. That an American
statesman should be applauded by Eng
lish merchants is enough for them.
That is the sum of all wickedness and
disloyalty. Boston llerald.