I : ! I DICK RODNEY ;
i
1 1
OP , The Adventures of I
8
An Eton Boy. , .
OV JAMES GRANT
' 1311 > ? . ( Cqnllmiiijl. )
"Bah ! " grinning
mud the Spaniard , ,
nnd nhowlilg h row"of rihnrp. white
teeth , under'n dirty null sable mus
tache ; " ( hoilgh 1 mild HO , I knew bet
tor. A flhlphoy seldom has a gold
watch like this , ! ' ho added , displaying
my gold repeater. "Now , wo shall
keep you ; and If this scninnn after
ho has first sworn that ho will not bo-
trny us dois , not return to us herewith
with $500 within J.wo hours after oun-
sot , prfr el" ( hero ho made n dreadful
vow In Spnnlsh ) , "we will IOHS you like
n dead dog Into the vontana of the
mountain. Look down , nnd see whnt
n Journey Is before you , " ho added ,
with n diabolical smile , ns ho dragged
mo to the beetling cdgp of the chasm
nnd forced mo to look Into It.
Our eyes hnd now become so accus
tomed to the light of the gallery or
grotto thnt'the rays of sunshine fallIng -
Ing through the fissure nbovo us were
sufficient to disclose a portion of the
vast profundity on the vfcrtfo of which
wo stood.
From the earth's womb , far , far
down below , there came upward a
choking steam , with a hollow , buzzing
sound , which" deepened nt times , .to n
rumble.
This steam or mist rose nnd foil on
the currents of ulr ; sometimes it sank
so low that nothing but n black nnd
dreary void mot the eye , which nchcd
in nttomptlng to pierce It , Anon the
steam would rlsa In spiral curls from
that gloomy bed below , where doubt
less the fires of the now almost ox-
tlnct volcano seethe their embers In
the waves of the ocean.
The words "havo mercy" were on
my lips , but I could not utter thorn ;
nor would they have availed mo. Ig
norant of what the rulllan said , and
believing ho wns nboiit to thrust mo
In , poor Tom Lninbourno , In the full
ness of his heart , uttered n howl of
dismay ; and at that moment the sen
tinel , whom the gang had left at the
entrance to their lurklng-plnco , cnmo
hurriedly on , with alarm expressed in
his glittering eyes , and a finger placed ,
us a warning , on bis hairy lip.
"Para ! Paz ! Sllonzlo ! " ( hold peace
silence ) , ho exclaimed , and added
that four officers from the garrison of
Santa Cruz had dismounted In the ra
vine , unbilled their horses nnd hnd
sentcd themselves under n tree to
smoke.
v
This informntlon wns received by
the band with onths nnd mutterings
of impntlenco ; nnd by us with mingled
emotions of hope nnd ngony hope
that they might bo the means of our
escape or rescue ; nnd ngony to know
thnt such means were so near , and yet
could avail us nothing ; for on the
slightest sound being made by either
of us , there were the Albnceto knives
of our cnptors on ono hand , and the
vontttim that nwful vontnnn on the
other , to Insure forever the silence nnd
oblivion of the grave.
Not the least of my sufferings was
from the cord which secured my wrists.
Already the skin wns swollen , cut nnd
bleeding In consequence of the tight
ness with which these wretches hnd
bound me.
CHAPTER XL
Sequel to Our Adventure.
Fqr two hours they seemed nn eter
nity to mo It would appenr , the four
Spanish officers lingered over tholr
wine-flasks nnd cigars in the wooded
ravine , tholr movements being duly
reported from tlmo to tlmo by one of
the outlaws , who
stole to the cavern
mouth and peeped out.
At Inst they mounted , nnd rode off ,
when n fresh cnuso for wrath and de-
laj [ was produced by the announce
ment that a wagon , drawn , by mules ,
nnd attended by several laborers and
negroes , had broken down on the road
about n mlle distant
The Irritation of our Spaniards
oorno of whom spoke of hnvlng n ship
to Join wns now so great that I feared
they might end the whole affair by
g 01 us in a summary manner
This wngon being heavily laden
caused a delay for several hours. The
sun's rays ceased to shine through the
flssuro above us ; the grotto drew dark
( .by the Increase of Imperceptible shnd-
'ows , ; the dingy faces of our ollvo-skin-
jied detainers grew darker still ; nnd
their Impatience was only surpassed by
Jours , for we , too. had a ship to re
join.
\ Every mlnuto of these hours every
jjsecond of every minute passed
"alowly , like n pang of ngony Jn my
heart ; nnd every feature of that nat
ural vault , through which the dying
daylight stole with the. faces and
voices of the men whoso victims wo
were , hnd more than nil , the ceaseless
nnd eternal buzz In the dark chasm
that yawned close by the ventann , or
nostril of the Plton nre yet vividly
Impressed upon my memory.
At last the darkness wns so grcnt
that a lantern wns lighted , nnd Its
wavering glenms , ns they foil on the
crystnls , the spar , quartz , nnd glassy
blocks of black obsidian nnd ruddy
lava , which formed the walls and arch
of the cavern , on the dark ferocious
visages , the gaudy sashes , the naked
arms and feet , the scrubby black
beards , and brass-mounted knives and
muskets of the taciturn Spaniards ,
who saj ; in A sullen group smoklnp pa
per clgarlt/wj i U added to the gloomy
hut pli'turcsquo horror of the plaro
and of the Incident.
"Antonio , quo horn es ? " I hcnrd one
miy , Inquiring the time.
"Las neiivo y media , rompnncro
mlo" ( half-past nine ) , rr.illod the pos
sessor of my gold watt h , which ho
consulted with consldeiablo compla
cency.
"Maldltn ! " growled the others , knit
ting their brows , for the dusk wns
rapidly becoming darkness , nnd they
had no dcslro for killing us , If wo
could bo made profitable. I have often
thought slnco that hud Tom actually
procured nnd returned with the requir
ed rnnsom of $500 , they would have
pocketed It nnd then killed us both
mo most certainly , ns they Boomed to
bnvo other views for poor Tom In the
Southern Stntcs.
"Wo have had n long spell of this , "
said ho , In n low voice. "I am going
to escape , If I can. "
"Escnpo ! but how ? "
"I don't know exactly how yet ; but
wo must first have our lashings cast
off. "
"Would to heaven they were , Tom.
My hands nro BO swollen nnd my
Wrists BO cut ami benumbed that my
arms arc woll-nlgh powerless , " I
whispered In a low voice , Ilka n groan.
"Sit with mo hero , In the shadow of
his angle of rock ; nnd now , ns the
ilnrkness Is fnlrly sot In , I shnll soon
nnko you free. "
By n rnpld nnd skillful nppllcatlon
of his strong teeth to the cord , which
jounil my wrists , ho untwisted the
knot and freed my hands ; nnd then In
the suddenly-given luxury of being
nblo to stretch my arms , I almost for
got the necessity for concealing the
fact that I was now unbound.
I soon found an opportunity for un
tying Tom's futtcrfa. Then v.'o kept
our hands clnqpcd before us , waited
nnd hoped Wo scarcely knew for'what '
whllo In the further end of this In
ner cave , our detainers sat sullenly
smoking , and , by the dim lantern light ,
making up clgnrltos from their tobacco
pouches nnd those little rice-paper
books which nro now procurable nearly
everywhere.
From the conversation of our captors
I could gather that our brig , the Eu
genic , was visible at anchor In the
roadstead of Santa Cruz , a mlle or BO
distant.
Three of these Spaniards had placed
tholr muskets against the wall of rock
and scorned disposed to doze off to
sleep.
Close by us lay the plank which
crossed that dread vontana , like the In
fernal bridge pf , Poulsherro , which the
Mnhommcdnns believe crosses the sea
of IIro that on the day of doom shall
separate Good from Evil. Tom and I
looked at-It nnd exchanged glances of
Intelligence from tlmo to time , but
the attempt to rush across might prove
doubly * fatal to one or both. A slip
of the foot would hurl us Into eternity ;
and If the passage were achieved wo
would bo exposed to the fire of those
wo lied from and met by that of the
armed man at the mouth of the
grotto.
Thus our position and its perils were
somewhat compllcntcd.
Suddenly the distant report of a
piece of ordnance , coming from the
scawnrd , mndo us look up and list
en.
"El ruldo quo haco ol canon" ( the
crack of a gun ) , exclaimed a Spaniard ,
scrambling up to the lower end of
the flssuro In the arch of the grotto ,
and looking out.
"Wo nil know that well enough ; but
what does it mean ? " asked the other.
The English brig at the anchorage
has fired it. I see a light glittering on
her deck ; nnd now away H goes up to
the foremast head. "
"It is the Eugenic , MntUer Rodney , "
whispered Tom.
"Can the captain bo about to sail to
night and without us ? " said I , with
growing dismay.
"No ; but ho Is Impatient for us to
como off. Ho knows well what a 'tar-
nal slippery sot of imps these Jack
Spaniards are , nnd has shown n light
and flred a gun as n hint for us to
look sharp. "
"Companoro , " said one of the Span
iards to the other , who was looking
out , "arc you sure that It Is the Eng
lish brig and not ours ? "
"Yes ; but by St. Paul ! there is a
light burning now on the Castle do
Santa Cruz ; so our craft had bettor got
her sweeps out and put to sea , oven
without us. Can the Senor Gobornn-
dor have smelt a rat ? "
This announcement , though wo know
not what it referred to , hnd an evident
effect on our captors , who were pro'i -
bly part of a slaver's crow ; for they
all scrambled up to the opening in the
rocks to look out.
"Now , now Is the tlmo to slip our
cables and run. Follow mo ! " said
Tom Lambourno , In a hoarse but de
termined whisper , as ho sprang for
ward , snatched up two of the muskets
and rushed across the plank , tripping
as lightly as ho would have done along
a boom or yard , though It crossed a
gulf so terrible.
Less steadily , but not less rapidly ,
you' may bo assured yet with a frozen
heart I followed him , and his hard ,
tarry' hand was ready to grasp mine
o „ ' t. ' . ' - i . . . /
iind dragged mo forward into safety ,
while with n violent kick he tossed the
[ ilnnk nwny , nnd surging , down it went
nto the black gulf wo had crossed.
It vanished In n moment , nnd no
sound over ascended , for it seemed to
mvo fallen Into n pit that wns as dark
ns It wns bottomless.
"Take this musket , and see that
you can use It , sir , " said Tom , ns nn
emotion of bravado seized him. "And
RO , you , Spilnlsh greenhorns ! " ho
shouted , "you thought to sell mo for
i nigger to the Yankees , did you ?
Whoop ! hurrtih ! "
A volley of Spanish oaths followed
his niHh outburst , which drew their
attention nt once upon us. Some
ilHhed to the dark brink , nnd praised ,
suppose , for neither Tom nor I
could sco distinctly , as there wns n
Idiiblo explosion which filled the cnv-
orn with echoes llko those of rolling
hundcr , nnd a momentary glare of
smoky light , whllo two musket balls
whistled past us , nnd I felt one , llko
hot cinder , as It grazed my left car.
Then came nn Albncoto knife , which
s hurlikl by no erring hnnd , for It
iVoundcd Tom's right knee.
"Glvo them n shot , Mr. Rodney ! "
aid he , furiously ; "I'll reserve my flro
'or the sentry and here he Is , nl-
cndy ! "
And Just ns the eighth fellow , who
ivns on the wntch , nlnrmed by the flr-
ng , came rushing In with his ploco
lit full cock , Tom flred at him.
"Saints and nngels ! " yelled the
Spaniard ns ho bounded into the nlr
mil then fell flat on his face , whore ho
ay beating the earth with his foot
ind hands.
"Flro ! flro ! Master Rodney , nnd
hen run for it , before they can re-
oad , " cried Tom , who saw that I was
rrcfioluto ; "glvo 'cm n stern chaser ! "
My blood was now fairly up. Wheol-
ng round , I leveled full at the group ,
one of whom wns In the act of taking
aim at mo , whllo I saw the steel rnm-
od of the other , who had a musket ,
; llttcr In the lantern light as ho re
loaded.
I flred ! I know not whether the ball
hit , but one of the ruffians sprang
wildly forward and fell headlong into
the vcntana !
"That will do ! " cried Tom ; "away
now as fast as wo can stretch out
bear away for the harbor nnd the
brig ! "
Grasping our newly- acquired weap
ons , which wo never thought of re
linquishing , wo rashed out , and , de
scending the ravine , favored by the
starlight , Instinctively took the path
which led directly to the harbor.
With a heart that beat wildly , a
head In n whirl of thoughts , and every
pulse quickened by the whole affair
by the ferocious treatment to which
wo had been subjected for so many
hours , by the perils which had men
aced ns , by the narrow escapes wo hnd
made from bullets , by the wild and
disastrous tragedy which closed the
adventures of n long and exciting dny
I rnn beside Tom Lambourne ; on ,
on , without n brenth to spare or n word
to utter.
, ( ( To bo continued. )
REMARKABLE AUCTION BIDS.
HnllcH Which IIiivo Hroutflit llljj Sums
nt Union
The Zoln snle In Franco , at which a
little table was sold for more than 250
times its value , recalls many Instances
of remarkable bids at auction sales ,
says Tit-Bits. Zola's table was worth
1 ICs , but the first bid for it was
1,280 , and the auction became prob
ably unique in the annals of sales by
being closed after a single bid. It Is
not the first tlmo that a table has been
sold for such n remarkable sum ,
though it is probably the first tlmo
Hint such nn article has fetched such
a big price. Cicero's table wns put up
to nuction nftor his death , hut the
highest bid wns 750. Another historic
nrtlclo for which nn enormous price
wns paid wns Cnto's purple robe , which
Nero bought for 0,800. The habit
worn by Charles XII. nt Pultown wns
sold for 22,000 , nnd n cup used by Na
poleon went for 37 guineas. The hat
which Napoleon wore nt Eylau wns
kdonly bid for nt auction by thirty-two
persons and was knocked down at 75.
Mr. Quarltch , the famous bookseller ,
recently advertised two of his rarest
volumes for sale for 10,250 , a sum
which may seem ridiculous to most
readers. Mr. Quarltch. however , once
bid 4,900 for a Lntln Psnlter , nnd
3,900 for n Mnznrln Blblo nt nn nuc
tion sale. Five hundred nnd forty
guineas for n snuff-box suggests that
the bidder was verging on madness ,
but n snuffbox from the emperor of
Brazil's collection was once knocked
down at this price. Another , supposed
to have belonged to Marie Antoinette ,
sold for 320 guineas , bids of CO and 100
guineas being quite common at snuff
box sales. A vnso In the British mu
seum wns knocked down nt 1,000 guin
eas , and two violins a Stradlvarlus
and a Ruggarl wore sold at n sale for
760 and 1,280 , respectively. A violin
bow by Tourto was sold for 44 , and
the autograph of Sir Isaac Newton
once drew a bid of Ct. An admirer
of George IV. n few years ago bid 18
for a walking stick which belonged to
the king. A silver penny of William
the Conqueror's rolgn was sold ntno
years ago for 32 , and a half-crown of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth wont for
44. Lord Fltzhardlngo once bid 4,500
guineas for a calf at Lord Dunmore's
sale. The previous highest prlco for a
bull was 1,000 guineas , bid at a sale at
Kotton. Lord Fltzhardlngo's bid was
the highest over made in England.
Don't neglect to keep your shoes pol
ished. You can always shine at one
end if you can't nt the other.
WONDEIIFUJ ; STRIDES.
AMERICA THE COMMERCIAL
MI3TRESS OF THE WORLD.
The All-ConquorloK Trade Itlvnlry of
the United Stntol IK the Suhjoct of
Horloim Apprehension Among the Na
tion * of the World.
The commercial progress of the
United States , as revealed by the sta
tistics of international trade , Is not
only attracting the earnest attention of
European nations , but It Is exciting
among them more or less apprehen
sion. A nation which has shown nn
Increase of 51 per cent In Its exports
In n dccndo , and which lias had , In the
single year 1898 , n volume of exports
exceeding by nearly $88,000,000 those
of Grcnt Britnin , which , for a century ,
has been the commercial mistress of
the world , may Indeed be considered a
dangerous rival. Not alone In our ag
ricultural exports have wo shown mar
velous gains , but in our exports of
manufactures which in the last calen
dar year exceeded in value the ontlro
total of domestic exports for any year
prior to 1870 , with the exception of
1806 and 1801. The gain in thla Im
portant item of manufacturing exports
seems unmistakably to show that ,
stimulated by a protective tariff , our
manufacturing Industries have thrived
to such an extent that wo have not
only met the increased demand for
homo consumption , but have been able
successfully to Invade foreign compet
itive fields. And , moreover , this in
vasion of fields , especially In the far
East , which have been sedulously cul
tivated by the principal European com
mercial nations In the hope of undis
turbed occupancy , Is made even more
possible by our changed territorial
conditions which have resulted from
the war with Spain. Therefore It Is
extremely probably that there will bo
uninterrupted gnlns In our manufac
turing exports , though there may bo
some occasional check owing to vary
ing chnnges in crop conditions , to the
increase in our ngrlculturnl exports.
But the gain In our exports , marvel
ous though It may bo , seems to con
cern European nations In a less degree
than do our steadily diminishing Im
ports , these being smaller during the
last calendar year than for any year In
eighteen years , save the year 1885. And
the fact that this decrease In imports
has resulted from the operation of our
protective tariff , which must continue
in force at least for two years , is really
the greatest source of anxiety to Euro-
VERY DISCOURAGING FOR SOME PEOPLE.
P f'
= J WL0XTSoao
& $ r V l\.V'
peans. Wo are continually buying
smaller quantities of English , German
and French silk and woolen goods , the
Improvement in the quality and styles
of these fabrics which are manufac
tured hero leading to a larger domes
tic consumption of them ; and hero
again is another cause for anxiety on
the part of European manufacturers.
Statistics show that during the decade -
ado from 1888 to 1897 , covering a pe
riod In which both the McKInley and
the Wilson tariffs were in force , our
imports increased only 5.6 per cent ,
whllo those of the United Kingdom
gained 16.3 , the Netherlands 34 and
Russia 51.4 per cent , whllo from 1891
to 1897 Germany showed an increase
of 10.8 per cent. This would seem to
indicate that the United States is
growing less dependent upon Europe
by reason of our Industrial progress ,
while Europe is growing more depend
ent upon America , and proof that wo
are almost wholly the beneficiary Is
found in our increasing exports as
above noted. It Is a remarkable fact
that Japan during the above-mentioned
decade increased her imports 121.9 and
her exports 63.1 per cent , but those
gains were duo to exceptional causes.
No other country than Jftpan , among
nil the commercial nations , shows for
the decade such nu enormous expan
sion of exports and BO slight n gnln in
imports as does the United Stntes.
And no country in the world shows for
the fiscal year and the calendar year
18G8 exports of double the amount of
Imports. The singular fact may , however -
over , bo noted that Great Britain's Im
ports during the last calendar year
were about double the exports , the
former being $2,353,020,000 , whllo the
latter were $1,166,955,000. and this re
markable difference has probably not
before appeared during the commercial
history of that country. Hero is a com
plete reversal in the trade conditions
of the two nations ; and of so striking
a character that U must compel
thoughtful consideration. The marvel
ous change In the relation between ex
ports and Imports in the United Stntes
IB mnlnly the result of Internal Indus
trial developments which are progressIng -
Ing with Irresistible force , nnd , there
fore , must contlnuo uninterruptedly.
The reverse ehnnge noted In Great
Britain Is clearly due not so much to
Internnl ns to external causes , chief
among which are the rapidly ( ncrens-
lug competition of the United States in
fields hitherto almost exclusively en
joyed by Great Brltnln.
Do wo not find In the statistics of
tlir commerce of Qermnny nnd Franco
c\ldonco of the effect of the successful
commercial rivalry of the United
f tales ? Germany's cxpbrts In the year
U97 show n gain In six years of only
13.5 per cent , whllo those of Franco In
creased in n decade only 10.G per cent.
Bearing In mind the fact that the ex
ports of these countries are chiefly
manufactures , and that until recently
this country has been the most profit
able customer of these nations , we can
very readily discern the motive for the
somewhat unfriendly attitude of Ger
many and of France during our war
with Spain an attitude which on the
part of Germany at least It wns so
frequently deemed neccssnry officially
to disavow. Commercial rivalry nat
urally fosters Jealousy , and this grows
more Intense as ovldnnco accumulates
of the futility of efforts successfully to
resist or to check this rivalry. This ,
then , Is undoubtedly the root of the 111
feeling which has so frequently been
manifested by the Germans nnd the
French since our protective tariff bc-
cnmo operative , nnd slnco our manlfes-
tntion of nggresslve commerclnl prog
ress which followed the election of
President McKinley.
With the development of the im
mense resources of Cuba and of Porto
Rico , with the subjugation of the Filipinos
pines and the establishment of order
in the Philippine nrchipelago ns pre
liminary to the extension of our com
merce in the far East , with the con
struction of the Nicaraguan canal , thus
giving us the same advantages In the
Orient as have been enjoyed In India
and in China by Great Britain and by
other nations since the opening of the
Suez canal , and with an adherence to
the policy of protection the United
Stntes will easily be in the front rank
among commercial nations within the
next decade , and will nt least bo the
equal of Great Britain as n financial
power.
REVENUE FRAUDS ,
"Obstructing Competition" Is What tlio
Free Traders Cull the Cruaudo
Agnlnut Dndorvnluntlon.
The following curious scrap of mis
information appears in the Philadel
phia Record of recent date :
"It appears that complaints of the
undervaluations of Imported goods un
der the present tariff are far more fre
quent than they were under the Wilson
law. Nothing could be more natural
than the attempts to defraud the cus
toms when the exorbitant rates of duty
on woolens and some other Imports
offer such large inducements for smug
gling nnd mnnlpulnting invoices of
merchnndtse. In order to prevent
frauds the manufacturers have In their
employ a number of "special agents"
who are apt to sniff a false valuation in
every Importation of woolens , gloves ,
luces , etc. These agents have under
taken to Instruct the board of apprais
ers in their duties , and as the board Is
npt always disposed to accept Instruc
tions from this source , the agents have
complained against some of its mem
bers to the secretary of the treasury
and the president. The real merits of
this 'controversy hnve not yet been ful
ly disclosed , nnd It Is quite as proba
ble that the special agents have of
fended by an excess of zeal in behaU
of the manufacturers , who have a
strong Interest in obstructing competi
tion , ns that the experienced members
of the board of appraisers have erred
in permitting undervaluations of mer
chandise. "
Whllo It Is possibly true that com
plaints of the undervaluation of Im
ported goods are moro frequent now
than they wore under the Wilson law ,
It by no means follows that Just cause
for complaint Is more frequent now
than then.
As a matter of fact the undervalua
tion was at its height in the four years
of low tariff and no tariff which ended
with the enactment of the Dlngley law.
During that lamentable period com
plaints as to undervaluations were dis
tinctly unwelcome at the office of the
New York appraiser of merchandise ,
and every complainant was made to
understand that he was persona non
grata. Undervaluation and classifica
tion frauds were with Impunity perpe
trated under the very noses of the offi
cials Intrusted with the enforcement of
the revenue laws.
A case In point will illustrate the
practice then prevalent. To a House
heavily engaged in the importation of
dress goods came the agent of a French
factory soliciting an order. When a
price had been named the locnl mer
chant said : "Wo can do better than
that by Importing the goods in the
grnj' nnd dyeing them in this country. "
To his surprise , the foreign agent
promptly mot this price with the state
ment : "I will lay down the goods , nl
ready dyed , at the same figure you
nnmo for the undyed fnbrlcs. "
This wns an extraordinary proposi
tion , since It Involved the added expense - - * > '
penso of dyeing nnd finishing , besides
the material Increase of duty imposed
upon dyed ns contrasted wnth undy6d
goods.
"How is it possible to do this
nt a profit ? " asked the locnl mer
chant.
"Never mind the 'how , ' " was the
reply of the foreign agent. "Ask mo
no questions nnd I'll toll you no lies.
I know how to do It , Isn't thnt
enough ? "
It was enough , and the order was
placed and the goods delivered ns spe
cified. Of course , thcro could bo but
one explanation ns to the "how. " To
deliver goods dyed nnd finished at the
same price ns that asked by a rival
concern for goods "In the gray" meant
that the competing agent enjoyed es
pecial facilities for getting his goois
through the custom house at a figure
so far below a fair valuation as to
over the added cost of dyeing and fin
ishing and still leave a margin of
profit. There wns no other way. Re
sult , the government robbed by Its rev
enues , the American workingmnn
robbed of his opportunity to dye and
finish the goods in this country , and
every honest importer robbed of the
chance of fair and honorable competi
tion.
tion.All
All this is now changed. The atmos
phere of go-as-you-please , protectlon-
is-robbery , tarlff-ls-a-tnx , free trade
and unobstructed competition which
permeated the customs service In New
York during four years of Cleveland- _ f
ism has given place to the wholesome
air of sincere endeavor to enforce the
law ns It Is , nnd to collect the revenues
to which the government fa legally en
titled. Undervaluation frauds nro not
more frequent now than formerly ; on *
the contrary , they nre far less preva
lent. The difference In their treatment '
has a marked tendency to discourage
the nefarious practice. If wo hear
moro about this class of revenue ova- i
slon now than during the period of
the Wilson law It Is because merchants
and manufacturers suffering from th'o
unfair competition of undervalued consignments - '
signments are now certain of being acJ-
corded a respectful hearing and having
their Just grievances promptly and en
ergetically attended to.
Not only is the undervaluation evil
being effectively dealt with , but the <
crime of smuggling , which was never
BO rampant as under the Wilson law ,
has been minified In a marked degree ,
and In the matter of precious stones ,
heretofore Its chief field of operations ,
has almost entirely disappeared. Much
of the success of the local customs ofil- i
clals In bringing about these desirable
reforms is doubtless due to the co
operation of reputable business men ,
whose assistance In this regard Is now
welcomed and valued , where formerly !
It was discouraged nnd disliked. The '
radical change in policy Is "not plens- 7" ?
Ing to free traders , who see In It nn \
obstruction to competition , ns the Phil
adelphia Record puts It , which was not
so before. The American people may I
be trusted to take a different view of . '
the mntter. The Dlngley law Is tholr
law , and they expect that It will be t
effectively , honestly nnd fnlrly enforced - 1
forced , to the end thnt the government j
shnll not be cheated of its rightful revenues - '
enues , nnd that fair competition in
business shnll not be obstructed ns the
result of dishonest
nnd unlawful prac
tices. If there be in the wheels of
governmental administration anv noes
which fail to work In harmony with
this general plan of operation it is
natural and Inevitable that such cogs
should be replaced by those that will
perform their functions in a moro sat
isfactory manner. Such a change can
not fall to improve the efficiency of the
new apparatus , even though it may
seem to reflect to the disadvantage of
the former mnchlne. This is nn ago of
Improvement.
Hovr to Flenne Kii
We are informed that "tariff revi
sion would be nccepted by England as
the one Indisputable proof of the- .
frlandly sentiments of the United
States. " It Is easy to divine the sort1
of "tariff revision"
England would re
gard as "indlsputnble proof of the
friendly sentiments of the United
States. " Nothing short of a tariff
which would bo virtually a free trade
measure would bo acceptable to Eng
land. Our Anglomnnlncs nre awnre ot
thn' fact , and are quite willing to sac
rifice protection in the interest of a
closer union with the country of their
love. If tholr leadership prevails the
Republican party will turn its back on
the principles for which it so long
battled and become simply n politicnl
orgnnlzatlon to ndvnnco British inter
ests In this country.
Let us hope thnt the party of Abra
ham Lincoln and of James G. Blalne
will never sink so low as this. To-day
the advocates of Imperialism and of a
British allnnce are the enemies In its
ranks whom it has moat to foar. They
are willing to sacrifice all the tradi
tions of the party to carry out their
plans , and It will not be at all sur
prising If In the near future they de
mand that the policy of protection
shnll not stand In the way of these
plans. New York Irish World.
It In Already Failure.
The decrease in exports from Great
Britain last year Is said to have so
affected the whole manufacturing ele
ment that the Idea of preferential tar
iffs between the homo country and all
Us dependencies , or some similar prop
osition , Is likely to become a question
of active domestic politics. This , of
course , Is a protective principle. If it
should bo adopted , the whole scheme of
free trade , to which Great Britain has
been devoted for half a century , would
be admitted to be a failure. Buffalo
Express.