PBEPAEED IOE WAR THE COUNTRY'S FINANCES IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. t'reaent Hound Condition * Contmntoi ! with the Dlntriist , Depression and In dustrial PurulyBln Which Prevailed During Four Yearn of Free Trade. It will be Interesting to take a retrospective n spective- view of the situation and to ( ( consider what might have been the re sults had such a crisis as the present occurred at any time during the Demo cratic free trade administration ol Grover Cleveland , and especially when the steadily Increasing deficiency In revenues , caused by the operation ol the Wilson free trade tariff , was keepIng - Ing the "endless chain" In constant motion , draining the treasury of gold as water runs through a sieve. The administration of Mr. Cleveland was barren of beneficial financial , political or revenue results. There was an en tire absence of confidence on the part of the people In the ability of the president successfully to meet the most ordinary emergency , and during the minor crises- which were of fre quent occurrence , values of securities violently fell and capital constantly Bought retirement. Suppose that at any time during the Cleveland administration , when the financial conditions of the country were in a state of feverish unrest , there had been such a disturbance ot our international relations as those which have led up to the outbreak of the war with Spain. With the country wholly unprepared , either fi nancially or physically , for such a crises , with our navy but little better than that of a fifth-rate power'with the government of Great Britain none tro friendly , though her manufacturers were prospering through the destruc tion of one of our principal industries , by reason of the free trade tariff , and with an entire absence of harmony between the executive and the legis lative branches of the government , any effort which we might have made to bring about even the slightest amelio ration of the condition of the Cubans or an abandonment of the barbarous treatment of the reconcentrados would doubtless have been Indignantly re sented and probably forcibly resisted by Spain. Unquestionably there would have followed most destructive pan icky conditions Intensified by the ab sence of confidence by the people In the ability of the administration suc cessfully to meet the emergency. It is quite conceivable that this disturbance would have caused a most humiliat ing back-down on the part of our gov ernment , or at least nn abandonment 'by us of further efforts to interfere with Spain in her conduct of military operations in Cuba. President McKinley had a well-de fined financial , revenue and interna tional policy at the outset of his ad ministration. His election at once re stored confidence. The directness with which he carried out his plan for the inauguration of a protective tariff stimulated business and industrial en terprises. The congress and the people ple actively seconded his efforts and harmonious relations were established between the executive and the legis lative branches of the government. His treatment of the Cuban question was marked by firmness and moderation , and his insistence , from time to time , that Spain should more humanely con duct the contest in Cuba resulted in a material modification of the rigors of the conflict. When the "Maine" incident occurred the resulting panicky feeling was quickly allayed by the assurance which the country had that the administra tion was fully competent and that it could be implicitly trusted to meet any emergency , however grave , that might arise. Confidence was felt in the effi cacy of the measures which were taken by the president to prepare for any possible crisis , and when the time came for vigorous action the presi dent's request for an extraordinary ap propriation for war purposes was promptly and unanimously acceded to , congress placing $50,000,000 under the absolute control .of the executive. When preparations for war active ly began and when each step distinctly foreshadowed the outcome of war un less Spain yielded to our demand , there was no panic , nor the least expression of apprehension , no retirement of capi tal into. hoards , no material distur bance of the market for money , and , with the exception of snarls by free trade advocates , no unfortunate criti cisms of the administration. To the results of the protective tariff we are very largely indebted for this splendid exhibition of confidence. Though encountering almost insur mountable obstacles , the Dingley tariff demonstrated its efficiency as a reven ue producer. It stimulated business and Industrial enterprises. It aided in the restoration of the gold reserve cf the treasury by silencing the dis turbing rattle of the "endless chain. " It gave assurance that when normal conditions shall be resumed , the era of prosperity will return , and through its direct and indirect influence It has made it possible for the country to prepare for and to meet the crisis of a foreign war without resorting to an external loan. IMPORTANT IF TRUE. V * * } Evidence That Manufacturers Yearn w ) . for Free Trade Conditions. tme of the free trade editors seem " satisfaction in what they imag- change in sentiment re- jDIngley tariff. No one but Is able to per- of such a change iS avanah News , TribuneT" W'X > 'the'Vpanufacturers v ' * * . * * T'fi. k _ . X doctrine of the Democratic party would contribute more to their pros perity than the Republican doctrine of protection does. " In a similar strain the Philadelphia Record recites its Impressions thus : "Whatever advantage a protective tariff may have offered in times past to Infant Industries In the early stages of their development , it necessarily follows that the retention of such a measure long after the occasion for its creation has ceased to exist can only serve as a clog to subsequent develop ment. Evidences of the truth of this assertion are furnished In the various retallative measures which have been enacted in foreign countries since the Dlngley tariff went Into effect , and In the changing sentiment of manu facturers who were formerly the most rabid protectionists. " This would be important if true. If It were true that protection's ranks are being decimated and that manu facturers were hoping for a return of the Cleveland-Wilson free trade regime , the road to victory for the "Democratic party In 1900 would be a straight and easy one. In that case all that would be necessary would be a simple platform of tariff for revenue only , with protection denounced as a robbery and a fraud , and the fight would be won. If the free traders are so positive as to the changing sentiment on the subject of the tariff , they should lose no time in sidetracking the currency question and in simplifying the Issue in the manner we have sugested. But will they do it it ? Will they invite the attention of the country and point with pride to the achievements of the Wilson-Gorman low tariff and no tar iff in the bringing about of a period of depression and stringency such as the country never before had experi enced ? Probably not. This is the view taken by the Washington Post , which says : "The Democrats and the other ele ments of the free coinage combination hope for success next time , and they will keep silver right at the front. And the Democratic contingent of that great aggregation will not put any thing into the platform that will repel protectionists. "There is not much life left in the old issue of 'tariff for revenue only. ' What good came to the Democratic party or to the country from a Democratic triumph on that issue in 1892 ? After the experience of the Dem ocrats with Mr. Cleveland , the apostle of tariff reform , they have no stomach ach for another fight on his lines. " > ot So Good as It Used to Bo For General Information. Congressman De Armond wants to know about the promises of the Re publican party. Well , we promised to stop the necessity for Issuing bonds with which to pay the expenses of the government , for one thing. We have heard nothing suggesting such a thing as being necessary of late , unless it is in connection with war expenses. We promised to enact a tariff bill that would raise revenue enough to pay the bills , and the Dingley law is doing very well indeed. Now we would like to have Mr. De Armond explain why the price of wheat has not continued in the dumps and refused to rise in price about 50 cents per bushel , in sympathy with the price of silver , as he , Mr. Bryan and all the greater and lesser lights so vehemently declared it would. We would like to have him explain why it is that gold importations continue , right in the face of a declaration of war , and in conformity to the natural laws of trade , if. as was so blandly told us , the control of gold was solely with a few European bankers. We would like to have Mr. De Ar- rnond , in his' present inquiring mood , look up the record of imports and ex ports for the months of the present year and explain why they are so fa vorable as compared with last year , if the tariff laws that he has denounced in congress were placing a Chinese wall of exclusion about this country. Lowell Mail. An Uncqunled Record. For the nine months ending with March , 1S98 , the difference between the importation and exportation of mer chandise by the United States amount ed to ยง 470,961,693 , that sum being the excess of what we sold over what we bought. No other country has made or can make a record to equal this. The reason is to be fonnd in the fact that no other country has an equal di versity of climate , soil , industries , products and resources , and hence no other country is or could be benefited in an equal degree by the policy of protection. I.ato In the Day. Mr. Dingley's tariff law most con clusively proved itself to be a first- class revenue producer before the pres ent trouble began. It is rather late in the day for its opponents to lie ab Utjt-w along that line. Mankato EOEKIGN ADYiSEES , ADVANTAGES GAINED BY REJECTING - JECTING THEIR COUNSEL. The Foreign Ways Forced Upon the Country by Grover Cleveland and IIIn Few British Loving Cronies Are No Longer Potent. The amount of gratuitous advice tendered from Europe on the subject of the economic policy of the United States is really quite remarkable un der all the circumstances. The un sought counsel which comes from Eng land , for example , without charge of any kind , is more than remarkable it is extraordinary. It would seem from this that free traders arc the most completely unselfish people in all the world. How else shall we account for the fact that England is continu ally advising the United States to dis card its protective tariff as a means of conquering the trade of the world , when , if this advice were to be fol lowed and this result should ensue , Great Britain would , in consequence , be plunged into irretrievable bank ruptcy through the loss of the mar kets thus gained by the United States. It is difficult to escape one of two conclusions , either that England is throbbing with desire to sacrifice all her material interests for the benefit of the United States , or else that there Is a mistake somewhere in the calcula tion that by the abolition of her tariff America would monopolize the world's markets. Some years ago an American consul named Schoenhoff , serving under the free trade administration of President Cleveland , was at great pains to col lect figures showing that'the percent age of labor cost In manufactures was lower In the United States than In any foreign country. This being the case , It should follow , according to the Cob- denite doctrine , that upon a free trade basis no nation could possibly com pete with us in manufactures. But , somehow , it didn't follow at all. Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Wilson tried it in 1894 , by lowering the tariff down to somewhere near English ideas and by reducing the wages of American work people. What happened then ? Did the Unit ed States promptly proceed to capture the trade of all creation ? By no means. What actually did happen was that the United States promptly proceeded to lose the biggest part of her home market , and for nearly four years a condition of ruin and depression be yond anything ever before known in this country prevailed. Foreign manu facturers flooded our markets with their products , and a large portion of our own mills and factories were compelled to suspend operations. The fact that our percentage of labor cost was lower than that of Europe did not prevent the rapid Increase of foreign imports into the United States. It would therefore appear that Eng ' desire to see land's overpowering pro tection abolished in America was not altogether disinterested , for the period of Great Britain's greatest prosperity in all her history was the period of the Wilson low tariff and no-tariff. It is also a fact that the greatest depres sion Eng ad has ever known in some lines of manufacture has occurred since the restoration of protective rates of duty under the Dingley law. Today , as the direct result of refus ing to follow British advice , the Unit ed States has not only recaptured from foreign hands her own great home market , but has extended her trade throughout the world to an extent and at a rate which far surpasses all pre vious records of this or any other country. Foreign advisers have , however , been of incalculable benefit to the people ple of our country in one way exactly the same way that the lives of millions of human beings have been saved by pins and needles , by not swallowing them ! As It Should Be. In the Glasgow "Herald" of April 11 is given the statement of exports from the consular districts of Dun dee to the United States for the quar ter ended March 31. The total value was $1,403,811 , against $2,734,006 for the corresponding quarter ended in 3897 , a falling off of $1,330,195. Linens , burlaps and paddings are our princi pal purchases from Dundee , the larg est item being burlaps , amounting to $723,236 for the first quarter of 1898. The fact that the exports from Dun dee for this quarter were $500,000 less than" for the corresponding quarter in 1896 shows that the decrease in 1898 was not altogether due to heavy pur chases in anticipation of the Dingley tariff , and would seem to Indicate that articles of domestic production are to some extent being used in place of goods formerly imported. This is as it should be. Should no Let Alone. Interference with the present tariff laws would be both unjust and im politic. These laws have a double pur pose , that of revenue and protection to American industries. They are ac complishing their work to the very fullest extent , and to attempt to force further revenue through them would manifestly be unjust to other nations and , therefore , impolitic. St. Louis "Star-Sayings. " Happy Farmers. All conditions combine to make Washington farmers' lot a happy one , and when is added the prosperous con dition of our workingmen , merchants and lumbermen , the contrast with two years ago Is most marked and satis factory. Tacoma Ledger. Don't think every solid man you meet Gates of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition Thrown Open , GIVEN , A GRAND SEND-OFF. PrcMdent McKinley Presses the Button that Starts the Machinery and Send * Words ot Congratulation Addresses by tlio Governor of Xebrauka and Other Distinguished Visitors. The fo-mal opening of the Trans- MisslsslppI and International Exposi tion occurred with such imposing pomp and pageantry as beiltted the completion of an enterprise in which the hopes and labors of a mighty people ple are entwined. The opening exer cises occupied nearly two hours and it was after 'izr-su o'clock when Pres ident McKinley added his greeting. A pressure of his finger liberated the electric spark that flashed across the continent and gave life and movement to the silent machinery. The bg ! shaft in the power house turned slowly in its bearings , the dynamoa hummo- . softly , then sang shrilly as they foil the full forca or the mighty current , the band burst into a swelling anthem and exhuberant cheers from innumer able throats welcomed the exposition into life. The multitude that witnessed the event poured into the gates from the early morning. The huge enclosure seemed silent and deserted after the busy activity of the previous days In which an army of workmen had la bored day and night to prepare the ex position for its guests. The formal exercises took place at the eastern end of the main court. The speakers occupied an elevated position in the arch of the central pavilion cf the east colonade , being in full view from the seats arranged for the au dience on the broad walks surrounding the lagoon. A large stand for the chorus had teen erected just in front of the place selected for the speakers , the seats being arranged in banks. The chorus and the marine band occupied these seats. ' It was 11:45 when the line of parade reached the grounds and President Wattles led the long line of guests through the Auditorium gate ani to the central pavilion. When the time came to receive the message of President McKinley the long distance telephone line proved unequal to the emergency for some reason which no one seemed to un derstand and a hastily improvised tel egraph line was run to the central pa vilion and Superintendent Umsted at tached a box sounder to the wire. Seated In n. chair with the sounder on another chair. Mr. Umsted took the message of the president on his knee. In spite of the awkwardness of the situation the message was transcribed and handed to Governor Holcoinb to read. It was as follows : The cordiality of the invitation ex tended to me to be present at the open ing of your great exposition is deeply appreciated and I more deeply regret that public duties prevent me from leaving the capital at this time. The events of the memorable half century which the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition com memorates are interwoven with the history of the whole nation , and are of surpassing importance. The mighty west affords most striking evidences of the splendid achievements andes - sibilities of our people. It is a match less tribute to the energy and endur ance of the pioneer , while its vast ag ricultural development , its progress in manufactures , its advancement In the arts and sciences and in all depart ments" of education and endeavor have been inestimable contributions to the civilization and wealth of tne world. Nowhere have the unconquerable determination , self-reliant strength and sturdy manhood of our American citizenship been more forcibly illus trated. In peace or war the men and women of the west have ever been In the vanguard. I congratulate the man agement upon the magnificent enter prise and assure all who participate in this undertaking of the deep inter est which the government has in its success. WILLIAM M'KINLEY. After reading President McKinley's message Governor Holcomb spoke on behalf of the state of Nebraska as fol lows : This occasion , the day and the hour , will ever remain memorable in the history of the trans-mississippi coun- try. It marks a most interesting event [ n the history of this commonwealth and measures a step forward in the progress of our great republic. To the people of Nebraska the ceremonies at tending the opening of the Trans- Mississippi and International Exposi tion are freighted with special and personal interests of the most im pressive character. This day has been anxiously await ed by every patriotic clt'zen of the state. The inception and surcessful inauguration of an enterp-ise. so grand in its scope and fraught , ai we believe it is , with so much good to the present and future generations , is gratifying alike to all. An exposition donating the ever advancing civiliza tion of the present age , and by a people ple inhabiting over one-half of the area of the United States and compris ing over one-third of its population , held within the boundaries of our great commonwealth. Is an honor and a distinction gratifying to our state pride , and for which all Nebraskans ire duly appreciative. For five months It will bo the great pleasure , as well as a high privilege , for our people to sxtend with welcome hands and warm hearts a hospitable greeting to the people of all portions of our common : ountry , and to these from other lands who may participate In or visit this magnificent display. We cordially in vite all to visit us and view the evi- iences of the marvelous progress made by the people of the great west in the material advancement in the Indus tries , arts and sciences ; vo learn of the wonderful and inexhaustible resources of a country which In extent forms an empire , and whose unparalleled re sources when utilized can be made to bless and make happy millions of mankind who may in this vast domain find innumerable opportunities for the establishment of prosperous homes. Here , gathered by the energy , in dustry and Ingenuity of man , will be found the products * of land and sea of farm and field , of factory and mine all giving evidence of the wonderful richness of a country yet only par tially developed , and displaying the marvelous progress made by its cit izens In keeping step with , the grand march of civilization throughout the world. The spirit of progress and philanthropy in the upbuilding of an industrial empire In our midst , dls- payed upon every hand , must challenge the admiration and solicit unstinted praise from all who shall visit us ant behold what has been accomplished by these people in scarce one-half cen tury of labor. These are the evidences of the intelligent and well directed ef forts of a people who , with a courage tnat is undaunted a\.d a faith that ii undismayed , have wrested from 'na ture's primeval conditions this beauti ful land , and established a civilization that will forever bless mankind. This great exposition celebrates and commemorates no important epoch In the history of the country. It Is an epoch in itself. It has grown and as sumed shape and form as an expres sion of the desires of a people to cel ebrate the development of the re sources of a country , the result ol their own struggles , labors and final triumphs. It is grander and far more reaching In Its scope than the celebra tion of some anniversary in our coun try's history. It emphasizes and makes comprehensive the accomplish ments of an intelligent , progressive people toward a higher civilization. It Is a composite picture of the growth of a people made during the early years of settlement In a new and un tried country. It Is befitting that as the nineteenth century is drawing to a close , with the fruitage of the manifold blessings which have been showered upon the people of the earth during its reign , that we of the western and new er half of the American republic should take an inventory of the stock of great riches of which we are pos sessed in order that we may thereby bs the better enabled to assume the duties and responsibilities and to solve the problems of the advancement of the human race that come crowding upon us with the dawning of the twentieth century. With the force of a proverb it has been said of man "Know thyself ; " and with greater emphasis may it be de clared , "Know thy country. " Study its structure a ? formed by divine hands. Know its livers and mountains , its forests and prairies , its valleys and plains , its climate and soil. Learn of its hidden treasures of gold and silver , of coal and iron ; its productive fields of grain and grasses , of vegetables and fruits , its plains of rich grazing for horses , cattle and sheep. Inform your self of the cities and towns , of tele graphs and telephones , of railways and steamboats , of the ever pulsing arteries of commerce , the facilities for exchange of the products of man's in genuity and industry , and a faint con ception will be gained of the present greatness and future possibilities of this magnificent trans-mississippi country. As this beautiful exposition city , vlth its thousands cf exhibits , representing every branch of industry , pleasing to the eye and inspiring to the mind , has sprung into existence in so short a period as if by magic , so has the transmississlppi country developed in the last half century -'ith marvel ous rapidity. This has been accom plished by the courage and untiring energy of those who have peopled its broad domains. The evidences here witnessed of the advancement of the people and the development of the country's resources Inspire within us a spirit of thankfulness that God has given us so goodly a land , to be made beautiful and to fructify for the en joyment and benefit of mankind. Though young In years we of the west ask no allowance on the score of age , but challenge Investigation and comparison with improvements made by countries of maturer years , confi dent that no unfavorable impression of us will result therefrom. In this hour of festivity and rejoicing we are not unmindful that it is also a time of trial for the nation. Loyal citizens from every section of the country have sprung to arms in defense of na tional honor , in the cause of human ity. Sectional lines have bean oblit erated in the face of threatened dan ger from foreign fees. A reunited people ple are fighting side by side under the Stars and Stripes , the banner of liber ty and progress. Amidst these marvelous collections of our triumphs in the peaceful pur suits of life we hope it may again be dcmnnotruted that "peace hath her vic tories no less renowned than war" and that our countrymen of the east may meet us here in this midway city of the continent , learn of our progress in the past , our aspirations and high aims , our hopes for the future and the integrity of our purpose and deter mination to contribute to a better civ ilization in developing this great coun try and to attain the high destiny de signed for us by the Maker of the Uni verse. Chancellor MacLean of the Univer sity of Nebraska responded to the sen timent , "The Exposition as an Edu cator. " He said the subject was so vast that he could touch upon only a few salient points. He traced the growth of expositions from the ancient market place up to the modern fair , which has grown into a collections of educating Influences. He referred to the Ignorance which prevails in other sections of this country as well as in other countries regarding the great west , its resources and products and said this exposition would prove an educator to remove this ignorance. The chancellor predicted that the ex position would prove a means of fus ing all interests in this entire section a fusion not of any three parties , but of all parties in the great cause of prosperity. A Rush of Regulars and Volunteers for the Florida Camp , GENERAL MILES ON HAND , The Best of the Volunteer Troop * Are Sent to the Probable Point of Debarks- tlou While Soldiers Embark on Trans- TAMPA. . Fla. , June 4. Thousands of volunteer troops , recently ordered to Tampa from Chickamauga arrived hero during- the day. The First Ohio , One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Indiana , Third Pennsylvania and First Illinois have been sent out to Port Tampa i ul were unloaded in the fields and along the beach opposite the artillery camp. The First District of Columbia , Fifth Maryland and Sixt3f-ninth New York are now on their way and will be here before night. These regiments are the pick of the volunteer troops , are well drilled and equipped and are apparently in splendid condition. Ma jor General Miles and General Shafter had a conference to-day , lasting for several hours. MOBILE , Ala. , Juno 4. In the camp of the regulars to-day the great bustle of moving is apparent. The transfer of tents and equipments has been in progress for two days and nights. The Second cavalry broke cainp at 2 o'clock , one squadron shipping upon the transport Mattcawan and the other two squadrons on the Stillwater and the Morgan. These vessels sail as soon as loaded. They are under sealed orders , but it is supposed they will go to Tampa. WASIINGTON , June 3. Information has reached the war department that two companies of the engineer battal ion from Willets Point , N. Y. , which have been at Tampa , have left that place for Key West. SCHLEY'S OFFICIAL REPORT , Attacked Santiago Defenses to Develop the Enemy's Position. WASHINGTON , June 4. The Navy de partment has received an official report from Commodore Schley regarding his recent attack of the forts at the en trance of Santiago harbor. It was read at to-day's cabinet meeting and received with satisfaction. Commodore Sehley says that his at tack was made for the purpose of de veloping the enemy's position , to locate batteries , etc. In that respect it was , he says , entirely successful , and he ac complished what he set out to do. None of his vessels was touched by the enemy's volleys and there were no casualties or mishaps on his vessels.- lle says , in addition , that he has no reasonable doubt that Cervera's fleet is inside the harbor of Santiago. RUNON SPAIN'S BANKGOES ON , Speculators Are Playing on the Ignor ance of the People. NEW YOHK , June 4 , A dispatch to the New York Herald from Madrid says : Very curious are the phases of the rush for silver in exchange for bank notes , in which it appears the speculators are playing on the intense ignorance of the people in financial af fairs. Last night the trains brought in large quantities of silver , one lot weighing 750 kilos. This was osten tatiously paraded through the streets to show the people that plenty of sil ver is existing. Notwithstanding this , the run con tinues at the Bank of Spain , and is met by ample supplies ofwhite metal. PLEA TO INSURGENTS , The Autonomist Leader In Havana De clares Cuba Is Not Ripe for Freedom. MADRID , June 4. A dispatch re ceived here from Havana , says that in the Chamber of Representatives there Senor Gibcrja , the Auton omist leader , presented a motion urging the government of Cuba to re quest the insurgents of that island to accept autonomy on the ground that the insurgents themselves "must be aware that the country -was not yet ripe for independence. " The president of the chamber , the Havana dispatch adds , declared in a patriotic speech that the government would en tertain such a motion. TO BAR THE DISPATCH BOATS , Jamaica Fears Correspondents Carry Mes sages for the Government. KINGSTON , Jamaica , June 4. The government here is much exercised over the report that press dispatch boats touching at variois ports on the island are carrying not only press mes sages , but also communications be tween the American government and the fleets. It is considering regarding the boats as tenders of belligerent ves sels and only allowing them to take coal at the nearest port and forbidding1 their entering the same port twice within three months. QUESTION OF RANK , Washington Frlomls of Samp-ton and Schloy Discuss Precedence. WASHINGTON. June t. In the absence of any official returns from Sampson or Schley off Santitgo , naval officers in Washington are agitating the subject of who should be in command on Cer vera's fleet. The discussion takes a wide range , and so'me ugly comments arc indulged in by fricnes of the two officers. Although Sampson \vaa made acting rear admiral , Schley outranks