The Plying Dutchman.
.
-BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT. *
*
*
CHAPTER VI.
The next day Philip told Amine that
lie was bound on a mission which
would take him to the Indian sea , and
I that while he was gone she and her
father should dwell in his house and
take care of his money. These mat
ters being arranged , Philip left Ter-
neuse.
In two days he arrived at Amster
dam , and having made the necessary
inquiries , found that there was
no chance of vessels sailing for the
East Indies for some months. The
Dutch East India Company had long
been formed , and all private trading
Avas at an end. The company's vessels
ileft only at what was supposed to be
'the most favorable season for round-
ling the cape of Storms , as the cape of
Good Hope was designated by the
early adventurers. One of the ships
.which were to sail with the next fleet
was the "Ter Schilling , " a three-mast
ed vessel , now laid up and unriggad.
1 Philip found out the captain , and
stated his wishes lo sail with him , to
learn his profession as a seaman. The
captain was pleased with his appear
ance , and as Philip not only agreed to
receive no wages during the voyage ,
ibut'to pay a premium as an apprentice
( learning his duty , he was promised a
berth on board as the second mate ,
ito mess in the cabin ; and he was told
! Ithat he should be informed whenever
1 the ship was to sail. Philip having
.now done all that he could in obedi
ence to his vow , determined to return
i I to the cottage ; and once more he was
in the company of Amine.
We must now pass over two months ,
during which Mynheer Foots contiu-
ued to labor at his vocation , and was
seldom within doors , and our two
young friends were left for hours to
gether. Philip's love for Amine was
fully equal to hers for him. It was
more than love it
was a devotion on
both sides , each day increasing. Two
months had thus passed away , when
Father Seysen , the local priest , who
often called , and had paid much at
tention to Amine's religious instruc
tion , one day came in as Amine was
encircled in Philip's arms.
"My children , " said he , "I have
watched you for some time ; this is not
well. Philip , if you intend marriage ,
as I presume you do , still it is danger
ous. I must join your hands. "
Philip started up.
"Surely I am not deceived in thee ,
my son , " continued the priest , in a
severe tone.
"No , no , good father ; but I pray you
leave me now ; tomorrow you may
come , and all will be decided. But I
must talk with Amine. "
The priest quitted the room , and
Amine and Philip were again alone.
The color in Amine's cheek varied and
her heart beat , for she felt how much
her happiness was at stake.
"The priest is right , Amine , " said
Philip , sitting down by her. "This
cannot last ; would that I could ever
stay with you ; how hard a fate is
mine ! leu know 1 love the very
ground you tread upon , yet I dare not
ask thee to wed misery. "
"To wed with thee would not be
wedding misery , Philip , " replied Am
ine , with downcast eyes.
" 'Twere not kindness on my part ,
Amine , I should indeed be selfish. "
"I will speak plainly , Philip , " re
plied Amine. "You say you love me
I know not how men love but this I
know , how I can love. I feel that to
leave me now were indeed unkind and
selfish on your part ; for , Philip , I I
should die. You say that you must go
away that fate demands it and-'your
fatal secret. Be it so ; but cannot I
go with you ? "
"Yes , death ; for what is death but a
release ! I fear not death , Philip ; I fear
.tut losing thee. Nay , more , is not
your life in the hands of him who
made all ? Then why so sure to die ?
You have hinted to me that you are
chosen selected for a task ; if chosen ,
there is less chance of death ; for until
the end be fulfilled , if chosen , you must
live. I would I knew your secret.
Philip ; a woman's wit might serve
you well ; and if it did not * serve
you , is there no comfort , no pleasure
in sharing sorrow as well as joy with
one you say you dote upon ? "
"Amine , dearest ! Amine , it is my
love , my ardent love alone , which
makes me pause ; for , oh , Amine , what
pleasure should I feel if we were this
hour united ? I hardly know what to
say , or what to do. I could not with
hold my secret from you if you were
my wife , nor will I wed you till you
know it. Well , Amine , I will cast my
all upon the die. You shall know this
secret , learn what a doomed wretch
I am , though from no fault of mine ,
and then you yourself shall decide.
But remember my oath is registered in
heaven , and I must not be dissuaded
from it ; keep that in mind , and hear
my tale then if you choose to wed
with one whose prospects are so bit
ter , be it so a short-lived happiness
will then be mine , but for you , Amine
ine- "
ine"At once the secret , Philip , " cried
Amine , impatiently.
Philip then entered into the detail
of what our readers are acquainted
with. Amine listened in silence ; not
a change of feature was to be observed
in her countenance during the narra
tive Philip wound up with stating the
oath which he had taken. "I have
done , " said Philip , mournfully.
" 'Tis a strange story.Philip , " replied
Amine ; "and now hear me but give
me first that relic I wish to look upon
it. And can there be such virtue I
had nigh said , such mischief in this
little thing ? Strange ; forgive me ,
Philip but I've still ray doubts upon
this tale of Eblis. I do not say that
it cannot be true ; but still , one so un
settled as I am may be allowed to
waver. But , Philip , I'll assume that all
is true. Then , if it be true
without the oath you would
but be doing your duty ; and think not
so meanly of Amine as to suppose she
would restrain you from what is right.
No , Philip , seek your father , and , if
you can , and he requires your aid , then
save him. But , Philip , do you imag
ine that a task like this , so high , Is
to be accomplished at one trial ? Oh !
no ; if you have been so chosen to fulfill
it , you will be preserved through dif
ficulty and danger until you have
worked out your end. You will be
preserved , and you will again and
again return be comforted consoled
be cherished and be loved by Am
ine as your wife. And when it pleases
him to call you from this world , your
memory , if she survive you , Philip ,
will equally be cherished in her bosom.
Philip , you have given me to decide
dearest Philip , I am thine. "
Amine extended her arms , and Philip -
ip pressed her to his bosom. That
evening Philip demanded his daughter
of her father , and Mynheer Foots , as
soon as Philip opened the iron safe
and displayed the guilders , gave his
immediate consent.
Father Seysen called the next day ,
and received his answer ; and three
days afterward the bells of the little
church of Terneuse were ringing a
merry peal for the union of Amine
Foots and Philip Vanderdecken.
CHAPTER VII.
It was not until late in the autumn
that Philip was roused from his dream
of love ( for what , alas ! is every en
joyment of this life but a dream ? ) by
a summons from the captain of the
vessel with whom he had engaged to
sail.
sail.One
One morning in the month of Oc
tober there was a tapping with the
knuckles at the cottage door. As this
precaution implied a stranger , Amine
obeyed the summons.
"I would speak with Master Philip
Vanderdecken , " said the stranger , in a
half whispering sort of voice.
The party who thus addressed Am
ine was a little meager personage ,
dressed in the garb of the Dutch sea
men of the time , with a cap made of
badger-skin hanging over his brow.
His features were sharp and diminu
tive , his face of a deadly white , his
lips pale , and his hair of a mixture
between red and white. He had very
little show of beard indeed , it was
almost difficult to say what his age
might be. He might have been a
sickly youth early sinking into de-
creptitude , or an old man , hale in con
stitution , yet carrying no flesh. But
the most important feature , and that
which immediately riveted the atten
tion of Amine , was the eye of this
peculiar personage for he had but
one ; the right eyelid was closed , and
the ball within had evidently wasted
away ; but his left eye was , for the
size of his face and head , of unusual
dimensions , very protuberant , clear
and watery , and the most unpleasant
to look upon , being relieved by no
fringe of eyelash either above or be
low it.
Philip was greatly surprised at the
appearance of the stranger , who , as
soon as he entered the room , without
saying a word , sat down on the sofa
by Philip in the place which Amine
had just left.
"Philip Vanderdecken he ! he !
Philip Vanderdecken , you don't know
me ? " he began.
"I do not , " replied Philip in a half-
angry tone.
The voice of the little man was most
peculiar it was a sort of subdued
scream , the notes of which sounded in
your ear long after ho had ceased to
speak.
"I am Schriften , one of the pilots of
the Ter Schilling , " continued the man ,
"and I'm come he ! he ! " and he
looked hard at Amiue "to take you
away from love" and looking at the
buffets "he ! he ! from comfort , and
from this also , " cried he , stamping his
foot on the floor as lie rose from the
sofa "from terra firma he ! he ! to a
watery grave perhaps. Pleasant ! " con
tinued Schriften. with a giggle ; and
with a countenance full of meaning
he fixed his one eye on Philip's face.
Philip's first impulse was to put his
new visitor out of the door ; but Amiue ,
who read his thoughts , folded her
arms as she stood before the little
man , and eyed him with contempt , as
she observed :
"We all must meet our fate , good
fellow ; and , whether by land or sea ,
death will have his due. If death stare
him in the face , the cheek of Philip
Vanderdecken will never turn as white
as yours is now. "
"Indeed ! " replied Schriften , evi
dently annoyed at this cool determina
tion on the part of one so young and
beautiful ; and then fixing his eye upon
the silver shrine of the Virgin on the
maniel-piece : "You are a Catholic ,
I percieve he ! "
"I am a Catholic , " replied Philip ;
"but does that concern you ? When
does the vessel sail ? "
"In a week he ! he ! only a week for
preparation only seven days to leave
all short notice ! "
"More than sufficient , " replied Phil
ip , rising up from the sofa. "You may
tell your captain that I shall not fail.
Come , Amine , we must lose no time. "
"No , indeed , " replied Amine , "and
our first duty is hospitality. Mynheer ,
may we offer you refreshment after
your walk ? "
"This day week , " said Schriften , ad
dressing Philip , and without making
a reply to Amine. Philip nodded his
head , the little man turned on his heel
and left the room , and in short time
was out of sight.
In the week that followed Philip
completed all his arrangements for
leaving ; then came the sad parting
from Amine.
As soon as Philip was clear of his
own threshold he hastened away as
though he were attempting to escape
from his own painful thoughts. In two
days he arrived at Amsterdam , where
his first object was to procure a small ,
but strong , steel chain to replace the
ribbon by which the relic had hitherto
been secured around his neck. Having
done this , he hastened to embark with
his effects on board of the Ter Schill
ing. Philip had not forgotten to bring
with him the money which he had
agreed to pay the captain , in consider
ation of being received on board as an
apprentice rather than a sailor. He
had also furnished himself with a fur
ther sum for his own exigencies. It
was late in the evening when he ar
rived on board of .the Ter Schilling ,
which lay at single anchor surrounded
by the other vessels composing the In
dian fleet. The captain , whose name
was Kloots , received him with kind
ness , showed him his berth , and then
went below in the hold to decide a
question relative to the cargo , leaving
Philip on deck to his own reflections.
"Had you not better go below ? " said
a mild , voice , which made Philip start
from his reverie.
It was that of the first mate , whose
name was Hillebrant , a short , well-set
man of about 30 years of age. His hair
was flaxen , and fell in long flakes upon
his shoulders , his complexion fair , and
his eyes of a soft blue ; although there
was little of the sailor in his appear
ance , few knew or did their duty bet
ter.
ter."I
"I thank you , " replied Philip ; "I had
indeed forgotten myself , and where I
was ; my thoughts were far away.
Good-night , and many thanks.
The crew of the Ter Schilling was
composed of the captain , two mates ,
two pilots and forty-five men. The
supercargo had not yet come on board.
The cabin ( under the poop ) was ap
propriated to the supercargo ; but the
main-deck cabin to the captain and
mates , who composed the whole of the
cabin mess.
When Philip awoke the next morn
ing , he found that the topsails were
hoisted , and the anchor short-stay
apeak. Some of the other vessels of
the fleet were under way and standing
out. The weather was fine and the
water smooth , and the bustle and nov
elty of the scene were cheering to his
spirits. The captain , Mynheer Kloots ,
was standing on the poop , with a small
telescope made of pasteboard , to his
eye , anxiously looking toward the
town. Mynheer Kloots , as usual , had
his pipe in his mouth , and the smoke
which he puffed from it for a time ob
scured the lenses of his telescope. Phil
ip went up the poop ladder and saluted
him.
( To be continued. )
PHILOSOPHICAL FRENCHMEN.
Give the Impression of I5clnff the Hap
piest 1'eoplo In the World.
The more nations I make the ac
quaintance of , the more deeply con
firmed I get in this conviction , that the
Frenchman , with all his faults and
shortcomings , is the happiest man in
the world , says the North American
Review. Of course , the wealthy classes
have everywhere found the way of en
joying life , more or less ; but to the
observer of national characteristics
these classes are uninteresting. Good
society is good society everywhere. For
a study , give' me the masses of the
people. And it is among the masses
in France that , after all , I find the
greatest amount of happiness. The
Frenchman is a cheerful philosopher.
He knows best of all how to live and
enjoy life. Moderate in all his hab
its , he partakes of all the good things
that nature has placed at his disposal ,
without ever making a fool of himself.
He understands temperance in the true
acceptation of the word , which means ,
not total abstinence , but moderation.
When you say that a country has a
temperate climate you do not mean
that it has no climate at all ; you mean
that it has a climate that is neither
too hot nor too cold. We have no
teetotalers , because we practically have
no drunkards. A Frenchman would be
as astonished to find that the law pre
vented him from enjoying a glass of
wine because a few imbeciles use wine
he would to find
to get drunk with , as
that the law forbade him to use knives
in his quiet and peaceful home , be
cause there pre a few lunatics who a
use knives to commit suicide with or t
kill their fellow creatures. sl
l !
She Com'prelicnded.
"The Filipinos arc rising , " he read S
aloud from the newspaper. "Ye , i
Charley , dear , " young Mrs. Torkins u
answered. "I can understand that per t :
fectly. As soon as they heard General t :
Lawton was coming they all prob i :
ably climbed palm trees. " Washing I :
ton Star. ti
PURCHASES ABBOAD.
INTERESTING FIGURES FOR OUR
IMPORTS FOR 1S98.
American Consumption of Foreign Prod
ucts the Smallest In Volume and Value
for the Fust Tvreuty Years , Excepting :
Those of 1885.
The details of the import trade of
, he United States in the year just end
ed , the first full calendar year of the
Dingley tariff , have just been complet
ed by the bureau of statistics. They
show the smallest importation in twen
ty years , with the single exception of
the year 1885. The total imports for
the year are $634,958,229 , the revised
figures being slightly in excess of those
of the preliminary statement issued by
fhe bureau of statistics earlier in the
month. This is $100,000,000 less than
the imports of 1897 , and $200,000,000
less than those of 1892 , while , as al
ready indicated , they are the lowest
in twenty years , with the single excep
tion of 18Sl > . The reduction of imports
is altogether in articles free of duty ,
the dutiable imports in 1898 being
$366,595,549 , while those of 1897 were
$365,302,240 , while the free-of-duty ar
ticles imported amounted in value in
1898 to $268,362,680 , against $377,329-
110 in 1897. This reduction of $100-
000,000 in the importation of non-du
tiable articles is due , first , to a very
great reduction in the importations of
wool and the transfer of wool from
the free to the dutiable list ; second , tea
a reduction in the free importation of
manufactured articles , whether for
use in the mechanic arts or for con
sumption ; third , to the transfer of tea
from the free list to the dutiable list ,
and , fourth , to a reduction in the prices
and also a slight reduction in the
quantity of coffee imported.
Articles manufactured for use in the
mechanic arts fell from $25,293,522 in
1S97 to $19,166,517 in 1898 ; articles
manufactured for consumption fell
from $20,942,277 in 1897 to $7,842,537
in 1898 , and articles of voluntary use ,
luxury , etc. , fell from $6,702,370 in 1897
to $3,851,377 in 1898. The above state
ments all relate to the non-dutiable
importations.
Under the dutiable head , the imports
of 1898 , as already Indicated , differ but
little from those of 1897. Articles of
food and live animals coming in un
der the dutiable list amounted in 1898
to $100,506,148 , against $102,349,373 in
1897. Articles in a crude condition for
domestic industry show a marked in-
creasebeing $49,070,823 in 1898 , against
$32,555,794 in 1897 , this being due to
the general activity on the part of
manufacturers and to the fact that
wool was , in July , 1897 , transferred
from the free to the dutiable list. Ar
ticles manufactured for use in the
mechanic arts amounted in 1898 to
$39,961,169 , against $55,878,363 in 1897 ,
and articles manufactured for con
sumption amounted to $96,962,272 in
1898 , against $97,893,605 in 1897 , and
$100,381,308 in 1S96.
Articles of voluntary use , luxuries ,
etc. , under the dutiable list , amounted
in value to $80,095,132 in 1898 , against
$76,625,105 in 1897. This increase is
explained by the greater prosperity
and greater purchasing power of the
people under protection. Of the total
importations of 1898 , 42.2 per cent were
imported free of duty , against 50.9 per
cent in 1897 , 48 per cent in 1S95 , 56.7
per cent in 1894 , 51.8 per cent in 1S91 ,
35 per cent in 1890 , and from 32 to 35
per cent in the years ranging from
1884 to 1891.
The reduction of more than $100,000-
000 in imports is apportioned among
the great groups as follows : Articles
manufactured for consumption , $14-
000,000 ; articles manufactured for use
in the mechanic arts , $22,000,000 ; ar
ticles of food and live animals , $32-
000,000 , and articles in a crude condi
tion for domestic industry , $39,000,000.
The following table shows the im
portations by classes in 1S9S , compared
with 1S97 :
IMPORTS. 1S97. 1S3S.
Free of duly : Dollars. Dollars.
Articles of foot ! and
live animals 118,144,740 87,323,634
Articles in a crude
condition for do
mestic industry . . . .205,246,201 i0,17S,553
Articles manufact'd
For mechanic arts. . 25.2.13.522 19.166.517
For consumption . . 20,042.277 7,842,537
Articles of voluntary
use , luxuries , etc. . . 0,702.370 3.851,077
Total free o duly..377,32DllO 26S.S62.6SO
Dutiable :
Articles of food and
live animals 102,349,373 100.306,118
Articles in a crude
condition for do
mestic industry . . . . 32.353,794i9.070.S23
Articles manufact'd
For mechanic arts. . 55.S7S.S5j 39.001.163
For consumption . . 07.93.605 S0l > 02,272
Articles of voluntary
use , luxuries , etc. . . i6,625,103 S0.095.I37
Total dutiable . . .303,302.210 360,595,51 : )
Free and dutiable :
Articles of food and
live animals 220.401,113 1S7.S29.S02
Articles in a crude
condition for do
mestic industry . . .23S.S01.995 199.249.41S
Articles manufact'd
For mechanic arts. . S1.171.SS5 59.127.6V.
For consumption . .IIS.S&.S 101.S01.S09
Articles of voluntary ,
. , .
Ubc , luxuries , etc. . . . S3,32i.ti. . S3.94b.dll :
imports of
Total itui/vst \ * y "
merchandise . . . .712,631.350 G34.KS.220
DINGLEY LAW RECEIPTS.
Ueuiarkably Successful Results In the
J.immry Showing.
There is an air of satisfaction
around the bureau of customs of the
treasury : on account of the handsome
showing made by the Dingley tariff ,
law in receipts from customs duties ll
during January. The law is continu
ing its excellent work. In no January
since 1891 , the first year under the
McKinley tariff , during those days of
unprecedented prosperity following
that wise and beneficent measure , have
the receipts from customs been so
large as during the month just closed.
In January , 1S91 , there were brought h ;
to the treasury customs receipts ag-
gregating about $23,000,000. But In
January * 1893 , while the McKInley law
was still in force , the customs re
ceipts'aggregated $21,000,000. The last
month's record is approximately $18-
000,000 , which is a handsome showing ,
and indication that the protective tar
iff law is still doing its full share in
producing revenues to help meet the
enormous expenditures incident to the
present military and naval operations
that come over to us as a relic of the
war with Spain. January is one of
the best months in the year for cus
toms receipts. The beginning of a
new year witnesses the filling of many
orders for goods purchased abroad , and
the shipments are heavier during that
period , and , in fact , during the first
three months of a new year , than at
any time in the year.
The expenditures of the government
continue to be heavy , and will , proba
bly , continue during the time the gov
ernment is under the necessity of
maintaining a show of control in dis
tant seas on account of our new pos
sessions. The expenses on account of
the army establishment during the
month were nearly § 20,000,000 , or more
than was received from the customs
duties. The receipts from internal
revenues aggregated more than $20-
000,000 during the month , but this
great sum was swallowed up in the
enormous expenditures on account of
pensions , the naval establishment , in
terest , etc. Thus it is that the bal
ance on the wrong side of the ledger ,
showing expenditures in excess of re
ceipts , aggregates more than $10,000-
000.
000.Little
Little attention is devoted in con
gress at this time to the question of
receipts and expenditures. All par
ties appear to be satisfied that mat
ters are running along well under ex
isting conditions , and with such ex
penditures likely to decrease , if mat
ters go rightly in the new possessions
of the United States , it is believed that
the customs and internal revenue re
ceipts will soon bring a balance to the
right side of the ledger. Congress is
devoting its time these days to con
sideration of the Philippine question ,
the peace treaty and the necessity of
increasing the military arm of the
government on regular lines , in order
properly to care for the interests of
the United States in the distant is
lands.
Tired of Affiliating with Hooaoos.
It is merely a coincidence , of course ,
but one cannot help remarking upon
the very significant Associated Pres
cablegram from London in the Sunday
morning papers. "The foremost topic
compelling attention in Europe , " it
says , "is the remarkable aggressive
commercial prosperity which the
United States is manifesting. " The
coincident lies in the fact that this
prosperity happens to come under the
republican administration and during
the operation of the Dingley tariff
law. Now , it has been conclusively
demonstrated by the tariff reformers
that the country can never prosper ,
particularly in its foreign trade , under
a protective tariff. Admitting that
the free traders have the right theory ,
it must be conceded all around that
the repeated arrival of prosperity to
this country coincident with the en
actment of a Republican tariff law is
a most remarkable phenomenon. The
Democrats insist that it is merely a
matter of Republican luck. The voters
are beginning to see that it is to their
interest to keep such a lucky party in
power in Washington , and not bring on
another period of distress by joining
hands with a hoodoo , as they did in
1892. Deadwood ( S. D. ) Pioneer.
Sisters Three.
A SiipmiiiniMtcil in < ; ; il > no.
The term for a long time served as
in excellent bogy to frighten our col-
ege professors , but the practical ef-
ects of the protective barrier stigma-
izcd by the expression "Chinese wall"
lave been such tuat sensible men are
ouvinccd that behind it in less than t
ialf a century we have created more I
vealth , have more greatly diversified 1
uir industries and increased the gen- \
; ral welfare than we could have in c
enturies had we remained in the state ci
> f dependence marked out for us by i
Jobdenites. San Francisco ( Cal. ) i
Chronicle. f
Wo Couldn't Do It. hut Wo Iliif. V
American velvets , silks and ribbons °
rc now the finest in the world. It r
las not been long since that our Demv
icratic friends were shouting "You
an't do it , " just as they were shout-
ng "You can't make tin in this cotm-
ry. " Now our silk output amounts
o over $150,000,000 per year. Water-
oo (111. ( ) Republican.
The average amount of sickness In
uraan life is nine days out of the
ear.
WHAT WE HAVE SOLD.
Nation
teadlnff Export
America Now tlie
tion of the "World.
The commercial record for the first
full calendar year of restored protec
tion shows some astonishing results.
Not only has there been a decrease in
the value of imports , amounting to
$109,000,000 , as compared with 1897 ,
but tne increase in the value of ex
ports of domestic products as com
pared with the highest mark previ
ously reached has been $153,701,810.
The sales of domestic products to for
eign consumers have amounted ingress
gross value to $1,233,564,828 , which is
by far the largest total yet reached in
our export trade. Some interesting
facts are to be gleaned from the fol
lowing table , showing the chief arti
cles of export for 1898 , as compared
with 1897 :
1897. 1898.
Ag'ture . . . $730,323,514 $851,922.450
Manf'tures 279,616,898 307,924,994
Mining 19,792,796 25,851,092
Forest 40,834,864 39,030,313
Fisheries . . 5,649,945 5,819,208
Mls'nous . . . 3,645,001 3,016,771
Total . . . . $1.079,863,018 $1,233,564,828
Foreign . . . . 19,880,536 21,929,530
G. total . . $1,099,743,554 $1,255.494,358
From these figures it is seen that
while the outside world has increase'd
by over 16 per cent its purchase of
our surplus agricultural products , it
has also been a larger buyer than ever
before of our manufactures. The increased -
(
creased export of the latter , as com
pared with 1897 , amounts to $28,308-
096 , or a little more than 10' per cent. '
Free-traders will readily account for
the swollen volume of agricultural ex
ports on the hypothesis that the world
needed our food products and was com
pelled to buy them. But what will
they say of the $308,000,000 worth of
manufactured articles which the world
bought of us during 1898 ? How will
they make this fact fit their theory
that protection increases the cost of
production and hence debars our man
ufacturers from successful competition
in the world's markets ? They cannot
make the fact and the theory fit ;
therefore the theory is worthless.
Their better plan would be tc adept
the frank acknowledgment of the Lon
don Times regarding the all-conquer
ing progress of American manufactur
ing industry ! , e. , that it is the re
sult of "intelligent labor highly paid. "
The triumph of the protection princi
ple has never been more briefly or
more truthfully stated than in these
four words.
The Record of 1808.
If there is still any one who doubts
that 1898 was a prosperous year , the
following concise statement of the
record in the various lines of business
that are fundamental and indicative of
commercial activity ought to be con
vincing. The comparison in every in
stance refers to the United States
alone :
1. Largest wheat crop except that of
1S91.
2. Highest price recorded for wheat
except in 18S8.
3. Largest cotton crop.
4. Largest exports of breadstuffs.
5. Largest exports of manufactured
goods.
6. Largest aggregate exports of prod
uce and merchandise.
7. Largest production of iron ore.
8. Largest production of pig iron.
9. Largest production of coal.
10. Largest production of copper.
11. Largest production of silver ex
cept that of 1S92.
12. Largest production of gold.
13. Largest gold holdings.
14. Largest per capita circulation of
all forms of money.
15. Largest aggregate bank clear-/
ings. /
16. Largest aggregate railroad carii-
ings. /
17. Largest aggregate sales of bonds.
18. Largest agcrejratp sales of stocks
on New York Stock Exchange/since
1SS2. /
19. Smallest number of failures and
smallest aggregate liabilities since
1892. St. Paul ( Minn. ) Pioneer Press.
X"
Certain papers are pressing their old
demand for free trade in ships , now
that there is good prospect that Amer
ican ships will be needed for our for
eign trade. Theie have been times in
thirty years when there was a reason
able pretext for such a demand , but
that period closed when American
ship-builders became able to construct
the best in the \yorld at as favorable
prices. There is no reason why \ve
should have the wornout ships of
Europe transferred to our flag , as
would be the xcaso should there be free
trade in vessels. Indianapolis Jour
nal. ,
American All Koutul.
The secretary of the navy tells con
gress that he wants 22.000 American
tars. Congress will probably consent.
It will be easier for congress to make
provision for their enlistment than it
will be to secure them. We need a
great big merchant marine , manned by
Americans , and then whenever the
necessities of our navy require a large
increase of men we have a resource to
fall back upon. Congress cannot pro
vide an American-built. American-
owned , American-manned merchant
marine one minute too soon. Zanes-
ville ( O. ) Times-Recorder.
Slicij > anil Silver.
Since the enactment of the Dingle >
bill sheep have become almost a legal
tender in this country. It will be wise
to remember than an adverse majorlty
in congress and a tariff-for-revenue-
only president would send sheep down
to keep company with silver In the-
market. Anita ( Iowa ) Republican.
I '
7
