: ? - .31 t ? rtf w , :
Conservative *
The Chicago
REASONLESS Fed oration of
DEBATE. Labor is gravely
disc u s s i 11 g the
tragically amusing , or amusingly
tragic , question as to whether or not
the mechanic should bo allowed to
live longer than 45 years.
Without discussing the sentimental
or sociological features of the ques
tion , it seems that some men of that
age are both useful and ornamental ;
while others should have been shot
long , long before they attained matur
ity , so far as their being of any real
benefit to the world is concerned.
If the Chicago Federation of Labor
wishes to air its eloquence in debate ,
it might take up the old question ,
1' Resolved : That there is more nour
ishment in a crooked fried-cake than
in a straight one , " or some proposition
of equal depth , and allow the busy
mechanic of mature years to proceed
with his business , without fear of be
ing snuffed out at about the stage of
life when ho has become fit to marry
and settle down.
If the country should put its whole
trust in men who have not reached the
age of 45 , many a young cub who be
longs to the Chicago Federation of
Eloquence and gets his father to aid
him in securing credit with the trades
people , would , ere the robins nest
again , hear the dolorous rasp of the
flour-scoop as it harrows the bottom of
the bin , and answer the disconsolate
yawn of the empty coal-hod , which
keeps him company beside the cheer
less , dejected grate.
The recent rul-
HAVE NO FEAR , ing of the post
master-go n o r a 1 ,
with regard to the transportation of
second class mail matter , is intended
to aid , rather than to hinder , those
publishers of bona fide journals who
do a legitimate business.
Abuses of the law governing the
mailing of second class matter are
wholly responsible for the annual
postal deficit , of $12,000,000 , and
correction of those abuses would
eliminate that deficit , and grow in its
stead a surplus of probably $10,000,000.
The sending of books through the
mails as second class matter , and the
continual flooding of the country with
fictitious publications , whose mission
is , not to instruct the reader bul
simply to serve as an advertising
medium , are pointed out as perhaps
the most flagrant of the many evasions
of the present law.
These evils corrected , a consider
able amount of money formerly expended -
ponded in publishing "fake" journ
als , will flow into the coffers of those
who are engaged in printing periodicals
cals us a business , not as a side-line.
President Roose-
WORTHY OF volt , with his usual
ATTENTION. direct 11 e s s has
made his position
on the question of making tariff con
cessions to Cuba so clear that it can
not be mistaken.
"Ex-President Grover Cleveland , and
Hon. T. Estrada Palma , president
elect of Cuba , are no less outspoken.
Opinions voiced by such men as these
must not be passed with contempt ,
neither must they be laughed down.
Mr. Roosevelt's opinion has been re
peatedly given to the public ; Mr.
Cleveland says :
"The arguments used in opposition
to the tariff concessions she implores ,
based upon our material interests are
fallacious , mistaken and misleading ,
while their source and the agencies of
their propagation "and spread cannot
fail to be recognized by every honest ,
patriotic citizen with shame and
humiliation.
fit seems to me , however , that this
subject involves considerations of
morality and conscience higher and
more commandiug"than all others.
' ' The obligations arising fronTthese
considerations cannot be better or
more forcibly defined than was done
by President Roosevelt in his message
to congress , nor better emphasized
than has been done by Secretary Root ,
and yet congress waits , while we oc
casionally hear of concessions which
rich sugar interests might approve in
behalf of trembling Cuba.
"I do not believe that nations , any
more than individuals , can safely violate
late the rules of honesty and fair
dealing.
"Until there is no escape , there
fore , I will not believfi that , with all
our fine words and lofty professions ,
our embrace of Cuba means a conta
gion of deadly disease. ' '
Mr. Palma , speaking , as it were ,
from the other side of the fencesays :
"Looking only two years ahead , ]
can see a thriving republic just off
your shores , our people prosperous and
happy , owning their own little homes
and having enough money so that we
would be spending at least $150,000-
000 a year buying your natural and
manufactured products.
1' When I think of that picture I can
not bear to look upon the dread alter
native of ruin and anarchy. ' '
When Mr. John
A FATAL W. Mackay , in be-
OMISSION. half of the Com
mercial P a o i fi o
Cable Company , offered to lay and put
in operation a submarine cable to the
Philippine Islands , he agreed to place
the same at the disposal of the govern
ment , the rate to bo fixed by the post
master general. The cable was to bo
laid at the least possible cost consist
out with the maintenance of a high
degree of efficiency ; and , should con
gress so elect , was to be sold to the
government , at a valuation to bofounc
by appraisers. The company agreed
to release the government from any
responsibility in case of war , and
* \ ' , A/N
goronim < 3nt ) work was to receive pre-
'erence ' > oVeiOauy other , at all times.
f s * " ,
To ati/iudiyidnal possessing no more
thato thajb meastfre , of intelligence commonly
'td ' ' horse ' '
monly referred as sense ,
; his propos'icio'ii lool(9 ( infinitely better
than the plan { delaying the cable at
jreat expense toC the n'ufaon , but the
superior astuteness--of , .tne solons at
Washington has cautscdvthom to sniff
all around the proposition , and finally
shy away from it , with the astonish
ing statement that , in this era of Sub
sidies , when every branch of industry ,
from the greatest ship yard to the
smallest peuny-pop-gnu factory , de
mands to be subsidized , the snpposably
insane president of this apparently
idiotic corporation mildly makes a
business proposal , without asking for
government aid.
In nervous haste a bill carrying a
subsidy of $800,000 per year for the
good Lord knows how many years
was prepared ; a company was found
willing to make a proposition on that
basis , and the deal will go through
congress on a " tidal wave of patriotic
enthusiasm , " unless Mr. Mackay's
company regains consciousness in time
to submit an amended proposition ,
asking for more money and for a
longer time.
Verily congress helps those who help
themselves ; ' also helps them to help
themselves , in all that the term im
plies.
There are always
FAIR DAY more covers laid
FRIENDS. at the ratification
banquet than at
the nomination dinner , and the torch
light procession assumes more gigantic
proportions on the occasion of the
post-election function.
This same spirit prevails also among
nations. Mark the clamorous demands
for recognition which sound across
the Atlantic , and the no less noisy
protestations of friendship from the
antipodes , since the United States
stepped into prominence in the politi
cal arena of the world.
With England , Germany , Russia ,
France , Japan , in fact , all nations ,
kissing our hands and extending felici
tations , we are led to wonder as
wonders the successful , candidate ,
where in the world our opponent drew
his votes from.
That Spain had the moral , if not
tangible , support of one or more of the
powers , is certain. Which was it ?
With this question before us.it would ,
perhaps , bo inadvisable to disband our
armies , dismantle our fortifications ,
and divert the navy to commercial
uses , solely on account of the hypo
critical plaudits of a band of floaters
who , it will bo noted , carried no
banners in our parade , until the votes
had been counted.
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