®&e Ctntrc $ rnwr.it. Tcnu Sl.&O par Annum, in Advanos, Thursday Morning, January 9,1879. The Cause of Hard Times. Ever since the failure of Jar Cook in September, 1873, political orators have been accounting for the pntiic which then took place, and the hard times which followed that panic, and which, unfortunately, have not yet passed away. The causes assigned have been almost as numerous and va ried as the persons who promul gated and discussed them. In the limits of a single newspaper urticlo, we could scarcely enumerate, much less discuss and analyze the many alleged causes of the present depressed condi tion of the business of the country. We will, however, notice two or three, as indicative of the general character of the most of them. Did the failure of Jay Cook cause the hard times? His failure, and the suspension of hi-< hank, frightened ma ny people, and undoubtedly caused a panic throughout the country; but this would have been but u temporary af fair, passing away in a few weeks, if there had been nothing wrong save the insolvency of this prominent financier. It is also true that many individuals lost heavily in consequence of his fail ure ; but the wealth which was once theirs was not destroyed; but only transferred to other hands. No wealth was destroyed by his failure, however much individuals may have lost; a> all the property previously existing, whether consisting of lands, good* or money, still existed after his failure the same as before. The effect of his operations was to take the earnings of one class of persons who dealt with him, and transfer them to another class. This process necessarily made some persons poorer and others richer, but the aggregate of wealth in the country remained unchanged. Had all the wealth which passed through the hands of the great financier and hanker lxvn actually destroyed in the process of his handling it, we could easily understand how the aggregate of wealth would thereby bo deprecia ted ; hut even then it would have been his course of bu-dncas and not his fail ure, which caused injury to the coun try. Did the contraction of the currency produce the hard time!*? Thin i* a very common theory, and a. erroneous as it is common. The paper money circulating in any country adds no thing to the wealth of of that country; unless indeed the doctrine of fiat mo ney, that is, that he government hy affixing its stamp to a worthies* piece of paper can thereby give it an intrin sic value, is true. To illustrate our proposition, suppose a new bank was established in this county without capi tal, but with legal authority to issue one millicn dollars of hank notes. The managers of this hank have their nots printed and mgned, ready to is sue. Ha* any thing been added to the wealth of the country ? Certainly not, for the notes arc worth nothing as long as they remain in the possession of the hank, but the cost of manufacturing them. The first week the hank is open nl, it* entire i-.-uc of a million dollars is borrowed by citizens of our county upon their note* with good endorsers. Is the county any wealthier in consc ience of this week's transaction? It M true tliere are a million dollar* more bank nolo- in circulation in the coun try than there were a wreck ago, but ir citizen) are in debt just a million dollar? to the hank, which balances the account and leaves the actual waltb of the county unchanged. At the end of ninety dap these note* given to the bank hy the borrowers have all fallen due mid been ]aid in the hills of tbe bank. In other words, the mil lion (kllar* of hank notes have been ■rtarr.cd to the vaults of the bank, and tlx- promissory notes of the citizens bwra been lifted and cancelled. Has this pence** lessened, in manner, or to SWT degree, the wealth of our county ? Thi* process mny be repeated as often as may be. and for any length of time, ami the result remains the same, the aggregate wealth of the county is tin ufleeted hy it It is true tlint some of tbese borrowers, while they have this money nuiy invest it in productive industry, mny hy means of it give em ployment to labor, which will add to Che total wealth of the county; but it if the labor which adds to the wealth* nnil it does HO to the name extent, if it is paid for in grnin, meat, or merchan dise. The farmer who employ* labor which would other wine lie idle, to elenr his field* and otherwise improve hi* fiirm, adds a* much to the wealth of the country, if he pay* his hand* in farm product*, a* if he paid tlrem in bank bills or even iu gold and silver. Changing suddenly the volume of cur rency may affect nominal prices and disarrange business, but of itself, it can neither impoverish nor enrich a coun try. Did over-production bring the hard times upon us? Over-production in any particular branch of industry, may, by reducing the prices of those products, so low that the further pro duction will le unprofitable, clog that particular branch of business, but as those who have to buy these pro ducts are thus enabled to obtain them so much cheaper, they arc benefited as much as the producers are injured, by the decline iu prices. As all produc tion adds to the wealth of a people, it is difficult to see how too much pro duction can impoverish them. Hut the idea of over-production is mere myth. There has been less production during the last five years than during the preceding five years, and yet the de mand is not equal to the supply, and prices are far below those of any year from 1801 to 1873. The trouble is not that the producers are producing too much, but that the consumers have not the means with which to purchase. The real occasion of the hard times, is the general poverty of our people, which has been caused, not by the failure of any individual or corpora tion, nor bv the contraction of the cur- rency, nor yet by over-production. What then has caused this general poverty ? TUB death of Robert W. Mackcr is an almost irreparable loss to the circle of shrewd an 1 trained politicians that at present controls the organization <>f the republican party in Pennsylvania. As a manngct and organizer of jmrty forces he was without an equal in the .State, and to his skill and sagacity it may be said the republicans are almost solely indebted for their triumphs in the past few year*. He vrn* the one man to whose judgment the leader* were generally ready to defer. He was cool, calm, clear-headed and far -1 seeing. He possessed undoubted abili j ty, and for the success of his plan* alwny,* worked with an energy that never showed a sign of weariness or fatigue. Of the method* ho may at times have adopted to secure results it is not our purpose to speak. He is in his grave, and of the dead we would snv nothing that COO Id be thought harsh or unkind. We cannot but think, however, thnt it was unfortu nate he did not seek a better field for the exercise of his extrnordinary powcrs. With his rare gifls of mind, untiring industry and active habits of life, he might have been in some high er sphere of duty, much more useful to his fellow man, and gone to his grave with a fame far more enduring than that of the adroit and skillfull politician. By his friends, he wa greatly beloved a* one to whom no appeal for aid, ever came in vain ; by his - enemies, he was respected a* an antagonist with whom it was danger ous to trifle. He wrestled with nn in sidious disease for many years, and how hi* weak and broken frame could lear the constant strain put upon it by his restless ami untiring will was a wonder to all who knew him. It was the power of a strong mind over n feeble body. But the " inevitable hour" caine at last, and the spirit of Robert W. Mucker took its flight to another world "where the weary are at rest." THE vitality shown by Wade Hamp ton is wonderful. It is stated thnt during the wnr he receive*! eleven gun shot wounds, and he lately was oblig ed to submit to the amputation of a leg. Still he survives, and promises to live long enough to become Patter son's successor in the United States Senate in reality. SETTLED AT LAST. —Public opinion long since settled that polygamy U wicked and wrong, and the Supreme Court of the I nited States decided, on the flth insL, that Congress has the power to prohibit it in Utah. The decision was made on an appeal from the Third Judicial Court of Utah, in the case of Reynolds, who was convict ed of contracting a bigamous marriage. EDITORIAL CORREHTONDEUCE, liAitniHtii Ko, January 7, 1879. Tor many day a the struct* and public placaa of Htirrisburg have given forth sign* of an approucliing act*ion of the legislature of tile state. With an assured republican majority In both brancbot, contidurablo interest waa manlfealcd by membera of that pnrty in the distribution of the apoila; and there wero tuyatcrioua coining* and goinga of the faithful, quiet whispering* over the organisation, and endeavor* to arrange slate* that nhowed conclusively that the race of patriot* wil ling to orve the "dear people" for a reasonable compensation is not yet extinct. Tho republican member* iui u rule were early on the ground, and by Friday of last week the "Lochlei" wo* reasonably well 111 led. Tho democrat* did riot begin to arrive in any number* until yesterday, and having no patronage to distribute, their votes to-day wero mere matter* of form and compliment. Not so with the other side. At first it seemed likely that the strugglo over the speakership of the House between the friend* of I/.ng, of ami Hall, of Philadelphia, would be animated and |ierhnp bitter ; but at that time the master* had not spoken. In other word*, the successor of the late Robert \V. Mackey was not yet in the field. He appeared, however, n Friday nigbt, in the person of Recorder tj-iay, and at once assumed command of Che forces. l"nd<-r hi* f|>ei ml dictation the magic word "Harmony" was pa*od along the line. Threatened hostilities imtm-dialcly assumed peaceful airs, anil personal rival ries yielded to the authority that com manded. llall went out of the contest, and the success of Long becariu- at once a certainty. The cmicu* of last night was therefore nothing more than a ratification of tho order* of the reigning jiowcr*. It is true that Wolf, of I'uion <-<>inty, wa on hand, ready and eager to fight, but be had no following, and could not raise the slightest brecjse of opposition. All was serene and lovely, and last night it took the House caucu* exactly seven and a half minutes, by tho watch, to „•< through the formality of nominating Long, of Alle gheny, for Sjieaker ; I Jr. Shurtock, of Ilea ver, for Chief Clerk; Harry Hufin, of Philadelphia, for Reading t'lrk ; and aj.|Kiinting a slut" committee, with 11 ill, of Philadelphia, for Chairman, for the dis tribution of the other offc-cs. On Urn Senate side there wn no r>ppo,{. Hon to tho nomination of Senator A. J. Herr,of tbi* city, for Prl lent /•• /•,„. ~f tho Senate; but for the Chief Cl.-rk.bip there wa* a spirited conte-t bet wo-n C<.cb fan, of Lancaster, who ban fill -d that plaro ince the retirement of ll*tnrncrLCß, MIIIID year* ago, and Child*, formerly Librarian, in which the former proved tfio victor. Child*, in hi diap|>riintment, created something of a cnation IhU morning bv preferring charge* and specification* of peculation and malf-osnm-a in office again*! hi* antagonist, and demanded a re-awm bling of the rauriu t„ hear hi complaint*. The caucus came together at hi* instance, but did not change It, previous action. Cochran remained the nominee of hi* party, and Child* wa* {•emitted to nurse hi* wrath a* beat be might. To-day, at preci*ely twaive o'clock, the two house* were called to order, tbp Senate by I •ieiil. Gov. Latta, and the House by Chief Clerk Shurlnck, and bith branch * promptly proceeded to the work of organi zation. In the Senate, Mr. Herr wa* of course elected President pro few,., the democrat* voting for Senator Krmsntrout, of Berk*. hr Chief Cierk, Mr. Cochran received tho vote* of the republican*, and the democratic vote* were given to that old veteran of the party, I'ncla Jake Zeigler, of Butler county. Of the national* in the Senate, Parker of Schuylkill,voted with the republican* and Palmer, of Allegheny, with the democrat*. In the Uou*c, Long, for Speaker, received tho entire republican vote and tho vote* of five national*. The democrat* complimented Sherwood, of Northumberland, and the national*, eleven In number, who remained true to the ac tion of their caucu*, Doyle, of Huntingdon. After tho election of officer* tho u*ual com mittee* to wail Upon tho Governor and upon each hou* were appointed a* wa* al*o a committee by the Senate upon inaugural coremnnio*. Both houses then adjourned until to-morrow. One of tbo queer feature* o." thi* organi zation of tho legi*iature ha* been tho com plete capture of the republican represents livea of the oil district**, by Quay and hi* follower*. For week* before the** mem ber* came to ItarrLburg, many of them were boisterous in denunciation of the ring rule and machine politic* of which they had been made the victim* laat year, and avowed they would now act an independ ent part a* the representative* of a peculiar interest. But, after all, tho adroit man agement of the leader proved too strong for their good Intention*. Mean* were oon devUed to bring them to term*, and lhe*e would-be independent gentlemen aro now a* much in the power of the ring a* It* most abject slave* from any other part of the State. Karly in the fray Mr. B B. Campbell, tha President of the OH Pro ducer*' Union, wa* summoned to tbo front, and through hi* persuasive powers these representatives of the oil producer* ex perienced a most budden and remarkable change of heart and mind, and were heard to repeat the sweet watchword, "harmony." Thus did Recorder Quay accomplish by cheek and diplomacy what tha Standard Oil Company failed to do, either by coer clon or by it* million*. Titno will j.robubly devalop how completely these men have been caught by false promlaaa, and allow them, when too late, how fooliahly tbey have placed themselves In the mofbo* of h not akillfulty woven for them. A republican caucus U cnlli!d for to-mor row night to nominate n candidate for tJ. M.'Snnator. "Harmony" will again l>a aouudod along the line, and the eon of hie father will pot bedii-lurh'-.!. TitoCameron dynatty will receive another tix year* h-a-su of rtower. nana tor Alexander and impreaaion on all with whom tbey have thus far come in contact. Mr. Ab-xandi-r. as i* vx<•!l known, hi a had experience in legislation and po*<•.-■><•* ability a.a debater. Ill* safe therefore to predict that lie will in a short he regarded us one of the leading Senator*. Messrs. (irpliurt anil Murray though inexperienced, are intelligent men. They will doubtless give due attention (J,,, interests of their constituents and prove worthy and useful representative*. " F. The R. II Piilicit. '1 lie Auditor of the Ktnte of Vir ginia has sent in it report to the legis lature of thut Slate tijMiu the Working* of the Moffct liquor law, which shown (hat the liell punch method of collect ing taxes upon the sale of spirituous and malt liquors hits produced better r- -iilts for the Slate ire.a ury than the j old system of aasesstnettU. The total receipt.* at the treasury, for the year just ended, under the Mofli-t law, were 8172, X.'! I, In-ing an excess of $210,- _ fioS over the a-o-ssnienta of the pre reeding year. Deducting certain re late* allowed hy the pre-cnt law, the net balance over the results of the old law is 8110,101. rite Auditor slat.-* in hi* report that "the result of the ■■xporini'-nt show* clearly that the law is capable of laing made a most pow erful agency for raising revenue," and lie suggests change* and modifications t" that end. How would the Ih-11 punch method do in I'ctinsvlvania? The revenue* of the State have fallen off during the pa-t year to such an extent that it has lieco inipos-ible for the State treasurer to pay many of the appropriations made by the le.is laturc during the session of la*t win ter and spring, and the probabilities are that new sources of revenue will have to le sought in order to meet coining demands ujsin the treasury. A committee of the legislature at it* pre-.-nt M:ion might with entire pro priety examine into tho merits of the Virginia law and ascertain whether it* workings an- feasible and satisfac tory. If found to be all that the Auditor of Virginia claims for it, there may lie no objection to it adop tion in Pennsylvania, as a means of replenishing an almost cxhnustcd treasury. Our present license law* lor the sale of liquors are at best cumbersome mid unpopular, and if n new system can Ire devised that prom ise* more fruitful result* in way of revenue, it might probably l>e bettor to adopt it, rather than tinker con tinuously at our present eiiaetiuents which never seem to grow any better under the operation. IT AITUTW that Chairman Potter and Gen. Cox, of the Potter INviwti gating Gmimittee, went toXcwOrlcan* for the purpose of affording John Sherman nn opportunity to present whatever further evidence he might have to sustain hi* charge* of intimi dation and bulldozing in the election of 1#76 in Ixittisiann. The New York World any* that, "Last xutnmtr Mr. Sherman and the Republican prews complained bitterly that the Potter committee would not receive hi* pro posed testimony n* to intimidation in Louisiana. In time the committee decided to receive this testimony, and nfW an unsucccxsAil effort ou Mr. Sherman's part to prove bulldozing the attempt wo* abandoned. Recently hi* counsel have claimed that they were ' prevented bv the yellow fever from ' I 0 0 getting this testimony in. According.; : ly Mr, Potter went to Louisiana ex pressly to afford them once more an opportunity to exploit it, and once I more they linvc declined." The wily I and unscrupulous Mr. Sherman wa , very bold and defiant so long a* he i thought hi* charge* against the people of the South would not lie heeded by the committee, but when a chance 1* given him to make them good he pr.i> dently remains silcut. Comment is unnecessary. Morton MrMlchael. The brilliant career of this d'wtin guished journalist and useful citizen was closed by death, at his residence in Philadelphia, on Monday lost. He was proprietor of the North Amerimn, which he conducted for many years, with great ability, and led a most blameless life, public and private. ■1 R _ V Wc propose to publish from time to time a aerie* of articles culled from letter* written to one of lite editor* by a friend travelling in Europe during the last summer. The information they contain ami the historic* they recall have all -relet! much pleasure to ua, and no doubt will be acceptable to the read er* of the Dkmockat: HISTORIC ritANCIL 11V O. I\ .0 I**o*. ST. 11K* JR. The speed slackened -flie train stop pel. "At. I)eni," cried Ifie guur-l, in i that familiar and distinctions! in which ! railway conductor*, the world over, an j tiouiico the atution*. Undecided, 1 | looked out. A crowd poured from the | diHeront compartment* of the train, — J respectably dressed men, workmen in tho characteristic blue blouse, with a fir sprinkling of women and children. An all'ible Parisian, with whiirii I hud dropped into brief conversation, Came ! to my relief, and said, "Sir, you would descend at St. Penis? We ure there." ' 1 jumped out upon tho platform, he following. We mingled with the throng ! that pouted down through a long arch Way to the open street. As the mars separated and scattered in different direction*, he said : "I am familiar with the locality. You wish to sou the Cath edral; it is full of interest. Come, I pas* that way." We walked some dis tance and stopped. "Here I must leave | you," be mini ; 'tike that street and : you will soon find it." I thanked him j ami followed the designated route. The town of .St. fieni* i* jui Wyond tlie rampart* of Paris; and yet one would imagine himself one hundred miles away, so great is the contrast. St. Denis i* dull, dirty itrid soiled in ap oearance; obi and almost worm eaten. I'.iri* is gay, clear, fresh and new. Yet St. 1 'enis it like Paris; but only in tome of those narrow street* hidden away in ol>l 'porter* of the Metropolis, where the building* crowd *o tightly act mat one another that here ami there they seem to Imlg-- out at the top. like great cube* of stone ami mortar that some strong force iia* squeezed and pre*ed into deformity, till iii*ir square a in-low* *ull"ar from the same cause. This n .'-in- I.lance is only, however, in miniature, ' the building* in Pari* are taller. Through this monotony 1 hurried, until a turn revealed to me what I at rnce knew was the object of my visit—a small oje-n square and in its tare a great Gothic Minster; two tower*, the one rapped by a high |-oinle.| j.,re *D-1 tiie other bv a carved Mansard. J ap proached. halted and looked at it. 1 bad seen it in imagination often—the St. i>enis of history -but brie it *tast of antiquity, raj-; lly Co., thing uj, along the centuries to the present. ! St. Genevieve, tradition s.vvs.founded the church; Hagobert re-constructed it; Cbarleinange enlarged it; Able Suger repaired it, and St. Ixiui* ret>uill it. It* tomb* were rilled u> the days of the National As., mbly by it. dire-tion, and later it ordered the destruction ot the church. This vandalism was hut par tially accomplished, and thus it rested until Nu|>oieon the first restored and complete.l it. It had held tbe uhm of Merovingian and Carlovingian royidty, th- llnnl race o| the French Kings, the Valoia and the IViurhor.. For almost twelve centuries lh< *e, worthy and un worthy, had slept side by *ije_ All those, whose name* were great in his tory, had moved in life about the now dearrted sjot on which I stood. ] pa used for a moment, ami then |>a**ed over and entered the open door way. An immense chamber of great height ; down the centre nave stood long row* of high backed church chair*, so familiar a *ighl in European Cathedra U. Alone end of tbe itasiiira stood the high, but not extiavagxnt Altar, in front ol which and travcr-ing the body of tbe edifice passed a low railing with gate* at either side. A few jstsoiu wandered silently over the cold floor* examining the arch iteoluie and stained windows. Soon a fragile-looking individual glided around, making distribution* of some kind. At length he ajtproacbed me and extended a large, yellow ticket and uttered, "tine franc, il you please." 1 received the ticket. Pointing over hi* shoulder with hia thumb, he said. "That way, air." I saw the rest gathering at one of the gate.. I had joined in parties of the kind so often that I knew the formula and took my place with the othrrs—ten or fifteen in all, representing half a dozen of this world'* nations. A tall man, with a strong voice, stood to receive the tieketa. After first casting hi* eye over his flock, he o|wned the gate, and as each passe.! through lie . I.fted their ticket, with a loud, ".l/crri Mintiftir, or ,I/Wus to he rid of us, hut only to tramp down again with another batch. A 1 followed bun, I took one J*t IrKik aU.ut me and an d to myself, Old walls, y„u hold a little Royalty still, even though it i but a hsndful of dust—you bold their crown and wbv not bold what remains of them? What a strange story ! These two unfortunates perish ed under the axe of UleGuilloljne—and this in sight of the palace of the Tuiler !<•*. within the jUlls of which they long had reigned in splendor. Two shallow graves in the Cemetery of the Made leine had received their headless trunks, until, by the change of power so com mon to France, the race of the Cai*-t went again upon the throne, when they with others were exhumed and placed Where I saw jbem in the vault, or St. lienis. How long to rest there who can tell ? Certain it is. had the Communists of I*7l held the loca tion for but one of the closing hour* of tier struggle, venerable St. Item*, you with your empty tombs, your few Impe rial cinders and all your'langible associ ations, would have been swept into oblivion I Tnxaii never ( ruch a really good, substantial, satisfactory, and rapid-selling flrt-clas k StiU h N< wing Machine j offered so low a* the "N**w FAMILY SacT j TLE, reduced t> only $26; more complete ; with equipments, and lower in price than any other machine. It it elegant in work mantbip and finish, surpaaana all others in it* work and fulfills all the requirements of every family *• a heifer. Thoroughly warranted by written guamntoe for flro YmnL and kept in order free of chare*. It will k> every description „( work—fine or coarse that any machine, at any price, ever did, or can do ; equally at rapid, ooi | reel, smooth, neat, and strong. Hat all the , late improvement*, it e*#v to learn and | manage, it terviceahle, don t wear out, alway* ready, and never out of order! Sent O. 11. anywhere with privilege of examination before payment of bill. Agent* , make money rapidly! supplying the great demand for thi* the Cheapest Machine in the Wrld. Territory free. Arldr*n, f,,r I descriptive books, &c., "Family" Shuttle Maehine CV.,, 756 Broadway, New York. I _ A 11 rw ARK am, A llitapt.T.—lt makes I ni*oate. It it true there arc yet thousand* of person* who are rre ditpoted to Throat and I.nng Affection*, Consumption. Hcmorrhagst, Asthma. Se vere Cold* settled on the Breast. Pneumo nia, Whonpiti Cough, Ac., who have no personal knowledge of Bo*rhe' Herman Syrup. To such we would aay that 60,- 000 doaen were told latt year without one complaint. ComtumpUve* trv jnst ono bottle, lingular tiae 76 cent*. 'Sold by F. POTTS OHXXK, wholesale and retail. 21-eow-ly Pxaeoits who are troubled with weak net# arising trom a disordered state of the Crinary and Pro-creative Organ*, such aa Indisposition to exwrtion.Lo** of power, or memory, difllcultv in Breathing, Ner vousness, Trembling,' Weakness of Vision, Wakcfhlneaa, Pain in the small of the bark, Muscular Lassitude, Hot and Dry Skin, Eruptions on Fare, Pale complex", ion, Ac., should at once procure a bottle of Com pound Fluid KxUwct of Buchu. A judi.iousand prompt use of this preparation may be relied upon to give ton* to th Or gan*, restore their power and remove the symp'A.nis. Price one dollar—six for Ave dollar#. For aal' at F. Ports Cinema DrugS':.., House Block, ly-20sow