THE SCB ANTON" TRIBUNE-JflUDAY MOTtTSTINtt, DECEMBER 25. ignfi. tally ud Wwkljr. No SoncUy Kdluoa. PablUac at Scraatoa. Pa., by Tat Tribaat PaMUalag Ciaaiy. Krm York Otter Trlhune Butldlnj. Frank a uray, Monaier. OKTBUD AT TBI rosTornce AT scRAirroa. acoaD-ouas hail matti. C. 1 -l SCRANTON'. DKCEMBER 23. 1896. And to think that Uncle Sam might today. If it hadn't Uvn for Grover. put a Xmas present of freedom In littla Cuba's stocking! The Day and Its Lesson. The average holiday comes and goes. now gaining general observance and non falling into equally general neg lect; lut Christmas goes on forever. It is the one holiday which may be said to be world-wide; and the only one in all the list, which ministers with equal graciousness to old and young, rich and poor, the despised and the elect, in every land and clime. It does g'Mid to have one day in 3C3 of honest, hearty democracy; one day when throughout the civilised world there Is some real approach to human brotherhood. If the teachings of Him whose birth the duy commemorates were literally obeyed, there would be more of such days in the passing years; but even for this one let us be duly grateful. What special message does Christmas bring to the people of this community? The lessons of the duy are many and varied; but we think that a thoughful glance about us will disclose one of clearly paramount importance. The career of the Nuzarene, whether consid ered as to His divinity or as to His humanity, is pre-eminently a career of helpfulness to the meek, the weak and the lowly. "He went about doing good." He was active In works of mercy. Can we not stretch our Imaginations so fur as to think of the Christ in Scranton, and determine where, In all likelihood. He would first begin His ministrations of grace? Think you it would be among the rich, the educated, the well-to-do? Or would it not be among those lowly children of foreign lands who are trans planted among us, ullen to our speech, our customs and our laws, subject to our revilement and in their Isolation Irritntlng to the public peace? It was the divinity of Jesus that He denied His help to no man: and so if He were, In person, today In Scranton, one can readily believe thut His presence would be felt for good by every Inhabl tunt. Yet it seems to us to Involve no violence to the teachings of the sucred text when we Imagine that those activities of His modern followers which would afford Him most pleasure would be, not the ministration by state ly music und uplifting achltecture to souls already saved, but the small, crude, hand-to-hand struggle of Dr. I.u gun's Hungarian and Slovak kinder gartens for the Americanization and Chrlstianizutlon of our vast foreigit born population. Knowing this, Is the lesdon not obvious? Suppose 120 years ago there had been a man like Olhey at the head of the foreign affairs of France. Where would we be? A National Revolution. One of the main considerations which It is understood have Inclined the pres ent executive to conservatism In his treatment of the Cuban question. If not to actual dislike of the Cuban cause, hus been the fuel that at Its be ginning the revolt against Spain was chlelly the work of desperate and reck less spirits, men owning little or no property and having little or nothing to loose in the event of failure. It Is frequently asserted und is doubtless true that at the outset the so-called "better element" in Cuba; that is, the property interests or as we would say, the aristocrats, viewed the whole up rising with Indifference or else with outspoken disapproval. This was only natural, burden any man with prop erty and, within certain limits, you niuke a coward of him. His first thought In any emergency Is for his property, and only when the hitter Is threatened does he manifest the combative ten dencies of virile manhood. But if this alignment of Cubans was true a year ago, it is true no longer. Upon this point we have a volume of trustworthy testimony which has prob ably gone far to intluence the senate committee on foreign relutions in Its consideration of the independence res olution. As the revolution has spread und as Spanish cruelty, arrogance and injustice have gradually revealed them selves anew, without mask or conceal ment the Cuban heart has been fired, unlOl rich hiv joined with poor in common resistance and the artificial distinctions born of peace have been melted down In the stress of war. Not to multiply testimony, we will offer in evidence Blmply one statement made in a letter from Havana, under date vf Dec. 6, to the London Times. The Times certainly is not a prejudiced authority nor has its correspondent in Havana any personal connection with either side of the controversy. This letter dwells at length upon the fact that the white element now predominates largely in the rebel ranks, while the rebels pos sess the sympathy of nearly all educat ed Cubans. "The truth of which." the correspondent continues, "is seen in the number of prominent people spnt as political prisoners to the Spanish penal settlements in the last six months. The worst elements of the rebellion have therefore disappeared, and the Inde pendent Cuban government. If weak, would at least be in the hands of edu cated and responsible men." It Is the weakness of that govern ment which renders urgent our help as proffered through diplomatic recogni tion. If It were strong It would not need such recognition and there would be no humanity In giving It. It is estimated by the state food com missioner that the clt liens of Harris burg are paying in excess of $21,000 a year for the water which milk-dealers add to the milk that they retail In that city for 6 cents a quart. Harris, burg has one-third the population of Scranton and the price of milk here is 8 cents. Reasoning by analogy, there fore, we might conclude that our wat-er-ln-mllk bill amounted annually to 184.000. or one-third of the cost of the city government. But we cannot be lieve that our local milk dealers are so aqueuusly Inclined. ... "The people of this state," observes Stnator Chris Hagee's Pittsburg mouth' piece, knows where to look for re form wheu thev want It." We might have known that Chris and Billy Fltnn would keep a large quantity of It on tap. Stopping a Bad Leak. , One of the least defensible leaks which has hitherto existed in the na tlonal treasury hos lieen the custom of paying double salaries to memliers of congress holding contested seats one salary to the man returned as elected and . not her to th? man confirmed by the house Investigating committee, Not only has this practice had a ten dency greatly to stimulate the bring' Ing of contests, but in some Instances It Is said to have led to direct collusion between successful and defeated candl dates whereby the latter have bee accorded fraudulent certificates of elec tion and enabled to bleed the govern ment until the former could establish their cases and divide the spoils. A Mil to put a stop to these manifest Injustices has been Introduced In the house at Washington by Kepresentativ Aldrlch of Alabama, and it deserves to pass. It makes It unlawful for the ser geant-at-artns of the house to pay any compensation whatever to any member whose right to his seat is contested until the member has filed with the ser geant-nt-arms a bond, with approved security in the sum of Sio.ooo, thut If the contest goes against him he will pay back to the Tolled States all the money which he shall have received In the meantime as compensation, includ Ing mileage and stationery allowances, If the contest goes In his favor, then the bond is to be void. When a con test is decided against a member, it Is made the duty of the sergeanl-at-arms to demand the payment of the sums paid to him, and upon the failure or re fusul of the unseated member to pay within thirty -iajs, the solicitor of the treasury must order suit brought ngalnRt the bond and its sureties. The bill also provides Jhat whenever a notice of contest is served upon a mem ber It shall also be served upon the seigeant-at-arms of the house within twenty days. The final section of the bill fixes the time of its going Into cf.ect on March 4. 1897. providing, how ever, that contestants for seats in the Fifty-fifth congress shall have until March 24. 1897, to give the required notice to the serjeant-at-arms. There Is no earthly reason why these sensible precautions against robbery of the government should not be taken No private employer would pay two salaries for one man's work. And now It Is Mexico which threatens to lead the way In recognition of Cu ba's Independence. The government at Washington should look to Its laurels. An Unanswered Objection. An Ingenious but Inconclusive at tempt Is made by the Philadelphia Press to parry the criticisms of Joseph Wharton against John Wanuniaker's senatorial candidacy. The Press ad mlts that Mr. Wanamaker Is an Im porter, but endeavors to make out thut he Is only an Importer on the side, as it were, and thut Importing Isn't his chief occupation. He that as It may, the Press cannot blind the public to the fact thut it would be manifestly Improper to clothe with luw-uiuking authority a man In terested pecullurly and directly In tariff legislation. The law forbids the ap polntment of an Importer to be sec re tary of the treasury, for the obvious reason that the duties of the secretary ship and the interests of an Importer are liable at any time tu clush. There Is the same reason in Justice why an Importer should not be clothed with senatorial power of voting and schem ing tu help his own business at the expense of the public welfare. But an even greater reusun against the election of Wanumaker to the senate lies In the utterly phurlsalcul immoral und Indecent methuds which have characterized the promotion of his campaign. This alone would condemn him irrevocably. -, - Those who are predicting that Major Mckinley will share Grover Cleveland's Indifference to the cause of Cuba over look one of the most Interesting planks in the St. Louis plutform. An Unfortunate Attitude. A singular attitude Is maintained by Senator Hale, of Maine, on one of the uppermost issues of the day. He ud- mits that a large majority of the American people favor such action by this government as will more clearly Indicate their sympathy with the pro position that Cuba should he free from European domination; and likewise concedes that Spanish rule in the Antilles is foreign to the Ideas which prevail In the American mainland. But while frankly recognizing these facts, he declares his intention to oppose by every means In his power any further action by congress In these premises. In other words, he simply defies the public which employs him and takes apparent pleasure in his ability to thwart Its purpose. We are told by those acquainted with the facts thut Senator Hale Is an inti mate friend of the Spanish minister. Senor llupuy de Lome; and that his ideas and often his very language con cerning Cuba are received from that astute diplomatist. If this be true, the minister is entitled to extra congratu lation upon his new showing of his very considerable adroitness. But as for Senator Hale, we suspect there will be general regret that so able a man should be so easily won from his duty to his American constituents over to a voluntary service In behalf of Spain. In some cases such a transfer of al legiance would excite suspicion of un worthy Influences: in the case of Mr. Hale,- however, the error is not of the heart but of the head. It probably comes of the aristocratic exclusiveness for which he manifests so unfortunate a liking. If he were to mix more freely with his own country men the result might be and probably would be different. At the Instance of Judge Scott the Northampton county grand Jury has recommended that each township set apart a portion of its road tax to be sixnt in construction of permanent highways. The suggestion ought to be adopted. It would form the nucleu of a desirable reform. According to the census of 1890 there were 499,879 legal voters in Indiana, but the Vote cast at the late election amounted to 6;!7,2S1. and the Democrats are crying fraud. We cannot agree with them. In addition to the fact that natural Increase would account for much of this enlargement of the poll It must be borne in mind that since the census of 1890,under stimulus of the Mc Kinley bill hundreds of new glass and tin-plate factories were established In the natural gas belt In Indiana, bring ing from C0.000 to 100,000 new working men into that state. This explains the size of the recent vote; and it also explains why McKlnley carried Indi nna. As a result of Spanish misrule the present debt of Cuba is J425.OO0.O0O which bears interest of from 5 to 6 per cent. This Is almost $400 for every white Inhabitant of the island, or $2,000 for each head of a family. At 5 per cent the annual Interest expense would be $21,230,000; today the total revenues of the island are not more that $10,000,000 a year. The condition upon whlcn Spain would grant autonomy to Cuba Is that Spain would continue to skim the cream off Cuban enterprise. What decent people would ever consent t such a negotiation while they had power left to fight for independence Mr. Wanamaker Bays that in 35 years he has employed upwards of 100,000 per sons and has never hud "what is known as a strike." This is certainly to his ctedlt. But In those 35 years he has accumulated a generous fortune, which ought to be ample reward. There are many employers In Pennsylvania who present similar records and yet they don't offer that as a' foundation to senatorial aspirations. A study of Wanamuker's pay roll would perhaps prove interesting in this connection. A member of the Montgomery coun ty bar suggests that the judges who are to assemble in l'hlladelpnta on Tuesday to consider court reforms might, among other things, decide so to apportion appointments, as of audi tors, commissioners and masters, among members of their bar as to give encouragement to worthy young men who are struggling hard to gain a professional foothold. The point Is certainly well taken. According to the press reports Mr, Bryan's initial appearance at Atlanta the other evening as a lecture was what might be termed a "frost." There is evidently a difference between rlP' snorting before a crowd of delirious partisans and carrying eloquence and logic home to an audience of critical and dispassionate patrons of the lect ure platform. According to President Jordan, of Le- lund Stanford university, the one way to prevent the seals from becoming ex tinct Is to pass a law making it a mis demeanor to have In possession the pelt of a female seal. The suggestion Is plausible; but a law prohibiting the wearing of sealskin sucques woUid serve the purpose quite us well. It Is announced that Speaker Reed is so violently opposed to the recognition of Cuba thut he will use his influence to stille the Cameron resolution und ull similar documents whenever they come before the house, now or lit future. We don't believe it. Quite the most ridiculous theory of the departing year Is the story that the free silver senutors are agitating the Cuban question so as to break the force of their recent defeat. Even senutors ure sometimes disinterested and sincere. Incidentally It might be remarked that the message of the day "peuce on earth, and good will to men" applies to Spain as well as to the United States; and that often one of the best methods f securing peace is to enforce it. The patriotism of Wall street is again showing Itself In a vociferous squeal for peace. It Is strange how the "ticker deadens Its patron's hu inanity. It Is not a new observation but It is a conspicuously true one thut the hap plest man on Christmas day is the one who has done his best to make others happy. After all, Mr . Olney got his money's worth of advertising. SOMEWHAT HANl.LI.V4HY. From the Huston Post. The practice of killing the doctor In case the patient dies is not to be coin inemleil, although In some of the i.i - anees cited by Itlder Haggard in his lurid tales of South Africa ll seems to work well; hut In its application to tne ase of "divine healers who are spring ing up all over the country It might have the tftect of salutary restraint, A CANADIAN VIEW. rom the Montreal Herald. It is probable that the civilized world would heuve a sigh of relief If the I'nlted States were to assume control of affairs In Cuba, an, I in due course annex the slantl. That seems to be the only way In which the Immensely valuable commerce of Cuba will ever be so handled as to sc are the greatest profit to the Cubans hemselves, und to the world at large. THE TIIV8T OF SANTA CLAl'S. For The Tribune. Long, 'long ago, In manger low. A primal star Its sheen unfurled Dissolved the night. And brought to light A Holy Child to save the world. Bethlehem's star Is sought afar, When Christmas chime floats 'crost In moor. The hope It brings Tells blissful things Unto the hearts of rich and poor. Calvary's cry O'eroast the sky To save the Blood from mocker's Blight; Hut an was allnme With Jesus' name When He rose In heavenward flight. Now, since that time, The frosted thyme Brings Santa Clans once ev'ry year, to Keep tne tryst For risen Christ With little children far and near. Cecil Leslie. DRAMATIC GOSSIP. Irving will revive Kiehard III. Mi'Kee liunkln Is In vaudeville. Samlow Is Hrformlng In London. I.illi l.ehmann is siniilag In Merlin. iK'llu Fox will shortly produce a new- opera, v Heerbohm Tree has revived the "Dan ing tilrl." Calve says Wagner's music Is the great. est In the world. Donnelly ami Girard will star In "My Friend from India." Joseph Jefferson says he will act next season In a role new to him. "Bluebeard" will be revived, and will he. gin its season New Year's week. Nonlica will make a concert tour under the direction of Klaw & Krlanger. Playwright .Marguerite Merriugton is a member of Minnie Maddern Flske's com pany. The auction sale of Itlehard Mansfield's biic.a-brac and curios brought over JN.OK). .Mr. K. J. Henley will be the Iachlmo In Miss Margaret Mather's forthcoming pro duction of "Cymbellne." at Wallack's, F.. K. Rice's production of the "Girl from Paris'" enlists the services of Charles Dickson, Charles E. Hlgelow, Joseph W. Herbert and Clara Unman. Companies that have given ii the ghost: "Old Kentucky." "Great Diamond Robbery." "The Hustler," "Night at Clr. cus," Frank Cushman, Thornton Vaude, vllle company. One of the "I'nole Tom's Cabin" com panics that roam the west is distinguished by a genuine negro seven feet tall In the role of Tom. He Is a fetching feature of the street parade. , "The Deserted Village," a romantic Irish opera, adapted from Goldsmith's famous poem, was given Its first Ameri can production In New York last week. Professor J. W. Glover, the eminent Dub lln composer, wrote the music. SCANDAL MONUEKING. From the Philadelphia Times. The men who In studied deceit mlsl-d better men than themselves to believe evil reports of Penrose, have been brought to shame In this city, where they have been challenged In vain to furnish accusers The man who attempts to deirat either Mr. Wanamaker or Mr. Penrose by pro claiming individual scandal can only dis grace himself and aid rather than hinder the candidate he assails. From the Philadelphia Bulletin. Senator Penrose, In causing the arre-d on the charge of libel of a strolling preach er In Bucks county, who has been publle. ly charging him with being an atheist an.l profligate, has done exactly the right thing for the vindication of his character. The canvass for Cameron's seat In the I'nlted States senate has already been eruptive of a good deal of nasty scandal, and then should be no mercy for the sewer rats, whoever or wherever they may be or on whomsoever they may scatter their noxl ous slime. It Is especially deplorable when those who perform the sacred cr Hees of religion have neither the caution nor the charity to examine Into the gossip nd tittle-tattle which follow public men and all right-thinking men, without te gard to politics, will be glad to see an ex, ample made of the careless or malignant retailers of petty scandal. WORTHY OF 8TVDY. From the Washington Post. Mr. McKinley's popular plurality over Mr. Hi van is about unu.mni out or a toiai vote of 13.WH.653 in round numbers 14.IW0, 000. In 1872, out of a total vote of ti.u'U.UW, Grant s popular plurality over Greeley was more than 7u0.mw or 130,ikjo In' excess of the McKlnley plurality, although the McKlnley total of 7,1UU,4W Is more than utio.OOO greater than the grand aggregate of all parties in ls72. There was no Issue in that campaign commensurate in un liortance with the issue of '. The fact therefore, that .McKliileys plurality, on a vote about double that of '72, Is less thiin that of Grant Is a matter worthy of study. HAVE THEIR USES. From the Chicago Evening Post. Our good friend, Mr. Moody, Is a little unreasonable. In his attitude toward the Sunday newspapers. We have found them very useful for dumbbell practice, and la dles have told us that they are perfectly lovely for purposes of decorating the pan try shelves, while simple statistics show that one Sunday paper will start the kitchen tire for a week. THE PROPER HEI'Oll.M. From the Philadelphia Bulletin. What Representative Barrett should la bor for Is an oMUial bestowal upon the members of the cabinet of the light to sit In either house of congress und ad vise anil nartieltiale In the debates. This would go far to facilitate the public busi ness. TOLD BY THE STARS. Daily Horoscope Drawn by AJucchus The Tribune Astrologer. Astrolabe cast: 12.01 a. m., for Friday, Dec. lio, IMtti. A child born on this day will probably be Impressed with a desire to Investigate the contents of every stocking In sight. If light pocket-books were conducive o light hearts all might be happy today, except the merchants. We apologize to our readers for trying o palm off as news the announcement hut beer and ale are going down. The Powers, of course, would each like a large piece of Turkey for Christmas. Snowlltikes, On Christmas morn a maiden fair Declared her friends were shocking; Because, in Jest, they said that there Was not much in her stocking. Cum the Buttonholes I F.vcn Santa Claus would da It. If tta hurt to tuaale with the shirts that gome men wear. He a, eensible lit tlf Santa Claim, rtnv your huxbaml something that he really needs. For Instance, a half-doien good shirt, and a really pretty tie, Instead of the monstrosity ho wears. Zero prices. CONRAD, HATTER 305 Lack Ay, SANTA CLAUS Bends his book or- dera to our HOLIDAY STORE an Wash. Ave., Opp. Court House. . THE 437 Spruce Street. I 9EIDLE1N GOLDSITH'S Only TWo Days More B?f ore Christmas. v Any one of them is worth any three days of ordinary merchandising. All of the Holiday Stock must be disposed of within this short time. THE BOOKS, THE TOYS, THE GAMES, THE DOLLS, All of the Fancy Articles must be sold. We Carry Nothing Over. Prices have been put on all of these goods that are irresistibly &2Do your shopping early in the avoid the rush. BUT NONE IN SCRANTON which can compare in any way with oar mammoth tailoring establishment. Our line in Suitings, Trouserings and Over' coatings is as complete as you will find in any city. Our patterns and fashions are up-to-date and the very latest only. Should our price3 .be too low let us know and we will make the necessary correction. Our work and fit we guarantee. We don't allow a garment to leave our place except perfectly satisfactory. Buying; facilities enable us to sell at inUCh lower lliail lowest prices, hence here, like everywhere else, our Immense success. IT EASTERN SUIT ID PUNTS COM,, D LOpSfE,N Branch 14. 427 Nothing but the Price of Our Skates is The Quality h Higher Than Ever. FOOTE i SHEAR CO, 1 19 Washington Avenue. SPECIAL Offer for December. Our prices already the lowet In Scranton, greatly reduced. Take advantage of this, our create t offer, and make yourself a Xmas present of Made to Order Suit or $14,00 $3.00 Overcoat for Or at Least a Pair of Trousers for We show whole rolls of cloth. Not short length samples. GREAT ATUNTIP. PANTS f!(l VaUAaV lllalllllliV 111 AW VVI j , Br"'h! 319 Lacka Ava, fBr!5ch CALL UP 3682, CO. ei OFPIC8 AND WAREHOUSE. Ml TO III MERIDIAN STREET. II. W.COLLINS, Manager. DR. C. W. GREEN, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, Electrical Treatment a Specialty. Offices. 607, 608 and 609 Mears Building. SCRANTON, PA. Tli. most complete equipment of Electrical machines and appliances for medical use to be OJnd In pnysiolan's office outside of New ork, Medical and ' electrical treatment for all cases amenable to eltbor or both. C. W. C3 RE EN, M. D., 007, m and CO Mears Building, Scranton. Hours-0 a,m, to 12. 1 p.iu.to6; 7. DO to -111 cheap. Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, With every pair or Skates we will give a ticket . . which will entitle the pur chaser to one .... Chance on a Spalding Bicycle, 1897Hodel. We. have a full line of in door Games tor the Holidays. Florey's, ning Avenue, Y. M. C. A. BJILDI1G. NOVELTIES FOR 1HE Our Holiday Display of useful and ornamental articles was never so la ri; at this season's exhibit. The advantage of bavin;; so large and varied un assortment to select from will be apparent to all who content' plate giving presents of a substantial and artistic character, or buying for their own use. Writing Desks. Dressing Tables, Chevul (ilussen, Couches, Kockers, Reclining and Easy Chairs, .Music Cnbinsts, Parlor Cabinets and Tables, Work Tables, Curio Cases, Tea Tables, VcrniS'AIartin Cabinets, Parlor and Fancy Inlaid Chairs, Gilt Reception Chairs, Parlor Suits in Gilt, Pedestals, Jardinieres, Book Cases. Shaving Stands all marked at moderate prices in plain figures. HILL & GONNELL, 131 & 133 Washington Ave, WOLF & WENZEL, SJi Linden,, Opp. Court Housj. PRACTICAL TINNERS PLUMBERS Sole Agents for Richardson- Boynton's Furnacea and Range. (ATES 1 HOLIDAYS BAZA AH. day if you can and Pa. Branch 14. Fountain Pens Oxford Bibles Catholic Prayer Books We have the Largest and Most Complete Line of Holiday Goods in the city. Reynolds Bros. Stationers and Engravw, HOTEL JERMYN BUILDING. ESTABLISHED THIRTY YEARS. NOW IN OUR NEW STORE. 130 WYOMING AVENUE. Coal Exchange, Opp, Hotel Jermya. We have the finest store and most complete stock in oil this section, ct WITCHES, FINE JEWELRY, OIM0ND3, STERLING SILVER WARE, STERLING SILVER NOVELTIES, RICH CUT GL1SS, CLOCKS, ETC. Our Prices are always bottom. If you have not seen us la our new store It will pay you to call. YOU CAN SIVE RI3NEY BY BJYIJI2 MERCEREAU CONNELL NEW AND SECOND-HAND CLOTHING Ladies' and Children's Wear. Seal and Plush Sacqties, Carpet and Feather Beds From L POSNER, 21 Lackawanna Ave.