VOL. XXV. THE CELEBRATED ALLEN WASHER. Why it is Superior to All Others in the Market! . • Beinjr easilv worked, and does the work more rapidly than acy other machine 2nd Being enclosed prevents all-plashing of water and inhaling of steam, so injurious to health and unavoidable in the use of all j open macbiues or the wabhlxiard. Thou \T\ health by the laborof the washboard and iu haling of the ul- from clothes worn on the person or bed of both sick well. Tbis in using (he A Hen washer; being enclosed retains the hi«.h temperature removing from.the goods; Si material point is that there no friction clothing to rlam.'ge them. Persons who have WESiSr used the Allen washer say they believe that it will save the price it in less than a The peculiar action of the water 111 the AKHK# machine (which cannot be understood unless m t ee ,, a m throngh the clothing every vibration the * he P. e< ' ull i" construction the top of the uiach're. connection with the New Champion Wring « er, mahes the Allen Washer a household necessity. MANIFACIIifiED AND FOR BALE BY— : • • SHtRA, SHIRA & HAYS BuletPa, lew Drugstore # JUST OPENED, NEW GOODS, NEW PRICES, AT NO. % E. JEFFERSON ST., Where you will find a full line of Fine Drugs, Chemicals, Per fumes and Toilet Articles. Agents for Mi Alma, , Montrose Dealer. Keno, and Scissors Cigars. Best 5 and 10 cent Cigars in town. Prescriptions carefully compounded by an exp3rienced Pharmacist. jfour patronage respectfully solicited. DR. D. E. WILES, Prop'r. A. Trdutman & Son. Leading Dry Goods Bouse. BOTLER - - - - F."E_Csl nST'A.. 1111111111 <>llllllllll A Trcuiman & Son. The leading Dry Goods and Car pet House, Butler, Pa. New Fall Dress Goods at prices which will make them move very fast. We have the largest stock ever shown in Butler couqty, comprising all the new goods in Checks, Stripes and Plain Weaves in Foreign and Domestic Black and Colored Silks, Special Values IN TRIMMINGS, we have .never had snch a nice as sortment and so many of them. BARGAINS ID Flannels, Blankets, Tickings, Ginghams, White Qnilts, Shawls Table Linens, Lace Curtains, in fact everything which can be found in a fitst-Class Of] Goods Store, A. TROUTMAN & SON'S, FALL MILLINERY! Our line of Dhdies, Misses and Children's and FELT HATS aud BONNETS, in all the uewest fal nd winter shapes, in now complete at the Leading Millinery House, T).T. PAPE, N"o. 18 South Main St.* - - - - I*utler, Executor's Sale. Tlie undersigned executor of the cstntfl of I).ivl(l Birch, dee'd, ate of Csntre tp.4Sutler county, Pa. will offer at Public sale on the prem ises oil Thursday, Dec. 29. 1887, ATgl O'CLOCK P. M. the coal pit nnd property of the 4®ce«sed.known as the lurch lb Lei hold co.l hank, located in Ceatte to., and opening on the Greece ( ity rottd f together with a clear title to over live acres of j. round all underlaid hv a three fop., vein oC coal. The property Isbound.-d on the north by Henry Lelbold. on the east by 1-eiboKl heirs, oil the south by iit'O. Soliod ami 011 the west by the Moore farm, ts parity Rood farming land and partly in timber, no buildings. Terms Made Known on Day of Sale. . ABNER J. PATTEN, Ex'r. • < WANTED. . ' . Canvassers lu tverr ward and township' Ui Western K*nu*vlvania to. sell •'Corporal rti Klecnard.'Hw y-ard," the best aud f-tstcst sell ing hook-put; good pay from the start; boutis read>••• CnH evorv \Veduthday aud Saturduj iroin 'i to ij"p. in. or addres* James S. Wilson, Tweuty-Bist St. I'lftsburg, l'a. IftUCBTJCCpC orolhm.whowish to««amin» ' i IwCllw this paper, or obtain cttwrwte* on advwtuing i>C whan in Chicago, will find it on file at •wMxhaing Ago. :y et LORD & THOMAS. THE BUTLER CITIZEN. Cloaks and WraPs, for Children and Ladies. We carry the greatest variety of styles, our stock never was as large, prices never so low, goods never so Dice. If you want to see the nice goods, .please call and examine our stock. Ladies', Gents', and Children's Underwear, every K r& de, all sizes, best goods. Gloves, Corsets, Hosiery, Velvets, Plushes, Yarns, etc. —OUR— Carpets and Oil Cloths, never bad so many—never were car pets so cheap. Our stock is complete. Don't buy a Carpet until you have seen onr Btock. Body Brussels, Velvets, Tap estry, 3-Ply Extra Super, Hemp, Cot ton and Rag Rugs. Window Shades, largest assort ment, lowest prices. CURTAIN POLES You will find on examination our ' stock ot goods to be the Lowest Priced in Butler county. FARM FOR SALE In Sutraicrei'k towofclilp, Armstrong couc'.y, near Adams l\ 0., one and on*-zD f"2t; BRICK HOUSE. is*?*; feet, 2 Ktfirlos, with cellar, frame kitchen, Hxlii feetj irood spring of water, farm well wa tered, good orchard O, grafted lrult. Farm In a gool state of cultivation. Axotjl 75 ACRES CLEARED, balance In good timber. Will sell extremely low for cash. Kor particulars Inquire of J. R. WICK. Hlmersburg. Clarion Co.. Pa. ""X'.s. MCJU^IKINT Insurance and Real Estate Ag't, 17 EAST JEFFERSON ST. BUTLER, - PA. A J FRANK &TCO^ _ DZAUnw J.N — DRUGS, MEDICINES, AND CHEMICALS, FANCY AND TOILET ARTICES, SPONGES, BRUSHES, PERFUMERY. 4c. i'rebcrlptiona carefully com pounded. 45 S Main Street, Butler, Pa. A. DAISY. ITe stood * n the ___ JLW yA< one niorn from the rt//V/ ' broad high road, and he came in search of daisies for a "bouquet a la mode. He h id promised a youthful maiden to gather t iem sweet and full, and perchance he might have done so except for a farmer's bull, which suddenly came upon him while he warbled a lovelorn lay, and with out so much as a single thought he made for the broad highway; he did his best as a runner, and jumped with a quicken'd seuse, but in spite of speed or agility, he was hoisted over the fence. He was torn by briar and bramble, he was lamed and bruised and sprained; then St. Jacobs Oil was well rubbed on, and his former self regained. He betook himself to his lady fair to offer a ready plea. She heard the joke and simply said, "You're daisy enough for me." And so they all say of this celebrated remedy when it cure| pains and bruises. "Beaver, Beaver county, Pa., Oct. 29, 18S6. —Seven years ago I fell from a wagon and sprained my wrist very badly. Tried many remedies without success, and then finally tried St. Jacobs Oil. I enjoyed good rest, the first in three nights, and it cured me. C. C. Atkins." "Worcester, Mass., 15 Hawley St., June 8, 1887. —Sprained my ankle and was unable to move without crutches. Used two bottles of St. Jacobs Oil. It effected a perfect cure. No return of pain. L. W. Briggs." "Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 5.1887. — Ten years ago sprained niy ankle and could not walk for ten weeks. Sprained it three times since. Last time tried St. Jacobs Oil, and It not only cured it but strengthened it. The ankle is just as strong now as the other, and have had no trouble since. Otto L. Kehrweider, 109 Queen St., Germantown." "Corydon, Ind., June, 1887. —Had my collar-bone broken, and it was very painful. I applied St. Jacobs Oil and it got entirely well. I used two bottles —only remedy used —it worked like a charm. No return of pain. Levi Hottel." "Nothing I can say in regard to St. Jacobs Oil," says Mr. Arthur G. Lewis, editor Southern Society, Norfolk, Va., June 27,1887, "will do it justice. Have used it for aches and pains for a number of years. CHEISTMAS IS COMING And we want e\(rjb«t!y vtl.r e\| en,Ma£s. ] ■ I »*»•»*»*»*»*******»'**» ****** HTCoated tongue, iwl breath, sour stomach and liver dfaMj^nredb^Hawlej^toniacl^ndLiver^Uls^S^^ IDtTST A. JOHNSTON, DENTIST, - - BUTLER, PA. All work pertaining to the profession execut ed 111 the neatest manner. Specialties :—Hold Killings, and Painless Ex traction of Teeth, Vitalized Air administered. Office on Jefferson Street, one door East of Lowrj House, Dp Stairs. Office open daily, except Wednesdays and Thursdays. Communications by mail receive prompt attention, N. B.—The only Dentist iu Butler using the best makes of teeth. JOHN E. BYERS, PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office No. 65 South Main Street, BUTLER, - PA. £ SAMUEL M. BIPPUS, Physician and Surgeon, No. 10 West Cunningham *t., BUTLUIIPEINTTNT A 03N X . 0 1/ WALPROX, Graduate of the. Phila • delphia Cental College. Is prepared to do anything 1:1 the line of his profession 111 a satisfactory manner. Oillce oil Main street, ISutler, Union ISloek up stairs. J. S. LUSK, M.D-, Has removed from Harmony to Butler and lias Ills office at No. 9, Muiu St., tt»ree doorw below Lowry House. apr-80-tf. (iiiiiiiunfm, No. 88 and 90, S. Main St., BUTLER, - - Vbiu NfiW Court House—formerly Donaldson House—good accommodations for travelers. Good stabling conneeteii. [t-a-'su-lyl H KITF.NMUI-LEU, Prop'r. "butler county"" Mutual Fire Insurance Go. Office Cor. Main & Cunningham Sts. •3L.C. ROESSING, PiiiGisiDfcWT. WM. CAMPBELL, Treasurer 11. C. HEINEMAN, SECRETARY. DIRECTORS: J. f. Purvis, Samuel Anderson, William Campbell J. W. Unrkhurt. A. TtouMjjan, Henderson Oliver, (i.C. iiur.ts'iiu. Janies Btephensou, l>i. W. Xr-.in. H.'Weityii, . J. K. Taylor. IT, C. Heineman, I LOYAL M'JUNKIN, Uen. As':. fITJTiUH,, PA. PRESIDENT'S FREE TRADE MESSAGE. He Deals Only With the Finan cial Questions, Recommend ing the Reduction of the Treasury Surplus by Cutting Down TarilT Taxation. WASHINGTON, IV C„ Dec 6—The annual message of the President of the United State 9 was submitted to CoDgress to-day. Following is the full text of the dccument: To tilt Congress of the United States. You are confronted at the threshold of your legislative duties with a con dition of the National finances which imperatively demands immediate and carelul consideration. The amount of money annually ex acted, through the operation of pros ent laws, from the industries and ne cessities of the people largely exceeds the sum necessary to meet the expen ses of the Government. When we consider that the theory of our institutions guarantees to every citizeD the tull enjoyment ot all the fruits ot bis industry aud enterprise, with only such deduction as may be his shaie towards the careful and economical maintenance of the Gov ernment which protects him, it is plain that the exaction ot more than tbis is indefensible extortion, and a culpable betrayal of American fairness and justice. Tbis wrong iu dieted up on those who bear the burden of Na tional taxatiou, like other wrongs, multiplies a brood of evil consequen ces. The public Treasury, which should oniy exist as a conduit convey ing the people's tribute to its legiti mate objects ot expenditure, becomes a hoarding-place for money needless ly withdrawn from trade and the peo ple's use. thus crippling our National energies, suspending our country's development, preventing investment in productive enterprise, threatening financial disturbance and inviting schemes of public plunder. This condition of our Treasury is not altogether new; and it has more than once of late been submitted to the people's representatives in the Congrefcs.who alone can apply a rem edy. And jet the situation still con tinues with aggravated incidents, more thun ever presaging financial convulsion and widespread disaster. It. will not do to neglect this situation because its dangers are not pplpa bly imminent and apparent. They exist none the less certainly, and await the unforseen and unexpected occasion when suddenly they will be precipitated upon us. THE SURPLUS REVENUE. On the 30th day of June, 1885, the excess of revenues over public expen ditures, after complying with the an nual requirement of the sinking-fund act, was $17,859,735.84; during the year ended June 30, 1886, euch ex cess amounted to $49,405,545.20. and during the year ended June 30, 1887, it reached the sura ot $55,567,849 54 The annual contributions to the sinking fund during the three years aboye specified, amounting in the aggregate to $138,058,320 94, and deducted from the burplus as stated, were made by calling in for that pur pose outstanding 3 per cent, bonds of the Government During the six months prior to Juue 30, 1887, the surplus revenue had grown so large by repeated accumulations, and it was feared the withdrawal of this great sum of money needed by the people wonld so affect the business of the country, that the sum of $79,864,- 100 of such surplus was applied to the payment of the principal and in terest of the 3 per cent, bonds still outstanding, and which were then payable at the uption of the Govern ment, The precarious condition of financial affairs among the people still needing relief, immediately after the3orh day of June, 1887, the re mainder of the 3 per cent, bonds then outstanding, amountiog with princi pal and interest to the sum of $lB,- 877,500, were called in and applied to the sinking-luud contribution for the current fiscal year. Notwithstand ing these operations of the Treasury Department representations of dis tress in business circles not only con tinued but increased, and absolute peril seemed at hand. In these cir cumstances the contribution to the sinking fund for the current fiscal year was at once completed by the expenditure of $27,684,283 55 in the purchase of Government bonds not yet due bearing 4 and 4V percent, in terest, the premium paid thereon av eraging about 24 per cent forthe for mer and 8 per cent- on the latter. In addition to tbis the interest accruing during the current year upon the out standing bonded indebtedness of the Government was to some extent an ticipated, and banks selected as de positories of public money were per mitted to somewhat increase their de posits. While the expedients thus employ ed to release to the people the money lying idle in the Treasury served to avert immediate danger, our surplus revenues have continued to accumu late, the excess for the present year amounting on the first day of Decem ber to §55,258,701 19 and estimated to reach the sum of $113,000.000 on the 30th of June next, at which date it is expected that this sum, added to prior accumulations, will swell the surplus in the Treasury to $140,000,- 000. There appears to be no assur ance that, with such a withdrawal from use of the people's circulating medium, our business community may not in the near future be subject ed to the same distress which was quite lately produced from the same cause Aud while the functions of our National Treasury should be few and simple, and while its best condi tion would be reached. I believe, by its entire disconnection with private business interests, yet, when by a perversion of its purposes it idly holds money uselessly subtracted Irom the channels of trade, there seem to be reason for the claim that some legiti mate means should be devised by the OJovernment to restore in an emer gency,without waste or extravagance, such money to its place among ihe people. EXECUTIVE POWER OF RELIEF. If such a emergency arises there now exists no clear and undoubted Executive power ot relief. Hereto fore the redemption of 3 per cent, bonds, which were payable a.t the op tion of the Government, has all'orded a means for the disbursement of the excess of our revenues; but these bonds have alt been retired, aud there are no bonds outstanding the pay ment of which we have the right to insist upon. The contribution to the sinking fund which furnishes the oc casion for expenditure iu the pur- Bl'TL'-R, PA., FRIDAY. I chase of bonds has been already made for the current year, so that there is no outlet in that direction In the present state of legislation the only pretense of any existing Execu tive power to restore, at this time, any part of our surplus reveues to the people by its expenditure, consists in the supposition that the Secretary of the Treasury may enter the market and purchase the bonds of the Gov ernment not yet due at a rate of pre mium to be agreed upon. The oaly provision from which such a power could be derived is found in an appro priation bill passed a number of years ago; and it is tubj ct to the suspicion that it was intended as temporary and limited to its application, instead of conferring a continuing discre tion authority. No condition ought to exigt which would justify the grant of power to a single official, up on whose judgment of its necessity, to withhold from or release to the buskess of the paople, in an uon3ual manner, money held in the Treasury, and thus afftct, at his will, the finan cial situation of the country; and if it is deemed wise to lodge in the Sec tary of the Treasury the authority in the present juncture to purchase bonds, it should be plainly vested and provided as tar as possible, with sucji checks aud limitations as will defiue this official's right and discretion, and at the same time relieve (torn uudu<# responsibility. PURCHASING OF BOND 3. In cousideriug the question of pur chasing bonds as a tneaus ot testoring to circulation the surplus money ac cumulating in the Treasury, it should bj burnt) in mind that premiums must, of course, be paid upon such purchase, that there may be a large part ot these bonds held as invest ments which cannot be purchased at any period, and that combinations among holders who are willing to sell may unreasonably enhance the cost of such bonds to the Government It has been suggested that the pres ent bonded debt might be refunded at ale3s rate of interest,and the difference between the old and new security paid in cash, thus findiug use for the sur plus in the Treasury. The success of tbis plan, it is apparent, must de pend upon the volition of the holders of the present bonds; and it is not en tirely certain that the * inducement which mud be offered them would re sult in more financial benefit to the Government than the purchase of bonds, while the latter proposition would reduce the principal of the of debt by actual payment, instead of extending it: The proposition to deposit the money held by the Government in banks throughout the country, for use by the people, is, it aeem3 to me, exceedingly objectionable in princi ple, as establishing too c!ose a rela tionship between the operations of the Government Treasury and the business of the country, and too ex pensivca commingling of their money, thus fostering an unnatural reliance in private business upon public funds. If this scheme should be adopted it should only be done as a temporary expedient to meet an nrgeut necessi ty. Legislative and executive effort should generally be in the opposite direction and should have a tendency to diyorce, as much and as fast as can safely be done, the Treasury Depart ment from private enterprise Of course it is not expected that unnecessary and extravagant appro ations will be made for the purpose of avoiding the accumulation of an excess ot revenue. Such expendi ture, beside the demoralization of all just conceptions of public duty which it entails, stimulates a habit of reckless improvidence not in the least consist ent with the mission of our people or the high and beneficent purposes of our Government. I have deemed it my duty to thus bring to the knowledge of my coun trvmen, as well as to the attention of their representatives charged with the responsibility of legislative relief, the gravity of our financial situation. The failure of the Congress hereto fore to provide against the dansrers whicd it was quite evident the very nature of the difficulty must necessari ly produce.caused a condition of finan cial distress and apphrehension since your last adjourment which taxed to 1 the utmost all the authority and ex pedients withiu Executive control; and these appear now to be exhausted. If disaster results from the continued inaction of Congress, the responsibil ity must rest where it belongs Though the situation thus far con eidered is fraught with danger which should be fully realized, and though it presents features of wrong to the people as well as peril to the country, it is but a result growing out of a perfctly palpable and apparant cause constantly reproducing the same alarming circumstances—a congested National Treasury and a depleted monetary condition in the business of the country. It need hardly be stat ed that, while the present situation demands a remedy, we can only be saved from a like predicament in the future by the removal of its cautse. INEQUITABLE TARIFF LAWS. Our scheme of taxation, by means of which this needless surplus is ta ken from the people and put into the public treasury, consists of a tariff or duty levied upon importations from abroad, and inter nal-revenue taxes levied upon the consumption of tobacco and spiritu ous and malt liquors. It must be conceded that none of the things sub jected to interval-reveuue taxation are, strictly speaking, necessaries; there appears to be no just complaint of this taxation by the consumers of these articles, and there seems to be nothing so well able to bear the burden without hardship to any of the people. But our present tariff laws, the ' vicious, inequitable and illogical source of unnecessary taxation, ought to be at once revised aud amended | These laws, as tbeir primary aud j plain effect, raise the price to consum j ers of all articles imported and sub 'ject to duty by precisely the sum paid for such dutieß. Thu* the ! amount of the duty measures the tax ! paid by those who purchase for use these imported articles. Many of these things, however, a.e raised or manufactured in our own country, aud the duties now levied upon for eign goods aud products are palled protection to these home manulactur | ers, because they render it possible : for those of our people who are man ufacturers to make these taxed articles and sell them for a price equal to that demanded for the imported goods that have paid cijstonj d4ty. So it, happens that while comparatively a j few use the imported article, millions of our people, who never use and never saw any of the foreign-pro- I dncts, purchase and u>e things of the | same kind made in this country, and pay therefor nearly or quite the same enhanced pries which the duty adds to the imported a-ticles. Those who buy imports pav the duty charged thereon into the public treas ury; but the great majority ot our citizers who buy domestic articles of the same class pay a earn at least ap proximately equal to this duty to the home manufacturer. Tbis reference to the operation of our tariff laws is not made by way of instruction, but in order that we may be constantly reminded of the manner in which tb9y impi.a? a burden npon those who consume domestic products well as those who consume im ported articles, and thus create a tax upon all our people It is not proposed to entirely re lieve the country of this taxation. It must be extensively continued as the the source of the Government's in come; and in a readjustment of our tariff the interests of American labor engaged iu manufacture should be carefully considered, as well as the preservation of our manufacturers. It may be called protection, or by any other name, but relief from the hard ships and dangers of our present tariff laws should be devised with especial precaution against imperiling the ex istence of our manufact iring interests. But this existence should not mean a condition which, without regard to the public welfare or a National exi gency, must always insure the realiza tion of immense profits instead ot moderately profitable returns. As the volume aud diversity of our Na tional activities increase, new recruits are added to those who desire a con- tinuation of the advantages which they couceive the present system of tariff taxation directly affords them. So stubbornly have all efforts to reform the present condition been resisted by those of our fellow-citizens thus engaged, that they can hardly com plain of the suspicion, entertained to a certaiD extent, that there exists an organized combination all along the line to maintain their advantage. PROTECTING INDUSTRIES-WAUE WORK ERS We are in the midst of centennial celebrations, and with becoming pride we rejoice in American skill and in genuity, in American energy and en terprise, and in the wonderful natural advantages and resources developed by a century's National growth. Yet when an attempt is made to justify a scheme which permits a tax to be laid upon every consumer in the land for the benefit of our manufacturers, quite beyond a reasonable demand for Governmental regard, it suits the pur poses of advocacy to call our manu factures infant industries, still need ing the highest and greatest degree of favor and fostering care that cau be wrung from Federal legislation. It is also said that the increase in the price of domestic manufactures resulting from the present tariff is ne cessary in order that higher wages may be paid to our workingmen em ployed in manufactories than are paid for what is called the pauper labor of Europe. All will acknowledge the force of an argument which involves the welfare and liberal compensation of our laboring people. Our labor is honorable in the eyes of every Ameri can citizen; and as it lies at the foun dation of our development and pro gress, it is entitled without affectation or hypocrisy to the utmost regard. The standard of our laborer's life should not be measured by that of any other country less favored, and they are entitled to their full share of all our advantages. Bv the last census it is made to ap pear that of the 17 392 099 of our population eniraifd in all kinds of in dustries, 7.670.493 are employed in agriculture, 4,074,238 in professional and personal service (2,934.876 of whom are domestic servants aod la borers), while 1,810,256 are employ ed in trade and transportation, and 3,837.112 are classed as employed in manufacturing and mining. For pres ent purposes, however, the last num ber given should be considerably re duced. Without attempting toenum erateall, it will be conceded that there ' should be deducted from those which it includes 375.143 carpenters and joiners, 285,401 milliners, mak ers f\nd seamstresses. 162 726 black smiths, 133,756 tailors and tailoresses, 102.473 masons, 76,241 butchers, 41,309 bakers, 22,083 plasterers, and 4,891 engaged in manufacturing agri cultural implements, amounting in the aggregate to 1,234,023, leaving 2, 623,089 persons employed in such manufacturing industries as are claimed to be benefited by a high tariff. To these the appeal is made to Bave their employment and maiutain their wages by resisting a change. There should be no disposition to answer such suggestions by the allegation that they are in a minority among those who labor, and therefore should forego an advantage, in the interest of low prices for the'majority. Their compensation, as it may be affected by the operation of tariff laws, should at all times be scrupulously kept in view; and yet with slight reflection they will not overlook the faot that they are consumers with the rest; that they, too, have their own wants and those of their families to supply from their earnings, and that the price of the necessaries of life as well as the amount of their wages, will regulate the measure of their welfare and comfort. But the reduction of taxation de manded should be so measured as not to necessitate or justify either the loss of employment by the working man or the lessening of his wages; and the profits still remaining to the manufacturer, after a necessary re adjustment, should furnish no excuse for the sacrifice of the interests of his employes either in their opportunity to work or in the diminution of their compensation. Nor can the worker in manufac ! tures fail to understand that while a i high tariff is claimed to be necessary i to allow the payment of remunerative wages, it certainly results in a very large increase in the price of nearly all sorts of manufactures, which, in almost countless forms, he needs for the use of himself and family. I(e receives at the of his employer his wages, and perhaps before he reaches home is obliged,in a purchase, forsooth, of an article which embraces his own labor, to return in the pay ! meut of the price which the tariff per mits the hard-earned cotcpensqtjot} of maqy days pf tail . T{lE FARMERS AND WOOL GROWERS. The farmer »nd the agriculturist who ummjfatturo Qoihioj, but pay the increased price which the I tariff imposes upon every agricultural ' | implement, and upon all he uses and | owns, except the increase ot bis flocks and h>-rds and such things as his hus bandry produces from the soil, is in vited to aid in maintaining the pres ent BitaatioD, and he is told that a high duty on imported wool is neces sary for the benefit of those who have sheep to shear in order that the price iof wool may be increased. They, of coarse, are not reminded that the farmer who has no sheep is by this scheme obliged, in his purchases of clothing and woolen goods, to pay a tribute to his fellow farmer as well as to the manufacturer and merchant; nor is any mention made of the fact that the sheep-owners themselves and their households must wear clothing and use other articles manufactured from the wool they sell at tariff prices, and thus, as consumers, must return their share of this increased price to the tradesman. I think it may be fairly assumed that a large proportion of the sheep owned by the farmers throughout the country are found in small flocks nu bering r rom tweuty.five to fifty. The duty on the grade ot imported wool which these sheep yield is 10 per cent for each pound if of the value of 30 cents or less, and 12 cents if of the value of more than 30 cents. If the liberal estimate of six pounds be allowed for each fleece, the duty thereon would be 60 or 72 cents, and this may be takeu as the utmost enhancement of its price to the farmer by reason of tbis duty Eighteen dollars would thus represent the increased price of the wool from twenty-five sheep and $36 that from the wool of fifty sheep; and at present values this addition would amount to about one-third of its price. If upon its sale the farmer receives this or a less tariff profit, the wool leaves his hands charged with precisely that sum, which in all its changes will adhere to it, until it reaches the consumer. When manu factured into cloth aud other goods and material for use, its cost is not only increased to the extent of the farmer's tariff profit, but a further sum has been added for the benefit of the manufacturer under the operation of other tariff laws. In the mean time the day arrives when the farmer finds it necessary to purchase woolen goods and material to clothe himself and family for the winter. When he faces the tradesman for that purpose he discovers that be is obliged not only to return in the way of increas ed prices his tariff profit on the wool Le sold, and which then perhaps lies before him in manufactured form, but that he must add a considerable sum thereto to meet a further increase in cost caused by a tariff duty on the manufacture. Thus in the end he is aroused to the fact that be has paid upou a moderate purchase, as a result of the tariff scheme, which, when he sold his wool seemed so profitable, an increase in price more than sufficient to sweep away all the tariff profit be received upon the wool he produced and sold. When the number of farmers en gaged in wool-raising is compared with all the fat mers in the country, and the small proportion they bear to our population is considered; when it is made apparant that in the case of a large part of these who own sheep the benefit of the present tariff on wool is illusory, and, above all, when it must be conceded that the increase of the cost of living caused by such tariff become a burden upon those with moderate means, and the poor, the unemployed and employed, the sick and well, and the young and old, and that it constitutes a tax which with relentless grasp is fastened up on the clothing of every man, woman and child in the land, reasons are suggested why the removal of or re duction o* tbis duty should be includ ed in a revision ot our tariff laws. COMPETITION STRANGLED- In speaking of the increased cost to the consumer of our borne manufac tures, resulting from a duty laid upon imported articles of the same descrip tion, the fact is not overlooked that competition among our domestic pro ducers sometimes has the effect of keeping the price of their products below the highest limit allowed by such duty. But it is notorious that this competition is too often strangled by combinations quite preyalent at this time,aud frequently called trusts, which have for their object the regu lation of the supply and price of com modities made and sold by members of the combination. The people can hardly hope for any consideration in the operation of these selfish schemes. If, however, in the absence of such combination, a healthy and free com petition reduces the price of any par ticular dutiable article of home pro duction below the limit which it might otherwise reach under our tariff laws, and if with such reduced price its manufacturers continue to thrive, it is entirely evident that one thing has been discovered which should be carefully scrutinized in an effort to reduce taxation. The necessity of combination to maintain the price of any commodity to the tariff point furnishes proof that some one is willing to accept lower prices for such commodity, and that such prices are remunerative; and lower prices produced by competition prove the same thing. Thus, where either of these conditions exist, a case would seem to be presented tor an easy reduction of taxation. THE REMEDY SUGGESTED. The considerations which have been presented touching our tariff laws are intended only to enforce an earnest recommendation that the surplus rev< enues of the Government be prevented by the reduction of our country du ties, and at the same time to empha size a suggestion that in accomplish ing this purpose we may discharge a double duty to our people by grant ing to them a measure of relief from taxation in quarters where it is moat needed and trom sources where it can be most fairly and ]ustly accorded. Nor can the presentation made of such considerations be, with any degree of fairness, regarded as evidence of un friendliness toward our manufactur ing interests, or «f any lack of appre ciation of their value and importance. These interests constitute a leading and raost substantial element of our National greatness and furnish the proud proof of our country's progress But if, in the emergency that presses upon ns, our manufacturers are asked to surrender something for the public good and to avert disaster, their pa triotism, as well as a grateful recogni tion of advantages already afforded, should lead them to willing co-opera tion. No demand is made that they . shall forego all the benefit* of goVerfl mental regard; but they cannot fail to he admonished of their duty, a3 well B8 heir enlighten' d self-interest and safety, when they are reminded of the fact that financial panic and collapse, to which the present condition tends, afiord no greater shelter or protection to our manufacturers than to our oth er important enterprises. Opportun ity for safe, careful and deliberate re form is now offered, and none of us should be unmindful of a time when an abused and irritated people, hped less of these who have resisted timoly and reasonable relief, may iusist upon a radical and sweeping reflection of their wrongs. The difficulty attendiug a wise and fair revision of our tariff laws is not under estimated. It will require on the part of the Congress ifreut labor and care, and especially a broad and a National contemplation of tbe sub ject. and a patriotic disregard of such local and selfish claims as are unreas onable and reckless of the welfare of the entire country. Uuder our present laws more than 4,000 articles are subject to duty Many of these do not in any way compete with our own manufactures, aud mauy are barme of them, however, have been raruestly presented in previous bud as to tbem 1 beg have to repeat prior recommenda tions. As tbe law makes no provision for ajv report from the Department or State, a brief history of the transact tions of that importamt department, tngetbef with other matters which it may hereafter be deemed essential to commend to the attention of the Congress, may furnish the occasion for a future communication. GROVER CLEVELAND. Washington, Dec. 6. 1887. A Child's Laugh. AH the Ivlls of heaven may ring, All the birds of heaven may sing, All the wells nu ™rh nav spring A:1 the w n is on earth may bring All sweet sounds togeitier, Sweeter far tbaa all things heard, 1 laud of harper, tone of bird. Sound of woods at Sundown stirred Welling waters' winsome word, Wind in warm, waa weather. Oue thiug yet there is, that noue Hearing ere its chime be done. Knows not well the sweetest one Heard of man beneath the sun, Hoped iu heaven hereafter, Soft and stroug and loud and light, Very sound of very light, Heard from morning's rosiest height, When the soal of all delight Fills a child's dear laughter. Edison on the Labor Question. Tnomas Edison, the electrician, was asked by a newspaper inter viewer what he thonght of the Kee ly motor, ieplied : "I haye never seen it, so I have no opinion abont it. But all tbe results he is said to have attained can be got from compressed air. All tbe air in this room can be be condensed into a liqnid that could be carried in a filbert Bheil, and its explosive force would be tremendous. Skillfully released and reconstructed, it would move a great machine." In reply to the question, "When motive power gets to be fonr times as cheap as it is, Mr. Edison, what will become of the laboring mau?" "He will be enriched by it. Machinery will be hia slave. See how machinery has multiplied in the la9t fifty years. As a direct result, workingmen get dou ble the wages they did then, and the necessities of life cost only half as much. In other words, a hand worker can to-day buy four times as much with ten hours of work as he did fifty years ago. For the first time in world's history,a skilled mechanic cau buy a barrel of floor with a single days work. The machinery in the United States represents the labor of a thou sand million men, or fifty times as times as much labor as that of all tbe men in tbe country. When motive power is still further cheapened—say in another generation—l believe that the unskilled laborer, if sober and in dustrious, can have a house of his own and a horse and carriage and a library and a piano. It is terrible stupidity that leads some laboring men to suppose that machinery is their foe. It is the thing that gives them independence and even freedom. Without machinery society would drift into the condition of master and slave. The multiplication of machin ery means for every worker more food, better clothes, better house, iess work In fact, I balieye that the in definite increase of machinery is going to solve what folks call 'the labor question'—that is the desire of hand workers to get a bigger slice of the margin of profit." She Took It. The grocer had pat np her tea, sugar and starch, and to his qaery of •'Anything else to-day?" she repli ed: "Yes, I want a pumpkin." "Right this way, ma'am. Here is a very niece one." "Is it ripe?" "Certainly." "I want to be sure about that. Please plug it." "Oh, certainly. See there?" "Its not a red core." "No, madam; it's a yellow core. All my pumpkins have been that way this fall, and every one has given satisfaction." Curing Hams. The following is the method of curing bams that received tbe prize at a New Eugland fair: To every hun dred pounds of meat take eight poundß of salt, two ounces of saltpe tre, two pounds of brown sugar, one and a quarter ounce of potash, and four gallons of water. Mix them and pour the liquid over the bams after they have been in the tub two days, they having been robbed with fine salt when put in the tub. They should remain in the pickle six weeks, then taken out, hung up three days to dry, and smoked. —Natural gas has thrown 5,000 men out of employment in Pittsburg alone. Its one great benefit is that it does away with the necessity for tbe servant girl. Parlor cooking is the fashionable craze in houses that have natural gas. —The most extraordinary suit ever brought against a railroad is that of Mrs Seymour, a Chicago widow, who.while attempting to pass from one car to another, wa9 blown off the train by the gale then raging. She wants $25,000 for that little blow. —To avoid rasing a dust and the wear and tear to carpet from sweep ing, a lady writer, from practical ex perience, suggests the following. " Put a spoonful of ammonia in a half pail of warm water,and wipe the car pet with a cloth wrung out of this water. The dust is removed, the colors freshenad, and moths destroy ed. —Many preparations professedly harmless, prove exceedingly danger ous, but Dr. Bull's Baby Syrup is perfectly safe at all times. Price 25 cents. A yellowish complexiou is not at all desirable; to banish it, use Laxa dor, tbe golden remedy for all liver diseases. It only costs 25 cents. —A pastor down east has been tried by tbe trustees of the church for hugging the pretty girls in his con gregation After a hearing in which the minister admitted the charge, but said bis intentions were good, he was exoueiated from all blame. It is safe to sav that cougregation will not have to advertise for a pastor when their church is vacant. The Hand that Rules. Regarding man's supremacy, The youth aud maiden quarreled. "The hHnd tint wields the pen," said he, Is the haud that rules the world." Then quoth the maideu chipper, While her red hps she ourled: "Sir, the haud that wields the clipper Is tbe hand-that rules thje .w.^M.' —Baito* CMricr NO. 6