AMERICA'S ARABS.
MANNER AND CtOTOM OF THK
AVAJO INOIAN9.
A Stranrra People Who Inhabit' n
Weird Country They Are Alt
Thieves, and Would Rather
Starve Thnn Knt Flub.
TWO thousand miles it nil more
from Now York, and ap
parently it like diatancn from
c. anywhere else, flu re in an al
most forgotten land, inhabited by a
utrango Nation of savages, obscurely
known an thn Knvnjos. From timo to
tinio sineo tho tide of emigration
crossed thn Hooky Mountains, nearly
fifty years ago, there have been
numerous disturbance with those
Indians, nml not a littlo bloodshed.
But while other tribes lmve hwn
pnalicd hhiiIu ly tli resistless forces
f advancing civilization and have
nought other homes with sorely re
duced numbers, the Xitvujo, securely
intrenched in hi divert fastnesses
that nu min covet, has held hi own
iiud increased nml multiplied.
Above till savage tribes that T have
known, says a writer in tlio Xew York
Herald, thn Navajo are the ' most
nortetivo rh to their history and their
nftaira. Jt was ulwaya a dillicult mat
ter to learn from them the simplcHt
matters about their history or their
liabitH. Kven their names they are
reluctant to give, nnd they are known
to whit men nnd Mexican's by Spanish
names, stii'li ns Manuelito (the great
chief), Jobc, Juan or Julian. Uttt I
ftuecocded once in obtaining n curious
myth from a fat old sub-chief, known
rm Julian, with whom I becamo de
videdly chummy. 1 nked him to tell
1110 who built the old rliina of forts
und castle that are fivqiiently found
in places where to-day the' desert
stretches for many mile, and to ex
plain tho fragments of pottery that
nr.; found in profusion in the sntid.
This pottery, painted and glncd,
ncattored over miles of ground, indi
cates surely that populous cities oncu
occupied what is now arid desert.
With infinite trouble I obtained the
following statement from Julian:
'Many years ago there was a great
roHT ORFIANCK, IN
people hero. They built tho old forts
and houses that you see, nnd then had
very largo villages. There were no
'Navajos hero thou. Thcso people
made water to flow where it should
not meaning that they irrigatod tho
noil, which seemed to tho Navajos con
trary to nature's law nnd thornforo
red soldiers came here and killed them
all. Then tho Navajos came hero."
Scorningwork, except for the women,
the Navajo lias lived, in this barren,
rocky region, for ages. His home is
usually in caves, or crevioes in tho
rock, generally with only a partial
shelter from the rain, which rarely
falls. With the miuimuiu of labor
they cultivato their best fields nnd
raise a littlo corn nnd wheat, on soil
that if irrigated would make them rich.
That the necessary water is close at
hand is certain. As one rides his horse
over vhu country, the hollow sound
that follows tho hoof-beatH, and ofton
tho tromor of the earth, indicate
plainly the oonrse of underground
atreanis. Wells and windmills would
make their desert "blossom like the
rose."
i But as it is, with no great nmonnt o
game, the Nuvajo, ns I have observed
him, is always hungry and usually half
starved. Yet in spite of thin some
superstition prevents him from eating
tho fish, which areplentifnl in the San
Juan. Bather than eat fish a Navajo
will die of starvation. This supersti
tion, as I learned, is based on the idea
that the spirits of the women go into
the fish when the former die, and as
they hold women in great contempt
they fear to toiioh the hah. Indeod,
their feelings in this matter1 seems to
be loothiug. I remember one day
whon a party of elderly and important
Navajos visited a trading post that they
called for a can of peachos. It was
opened for them and a tin spoon, un
washed from its lust use, was hauded
'to them. One spoon is considered
-enough for half a dozou Indiuus, and
they use it alternately without any
HAVAJO WIOWAMS.
formalities as to cleansing. This par
ticular spoon had last been used by a
Mexioanor cowboy on can of salmon.
When the senior Navajo placed the first
.mouthful of peaches in his mouth he
detected the flavor of the fish, and at
once spat the fruit out. With agita
,tiou expressed in every liueameut he
smclled the spoon ami then passed ft
to one of his waiting compatriots. The
latter took a sniff ami then threw the
spoon on the floor with disgust, ex
claiming, 'Tiseailol No bueno."
(Fish I Bad.) The Indians were at n
murderous point of linger, and wore
only conciliated hy elaborate assur
ances that the affair was an accident.
The unfortunate who hail taken the
spoon into his month was absolutely
nauseated.
Their religion may be dismissed by
the statement that they hnveWne.
Quite a number of the Navajos were
tBken while Very young to tho Jesuit
school at Fort Defiance and to the
rresbyterian. The good Fathers and
zealous clergymen did their best by
them, of course. Yet I found, an a
matter of sad experience, that the very
worst and most dishonest Navajos were
those who had been thn educated.
For instance, I remember that a few
year ago, when I was alono in a trail
ing post, a young Indian came in. He
was a big, shapely fellow Rnd uncom
monly handsome. Ho was decked
out in the height of style for a Navajo.
His blankets were worth 8100, and the
silver ornaments on tho headstall of
his pony were heavy and of tho best
workmanship. He introduced himself
to. mo in awkward Spanish, inter
spersed with Navajo words and signs
which I could interpret, but ap
parently knew no English. Hi busi
ness was to pawn his revolver for 85.
It is the custom of trader to make
such loans, without interest, because
the borrower usually want to bny
good nnd the aboriginal mind has
never accepted the idea of interest.
Therefore, when this Indian stated his
wish in silky tones I gave him the
money ho asked for. When the pistol
and money had been exchanged tho
young chief asked me for a paper. I
did not know what he meant until
nft T explanation I learned that ho
wanted a paper in duplicate, describ
ing the transaction. As my aboriginal
explained, those papers must be exactly
alike, he to keep one and the other to
be kept by me, ostensibly. In fact,
tho Navajo looked over the wall of tho
place until he found a small crevice
ten feet above the floor, to which he
climbed nnd where ho inserted and left
my end of the pawn ticket. Two
weeks later tho Indian camo in agnin
THK NAVAJO COUNTRY.
and paid me half of his debt. He pro
duced his paper and had me indorse the
payment, and ho climbed the wall and,
producing the duplicate, secured a
like endorsement on that. He wished,
as a matter of business, to see his pis
tol, nnd was gratified, of course. He
left mo forever soon aftor, and inoi
dentally and in a manner that wonld
have done credit to a London pick-
pooket took with him his pistol and
my duplicate pawn ticket. Later in
quiries informed mo not only that my
I. :dian was not only one of the worst
murderers among tho Navajos, but
thut he had boon carefully educated at
Fort Defiance, spoke, read and wrote
Spanish and English fluently, and had
fooled me as readily as ever a New
Yorker was taken in.
But our eftete Eastern idoas cannot
properly estimate the aboriginal view
of thieving. With them snccessful
larceny is considered not a fault, but
a habit to be proud of. Like their
Arabian prototypes, they recognize
theft as an aooomplishmeut or an art
that cannot be held in too high es
teem. Evory Navajo is a thief, aud is
snch by instinct and by hereditary de
scent from generations of larcenous
ancestors. I have seen a small Navajo
buby strapped in its cradle and propped
up against the wall of a store trying
earnestly to Bteal a large tin watering
pot utterly useless to an Indiuu. Not
old enough to articulate, the bright,
snaky black eyes of the baby absolute
ly gleamed with thievish desire.
A masterful lot of savages they are.
Turbulent and treaohorous they are
utterly indifferent to treaty 'obliga
tions or ordinary considerations of
gratitude. . Physically they are better
men than most of their neighbors. The
Vtes, who are nearest to them, are
generally low in stature, thick set,
broad feutured and wear their hair in
long braids. The Navajo, lighter in
color, is taller, wears his long hair
loose, and his features are of a oleaner
out. He is of the greyhound type
lithe, wiry and tough. As to cour
age, he has enough to carry him suc
cessfully through his bickerings with
the puny Mexicans and the wretched
Apaches that are near him, but he will
not fight white men unless at every
advantage. In the last fifty years our
Oovernment has sent a series of mili
tary expeditions against them, but they
nave been, witn one exception, tter
failures. In their desert homes they
oould not be brought to bay, and the
troops were obliged to retire beoause
they could not obtain water and for
age. In 1850 the late General E. V
Sumner led the strongest of the expe
ditions against them and penetrated
the heart of their country, where he
establishea the post of Fort Defiance.
But that accomplished soldier, with
the choicest troops of our army, was
nnauie to bring mem to battle, and,
like his predecessors, returned from
an almost fruitless incursion. I
The character of their conntry in
such as to make military operation
againnt them almost hopeless, and a
general war with them would, from a
military point of view, indicate failure
and mortification in advance. There
i not enough water available in the
whole conntry properly to supply the
need of its inhabitants. What there
is can bo found only in springs and in'
SAVAJO TIEAD Ml ESS.
small pools, ami theso can only be
found by careful search. A stranger
would perish in this desert, though
thn wnter might bo close to him.
Neither is there herbage to feed the
largo number of animal required for
a force sufficient to deal successfully
with the strength of the Navajo Na
tion. If tho necessity for stern work
arises short spur of railroad must lie
constructed, and thus the difficulties
can be overcome, but without such
means of rapid transportation a hunt
after the Navajo will be likethelrish
man's chase after tho flea "When
yon put your finger on him he isn't
there."
They are polygamous, if their
methods of establishing marital rela
tions can be counted ns appertaining
to matrimony. An Indian girl is as
much a chattel of her father as is his
horse. When old enough ho soils her
to some Indian who want her, and
her charms and ability as a cook de
termine the number of ponies to be
paid for her. Eight ponies is an aver
age price, and twelve is considered
high. 1 knew of ono for whom the
happy bridegroom told me he paid
thirty ponie. This statement I al
ways doubted gTavely, not because I
would nngallantly cast any reflection
on the charms of the lady, but because
I knew the Indian, and appreciated hi
talent as a liar. A pony, it may bo
said, is worth from $H "to $12. Tho
wife is the property of tho husband,
and when he feels so disposed and can
find a purchaser ho sells her. Such a
transfer makes no breach in the friend
ly feeling between tho quondam hus
band and wife. On a long ride through
the reservation I had for a guide an
especially decent Indian, with whom ll
conversed for hours. Ono night when
we could not find water, for which our1
horses were suffering, ho said to me :
"If we go a few miles further we will
find a Navajo house where we will bo
comfortable. The man is my friend
and his wife is a good cook. She was
my wife last year, but I sold her to
him."
In my ignorance I imagined soma
delicacy about the meeting of the two,
but was too anxious to find water for
my good horso to hesitate. When we
arrived at tho place a rude wall ol
stones built around a cavern the fam
ily appeared. The man was an
especially villanous looking, elderly
Indian. The woman was fat and forty,
without being fair. The meeting was
cordial all around, and between my
guide and his former wife there wa
much pleasant badinage in their own
language, while the new husband
placidly smoked liiscigarettes and con
cocted schemes, which he successfully
carriod out, to steal my provisions.
Tho Ivy on the Wall.
The growth of ivy on the walls of
houses renders the walls entirely free
from damp, the ivy extracting every
particle of moisture from wood, brick
or stones for its own sustenance, by
means of its tiny roots, which work
their way into the hardest stone. The
overlapping leaves of the ivy conduct
water falling npon them from point to
point until it reaches the ground,
without allowing the walls to reoeive
any moisture whatever from the beat
ing rain.
A Throttled Bomance,
Mr. Btarrborder "Ah, Miss deCoo,
what an inspiring view this is I How
it lifts us above the common things of
earth I I could sit here forever, with
my soul"
(Bat the dinner-gong sounded just
then, and his tool got the worst of it)
Puck.
,' SOLDIERS' COLUMN
FEASTS OF HAM.
On Occstton en Whloh th Humbl
Private Oot hit Mwrd.
mrniNGths
mo ill of Jan
itor, 1864, the
78th Pa, and
SUtWis. were
doing post
Itity and build
in fortincn
CRtionionLonk out Mountain,
T e n it. Col.
BUkely com
manded. A negro came
into camp from
I.onkout Val
ley one dnv and reported to the coin
n aiding (i 111 err that an old citizen up
the alley hut! nunc wheat nnd pork
libldin for homo consumption and to
piitvitsin his rebel friends with when
they called on him. As our boys had
pretty slim living, and a hard snd
1 1 1 lilt; ii 1 1 way of getting our am all allow
ance up on tho mountain, orders were
i-Kiicd f.ir a detail of two men from
each compuny to jjo cut snd see what
imild be found.
T, M. Fleming and the writer were
the two from Co. A, 78th l'a. Some 30
sl'ogcthi r started under cunnnapd of a
Lieutenant el' the ttlat WW., alter pro
viding ene ilty't mpply of hardtack
ii ml coffee.
V marched out nlnnt( the top of
the mountain mm i diitance until wo
c inilil find a plxce nmongat the rocks
t ilcsi end the mountain. After getting
down into the valley we mnrched
up tho valley poms distance,
when we camo to the home where re
port snld we would find thut which
itur appetites were craving.
When we asked the obi man If he
had any meat ho told the boys to go
to the miiokihouae and Uke all thut
wus there. Tho hnvs made a rush
for that tmokehnu.-e n though each
one wished to get the Urges t hum; but
on Intejti jrttlnii there was but the
ikt-let.in of a hum there.
The bi yi ht-enma angry, first at tha
"Id man and then at the darky, but the
d irky had fallen out of ranks some
disianco back, fr he did not want tho
while folks to know he had given the
information. My comrades came to
the conclusion that they would not
tempt tho old man to tell any more
lie, to they commenced an investiga
tion for themselves.
Up-ttairs, ilown-atairs, and in the
cellar of tho house they went. In one
corner of a room upHnira under a bed
they found tome what, with which
(hoy bint no timo in filling their huv
orsncks. Hut those, sugar cured hams
whore wore thejt
The houao was two stories, with a
pnrch. Suddenly one of tho fellows
noticed in tho wall of one of tho ioi nu
up stii'rs whnt tippciucd to bo a door
w.t lout hinges. After sumo consul
tation ono gave the plsco in tho wall
a punch with tho butt of his musket
and it fell over nnd showed a pusssgo
into the garret of ti e pnrch, Furiher
examination revealed a Inrgo number
ol nice hams and aim ti d.'ra of bacou
hanging to tho riiftcr.
Afti r dividing with tho enmpnny
snd inspecting everything about tho
pi ice, w o return I down tho valley
nntil we camo to a mill eperated by an
old c.t'ssov.We employed him, without
any ceremony, to ur.ud our who it.
Alter cur wheat was ground we tilled
our haversacks, and, it being lute in
the evening. Comrade Fleming and I
were detailed to uo out on viilot pick
et. Wo went back up the valley about
one mile, and pus-cd the. night at tho
fork of two roads.
In the morning we wero called into
line snd started on our way hack to
camp. When wo got to the top of
Lookout Mountain it was dirk, and,
we were some throe or four miles from
camp. Meantime the ellle.crtat camp,
expecting we would bo tired snd wUb
to be relieved of aomo of our forago,
sent nut a team and wagon to meet
us. We got orders to put ourchops
snd hams into the wagon. Our hsver
sicka being private property, we re
fused to give them up. Tho hams we
deposited in tho wagon, and then
move I on toward camp. The boys.
on thinking over tho matter at we
marched along;, concluded that they
might not be so foitunate at to receive
their share of the hams. So ta they
marched along one comrade would
carry another's gun, while he would
pata the column, gain the wagon, and,
at the night waa very dark, climb into
tho wagon, take out a ham, and full
Into the ranks again. This continued
until all the hums weie out of tho
wagon.
When we arrived at camp there wat
a guard placed at the wagon, and no
person allowed to tuke anything nut.
When morning came one of the Quur
tinnastei't Aids was sent to make an
inspection of the contenti of the
wagon. Not a pound of bam wat
there to be f iund in the wagon. It
wat taid by tome of the boys that tho
Quartermaster' nfiiclal taid if there
ever wat any hams in the wagon tho
bnyt bad made a clean fweep, at there
wat not to much as a smell of ham.
The Quartermaster not being tatit
(led, and I tuppose fueling disappoint
ed in not having ham mr urea last,
made complaints to the Colonel. A
guard In charge of an officer wat tent
to starch the quarters of the men, con
fiscate all bam found, tnd srrett tboae
bsvicg the same in their poaseasion.
The officer first went to tbe captian't
tent While be was there consulting
with tbe eaptlao, tbe boyt bid their
sweet mortals of ham, so there wat
none to be found by the guard, We
bad feattt of bam for a week after
that, and for once the private got
ahead or the "cnminith." Wst. A.
Mitmic. National Tribune.
' KEYSTONE STATE CHLLINGS.
AN AWFUL FALL.
lav unit rnor i:u rust now a miss
siitrr.
Ci.FAaFm.rt. The news has reached here
of an awful accident at Wlgton's shaft, near
I Morrisdale mines, this county. The shaft
has Just been completed and the distance
from ths surface door to the bottom It 140
feet. The cago used for lowering the men
wiirsi use Rn eiwnior ano. is manageti vj
meant of a strong cable and a windiest.
Been men went to descend shortly before
noon when the cable broke nml they fell
13,5 feet. The whole number were badly
injured and after a half hours' delay were
removed In an unconscious condition. One
has ainca died. Nearly all had legs or arms
broken. It is considered a remarkable es
cape from death to all.
romtsT rial: An nRornt.
CoNtiit.i.avit.t.K Forest fires have been
raglns all along the Laurel Mountains from
Mt. Plearai.t to I'l.loiitoivii for the past 10
days. Owing to tho continuous drouth
these fires ate becoming daneeroits. Just
sbove C'onnellsTllle the whole mountain
tide Is ablaze. I'nlesi rain soon comes the
whole summer's aork of the farmers living
in the burning districts will be lost. They
are kept conliuiinlly on the watch for fear
their homes will be burned, No full work
has yet been done. All the sources of water
snpp y for miles around have Rone dry.
Farmers living three and four miles Inland
are driving their stuck to the YoURhlngheny
river fur water. At some country churches
specisl services have been held to pray Tor
I rain, iuany oi tno cone works in the
uonneiisviue region would blow In ovens if
they had water.
traokiit at rrn'e ran.
On. Citv. Constable NVillitms, of Plg't
Far, Potter tounty, a aniitll lumber camp
near Aiiitm, shot and killed a man named
(Hover, who interfered with him while
making un arreit. The man whom he tried
to arrest is named Kennedy, He returned
the constable's tire and in all a half dozen
shots were exchanged, Kennedy succeeded
in escaping from the constable in the ex
citement that followed the shooting,
A VKHIIIi r AO.MNST A RAII.noAn.
Unio.ntown, David Twist was awarded
f 1,421) here by the jury for injuries received
in getting off a Houtliwost Pennsylvania
train at Hist stalion three years ago. Twist
claimed the tiniu stopped before reaching
the station platform by which he was hurt
In alighting. A previous jury awarded him
I l,8is), but a new trial was granted.
nizn at mxKTY-rorn.
CoSnsi.i.sviu.ii. John Senefl died at his
home In Springfield township, Sunday, or
old age. He wus In his Olltli year and cast
1!) presidential votes. Among his live sur
viving children is Hev. Henry W. Senoff, of
Sewickley. He was buried yesterday on
the farm where he had passed his life.
MOTHSB ANn CHILD SACSiriCED TOTIIK USK Of
KKROSKMK AS KIMU.IMI.
West Ki.iiaiiktii. Mrs. David Dowilon,
living six miles nutliwist of here, attempt
ed to light the lire with kerosene. An
explosion resulted and Mrs. Dowdun and
ber child were burned to death. The house
and contents were destroyed.
Mas. Jemima Lewis, ased ""years, a resi
dent of llrinbin, ran In front ol a passenger
train uud was Instantly killed. The acci
dent occurred in full view of her daughter
and other members of ber family, ileing
unite deaf, it la thought she did not hear
tbe truin,
Ksocii MiNEit of Hullskln township
Fayette county, dim every Hunday night on
the fiirui of Kilos Cliristner.tn quest of three
i tocks of go il. Mrs. Miner dreamed that
her uncle, Kmaniiel Slensmnn, litd buried
me treasure, es.uuu or f lu.uw, 23 years ago.
Koiirke. of Heaver Fulls, while out driving
encountered an Immense tluck of wild ducks
several of which they claim, tbey grabbed
while aitting In their buggy,
Matthew KniNoi.En, of Sandy Ridge,
while at work in a coal mine, was crushed
to death by a piece of rock, weighing sever
al tons, ft required the effort of 10 men to
remove tho rock.
The miners of the Fsvette City coal works
munsged by Samuel O'Noll, have gjtie to
work tit tbe reduced rate of 2 cents. About
123 men are employed.
ItnAKEMAN Lee Uitii.k was instantly klllel
at Stony Point on the Ny ratio. He was
thrown from a train which hud broken in
two.
John Ur pel i., living "near Marlinsburg,
was killed while in his stable by being kick
ed by a mule.
The Penn Hardware Works, of Iieading,
em nlnvlna fiOO hands, resumed onerallona
I on full time.
IJohn O'Learv, aged 8 years, was drown
ed Tuesday night, while in swimming at
Sliarpsville.
I Typhoid fever -is almost epidemlo at
L Washington, new cases being reported every
faay.'V
Great Is Chicago.
Cun nothing! of public moment be
done in this town without referenco
first being had to a more or loss stu
pid, dilatory, olifuscutory and uhucklo
headed committee? Tho question of
track elevation slumber in tho bosom
of a council comniltteo; the demoli
tion of theSpectutorium which task,
by tho way, has not yet been boguo
hud to bo referred to unother com
mitted beforo unyono durod to think
about it; and now the Chicago Hivor
Is festering and putrefying became a
committee ot "experts" is figuring on
tho capacity of tho new unip. This
comniltteo expects to make a report
"In a few days." Meantlmo tho
pumps uro idle, awaiting the verdict
of tliu expert, nnd the slime and
filth in tho river are sending forth
such an odor that strcot-car conduc
tors and driver wear clothes-pins on
thulr noses, and horses have to be
muzzled before they will cros the
bridges. It is about timo for a real
limn to arise In these parts a man
who can think for himself without
culling in a conclave of solemn don
keys to do bis thinking for him.
Such a man, if he can get Into tho
city hall, may proclaim himself em
peror of Cook County and maintain
himself on the throne with the en
truAlastlo approval ot tho entire nor
ulaoe. Chicago Herald.
DEMOCRATIC COM VKH'lIUtf -
At narrlaburf. B. Q. Thompson Momin
Iatsd For Buprtmt rudge. and T.
0. Otburn for Btate Treasurer.
The Pennsylvania State Democratic Con
vention In session at Hitrrlsbnrg, nomlnat
' ed Samuel Oustine Thompson of Phlladel
I phla, for Judge of Bnpreme Court, and
i Frank C. Oabnrn, of Sewickley, for Btate
Treasurer. There wat no opHltlon to tbe
former and little to tha latter.
Tits PLATFORM.
The following it the ptatlorm as adopted
at the convention.
"We. the representatives o' the Democra
tic party of Pennsylvanlai In riinvention
assembled, declare our unfaltering faith in
the principles and leadership which gave
victory to the Democratlo psriy in 1HK2,
control of both houses and made flrovr
Cleveland president for Hit second Mine.
First declare anew our devotion to
tha fundamental principles of sound
Democracy taxation onlr fur the purposes
of government economlrallv administered,
bonest money, the goid and silver coin as
of the constitution and an upright discharge
of otttcial duty.
Seisin I A Democratlo administration
left i)t), 000,000 surplus in lb ledersl tress
Urv; a Itepubiicuii successor In four yeaia
converted this lino a ileili-it ol tti,00o.0Jo.
We i.ee are I hat the dl-tiirlied condition of
the country bna followed bepiihlican ad
ministration, and that buainesa depressort
has rcsu.ted tru vicious legislation lor
which the Republican imrty Is no ely re
sponsible, lo correct und relieve the-e a
Dcniocnitic president and a Democratic
congress are pledged and their etlorta lit
that direction are entitled to the support ol
patriotic Hnzetis leKiirdless of puny.
Third We h iiruly endorse the adminis
tration of President Cleveland and Ina cabi
net. We approve his rec inimiuUtioit to
congress ol the repeal ot the silver ptiiclm-e
clause of the Hhencan act, and we halt wiih
sahsfiiction his assiiram et that ths vital
clause of tu'iff reform is nut In be abandon
ed nor its consummation lo be long Kv-t-poned.
A iletlcii-ni y ol nearly 4i),IKX).000 1 1
theanntiMl levenues of the tedeini govern
ment is the direct re-lilt of the McKinley
tariff art, and renders a prompt revision of
the tariff iihsolutelv necessary.
Fourth Wa approve of the action of the
house of renreseuut Ives in voting so de
cisively in luvorof the repeal of tha silver
purchase law, and are cull upon the United
htHles aeutitiirs I'roni I eiinsylvunia to glv
their support to .-licit lejisliitmn us may in
sure the prompt uud unuoiiililionul repeul of
the Hheruiuu law.
Fifth We denounce the den'aratlon
' made by the Republican atate convention
in favor of an enormous expansion of the
currency at unwise. Improvident ami calcu
lated to prontce diiug runs inlliiiioii of
values, reckl ss -pecutuiioti and disastrous
coiiseouencFS. We lavor n currency of iiolil
ami siiver coin, treasury and bank notes
sufficient for the business uee 's of the
comiiry. lint we must Insist that it shut
at n 1 tunes be kept at a purity of value.
Sixth We rejoice In the generous bene'
faction of u gruielul repuullu to the sulilieia
and sailors who Imperiled their lives for Its
defense. The pension roll should be a roll
of honor, and it should be speedily purged
of all unworthy names plnced upon it in
vlohition of law or derogation ot I he rights
ot dencrvinKcliilauiinia to the people's boun
ty, and we cordially approve the eflorts ol
the tederal administration to that end.
Beven'.is- -We cordially oppiove und in
dorse the uAmiuistraiioii of governor I'atti
son and his constitutional advisers. It has
Justified the public conlidence munifesled
by his election. His recommendations ot
salutary legislation, thniieh lamely tailored
. by a ltepubllcen legislature, have hnd the
I aupport and lavor of the people of the com
monwealth. His continued and fearless
exercise of the vein power to de. eat con ti-
tutional, til-considered and reckless legisla
tion merits our unciialillei commendation.
I Eighth We arraign and condemn tha
I last Republican legislature for ila prolllgacy;
for lit disreganl of the constitution, and for
Its shameless neglect and refusal to enuct
wholesome lawa demaiidtd for the public
welfare. It refused to repeal the aiulutes
reoiiirliiK the useless advertising of mercan
tile appraisements at an enormous expense
to the atate. It failed to make congression
al, senatorial, representative and Judicial
apportionments as commanded by the con
stitution. It refuse I to pass tlie Irglalation
necessary to protect the public from unjust
discriminations bv corporations. It neglect
ed lo equalize taxation in response to the
I demands of over-burdened labor -and of the
agricultural interests of thj common wealth.
, It persistently refused to adopt any method
liy which the enormous deposit of state
moneys now scattered among favored in
stitutions should be uiude amply secure and
j nmuueratlte to tha commonwealth, It
failed to p'ecr:be amendments t the bal
lot laws nrcesaarv to promote greater purity
secrecy and freedom of the frunchlse.
. Ninth Upon the issues thus made by the
fidelity of the executive department of tha
I state government and the recreancy of tha
Republican legislature, we appeal to the
, people of Pennsylvania; and wa present the
standard bearers this day nominated as tit
, and true representatives, respectively of the
nignest atgnity oi tne juuiciai otnee anil ni
reform in the management of the state
treasury.
Tenth We Invite the consideration of the
people of the state of I'ennaylvania Jlo ths
importance of a non-partisan Judiciury. Ths
spirit if not the letter of the constitution
contemplate that the courts, especially the
supremt court, ehall contain in equitable
proportion representatives of the great po
litical parties within the commonwealth.
Courts so constituted are more likely to
possess and deserve the entire confidence ol
the people. Tha undue proportion of repre
sentatives of one great political party in the
supreme court of 1'ennsylvunia may be cor
rected at tbe coming election. We bars
mllicient confidence in the people of Ibe
sommon wealth 10 expect that it will be so
Corrected.
Eleventh In accordance with the recom
mendation of the Democratlo national com
mittee, the Democratlo atate, county and
city organizations of Pennsylvania are ad
vised und directed to further by every
means in their power the institution ot the
regular Democratlo societies In every elee
tion diatrict.and tbe union of such societies
in the Democratic society of the state and
the National association of Democratic
clubs.
Tbe following were tlso adopted:
Resolved, That we heartily commend
effective and successful work of the Demo
cralic naiiunul committee in the eumpaicn
, in Hii-i.we recall with particular sutiafuctiim
and admiration the fidelity of skill and
ability displayed hy Wni. F. Harrity, who
was selected by the Democracy of tbe coun
try for the iiillicuit and responsible duties
of the chairmanship. He deservea and
, possesses the conlidence of the Democrataof
the country, especially in Pennsylvania.
and we but discharge our duty bv giving
express on to the appreciation and tirni nude
we feel because of the mighty, ethcieni
service rendered by him.
THE DEADLY ft A K GO LAMP.
Five Men Killed uud Five Boriousl In
jured by au fcxpioilon of U.ts in a
Coal Mine,
lly an explosion of g is In the L-ince Col
liery No. 11. of Ilia l.chijh and Wilkesburn
foul Company at Plymouth, Pa . live met
were Instantly killed and live others sen
misty injured. The numos of the dead are
Duvid M. Jones, WlllUm Jones, John
Flunugan, Owen P, Jones, Joshua Qolhtht
The Injured are: Owen L, Evans, Thomas
Williams, D H. Davis, John ummingt
and James Morgan.
Tbe accident was caused by Joeuht Oo
llghtly, who entered a body of gas witb his
naked lam p, when the terrino exp'oaioa
(allowed. '