CLEAR-CUT VIEWS.
^ No. I.
The tariff of t<* day is a very dif
ferent thing from what it w.V origi
nally intended to he. The origiua
tor ot the tariff promised to raise
revenue lor the Government hv tax
ing kokkk.s products. His idea was
to supply the treasury l»y collecting
a tax on whatever came into this
country Irona abroad; hit* idea was,
to put a tax on whatever crossed the
border,—which tax would he paid
by the American consumer. Forex
ample, a trace chain costs in * 'anada
50 cents; when it comes to the line
it must pay a tax of 23 cen.ts; the
chain then sells for 73 cents. A
blanket costs $1 in France; before
it comes into the l’. S. it pays a tax
of 30 cents; the blanket then sells
for $1.30. A suit of clothes costs
in Knglaml $10; the tariff tax is $5;
the suit then sells for $13. A bill
of goods in foreign countries costs
$200; the tariff taxes arc $100; hence
the goods sell for $300.
The scheme was to put a tax on
foreign products so that the Ameri
can consumer would pay taxes when
he paid the price charged by the
store keeper. The merchant pays
the tariff tax when his goods cross
the border but he gets the money
back when he sells the goods,because
he adds the tax to the price paid by
his customer. A merchant does
not object to paying this tax,because
lie gets it back when he sells the
goods, and his customer does not ob
ject because he does not notice that
the price includes a tax which he is
paving to the U. S. Government.
The original tariff was a canning
contrivance whereby the Govern
ment would get money out of the
pockets of the people without their
perceiving that they were being tax
ed, but the operation of the law was
precisely the same as if the store
keeper said,—"the price is 50 cents,
but you must pay me back the 25
cents tariff tax which 1 paid to the
1'. S. when this trace-chain first
came into the country."
The Government must have reve
nue and there are only two ways to
raise it; direct taxation is one way
and indirect taxation is the other
way. The State tax is direct taxa
tiou; a horse worth $100 pays 30
cents, and a tarm worth $10,000 pays
$30. The tax payer to the State
reads Ins tax schedule and knows he
pays 30 cents on the $100 of value.
But the invention called a tariff, is
s> contrived that taxes are paid
when we buy foreign articles; the
tax being included in the price ask
ed by the merchant, we pay it indi
rectly and do not observe at the time
that we are paying it.
It is some satisfaction, however,
to feel that the tax we pay on a for
eign article goes into the public
treasury to be expended for the pur
Ih tscs of government.
The tariff as originally devised
was a scheme to raise revenue. It
was a cunning scheme "to pluck the
geese without making them cry."
Presently it occurred to some
smart American manufacturers that
if they could induce the Government
to shut loreigu goods out of the home
market they could obtain higher
prices and make larger profits. The
home manufacturer of trace-chains
saw that if foreign chains were ex
cluded home made chains could be
sold at a higher price: the blanket
manufacturers saw that it the (Jov
emment shut out frocign blankets,
they could raise the price;—and thus
it »as all along the liue. There was
mouey iu this idea, and where there
is money in an idea, ingenuity soon
invents a plausible argument in its
favor.
It would have excited a rebellion
iu every State of this I'uiou for the
(tovernment toexdude foreign goods
for the purpose of enabling the home
manufacturer of such goods to ex
tort his.*her prices from his custom
crs. The thing must be done indi
rectly and the tariff offered a convert
ieut instrument. The manufactur
ers said:
t iuior the pr ten e <d raising revenue
let the tariff l>0 fixed so high that for
eign good* will not come in; if a t'auada
blanket worth $1 be taxed 3u cents, then
it cannot In* sold in Amerieau markets
for le>s than $1..V»; in other w ords a blan
ket costing a Canadian $1, will cost an
American $I..*iO; we can therefore screw up
prices to the extent that a tariff protects
us against competition by fond tin goods.
A man in Canada may buy:* blanket
for $1 but we will oblige the Aim rican to
pay
This was a new way to use the
tariff. The tariff was tube a tax on
foreign goods, not for the purpose of
raising revenue, but tor the purpose
of enabling one class of Americans
to charge their fellow citizens high
er prices. 'The object was, not reve
nue, but protect:**. The tariff was
to be for the purpose of enabling a
favored class of American citizens
to exact higher prices from the body
oil he people. The purpose of the
tariff, under this new dispensation
was to compel the body of the peo
pie to pay hu ger profits to a favored
class. The purpose* of the tariff was
to compel the masses to pay tribute
to a protected class. It was there
fore called "a tariff for protection,
ns distinguished from a tariff ‘dor
revenue.** It is a law to l’ROiKf l
out* class, and a favored class, from ,
foreign competition so they may j
make larger profits by demanding :
higher price's than they could ob- (
tain it foreign goexls were not sub
jected to such a heavy tax.
A law to enable a favored class
to exact higher prices, is a law to
compel the many to pay tribute to ;
the few. - These few become enor- 1
moiisly rich while the many become
poor.
We have said it was some satis- I
faction to feel that the tax we pay j
on a foreign article goes into the l .
S. Treasury. When, by means of a
law.'money is taken out of my pock- !
et and put in Jhe pocket of another
man. it is simply robbery. But it
is some satisfaction to feel that we ,
maintain a government that uses its ;
powers to enable a privileged and j
influential few to rob the unprivi
Wed many. It is some satisfaction 1
to know that we are thus robbed be- ;
cause there are not enough men with ,
sufficient sense to vote intelligently. |
A series <>« these articles will l»e print
ed as we get time to write them. If any J
one thinks it easy to write such articles
a> appear in these columns, let him try
to prepare an editorial for us. Of course
there are those w ho can produce better |
articles than we publish, but a person |
who has not tried it will Ik> very much ,
surprised at the amount of lalior involv- j
ed.
Candidates for Congress and tlie Leg
islature will .to well to tile these articles
away for future use. It is always easy 1
to obtain ideas, plausible arguments and
tnisleadin -r statistics to fool the people,
because those who pluck geese hire the
ablest intellects to invent such argu
ments and compile such statistics, ami
they are furnished free to whoever will
list* them, but we find it very difficult to
obtain, in convenient shape, the charac
ter of information that is calculated to
open the eyes of the people.
Unless we mistake the signs of the !
times, the people will demand in the
next campaign men who show a capaei- ;
tv and a willingness to tight for them
against schemes to rob them. These ar
ticles will then be invaluable to those |
who wish to take an active part in the j
campaign.
We promised.and have ready statistics
exploding the pretense that West Va.
needs a tariff tax of 7.'» rents a ton on
coal; but all the space allnteit in this is
sue to the tariff is occupied.
A'k the jHiliticians, whether they will
aggrt ssi\ely advocate a reduction of the
tax on coal: and if they evade probe them
with •jiu-stions until tlieyanswer. Then
compare their replies with what we will
presently publish on this subject.
ILL-ADVISED UTTERANCES.
The llaltiinore s*"«, of yesterday,
prints an interview with Kx-Senator
Camden, which we would discredit
were it not that the Sim's- Washing
ton eoirespondent is generally very
accurate. We give the substance of
Mr. Camden.s utterances and make
a few comments, lie says:
There is no change in West \ a.
politics since Ins friend Faulkner
w:.s elected, and there will probably
be no difficulty about Faulkner se
curing his seal.
Faulkner's election gave satisfac
tion because it was hoped he had
scnsc enough to repudiate machine
methods and take the side ot the
people. Those best i|iialitied to
judge do not believe that In* will be
seated. i
Lucas. Clov. Wilson ami nearly
all it » hose wlio hoi tod !iis( ('aindens)
oatioiis nomination are politically
d ad and it isdoubtftil whether they
can >oeure recognition bytherepnb
licans.
We fully appreciate that from ms
star l point Mr. Carndeu has cause
to t t! bitter towards those who re- '
>i>i. i his io election. Hut we can
not express -utHcient surprise that
in* >Uouid be betrayed into an utter
a:> of this character. We refrain
from such comment as. perhaps,
wotiId lie justified.
It is true that certain gentlemen
wiio opposed his re election are not
so strong, as they once were, in the
public confidence; the reason is, uot
their opposition to him; not their re
fusal to enter a SPLIT caucus;—
(g.'it g into that caucus meant only
a roult w hich conscience and duty
to their constituent; commanded
them to prevent; had they entered
that caucus and thereby assisted
Mr. ( ainden's election, they would
have, been traitors to conscience and
traitors to their constituents. It
w ,s li tb rent with ( ainden's suppor
ter-: thinking as they did they were
at liberty to accept the caucus, but
these other gentlemen, with tiikik
convictions, could not do so.) The
reason the gentlemen referred to are
not sostronginthe public confidence i
as they nutT were, lies solely in the
fact that, subsequent to the adjourn
ment of the regular session, their !
conduct seemed to indicate that they |
were actuated by a desire to obtain
personal advancement. We do not
believe such was the case; we do not
believe they deserve the censure they
receive, but still we realize that *‘ap- !
pea ranees were the other way, and,
although we believe it was a mistake
of the head and not of the heart, yet
it may take some time to correct the
impression that has been created.
As to the other gentlemen who re- ;
tused to enter the caucus, they are
infinitely stronger before the people
to-day than they ever have been. |
The people see an effort being made
to “kill off’ the very men who ex
hibit a willingness to stand between
them and the millionaire beneficia
ries of monopoly, and the people do
not intend that this effort “to kill
off” such men shall succeed.
We do not want this issue made; j
it is best for all that it should not ]
be made; it is best for the State
that it should not be made; but if
such an issue be forced on us, it will
be met squarely, ami we do not fear (
the result, lie it remembered that |
those who opposed Mr. Camden's I
election never said “that for a few
Republican votes they would prom
ise not to lift their hands in future ]
against that party.” (-Hotter
let by-gones be by gones.)
Cleveland is more popular than he j
was, because the honest, hard-work
ing people believe him sincere in his
promises.
The President is stronger because
the honest, hard-working people be
lieve that he is trying to stand be- |
tween them and corrupt political ■
methods.
There was some complaint because
he did not turn out Republicans
fast enough, but there is to-day in
this State only one Republican hold
ing Federal office.
The complaint was that the Presi
dent permitted the Federal patron
age to be prostituted to build up a
hierarchy of oiliee-holding managers
ol politics. At the last election in
this county Sargeant was here help
ing the Republicans to defeat the
regular Democratic nominee for the ,
Legislature. Sargeant was one of j
Camden’s “bummers,” and after
having tried to defeat our Democrat
ic nominee,he was immediately given
an oflice in Washington. It was ap
pointments like this that caused
dissatisfaction. Rut the rank and
file ihink Cleveland has been de
ceived by his advisers, and they live
in hopes he will soon learn the real
truth.
Coder ordinary circumstances
West Virginia is Democratic, but
with the tariff question as the lead
ing issue the State is doubtful.
The people of this State are over
whelmingly Democratic,and if given
an assurance that candidates will
honestly execute the professed doc
trines of our party, we will have a
very large majority. The State is
doubtful only because our managing
politicians are trying to thwart the
popular judgment. The State is
doubtful because candidates dodge
the tariff.
Hard times are pinching the farmers.
llVsfow H'orW.
Vos, and unless the tariff is re
duced the farmers will be ruined
Politicians are afraid to act boldly
on the taritf..because the millionaire ,
beneficiaries of the tax will buy
votes to defeat them. The Virginia
farmers declared against a tariff for
protection, but her politicians in
both parties are pledged the other
way. _
The 11. A O. Express Co. has been
sold the r. S. Express Co. It is be- i
lievcd in well informed circles that
the B. A O. Telegraph will shortly
be sold to .fay Gould, and that
the 11. A O. R. R. system will be con
solidated with the Pennsylvania^.
R. We will presently explain this
matter very fully. We now sound
the alarm; Monopoly is combining
for the purpose of making still fur
ther aggressions against the body
of the people. The only safety is
for the people to stand by the tew
men Monopoly can neither bulldoze
nor buy.
The Pittsburg Timex says, that
the local operators of the Kanawha
and Monongahela Coal Regions have
pooled their properties by adopting
the method of the Standard Oil
Company. Stock representing the
property will lie issued for $20,000,- '
000 and the company will be gov- I
erned by 13 directors. It is esti
mated that the output of the proper
ties in the pool is about 100,000,000
bushels.
Every mail brings us some new
combination against the body of
the people.
THE CLEVELAND BANNER FIAS
CO. EX-SOLDIERS TRAPPED, j
An event at the recent Soldiers’
Reunion in Wheeling is conclusive
evidence that the thoughtful men I
of this country must unite to sweep
away the wretched demagogues and j
scheming politicians who would par- j
alize business to gain some tempo- j
ran* partisan advantage. These 1
columns cannot do a better service 1
than to give a truthful picture that
will be comprehended by the rank ,
and file of voters.
The surviving Union soldiers, to '
preserve army friendships, orgauiz- i
ed various associations to cultivate
social intercourse and strengthen
the ties of comiadship. Left to
themselves, these organizations j
would have been managed by the |
brave men who, having done their j
duty in the hour of danger, arc ready i
to do their duty in the days of peace.
The men who did the real lighting,
stopped fighting when the battle was
won. Unfortunately the lowest grade
of machine politicians saw in these
associations an opportunity to eon- j
solidate the soldier vote and to eon
trol it for their own selfish purposes.
Hence, the politicians at once began
scheming to convert these associa
tions into political machines, and
they are now largely controlled by
the men, who, as Gen. Grant aptly
said, “first began to fight after the
danger was past.” Col. Dan John- j
son, of Tyler County, achieved hon
or in battle, and his speech at Wheel
ing expressed a feeling the skulkers
cannot comprehend. He said:
Some people wonder why old soldiers
are so friendly when they meet. There
is something in the heart only a soldier
can appreciate. Our friendships come
from t lie fact that wc once stood together
in the Valley of Death.
The lower grade of politicians
were not prominent at Gettysburg
last July. That meeting was in the
hands of men who could appreciate
the feeling Col. Johnson expressed.
Such recent events as the facti
tious clamor about "returning the
flags,” the objection to the presence
of the National Executive at the
Grand Army meeting in St Louis
and the disgraceful scenes of last
week in Wheeling, are conclusive
that the men who did the real light
ing no longer control and speak for
the organizations they formed: such
events are conclusive that these or
ganizations are now controlled by
wretched, scheming, unscrupulous
politicians who use them as politi
cal clubs to excite the very passions
and prejudices all patriotic citizens
and especially brave soldiers, most
desire to remain hurried; and it is
a hopeful sigtf that the rank aud file
of the Grand Army are now moving
a resolution that no one shall hold
any post of honor or trust in their
society unless he rendered actual ser
vice in battle and did not skulk in
the hour of danger.
When Lee gave his sword to Grant
the South surrendered. The ques
tions submitted to battle were de |
cided against the South, and that
was the end of them.
After Appomattox many Confed
erate soldiers, wearing wounds,
found homes in the North, and with ;
one voice they testify that their
first and best friends were those Un
ion soldiers who were bravest in bat- !
tie. They also testify that all the
bitterness they found eminated from
men who skulked the fight. After
the war many Union soldiers made
homes In the South, and with one
voice they testify that all the bitter
ness they found eminated from men
who had shirked the battle. The 1
so-called Union soldiers who were
repulsed in the Southern States were
not true soldiers but were men who
“began to fight after the danger was
past,” and the bitterness ot feeling i
that now struts for political effect is j
limited to politicians seeking popu- j
larity with that class at the North
who did not go into battle.
A people must take good care of
those who risk their lives for the
mutual benefit. When one citizen .
contributes more than his share to a j
common burden, the other citizens
who contributed less, must makeup
the difference by paying money.
This is the only way to bring things
even, and all rightminded men de
sired Congress to place those who ser
ved in the army on an equal footing
with those who did not. Tilts could
be done by liberal pensions and
hence the Confederate soldiers in
Cougress always voted for pensions.
But when the emissaries of mil
lionaire beneficiaries of a protective
tariff, as a part of their scheme to
prevent any reduction of taxes, pro
posed to pension.not the true soldier,
but every skulker and bounty-jump
er, then all thoughtful and patriotic
citizen supported the President’s ve
ti of what was called “the pauper
pension bill.” The politicians were
stampeded by a factitious clamor
manufactured by tariff-protected
millionaires bent on plundering the
people, f.nd there did not seem one
man with nerve enough to save ilie
ship. It was at this crisis that
President Cleveland exhibited the
courage Congress lacked, and his
unprecedented popularity rests chief
ly on the evidence he then gave tin*
country of a determination to tear-;
lessly perform the duties of his of
fice.
—
Wheeling invited the Society of
the Grand Army of West Virginia
to hold its Reunion in that citv, i
and the Society invited their com
rads in Ohio and Pennsylvania to
join them ai their meeting. As the
occasion would assemble many
strangeis, the Wheeling merchants
vied with each other to attract no
ticc to their places of business.—
The town was elaborately decorated,
and probably the most appropriate
Cmbletn displayed <»n the street
was a banner to represent the Na
tional Executive with the words,
“ God Bless Our President.” Had
this banner been left to the undis
turbed instincts of American citi
zenship, it would have been univer
sally applauded. Our Government
does not rest on bayonets. It is
supported by a spirit of obedience
to legally constituted authority.—
If they bad been left to themselves
the true soldiers in the Grand Army
would have saluted an emblem which
represented that authority they had
once risked their lines to maintain.
But the scheming politicans,
thinking only of partisan success,
saw how they might take advantage
of an accident and by a gloss fraud
excite the passions of unsuspecting
men. These scheming politicians
with devilish ingenuity insiduously.
circulated a report that the banner
was displayed for the purpose of in
suiting the Grand Army. When a
large crowd animated by patriotic
impulse and unsuspicious of fraud
are intent on the object of their
meeting it is very easy for a tew
base minds, acting in concert and
cooperating with low cunning, to
take advantage of a mere accident
and persuade such a crowd that an
insult was meant where none was
intended. There were in Wheeling
these miserable, scheming, pothouse
politicans and they industriously
spread the report that the Cleveland
banner had been hung over the line
of march for the purpose of insult
ing the Grand Army, and these
wretched politicans with devilish
malignity persuaded the soldiers to
rebuke a supposed indignity by le
fusing to march under it. Being
thus deceived as to the purpose
of the emblem the rank and file fell
into the trap and passed the place
without going under the banner.—
The politicans had accomplished
their object, and brave soldiers,
and many of them Democrats, had
apparently offered a studied insult
to the President of the United
Slates.
Thoughtful citizens of patriotic
impulse who wi messed this scene
expressed infinite regret that ex
soldiers had been betrayed by de
signing men. Scheming politicans
V.UtllV.1 IA/ vcov uovv* w |
soldier vote.” Sagacious men, who
comprehend the workings of ma
chine methods, wondered how long
our institutions can last wncn me
managers of politics depend, not on
appeals to intelligence and reason,
but on ignorance and excitement.
The truthful picture we have pre
pared of what occurred in Wheeling
is not vet presented, but our space
for this issue is exhausted: it re
mains to tell how tie politicians
waited for still another opportunity
to appeal to ignorance and inflame
the passions of a crowd that could
not reason and did not think: it re
mains to finish the picture by tell
ing how, at a serenade to the Gov
ernors of three States, the scheming
politicians made speeches that would
have disgraced a pot-house in the
slums of a city: It remains to tell
how the crowd, excited, urged on by
the lowest grade of republican poli
ticians, insulted and jeered at Gov
ernor Wilson and how, by a timely
exhibition of manliness,he won honor
and credit for West Virginia. The
remainer of the picture will he given
in the next uumber of this paper.
Sensible and patriotic Republi
cans will not endorse the conduct in
Wheeling of their politicians. The
better class of Republicans will re
sent an attempt by pot house parti
zans from Ohio and Pennsylvania to j
meddle with our politics when in
vited into the State lor a very differ
ent purpose. The sober, second
thought of the people will repudiate
the scenes in wheeling.
(iov. Wilson’s manly rebuke of
Foraker and Gibson will be com
mended, wherever the facts arc
known, and we intend that they
shall be known. We will nutlet
this matter be forgotten. He vindi
cated his State, he defen led the 'ex
soldiers who are Democrats, and he
defended from a foul attack that
large element in W est \ a. which. -i> j
years ago, were on the Confederate .
side. Wilson himself was loyal in
the war but he made it understood
that the day of ostracism in this
State had passed. W hen the Gov
ernor i£ot hack to f harlcston he was
•riven an ovation and lie deserved it.
Charleston's conduct is a credit to
the good sense of her people. The
State will think better of the Capi
tol after this*.
PROHIBITION VS. LOCAL OPTION.
To l»e copied by the VVell*burl> IfrraM.
It is the custom of Prohibition
leaders to assume that a constitu
tional amendment forbidding the
sale and manufacture of intoxicants
will close barrooms more effectually
than local option. We know from
personal observation that Local Op
tion is more effective than Prohibi
tion and our observation is coroko
rated by statistics that are conclus
ive.
Whoever sells intoxicants must
obtain a “l\ S. retail liquor dealer's
license.” If such licenses are ob
tained in places where barrooms are
forbidden, then the evidence is con
clusive that liquor is sold clandes
tinely. If such licenses increase
more rapidly in Prohibition States
than iu Local Option States, then
the evidence is conclusive that Lo
cal Option is the Lost way to pro
mote temperance. When a commu
nity decides for itself not to have
barrooms there is a ncigborliood
pride to "go without liquor;” where
as if a community feels that it is
being coerced against, its will, then
a spirit of resistance is aroused, and
the average man takes pleasure
in violating the law. This is hu
man nature and we cannot change it
bv legislation anymore than wecau
make men taller or shorter by enact
ing statutes. We beg thoughtful
friends < f temperance to consider
these things,—if we are right, then
Prohibition will increase, not dimin
ish, the drink habit. It is the fash
ion of some to string together loud
sounding words denouncing bar
rooms.—but it is no argument and
has no more influence than beating
a drum. The question is,not wheth
er drink is an evil,—the question is,
how to prevent drink. There are
those in this temperance movement
who want noise, excitement and po
litical issues:-—we do not speak to
them : their heart is not in the cause.
There arc others in this temperance
movement, so blinded by zeal and so
impractical and visionary that they
see nothing except barrooms and bar
keepers:—we do not speak to them ;
they cannot argue and cannot listen
to reason. There are others in this
movement who make money out ol it,
or use it to obtain ofllcc;—we do not
speak to them; they care nothing
for. the cause. Wc speak to those
who have no motive but to lessen
the use of intoxicants, and to them
we say,—take care least your zeal
turns you into the wrong road.
'1 here are 4 States, and only 4
States that have adopted the consti
tutional amennment now proposed
in West Va.
The following table will.be taken
as conclusive that the number of
places where liquor is sold increases
more rapidly in prohibition States
than in local option States.
In cast* it lx* suggested that all drtig
stores have a U. S. license, the number
of drug stores is also given.
7. r 2 > > ] 5* T. 7 Z
!! J1 {i 11f I
«• s z'
• i ~ £
j_* > i >_1 - 51 ? % ?
S C * S « 5 T.1 k z
S 8 x s £ 2 ", £ _=
rm ~ : : = o?
3 . 111
- - : ' : : : 2- I I c
s = *| k p Hi
K H a 5 t = i . x
- : ^ : 5 E
- ----?g*
r.' '£ ? £ £ a 5 r*2
! "i It
: : : - > : - k_.’i
, 7. ~ — —< — — ®
2 £ -i g H li : ".
^ 1: i i £ s j' § Stores.
I liis table was compiled from there
ports.of thn coiimiisrioiicr of internal
revenue, the votes at the presidential
eitM tiou*, and the coususses.
The development of Kansas occurred
chiefly after istW; her vote in ’t»S being
only -hVJfO while in ’SI it was amu.
Again, her tern pent nee movement com
menced after ’»Si. The same remarks ap
ply to lows: hence for these states we
take their condition in ’7!*, instead of in
tR>.
Va. did not vote in ’(58 aud only about
one-third of the vote in Tennessee \va
east; as it was necessary to calculate the
vote of these two states, it was consid
ered fairer to apply the same rule to •
West Virginia and Arkansas.
These four local option States were se
lected because, as far as we are informed,
their law is like that which has produced
such good results iu West Virginia. We
will presently publish a compilation of
the laws regulating the sale of liquor of
the several Slates, and at the same time
give the increase or doorcase in the num
ber of U. S. liquor liftensos.
Maine adopted a constitutional
amendment prohibiting the manti
facture and sale of liquor (the same
now proposed here) in Jniu*, lS.il,
and aftei 30 years of the most ex*
tivtnc legislation we lin»l ncr mini
ber of clandestine retail liquor deal
era steadily increasing; she bad 030
in ’G9 and 931 in ’8G. In Kansas
the number of clandestine “drink
places’’ has more than doubled. It
only takes 140 voters in Maine to
support a clandestine liquor dealer;
20 years ago it required 179. It
only takes 110 in Kansas; it years
ago it took 203.
Prohibition does not appear to huve
anv effect one way or the other in Iowa.
The iinnilwM* of liquor sellers have do
ereased in about the proportion that the
number of voters to a lieense hits ill
ereased.
The east* of Ithodo Island seems pecu
liar. The number of liquor sellers lias
nearly doubled, but the liumlierof vo
ters to a license remains about the same.
This eun he explained by any one ac
quainted with I.s-al affairs in that State,
hut the writer lias not the required in
formation. i
Taking the States which have
been wise enough not to attempt
compulsory’ temperance; Stales
which follow the conservative and
practical fnethod ol local option, we
find the number of voters t<> a liquor
sellci is decreasing instead of in
creasing.
The numlier of licenses in West Vir
ginia lias only it.creased :Jns, ultho' the
population has nearly doubled. In lists
our vote was only 4U,4Hl, and in Issi it
was 132,157.
1 Wo have not taken tin* figures for Vir
ginia, because two of her counties are in
j eluded In the revenue district of I»ela
; ware.
We call on thoughtful friends of
temperance to consider these facts.
They show conclusively that prohihi
liott is not as beneficial as local
option. Recollect the object is. not
noise, but to lessen the use of intox
i icants. Many persons have favored
prohibition because they took for
^ granted that it would bring better
results than local option, but this
table is conclusive that the number
of retail liquor dealers increase in
prohibition States while they dc
crease in local option States.
Our next issue wifi give the num
ber of l\ S. liquor licenses in the
different counties of West Virginia
in 1881 and 188G.
The l*a. Democratic State Conven
slon met Wednesday. The tariff is
sue wtis dodged; tin* Pa. millionaire
beneficiaries of protection failed for
i once to declare that the bodv of the
people should pay tribute to a priv
ileged class. President Cleveland
was endorsed; a pledge was given to
equalize state taxation; it was do
; elat ed that corporate power should
be restricted, and the refusal of the
Republican Legislature to relieve
the oil producers ;s denounced.
.Judge .J. Ross Thompson was noini
lilted for the Supreme Court, and .1.
B. McGrann for Treasurer.
We will wager $1,000 that if five
competent men canvass each county
in Pennsylvania for dO days for new
| subscriber* to papers like the Pbil
, adelphia Ilcrord, and if this be fid
lowed up by an aggressive campaign
with such men as Beck, Carlisle,
Hurd and llewitt, s(leaking at every
cross roads, the Democracy of that
State will at their next Convention
pronounce against a tariff for protec
tion, and that she will be redeemed
from the Republicans. Vacillation,
timidity and hypocrisy is what is
, ruining our party. We must have
in front more men who are actuated
by principle and who have thccour
age of conviction.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the
sons of W. K. Vanderbilt, deceased,
is worth $75,000,000 and perhaps
I $125,000,000. The Van.lerdilt for
tune,reckoned at nearly $200,000,000
was accumulated in railroad man
agement within the jhort period of
20 y'ears. If the people would vote
intelligently this rapid concent ra
tion of wealth could not occur. 1 he
concentration of wealth is ^e
strongest evidence that the body
the people are not prosperous.
i