The Indiana democratie state convention ...

The Indiana democratie state convention will be held in Indianapolis August 15. At the close of business on january 31, the cash balance in the national treasury was 884,084,099, a decrease of $6, 293, 455 during the month. The action of the House in the matter of the amendments to the Wilson bill made in committee of the whole seeins to indícate that a much more radical measure might have passed that body. However, the bill as passed is fairly satisfactory and is a long stride in the right direction. Now that the tariff bill is in the hands of the Senate, it is to be hoped that that body will see the necessity of relieving itself of some of the odium with which it covered itself during the extra session last sumraer, by proceeding to a prompt consideration of the measure. Nothing will please the people better than the early passage of the bill with but few or no changes. Let the uncertainty which is hanging over the business of the country be termiat the earliest possible moment There is good politics in such a course. We are pleased to note the announced purpose of President Cleveland to retain Dr. Wm.T. Harris as Commissioner of Education. There is no reason why this office should ever be dragged through the mud of party politics. In fact, it never should be. Dr. Harris has had long years of experience as a practical educator, is recognized the world over as a man of marked ability and as an authority on educationa subjects. The united efforts of the leading teachers all over the Unitec States, have been exerted in hi interest. John I. Davenportism, under the more diplomatic name of the federal election laws, is soon to be repealed. There never was any need for such enactments, and from the first they have been ineffective of their ostensible end. In a government like ours, deriving its authority from the people and based upon universal suffrage, the administration will be' but a reflex of public sentiment. If, therefore, the sentiment of the state or district is high, the elections ■will be pure and vice versa. The character of congressional election will not differ from the character of other elections, no matter howmany federal election laws there may be. Then again administration of these laws has been largely for partisan purposes rather than for the uplitting of public sentiment in the communities where they have been most employee!. By all means, therefore, let them be repealed. The great tariff reform bill is safely by the Charybdis of the House, but it must yet pass the Scylla of the Senate. No democrat shc uld relax his vigilence, therefore, feeling that his duty is done; butshould continue to put forth his utmost endeavor in support of those upon whom will devolve the putting up of the fight in the upper House. The champions of protection will not rest because of their defeat in the Houae, but will carry the battle into the Senate where, on account of the narrow majority, they have a better chance of defeating the will of the people than they had in the lower House. The lobby which the frightened protectionists will send to Washington will be bold and desperate and_well supplied withmoney, jnd the friends of the bilí must be on the alert to counteract their influence ir" they would save the liill frotii defeat. When this great mcasuro, which will strike the fetters from trade and quicken the pulse of industry shall have passed the Senate, then the apostles of tariff reform may pause for the purpose of felicitating each other and the people upon pledges fulfilled and the victory won. lf there had ever been any question as to the fitness of Hon. Wm. L. Wilson for leadership of a great party in a great reform movement, it was forever put to rest by the scènes that transpired in the House of Representatives last Thursday. This man, whom the republicans have seen fit to dub "Professor" Wilson because he is an ex-president of a state university and one of the most scholarly men in public life today, and a life-long student of economie questions, instead of one of their so-called "practical" men who senses no need of study anc research, was accorded one of the most remarkable spontaneous ova tions ever given a leader in con gress. Although the opposition pitted againsthim their best debater he leader of the minority, ( Speaker Reed, Mr. Wilson easily won the honors of the occasion, and carried his measure through the louse witb a majority that astonïshed its most sanguine adherents. There can be no doubt but that the close, keen argument of Speaker Crisp, coupled with the impassioned oratory of Wilson, added many votes to the splendid majority with which the great tariff reform bill passed the House of Representatives.