Discovered Too Late

Numerous cotton milis in New England are considering the question of removal to the south, and those at Lowell, Mass., have determined upon that step. This is naturally discouraging the good people in that great manufacturing section of the unión, and a new Jight seems to be.breaking upon her people, who have long and devotedly clung to the heresies of high protection. The Lowell mili owners who have decided upon removal say that difference in the cost of coal has much to do with the change decided upon. There is a heavy expense attendant upon the change in quarters and time will be required for reimbursement, but they have figured upon all this, and see proiït as a result. The soft coal used for making steam is close at hand in the south. It is also close at hand in Massachusetts, but a tariff tax is placed upon it that prevents her turers from using it. They are compeHed to use the coal that is brought all the way from the south, with the cost of transportation added. This one item makes all the difference between manufacturing cotton cloth at a profit and manufacturing it without a profit, wlfen competition otherwise is close. The industry of New England is handicapped in favor of the industry of the south. This departure of the cotton milis is but an other chapter in the story of the slaughter of New England industries by "protection. " There was a time when her iron manufacturers practically supplied the American market, but it was the same tariff iniquity that drove them within easy reach of the coal fields. New England is learning an expensive lessson. - Free Press. Why is it that the advocates of the "home market" idea, those patriots who have been wont to dilate upon the advantages of consuming at home our entire body of products, are so wrought up over the exclusión of the American steer from the European markets? What have we to do with the "abroad" markets? Why should our high protectionists make such a fuss over the adoption, by the people across the pond, of their pet doctrine? We have our home market left, and according to the before mentioned h. p. that is sufficient for us. Why should our people go chasing after a foreign market anyway ? But seriously, it is made painfully apparent from the position of the g. o. p. papers, that they do not relish the entorcement of their much íauded "principie" when it is turned igainst themselves. Possibly just such a tariff war as this is needed to teach the lesson that buying and selling are but the two sides of the same transaction and that the one cannot take place without the other. If from out the present difficulties this lesson shall be well learned, then the present embargo will not have been in vain. In a speech on Jackson day, Congressman William M. Wilson gave utterance to the following sentiments which are worthy the thoughttul consideration of every believer in democratie principies: "Protection in its real working is uothing but the old device by which the rich throw upon the poor, by which those who labor in the legislative lobbies throw upon those who labor in the field, the chief burden of supporting the common government, and in addition thereto extract from iliem one or more days in every week of unreijuited labor for theïr benefit and enrichment. Against this wrong and.inJustice the party of Jefferson and of Jackson- tlie party of tree instrucHon's - is pledged to wage a war of extermination. Moderate and just taxation is indeed the highest achievement of legislativa action. It' we have failed as a party in our recent eiforts to reach this high achievement, as we must admit that we have failed, let us searchingly and in the spirit of the most honest inquiry ascertain hovv far that failure has been due to faithlessness in our own efforts or in our own ranks, and how far it was due to the intrencbments of privilege, so slroug and so invetérate that no fust assault could hope fully to dislodge it. I am one of those who believe that our partial failure has been due to both causes, and so believing, I fïnd in our present reverse no cause for despondency or for party disorganization and apathy, but a higher cali to duty, to a more advanced party policy, a more steadfast and loyal adherence to it." In view of the do-nothingism so rampant in congress, certain .-members of the cabinet and others are urging the president to send a spe. cial message to congress, setting forth the imperative reasons for doing something to relieve the country and the treasury from present intolerable conditions. It is thought that such a non-partisan message would arouse members who are mindful of their responsibilities and lead the way to a Iaying aside of party obligations and the doing of their duty as patriots. Such a message might meet with the desired response but it is extremely doubtful. The present congress seems to be so constituted that one party con siders its highest duty to be oppo sition to anything and everythin that the other party proposes. Th highest obligation resting upo members appears to be the gainin of some party advantage. The re sult of all this is that the most ur gent needs of the government and of the people are allowed to go without any action at all. A new use for trolley cars ha beer. found. In Brooklyn they re cently carne into use in the posta service with, it is said, very satis sactory results. The car is divided into two compartments, one section being a postoffice and the other a smoking car. The part used as a postoffice is fitted up for that pur pose and a complement of posta clerks accompany the car and assor and arrange the mail as the car runs from the central to the branch of fices. This method saves time and relieves the pressure of work at the regular post offices. The cars run directly into the postoffice yards and take on or unload mails. The cars also make the regular stops to receive and let off passengers. It is said that the postal authorities are so well pleased with the workings of the trolley postal service that it will probably come inlo general use throughout the country. As Nero is said to have fiddled while Rome was burning, sothepeople's (mis)representatives at Washington fiddle away their time in gossip over Senator Hill's dining engagements, while the imperative needs of the nation are allowed to go by default.