Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-31
From Our Regular Correspondent
Gar European Letter.
LONDON, Eng. Dec. 10, 1879.

I VIII Celebrate MS SCNOhliVtu DhNHN'J :
The completion of his "three score years
and ten " finds him in the full maturity of
lis splendid powers, and preparing to en-
ter with courage upon political contest,
/ in which the utmost conservative force
will be arrayed gainst him. But many
Of his friends have considered that 1t
would he desirable to take advantage of
the forthcoming anniversary in order TO
show their confidence and esteem, and to
express their admiration of brilliant
past. Mr.. Gladstone has, however, deem
ed it right to decline the compliment, on
the ground that Il significance might at
! tach to it which he is anxious to avoid.
| He seems TO think such celebration rs
was contemplated might cause embarass-
ment to the official leaders of his party.
can appreciate his reluctance to do any
thing which could appear to alter his posi-
lion rs "private member of the liberal
party" His services have been so great,
his genius is so brilliant, his capacity for
administration is so remarkable that the
public will never assign to him amy but the
foremost place in the ranks Of liberalism.
That he should ardently desire, after near
~ half II century of parliamentary life, to
retire into the background of politics, and
to enjoy comparative immunity from the
labors and responsibilities of political lead
ership Is, no doubt, natural.
Mr.. Thomas Bailey Potter, NJ. p. who
has been making quite an extended visit
in the United States, inspecting the agri-
cultural problem, has come to the conclu-
sion that while the land question is of par
amount interest to England, its Importance
is only relative in the United States. In
America, on the contrary, the tariff ques-
ton Is the most urgent one. Cotton"
SAYS Mr.. Potter, SIS not and never was
kiug in the United States. tell you it is
The soil wi ich is master here" The excess
ard variety Of production of soil in the
states may prove, Mr., Potter thinks, the
downfall Of protection. There may be
good crops in Europe, no war, revival of
industries, and IN increase in the cost of
gold for export. In this confederation of
circumstances Europe will say: eve
cannot send gold. If you will not take
our goods in exchange for your products
we cannot buy" But the agricultural
exchange interests in the United States
cannot take goods from Europe under
present tariffs for the reason that these
goods cannot be sold again without losing
money. Thus will come about struggle
between the soil and the manufacturing
interests in which the soil will be sure to
win. At the same time Mr.. Potter feels
sure, however, that the United States will
never have absolute free trade. Where
the raising of revenue by direct taxation
is so dslkcd tariff for revenue is wise"
sayJ Mr.. Potter. The people of the
United States will not endorse an income
tax, therefore they cannot do better for
this country than to retain tariff regula-
TONS Protection, however, in Mr.. Pot
ler'S opinion, is no longer needed. The
American people, he says, have outgrown
it.
have just received i private letter from
Sydney informing me that the exhibition
there, like many of its European prcde-
cessors, was far from being complete at
the time OF the opening. The British
court was well advanced, and tho colonies
Of Quecnland, Victoria, New Zealand and
Tasmania almost really; but New South
Wales WAS only half stocked, and the
vast proportion of the packages imported
by France, Germany, Austria, Italy and
America ranaincd still unopened. Even
then, however. the display was effective.
In the British section all the main indus
tries Of the mother land were represented.
America, though less fully represented
than WAS to have been expected, sent
many Of the wares for which the factories
of the United States are celebrated in
Australia watches, tools and
cutlery, organs, locks and keyes, silver
goods, lamp ware, machinery, ETC.. and
even yentured 10 compete with the colonies
in their own special department, by ex-
hibing samples Of Vermont Merno wool.
Italy shows two fine bronzes and marble
busts by Pietro Calvi of Milan; also fur
niturc, mosaics, jewelry, and a good deal
of poor sculpture. Belgium has carried
all before her with some excellent iron
castings and steel, from the Cocksvill fac
tory at Seroing. The French court wears
Il miscellaneous look, having silver and
gold plated goods and farinceric of good
AMI fair quality, pianos. glass ware, and
bronzos, as well as paper-hangings and
carpets, which not only fail to do justice
to French factories, but show on the part
of the exhibitors little knowledge of colo
NAL tases and requirements.
An illustrative Of the extent to which
steam ship building is now carried on in
England-it is stated that the gross ton
mage set alloat for 1879 up to the goth in
slant was 426, 2Sj tons. As the losses and
sales to foreigners over the same period
have amounted to l33,3l5 tons gross it
follows that the new tonnage actually
added this year to the steam shipping reg
lister has thus far been POP, $40 tons gross,
with 80 06j-horso power. Taking the cost
OF the total steam tonnage built, viz,
1925 tons--at eli lis per ton, which is
stated by law, the amount of capital work
in this direction during 1879 has been
II, USJ 80. ALPHA.