The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-02

NuR EUROPEAN LETTER.

Otk EUKOPkAN LETTER.
Mr. Gladsfone's Birfhday.-A Short
Sketci cfhe Eminent Statesman
-Ims'i>',' as Seen by English Eyes,
The EsAi6ition at Sydney.-7ne IN
'i"sf'T in rhich England Ercels.
LONDON, Eng, Dec. 1G, 1879.
On The 10Th Of this month Mr.. Glad
st ne will celebrate his SEVENTEEN birth
ia IT,. Thu completion of his "three
score Years and ten" finds him in the
full maturity of his splendid powers,
and preparing to enter with courage
upon a political contest in which the
utmost Conservative force will be ar
rayed against him. But many of his
friends have considered that il would
be desirable to take advantage of the
forthcoming anniversary in order to
show their confidence and esteem, and
to express their admiration of a brill
liant past. Mr.. Gladstone has, howev-
err deemed it right to decline the CON-
pliment, OIL the ground that a signifi-
canoe might attach TO il which lie is
anxious to avoid. He seems to think
such celebration as was contemplated
might cause embarrassment to the Off
cial leader of his party. can appreci-
ate his reluctance to do anything which
could appear to alter his position as ga
private member of the Liberal party"
His services have been 30 great, his
genius is 80 brilliant, his capacity for
administration is so remarkable that
the public will never assign to him any
but the foremost place in the ranks of
Liberalism. That he should ardently
desire, after nearly half century Of
Parliamentary life to retire into the
background of politics, and to enjoy
comparative immunity from the labors
and responsibilities of political leader
ship, is no doubt natural.
Mr.. Thomas Bailey Potter, M. P,
who has been making quite an extend.
ed visit in the United States, inspecting
the agricultural problem, has come to
the conclusion that while the land ques.
ton is of paramount interest to Eng
gland, Its Importance is only relative in
the United States. In America on the
contrary, the tariff question is the most
urgent one. "Cotton" says Mr.. Pot
ter sis not and never was king in the
United States. tell you it is the soil
which is master here" The excess and
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, reviv-
al OF industries, and an increase in the
cost of gold for export. In this conca.
tenation of circumstances Europe will
say: "We cannot send gold. If you
will not take our goods in exchange
for your products, we cannot buy
But the agricultural exchange inter.
ests in the United States cannot take
goods from Europe under present tar.
| ifs for the reason that these goods can.
not be sold again without losing money
Thus will come about struggle be.
tween 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. "When the raising of revenue
by direct taxation is so disliked tariff
for revenue is wise," says Mr.. Potter
"The people of the United States will
not endorse an income tax, therefore
they cannot do better for their countr,
than to retain tariff regulations. Pro
lection however, in Mr.. Potter's opin
ion, Is no longer needed. The Ameri
can people, he says, have outgrown it
| have just received private letter
from Sydney informing me that tn,
Exhibition there, like many of its Euro
pean predecessors, was far from being
com plete at the time Of the opening
The British Court was we'll advanced
and the colonies ofQueenland, Victoria
New Zealand, and Tasmania almos
ready; bat new South Wales was only
half stocked, and the vast proportion O
the packages imported by France, Ger
many, Austria, Italy, and America re
NAMED still unopened. Even then
however, the display was effective. Ii
the British section all the main indus
tries of the mother land were represent
ed. America, though less fully repre-
sented than was to have been expected
sent many of the wares for which tn,
factories of the United States are cele
brated in Waltham watches
tools and cutlery. organs, locks ant
keys, silver goods, lamp ware, machln
cry, etc.; and even ventured to com
pete With the colonies in their owl
special department, by exhibiting sam
Piles of Vermont merino wool. Ital,
shows two fine bronzes and marbl,
busts by Pietro Calvi of Milan; alst
furniture, mosaics, jewelry, and goot
deal of poor sculpture. Belgium ha
carried all before her with some excel
lent iron castings and steel, from tn,
Cockevill factory at Seraing. TIL,
French Court wears miscellaneous
look, having silver and gold plated
goods and faiencerie of good and fail
quality, pianos, glass and bronzes
as we'll as paper-hangings and carpets
which not only fail to do Justice tc
French factories, but show on the part
of the exhibitors little knowledge Of
colonial tastes and requirements
As illustrative of the extent to which
steam ship-building is now carried on
in England 1t is stated that the gross
tonnage set afiOat for 1879 up to the
goth Inst. was 426,2S5 tons. AS the
losses and sales to foreigners over the
same period have amounted to 1873, 3l5
tons gross, It follows that the new ton
mage actually added this year to the
steam shipping register has thus far
been 292,970 tons gross, with 32, 965
horse power. Taking the cost of the
total steam tonnage built viz, 426, 2s5
tons at ELL lis. per ton, which is stated
below the amount of capital sunk in
this direction durign 1879 has been f5,.
6S9,l35. ALPHA.