The daily gazette., 1882-08-22

stands indicted to-day In the Courts of the
District of Columbia for felony, and who
would now be deservedly languishing in the
penitentiary but for the criminal leniency
shown him by those upon whom devolve the
duty of his prosecution.
This is not ambiguous language; 1t is as
plain as pike-staff, and the morning organ
will, we believe, be able to understand it
and when it does thoroughly "get it
''through its hair" let it pause for amoment
and reflect that this is the opinion held con-
cerning its course by nine men out of every
ten that one may meet, be they Democrats
or Republicans. Then let it consider
whether it can afford to continue its de
liberate and wanton violation of every sense
of decency and justice in its treatment of
men and measures with respect to political
matters.
Concerning Senator Bayard's position re-
lative to the match tax we have nothing to
say. His record upon that question, as upon
all others of public nature, is open to
public inspection and will bear public in
vestigation. His action with reference to
the matter needs no defense and we shall
not insult him by assuming that it requires
any further or fuller explanation than that
afforded by his speeches upon the subject.
But we have a few words TO say touching
monopolies in general and the allegation
that the Diamond Match Company is a
monopoly in particular. The GAZETTE has
persistently and vigorously opposed all
monopolies, in the correct meaning of that
term, as detrimental to the interests of the
people and an impediment TO industrial
progress, and it still adheres to its declara-
tions that 1t "has no word of defense for
4" the match monopoly or any other mono
"poly." But it is not so sure that there
is match monopoly The careful reading
Of Senator Bayard's speech upon the match
tax and some independent investigations of
our own do not reveal any very decided
evidences of a monopoly, beyond that which
is secured by the exclusive possession OF the
knowledge and ability necessary to produce
a superior match. If this is the kind of
monopoly that is meant when speaking Of
the " match monopoly" then it is one that
legislation cannot abolish, aud one that no
sensible man would wish TO see abolished
except through the enterprise Of competi-
tors and the legitimate acquisition by them
of that knowledge necessary to produce an
equally good article.
Again, we 90 not find the rebate on the
tax such a scarecrow as it has been made to
appear by certain Jealous Cungrcssmen, who
n lu lyVo
ment employees two per cent. for political
purposes than they do of the operation of
the match tax. 1t seems plain to us that
any man or number Of men with sufficient
capital to enter into the manufacture Of
matches would have no trouble in securing
every advantage of rebate that the law allows,
and this will be readily admitted when
it is known that the total outlay required
to secure the ten per cent rebate does not
exceed the sum of six hundred and fifty
dollars. Therefore, in justice to an i'm
portant industry of this city, we repeat that.
while We are firmly opposed to monopolies
of all kinds, it is yet to be shown that the
Diamond Match Company Is monopoly
while there are good reasons ior believing
that it is roi 4 monopoly.
OF course we are paid for this opinion: II
would not be possible for Democrat or a
Democratic newspaper to hold any view
even remotely connected with the subject Of
monopolics for which remuneration was not
received. 1t is the exclusive province of
Republican journals and Republican states
men to 'mQnopolizc" disintcrcsted opinions
upon all questions affecting the Interests Of
great monicd corporations. II is The party
OF great moral ideas the party of kicfor,
Robeson, Dorsey and Dick Harrngtou-aud
last and least, Of Mr.. Pecksnih Spcrry.
THE CITY SOLICITOR OF philadelphia is If
the opinion that the Delaware pilot law puts
the Board of Port Wardcns Of thai c!ty
under great difficulties and advises the
Board to use vigorously all the legal power
In Its possession in resisting The Delaware
act. That is precisely what the
Board has been doing an along,
and it has not been careful at all times that
its resistance should be legal The sugges-
tion of the solicitor that efforts should be
made to induce much needed action by Con-
gress so that so important an adjunct 10
our commerce as its pilotagc may
not be the subject of legislation
at so many hands, will no doubt meet with
the approval Of those mostdircctlv Interested
in the subject here. National regulation Of
the pilotage Of the Delaware would, we feel
quite sure, meet with no opposition in this
State. Let us have it by all means. 1t
would be infinitely preferable to Pcnusyl-
vania's domination in the matter
|
The STORY OLA NEGRO plot to assa. snaie
the entire white population Of Choctaw
county, Alabama, which is said TO have been
discovered just in time to preycntits irmition,
reveals most deplorable dcpthof dcprayily,
and if true, will go far toward justifyiug the
whites of Alabama I'm their efforts to main
tain supremacy in the affairs OF government
there. The story is almost too horrible for
belief and we sincerely hope that it may
prove to be unfounded
THE CITIZENS of Reading don't permit
any shutiiing and humbugging on the part
of their City Councilmen Yesterday lifty-
five of these officials were placed under ar
rest upon bench warrant issued in pur-
suanee Of indictments recently found
against them for falling to keep the streets
in proper repairs