Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-25

2.-Ths rrit|Ts and address must ia all cases
accompany Communications l~hcre either publication,
1cTusai - desired Unless Ueylied they receire
$40 ATTENTION.
The Irish land league convention assembled in
philadelphia to-day comprises the most prominent
and influential representatives o! that rganiza-
ton In America. The rule for the admission of
delegates, as laid Gown by Presi lent Mooney, ex-
cludes all save duly accredited representatives OF
established branches OF the league The object
OF the convention has been clearly d fined. IL
seeks TO strengthen Mr. Plrneil and aid ireland by
purely peaceful and legal methods The promoters
OF the movement are men OF sufficient intelligence
TO comprehend that agitation, united action and
open discussion OF the wrongs inflicted upon Ire
iand are the speedeSt means or securing relief
Tor her. In the face OF all that has been said and
done by the active spirits OF this convention in
opposition To any policy OF violence towards Eng
iand, IL would be anything but Il friendly act for
any advocate OF dynamite as an agent OF Irish
freedom TO force that question upon the conven-
ton Still some indlScreet individual may do Il;
but IL would be unjust TO hold the convention and
the league responsible for such sentiments
The Geographic report OF Mr. Charles A. Dana's
presidential representations Is rather calculated
TO confuse democratic leaders who may be in
clihed to him as a source OF political wisdom. He
Is quoted as saying: II think the democrats can
tariff for revenue only" In the common con-
struction of language this means that they could
AFFORD TO do so, or that II would be advisable FOL
them 10 take that position; for there would be no
sense In the assertion as simply stating Il physi-
Cal possibility. Further on in his talk, and after
showing how the internal tax might be cut down,
and describing the effect stree trade issue"
would have upon certain southern states, Mr.
Dana says: ''The effect of free trade plank in
the democratic platform during the coming pres
DENTAL election would In New York in the present
state or public opinion, be ruinouS. Itwoul1 also
lose New Jersey, Connecticut and probably Louis
lana" By a ''free trade plank Mr. Dana evidently
means tariff for revenue only; for nobody advo-
Gates or thinks OF advocating absolute free trade.
Besides, the context OF the interview makes 1t
plain that In using the term ..free trader Mr.. Dana
employs IL In the general sense OF the day to define
a tariff based upon the revenue needs of the gov
eminent. IL Mr.. Dana has not been misQuoted
his opinions VIII require calculation.
&
The most prominent feature developed by the
preliminary skirmishing for the political battle OF
next year Is that neither party is counting upon
success as Jesuit of its own merit and skill OF
management Each IS building more hope upon
The weakness OF the other than upon its own
strength The republicans are calculating upon
democratic blunderS as powerful agents In their
Dehalf, and the democrats are counting upon the
SOHthuiIioH VI tue l3CllOlal strife IN the ranks OF
Their opponents to give the democratic ticket the
Vantige ground This counting upon contingent
cie5 VIII doubtless prove disappointment all
around The democratic blunderS may not occur
ana The republican factions may unite In that
event, then perhaps the parties will be forced to
. contest upon issues that the country can under
stand and appreciate.
The prohibtiOniSts or Iowa have no alternative
now but to accept the reaffrmed decree that the
constitutional amendment fOrbdding the manu-
facture and sale or liquors within that state is IT.
regular and invalid. This decision oyerturns the
result of years OF patient labor on the part OF the
prohibltloni>ts; but, though disappointed they do
not seem to be dsmayed. They propose TO renew
the agitation, and go into the fight with deter
mination to make IL shorter and sharper than be-
lore. This makes the liquor question prominent
In iowa just On the eve OF presidential struggle
ana III the state Were anything like evenly divided,
politically, might render IL uncertain But with
The large preponderance OF republican voters It's
electoral votes are reasonably safe for that party.
SUI the election OF three or four democrats to
congress last year shows there Is some wavering
and WILL probably, adlnonish the republicans not
70 take too much for granted.
---< A
AT the tenth annual convention OF the Mary
land Temperance Alliance, in Baltimore, yester-
Gay, local option was highly commended as O.
most efficient aid to the prohibition cause
Within year HarfCrd, Anne Arundel and Howard
counties, and three out or the four remaining dis
uiets OF Queen Anne's have voted for local pro-
hloitlon- with the exception OF three or four
uistrct' thirteen counties have adopted local op-
toh, which, with the scattering districts OF other
cOuhtle5, make an area equal to fourteen counties
OUT or The twenty-three In the state that are on
Grating under this law. The assertions proceed
ing from opponents OF the law that the consump-
uoh OF liquor had increased in local option coun-
Ties were stoutiy contradictef Letters from
eiuzens OF Calvert county, which county had been
inStaheea ny tue enemies OF the law, as evidence
OF us ialure were read 10 the effect that the sale
or liquor had been largely reduced One writer
declared That there Is not one-sixth as much
liquor sold In that county now As prior To the
adoption OF tRnew law. Another asserts that
the law mas put stop 10 the perniciOus system OF
Treating, and has saved thousands OF dollars worth
or property and hundreds OF homes from The
sheriH hammer The president said IL was not
CLAIMED that the law worked equally well In all
counties; but 1t did good wherever adopted In the
proportion that IL was enforced
MI her " dropped into poetry yesterday to find
hitting description OF one OF Br.dy's expedttpd
routes over which the mail was usually carried in
boot He followed his poetic description with
the statement that this route, running through a
barren region, OF no service to anybody, Welded
system OF expedition OF 1880 And this route
anordS one OF the midest illustrations of that sys
tenn devised by Brady and practiced for the public
good"
Mr. Freeman, the English historian, who staid
hthis country just long enough to get confused
IDEAS IN regard TO it, says he likes or weekly
papers better than he does ou- dailies This IS
natural enough The English dailies are lust
about as much behind current events as the ordi.
nary American country weekly; and, as that IS
tne sort OF thing Mr.. Freeman was accustomed Il
at home, he naturally prefers II here An Eng
nshman wants his news he does his game
Tawther STALE dawn't you know?"
-~----A>h
Oil has been submitted 10 the Michigan ley,s
iature which provides that a man may prove his
WIN during his lifetime, on giving notice to hi.
neirs at law, and afterwards Ii shall be unassatl
able measure OF this sort would be bad IN,
the lawyers, but would help testators arnaz,ngI,
In securing the realization of their wishes In IN.
disposition OF their property.
NO" mat the government has given MT Murcf
The fullest opportunity fer Investigating Architec
Hill, let him bring his evidence forward IL he ha