New-York tribune., 1883-12-11

for earth and rock excavation on the new aque-
duct II would be a great day for the County
Democracy when the clans of Slattery, Gallagher,
Brady, McKim. Finn. Kane, Reilly and 0Grady got
their contracts for blasting rock that big job at
cent cubic yard and shovelling dirt at dollar a
shovel But Mr.. Thompson's chance is gone.
The time was when Sir Charles Wentworth Dixie
was the leader of forlorn hope of English repub-
licanism. speaking and voting against the princey
incomes Of members Of the Royal household, and in
curing the hatred aud contempt of London society
as q demagOgue and an outcast. Now he Is MEM
Der of the Cabinet who receives special invitations
to Windsor Castle to confer with the Queen in re-
lation to the needs of the London poor and the ex
pediency of introducing special measures for effect
ing the clearance Of the worst districts and the
introduction of sanitary reforms on a large scale.
Sir Charles Dixie has become practical statesman,
discerning what is possible under the present social
conditions in England, and discriminating between
that and what is apparently only chimerical. At
tho same time he has remained a sincere Radical,
devoting his energies to the advancement of English
democracy and leaving another generation to dream
of English republicanism.
Thaddeus Stevens is credited with speaking of a
certain religious denomination standing for the
varioloid of religion" Tariff reform rs now being
energetically promulgated might we'll be called the
varioloid of free trade
The London Times made the one hundredth Evacu-
alton Day the text for most admirable and gem
erous article the destiny Of the United States.
After ringing the changes the familiar jangle Of
the economic progress, debt-paying capacity and
general prosperity of the country, it conceded that
tho century old Republic Is giving every indication
of future remarkable in the region of morals
and of ideas in the material region. 1t considers
it vain to deny that literature is beginning to take
character of Its own, that In art Americans are
showing, if not independence, at least an extraor-
dinary facility which may lead thom to better
things before long; and that the keen intellect OF
the country is turning with eagerness, not unin-
formed with criticism, toward the best the modern
world can give it. This is sort of praise which
Americans seldom receive abroad. Their wealth,
enterprise and resources are universally aoknOwl-
edged rs among the marvels Of national progress,
but sneer generally goes with the praise, their
civilization boing languidly condemned as merce-
nary and sordid. The intellectual aud moral prog
ress of the American people seldom obtains recOg-
milton in Europe
For the reasonable compensation of E30,OOO
New South Wales gentleman promises to disclose to
the New Shakespeare Society the name OF the
we'll known historical character" that wrote the
plays of Shakespeare. Perhaps il the society would
consent to make it 100000, he would explain
whether Hamlets madness was real or assumed,
draw a map showing the true route to the North
Pole reveal the secret of the authorship of the SAKE
Holm stores mention the only trustworthy cure
for cold and give decision as to the authorship
of the Bread Winners" In any event, it Is to be
hoped that our New South Wales friend will take
care of himself really able reader Of riddles is a
handy man for the world to have around.
How often we complain of our Government with
out reason Great Britain has q territory OF
121 900 square miles TO guard and watch the
United States 100000 square miles. To collect
the internal revenue over those areas Great Britain
employs $500 officials and other persons, at cost
of about $40, 900 900 yearly. We employ, to watch
territory thirty times as large only 09S persons,
and the total cost of collecting the internal revenue
is s. lis, 1885, For tho current year the number of
persons employed will be still smaller and the ex-
penses less. To watch its little coast line and COLI
lect duties on imports Great Britain employs 1928
officials and other persons, and the cost Of collection
Is about So, 900 900. TO watch coast-line many
times as long, our Government spends in collection
of customs only $8,5O0,000. We collect $214 ,700-
900 from customs, at q cost of about 3 cents for
every dollar collected; Great Britain collects
500 800 900 from customs at a cost of about
cents for every dollar collected We collect $144.-
700 900 internal revenue at cost of only 35 cents
on the dollar though the territory to be guarded is
thirty times that of Great Britain, but the British
internal revenue is $287 $3.50, 900, collected at
cost of 3.7 cents on the dollar Perhaps it would
be as well not to abuse our own administration Of
affairs so often.