The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-13
CURRENT PRESS COMMENT.

IF retail prices corresponded with wholesale figures
and if consumers paid no more than reasonable adj
vance on what producers receive the general reduc
ton in wages could easily be borne by working people
1t is time that the people who stand between produc
ers and consumers had their eyes open to the fact that
a lower level of values must be Observation-Disclosures
natl Commercial Gazette.
THE sole raison etre of our diplomatic service Ia
to represent the United States with honor and credit
in foreign parts But diplomatic service has grad
ually become permanent and vulnerable target for
the scarcely concealed sarcasm and rdicule Of Euro
pean capitals; The wisest thing to do would be TO
abolish the whole service. All the diplomacy nee
essary be accomplished by direct eegraphic COM
municaton between Washington and the various cap
itas.-New York Herald.
CERTAINLY the native Africans are not likely To
suffer, and their descendants must gain greatly by
the definite application TO their future Intercourse
with Europeans of the principle that all alike shall
share in whatever trade may be established and no
one nation shall practice in Africa the grasping
nopoly and the unchecked exactions known this
continent and In Asia The competition of the various
European nations must tend to greater de-
gree of justice to the Africans well rapid
development of trade.-New York Times.
THE fact is Minister Foster has introduced us to
bankrupt customer. But this British trade with
Cuba, be it much little appears to have been
guarded by the Spanish dplomatists with singular
care Thus far not single article has been detected
which Cuba Porto Rico now buys from Great
Britain, which Spain does not retain duty under
the proposed treaty sufficient to gut the United States
still at disadvantage. From the things that we want
from Cuba the treaty proposes that shall take off
all duty But the things that Cuba might buy from
pear that any of these are by Cuba to be admitted
free-New York Tribune.
INSTEAD of spread-eagle talk about the advance
ment of national prestige among the haf-breeds
of Central America citizens would like def
mite information not only about the awkward diplo-
matte complications in which the Nicaragua treaty IL
ratified might entange but also about the pecun-
larry burdens, direct indirect, which it would bind
to assume In consideration of exclusive control
over transisthmian communication do we pledge our
selves to construct canal upon given scale and
within fixed term of years? If such be stipulation.
is the work to be performed by the federal govern
ment or by private corporatoni In the latter alter
native do engage to promote the enterprise BY any
subyention, subsidy or guarantee of bondsG-New
York Sun.
For the year 1888 the total value of our exports
to Cuba was only S11, 600. COO, which tho Scoft
certainly did not exceed 20 per cent So 200,SOO;
and yet the pending treaty with Spain proposes in
turn for permission to enter this amount of goods
free of duty in that country, to allow sugar to the
value of 500, O0O, 600 year from which now de-
rive revenue of over $50 900 600 to come into the
United States without the payment of any duty A
very casual knowledge of arithmetic is sufficient to
put man in the way Of seeing that such project.
profitable to us--and commercial bargains between
nations as between individuals supposed to have
reference principally to the matter of dollars and
Consist. Louis Globe-Demoerat.
THE summary sentencing to death of the captain
and mate of the wrecked Mgnonette found guilty of
murder for killing boy for food to keep themselves
alive, is done in English court of justice. That
tells the whole story. Justice Shylocks plea for
his pound of flesh and the irrevocable law of Venice
awarded TN faet Fortla argument winch upsets
the judicial decision is mere bubble. AS our
common law is based upon English common law there
may time when the strict construction of the
law is carried out in this country it is abroad Then
the verdcts of uries and the rulings of judges will be
in strict accordance with the letter Of the law and the
emotional effects will be brought to bear upon the
pardoning power in where pardon would also be
just and Justice. New York Herald.
THE second officer in the government is not an as
sistant President. It is his duty to preside in the
Senate and to stop the gap in of the death ina
bility, or resignation of the President Mr.. Hem
drcss friends say that he understands this perfectly
and will be the last step outside of hA sphere
We think this may be true now, but certainly his
Brooklyn speech did not point that way. If the
Democratic party had believed that Mr. Hendricks
a capable executive officer than
is Governor Cleveland, that his character, ideas
and record popular with the people, it would
have nominated him for the first instead of the second
the election of the ticket have right TO protest
against any reversal of the respective positions at
this time.-Boston Herald.