Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-24

made his final struggle, almost the only building standing upon the property. It is said that Washington himself selected the spot for national arnory, and in 1794 the government bought $40 acres there, added 5l0 acres to this, and leased 1, 1895 acres more Shops were at once built and the making of
 muskets began in 1796 The manufacture of
 arms was continued there until the rebellion
 broke out, when the Confederates captured it
 without a blow. It was soon after taken by
 the Union forces, but not until after the
 more valuable machinery had been moved to
 Richmond Stonewall Jackson recaptured
 it in 1862, the federals came in possession again, and the war ended with the village a
 total wreck. The water power is thought by
 some to be finest in the world.
 National debts are piling up very rapidly
 In 1848 the national debts of the world
 amounted to only $8, ,245, ,00O, 900; in 1870 to $19, ,15O, 900, 900; while to-day they reach $27, 155, 100000. This increase has been progressive, growing greater every year. Up
 to the time of the French Revolution the
 world added only $30, 100000 annually to
 it's indebtedness From that time to the
 battle of Waterloo the annual increase was
 $200, 900, ,000; to 184e, $500, ,O0O, ,OOO; while at
 the present day it is $525, ,00O, 900, so that by the year 1900 it will owe $35, GOO, ,00O, 900. The great bulk of this sum has been ex- pended for war. This indebtedness has in creased during the past thirty years SC, ,365,- 000,0 ,000 on account of various wars Not withstanding this great indebtedness the I1o nine per cent. of it's wealth, the only coun- tries that have exceeded this percentage
 being France, Russia, Austria Italy, Spain
 Portugal, Australia and Uruguay Portugal standing in the worst condition of any
 Great as is the increase of indebtedness, the
 increase of wealth is more than four times as rapid, so that the world is growing richer
 all the time and developing more and more rapidly.
 The Bridgeport Standard we'll says Of Senator Platt: Very few senators stand high
 CT or have won more deserved reputation
 for solid requirements and sound views on
 all matters of public policy than Senator
 Orville H. Platt of this State An industri-
 ous, able and conscientious man, applying
 himself to the duties of his office with intel
 ligence and aptitude, he has won an envia-
 ble reputation for the thorough and compre-
 hensive understanding of every question to
 which he has gwen his attention His great
 speech upon the patent laws, the result of
 years of practical study and familiarity with the subject, is acknowledged to be the most
 important and exhaustive discussion of the
 topic that has ever been made, and it evinces the strong character of the mans mind and the thorough and admirable quality of his methods of study. Senator Platt is, of course, protectionist, but he is one from
 conviction and not because protection is a Republican political tenet. He has studied the subject and brings to bear upon it the same methods of investigation and the same correctness of apprehension which have char acterized his dealings with other public ques- tions To hear him discuss this matter therefore is to hear the whole subject laid bare in its ture aspects and it's relations and connections logically and convincingly shown.