Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-04

a
United Kingdom during the first foul
months Of 1885 was 1870. 800 tons, or about
30 per cent.less than in the corresponding
months Of last year.
The official inquiry with view to in.
creasing trade between the United States
and South America may not obtain for us
all the advantage expected; but the in
formation CLEANED by the Commissioners.
contains many instructive points. They
find that one great reason why our goods
do not sell 10 South America il that they
are not specially manufactured Tor that
trade, but are the surplus of what is made
up for home consumption. The Germans
and English send out prints and other
stuffs In great variety. especially designed
to meet the wants and tastes of South
Americans. Moreover, they put their
wares up in small packages suited for
handling and transportation over bad
roads. and not easily loaded down with
duties in the custom houses. Some of
the Commissioners believe that reciproci-
" treaties are what we need most.
As the returns come IN from the spring
elections in Virginia. it is found that the
republican gains were general. In one
place. Norfolk, only was there loss.
Petersburg, Senator Mahone's home,
showed largely increased republican
majority, while Alexandria, the home of
Congressman Barbour, chairman OF the
democratic State committee, gave a large
~ reduced democratic majority. A dis
patch to the Boston Herald SAYS that these
results have greatly depressed the demo-
Gratis. and their hopes of carrying the
State this tall have been correspondingly
lessened. In looking about for the cause
they pitch upon Clevelands slowness in
making changes in the federal offices in
Virginia. but this is manifestly absurd in
view of the events of the past ten days.
The Bourbons can with more reason as
cribe their defeat to the disgust of the
people with the discreditable record the
party made during the past two years.
The funeral of Victor Hugo was worthy
of the man whose memory it honored. No
pageant Of modern times has equaled it.
Splendid and moving as were the obse-
quies OF Theirs and Gambetta. those states
men yet left behind them animosities
which gave to their funerals something, a
shade at any rate, of party telling and ex-
elusive lament. The second funeral of
Napolian was strictly national pageant /;
but It was unattended by those demonstra-
tons Of regret and poignant feeling which
only fresh sorrow and recent grief can
produce. The only obsequies really to be
compared with II are those of Lincoln and
of Garfield. in each of these instances,
however, the tribute spontaneously paid to
the dead was heightened and exalted by
the tremendous tragedy of which the
pageant was but the final act and closing
scene. Their solemnity arose naturally
from the circumstances of violent death
and detestable crime. Hugo had lived to
ripe old age. He had drunk the cup OF
tame and fortune long years before and
during long period of dignified waiting
had expected the death which came to him
at last in quiet and peace and honored re-
pose. There was nothing dramatic. moth
ing unusual. nothing in any sense factiti.
Gus about his taking off. Yet whole
nation merged its ordinary differences in a
common sorrow and united to him such
honor as has rarely, if ever, fallen to the
lot of mortals. and the entire civilized
world looked on in sympathetic sorrow