New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-31

International commission for the settlement OF
opposed to the interests of tho American fishing
fleet and was condemned by the Senate. Reyerslon
to the Treaty of 1918 was accompanied by hostile
demonstrations the part OF the Canadian Gov
ernment which carried on during the year
relentless warfare upon American fishermen,
seizng vessel after vessel for technical violations
of the customs laws and repudiating the common
obligations imposed by British aud American COM
mercal law. These outrages have given rise To
prolonged diplomatic correspondence in which tho
American case has been ably presented The Sec
retary had. however fatally compromised himself
and he failed to discern the utiiy of negotiations
and the necessity Of EMPLOYING the exceptional
powers Of retaliation on Canadian commerce with
which Congress had armed the Administration.
In marked contrast with the lnacton and subms-
siveness displayed in dealing with Great Britain
was the Secretary's noisy and precipitate champr-
onship of Cutting an American living In Mexico
and punished for libel printed in Texas and cir
culated across the border The prisoner was finally
released as an act of international courtesy, AFTER
President DiaZ in his annual message very properly
accused Secretary Bavard Of endangerln4 the inter
ests of peace by exaggerating the Importance OF a
trivial incident and making arbitrary and unwar-
rantabIe demands upon friendly Power.
President Cleveland's only popular act dnring
the year has been his marriage. This occurred in
party have ave been "'I irritated by his daIIianca
with Civil Service reform. while his political op-
ponenfs have ceased 70 respect fant-hearted pol
icy of i-disguIced shnms and small pretences. The
Pres ients non-partsanshIp consists in the eX-
elusive appointment of Democrats to Office and III
neglec ting TO turn out Repu bican Ofceholders as
rapidly as party greed demands What his Civil
Service principles reilly it is not to deter
mine. He allowed the examining boards in New
York, Boston. Philadelphia, New-Oreans. Clncin-
natl and other cities to be reOT anlzed In such
way to nullify practical Civil Service reform:
When an cutlery was raised the Commission ordered
that the boards should not be controlled by the
Collectors deputies and private secretaries As the
elections approached the President issued an order
warning otiice-holdcrs not to take part IN poIti-
cal ennfpa viz lafi of
80 numerous as to excite ridIcule, he suspended
Democratic and n Republican District Attorney.
The Democrat was subsequently reinstated on the
score that he had not neglected public business
while making political speeches The Republican
offered proof that he had not neglected his puonc
duties. and was curtly remlndT that he had mace
speeches that were hostile to the Administration.
The absurdity of the situation was crowned with
tie exposure of the Democratic officials assaults
from the stump uDon Civil Service refor a. J. ne
retention of Acknowledgement Garland IN the CaDl-
net and the support given by the Government 10
the ring of spectators who had been traflicking in
his Official position have reduced the Presidents
devotion to Civil Service reform to q hollow mock
ery The Investigation ordered by the House,
VIXEN influential Democratic journals had united
with the Republican press in denounclng this pub
lie scandal proved how we'll founded had been the
CHARGES made against Mr. Garland. Mr.: Goode and
officials of the Interior Department. Three reports
were submitted August 81. Chairman Boyles be-
ing partisan attempt to acqult all the officials I'M
pcated, Mr.. Hae's an independent Democratic
view, and Mr.. kannev's q crushing indictment or
the telephone ring. The Senate declined to con-
firm Solcitor-General Goodies nomination. The
Attornev General remains in Office ruined in reDu-
tation and thoroughly dlscredited. The Govern
ment suit begun against the Bell Company has
been thrown ont of court in Ohio. The Pan-Elec.
tric was the chief COngress nal Investigation OF
the year, the Senate having decided by vote of
Al to Z not TO take mp the bribery charges AGAINST
the Democratic caucus IN Ohio which nominated
The autumn elections disclosed decided reaction
against the Democratic party. The commonest
features of the Democratic platforms adopted
tot
the re ucti0n of the tarlH TO n
revenue basis and hostility IN one form or another
to prohibitOrv and temperance legislation The
Republican conventions denounced the Morrison
bill advocated protection to industries and work
inernen and favored either the enforcement of
existing laws the enactment of more rigorous
legislation against intemperance The Anti
Saloon movement. which eliminated IN the Chicago
Convention September 10. gave strong i'm
pulse to the development OF temperance principles
in the Republican party. Mr.. Blame conducting
the September canvass IN Maine made protection
the chief issue and exposed the hypocrisy ana folly
of the ProhibItl0nists of that state The result
was striking Republican victory, Governor
Bodwelps majority over Edwards being l2,6l9
With, Prohibition vote OF per cent: In ONO ono
hibition vote Of per cent. In Pennsylvania Mr..
Blaines inspiring canvass on behalf OF proiection
over Black. with the Prohibition vote 4 per cent
OF the whole New-Jersey and Ncw-iork were
Republican majority In Massachusetts was cut
down, but in he Congressional elections the party
N heavily.
imperlled by labor candidate; Mr. Hard was over
whelmingly defeated IN OHIO and Mr. Morrison
was thrown ont IL Illinois. These free trade defeats
coupled with the reduction of the Democratic
majority in the House have gwen Republicans
new COURAGE. The Lth Congress. Lower Honse,
now stands Republicans, l51; Democrats. 16S
Senate will have 50 Republicans and 81 Democrats,
even If Indiana and Ncw-JerSev elect Democrats.
Tue yoraty ccntest IN New,fork city brought
the Labor candidate. and opeEed new contingent
cies and possibilities in American politics.
Organized labor has astonished the country with
exhibitions of its political power without accom-
plishng any great results In the countless in
dusrrlal conflicts of the year 1t has alternately
failed and succeeded. On the whole. the drawn
battles and victories 30 far outnumber the defeats
as to contribute a powerful Impulse to labor move
ments The number of lCcal organizations OF the
Knights of Labor has RAPIDLY increased and fed
Grafton of trades unions has also been established.
What the labor movement conspicuousy lacks Is
generalship. T. V. Powdery. the ablest leader the
working classes have vet found. has lacked the
ability requisite for harmonZing divisions Of Opn-
ion IN the great councils of the Knights of Labor
and for preventing strikes until strenuous efforts
have been made 10 effect settlements lie did not
approve of the great srrlke IN the Southwest which
gre out of trivial cause as the discharge of
| official who was member of the ORDER but he
had to assume responsibility for It, general strike
! was ordered on the Missouri Pacific Railway in
order to force the receiver OF another road. the
rexas Pacific to take back the discharged man.
Traffic was blocked. business parayzed. OFF,
GERS of law were shot down, and scenes of blood
shed enacted in many States PowderIy finally or
| dered a stoppage of the strike. and Martin Irons
| and mis- svmpathizers in the executive committee
| neglected to execute his command Early in May,
when this strike had ended IN defeat, general
movement in favor of eight hours set IN throughout
the country. and strikes occurred In nearly all the
leading trades AMI in many cities. This movement
| Powderly also condemned but he poweress to
| rerst it, Business was INSTRUCTED. the terrOrs of
| boyeottIng were applied. aud riotng and murder
were Instigated in Chicago, Milwaukee, and else
where. The movement was not however, generally
supported by workingmen.
| 4 band of foreign-b born Anarchists took advan-
tape of the opportunity afforded by these strikes
| They had no real connection with the labor move
| ments in Chicago, where they made desperate at
tempt TO create panic and to win over the trades
| uuions 10 their side Seven policemen were killed
! and many bystanders wounded on Mag by the
! bomb-throwers. This c0wardy conspiracy created
a powerful reyulslon of feeling not only against
Anarchists but also against organized labor. Pow
DERBY redoubled his public protests and secret cir