The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-12-01
Current Events.


ALTHOUGH 'here are several months be.
fJre tn re ub party assumes c"nT'
OF the pJilicai POWer ol the country
through the control they will have Of the
legislative and executive functions OF the
national government after March 4tb, 1889
still all political speculation has "a Its basis
the probable acts of that party after that
time, rather than what may be done by the
present administration in the interim. IL
may be assumed as certain that, In the
first place, the first step of the party on as.
suming power will he 10 strengthen that
power by the early admission OF the north
west territories 10 statehood AZ the earliest
Or practicable moment The admission OF
divided Dakota, as North Dakota and
South Dakota, As well as Montana ana
Washington will add seven representatives
and eight senators TO the legislative power
of the party, and fifteen electoral votes to
their "holdings' In the electoral college
With these additions. the party expects 70
retain power, At least, for the balance OF
this century The admission OF the South.
west Territories, which are democratic Ia
not even limited at as probable OF even pos
sible. Then, too, In spite OF the threats At
the South, In spite of their claims OF an
utter want Of freedom OF ballot In that
section, they now, since the election has
shown these claims 10 have been utterly
foundationess, even have hopes that by
decen. treatment Of the South, they may
add the Virginias and Florida 10 the list of
republican states II Is 20 be hoped the
party will persus liberal policy towards
the South. There Is no reason why II
should ever have lost the South, which
was solidly republican up to 1870, but that
the outrageous system OF Carpet-bagger
robbery permitted by the republican recon
structiOn policy, drove the South Into the
democratic party for pure self-defense, and
for that reason only. The only hope Cf the
democratic party lies 10 the principle OF
tariff reform on basis OF tariff for reve-
nue. only The breaking up If the solid
South which was purely the accident OF
a vlllainous republican local government,
would do more TO hasten tariff reform than
any other single event; and therefore,
every true reformer will wish the republi-
can party God-speed In IL aim az sincers)
to settle the Southern question Ia al hon
est, statesmanslike and equitable manner.
Once the South has the assurance that
tia local self government will not be In.
terfered with,-ss II WAS prior 80 the spring
of 1877, when Hayes withdrew the last
vestige of the army from the South,-the
Solid South will disin,egrate as rapidly as
II soliditied during 1870 70 1876, and leave
II and the North 10 divide on still more
important questions than sectional distrust
The question OF tariff, In spite OF the
assertions of the hightax beneiiciarles, Is
not settled, either within or without the
republican party; and among the subjects
of predictions Is that Of the coming repub-
lican tariff bill. IL Is taken tor granted
that one will be passed shortly after the
new congress assam bles probably on call
of President Harrison after his inaugur,-
tion. Certaiu az the senators, who nave
visited the President elect at indianapolis
lately, say that the senate bin recently
brought forward will be passed, with
multitude of changes however, which msy
include free sugar-the refined article as
we'll as the raw sugar, which alone was
excluded la the senate bin AZ proposed
and II is possible also that tin plate may be
placed on the free list bs In the Mills bill
This view, the senate bill Will be the
basis OF the proposed legislstlOn on the
tariff, Is strengthened by the fact TINT tho
senate before adjOurning provided for
slttings of "A sub committee from the
fpaBce committee, to hear arguments aud
suggestions on the tariff This sub COM
committee has not As yet been gotten to
gether, but 1t Is believed that II will be
assembled for that purpose during the
holiday season.
The debate on the proposition In Parlia-
%. IL, Aahl In.
tinued through the week, with much
spirit. Parnells amendment on the suU-
jet of rem, arrenrages has been defeated by
lS2 TO l4S; and another allowing tenants TO
purchase grass lands was also defeated, as
was also proposition 10 reduce the amount
app opIiated ON 6 COO, 600 Ia 81 800 600
Late mails report serious disturbances In
Flo m ga growing out of OPP osti1n to in
creased taxation. One town has already
been sliced by the natives and resident
Chinamen opposed 10 the new regulations
Henry George Is in London making land !
speeches. He said Tuesday ~ lecture AT
Lambeth that land grabbing is making as
great progress in America MS in old Eng !
land, lie wants to abolish landlords, and |
grant to every child born share of the !
land!
Considering the fact that there were no
government bonds, the pigment of which .
could be enforced by the treasury. the de
crease of the bonded Indebtedness for the
year ending June 30 1883, by the amount
OF sI4, 1888 J2O Is not 50 bad The total pur
Chases ont Of surplus revenues was SOL aga
800 at q premium, exclusive of accrued |
Interest Of rs POSSE
The net revenues OF the government for
The year were $3.50 26G014 expenditures,
267 1924 Sol; leaving a surplus oi sill SIT.
2l3 an increase of $3.50, l7G over the year
before.
The coinage Of silver dollars amounted |
9 1872 4Si ,613; the Increase OF net tistribu
ton, $50, 1876. The notes have the prefer.
ence as circulating medium, as silver is
going into the treasury vaults at the rate of
half million d day. The treasurer thinks
the people have enough for their daily use
and recommends that If silver buying Is 10
be continued 1t be stored away In the form
Of ingois and the silver note circulation be
based on that.
The President Is an retreat" at OakvIew
writing his fourth annual message 10 con
gress; while the members of his cabinet
are pUually LugV ufpparipu III dir |