The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-04-30


damage than in the city. Walls were
swept down. houses unroofed, glass
smashed and other damage done.
TIE WORK OF THE PAN-AMERICAN
CONFERENCE.
The Pan American Conference, hav-
ing completed as much Of its original
programme as there was any possibility
of agreeing upon, is now about to adj
jOurn. The result of its long delibera-
tons cannot yet be fully estimated.
The measures proposed by Mr.. Blaine
for its consideration were these The
formation OF an American customs
union; the adoption of a common sill
yer coin; the adoption of Uniform
system Of weights and measures; the
formation of uniform law for patent
rights, copyrights and trademarks;
agreement upon a definite plan of arbi-
tratiOn for the settlement of all inter
national disputes the establishment of
a system of subsidies for the promotion
of communication by steamship; final-
ly, any measure looking to the general
welfare. The decisions of the confer
enee were to be considered, of course,
only as recommendation to the ma
tiOns represented to be accepted or re-
jected by the several governments as
they should see fit. 1t was hoped that
treaties of various kinds might be ne
gOtiated embOdylng the points agreed
upon. FinalIty was not expected on
any subject, the function of the confer
ence being to find basis for subse-
quent action. Taking the measures
proposed by our government for dis.
cussiOn in their order, we find that the
conference has failed to agree upon any
plan of a Pan-American zOllvereiD, or
customs union, our high tariff standing
in the way. The Argentine Republic
offered Mr.. Blaine the free importation
of all our products on condition that
we should admit Argentine wool free
of duty, but the offer was not accepted.
Our tariff on wool is the arch of the
protective system, and the Republican
party is pledged to maintain the sys-
tenn intact. 1t has been stated that re-
treaties were offered our
Southern neighbOrs, but that is not the
fact. There were like failures, it is IN
derstOOd, ia regard to the projected
common silver coin and q uniform sys-
tenn of weights and measures. The
governments of Central and South
America could not see their way to the
adoption of our 70 cent silver dollar as
the common unit OF value, and Mr..
Blaine was unable, of course, TO promise
that Congress would adopt the unit
current In Chilli, Bolivia or Mexico.
As to weights and measures, the utility
of a common system was recognized,
but It was difficult to find the country
that did not think its present system as
good as that of any other country. The
great success of the conference was its
agreement in respect to patent right,
copyright and trademarks. This agree
ment was secured by the adoption of
the scheme formulated by the South
American Congress at MOntevideo sew
eral years ago. A plan of arbitration
was adopted, Chill and Mexico dissent
ing. The value of the plan is some
what impaired, perhaps, by the provis-
ion that no country will be expected to
arbitrate any matter which, i'm its opin-
ion, affects its independence, but apart
from this class of questions, there will
be, no doubt, wide field for the appli-
cation of the beneicent principle ap-
proved by the conference. OF course
the plan will have to pass the scrutiny
of the home governments interested.
The subsidists achieved a qualified sue
cess. A plan was agreed upon which
apDOrtiOns subsidy burdens and bene-
fits between the countries concerned in
particular steamship lines. Our share
of the burdens, OF course, prepOnder-
ates, as was expected. In this item of
their programme our delegates, think
ing it more blessed to give than to re-
ceive, achieved what they will no doubt
consider their greatest triumph. 1t is
to be noted, however, that the delegates
of the Argentine Republic on reading
the first draft of the Mckinley bill de-
clared their belief that no amount Of
subsidies would enable their products
to surmOunt the new tariff wall, and
announced their purpose of withdraw
ing the recommendation as to subsidies
made to their government prior to the
appearance Of the Mckinley bill 1t is
to be expected that other governments
beside the Argentine Republic will
think that bill absolves them from the
duty of considering the recommends
tons OF the conference in regard to sub
sides. The conference, it will be seen,
attained but small positive results as
respects the programme laid before it.
This, however, is not, perhaps, to be
regarded as the full measure of its ben
efits. The visit of number of inteIi-
gent Central and South Americans to
this country will produce effects of a
desirable character upon our relations
with the countries south of Us. Par
tieularly beneficial, we incline to be-
lieve, will be the tour of the visiting
delegates through the South, where
they will find country already closely
related to them geographically, and a
people engaged in solving successfully
social and industrial problems not un-
like those with which our visitors are
familiar.-BaltimOre Sun.
PROFITABLE FARMING.