The Washington critic., 1890-03-17

ter health Of body aud mind, and the
dismal pcssimism which now possesses
him would be as bad dream. Fry It,
reverend sir.
NO LONGER NEEDED.
THE iron H'orN of Pittsburg, under
date of March I, figures out the actual
cost of making Bessemcr pig-iron on
the west coast of England at st0.Si per
ton, and the cost Of making the same
quality at Pitsbmg at StL07--diifer-
encc in cost in favor Of Pttsburg, SLS7
per ton. More remarkable still is its
showing that the labor cost in Pitts
burg is only 81 -, while in England It
is &205.
If these figures be correct, as we as.
sumo that they are, there should be no
customs duty on Besscmer pig-iyon.
The reason for protecting its manu-.
facture has ceased to exist. that reason
being simply to enable the American
manufacturer to reach point where he
can compete on equal, or even more
advantageous, terms with foreign manu-
facturers.
That point having been reached, the
protective duty should be withdrawn.
If no revenue duty is needed from it,
Bessemor pigir should now be on
the free list.
TODAY Is CELEBRNTE all the world
over as commemorative of Ireland
tutelary saint 1t is not alone the
wearing Of the green" that celebrates
the day Every man, no matter what
his nationality may be, who cherishes
hearty Christianity which repudiates
all crawling, Shiny, secret, snakish
ways honors st. Patrick. The March
gale in the midst of which ibis anniver-
sary usually comes has nothing in it
that is deceptive as TO its character, and
this circumstance in itself is supposed
TO indicate that the patron saint of Ire
land had no sympathy with anything
mean, underhanded, unmanly or
troacherous. All hail to st. Patrick,
says THE CRITIC, and death to snakes!
In THE LAST decade the value of
Southern property has increased from
$9,913, ,436, 095 to 81, ,22O, ,166, 400. That
section now produces five times as much
pig iron as it did ten years ago. The
mileage Of railroads has been doubled
and the cotton crop increased by
million and a-half bales. The hum of
manufacture sounds the linell of past
age, and the supremacy Of King Cotton,
while more extensive than formerly, is
no longer assured.
OCEAN GREYHoUNps are getting to be
the style. At least four new ones will
he on in the course of this spring. The
White Star line will put on the "Maies-
tic, " which is intended to be a iival of
the "Teutohic. The French line will
put on the "Touraine,' and every one
who knows Balzac will appreciate that
ship. The Hamburg line will be rep
resented by the Bismarck" and the
KAISER Wilhelm.
l'r Is ONE OF THE practical difficulties
of the present naval system mat one.
half of the seamen of the country are
neither natives ior naturalized citizens
of the United States. II is alleged that
the officers of the American Navy form
an exclusive aristocracy, and that no
sailor has II chance for promotion.
This is all wrong. We want loyal
hearts, from the lowest position to the
highest, in our American Navy.
THE COST OF the nicaragua canal is
placed at $65, 100000 The distance
between the oceans is 1G9 miles, but
only twenty nine miles of the canal
have to be dug. Lake Nicaragua af-
fords free navigation for fifty six miles.
The San Jaun River has to be deepened
some artificial basins have to be con-
structed, and then waterway from
ocean to ocean will be ready for free
navigation.
NoN ENNOR DOlES VI Iowa uOeS not
realize the expectations of those who
elected him to any very considerable
extent He says he does not regard his
election as a partisan victory. He pro-
claims that his duty is to be Governor
of the State of Iowa in large and lib
eral spirit There are people in Iowa
who exclaim, in sympathy with Mr..
Flanagan of Texas, "What are we
here for r?'
a MAN oUT IN Chicago dreamed one
night his house was afire and burning
down. Next night it burned down in
reality. He had no insurance. Here
after, when he dreams his house is
burning down, he will, he says, get it
insured. Perhaps better way would
be to insure first and dream after
ward.
Mr.. ROBERT ELLIS THOMPSON doesn't
propose to get left in the race between
II, =