The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-27
THE CASE OF MIR. sCRUGGs.

Scruggs found by our venerable morn
ing contemporary. What did Scruggs
do that warrants the statement that
"a record hitherto spotless, hopelessly
blackened-a thousand friends, who
had pinned their faith to him, hanging
their heads in shame?" Scruggs, hav-
ing acquired a handsome fortune in
the dry goods business, every dollar of
which, we may believe he had fairly
and honestly earned, decided to visit
the continent of Europe. While there
he invested some of his dollars in va
rious articles, few diamonds, some
rare laces and other things, as he had
right to do as free American citizen.
So far Scruggs was strictly within the
safety line Of his natural rights and
legal duties. But it became necessary
for Scruggs to return to the United
States, and, of course, to bring his pur-
chases with him. Scruggs, as the head
of "the most aristocratic dry goods
store in ST. Louis" had learned by
experience of the existence of that
much h-discussed thing, the tariff and
was aware that on his arrival in New
York unfeeling customs officers would
exact an additional twenty-five cents
for each dollar he had invested in dia-
monds, and fifty cents for every dollar
he had put into laces.
Scruggs evidently did some hard
thinking on the subject of tariffs. Not
knowing his partisan notions about
tariffs as a method Of getting revenue,
we cannot unfold the chain of reason
ing which led him to the decision not
to increase his investment in diamonds
| and laces by paying the tax laid at
the customs. We can only surmise.
If he is Republican he undoubtedly
argued that, as it is the foreigner who
pays the tax, and, as he clearly was
not a foreigner, he and his goods were
not SUBJECT to taxation. Or he might
ilk have always insisted, that the tar
iff is not a tax, in which case the
money requested by the gentlemanly
officers at the port of entry would be
ly given or withheld at the option Of
the returning tourist; and, not having
acquired his fortune by making contri-
buttons, he saw no reason for making
one now, especially to so profigate an
old. spendthrift as is. Uncle Sam. We
submit to our saddened contemporary
that. logically, Scruggs' position on
either ground, is impregnable.
Again, still assuming that his party
faith is of the sect paternal, Scruggs
might have recalled aIl the lurid and
f1orid editorials he had read in his par
ty organs about the iniquity Of this
Democratic tariff; how it had come like
a besom of destruction to paralyze in
dustry, shrink wages, pauperize the
workingmen, recruit the army of
tramps, snatch the bread from the
mouths Of hungry children, and all the
rest of the doleful lamentations of all
the lugubrious Jeremiahs who have be-
walled the miseries inflicted by the
tariff they dub free trade. Now, we
put it to our contemporary, was not
Scruggs justified, as a loyal Republi-
can, in deciding that tariff that had
wrought such havoc, Democratic tar
iff at that, should never lay it's de-
spelling hands on anything Of his? In
fact, is it not the the duty Of every
faithful follower of the gospel of pro-
lection to scorn the recognition of this
tariff of Democratic paternity that
would be implied by paying any charge
it may make on his belongings? If he
did, would he not be particeps GRIM
inis?
Thus fortified in mind and conscience
Scruggs fortified his diamonds and
laces with body belts, over which he
put his customary apparel and met
the customs with cheerful face on
which hovered smile that was Child
like and bland" He had no goods sub
ject to tax, he said, but the officers
knew better. They made him unrobe
| anu TORE Iuc UclC IL JILL ulAAA oAio WILLIS
Gated his diamonds and laces and ar
rested him, and Scruggs found himself
forthwith in a whole bushel Of trouble
The obtuse, unfeeling officials could
not appreciate Scruggs' logic. And,
judging from the pathes Of our con-
temporary, 1t too. fails to appreciate
its strength, for it bewails the fall Of
Scruggs, considers him disgraced, and,
in common with his thousand other
friends, hangs it's head in shame. We
contend that Scruggs, reasoning from
the standpoint of good Republican, is
right; that he has done virtuous in
stead of a criminal act, and that the
only shameful thing about it Is this
desertion of him by the organ of his
party.
PRICE MOVEMENTS AND EQUIvA-
LENTS.
Taking Sauerbeck's method Of deter
mining the relative movement of COM
modify prices by establishing the ag-
gregate value of the units of quantity
of a certain number of articles as the
base for subsequent comparison, Brad
streets extended the forty-five COM