Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-24

now as though the kepuDllcans Noulu
get their tariff measure on the statute
books within seven months Of the date
OF the election, possibly even sooner
than that.
The Cuban Situation.
The State Department continues to
receive encouraging reports from Cuba.
The attitude OF the authorities there
has undergone Il remarkable change
since this administration came into
operation. Every few days bring re-
ports of additional releases and only
three citizens of the United States now
remain in Cuban prisons, asking inter
vention by this Government In their be-
half. Several others are still imprison-
ed, but they have either been given
the fullest rights Of trial under our
treaties with Spain, or have for rea-
sons of their W omitted 10 ask in
tervention in their behalf by this Gov
eminent. No feature Of the present
administration has been received with
such marked satisfaction and COM
mendation as that relating to the rights
OF American citizens abroad.
That Wilson Law.
The month of March has proved Il re-
markable one in the history of the VIII
son tariff law. The treasury has actu-
ally a small surplus for the months OPP
erations, an event so unusual in the his
tory of this act as to draw marked at
tentiOn. This Is due, however, TO the
fact that importers in the early part of
the month took alarm lest the Dingley
bill should be so framed as to shut off
in some way their right of importing
under the present low tariff rates, and,
therefore withdrew enormous quanti-
ties from the bonded warehouses, pay
ing the duties on them and thus in
creasing the revenues 10 nearly what
they averaged per month under the Nc
Kinley law, and making the surplus for
the month Of March. This makes the
fourth month in the history of the Will
son law in which an apparent monthly
surplus has been created, but in every
prior ease it was accomplished by hold
ing back payments in order TO make
specially good showings just previous
to elections or at the close of the fiscal
or calendar years.
Free Trade Idea Losing Ground.
No feature OF the tariff discussion has
been more interesting than that which
has developed a wide division of senti-
ment among the Democrats upon the
question of protection. Many members
Of the Democratic party have openly
avowed themselves opposed to free raw
material propositions, willie others
have denounced the extreme free trade
views of the Cleveland wing of the De
mocracy. Still others, especially those
from the South, have avowed them
selves absolute protectionists. and sew
cral Southern Democrats actually went
so far as to vote for the bill which was
denounced by their party association as
the most extreme protective measure
ever offered in Congress. The free
trade idea Is evidently losing ground,
even in the Democratic party.
Good Outlook for the Farmers.
Wool, wheat and corn, those three
staple agricultural products, are feel
ing the effect of renewed confidence
and renewed prosperity which have
followed the Inauguration Of McKin-
ley. The standard commercial authori-
ties report higher prices for wool,
wheat, -four and other articles of agri-
cultural production and show that the
wheat ard -four expectations OF the
week Just ended are greater than those
of the corresponding week of last year
and those of corn three times as great
as those OF the corresponding week Of
last wear. The farmers of the country
are finding no occasion for regret that
they voted for Mckinley and prosper
ity.
No Comfort for the Democrats.
Democrats in Congress and else
where are greatly disappointed with
the sugar schedule of the Dingley tariff
bill as well as other features. They are
especially disappointed regarding the
sugar schedule as they are unable to
find in it any opportunity to charge
that the bill Is advantageous to or in
the interest of trusts. They remember
with great bitterness the fact that their
own law which now stands upon the
statute books, was condemned by the
public generally as framed in the inter
ests of the sugar trust and they had
hoped to find some opportunity to make
a similar charge against the Dingley
bill. but in this they have absolutely
failed. and those of them who are frank
enough to confess the truth admit that
It wipes out the advantages which the
sugar trust has enjoyed under the pres
ent Democratic law.
Japan Goes Back on the Free Silveritcs
The silverites have been compelled
to abandon another position. They de-
MED the published assertion that ia
pan had abandoned the silver and gone
to the gold standard, saying that the
report was based upon the mere fact
that a measure of this kind had been
introduced in the Japanese parliament.
The latest advices show, however, that
the proposition establishing the gold
standard has passed both branches Of
the parliament and has probably by
this time received the signature OF the
Emperor. Nothing which has occurred
since the 9th Of November has been
so serious a blow to the 16 to 1 theor-
lists as this action of Japan. The an
nouncement from Japan that that coun-
try. although going to a gold standard,
will not sell any of It's silver, creates
no surprise among those who have
watched the progress of events with
reference to the use of silver through
out the world. The United States, for
instance, has many times the quantity
of silver currency as when she adopted
the gold standard, and gold standard
nations are increasing the quantity Of
their silver constantly and with rapid
iy. The coinage of silver runs from