Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-28
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
SENATOR INGALLS,, VIEWS.

OF puOl1c matters, WHICH appears III lhe
Evening Star. Since the presidential
election Mr.. ingalls, has travelled extern
sively over the country and has had
special opportunities to observe business
conditions and to learn public sentiment.
Asked about the condition of business
aud whether he thought times were inn
proving, he said:
"Sipce the election in November | have
been in all parts of the country, from San
Francisco to Boston, from Montreal to
Atlanta, and it is the concurrent testi-
testimony that times have never been
harder nor money scarcer than now.
Every branch of industry languishes.
Rents. incomes, interests and profits
have dwindled. Prices of land, farm
products and general commodities have
sunk lower and lower, till in many local
tiles the most improved farms in rich
regions are absolutely unstable. Ma
ture has been benefcent, harvests album
dant. There has been the early and the
later rain, the Mississippi valley is bur
dened with cribbed corn, crop prospects
were never better, skilled and crude
labor is plenty, the equipment OF
machinery is unrivalled. We have all
the conditions for good times, but they
llnger.
Possibly they are coming, but they
are not here. Many will not be able to
wait much longer for their arrival. Null
ttudes have already fallen from aiiiuehce
to need, and many other mutitudes have
sunk from comfort to perjury and want
of daily bread"
THE POLITICAL FUTURE.
Touching the effect of this condition
upon the political future of the country
and of parties, Mr.. Ingalls, said
"'The people are patient-they are
rational They don't expect miracles,
but they are tired of adversely They
are not looking for the miraculous
draught of fishes and of change of water
into wine, but they want to see credit
and business raised from the dead.
They would like to have idle men who
are willing to work earning wages. 1t
does not console them to be told that
there is a surplus of money in banks to
loan at small interest. They don't want
to borrow money, but to sell corn. The
man who mortgaged his farm five years
ago for a fourth of its value would like
to have it sell for enough at least to
pay the debt. They will give the re-
publican party fair chance. as they
have the democrats four years ago.
Should we tail to secure public revenue
and restore prosperity they are likely
to try some other experiment. Some
times a sick man who has found 70 relief
from the regular physicians buys a bot
tie of patent medicine or consults faith
doctor and gets we'll"
INTERNATIONAL BEIETALLISM.
Mr.. ingalls, was asked his opinion on
the probability of securing international
bimetalliSm, but instead of giving his
opinion spoke of the way such a ques-
ton was received by the people general
ly.
international bimetallism." said he,
lis a sonorous phrase, but when it is men,
toned to the average citizen. he stops
talking and winks. or smiles. and asks
about the prize fight or Cuba, or the
Greek war or whether colored shirts and
tan shoes are likely to be worn much
this summer. - Philadelphia Ledger.
OUR COUNT RY ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Every gentleman wore a queue and
powdered his hair.
y gentleman bowling to lady always
scraped his foot on the ground.
All the population of a village as
sembled at the inn on post day" to
hear the news.
The church collection was taken in a
bag at the end of pole with bell at
tached to arouse sleepy contributors.
An old copper mine in Connecticut was
used as prison.
Imprisonment for debt was a common
practice.
There was only one hat factory, and
that made cooked hats.
Virginia contained fifth of the whole
population of the country.
Two stage coaches bore all the travel
between New York and Boston.
The Mississippi valley was not so vel
known as the heart of Africa now Is.
Quinine was unknown. When a mar
had ague fits he took Peruvian bark anC
whisky.
There was not public library in thu
United States.
Books were very expensive. "Th'
Lives of the Poets" cost SIS.
A day laborer received two shillings
day.
A hOrseman who galloped on cit!
street was fined shillings.
Crockery plates were objected to be
cause they dulled the Knives.